The MBA blog from University of Virginia Darden School of Business recently posted a few important reminders and clarifications for current and upcoming applicants.

Round one applications have already been reviewed, for the most part, but the admissions committee is still reading and conducting interviews either on campus or via Skype for international applicants. Darden will continue to extend interview invitations until the final decision release date coming up December 19, 2012.

If you do receive a request for an interview, the turn-around time between receiving the request and coming to Charlottesville is generally one to two weeks, though the school notes it can be somewhat flexible on timing.

Some MBA candidates planning to apply for the Round two deadline on January 9, 2013 have asked whether they can submit an optional essay, which many other programs allow. The admissions committee candidly admits they don’t want to read an extra essay, but do offer a section for additional comments that applicants may use should they feel the need to elaborate or clarify any issues.

If you do land on the waitlist, UV Darden asks that you keep in touch and provide updates if anything in your personal or professional life changes.  The admissions committee will continue to review your application in subsequent rounds. Candidates should note that you can’t be placed on the waitlist without an interview.

Classes are already out of session, so UV Darden won’t be scheduling visits or open houses this month. Any R2 applicants who had hoped to make a school visit prior to hitting submit will have to wait until late January when classes are once again in session.

That doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck however, since current students are hosting a series of coffee chats in their hometowns around the world throughout December and January. This is a great way for prospective students  to learn more about UV Darden straight from the source, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity if you find a student host near you!

Continuing the trend started last year, UVA Darden again asks candidates to answer only one essay question. While you only have to write 500 words, you have to make those words count. Leadership is crucial to future Darden MBAs. Personal qualities are also crucial to Darden, a school with a small, tight-knit community. Learn more about the school by visiting the Darden website, attending events and speaking with current students and alumni.

MBA Application Essay Question:
Share your thought process as you encountered a challenging work situation or complex problem. How did this experience change your perspective? (500 words maximum)

In this question Darden is asking to understand how you behave in a challenging or complex situation and what such challenges have taught you about yourself. The best use of this essay space will use specific examples to illustrate how you handled the challenge or problem and how you arrived at your change in perspective.

Before you start answering the question it may help to brainstorm some of your best professional accomplishment stories. As you think about the areas where you have excelled you may find that many of your accomplishments were preceded by a challenge or problem you needed to solve.

Once you have a list of all of the potential experiences to discuss, choose the examples that will also demonstrate some of your personal qualities to the admissions committee. You have your career history submitted in your resume and your GPA, transcript and GMAT to demonstrate academic ability. This essay is one of your few opportunities to show how you think, what your leadership approach is, and how you handle teamwork and conflict. Think about the situations that showcased your best performance at work, or that were a turning point in your approach to problem solving.

Because you have only one essay question to present yourself, make sure you have a trusted reader to tell you if you are effectively communicating why you are going to be a strong leader who deserves a spot in the UVA Darden MBA class.

Looking for perspective in your approach to your Darden MBA application? Contact us to discuss how Stacy Blackman Consulting can help.

If you’re a UVA MBA applicant who’s just emerging from yesterday’s tryptophan-induced coma, sit back, relax and take a gander at these videos designed to help you learn more about the case method experience at Darden.

Students are exposed to over 500 cases in a variety of industries and functions during their time at the UVA MBA program. If you are able to visit a Darden class, you’ll see that students do most of the talking. But if you can’t visit, watching these highlights of a case study class is the next best thing.

Here, a Global Economies and Markets class taught by professor Peter Rodriguez…

This video shows how Darden teaches the First Year MBA Accounting course using the case method of instruction.

And finally, here’s a candidate from the UVA MBA for Executives Class of 2012 explaining why he values the case method approach.

With only two essay questions and 1000 words to communicate your qualitative benefits to the UVA MBA program, you will need to be incredibly strategic when approaching the UVA MBA essay questions this year. Leadership and the Darden community are the main focus of the two questions and you are never specifically asked about your career goals or why an MBA is necessary for you.

Remember to formulate your examples and answers strategically – you will want to hit upon your management and leadership experiences at work and community service as well as your fit with the unique UVA MBA culture. If you focus on providing specific examples in the questions you will be able to demonstrate who you are and how you benefit any community you are a part of, as well as your approach to leadership.

MBA Application Essay Questions 2010-2011

1. The UVA MBA program expects students to actively participate in learning teams, the classroom, and the broader community. Please share one or two examples from your past experience that best illustrate(s) how you will contribute to this highly engaging and hands-on learning environment. (500 words)

This question is an opportunity to both describe your fit with the UVA MBA program and sell yourself to the program. Starting with what you bring to the table is an effective way to approach this essay. What are your points of differentiation from other MBA candidates? Do you bring a unique leadership style or knowledge you can share? How will you contribute to the classroom and the community? Do not limit yourself to purely academic pursuits as the close-knit UVA MBA community expects involvement.

Because you are never specifically asked about your accomplishments or even your goals, this is also an opportunity to hit some of that material as you discuss your contributions at work and in the community that highlight how you will contribute to Darden.

Thorough school research will be a huge asset to this essay. Do not forget the personal touch, speaking with current students and alumni will be invaluable.

2. Please discuss how a global event that has taken place in the past two years has impacted the way you think about leadership broadly and personally. (500 words)

Last year, Darden asked specifically about the economic upheaval in the prior 18 months. This question is more open-ended and therefore might be even more daunting to approach. Start by brainstorming about the events you can easily recall over the last two years. Were there any news stories that struck you either personally or professionally?

For example, perhaps you are interested in focusing on clean energy in your post-MBA career and the Gulf oil spill highlighted the importance of this choice for you. Or you were laid off during the financial crisis and had to learn what was really most important in your life. Once you have a list of potential events, think about the ones that have the most personal resonance and why. If the reasons are consistent with an MBA application and will inform the UVA MBA program about your potential as a student and a leader, consider using that topic.

An additional layer to your topic is the second part of this question, which deals with your approach and thinking about leadership. To thoroughly answer this question you will need to establish how you previously thought about leadership and how the global event you are writing about has either reaffirmed your attitudes or completely changed them. While a personal example is not specifically called for in this question, it would enhance your essay.

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This year sees a further reduction in the number and word count of the UVA MBA essays. You will need to be highly strategic for your 2009-2010 application and know exactly what personal attributes, leadership qualities, and accomplishments are key to highlight.

While last year’s set of questions focused on the case study method, your career goals and the lessons you have learned, this year’s question includes an acknowledgement that the last 18 months have been interesting for those in the business world.

Focus on your goals and a strong understanding of your fit with Darden’s unique program will be an asset to your essays this year. Focus on providing specific answers to the questions with examples that will allow the admissions committee to understand exactly how you operate and approach the world.

MBA Application Essay Questions 2009-2010
1. How have the changes in the global economy over the last 18 months affected you and your plan for the future? (400 words)

Last year, the UVA MBA program asked about pivotal choices that led to your pursuit of an MBA, and there is a flavor of that question in this revision. You will certainly want to work in some aspect of your future career goals in this essay, but can also approach it much like Stanford’s “What matters most” essay and discuss some of the perspective you may have gained in the last 18 months.

If you were laid off, for example, this essay allows you to transform such an experience from a challenge to an opportunity. What did you learn about yourself from the experience? How has it refined your goals?

Even for those whose job situation has remained stable, this question allows you to step back and think about your goals in a more holistic sense. Perhaps in the past you planned to pursue a career in a previously lucrative field and have re-assessed your options in light of the economy. Maybe a poor economy has led you to consider less typical MBA career paths. Whatever your personal path, you will want to relate it to the global situation and events of the past year and a half.

Your plans for the future are a second important factor of this essay question. This should certainly have a career component, and relate clearly to the changes you identify with in the economy.

2. What will you contribute to an MBA program and what are your personal and professional expectations of the program you attend? (600 words)

This question is an opportunity to both describe your fit with Darden and sell yourself to the program. Starting with what you bring to the table is an effective way to approach this essay. What are your points of differentiation from other MBA candidates? Do you bring a unique leadership style or knowledge you can share? How will you contribute to the classroom and the community? Do not limit yourself to purely academic pursuits as the close-knit UVA MBA community expects involvement.

For the second half of the question, you have the opportunity to set the context for your career goals and the need for an MBA. Think about the skills you will gain, and certainly expand your expectations into the realm of the personal. How will the community be an asset to your life? What kind of personal development do you expect?

Thorough school research will be a huge asset to this essay. Do not forget the personal touch, speaking with current students and alumni will be invaluable.

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UVA MBA’s admission essays for the class of 2011 are a departure from the themes of the last two years. Due to a relatively small set of questions and brief word limits, you will need to focus clearly on your application strategy. Think strategically about how to demonstrate several key aspects of your background and goals.

1. What pivotal choice(s) have you made in your life that have influenced your decision to pursue an MBA?  (500 words)

Focusing specifically on pivotal moments in your life, this question is still a classic “why MBA” inquiry. Your choice of an MBA program will certainly be related to your career goals, and the narrative will likely follow that of a classic career goals essay. The prompt to discuss your pivotal choices is an invitation to be introspective and demonstrate your unique path.

While the focus is career goals and your decision to pursue an MBA, there is room in this essay to illuminate some of your personal attributes and motivations. Last year the UVA MBA program asked applicants to reflect upon what matters most, and there is certainly room in this essay to communicate a similar level of depth.

When describing your pivotal choice or choices, focus on explaining the situation clearly and specifically and explaining your thoughts and reactions. If you learned something about yourself or changed your path, demonstrate the thought process that led you there.

2. From the following categories, describe the one that has taught you the most: a creative challenge, an ethical dilemma or an experience of failure.  Why?  (250 words)

With only 250 words, you will want to choose your example carefully. Think about demonstrating a new aspect of yourself with the example, and be sure you can reflect upon what you learned from the situation.

A creative challenge could be an excellent opportunity to show your ability to lead and innovate, or a situation in which you transformed a challenge into a success. If you choose an ethical dilemma, an example that provides some grey area to reflect upon is more interesting than a clear cut situation and can demonstrate specific information about your character. An experience of failure can be one of the more revealing aspects of your life and an opportunity to show your ability to learn and grow when faced with personal challenges.

Whichever example you use, state the situation clearly, and describe what you did along with your thoughts and feelings. Reflect upon why this situation was particularly important to you and how the lessons have influenced decisions since. If you have the space, you may have the opportunity to bring in subsequent situations where you practiced what you learned.

3. Describe how you are a fit with the case study method.  (250 words)

The case study method is a cornerstone of the close knit UVA MBA experience and there are several angles you can take with this essay. You can focus why you will learn best through inquiry and interaction with your fellow MBA students, or how the case method will prepare you for your post-MBA career goals. Whatever your reasons for preferring the case method, you will want to demonstrate that you are familiar with the Darden academic approach and that it works well for you.

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