MIT Sloan is a place where practical business concerns intersect with vision and inspiration, often of the tech variety.  As the website states:  “Like MIT itself, MIT Sloan draws its power from a paradox: it is a place for visionary pragmatists, for hands-on thinkers, for people who dream of changing the world and have the plan and the passion to make it happen. True to MIT’s motto of mens et manus (“mind and hand”), MIT Sloan is the world leader in combing theory and practical application to both enhance careers and improve the world.”

The MIT Sloan admissions essays fit into the overall MIT vision and require you to describe your past accomplishments and experience on a very pragmatic level. A key part of the MIT Sloan set of essays is the focus on understanding how you work, think and act.  This requires being very specific about your thoughts and actions as you respond to each essay question.

Because Sloan does not require the standard “career goals” essay, your work background will be mainly communicated through the required resume and cover letter.  The resume should be approached in a similar way to other MBA application resumes.  Avoid industry lingo, communicate your measurable achievements, and focus on aspects of your job that involve leadership and teamwork.  

The Sloan cover letter is an opportunity to sell yourself as a potential Sloan student and highlight your accomplishments, focusing specifically on “how you had an impact on a group or organization” in your work background.  The cover letter is also your opportunity to make the case for your fit with Sloan.  Note that the cover letter format will require a recruiting and marketing approach that focuses on key points that will make you a great Sloan student, rather than the narrative style of the typical career goals type of essay.  To learn more about the school, there are resources such as student blogs, campus visits and admissions events around the world.

When choosing examples for the essays, it will be especially important to return to your overall application strategy and think about the aspects of your professional, extracurricular and personal life you want to communicate.  All four essay questions can be approached topically from any of those three directions, and it will be important to balance your responses appropriately.  In addition, remember to choose examples from the last three years of your life.

We are interested in learning more about you and how you work, think, and act. For each essay, please provide a brief overview of the situation followed by a detailed description of your response. Please limit the experiences you discuss to those which have occurred in the past three years.

In each of the essays please describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.

All applicants:

Essay 1: Please tell us about a challenging interaction you had with a person or group. (500 words or less, limited to one page)

This question seeks to understand your interpersonal skills and maturity, and ultimately your leadership style.  In choosing a topic, you will want to pick either professional or organizational examples that can demonstrate that you are able to work effectively with people, even when the situation was challenging.  Describe your thoughts, feelings and actions as you explain the situation and your response, and be especially aware that the resolution of the story is positive.

Essay 2: Please tell us about a time when you defended your idea. (500 words or less, limited to one page)

This example lends itself perfectly to work and the interpersonal and political negotiations that happen daily in most organizations.  Think about your style and approach when you want to move your agenda forward, and focus on describing your thoughts, feelings and actions as you negotiated effectively within your organization.  Demonstrating savvy communication and people skills in this example will be effective.

Essay 3: Please tell us about a time when you executed a plan. (500 words or less, limited to one page)

Sloan is interested in innovative applicants, and also recognizes the importance of execution of any plan or idea.  Analyzing your approach step by step will be effective here, as you want to specifically demonstrate that you are able to translate your ideas into reality.  As in all of the essays, the primary focus is your internal narrative and actions as you executed your plan.

Essay 4: Please tell the Admissions Committee whatever else you would like us to know. (250 words or less, limited to one page)

Because you have the space in the supplemental information section to address any weaknesses in your application, this is a great place to fill in any gaps in your overall strategy you would like to communicate to Sloan.  Keep in mind the overall set of essays and stories you have already communicated, and make sure this essay is focused and brief.  This will be the closer to your application, and should be positive, interesting and fit in with your overall Sloan strategy.

Supplemental Information
You may use this section to address any specific circumstances related to your academic background. (250 words or less, limited to one page)

This is the place to discuss any weaknesses in your academic profile such as low GPA.  Avoid excuses, focus on the facts, and highlight accomplishments since college that demonstrate your skills and intelligence.

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Michigan has left their essays largely unchanged since last year. Two key differences are that Essay 1 no longer includes a reference to Ross’ “Action-Based Learning” approach and that Essay 2 asks for one major accomplishment rather than several, which will allow you to be more precise and focused for that question. For Essay 1, it will still be important to understand the Michigan approach to learning and the Action-Based philosophy.

When approaching any set of MBA essays it will be important to refer back to your overall strategy and story. Think about the key strengths you have identified that you want to communicate to the admissions committee, and how you will utilize each question to reach that goal. Ross has two questions (Short Essays 3 & 4) that will allow you to express your personal attributes, and several opportunities to discuss your professional and leadership skills.

Long Essays (500 word max)

1. Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals. Why is an MBA the best choice at this point in your career? What and/or who influenced your decision to apply to Ross?

This is Michigan’s version of the fairly standard career goals essay and similar to the question posed by both the Kellogg and Wharton applications. Make sure to answer all of the questions posed by this essay by describing what your career goals are both in the short- and long-term, why an MBA is a logical next step and why Ross is the right place for you.

In discussing your goals, focus on the future. Craft a concrete plan that will bridge your MBA, your short-term idea for immediately after graduation and your long-term career dream. The story should fit together logically and naturally, and also arise clearly from the career progress to date you will articulate in the next part of the question.

You will need to describe a bit of your career progress thus far to get into why now is the right time for you to attend an MBA program. When discussing past career experiences, think about the important pivot points in your story such as promotions, job changes or high profile projects that also fit in solidly with your career goals and MBA plans. Laser focus on a few vivid examples will help your application stand out from the crowd. There are many valid reasons to apply for MBA programs at this point in your career. Perhaps you have reached a plateau, are ready for a career change, or realize that you need the specialized skills of an MBA to reach the next level on your current path.

In addressing part three of this question, why Ross, make sure to highlight the people and experiences you have had. Specific information gathered from school visits, the website and course curriculum will help you answer the “what” part of the question, while networking (at a Ross Reception for instance) with current students and alumni will help you understand the culture at Ross and give you personal examples to highlight your fit with Ross.

2. Describe your most significant professional accomplishment. Elaborate on the leadership skills you displayed, the actions you took and the impact you had on your organization.

This essay is the perfect opportunity to both address a significant accomplishment and to provide a solid example of your leadership qualities. The example must be from work, and in a departure from last year, Ross is asking for only one significant accomplishment.

Short Essays (300 word max)

3. If you were not pursuing the career goals you described in Question 1, what profession would you pursue instead? (For example, teacher, musician athlete, architect, etc.) How will this alternate interest contribute to your effectiveness in solving multidisciplinary problems?

This question suggests an interest by Ross in admitting students with passion. This essay is an opportunity for you to discuss some of your extracurricular activities and hobbies, while illuminating the influence they have had on your life. Think about the activities you most enjoy outside of work, preferably an activity you have been involved in over time, and reflect on the ways this activity has affected your approach and thinking over your life.

While explaining your alternate career path, think about the professional applications of your passion. You may have once dreamed of being a rock star, and can you take that influence and creativity and apply it to your work in marketing?

Challenges contribute greatly to developing maturity, and this essay asks you to describe a key point in your life that may have created wisdom and a mature approach to life and work. This is a great opportunity to highlight your resilience and ability to learn from even the most difficult circumstances.

The question allows the flexibility to pick a self-created challenge (a mistake or misstep) or to address an external challenge like an illness, being laid off, or family issues. In describing the situation, focus primarily on your response to it and how it has changed your approach and attitude since the event.

Our tips on the HBS mistake essay may help with your approach to this one as well.

Optional Question: Is there anything else you think the Admissions Committee should know about you to evaluate your candidacy?

Use the optional essay if you have an issue that needs to be addressed through a short essay, such as low GPA, gap in work history or unconventional recommenders. Explain the situation clearly and succinctly, and provide explanations rather than excuses.

As you tackle this set of questions, virtual support from the many MBA applicant bloggers may help you tap your creativity!

For a concise, thoughtful guide that will help you navigate the MBA admissions process with greater success, order our NEW book, The MBA Application Roadmap.

Wharton adcom values self awareness, leadership, teamwork and solid career goals.  When choosing topics for this set of essays, be sure to consider examples that highlight your ability to learn and grow.  Fit with the Wharton community is important, and researching the program thoroughly to answer “Why Wharton” will be crucial.

The Wharton admissions committee and current students are extremely open about the process and the program, so even if you are halfway around the world you can experience a bit of the “Wharton way” on the blogs or Student 2 Student chat room.

First-Time Applicant Questions

1. Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from Wharton to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? (1,000 words)

Wharton’s career goals essay is the focal point of the application and the essay that provides you the most words to work with.  The essay question is fairly typical of an MBA career goals essay, yet Wharton uniquely focuses on “why now.”  Why now is a crucial part of the essay and needs to be addressed when you answer the question about Why MBA and Why Wharton.

Budget your words carefully on this essay and be sure to answer each sub question thoroughly.  When discussing your career progress, focus on building a path from your past to your future short- and long-term goals.  The adcom will be looking for evidence that you can achieve your career goals and your goals are a logical extension of your background and interests.  Do your homework on Wharton and provide very specific reasons why you want to pursue your MBA at UPenn.

2. Describe a setback or a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

This essay illuminates adcom’s interest in understanding how self aware you are.  You will want to choose a setback or failure that has an ultimately positive result, and use most of the words to describe your actions and learning.  Be candid and demonstrate that you are mature enough to see failure as an opportunity for growth.  A specific and easy to describe failure will be best, allowing you to concentrate on the real communication of the essay.

3. Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

This essay question allows flexibility to choose either a professional or extracurricular example.  The open ended nature of the question may tempt you to provide a laundry list of accomplishments.  Focus instead on one or two examples and thoroughly describe your actions and thoughts, demonstrating what kind of leader you are.  You can generalize on your leadership capacity and potential once you have provided the solid evidence through a specific example.

4. Please respond to one (1) of the following questions:

a. Describe an experience you have had innovating or initiating, your lessons learned, the results and impact of your efforts. (500 words)

Innovation is a popular catchphrase at Wharton and is integral to Wharton’s brand.  This essay allows you to demonstrate your fit with the Wharton community by describing your own experiences innovating or initiating.  Again, there is a strong focus on self reflection and understanding the lessons learned.  Describe the situation very succinctly and focus most of the essay on the learning, results and impact.

b. Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application?  If yes, please explain. (500 words)

This is an extremely open ended question that allows you to fill in any gaps in your application strategy.  Avoid the temptation to recycle essays from another school (the attempt is transparent!) and focus on a topic that adds value to your communication, while remembering the Wharton approach and culture. 

OPTIONAL: If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words, maximum)

This essay needs to address one of the items on the list.  If you do not have any extenuating circumstances, you should not answer this question.   If you are using this essay to explain a weakness in your application profile, focus on the positive and avoid the tendency to provide excuses.  For example, rather than providing a story to excuse your low GPA, take responsibility for the mistakes you made and focus on the evidence in your life since college that demonstrates your academic potential.

Kellogg’s set of three required questions and the choice of two short answers are slightly different from last year, and are clearly focused on understanding how you work with and lead others. 

The tight knit Kellogg community has resulted in a culture that values leadership and teamwork.  In evaluating candidates for the MBA program, fit is crucial.  You will want to research the program thoroughly and network with students and applicants to understand how you uniquely fit with the Kellogg model. 

In choosing topics for this set of Kellogg essays, choose a range of experiences in your professional and community life.  If you work in a career that is more individualistic, choose examples that demonstrate your behavior in a group environment.  When approaching any MBA application essay, be as specific as possible in every example to authentically communicate your unique leadership and teamwork style.

For questions 1-3, please limit responses to 2 pages.

Essay One (required): Briefly assess your career progress to date.  Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at Kellogg.

This is a standard career goal essay for Kellogg.  Note that the question implies a fairly brief discussion of your past, and to focus most of your response on your goals and why Kellogg is the right place to pursue your MBA.  Clarifying your goals and why an MBA is necessary for them will be crucial to beginning your communication with adcom about your candidacy.  Another important aspect to notice about this question is the word “assess” which suggests a desire to see your self awareness about your own career progress to date. 

Approach this essay in the same way you would approach other career goals essays (Columbia and Wharton’s essays are very similar, for instance).  Clearly articulate where you have been and explain any confusing twists and turns in your background.  Discuss your goals and why your goals are meaningful to you.  Demonstrate self awareness about where you have been, where you are going, and what you have learned along the way.

Essay Two (required):  Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students.

This question is a gift for all of those applicants who need to differentiate themselves from the rest of the application pool.  To accomplish your goal of standing out, highlight your unique qualities with a few well chosen and specific examples.   At the same time, Kellogg values community and teamwork, and you will need to answer the second part of the question about enhancing the experience of other Kellogg students.  Think about what your unique skills, background and values can contribute to the Kellogg community, and communicate these benefits through specific knowledge of the Kellogg program and culture.

In researching this question and the career goals essay, student and applicant blogs are a great informal resource.

Essay Three (required): Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experience.

This classic “leadership essay” asks you to look back on a few key experiences in your leadership development, and to further discuss what areas you plan to work on while at Kellogg.  Though the question is open ended, it will be most effective to limit your key leadership experiences to two or three, and show a range of personal qualities and settings for the experiences.  Two professional and one community service example would be a great way to highlight your leadership outside of work.  Leadership can demonstrate itself in many ways, and this is also an opportunity for you to reflect on your own individual leadership style and communicate it to the adcom.

Question Four: Applicants must answer 2 of the below essays.  (Re-applicants must answer question 4D and 1 other essay).  Please keep responses to two paragraphs.

The focus of these questions indicates that Kellogg is interested in knowing more about your interpersonal skills. Both 4A and 4C focus on how you interact with others, and 4B is completely open ended, leaving you the opportunity to cover any aspects of your background, experiences and personal qualities you still need to demonstrate. 

4A - Describe a time when you had to motivate a reluctant individual or group.

This is a great essay to communicate your maturity and self awareness, as well as how you interact with others and solve problems.  If you do not directly manage an individual or team, you have likely encountered a team based example that would be great for this question.  The essay length is very short, which will require a concise example that leaves plenty of space to be extremely specific about what you did to motivate the individual or group, and the outcome of your efforts.

4B - I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…..

You can have fun with this question, use it to address any areas of concern in your application (low undergraduate GPA, etc.) or simply express another aspect of your candidacy.  Be careful if you are applying to multiple MBA programs and are tempted to “recycle” an essay from another school’s application – such attempts are usually incredibly transparent!

4C - What do others admire about you?

The trick with this essay is to talk about what others admire in you without demonstrating arrogance.  One way to be convincing is to be as specific as possible with examples to back up your assertions.

4D - For re-applicants only:
Since your previous application, what are the steps you’ve taken to strengthen your candidacy?

If you are a re-applicant to Kellogg this year, you will be required to answer this question.  Focus on very concrete steps you have taken to address any weaknesses in your application profile (GPA, GMAT or work experience) as well as any self improvement activities that can demonstrate your teamwork and leadership skills.  Think about any aspects of your improved candidacy that will make you a contributing member of the Kellogg community.