Answering MBA Essay Questions Completely
SBC consultants often review initial essay drafts and feel moved by a particular story or impressed by the client’s accomplishments. Nevertheless, we let them know that they’ll need to return to the drawing board to overhaul their work. When this happens, our comments are usually along the lines of, “Love this, but . . . you’re not actually answering the MBA essay questions the school has asked!”
That is one of the most common missteps we see as extraordinarily talented candidates pull their materials together. They become intent on positioning themselves in a particular way or highlighting a specific achievement. As a result, they fail to respond directly to what their target program has asked, either partially or entirely.
For example, Stanford inquires, “What matters most to you, and why?” In our view, the “and why” part is more important than the “what.” But many applicants overlook it when they begin to outline their responses. Likewise, Kellogg asks, “Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created lasting value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn?”
We find applicants usually have lots to say about a time they’ve shown leadership. Yet they forget to mention the setbacks they had to overcome in the process or include a summary of what they learned from the experience.
So, as you get ready to buckle down for Round 2, take a step back and ensure you’re actually answering MBA essay questions as they appear in the application.
Remember:
Until next time,
The team at Stacy Blackman Consulting
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