By
Sharon Perlman
President, The Writing Web, USA. http://www.writingweb.com/mba

Tips for Writing MBA Application Essays

Your essays are an important part of your business school applications. Your grades, GMAT scores and work experiences are set. The essay is your chance to “talk” to the admissions committee and to convince them to accept you. How can you write great essays that will show the admissions committees what an awesome MBA student and business leader you will be? Here are some tips:

What schools are looking for
Admissions committees want to see (1) that you have the potential to succeed academically at their school, (2) that their school would be a good fit for you, and (3) how the school will benefit from having you as a student at their school (They look for unique background and/or experiences, special talents, involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership skills, etc.)

Hook the reader
The admissions committee will likely spend less than ten minutes reading each essay. To make yours stand out write about something you are passionate about and make sure your introduction hooks the reader and draws him or her into the essay. The first paragraph, and especially the first few sentences, should be personal, unusual and interesting. Be careful not to open your essay with abstract statements about the business world or life in general.

Make your essays memorable
You don't have to have started a multibillion dollar business to get into b-school. However, you should try to focus on what makes you unique and desirable. Your essays should still be interesting to read. For a question like Wharton's “Describe a personal achievement that has had a significant impact on your life. In addition to recounting this achievement, please analyze how the event changed your understanding of yourself and how you perceive the world around you”, the key to making your essay come alive is to show the reader what you learned by describing in detail what your thoughts and feelings were at the time. Instead of stating the lessons your learned explicitly, show the reader how you changed and grew as a result of your experience.

The four basic steps
There are four basic steps to writing your essays: preparation before you write, writing, revising and proofreading. The first step is to take some time to brainstorm ideas and plan your essay. Then write your essay without worrying about it being perfect; you just want to get a first draft out. In the third step, revision, you can look at content, organization, clarity, etc., and improve the essay. Finally, be sure to proofread your essay, making certain you have no spelling, grammar or syntax mistakes.

Make your essay personal
Avoid general statements like “I want to go into consulting because I enjoy helping businesses run more efficiently.” Instead, use specific examples of what you are trying to say, thereby showing the reader what you did and how you felt instead of stating these feelings explicitly. For instance, if you worked in a start-up you could describe some business strategy challenges you encountered and how you dealt with them. In general, it is more interesting for the reader to read descriptive stories and these “stories” make your conclusions sound more realistic.

Focus
Don't try to include too many topics in one essay. It's better to focus on 2-4 experiences or ideas and develop these in depth.

It's ok to mention your weaknesses but be careful
It's acceptable to explain a period of bad grades, a gap in your resume or something else you feel you ought to explain. Be as brief as possible and try to find something positive to say about any problem; be sure not to use an entire essay to explain a weakness.

Get a second opinion
Show your essays to other people to get feedback. It's hard to criticize your own essays and to view them objectively.

Remember that your essays are fair game
Interviewers may ask you about your essays in your interviews. Be prepared to discuss any topic that you mention in your essay.