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We know you think a sample MBA essay will solve all your problems. But anything you use as inspiration from the internet, thousands of others are using too. So, we will do you one better! In this blog, we will tackle all the types of MBA essays you’ll encounter when applying to a B-School and show you the best ways to answer them. Shall we?

In this blog:

  1. Types of MBA Essay Questions

  2. Features of MBA Admission Essays That Worked

Types of MBA Essay Questions

When applying to business school, you’ll encounter essay questions that aim to reveal who you truly are. Admissions committees use these questions to gain insight into your personality, goals, and values. Here’s how you can tackle some of the most common MBA essay types effectively.

Career Aspirations: Why an MBA?

Sample MBA Essay Question: How will an MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (MBA Essay Question – Chicago Booth)

This is often the most crucial essay question. The admissions committee wants to know why you deserve a spot in their program. Here’s how to approach it:

Link Past and Future: Discuss your background, skills, and career goals. Explain how an MBA is the bridge to your next professional chapter.

Be Specific: Mention why you’re choosing this particular program and how it aligns with your aspirations.

Set Realistic Goals: Whether you aim to deepen your expertise or dream of becoming a CEO, detail a realistic plan to achieve these goals.

Personal Interests: Life Beyond Work

Sample MBA Essay Question: What are your principal interests outside of work or school?

Business school is about more than just academics; it’s a vibrant community. Share how your hobbies and community activities make you unique. Here are some tips:

Show Your Personality: Highlight interests that reveal your creativity and energy.

Highlight Social Skills: Emphasize how you thrive in group settings and value the people in your life.

Admiration: Who Inspires You?

Sample MBA Essay Question: Who do you most admire?

This question helps the committee understand your values and the qualities you aspire to emulate. To stand out:

Think Beyond the Famous: Consider choosing someone in your personal life who has influenced you.

Tell a Story: Use specific examples to illustrate the qualities you admire.

Leadership Experience: Team Dynamics

Sample MBA Essay Question: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (Essay Question – Harvard MBA Program)

Admissions committees are interested in leaders who foster teamwork and collaboration. To address this:

Focus on the Team: Highlight how you encouraged contributions from all team members.

Shift the Narrative: Make the story about “we,” not just “me.”

Diversity and Inclusion: Your Unique Perspective

Sample MBA Essay Question: Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to our community? (Essay Question – Wharton MBA Program )

This essay is about how your background and experiences will enrich the school community. Consider these points:

Diverse Experiences: Discuss any unique experiences that shape your worldview, whether it’s cultural background, personal achievements, or unusual hobbies.

Contribution to Community: Explain how your perspective will add value to the diverse environment.

Personal Achievements: Meaningful Milestones

Sample MBA Essay Question: Describe a personal achievement that has had a significant impact on your life.

You don’t need a dramatic achievement; small but meaningful accomplishments can be just as impactful. Focus on:

Character and Growth: Highlight achievements that show character, dedication, or perseverance.

Personal Significance: Explain what the achievement means to you personally.

Personal Failure: Lessons Learned

Sample MBA Essay Question: Discuss a non-academic personal failure. What did you learn from the experience?

This question is about honesty and growth. Here’s how to approach it:

Be Authentic: Choose a genuine failure and be honest about it.

Reflect on Growth: Discuss what you learned and how it helped you mature.

By thoughtfully addressing these essay questions, you can paint a comprehensive picture of who you are and why you’re an ideal candidate for their MBA program. Remember, these essays are not just about ticking boxes but about telling your story in a way that resonates with the admissions committee.

Suggested Read: How to justify gap years in education: Application, Essays and SOPs

Features of MBA Admission Essays That Worked

When writing your MBA essays, think of supporting details to illustrate each of your main ideas. Supporting details give substance to simple facts. Concrete details include descriptive information about an event, such as steps taken to achieve a goal; results and outcome; participants involved; and goals accomplished. Intangible details include personal reactions to and emotions resulting from an experience; abstract results and outcomes (such as personal growth, skills, and qualities demonstrated). Concrete and intangible details combine to form vivid images and stories.

In your writing, remember to always show—do not merely state. Provide proof for any claims you make. Look at these two essay excerpts, in which one uses detail while the other does not.

Using Details and Examples

Excerpt of an essay that “states”

“I am a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills and a passion for leadership in the business world.”

Excerpt of an essay that “shows”

“Strategic by nature, I feel the greatest satisfaction when I can exercise my talents through leading teams in business projects. During university, I was appointed president of the Business Strategy Club, an organisation that brings together students from six universities throughout Tokyo to participate in annual business case competitions. My special contribution during my tenure was getting to know individual team members personally and then tailoring roles and responsibilities to each person’s strengths. I combined my understanding of people with my analytical skills—sharpened through my major in Business Administration—to maximise the effectiveness of our strategies. The result was two consecutive years of winning awards for outstanding business solutions and leadership, recognised by the Tokyo Business Forum.”

Note: The two examples differ because one makes claims about possessing certain qualities while the other demonstrates that the applicant has them. Anyone can say that they are strategic, analytical, or passionate about leadership, but to sound credible, one must offer evidence to support those claims.

Using Details and Examples<

Stating Your Points Clearly

Admissions officers have an enormous number of essays to read in a limited amount of time. For this reason, it is imperative that your essays be clear, explicit, and well-organised. The reader will not have the time or desire to read an essay several times to try and clarify questions generated by an applicant’s writing. In addition, their ability to “know” the applicant within one reading will be their test of how well they can communicate their ideas on paper.

When writing, state your point from the beginning of your essay, and at the start of each paragraph, and support these points with details and examples. Use succinct wording and do not expect the reader to discern subtle points or suggestions. Since your goal is to make a strong case in a short amount of time, focus on being straightforward and direct, rather than artistic and elusive. The result may be writing that appears more simple or basic than what you are accustomed to, but this “direct route” of getting your point across will lead to an effective application essay.

Language and Tone

Determining Your Audience – To whom are you writing? The Admissions Committees typically include a combination of admissions staff, current graduate students, and faculty. Your language, then, should be sophisticated enough to demonstrate competence in the area, but also elementary enough to convey points to a non-expert.

Tone and Style

Since your potential as a student and a fellow classmate will be evaluated in your essays, it is best to deliver your writing in a professional yet personal tone. Respect the seriousness of this process, but don’t forget to show passion, warmth, and other personal qualities that will allow the reader to connect with you. Just as you can easily gain an impression of someone from a first meeting, admissions officers often form impressions of essays subjectively, based on subtle emotional reactions to the personality that is presented before them.

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