An MBA essay is one of the documents international students who want to apply to a business school will need to provide. Firstly, aspiring students need to familiarize themselves with the necessary documents before they begin the application process so as not to make mistakes. Writing an excellent MBA essay might seem like a herculean task if you don’t how to go about it. However, this article examines three steps you have to follow to write a winning MBA essay.
Want to read more informative articles like this one? Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Table of Contents
In the simplest form, an MBA essay tells your story; covering aspects like who you are, your self-assessment, and your aspirations. It enables you to showcase the qualities you have that could not be included in your resume. According to Lisa Koengeter, an MBA essay provides “a better understanding of you, your self-assessment, and your aspirations.” It is equally a powerful write-up as it holds as much as 15% weightage in your MBA application. It helps you showcase your capabilities to your proposed business school.
You’re probably wondering why an MBA essay is necessary. An MBA essay encapsulates the essential information about the applicant’s life. They are mostly written to portray a better version of oneself to the admission board. It can go on as long as convincing the admission committee the reason why they should choose you as the best candidate for the position. Additionally, an excellent MBA essay reflects how the applicant can express his/her thoughts using his/her writing skills.
There is no exact length for an MBA essay, however, it should be short and straight to the point. The required length is dependent on the school’s requirements. Some accept between 150 to 500 words or even more. It is important to know the required length from your desired school before writing and submitting your MBA essay. When it comes to editing, your MBA essay should be legible, readable, and easy to understand.
There are different types of MBA essays asked in business school applications. Below is a list of possible different types of MBA essays:
This essay focuses on the details of the applicant’s personal and professional goals. It also seeks to find out how attending a business school will help you achieve those goals. Any essay that asks questions targeted at knowing your goals and aspirations is classified as a goal essay. Columbia University, NYU Stern, Darden, Dartmouth Tuck, and McCombs are some of the many other schools that ask about your goals.
A self-reflection MBA provides the applicant with the opportunity to showcase the values and characteristics that make up their identity. Students also have the opportunity to write about how they have handled failure in the past and how they would handle ethical difficulties. The Yale University of Management is one school that embraces self-reflective questions. Students will have to be introspective and answer carefully.
The goal of this type of essay is to tell the admissions committee how you will positively contribute and add value to their MBA program. It’s more about what you are willing to offer if you are granted admission. Booth School of Business is a university that asks this type of question. They want applicants to give details of who they are, their value system and principles, and how they incorporate them into their everyday lives.
Some business schools want to know about your leadership experience. They expect applicants to discuss the leadership roles they have taken before, their experience, and their impact. Darden School of Business constructs its essay question to enable applicants to share their leadership experiences.
Rather than go the traditional route of writing essays, some schools will ask intending students to submit a video essay. The questions asked can require students to submit a video that includes an introduction and answers to the other questions asked. Kellogg School of Management is one of the schools that require a video essay.
The steps to writing an excellent MBA essay are explained below:
Before you start writing the content of your MBA essay, it is important to start by planning properly. It makes the compilation and the writing phases easier. Think about the things you want to include, your unique qualities, your achievements, your goals, and so on. Ask yourself some important questions like:
Being introspective makes your MBA essay sound genuine and original. It is important to note down these points as they will be beneficial when you start writing out your MBA essay. Also, note down other important information that will be included when you start writing your MBA essay. It is important to research the school and the course outline as this will help in answering some of the questions.
Once you are done with the planning phase and you have the raw jottings of the points you need, the next thing is to create an outline that will form a framework in which you are going to work. An efficacious outline should include these:
Creating an outline is like drawing a road map it gives direction to your writing. After you have drafted your outline, you can proceed to write out the first draft. Your draft is a more detailed explanation of your outline. Typically, your draft should:
It is also important to note that the direction of your essay will be dependent on the question your university asks.
Once you are done with the draft, it is important to edit and review your work before you send it out. This helps you to spot grammatical errors that need to be corrected, and sometimes you might need to restructure some sentences too. Some important tips to note in this aspect include:
Also, it is beneficial to seek a second opinion before you submit. It might be a professor, an experienced writer, a trusted friend, etc. They can help point out unseen errors or suggest corrections where necessary.
Having understood the step-by-step process involved in writing an excellent MBA essay, it is important to note the mistakes you need to avoid. Some of these mistakes include:
Do you desire to start a career in STEM? The first thing is to pursue a degree in STEM. Wondering how to go about pursuing a postgraduate degree in STEM courses abroad? We can guide you through your journey and make your dreams come true. Reach out to us at EdXtra to access opportunities that will help you on your journey.
Enrolling in the top universities in the world can increase your chances with employers. Unfortunately, it can be quite expensive to study abroad due to the current economic crisis. But this shouldn’t limit you as there are other options you can explore to enhance your career.
MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require any cosigner or collateral before application. At EdXtra Associates, we can help you with your loan application process. We also provide educational consultancy services for international students to help make your journey easier and faster. You can reach out to us, as we’d love to guide you through this journey.
Read also:
Why Canada Is Working Hard To Attract Stem International Students
These 5 STEM Skills Are In Short Supply In Canada…
Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program 2024 For Scholars
Universities In Canada Without Application Fee
This post was last modified on August 31, 2024 10:12 am