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Applicant Question: Two More Tips for MBA Admissions Essays (continued)

Despite the fact that many people have already applied to business school this year, the round two deadline is still just a few weeks away. As a result, I’ve been sharing interview and admissions tips over the past few weeks. In one post, I talked about how to get started and think about framing your essays. (click here to read) And in a second post, I discussed how to stand out so the admissions committee remembers you (click here to read).

Below, I’ve written a couple of additional tips to keep in mind as you’re writing your essays, this time focusing more on fit and story.

1. Discuss past experiences and future goals. Good essays not only discuss past experiences but they also tie them into their future goals. As mentioned in my previous post, admissions committees are thirsty for details of your past and really want to get to know you, so you should discuss the important events in your life. But you should also connect those events to your passions and to what you’re inspired to do in the future. Often times people tend to discuss the past experiences at the expense of future passions, but in my view including one without the other is not the best recipe for success because it leaves the story incomplete.

2. Discuss how business school fits into your career plan. Once you talk your past and discuss your vision for the future, you also want to be sure to mention why going to business school actually adds value in that process – the classes, classmates, career opportunities, professors, etc.  Doing so, you should not only talk about why you want an MBA but also what an MBA from that particular program. And further you should also discuss why now rather than next year. The best essays demonstrate all three of those things and they do so in a very structured and organized manner. In fact, if you re-read your essays and all those questions are not readily apparent, it’s likely you have some editing to do before submitting.

As I mentioned in both of my previous posts, this year is shaping up to be competitive, so be sure check back here, at jeremycwilson.com, for more essay and interview tips to come.

Good luck!

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