While a school may change the wording of MBA prompts slightly every year, there are some common MBA essay topics that reoccur every application season. The MBA admission essay is a critical component of admission to business school, so preparing in advance by researching common MBA essay topics can give you an advantage.
Although all candidates must possess a winning combination of academic, personal, and professional achievements to get into grad school, MBA programs typically attract and accept students who have significant career experience. Therefore, your professional path is key to your admission to business school and should be emphasized in your application essays. In this article, we’ll look at 10 of the top business schools’ MBA essay topics, identify common themes that you can expect in any MBA essay prompt, and review some exemplary responses to help you prepare for this important part of MBA applications.
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What Purpose Do MBA Essay Topics Serve?
MBA essay topics are meant to elicit what makes you the perfect candidate for an MBA and for the specific business program you are applying to. Your essay should convince the admissions committee that you have what it takes to be successful in an MBA program, based on personal, academic, and work experience, and that you are the right fit for the class. Whether you are writing an MBA personal statement, a statement of purpose, or another type of essay, your essay should tell the story of the steps you took to end up here. MBA essay topics also highlight the mission, core values, and priorities of the business school. Because business schools are all quite different, tailor your essay to emphasize the curricula and teaching approach that appeals to you in the school’s philosophy of business education and research.
A Master of Business Administration is a highly sought-after credential. Admission to this challenging program is competitive, and the application process, like the MBA itself, is demanding. Business schools are seeking leaders, not followers, and the MBA essay is your opportunity to demonstrate how you measure up. The admissions committee will be keen to understand your background and aspirations and how you see yourself fitting in and contributing to the MBA program. Finally, they will be looking for proof of your self-assessment abilities and business acumen.
The key to acing MBA essay topics you encounter is to remember that everything you include in the essays must inevitably link back to the questions “Why MBA?” and “What makes you right for our MBA program?” We will discuss other important themes below, but as an MBA applicant, all your application components must in some way answer these important questions.
When Should I Begin to Prepare my MBA Essay?
New MBA essay topics are typically published on business schools’ websites in May and June with their updated admissions requirements. However, as we already mentioned, many of the themes remain the same, even if the exact wording of the prompt changes. This is why you can start brainstorming and preparing for common essay topics long before you have to actually submit!
MBA programs may have rolling admissions or deadlines. Several business schools have three application rounds per year. The first round will be in September/October for admission in the fall semester of the following year; in other words, you are applying a full year before you hope to start the program, and your MBA essay is due when you submit your application.
What Format Do MBA Essay Topics Take?
There is a huge variety of formats your MBA essay may take. Some business schools require just an MBA letter of intent or personal statement, but most require one or more essays in different formats. MBA essay topics may be in written, multimedia, and/or video format. For example, John MolsonSchool of Business requires a 500-word MBA statement of purpose and a video interview. Rotman School of Management asks that you include 1–3 images in your application based on their “spike factor”: life experiences that “demonstrate passion, grit, resilience, innovation, drive, ambition,” or other qualities. In addition to a 1,000-word essay, they require a 2-question video interview response with a timed 10-min. written response component. As part of their required essay package, NYU Stern asks you to describe yourself using their “Pick Six” method (six images with an introduction and corresponding captions in a PDF).
These divergent approaches underscore that you should research your preferred business schools carefully. You will see from our list of 10 of the top business schools’ MBA essay topics below that they are all quite different!
What Is an MBA Video Essay?
An MBA video essay or interview uses a third-party platform, such as Kira Talent, to enable you to introduce yourself and/or verbally respond to a prompt. It serves the same purpose as a written essay, but your answers must usually be much more concise. This requirement should not be mistaken for the interview extended by invitation only if the admissions committee decides to advance you in the application process! That is a separate step.
An MBA video essay, like an interview, is designed to assess your verbal communication skills as well as your ability to pitch yourself and think on your feet. It also helps the admissions committee evaluate how you might contribute to classroom discussions or teamwork. Kellogg Business School is one top b-school which requires an MBA video essay as part of its application.
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How Do I Submit my MBA Video Essay?
Depending on the business school, you will record your video essay either via a link provided on the admissions page as part of the application requirements, or via a link sent to you after you submit your application. It is important to review the admissions page and make sure you understand the submission process.
The topics and instructions for video essays may appear on the admissions page, along with those for other required MBA essays, or they may only be provided once you access the link. In that case, there may be an option to test the platform and practice some questions before the actual recording. However, certain schools, such as Smith School of Business, present random questions in real time “designed to be answered without advance preparation … highlighting how quickly and concisely you can formulate an answer.”
You will be expected to complete any MBA video essay requirements independently, and your application will not be complete until you submit the video essay.
Required vs Optional MBA Essay Topics
With MBA essay topics, “required” vs “optional” also has diverse meanings! One essay topic may be required for first-time applicants, but it may be optional for reapplicants. Each business school may also have a different definition of a reapplicant. For example, if you applied to the MBA program within the last two years, you may be a reapplicant; however, if it has been three or more years, you may be considered a new applicant. It is essential to check which category you fit into and confirm the MBA essay topics and types that apply to you.
For reapplicants, the objective of an optional essay is usually to find out what you have done or what has changed (career moves, test scores) since your last application; in other words, why you are more worthy of admission now. Further, like many other graduate schools, MBA programs may provide the opportunity for applicants to explain any extenuating circumstances in an optional essay. In all cases, we recommend taking advantage of the optional essay to make your application stand out, unless doing so would go against the rules/requirements.
List of 10 Top Business Schools with MBA Essay Topics and Examples
The following list outlines what you can expect in terms of essay requirements this year for admission to 10 top business schools in the United States and Canada. This list includes the name of the school and associated university/location as well as MBA essay topics, submission format, required length, and some examples of good responses.
You can also check out MBA essay questions and answers for Stanford Business School, Harvard Business School, Kellogg Business School (Northwestern U), Wharton School of Business (Pennsylvania U), Haas School of Business (California U), MIT Sloan, Yale, and Columbia.
1. UCLA Anderson School of Management
University of California Los Angeles
Required Essay: 1
“Tell us about a recent personal or professional achievement and how it connects to your MBA goals.”
This essay topic seeks to understand how your recent experiences informed your decision to pursue an MBA and why UCLA Anderson represents the best path for you to achieve your goals.
2. Chicago Booth
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Required Essay: 2
1. “How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals?”
This essay topic is asking about why you are interested in the MBA, why Chicago Booth is the perfect choice for you, and how the school will help you achieve your immediate and long-term career goals. Note that while this is a common MBA essay topic, business schools may ask about immediate, short-term, or long-term goals, or some combination of these. It is important to read and respond to the prompt accurately.
2. “An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are.”
This essay topic is a diversity prompt, designed to assess your individuality, self-awareness, development, engagement, and potential contribution to the class. While focusing on the personal, you should aim to connect what you have learned with what you can teach or share with your classmates in the MBA program.
Length: 250 words min. (no max.) per essay
Example for Essay Topic 1: “How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals?”
Eight years ago, after earning my M.S. in Business Analytics from Franklin University, I partnered with two alumni in a startup venture. TechCapital’s mission is to assess technology needs of companies looking to retrofit their older plants. We act as an intermediary between investors and companies to structure, implement, and manage the retrofitting contract. Our unique business model has proven to be highly successful, and we guarantee significant ROI once operations begin.
Columbus, Ohio, has since come to be known as the Midwest’s “tech capital.” Recent investment in startups is booming. We launched three newly retrofitted enterprises, all representative of key industries: advanced manufacturing, logistics, and insurance. Moreover, we have tripled in size and expanded our core departments: consulting, business analytics, and contracting. Sensing that we are at the cusp of real growth, I know the time is right to step up my game.
With its reputation for innovation, impactful research, and transformative knowledge, the prestigious Booth Weekend MBA Program is my first choice for fulfilling a lifelong ambition. I certainly fit the profile of a high-potential professional seeking to rise to the next level. The Chicago Approach aligns perfectly with my analytical sensibility, as confirmed by attendance at several Roundtables and Student Panels. I am eager to learn from talented peers and an exceptional faculty. Finally, I look forward to building my professional network and ultimately establishing a second TechCapital in Chicago to share lessons learned and implement the novel, creative, and sustainable business solutions our company has pursued.
Check out more Chicago Booth MBA essay examples!
3. Darden School of Business
University of Virginia
Required Essays: 3
1. “Given that you will be forming lifelong connections with your classmates that extend beyond the classroom, what is important for your classmates to know about you that is not on your resumé?”
Length: 200 words
2. “Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden.”
Length: 300 words
These two essay topics are diversity prompts. This type of essay is intended to showcase how your experiences or background will enhance the diversity of the business school and MBA program. As both essays are required, it is important to emphasize different aspects of your journey in each one. Essay topic #1 seeks to understand your perspective, what makes you unique, how you will enrich the class through your contribution, and what your classmates can learn from you. Essay topic #2 suggests that you demonstrate, through a specific example from your life, work, or volunteering, how you personally promoted an inclusive environment.
3. “At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career?”
This essay topic is asking why Darden is a good fit with your goals and how the school and MBA program can help you reach them. Here, they wish to hear about how the courses, internships, research, and other opportunities they offer match your short- and long-term objectives. Note that by listing specific aspects of goals, they expect to see a detailed description based on these points.
Length: 200 words
Example for Essay Topic 2: “Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden.”
My first small business experience taught me valuable lessons about customer service and marketing but also about leadership and learning style. I hope to be able to share these insights with my peers at Darden.
To pay for my college tuition, I used to offer summer art classes in my backyard to neighborhood kids. I later expanded my activities by renting a small studio space. Yet, when my students went back to school, my client base shrank. To cover the rent, I offered a seniors’ promotion, and soon every hour not dedicated to my own studies was spent in the studio. It wasn’t an immediate success, however. My students weren’t happy!
In time, I got my answer. One student, expecting a lecture style as value for money, complained, “That’s not teaching.” Another contradicted them, saying, “You’re just telling, not showing.” Someone else said, “This project hurts my hands too much.”
With the kids, I recognized that they all had different needs, based on their ages, abilities, and interests, but I had assumed that my seniors would be a homogenous group. How wrong I was! To be successful, I had to address their different learning styles and expectations as well as any issues with vision, hearing, or fine-motor skills. I had to adapt my approach to each person while still presenting a coherent lesson. I had to recognize that even with adults, there is no single, correct approach.
I do have a passion for engaging with people, and I am a problem-solver by nature, but today, I take the time to better understand others’ perspectives. As a student at Darden, I will seek to connect with my peers and facilitate knowledge sharing. Perhaps most importantly, I will be prepared to challenge preconceptions and help others see things through someone else’s eyes.
4. Desautels
McGill University Desautels Faculty of Management
Required essays: 3
1. “Why do you intend on pursuing an MBA at this point in your life? Describe your mid-term and long-term visions for your post-MBA career path and how will the Desautels MBA program add value to your future career?”
This essay topic is really asking “Why MBA?” The essay needs to demonstrate through solid experiences what prepared you for MBA studies and how Desautels offers the perfect path to achieving your goals.
2. “What qualities would you look for in an MBA classmate when working on a team project and describe how your background and leadership skills will enhance the experience of others?”
This essay topic is a diversity prompt, intended to elicit how your experiences and background will enhance the class. Its purpose is to determine what your classmates can learn from you, specifically based on your leadership and collaboration skills. Moreover, this topic assesses your values and compatibility with the class and program.
3. “Describe a difficult decision you made and the process that you went through to make it.”
This essay topic resembles a question posed in a behavioral interview. As such, it aims to assess your strategy for dealing with challenging situations. It seeks to understand your motivation, business acumen, and conflict management skills, based on an actual experience you had to address.
Length: 500 words max. per essay
5. Fuqua
Duke Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Required Essays: 3
1. Short answer: “What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.”
As with similar essay topics, here, the question is why you selected Fuqua and how the school and MBA program can help you achieve your goals. However, as a short answer, it is necessary to quickly zone in on your first-choice goal and why Fuqua is the best and most direct route to achieving it. Your alternate plan should describe another, secondary route to achieving the same goal while reiterating that Fuqua remains the better option.
Length: 100 words
2. List, numbered 1 to 25: “Please share with us ‘25 Random Things’ about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.”
This essay topic is a diversity prompt and should illustrate, in a creative way, what Fuqua and your classmates can learn from you. As the requirements note, “Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.” This unusual prompt allows you the opportunity to make your application truly stand out.
Length: 750 words max. (2 pp.)
3. Essay: “Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?”
This essay topic is a diversity prompt focused on what you are interested in and what you can contribute to campus. It seeks to know more about your background and experiences, your values, and your engagement in business and other contexts, such as community or sports, for example. To answer this prompt, it is also essential to do your research on Fuqua and single out the specific student-led organizations which you appreciate. Be sure to highlight 3 contributions you envision making, as specified in the prompt.
Length: 500 words max. (1 p.)
Example for Essay Topic 2: “25 Random Things” (10 Prompts to Get You Started)
- If I could live anywhere in the world, I’d live _______.
- If money was no object, I’d _______.
- If I were to teach any subject, it would be _______.
- If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would be _______.
- I’d love to open a shop that sells _______.
- I am most proud of _______.
- I won an award for _______.
- If I could start a foundation, I would aim to help _______.
- The first paper I ever wrote was on _______.
- If I could accomplish just one thing in life, it would be _______.
6. Ivey Business School
University of Western Ontario
Required essays: 2
1. Goals: “What are your short-term career plans immediately post-MBA, and why is an Ivey MBA essential to those plans?”
Once again, your response to this essay topic should emphasize why you elected to pursue an MBA, why you selected Ivey, and how the MBA program can help you achieve your goals. Note that this question asks specifically about your short-term plans; in other words, describe what you are currently doing, your next steps, and how Ivey is the best possible avenue right now.
2. Decision: “Tell us about a challenge you have faced in your life, and what lessons you learned from it.”
This essay topic incorporates behavioral aspects, diversity, and setbacks. Depending on the experience you choose as your example, you might emphasize different areas. You could also use this essay to explain any red flags that may appear in your application. Most importantly, describe how you overcame this challenge and what you learned from it.
Length: 250 words max. per essay
Example for Essay Topic 2: Decision “Tell us about a challenge you have faced in your life, and what lessons you learned from it.”
Our firm recently went through a merger, and a major challenge was to agree on production restructuring. While our plant included a range of manufacturing processes, the other firm’s three plants were specialized. To address the bottleneck, I met with the director of that company and key personnel. It soon became clear that what was needed was not a complete reorganization of the infrastructure but rather, a creative restructuring of teams. We took advantage of the change to close one floor in our plant that had aging equipment and reorganize the warehouse. In the process, we added a fourth production facility, turned the defunct production floor into office and meeting spaces, expanded the cafeteria, and reclaimed the yard for a staff garden. We also created an innovation hub to regroup senior technicians from each firm and interns from local schools. While this represented a massive challenge, respectful, open communication between the two management teams with input from staff at all levels enabled buy-in and consensus. In fact, the process seemed to energize the new firm. Although initially resistant, the employees recognized the benefits: a safer, cleaner, more pleasant work environment with efficient equipment. This experience was formative for me in terms of conflict mediation. It also showed me that value can be generated from potentially negative circumstances. The new firm has surpassed all its targets, and our HR team can hardly keep up with response to our job postings.
7. Ross
Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Required essays: 5
Short-answer questions
“Select one prompt from each of the two groups below.”
1. Group 1
“I want people to know that I …”
“I made a difference when I …”
“I was aware that I was different when …”
These prompts are asking you to demonstrate qualities that are important for the school: leadership, self-awareness, ambition, etc. Ultimately, they seek to gauge why you are pursuing an MBA and what makes you perfect for it.
Length: <100 words
2. Group 2
“I was out of my comfort zone when …”
“I was humbled when …”
“I was challenged when …”
These prompts are asking you to signal red flags or setbacks: again, the point is not that you experienced failure—everyone does—but to show the character and qualities that helped you overcome these issues.
Length: <100 words
Short-answer question
3. “Pick one thing from your resume and tell us more.”
This is a diversity prompt asking you to expand on a very significant experience that led you to MBA and to highlight some of the qualities you will bring to the program.
Length: 100 words
Career goal
4. “What is your short-term goal?”
This prompt is asking you to connect your short-term goal with the reason you are applying to Ross MBA.
Length: 25 words
5. “Why is this the right short-term career goal for you?”
This prompt is asking you to elaborate on your commitment to your short-term goal and why an MBA and Ross are the ideal next steps for you.
Length: 150 words
Example for Essay Topic 3: “Pick one thing from your resume and tell us more.”
My internship with Agrivesta was memorable. With my interest and experience in organic farming, I felt prepared for my role as assistant production manager in this small local startup. However, a major flood changed everything. Suddenly, I had to assume management responsibilities to help coordinate the emergency response and insurance claims. All of us had to pitch in and think on our feet to arrange vet care and alternative shelter for animals. We moved the store to safely sell off produce and maintain the revenue stream. This experience showed me that I can handle pressure, take responsibility, and act autonomously.
8. NYU Stern School of Business
New York University
Required essays: 3
1. Professional aspirations: “What are your short-term career goals?”
Again, this prompt is asking you to connect your short-term goals with the reason you are pursuing an MBA and applying to NYU Stern, in particular.
Length: 150 words max.
2. Change: _________ it.
“In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern?”
This prompt is asking you to explain why NYU Stern is the perfect choice for you, using your knowledge of the school’s culture and brand to convince them. The examples they have provided below indicate that your response should be both reflective and action oriented.
Length: 350 words max.
3. Personal expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)
“Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates”: includes an introduction to your “Pick Six,” six images (photos, infographics, drawings, other), and corresponding captions.
This is a diversity prompt, designed to enable you to creatively showcase what makes you unique, what you intend to contribute to the school, and what your classmates will learn from you.
Examples for Essay Topic: “Change _________ it.”
- Change: Dare it.
- Change: Dream it.
- Change: Drive it.
- Change: Empower it.
- Change: Manifest it.
- Change: [Any word of your choice] it.
9. Tepper School of Business
Carnegie Mellon University
Required essays: 2
1. Written essay: “The Tepper community is dynamic and unique with students who strive to be collaborative, supportive, and inclusive. Please provide an example of when you experienced or created an inclusive environment and how you will use that experience to help members of the community reach their full potential.”
* Requirement is different for college seniors.
This is a diversity prompt that expressly states some of the business school’s values in the essay topic. Aim to pull out from your background a concrete example of collaborative, supportive, and inclusive engagement that illustrates why you will be a valuable addition to the Tepper community.
2. Video essay: “Please describe your post-MBA career goals. How does this post-MBA career goal relate to your long-term career plan?”
This prompt is asking you to connect your immediate post-MBA goals with your long-term goals, discuss why an MBA is essential to fulfilling those goals, and explain why Tepper is the clear next step for you. This is a video recording that you can prepare for in advance.
Length: 2 min.
Example for Required Reapplicant Essay Topic: “Explain how your candidacy has strengthened since your last application.”
I applied to the full-time MBA at Tepper School of Business two years ago, but unfortunately, I was not accepted. In seeking feedback from Tepper’s admissions services, I learned that my work experience was not considered extensive enough and that my TOEFL and IELTS scores were too low. While my speaking skills are strong, I struggled with the written component, as my studies were undertaken in Spanish in my native Bogotá, Columbia. I believe a related issue was my decision to take both the TOEFL and IELTS, to meet the requirements of my three preferred MBA programs in the United States. Although I prepared extensively for these two exams, without exposure to much specialized vocabulary in my work environment, I had few opportunities to apply my knowledge or practice my skills. Further, I realize now that I rushed the application process due to my excitement at obtaining my F-1 student visa. Nine months did not allow me enough time to adequately prepare both exams as well as fulfil all the other requirements and maintain my performance in my high-level position in human resources.
However, in the meantime, I was accepted to the MBA program at Universidad de los Andes and have just completed my third part-time semester. I was also promoted to the position of assistant director of our firm’s Bogotá branch after three years as an HR associate and four years as department manager. Last summer, I was offered a two-month internship at our sister office in Pittsburgh to engage in the joint exercise of reconciling our reporting, data management, SOP documentation, and other protocols to be able to expand our international market. This immersion experience, which involved considerable translation between Spanish and English alongside bilingual peers, was exactly what I needed to bring both my written and spoken English up to a professional level. In fact, my recent TOEFL score was 105. My IELTS scores were an especially gratifying personal best: Listening: 9, Reading: 7, Writing: 8, Speaking: 9. In writing, I gained a full 3 points.
I have therefore decided to reapply for the Tepper MBA but in the part-time online hybrid stream. I believe this to be a reasonable choice, given my advancement and responsibilities at our firm. The recent rapprochement of our offices in the two countries means that I will be able to travel freely between them. I know that the excellent leadership and analytical training I will receive at Tepper in its STEM-designated MBA will enable me to streamline the Pittsburgh office and develop our Bogotá branch to an unprecedented high level. In fact, our management science-based approach is what sets our HR services apart in that city, and this is precisely why I have returned to re-apply to Tepper—and only Tepper—as it is the ideal environment in which to advance my leadership skills as a new director and ensure that our firm has access to the most advanced business analysis available. Finally, and most importantly, I believe my persistence demonstrates my commitment to and interest in the school as well as my ambition. I am certain my contribution, enriched by recent experiences, will be significant, both academically and among the international student body.
10. Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
Dartmouth College
Required essays: 3
1. “Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck?”
This essay topic seeks to understand why you are pursuing an MBA and how Tuck’s distinct qualities will further your specific goals.
2. “Tuck students recognize how their individuality adds to the fabric of Tuck. Tell us who you are.”
3. “Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative, and empathetic, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a meaningful experience in which you exemplified one or more of these attributes.”
These two essay topics are diversity prompts. Essay topic #2 seeks to understand who you are and how your individual contribution will enrich the Tuck community. In Essay topic #3, some of the business school’s values are expressly stated, and you are asked to describe, based on a meaningful experience in your life, how you behaved in a way consistent with those values, even when it may have been difficult to do so. As both essays are required, it is important to stick to the specific prompt for each one and not repeat the same information.
Length: 300 words max. per essay
Want to see more MBA essay examples from top business schools?
- Wharton MBA essay examples
- Columbia MBA essay examples
- Yale MBA essay examples
- Kellogg MBA essay examples
- Haas essay examples
- Kelley MBA essay examples
- Cornell MBA essay examples
- Stanford MBA personal statement examples
FAQs
1. What is the purpose of an MBA essay?
An MBA essay is intended to show the admissions committee why you are a perfect candidate for MBA and their program specifically. It also serves to introduce you and complement your application by providing additional information about your background, career experience, aptitude to succeed in a challenging MBA program, business acumen, and motivation.
2. Is it true that MBA essay topics change every year?
Certain business schools tend to change their MBA essay topics each year, while others use the same or similar topics to the previous year. The business school may seek to compare applicants to the previous cohort or focus on current priorities that match their unique philosophy of business education and research.
3. When are MBA essay topics announced?
MBA essay topics are usually announced in May and June for applications starting in the fall for the following academic year.
4. When should I begin to prepare my MBA essay?
You can start any time to research business schools, look at the types of MBA essay topics they post, visit the campus, attend events, make inquiries, connect with alumni, make notes, and write drafts. Then, when the topic is announced, you will be ready to write your MBA essay. Give yourself around 6–8 weeks to finalize your essays.
5. What format do MBA essay topics take?
MBA essay topics may be presented as a letter of intent, personal statement, written essay, short answer questions, multimedia presentation, or video essay. One or more essays may be required in different formats. A wide range of formats is used by different business schools.
6. Is the MBA video essay the same as an interview?
An MBA video essay is different from an interview, but it may take the form of responses to interview-type questions, such as “tell us about yourself” or “why do you want to pursue an MBA?”. It should not be mistaken for the by invitation only interview, which is a separate step. Some MBA video essay topics are proposed in advance in the admissions requirements, while others may be presented via a platform as random questions to which you must respond in real time.
7. When do I submit my MBA video essay?
The MBA video essay is part of the application package and must be submitted when you apply or via a link sent to you shortly after you apply.
8. Should I respond to the MBA optional essay topic?
If you are a reapplicant or have extenuating circumstances, the MBA optional essay will be required. We recommend taking advantage of the optional essay to make your application stand out, unless the instructions state otherwise.
9. Where can I get help to respond to my MBA essay topics?
Many applicants wonder if admissions consulting is worth considering. It certainly is, especially if you are unsure how to tackle your MBA essay topics. Your MBA essay is one of the most important components of your application because your admission depends on your career experience, not just your grades. An MBA essay consultant can help you craft a strong written response to your MBA essay topics and prepare for the MBA video essay.