MBA Motivation Letter: How to Write One

What is an MBA motivation letter?

An MBA motivation letter is one of many different types of written documents an MBA applicant might include in their application to an MBA graduate program. MBA motivation letters are similar to a personal statement or MBA letter of intent, but there are some key differences. A good MBA motivation letter is designed to share with the reader what your future aspirations are, why you want to pursue an MBA at that school and why you are a top-choice applicant.

An MBA motivation letter is not the same as a personal statement, statement of purpose or letter of intent. It serves a similar function in an MBA application, but its content and structure are closer to than of a cover letter you might write for a job application. Your MBA application might also ask for an MBA cover letter sample, but this is a different document than a motivation letter. Motivation letters are typically written for graduate and undergraduate study programs, or unpaid job positions, for example volunteer work or internships. Motivation letters focus on what you can contribute and what your future career goals in business are. Your MBA cover letter serves as a sort of introduction to your entire application and lays out why you are a good fit for an MBA program or addresses any weaknesses in your application such as low GMAT scores.

An MBA motivation letter also differs from a personal statement or statement of purpose in that it is shorter, more formal and focuses on your future. An MBA personal statement typically focuses on your past experiences and how they have influenced you or how they contributed to your decision to apply to graduate school. Read some MBA personal statement examples or MBA statement of purpose examples to get a better idea of the differences between these written statements.

Top MBA programs will state what is required for their application, including whether they want you to submit an MBA resume, MBA diversity essay or optional essay, and whether you need to submit an MBA motivation letter or not. This is not always a required component of the application, but its important to know how to write one in case your choice of MBA program asks for it. Even if it is not required, you can submit a motivation letter to help strengthen your application.

To increase your chances of getting into competitive programs like the Wharton School of Business or Stanford Business School, consider writing a motivation letter to share your personal and professional aspirations with the admissions committee.

Writing an MBA statement of purpose? Check out these examples!

How to write an MBA motivation letter

An MBA motivation letter has a similar structure and format to a cover letter you might write for a job interview. It should be no longer than one page long, or around 400 words. It also needs to adhere to a formal letter format, which means it has to include your full name and contact information, the addressee’s name, title and contact information, and the date.

A formal letter uses a professional, straightforward tone and uses formal greetings and sign offs. You should also include a sincere thank you at the end of your letter to the person who will read it. As with cover letters, your MBA motivation letter will also include a brief introduction of yourself, 2 to 3 body paragraphs outlining your main points, and a closing paragraph before your thank you and sign off. So, a basic template of an MBA motivation letter would look just like an MBA cover letter.

Some programs use cover letter and motivation letter interchangeably or may ask for a preference between the two. Either way, you can choose to submit one of each, as long you avoid repeating too much information or creating too much overlap between the two letters. Any piece of writing you can add to your application can help, as long as it contributes something more or adds something, instead of simply restating earlier information.

If you need to choose between the two, you might consider an MBA motivation letter over a cover letter if:

As you can see, an MBA motivation letter might be a more useful tool for students who don’t have stellar MBA CVs or impressive work experience in business. Or if there are parts of your application you want to offset by demonstrating your enthusiasm, ambition and drive to succeed, a motivation letter can help you stand out.

Need more tips on writing a statement of purpose? Watch this video!

MBA motivation letter samples

Here we’ve included a few MBA motivation letter samples to guide you on how to write your own! For the purposes of these samples, we’ve left out contact information, names and dates you would include at the top of your letter.

MBA motivation letter sample #1

Dear Dr. Wexton,

I am taking this opportunity to write to you as part of my application to the [Business School] MBA program. I am recently graduated from [Undergraduate Program] and have decided to continue my education in graduate school. After careful thought, I have decided an MBA will best suit my career goals.

I was fortunate to not need to work during my undergraduate years, so I have not gained a great deal of work experience. I have worked several part-time positions and I am proud to be a dedicated volunteer for a number of university clubs and community programs. These experiences you can find in my resume and extracurriculars, which are included in my application package. Through these experiences, I have discovered where I would want to focus my work as a future businessperson.

Teamwork is an essential part of volunteering, and indeed in working with any team. I have been fortunate to work with many different teams, both large and small, and the interpersonal dynamics at play, the way a group of people can come together to create an effective whole, has always fascinated me. I feel my own traits of being detail-oriented, compassionate and open-minded have also helped me positively contribute to the teams I’ve been a part of. This has fostered an interest in working in a business consulting environment, specifically with a focus on team management and employee relationships. To show my commitment to this goal, I have also pursued a Scrum Master certification to add to my professional experience, as I do not have a long CV.

An MBA from your school will teach me to become the best team management specialist I can be, and I truly believe it will allow me to find the job positions and experience I need to further develop myself professionally. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application to this MBA program. I hope to hear back from the admissions committee soon.

Sincerely,

Stacey Steadman

MBA motivation letter sample #2

Dear Professor Alvaro,

I am writing this letter today to express my interest in the MBA program at [Business School]. As part of my application, I wanted to write this motivation letter to explain my decision to pursue an MBA as a non-traditional applicant.

This year, I turned 43, and I truly hadn’t thought I would make the decision to go back to school and continue my education. My background is in the Arts, where I have worked for the past 15 years as a volunteer, a professional artist and the co-chair of the [Arts Foundation] in my city. I have enjoyed my time with the Arts immensely, and all of the positions I have held have been incredibly rewarding experiences. However, I have recently been offered an opportunity to launch an arts-related organization of my own, and I have found my knowledge of the business side of running things to be insufficient. After researching my options, I decided it was time to return to school to earn my MBA so I could provide myself the best tools and know-how for the job of running a large arts organization.

My dedication to the arts and my professional development makes this the clear next step for me. In researching MBA programs, I specifically chose your program for three reasons. The first is that [Business School] values creativity, sustainability and collaboration, all important values to both the arts community and myself, personally. The second reason I chose to apply to this program is that two of your instructors have backgrounds in the Arts as well, which tells me your program is diverse and well-rounded. The final reason I made the decision to apply for this MBA program is the curriculum focuses on a broad, solid understanding of business while recognizing the importance of maintaining relationships. I believe enrolling in this program will be an excellent decision for myself, my peers in the arts community and my team members who count on me.

Thank you very much for reading my letter and considering my candidacy as a non-traditional applicant to your MBA program. I truly believe a collaboration between us would be fruitful. I look forward to your reply.

Kind regards,

Susan Kloepki

MBA motivation letter sample #3

Dear Mr. Roberts,

I am interested in attending [Business School] to earn my Master’s in Business Administration. My motivation for pursuing a graduate degree and my interest in studying business come from my background as the oldest son of a single mother.

As the older brother of 3 siblings, I learned very early in life the importance of setting an example, collaboration and conflict management. Alongside my mother, I worked to help bring in income and care for my younger siblings. As a working high school student, I started to give greater thought to my future. I made the decision to apply to university and cultivate bigger career dreams. Despite any initial self-doubt, I was accepted to [University] and completed my degree in political science with honors. Coming from a family with a disadvantaged background, this was a proud accomplishment for me. It was also a valuable lesson in self-discipline and leadership, as I encountered the new challenges of being away from my family and committing myself to study. I continued to work part-time while earning my degree, and my interest in starting my own business was fostered.

After graduating, my decision to continue my education and pursue my MBA was cemented. I realized if I wanted to run my own business, I would need to learn the hard skills necessary to be a success. I feel I have a foundation already in the other integral skills such as leadership and collaboration. The MBA program at [Business School] I know values leadership, integrity and vision, and this is the reason I chose this program. I know my goals are ambitious and my vision is grand, but I have already proven to myself that I can rise to meet the challenge. I feel I am prepared to take on the next, and I am excited at the prospect of further developing as a leader, student of business, individual and older brother.

I am grateful to you for reading my letter and considering me for acceptance to the [Business School] MBA program. I hope to hear back soon from the admissions committee, and I look forward to enrolling in the fall.

Sincerely,

Austin Van

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