7 Essential MBA Essay Tips

Not every business school has the same MBA essay prompt, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to answering every question effectively.

Some schools, like the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, offer choices between multiple short-answer prompts with small word counts.

Others, like The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, have broader essays asking students to define how an MBA will help them advance their future professional goals and how they’ll contribute to the community.

Don’t use a template or reworked sample essay to answer a school’s prompts. It’s important to put your own personal touch on an MBA essay and tailor your writing to each business school’s prompts.

A good format for MBA admissions essays is: I faced a challenge. I overcame that challenge, and here is how I will put that lesson into action and advance myself in an MBA program.

Incorporate your background and the challenges you’ve faced into your MBA essay. Make sure to highlight how those experiences have prepared you to excel in an MBA program. And be sure to underscore the impact you’ve had on different teams you’ve been a part of.

Make sure to discuss your goals and how the MBA program you’re applying to can help you achieve them.

An MBA essay shouldn’t read like a resume. This is your shot to show how your lived experience has positioned you to pursue an MBA.

You won’t have enough space to get into the specifics of every challenge you’ve faced, but providing examples of your lived experience and skills is key to a successful MBA essay.

These don’t just have to be examples of major accomplishments. You can also highlight times you haven’t succeeded in a goal and what you’ve learned from that.

If you’re applying to multiple business schools with required MBA essays, you’ll almost certainly see some examples of the following prompt: How will an MBA from (insert school name here) help you achieve your professional goals?

Do your research and apply your goals to a school’s MBA curriculum. If you’re applying for an MBA at a program with a heavy focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) like Tulane University, you might discuss the ways you want to incorporate data analytics into your career.

If you’re aiming for a dual sustainability degree at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, be sure to highlight the ways you plan to apply what you learn about sustainability.

An MBA essay should let schools know that you have a genuine interest in their curriculum.

A long essay does not always mean a good essay. Business schools are looking for effective communicators, so be sure to avoid redundancies and edit your essay to be concise and reader-friendly. Make sure you keep your MBA essay within a school’s requested word limit.

Make sure you’re writing in the active voice whenever possible. For example, instead of writing “the program was started by me,” write “I started the program.” Put yourself at the center of the action in your writing.

It goes without saying that a spelling error in an MBA essay can hurt your chances.

Make sure to carefully proofread your essay for spelling and grammar. It might also help to have a friend take a look at your writing. Another set of eyes can catch something you might have missed.

There are also a number of online proofreading tools like Grammarly, Grammark, and others that can help you shape up your essay.

Start your essay well in advance of the application deadline.

It’s important to take time to draft and edit your essay to make sure you meet all the requirements in a concise and grammatically correct manner. Give yourself plenty of time to write the best essay possible.