MBA Essay type Questions - Top US B-Schools (2007)

Essay questions are one of the most important part of your MBA applications. They are not only a way for the admission committee (adcoms) to know more about the applicants, but also a way for the applicants to explain the negatives in their profile and highlight their achievements. Anyway, each B-school has its own set of questions and and rules. There are often a set of Essays for regular applicants and then an optional set of questions and then another set of questions for Re-applicants. This ofcorse causes a lot of confusion. So the objective of this post is to bring all this information together in one place to avoid confusion. Here is a list of Top US B-Schools along with their Essay Topics and word limits*. 

 

Stanford GSB:

Compulsory:

Topic: What matters most to you, and why?

Length: 3-pages, double-spaced

Topic: What are your aspirations? How will your education at Stanford help you achieve them?

Length: 2-pages, double-spaced

Optional (Must answer 2 of the 4):

Topic: Tell us about a time when you empowered others

Length: 1 page, double spaced

Topic: Tell us about a time when you had a significant impact on a person, group or organization.

Length: 1 page, double spaced

Topic: Tell us about a time when you tried to reach a goal or complete a task that was challenging, difficult, or frustrating.

Length: 1 page, double spaced

Topic: Tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined, established, or expected.

Length: 1 page, double spaced

Ref: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ 

 

Harvard (HBS):

Compulsory:

Topic: What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such?

Length: 600 words

Topic: What have you learned from a mistake?

Length: 400 words

 Optional (Must answer 3 of 4): 

Topic: Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development. How did this experience highlight your strengths and weaknesses?

Length: 400 words

Topic: How have you experienced culture shock?

Length: 400 words

Topic: What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?

Length: 400 words

Topic: What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

Length:  400 words

Ref: http://www.hbs.edu

Kellog:

Compulsory:

Topic: Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at Kellogg 

OR

Topic: Master of Management and Manufacturing applicants only: Briefly assess your career progress to date. How does the MMM program meet your educational needs and career goals?

Limit: 1-2 pages, double spaced

Topic: Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students

Limit:  1-2 pages, double spaced

Topic: How have your past and current leadership experiences prepared you for Kellogg? What leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience?

Limit: 1-2 pages, double spaced

Optional (Must answer 2 of these):

Topic: Outside of work I…

Limit: 2-3 double-spaced paragraphs

Topic: I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

Limit: 2-3 double-spaced paragraphs

Topic: Describe the most challenging professional relationship you have faced and how you handled it

Limit: 2-3 double-spaced paragraphs

Topic (Required for reapplicants): Since your previous application, what are the steps you’ve taken to strengthen your candidacy? 

Limit: 2-3 double-spaced paragraphs

Ref: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu 

Wharton:

Compulsory:

Topic: Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect a Wharton MBA to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program?

Length: 1000 words

Topic: Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. What role did you play and what did you learn about yourself?

Length: 500 words

Topic: Tell us about a situation in which you were an outsider. What did you learn from the experience?

Length: 500 words

Topic: Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential?

OR

Topic: Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain.

Length: 500 words

Optional:

Topic: If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application).

Length: 250 words

Re-applicants:

Topic: Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect a Wharton MBA to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? How has your candidacy improved since the last time you applied?

Length: 1000 words

Topic: Tell us about a situation in which you were an outsider. What did you learn from the experience?

Length: 500 words

Topic: Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential?

OR

Topic: Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain

Length: 500 words 

 Ref: http://www.wharton.upenn.edu

MIT (Sloan):

Compulsory:

Topic: Please tell us about a time when you had an impact on a group or organization. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.

Length: 500 words

Topic: Please tell us about a challenging interaction you had with a person or group. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.

Length: 500 words

Topic: Please tell us about a time when you defended your idea. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.

Length: 500 words

Topic: Please tell us about a time when you executed a plan. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.

Length: 500 words

Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) applicants only:

Topic: Tell us about a time when you shared your talents or expertise with a group or organization.

Length: 500 words

Optional:

Topic: List the leadership activities in which you have actively participated, including your responsibilities and positions held in the organization, and dates. Provide contact name(s) and contact information for each leadership activity.

Length: 500 words

Topic: List your academic and/or professional awards, including the basis for your selection and the date(s) of the honor(s).

Length: 500 words

Topic: Special circumstances related to your academic program which you would like to mention

Length: 500 words

Topic: Whatever else you would like the Admissions Committee to know

Length: 500 words

 Ref: http://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/

* We have tried to gather as accurate information as possible. This information is for references purposes only. We do not take the responsibility of accuracy of this information. Please refer to the original source for accurate and up-to-date information.

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