executive mba essays sample

Executive MBA Essay Examples: Learn from Successful Applicants

The Executive MBA application process is a daunting task. Every year, thousands of applicants across the globe apply for this prestigious program. In addition to the Executive Assesment test score, one of the most critical components of any EMBA application is the essay. It is your chance to showcase your personality, leadership skills, and professional achievements. But, how do you write a compelling essay that stands out from the crowd? The answer is simple: by learning from successful applicants who have already been through the process. In this blog post, we will provide you with some Executive MBA essay examples, tips, and tricks that can help you craft an essay that wins the hearts of admissions committees.

Tell your unique story:

Admissions officers read hundreds of essays every year. To stand out from the crowd, your essay should tell a unique and compelling story. This story should provide insights into your personality, values, and professional journey. It should also demonstrate how you have overcome challenges, learned from failures, and developed your strengths. To tell your unique story, you could use anecdotes, personal experiences, and examples from your professional and personal life that highlight your most significant achievements and challenges. Below are a few executive MBA essay examples that work!

Start with a clear introduction:

Your EMBA essay should begin with a clear introduction, detailing your motivation for pursuing an EMBA and the reasons why you are applying to this specific program . Be as specific as possible, highlighting areas of the curriculum that appeal to you, the research centers or faculty members you are interested in working with, and any other unique attributes of the program that you find attractive.

Your essay’s opening is crucial. It should grab the reader’s attention and make them interested in reading more. Start with a clear introduction highlighting your experience and the reasons why you want to pursue an Executive MBA. Let the reader know your goals, and ambitions, and how this program fits into your career objectives.

Take a cue from this opening paragraph: “I have always been passionate about healthcare, and since graduating from college, I have worked in various roles to gain experience in this field. I am seeking an Executive MBA program to sharpen my leadership and managerial skills to make a positive impact on the industry.“

Or, rather than simply stating that you are interested in the EMBA program at XYZ University, provide specific reasons such as “I am applying to the EMBA program at XYZ University because of its outstanding reputation for developing executives in the healthcare industry.”

Emphasize career goals:

The admissions committee will want to know what career aspirations motivated you to pursue an EMBA. Therefore, it is critical to emphasize your career goals in your essay. Outline your goals as they relate to your current position, your industry, and the overall job market. Additionally, explain how the EMBA program will help you achieve these goals.

Among many executive MBA essay examples that work, you could discuss how “A focus on leadership development in the EMBA program at ABC University aligns with my goal to become a Chief Operating Officer of a Fortune 500 company in the next five years.”

Showcase your personal attributes:

Your essay should also highlight your personal characteristics or attributes that make you a desirable candidate. Emphasize characteristics such as dedication, innovation, resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. These qualities will help establish your readiness to engage with the EMBA program.

For Instance, you could discuss “ I possess a strong work ethic, quickly adapt to new environments, and welcome a challenge, which will lead me to succeed in the EMBA program.”

Emphasize your achievements

The admissions committee is interested in your achievements, both professional and personal. Highlight significant milestones in your career and any leadership roles that you’ve taken on. Use metrics to show how you’ve contributed to your organization’s success. You can include projects you’ve led, revenue growth, or any honors you’ve received. But keep in mind, it’s important not to boast or exaggerate your successes. Be specific and honest about your achievements, and back them up with evidence.

For example, you could introduce how “As the Director of Operations at LMN Inc., I have implemented production process improvements and saved the company over $1 million in costs.” It’s essential to demonstrate how these experiences will help you contribute to the EMBA class and how they have shaped you as a person.

Share challenges and how you overcame them

The road to success is rarely a smooth one. Share some personal and professional challenges you’ve faced and how you overcame them. It shows that you’re resilient and can adapt to changing circumstances. You can talk about how you learned from failure and how it helped you become a better leader.

For example, “One of the biggest challenges I encountered was managing a team with diverse personalities and working styles. Through collaboration and an open-minded approach, I learned how to better understand and work with each team member, boosting their morale and productivity.“

Showcase your leadership skills:

Leadership is one of the key qualities that Executive MBA programs look for in their applicants. Your essay should demonstrate your aptitude to lead, influence, and manage people and processes effectively. One way to do this is by highlighting your past leadership experiences.

For example, you could talk about a time when you led a team to achieve a challenging goal, resolved a conflict within a team, or took a tough decision that had a significant impact on your organization. Use these experiences to showcase your leadership style, your ability to communicate effectively, and your capacity to build consensus.

Demonstrate your passion for learning:

Executive MBA programs are rigorous and demanding. They require a high level of academic rigor, intellectual curiosity, and commitment. Your essay should demonstrate your passion for learning and your willingness to go the extra mile to acquire new knowledge and skills. One way to do this is by discussing your academic achievements, such as your GPA, any advanced degrees or certifications you may have earned, and the courses you have taken that are relevant to your field. You could also talk about your extracurricular activities, such as attending industry conferences or participating in professional development workshops. These experiences show that you are committed to lifelong learning and professional growth.

Highlight your fit with the program

To get accepted into the Executive MBA program, you need to show that you’re the right fit for the program. You need to highlight your strengths and skills that align with the program’s values and curriculum. Based on your research, write about the classes and professors you’re interested in and why. Share your interest in a particular industry or functional area and how the program can help you achieve your goals.

An excellent example of this is, ”As someone who is passionate about sustainability, I am excited about XYZ school’s focus on developing leaders who are passionate about creating ethical and sustainable business practices. I am confident that this program will help me develop the skills needed to become a leader in this field.”

End with A strong conclusion

Lastly, your conclusion should summarize your main points and leave a lasting impression on the reader. End with a statement that shows your enthusiasm and commitment to the program. Emphasize how the Executive MBA program aligns with your long-term goals and how you’re excited to contribute to the program.

For example, ”In conclusion, I am thrilled about the prospect of joining XYZ school’s Executive MBA program as it aligns perfectly with my long-term goals in the healthcare industry. I look forward to contributing to the school’s vibrant and diverse community of leaders, learning from their experiences and expertise, and making a meaningful impact on the industry.”

Write with clarity and precision:

Your essay is a representation of your communication skills. It’s essential to write with clarity, precision, and coherence. Use simple language, avoid jargon, and structure your essay logically. Remember to proofread your essay to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. You could also ask a mentor or professional to review your essay and provide feedback and draw inspiration from executive MBA essay examples.

Edit and review your essay:

Finally, after writing your essay, make sure to edit and review it thoroughly. Take the time to read it aloud, correct grammatical errors, identify any inconsistencies, and refine your phrasing. Make sure your essay reflects a genuine and honest representation of yourself, and don’t forget to have someone else proofread your essay.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, writing an effective EMBA essay takes time, effort, and attention to detail. By following these tips and referencing the executive MBA essay examples shared in this blog, you will be better equipped to write a comprehensive, well-crafted essay that highlights your strengths, experiences, goals, and potential as an executive leader. Need help with your essays? The Admit Lab offers MBA essay service packages that help you with the entire writing process, or an hourly service that can provide you with feedback on your existing drafts. Remember that the essay is an opportunity to present yourself fully and differentiate yourself from other applicants – so take your time and put your best foot forward! Remember to stay true to yourself, align your goals with the program, and tell a unique and compelling story. Good luck with your essay! Got questions? Sign up for a consultation , or send us your draft for an estimate. It’s FREE!

With a Master’s from McGill University and a Ph.D. from New York University, Dr. Philippe Barr is the founder of The Admit Lab . As a tenure-track professor, Dr. Barr spent a decade teaching and serving on several graduate admission committees at UNC-Chapel Hill before turning to full-time consulting. With more than seven years of experience as a graduate school admissions consultant, Dr. Barr has stewarded the candidate journey across multiple master’s and Ph.D. programs and helped hundreds of students get admitted to top-tier graduate programs all over the world .

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20 Great MBA Application Essay Samples (With Links)

With elite business schools like Harvard and Stanford boasting acceptance rates as low as 10% and 6% respectively, every aspect of your application counts. While GPA and GMAT scores matter, your essay can be a game-changer. Recognizing its weight, we’ve gathered top-notch MBA essay samples, endorsed by admission committees from premier institutions. Dive in and let’s craft that standout application!

What is an MBA Application Essay?

What admission committee look for in an mba essay.

If you want to learn more, here is the complete guide on how admission committees process MBA applications.

20 Great MBA Applications Essays Samples

Now you have known that what makes a great MBA admission essay, the next step is to write one for yourself. Before writing, check out this list of expert-vetted MBA application essays that secured admissions to top-rated business schools in the world. Admission consultants have shared these samples and they can be helpful if you read and analyze them carefully. If you’re completely unsure about how to get started, there are also custom essay writing services that can help you structure your essay with the help of professional editors.

Sample 1: Leadership-focused MBA application essay

Sample 2: self-focused mba application essay .

If you are asked to write about your strengths, weaknesses, aims, and goals in your application essay, this sample will help you. The applicant who wrote this got accepted to the INSEAD business school. It doesn’t merely describe her strengths and weaknesses, but it presents a complete picture of herself as a person. It highlighted the events and incidents that shaped her personality.

Sample 3: Life-hardships-focused MBA application essay

If you want to explain your life’s hardships and the events that turned you into an ambitious person, this sample is for you. In this application essay, the candidate has defined three phases of his life and how he survived through each adversity. He beautifully explained why the MBA program is important to his future.

Sample 4: Continuous growth and learning-focused MBA application essay

Sample 5: best mba application essay for low scorers.

Have a low GPA? What would you write about academics in an MBA essay to convince the admission committee? Do not overthink! MBA essay is not all about high achievements and sterling background. It is also an opportunity to atone for your past mistakes. This MBA essay was written by a student who obtained very low academic grades, yet got admitted to her desired business school. Her turning point? A powerful application essay.

Sample 6: A guitarist’s application essay for the MBA program

Sample 7: an engineer’s essay for mba application, sample 8: harvard business school mba essay, sample 9: wharton business school mba essay, sample 10: columbia business school mba essay.

The Columbia Business School’s admission committee shared this MBA essay. They explained why the applicant who wrote this was instantly accepted to the program and why they appreciated its content.

Sample 11: Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA essay

This essay was written by a candidate who got accepted to Stanford Business School for an MBA. If you are aiming to get your MBA at Stanford, this sample will give you a deep understanding of what convinces the esteemed school’s admission committee to accept applicants into their fold.

Sample 12: University of California Business School MBA essay

This sample was taken from a pool of successful MBA application essays submitted to the University of California business school. Read it carefully and analyze its structure, words, and substance before you compose your own fantastic MBA essay.

Sample 13: University of OXFORD business school MBA essay

Sample 14: london business school mba essay.

This essay was written by a candidate who got accepted to the London Business School. The school’s admission consultant shared this sample as a reference to other MBA aspirants. This piece will specifically help you understand the tone, writing style, formatting, and overall flow of the MBA application essay that meets the school’s standards.

Sample 15: A goal-oriented MBA application essay

Sometimes the MBA admission portal may demand an essay specifically focused on your future goals. In such a case, you must be very sure about yourself and must convey your goals and future directions based on your experiences and planning. Check out this sample to get an idea of how a successful candidate writes about personal goals.

Sample 16: Executive MBA essay

Sample 17: mba video essay.

Many business schools are turning to video-based essays for MBA applications. A video-based essay is a better option to express yourself directly to the admission committee. A successful candidate for the Kellogg School of Management submitted this sample. Listen to the video and appreciate how beautifully the applicant has explained his journey from beginning to end. Want to learn more about video MBA essays? Here is a complete guide.

Sample 18: Short-answer-based MBA application essay

Some business schools require candidates to respond to short questions to get insights into their personalities and suitability for the MBA program. More or less, most of the questions revolve around the same theme. The key to success is to grasp the intention of the admission committee behind the questions and to stick to your identity . These successful answers submitted to the Tepper School of Business will help you in formulating your answers.

Sample 19: MIT Sloan School of Management

Sample 20:  michigan ross school of business mba program, what should be included in the mba application essay.

These are the significant components of an MBA essay. Just adjust the sequence, play with words, and come up with a persuasive yet realistic picture of yourself.

What Makes a Great MBA Application Essay?

Do you want more tips? Here is a complete guide to writing a compelling MBA application essay.

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Executive MBA Essays: How to Make an Impact [Sample Essay]

The following is an example of  a successful Executive MBA essay  for the MIT Sloan Executive MBA Program. Applicants to Executive MBA programs need to demonstrate significant leadership, impact, potential, and the legitimate need for the degree to be accepted, and this essay shows all of those qualities.

Statement of purpose (one page)

Prompt:  The MIT Executive MBA Students and Community are: Open, Collaborative and Inventive. Please tell us why you are pursuing the MIT Executive MBA, and what you will contribute to your classmates and the community at MIT. Include examples of success working with organizations, groups, and individuals. For those reapplying, please highlight developments since your last submission.

As a founder, board director, and executive officer of a growth-stage technology company, I bring a unique set of experiences and a need for an innovative, transformative education that I can apply to my business immediately.

As an executive with both immediate challenges and wide organizational influence, I am particularly drawn to the action learning philosophy of the Sloan program. I am eager to transform my own mind and create immediate positive impact across my organization. I am inspired by the experiences of current students who implement their new learnings when they return to the office on Mondays. I am eager to do exactly that. My business is significantly more complex today than it was in the beginning when we provided a simple set of tools to small teams. Today, we are a multinational organization that provides tools and training to large enterprises seeking to implement Lean transformations of sophisticated processes in IT operations and multiple other industries. Throughout this journey, I have constantly challenged myself and my organization to learn, grow, and change. I seek to participate in this program as another step in my personal commitment to learning and adapting to the needs of the future. Now is the moment of maximum impact, whereby my organization and customers will be most receptive to, and benefit the most from, lessons and experiments that I intend to bring back and implement.

As a shareholder that has negotiated a significant amount of angel and institutional investment, I am keenly aware that my investors seek a positive return on their investment. I seek to prepare not only for the immediate needs of growth and complexity, but also for the mid-to-long term opportunities that may accompany that growth, such as a change of control, a liquidity event, or an opportunity to integrate my teams into a larger vision.

As a community leader, I seek to bring what I learn from the program back home and share it widely. I aim to broaden my understanding of business practices and theory beyond my focused experience in tech so that I may maximize the value of what I pass along to the aspiring entrepreneurs, technologists, and leaders in my community who, with ever increasing frequency, honor me by seeking my guidance and assistance.

Similarly, I have a strong desire to share my experiences and the details of my company and my journey with my classmates. I understand how valuable it is to be completely transparent with a group of peers who are eager to learn and share. I am excited to share my successes and my failures with them, open my business to their scrutiny, and make my organization available any time it aids in the learning experience.

Jennifer Weld, former Assistant Director of Admissions at Cornell’s EMBA program and  Accepted admissions consultant , provides insights into what this Accepted client did correctly when writing his Executive MBA essay.

A couple of strong points to this essay:

1. No nonsense approach

The writer immediately gets to the point of explaining why an EMBA is a necessary next step for their career. In the very first sentence there is an acknowledgement of all the writer has accomplished, but the clear recognition that further education is necessary to attain their goals.

2. Complete lack of verbosity

It is obvious the writer has had a very successful career thus far, but that is not what comes across. Instead you understand that the writer recognizes the constant need for learning and adapting to the ever-changing business environment.

3. Give and take

The writer discusses taking the learning from MIT and applying it to oneself, but also bringing key learnings back to the writer’s community. The writer also acknowledges that having classmates critiquing his business will be extremely beneficial to him, but also by opening up his operations to his classmates, they can learn a lot as well. This shows a generous spirit, which is the type of characteristic an admissions committee would be looking for in terms of representing the school after graduation.

For expert guidance with your executive MBA applications,  check out Accepted’s EMBA admissions consulting services . You will be assigned an individual consultant, who will provide you with advising, editing, interview coaching, and resume assistance for your EMBA applications.

For 25 years, Accepted has helped business school applicants gain acceptance to top programs. Our outstanding team of MBA admissions consultants features former business school admissions directors and professional writers who have guided our clients to admission at top MBA, EMBA, and other graduate business programs worldwide including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth, INSEAD, London Business School, and many more.  Want an MBA admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

•  Ace the EMBA: Expert Advice for Rising Executives , a free guide •  EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants •  How to Get Accepted to a Top EMBA Program: The Experts Speak

This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com

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An Expert’s Guide to Executive MBA Essays

by Eden | Mar 4, 2020 | Executive MBA Admissions

Our “Expert’s Guide to Executive MBA Essays” may be a pretentious–and perhaps hyperbolic–title, but we hope to offer you our extensive expertise in Executive MBA essays in one all-encompassing article. Before creating Prep Executive, a tutor-led test prep company, we worked with many MBA and Executive MBA applicants over the years. Our experience has taught us that writing EMBA application essays is a big headache for EMBA aspirants.

If that’s you…then this guide is for you.

Unfortunately, the realm of Executive MBA application essay writing is so extensive that it is difficult to put everything into one guide. Therefore, our goals are to orient you to the essays, give you 12 tips to writing essays that will get you in, and describe the writing process that we follow with students as part of the Prep Executive Complete Plan .

Executive MBA Essay Basics

• 5 Types of Essays and How to Approach Them
• 12 Tips for Writing Killer Essays

Get Expert Help

Let’s get started!

Typically, EMBA programs require between 2 and 5 essays as part of your application. Some “essays” may be extremely short, like this essay from Columbia :

Short-Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Examples of possible responses:  “Work in business development for a media company.”  “Join a strategy consulting firm.” “Launch a data-management start-up.”

Essay Question 1

Required; 750 word limit

What are your career objectives and how will the Wharton MBA Program for Executives contribute to your attainment of this objective?

Application essays are changed periodically, so your colleagues may have written different essays for the same program.

5 Types of Executive MBA Essays and How to Approach Them

Image: Unsplash

In general, Executive MBA essays can be grouped into 5 categories. Here are our notes on how to attack each type.

Future goals Previous history Weakness Promise Wild Card

Future Goals Essay

This essay is an Executive MBA standard. There may be one or more questions asking about your short term (immediately after the EMBA), mid-term (3 to 5 years after graduation), and long term (10+ years) goals. Usually, this essay question includes how you expect the program to help you reach these goals.

When writing your future goals essay, keep one word in mind: clarity.

At this point in your career, you should have an extremely clear understanding of the next levels in your organization or profession. Your essay should reflect this clarity and make clear connections between the program and your goals.

We recommend a classic 5 paragraph structure for your future goals essay. Content of the body paragraphs will vary by question, but we have given you some ideas to start.

1. Introduction

3-4 sentences with one sentence that is a specific response to the prompt (the one goal). Preview short, mid, and long term goals or indicate that the program will refine you intellectually, practically, and socially.

2. Body paragraph

Short term goals and how the program will help OR how the program will improve your intellectual understanding of specific topics (focus on courses and electives).

3. Body paragraph

Mid-term goals and how the program will help OR how the program will provide practical learning opportunities (focus on project-based learning and other program elements).

4. Body paragraph

Long term goals and how the program will help OR how the program will improve your network or social skills.

5. Conclusion

2-3 sentences summarizing and making a final pithy statement regarding your fit for the program.

Previous History Essay

Another common EMBA essay question is about your previous history. Think 3 greatest achievements, 3 most significant influences, or 3 events that impacted your life.

The previous history is not about regurgitating your resume’. You must pick 3–and only 3–significant things. Since there is so much ground to cover in your essay, we recommend a classic 5 paragraph structure.

2-3 sentences starting with philosophical reflection or a quote. One sentence must preview the 3 significant things as a direct response to the question.

Professional thing. Tell a short story if you like but be sure to offer at 3 reasons why this thing makes the list of significance.

Personal thing. You can talk about your family, children, or something of personal importance.

Wild card. Discuss a unique something that showcases your personality. Some of our previous students have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, started a small nonprofit organization, or bought a business.

Another pithy wrap-up.

Weakness Essay

These essays will ask about a time when you failed or received criticism. Alternatively, you may be asked to write about 1 or 3 weaknesses.

No matter how the question asks about the weakness or failure, it needs to be epic and authentic. Everyone can see through the strengths disguised as weaknesses, so you need to tell a story in which you really “screwed the pooch.”

Our favorite format for this essay is as a 3 paragraph story:

1. Paragraph 1

Start with a quote from the person you hurt, offended, or disappointed. Segue into a short background for the reader of what happened.

2. Paragraph 2

Elaborate on the ripple effects of the failure or weakness. Think professionally, socially, etc.

3. Paragraph 3

Discuss how you addressed the failure and improved or moved on from it. This paragraph must be about proactive remedies so that the essay ends on a positive note.

The uglier the story the better. Some of our previous students wrote about getting into a screaming match with a manager, losing thousands of dollars in a poorly researched business deal, and almost ruining 2 subordinates’ careers. Epic…

Promise Essay

The promise essay is a new essay type that has shown up in recent years. The basic idea is that the EMBA program wants you to think about an important commitment you will have in the near future and plan (or promise) what you will do.

Two common themes are how you will balance the demands of the program with your existing commitment and what you will contribute to the program. Questions regarding the program may include during class discussions, to your classmates, or as alum (the program needs alumni who will show up).

Promise essays can be difficult to write because you do not want to commit yourself to something you do not intend to do. Our advice is to focus on concrete, doable promises. Here are some examples:

How you will contribute:

• In class: unique perspective to discussions, team spirit to projects, professionalism to international assignments
• Outside of class: represent the program well, blog about your experiences (if you are an influencer)  
• As an alum: speak with applicants with a similar profile (e.g. women, entrepreneurs), attend a coffee chat or networking reception

How you will balance the program with current commitments:

• Class time: inform employer, delegate more responsibilities
• Study time: schedule weekly study time,  inform family and friends, reduce social commitments, talk extensively with spouse about responsibilities
• Travel time: get more vacation time by employer, restructure work travel schedule

If possible, provide examples of how you have completed a similar action in the past. For example, if you say you would be willing to speak with applicants who are women entrepreneurs, talk about how you already attend a women’s business meetup and have contributed to that organization. As much as possible, try to back up the promises with concrete examples.

Structurally, the promises essay can be classic 4 or 5 paragraphs.

Wild Card Essay

We call this essay type the wild card because it’s an off the wall question designed to learn more about you as a person. We recommend showcasing your true personality and using the wild card essay as an opportunity to differentiate yourself from other candidates.

Here are some wild card essay examples:

From New York University Stern:

NYU Stern is committed to helping students develop a deeper set of professional skills, and a broader perspective of the role of business in the world. (approximately 500 words, double-spaced)

a) What is a significant contemporary issue on which you, as a business leader, would like to have an impact?

b) Why is it important to you?

c) How could you leverage your skills and resources to address the issue?

Previously from London Business School:

If you could choose any three people who have ever lived to join you for dinner, who would you invite and why?

If you were on the cover of any publication in 10 years, what would be the headline and the content of the article be?

12 Tips for Writing Killer Executive MBA Essays

Now that we’ve have explained the 5 main types of Executive MBA essays and how to attack them, here are our 12 tips for writing essays that will get you in.

Outline the essay first. 

Use one of the general structures I have given you as a starting point. As a person that has read many, many essays, I can tell you that there is an OBVIOUS difference between an essay that was outlined first and an essay that was written almost as a stream of consciousness.

Be sure to answer the question.

After you have outlined the essay, ensure that your main points provide a list or reasons answering the question. When writing the introduction, make sure there is one sentence that is a direct answer to the question. After you have written the first draft of the essay, check again that you have answered the question.

Stay away from controversial topics.

Even if you think Donald Trump would make a fabulous dinner guest for your wildcard essay, do not list him. He is too polarizing of a public figure to risk your EMBA essays on.

Show don’t tell.

Within your body paragraphs, you need to substantiate your reasons or list with details AND examples. Use short stories from your past to illustrate and liven up your body paragraphs.

Be personable not personal.

Reveal some but not all of who you are. Your essays should reveal your perspective, humanity, and experience, but not tell your secrets and be too intimate. 

Abusive parents? Gave a child up for adoption? Wish you had studied something totally different in undergrad? These topics may be slightly too personal for your EMBA essays.

If there’s a weakness/failure question, talk about a really epic failure, not a fake one.

We can’t stress this enough! Be authentic (but not personal or controversial).

Don’t talk too much about your family or ethnic/cultural background.

While these are important components of who you are, they should be mentioned in only one essay and, preferably, not the same essay. Too much discussion of family or culture makes you seem obsessed or overly concerned with them. Remember that you’re applying to a professional program.

Follow the maximum word count.

If the requirement is 700 words, get as close as you can to 700 without going over. Traditional advice is that you can go 10 percent over the maximum word count, but we think smart editing demonstrates your humility and ability to adhere to the program’s rules.

Don’t forget about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

Use Grammarly or ask your favorite grammarian to review the essay.

Only have someone you think is really smart review your essay.

Since the final audience is a group of smart professionals, find another one to take a preliminary look at what you consider the final draft.

Think of the essays as 3 stories in the same book. They should flow and not be redundant.

If you find yourself mentioning the same stories or points in different essays, you have to broaden your thinking.

Executive MBA essay writing can be complicated and full of uncertainty, especially if you don’t think you are a good writer. That’s why we included essay help in our Prep Executive Complete Plan . Here’s the process we follow during essay help. You should follow the same process if you are working on your own.

1. Create a detailed outline of each essay.

We call you on Skype and ask you questions about each essay. We take notes then send them to you with a recommended writing structure.

2. Write the first draft.

You write the first draft from our notes. Since we have captured your phrases and ideas, you will have no problem turning the notes into sentences.

3. Revise the first draft.

We take that first draft and review it for the big ideas. Did you stay on topic? Are your examples robust? Is the structure reader-friendly? We provide comments in track changes and send the essays back to you.

4. Revise the second draft.

You make changes based on our comments and send the essays back to us. For the second draft, we look the structure within each paragraph and go through each sentence word by word. If your essay is over the word count, we cut, cut, cut. If revisions are needed, we provide comments in track changes and send the essays back.

5. Revise the third draft.

As part of the revision for the last draft, we look at grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and diction. We will let you know if anything else needs to be changed.

If you and your editor are both happy with the essays, you’re done!

Final Thoughts on Executive MBA Essays

Before you start working on Executive MBA essays, make sure you have:

• Accessed your “fit” for the program
• Rebuilt your resume’
• Attended an info session
• Opened and maintained a dialogue with admissions staff

Each of these activities will give you key information that will make writing your essays easier as well as increase your chances of getting accepted into your chosen program. If this process seems overwhelming, reach out to us and we will help you!

Free 7 Day Executive MBA Strategy Course

Want to know how to get into any Executive MBA program? Take our free 7 day email course to learn a proven strategy, complete with tips, examples, homework and more. Sign up now to start the course today.

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Crafting Your Admissions Essay

Even seasoned professionals can be intimidated with a blank page, especially when trying to write an admissions essay for a top executive mba program..

Booth alum, Rick Weiland, offers you seven helpful hints on how to write your Booth application essay.

• By Rick Weiland
• November 21, 2019
• Executive MBA - Admissions
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Rick Weiland started the Executive MBA Program in 1978, about a week after he got married. Fortunately, his wife Karen was in the middle of nursing studies, so they spent their nights cozying up to his Micro Economics text and her Gross Anatomy book. Rick also holds a BS from The University of Michigan (Math & Communication Science) and an MS from UChicago (Information Sciences). He spent his career in a variety of technical, managerial, and executive roles mostly at a software consultancy that transformed into a starter of new technology businesses, including two that ended up traded on the NYSE. Now retired for 10+ years, Rick volunteers at Chicago Booth and the Art Institute of Chicago, attends guitar classes at the Old Town School, and travels for fun both domestically and abroad. He and Karen have three grown sons and make their home in Evanston. 

CRAFTING YOUR ADMISSIONS ESSAY

Even successful mid-career professionals can be daunted by the sight of a blank page on which they have to write an essay to help get them admitted to the Chicago Booth Executive MBA program. The purpose of this blog posting is to give you helpful hints and strategies and some friendly encouragement for getting those essays (a) started, and (b) finished.

In this post, we’ll be talking about the required essay : “Why are you seeking an MBA from Chicago Booth and what do you hope to contribute to the program?”

Helpful Hint #1:  Relax. 

The reason you’re writing the essay, as with most aspects of the admissions process, is to help you and Chicago Booth determine if you are a good fit for one another. There’s nothing sneaky or mysterious about it. So take it seriously, but don’t let it paralyze you!

Helpful Hint #2:  Remember to answer the whole question!

In my experience, a lot of draft essays devote almost all of their time and space to answering the first part of the question (Why are you seeking the Executive MBA from Booth) and give little or no attention to the second part (What will you contribute). Don’t forget to explain why other students will find it interesting and useful to have you as a classmate. 

Helpful Hint #3:  Minimize the applesauce.

There is no need for you to devote space to heaping praise on Booth and telling the Admissions Team how wonderful Booth is; they already know. There’s no need to sell them on this, and you don’t want to sound like you’re piling on flattery. On the other hand, it is a good idea to spend a few sentences discussing why you and Booth are a good fit to one another.  

Helpful Hint #4:  Keep it simple!

Short punchy sentences made up of short punchy words will always be better than long, learned sentences filled with lots of adjectives. Disable the semicolon key on your keyboard. 

Compare “Keep it simple” to “Invariably maximize the simplicity of your written utterances, thereby effectuating successful communications.” See what I mean?

Helpful Hint #5:  Start from an outline.

Writing an outline helps you organize your sequence of thoughts.  It helps you make sure that all the things you want it to say get included, and the things you don’t need to say stay out. An outline makes the blank page a lot less scary. Key information for your outline could include:

A summary of your experiences, as well as your medium and long-term objectives

How the Booth Executive MBA Program will help you achieve your goals

An overview of what you bring to the program

Helpful Hint #6:  Refine your essay, and don’t be shy about getting some assistance.

Once you’ve written your essay, put it away for a day or two. Then come back and try reading it like it was written by someone else and see how it strikes you. Fix what you don’t like. Read it out loud and see how it sounds. (This is a great catcher of overly complicated or unclear sentences.) Have someone else read and critique your essay. Make sure this person will be frank and up front with you. Have them read it out loud to you. 

If English is not your first language, find a native speaker to review and, if necessary, help you smooth the English. 

Helpful Hint #7:  It’s a challenge, but don’t leave your essay to the last minute. Try to get it done early in the process. Besides helping you avoid last minute panic, having the essay done early gives you another chance to read and reconsider it before you submit. 

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How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples

The MBA essay is critical to your business school application. Read our guide to writing the perfect MBA essay, with successful admit examples.

Posted July 4, 2024

Featuring Nate S.

How to write a "Why Stanford" essay that stands out

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Table of Contents

What is the mba essay.

The MBA admissions essay.

Those words alone are enough to make most MBA candidates run screaming. Writing in general is hard enough. Writing about why you want an MBA? Your short-term goals and career aspirations? What matters to you most, and why? Forget it.

Of course, you still have to write these essays.

The MBA essay is perhaps the most important part of the business school application. Every other part of the application — your GPA, your test scores, your letters of recommendation — is quantified, cut and dried, or out of your control. The essay is your chance to show up as a fully realized MBA candidate, with hopes, dreams, and vulnerabilities. Admissions committees are not simply assessing your candidacy as a future leader — they're looking to admit human beings. That's where the MBA applicant essays come in.

That being the case, rather than being intimidated by it, treat the MBA essay writing process like the opportunity that it is — the chance for you to highlight your unique, iridescent self; the only moment in the MBA admissions process (prior to the interview) when you can speak directly to admissions officers; the time when you'll show them who you really are. It's not easy to write something that will do that, of course, but with the tips and tricks in this guide, and some help from one of Leland's vetted, world-class admissions coaches, we know you can do it. Give the essay the time, attention, and respect it deserves, and you'll be on your way to an offer of admission at your dream school.

Without further ado, let's dive in!

Ultimate MBA Essay Guide

See the MBA essay prompts, top tips from experts, and real examples from admits with this comprehensive guide.

How Long Will My MBA Essay Take?

First things first: let's talk about timing.

The MBA application is a behemoth; between exams, resumes, gathering your official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and the applications themselves, there's a lot to juggle. That being the case, we suggest you give yourself ample time to draft, write, and revise your essays. The last thing you want is to be rushed to the finish line.

So, give yourself at least three months to write your MBA admission essays. That should allow you enough time to draft, write, and edit. For more information on timing your entire business school application, click here for  A Comprehensive MBA Application Timeline--With Chart .

Now, on to the critical question:

50 MBA Essays That Got Applicants Admitted To Harvard & Stanford

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What Matters? and What More? is a collection of 50 application essays written by successful MBA candidates to Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business

I sat alone one Saturday night in a boardroom in Eastern Oregon, miles from home, my laptop lighting the room. I was painstakingly reviewing a complex spreadsheet of household energy consumption data, cell by cell. ‘Why am I doing this to myself? For remote transmission lines?’…I felt dejected. I’d felt that way before, during my summer at JP Morgan, standing alone in the printing room at 3 a.m., binding decks for a paper mill merger that wouldn’t affect my life in the least.

That’s how an analyst at an MBB firm started his MBA application essay to Stanford Graduate School of Business. His point: In a well-crafted essay, he confronts the challenge of finding meaning in his work and a place where he can make a meaningful difference. That is what really matters most to him, and his answer to Stanford’s iconic MBA application essay helped get him defy the formidable odds of acceptance and gain an admit to the school.

Getting into the prestigious MBA programs at either Stanford Graduate School of Business or Harvard Business School are among the most difficult journeys any young professional can make.

NEARLY 17,000 CANDIDATES APPLIED TO HARVARD & STANFORD LAST YEAR. 1,500 GOT IN

This collection of 50 successful HBS and GSB essays, with smart commentary, can be downloaded for $60

They are two of the most selective schools, routinely rejecting nine or more out of every ten applicants. Last year alone, 16,628 candidates applied to both schools; just 1,520 gained an acceptance, a mere 9.1% admit rate.

Business school admissions are holistic, meaning that while standardized test scores and undergraduate transcripts are a critical part of the admissions process, they aren’t the whole story. In fact, the stories that applicants tell the schools in the form of essays can be a critical component of a successful application.

So what kinds of stories are successful applicants to Harvard and Stanford telling their admission officers? For the first time ever, a newly published collection of 50 of these essays from current MBA students at these two schools has been published. In ten cases, applicants share the essays they wrote in applying to both schools so you can see whether they merely did a cut-and-paste job or approached the task anew. The 188-page book, What Matters? and What More?, gains its title from the two iconic essay prompts at Harvard and Stanford.

THOUGHTFUL CRITIQUES OF THE ESSAYS

Stanford can easily boast having the most difficult question posed to MBA applicants in any given year: In 650 words or less, candidates must tell the school what matters most to them and why. Harvard gives applicants ample room to hang themselves, providing no word limit at all, “What more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy?”

One makes this unusual collection of essays powerful are the thoughtful critiques by the founders of two MBA admissions consulting firms, Jeremy Shinewald of mbaMission and Liza Weale of Gatehouse Admissions. They write overviews of each essay in the book and then tear apart portions by paragraphs to either underline a point or address a weakness. The book became available to download for $60 a pop.

As I note in a foreword to the collection, published in partnership with Poets&Quants, the essay portion of an application is where a person can give voice to who they are, what they have achieved so far, and what they imagine their future to be. Yet crafting a powerful and introspective essay can be incredibly daunting as you stare at a blank computer screen.

APPLICANTS OPEN UP WITH INTIMATE STORIES THAT SHOW VULNERABILITY

One successful applicant to Harvard Business School begins his essay by conveying a deeply personal story: The time his father was told that he had three months to live, with his only hope being a double lung transplant. had to undergo a lung transplant. His opening line: “Despite all we had been through in recent years, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I asked my mother one summer evening in Singapore, ‘What role did I play during those tough times?’”

For this candidate to Stanford Graduate School of Business, the essay provided a chance to creatively engage admission readers about what matters most to him–equality-by cleverly using zip codes as a hook.

60605, 60606, 60607.

These zip codes are just one digit apart, but the difference that digit makes in someone’s life is unfathomable. I realized this on my first day as a high school senior. Leafing through my out-of- date, stained, calculus textbook, I kept picturing the new books that my friend from a neighboring (more affluent) district had. As college acceptances came in, I saw educational inequality’s more lasting effects—my friends from affluent districts that better funded education were headed to prestigious universities, while most of my classmates were only accepted by the local junior college. I was unsettled that this divergence wasn’t the students’ doing, but rather institutionalized by the state’s education system. Since this experience, I realized that the fight for education equality will be won through equal opportunity. Overcoming inequality, to ensure that everyone has a fair shake at success, is what matters most to me.

HOW AN APPLICANT TO BOTH SCHOOLS ALTERED HIS ESSAYS

Yet another candidate, who applied to both Harvard and Stanford, writes about being at but not fully present at his friend’s wedding.

The morning after serving as my friend’s best man, I was waiting for my Uber to the airport and—as usual—scrolling through my phone,” he wrote. “I had taken seemingly hundreds of photos of the event, posting in real time to social media, but had not really looked through them. With growing unease, I noticed people and things that had not registered with me the night before and realized I had been so preoccupied with capturing the occasion on my phone that I had essentially missed the whole thing. I never learned the name of the woman beside me at the reception. I could not recall the wedding cake flavor. I never introduced myself to my friend’s grandfather from Edmonton. I was so mortified that before checking into my flight, I turned my phone off and stuffed it into my carry-on.

The Stanford version of his essay is more compact. In truth, it’s more succinctly written and more satisfying because it is to the point. By stripping away all but the most critical pieces of his narrative, the candidate focuses his essay entirely on his central point: the battle of man versus technology.

Even if you’re not applying to business school, the essays are entertaining and fun to read. Sure, precious few are New Yorker worthy. In fact, many are fairly straightforward tales, simply told. What the successful essays clearly show is that there is no cookie-cutter formula or paint-by-the-numbers approach. Some start bluntly and straightforwardly, without a compelling or even interesting opening. Some meander through different themes. Some betray real personality and passion. Others are frankly boring. If a pattern of any kind could be discerned, it is how genuine the essays read.

The greatest benefit of reading them? For obsessive applicants to two of the very best business schools, they’ll take a lot of pressure off of you because they are quite imperfect.

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How to Write an Admissions Essay for an Executive MBA Program

Written by Pamela Foster Brady

Each individual has a story to tell, yet when it comes to the admissions essay, many essays fall short because the applicant fails to effectively convey their story.

The power of your personal story

As the director for a public university executive MBA program, I have the honor of meeting many mid-level professionals looking to boost their career through an executive MBA program. Each individual has a story to tell, yet when it comes to the admissions essay, many essays fall short because the applicant fails to effectively convey their story.

Think about the essay structure

Each essay has a beginning, a middle and an end (just like we learned in secondary school.) The beginning of the essay should capture the reader’s attention and compel them to want to read the rest of the essay. It should also be an introduction to who you are. Many essays are sent with no name and no introduction; they simply start with a statement as to why they wish to pursue their MBA.

The middle should describe your career progression. Tell your story. What disruptions have occurred in your career – were they good or bad? Why? Who is/was your mentor – how did they help you? What events shaped who you are today? What would be the next step in your career and how can an MBA help you?

The end should state why you wish to pursue the university you are applying to and what you bring to the cohort. And like a good story, it should leave the reader satisfied and wanting to meet you in person at your interview.

Above all, the essay should be well-written and in a font and style that is easy to read. The essay should flow with transitions between paragraphs. It should be free of any grammatical errors. Be sure to include your name on the essay so that if the reader prints it, afterwards they know which application file to place it in.

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A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

MIT Executive MBA

MIT Executive MBA Application Process

Applying to the mit executive mba.

The MIT Executive MBA is a mid-career degree program in a 20-month format. It is designed to provide extraordinary, experienced leaders with the management skills necessary to magnify their impact. Our guiding principles are to help develop critical skills essential for today's leaders and to foster a spirit of innovation through exceptional opportunities at MIT Sloan and across MIT. This community thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration and healthy debate. We bring together a cohort of colleagues who will challenge you to consistently excel and who will give you the confidence to do more. Then we empower to immediately integrate what you learn with how you perform on the job. The outcome of your time here will be measured by your capacity to lead change and have a lasting impact in your organization, community, and the world.

Please note: the application for the Class of 2027, matriculating in September 2025, will open later this Fall.

Get updates on the MIT Executive MBA

Your complete application must include:

Essays are required. These essays will provide you with the opportunity to highlight recent experiences from your professional life.

• General Management Experience (100 words or less) Describe your General Management experience. Cite a recent example that demonstrates your general managerial perspective.
• Principled Leadership  (100 words or less) Describe a principle that motivates you in your life and career. How have you put this principle into practice?
• Goals (100 words or less) What are your immediate and long-term professional objectives and what do you need to achieve them?
• Why Now? (100 words or less) Why is this the right time to pursue the MIT Executive MBA?
• Leading Others Through Adversity (200 words or less) Tell us about how you inspired your team, and what you learned about yourself as a leader, through a recent difficult time.
• Diversity Equity and Inclusion (200 words or less) Please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.
• Innovation and Impact (300 words or less)  Please tell us about a time when you introduced a new idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, and how did you measure success?

Employment History

You will be asked to fill in basic information for each of your current and prior jobs. You must also submit a standard, two-page, business resume.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are sent directly to the Admissions Committee via the online application system. Please list two people who will be submitting letters of recommendation on your behalf. A third recommendation is optional. Recommendations should be provided by employers, supervisors, or others who are able to comment on your professional and educational goals and potential (no friends or relatives, please). One recommendation must come from a  current   supervisor or superior .

• If you are an entrepreneur and do not have a supervisor, you may use a cofounder, board member, investor, or key customer of your current company.

All recommendations must be received by the final deadline: Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

In the application system, each recommender is asked to (a) rate you on certain criteria and (b) complete a reference letter. You are encouraged to discuss your professional goals with your recommender prior to nominating them.

Each recommender should be familiar with:

• Specific examples of your intellectual and professional achievements
• Your potential for success as a business leader, with particular emphasis on character
• How you stand out from others who have shared a similar role
• Examples of when you have had an impact on a person, group or organization
• How you defend your ideas; with examples
• Potential room for professional growth.
• For current employers, what is your likely next role?

Transcripts/Grade Reports

Your application must include copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions of study. Copies of transcripts should be scanned and uploaded into the online application system,  not  mailed. Official transcripts are requested after admission and required directly from the institution(s) prior to matriculation.

We will review your college and university transcript(s) in their entirety. In particular, we look for at least one course in statistics and one in calculus.

If you have not taken calculus and statistics, or did not receive strong grades (B or better) in these courses, we recommend taking a credit-bearing class now. We encourage you to find in-person courses at a local college or university, if possible.

Organizational Chart

You will need to include an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your department or company. Please provide as much information as possible with the understanding that some information may be privileged. Example charts are available in the application.

After submitting your application:

In-person interview.

Interviews are by invitation only. An interview request signals that your application has reached an advanced stage of consideration. Invitations to interview are made after the specific application round deadline has passed.

Admission decisions

The Admissions Committee reviews applications and interviews selected candidates by round. If you are seeking an early decision, apply early in the admissions cycle. Decisions for interviewed candidates are made by the posted date for each round. 

For more insights into the program and the admissions process, view our latest webinars or join us for an information session.

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Kellogg Application tips: Written and video essays

Editor’s note: This article was published during a previous year’s admissions cycle. For the latest information on essay prompts for the 2023–2024 application, please see this post .

By Brittany Wisniewski, senior associate director of admissions    As you move through the application process , one of the most important aspects is telling your personal and professional story as fully and authentically as possible. Each part of the application provides an opportunity for you to share what makes you unique. When you are submitting your written essays and optional video essays, consider examples that demonstrate who you are, what drives you and what you plan to achieve as a future Kellogg Leader .  

Written essays 

The application will give you two prompts for written essays: 

• Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn?  
• Values are what guide us in our life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? 

Today’s changing business landscape demands leaders who possess a blend of analytical, creative and social intelligence and who can uplift teams to their full potential — those are the candidates we at Kellogg are looking for. Know that there are no perfect answers to our essay questions. Instead, when you are writing your essays, think about how you can leave your mark on Kellogg and the world.   

Optional video essays 

New this year, you can complete video essays after you submit your application and payment. While the video is an optional component, this is a great opportunity to tell us more about you  and explain why Kellogg is the right place for you.   

The video portion of the applications will include three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you to where you are today: 

• Introduce yourself to the admissions committee. 
• What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you? 
• This question will be based on a challenge you've faced and what you've learned from it.

Please note, video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.  

Learn more 

At Kellogg, we believe in a holistic approach to the application process. We look at all areas of a candidate’s application. For us, this is much more than a test score, essay or job title. All applicants have unique strengths and attributes. Please make sure we see and hear everything that makes you special.   

If you are ready to become a Kellogg Leader, complete your application today . 

To explore more application tips or learn more about Kellogg, visit our admissions site  or sign up for an event to speak to an admissions officer. 

Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your application soon! 

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MBA Admission Gurus

Millionaire MBA Makers

Sample MBA Application Essays Grouped By B-School

• View more than 50 successful  Essays (across 20+ worldwide B-Schools ) that have resulted in 90%+ success rates and funding awards in excess of US$ 3 Million.
• A new browser window will open up when you click on a given Business school link.
• Please note : Some content overlap is likely since essays developed for the same candidate may be published across different B-schools.  As a policy, we do not publish application essays via prior permission
• INSEAD MBA ESSAYS (3 SAMPLES)
• KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• DARTMOUTH-TUCK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAYS (4 SAMPLES)
• STANFORD GSB MBA ESSAYS (3 SAMPLES)
• COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• DUKE-FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• NANYANG BUSINESS SCHOOL (NUS) -SINGAPORE, ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• IMD-SWITZERLAND MBA ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• ESADE-SPAIN MBA ESSAY (1 SAMPLES)
• IE SPAIN MBA ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• ROTTERDAM SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT – ERASMUS UNIVERSITY, ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• QUEENS BUSINESS SCHOOL – CANADA, ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• USC-MARSHALL SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• EMORY-GOIZUETA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAYS ( 2 SAMPLES)
• INDIANA-KELLEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• PURDUE-KRANNERT SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• OHIO STATE UNIV-FISHER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS – ISB ESSAYS (4 SAMPLES)
• ROCHESTER-SIMON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)
• GEORGIA TECH. COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT ESSAY (1 SAMPLES)
• MARYLAND-SMITH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ESSAYS (2 SAMPLES)
• SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY- LEAVEY B-SCHOOL ESSAY (1 SAMPLE)

Reader Interactions

Janice Stevenson says

October 10, 2017 at 3:18 AM

nice samples! Thanks

G. Krishna says

May 23, 2017 at 11:38 AM

Dear MBA Admission Gurus: I am looking for a guidance in my MBA application process. Please let me know how you can help me.Thanks.

MBA Admission Gurus says

May 23, 2017 at 11:41 AM

Hi there: Thanks for taking the time to post in. We have responded to you via email. For immediate assistance, do feel free to dial MBAadmissiongurus now Cheers! David

Tracey Scott says

August 9, 2014 at 8:07 AM

Hi Gurus, I currently work as an equity research analyst and am planning to go ahead with a US top 10 MBA program. My Gmat score is 690 and I have been at work (Full-time as an analyst over the past 3 years). I seek assistance in differentiating my case. Please advise. Thanks, Tracey

August 9, 2014 at 8:10 AM

Greetings Tracey, Thanks for the connect. We are getting in touch with you right away via email. Pl. also share your contact number for faster connect. Thanks, David, MBAadmissionGURUS

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October 14, 2022

MIT Sloan Executive MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2022 – 2023]

These essay questions show that the MIT EMBA adcom seeks applicants who have the judgment and practical skills to take on the challenges that will fly at them as they redefine and reshape industries and functions to meet the needs of the future. Applicants who push the boundary of what’s possible and provide principled leadership amidst a torrent of change. The essays (including Statement of Purpose) are your main means to show that you possess the qualities that indicate fit for the MIT EMBA. While the statement of purpose challenges you to succinctly create your applicant portrait, the three essay questions probe how your perspective, ideas, and thinking lead to specific impacts and outcomes. As always, MIT Sloan is interested in what you’ve done – actions you’ve taken and impacts you’ve created.

In an overall plan for the essays, the statement of purpose works as a positioner, an opening pitch, a frame. In each of the three essays, strategically select experiences that show different facets of your experience to give a comprehensive view. Also, if possible, discuss recent experiences in at least 2 of the essays, to allow the adcom to see you working at a high level and to show what you’ll bring to the table. A pitfall of the essays is potential overlap in topics and examples. Before drafting essays, I suggest mapping out your topics and examples to ensure you present different types of impacts and experiences and “allocate” your relevant examples/experiences optimally. Finally, MIT EMBA’s mission is stated at the start of the essay questions; keep it on the radar for context as you draft the essays.

MIT Executive MBA application writing prompts

Mit executive mba statement of purpose.

Please provide a statement on your personal and professional qualifications. What is motivating you to apply to the MIT Executive MBA at this point in your career? (500 words or less)

This is your portrait – your candidacy at a glance. It should convey a vivid, immediate sense of you as a person and as a candidate for this program. It should go beyond just facts to present a point of view and a message (theme). Determine your message before drafting the essay, and be guided by it in selecting and elaborating the content details.

Beware of a potential pitfall: in discussing the qualifications (ideally reflecting accomplishments), do not repeat your resume  in prose format. Select your examples thoughtfully, focusing on those that (a) are truly distinctive and relevant to the EMBA and/or (b) support your goals directly or indirectly, and (c) reflect your message. Make a short, meaningful point about each, such as the insight it lends or its influence on you. Don’t forget to include at least one personal (non-work) accomplishment!

For why you are pursuing the MIT EMBA, of course you’ll discuss your professional goals and objectives. Focus not only on what you want to do, but also why — your vision, what motivates this plan. Addressing “why now” should be part of this goals discussion. Finally, address how this program will help you realize your plans – note 2-3 specific attributes and components of the program and thoughtfully link them concretely to your needs. 

MIT EMBA application essays

Three essays are required. The two short-form essays, and one long-form essay will provide you with the opportunity to highlight recent experiences from your professional life.

MIT Executive MBA essay #1

Lasting impact can happen on large and small scales. Tell us about how you inspired your team, and what you learned about yourself as a leader, through a recent difficult time. (300 words or less )

The bulk of the essay will focus on action – your chosen story of leading/inspiring your team through difficulty to achieve a lasting impact. While the story should reflect MIT’s educational mission, don’t strain to find something that literally mirrors all the specific points (innovative, principled, generate ideas, advance management practice). Rather, your story can reflect the spirit of this mission. The key to making this a gripping, memorable essay is including a bit about your thought process as you narrate your actions – at a key point, why you made an important decision, etc. And note the word “recent” in the question – hence the experience should have occurred within the last couple of years.

MIT Executive MBA essay #2

MIT Sloan finds strength through diversity. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. We seek to create a community that encompasses all dimensions of diversity and fosters excellence within MIT Sloan. This includes diversity of identity, thought, role, and perspective. Please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. (250 words or less)

Again, MIT seeks evidence that you take actions and have an impact that are consistent with its values. They are interested in learning how you implement change in what essentially is culture: diversity, inclusivity, welcoming – a potential pitfall here is to use “warm and fuzzy” verbiage; MIT is interested in concrete changes that make a real difference. You should cite actual outcomes as a result of your contributions. With only 250 words, keep it simple: focus on telling the story . Be sure to clarify your own actions and note your thinking at 1-2 key points. In selecting your example, keep in mind your topics for essays 1 and 3, to ensure that all together you are representing strategically meaningful aspects of your experience.

MIT Executive MBA essay #3

Please tell us about a time when you introduced an idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, and how did you measure success? (500 words or less)

This question requires you to address both thought (idea) and action (introduced…). MIT Sloan seeks people who have strength in both areas – who have vision and can execute that vision.

A suggested approach is to draft it straightforwardly, as a story: start with your idea and what prompted it, and then narrate your action – how you introduced the idea, and how you implemented it. Conclude with the results, clarifying the change in approach to the opportunity or challenge, and how you measured the success.

There are 2 ways to address the last part of the question. Option A: As you narrate the story, include and “zoom in” on factors you considered and the barriers/obstacles you encountered in the process; make them part of the story. Option B: narrate the story, and then in a concluding paragraph discuss the factors you considered and the barriers/obstacles faced.

For expert guidance with your MIT Sloan EMBA application, check out Accepted’s  MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to MIT Sloan’s EMBA program and look forward to helping you too!

MIT Executive MBA 2023 application deadlines

Source: MIT Sloan EMBA website

Related Resources:

• Executive MBA Essays: How to Make an Impact [Sample Essay]
• MIT Sloan EMBA and Sloan Fellows Programs: Move from Success to Significance , a podcast episode
• EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants

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Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done.

Other parts of the application give insight into your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

Essay Questions

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions — the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Both essays combined may not exceed 1,000 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 350 words for Essay B. We often read effective essays that are written in fewer words.

Editing Your Essays

Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask friends or family members for feedback, especially about whether the tone and voice sound like you. Your family and friends know you better than anyone. If they think the essays do not capture who you are, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely we will be unable to recognize what is distinctive about you.

Feedback vs. Coaching

There is a big difference between “feedback” and “coaching.” You cross that line when any part of the application (excluding the letters of recommendation ) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when others review your completed application — perhaps once or twice — and apprise you of omissions, errors, or inaccuracies that you later correct or address. After editing is complete, your thoughts, voice, and style remain intact. Inappropriate coaching occurs when you allow others to craft any part of your application for you and, as a result, your application or self-presentation is not authentic.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have another person or tool write your essays. Such behavior will result in denial of your application or revocation of your admission.

Additional Information

If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the Additional Information section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
• Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere
• Explanation of why you are not using a current supervisor as a recommender

This section should not be used as an additional essay.

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Master of Business Administration (MBA) Programs - Admissions | Essays

Our Stern essay questions give you the opportunity to more fully present yourself to the Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals, and thought processes.

Your essays must be written entirely by you. An offer of admission will be rescinded if you did not write your essays.  

• Short Answer: Professional Aspirations
• Essay 1: Change: _____ it
• Essay 2: Personal Expression (a.k.a. "Pick Six")
• Essay 3: Additional Information (optional)

Short Answer: Professional Aspirations (150 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

• What are your short-term career goals?

Essay 1: Change: _________ it (350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font) 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? Examples:

• Change: Dare it.
• Change: Dream it.
• Change: Drive it.
• Change: Empower it.
• Change: Manifest it.
• Change: [Any word of your choice] it.

Essay 2: Personal Expression (a.k.a. "Pick Six") Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements.   Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your "Pick Six" (no more than 3 sentences).
• Six images that help illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website. Essay 3: Additional Information (optional) (500 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font) Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.  

Admissions Blog Insights

Conquering the Pick 6

Nedjee Corriolan, Assistant Director at NYU Stern, shares her tips for the Pick 6 essay on our full-time MBA blog.

Sample MBA Essay for Wharton

James Woodson/Photodisc / Getty Images

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MBA essays can be hard to write, but they are one of the most important parts of the MBA application process . If you need help getting started, you may want to view a few sample MBA essays for inspiration. The sample MBA essay shown below has been reprinted (with permission) from EssayEdge.com . EssayEdge did not write or edit this sample MBA essay. It is a good example of how an MBA essay should be formatted.

Wharton Essay Prompt

Prompt: Describe how your experiences, both professional and personal, have led to your decision to pursue an MBA at the Wharton school this year. How does this decision relate to your career goals for the future? Throughout my life, I have observed two distinct career paths, my father's and my uncle's. My father completed his engineering degree and secured a government job in India, which he continues to hold to this day. My uncle's path began similarly; like my father, he earned an engineering degree. My uncle, on the other hand, continued his education by moving to the United States to earn an MBA, then started his own venture and became a successful businessman in Los Angeles. Evaluating their experiences helped me understand what I wanted from my life and create a master plan for my career. While I appreciate the excitement, flexibility, and independence my uncle has in his life, I value my father's proximity to his family and culture. I now realize that a career as an entrepreneur in India could provide me with the best of both worlds. With the objective of learning about business, I completed my bachelor's degree in Commerce and joined KPMG in the Audit & Business Advisory Department. I believed that a career with an accounting firm would serve me in two ways: first, by enhancing my knowledge of accounting -- the language of business -- and second, by providing me with an excellent introduction to the business world. My decision seemed to be a sound one; in my first two years at KPMG, I worked on a wide variety of assignments that not only strengthened my analytical and problem-solving skills, but also taught me how large businesses managed their sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution functions. After enjoying this productive and educational experience for two years, I decided I wanted greater opportunities than what the audit department could offer. Thus, when the Management Assurance Services (MAS) practice was established in India, the challenge of working in a new service line and the opportunity to help improve the risk management mechanisms of businesses influenced me to join it. In the last three years, I have improved risk management capabilities of clients by addressing strategic, enterprise and operational risk issues. I have also assisted the MAS practice in tailoring our international portfolio of services to the Indian marketplace by conducting risk management surveys, interacting with professionals in other developing economies, and conducting interviews with senior client management. Besides becoming skilled at process risk consulting, I have also significantly improved my project management and new service development abilities in the last three years.

During my tenure with the MAS department, I have encountered challenges that have motivated me to seek  a management degree . For example, last year, we conducted a process risk review for a cash-starved Indian auto ancillary that had expanded capacity without assessing sources of competitive advantage. It was clear that the company needed to rethink its business and operational strategy. Since the MAS department lacked the necessary skills to execute the project, we hired consultants to assist us in the assignment. Their approach of reviewing both the strategic and operational aspects of the business was an eye-opener for me. The pair of consultants used their knowledge of international business and macroeconomics to evaluate key industry trends and identify new markets for the company. In addition, they employed their understanding of supply chain management to benchmark key capabilities with competition and identify opportunities for improvement. As I witnessed the progress made by these two consultants, I realized that in order to achieve my long-term professional goals, I needed to return to school to expand my understanding of the fundamentals of corporate and industry analysis. I also believe that management education can help me develop other vital skills essential to my standing as a professional. For example, I will benefit from the opportunity to further polish my public speaking ability and hone my skills as a negotiator. Also, I have had limited experience working outside India, and I feel that an international education will equip me with the skills necessary to deal with foreign suppliers and customers. After graduating from Wharton, I will seek a position in a strategy consulting firm in its business building/growth practice. In addition to providing me with an opportunity to apply what I have learned, a position in the growth practice will expose me to the practical issues of new business creation. Three to five years after earning an MBA, I would expect to establish my own business venture. In the short-term, however, I may explore exciting business ideas and examine ways to build a  sustainable business  with the help of the Wharton Venture Initiation Program. The ideal education for me includes the Wharton Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management majors coupled with unique experiences like the Wharton Business Plan Competition and the Wharton Technology Entrepreneurship Internship. Perhaps even more importantly, I look to benefit from the Wharton environment -- an environment of boundless innovation. Wharton will give me the opportunity to apply the theory, models and techniques I learn in the classroom to the real world. I intend to join the 'entrepreneurs club' and consulting club, which will not only help me form lifelong friendships with fellow students but also give me exposure to  top consulting firms  and successful entrepreneurs. I would be proud to be a part of the Women in Business club and contribute to the 125 years of women at Penn. After five years of business experience, I believe that I am ready to take the next step toward my dream of being an entrepreneur. I also am confident that I am ready to participate actively as a member of the incoming Wharton class. At this point I am looking to gain the requisite skills and relationships to grow as a professional; I know that Wharton is the right place for me to accomplish this objective.

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My Top Tips for Applying to Michigan Ross

As we kick-off the 2024-25 application cycle, I am sharing a handful of my top tips to keep in mind when you are applying. 

Tip 1: Read the instructions

Every year when I write a blog about my top tips for the application cycle, I start with this tip: Slow down and read ALL of the instructions. Seems simple, right? But with all that you need to keep track of with applications and school-related responsibilities, it is easy to miss something important. This is especially true this year because for the first time, Michigan Ross is a First-Year Admitting Unit at the University of Michigan. Read the blog I published in June to learn more about this change. 

We have a variety of resources on our How to Apply: First Year Applicants page Also, if you happen to forget where to submit your portfolio, we have a Ross Admissions Portfolio website with the SlideRoom link available. 

Tip 2: Take ownership of your application process 

The more organized and in control of your college application process, the less stress you may feel. Taking ownership means understanding and tracking all deadlines you need to meet for the colleges you are applying to (including financial aid). This also means organizing what materials you need to submit in addition to what is requested within the actual application. You will need to submit transcripts, and letters of recommendation, among other items, and it is your responsibility  to ensure that these materials are delivered on time.

Another tip I often give to students is to write a thank you note to your recommenders about a month before each application deadline (which also means you gave them more than a month to write your letter). This is both a form of gratitude, and a good way to politely remind your teachers and counselors if they have not already submitted your letters. 

Tip 3: Make the call, not your parents 

Speaking of ownership, it is important that you make the call or initiate the email when you have a question related to your application. It can be brave to navigate a complex application or university system, but it is also a very important experience for you to gain before you arrive on a college campus. Building that independence begins now. The more confident you are now in talking with the staff and faculty at colleges and universities, the more successful you will be later. Remember the common phrase, “no such thing as a stupid question”. That is entirely true! We are here to answer every question you may have and it excites us even more when we talk to a student who is considering our program. 

Tip 4: Show an authentic voice through reflective writing

Your voice is the most important part of the application process. College essay writing is reflective writing - not academic writing, and usually not creative writing. What do I mean by reflective? We want students to reflect on their interests, goals, what they will contribute to this new academic community, and what they want to gain from it.

Let’s take that typical “why [this college] essay.” When you answer that question, it is not about what the school will give you in terms of job placement rates or fancy facilities. It is about what you want to get out of your college experience. Reflect on the moment you knew you wanted to study business and tell us why. Was it a class within your high school? An extracurricular activity that exposed you to a new concept or idea? Try to be present with your thinking and stay away from essays that center others as your reason, such as the “dinner time conversations with my parents on their business/job” or “my cousin who attended business school.” Remember, you are the one completing this degree, not anyone else, so you need to show that you have thought through your why.

And, write all of this without platitudes on how great Michigan or Ross is. We certainly love Michigan and Ross, too! But the essay is about you, your goals, and a reflection of what you want to study and why.

Tip 5: The Business Case Discussion is not a research-based prompt

In the BBA program, we solve a lot of problems and case study analysis is at the core of our broad-based management degree. Therefore, the portfolio has a performance assessment known as the Business Case Discussion that allows us to view and analyze your problem-solving ability. I recently wrote a blog post on it and recommend that you check it out. But to quickly summarize a few things here, the Business Case Discussion is not a research-based prompt. You will give no citations or reference works of others. That is because the topic you will choose is local and not global. We are instead looking to see how you identify the business implications and what steps you take to think through or get to a solution. It should all be original thinking on your part. 

Tip 6: Submit by the Early Action deadline

I will end with the last tip I always give: Please apply by the Nov. 1 Early Action deadline. We build the majority of our class with Early Action applicants. Also, applying Early Action means you get your admission decision by late January and financial aid and scholarship processes can commence sooner. Early Action is non-binding (we do not have any application deadline restrictions or Early Decision deadlines. We receive, review, and make decisions periodically for the BBA program, and the later you apply, the higher likelihood that we are filling up and will have less space for admission offers later in the process. 

I hope these application tips were helpful. Remember that our website is a wonderful resource for more information on applying, and we have many ways to connect with us . I look forward to reading your applications this winter.   

"Be unique. Be yourself."