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A Master of Business Administration or MBA is one of the most sought after degrees globally. MBA applicants go through a rigorous selection and interview process before getting admission to the program. So what increases the chances of a candidate being selected for admission? Of course, good grades and a high score in exams like GRE or GMAT is obviously essential, but the other crucial factor that works in your selection is your MBA essay. Since this essay has the power to either uplift or hinders your application, it is extremely important to write a good essay as part of your application. Not sure about what makes a good MBA essay? This blog on how to write an MBA essay can help you in getting an idea about it. Take a look!
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What is an MBA Essay?
The MBA essay is a kind of personal statement that you are required to submit along with your MBA application to your chosen MBA school. It is an essential part of the application process of major schools around the world and thus plays a role in getting you selected for admission. So, why is the MBA essay considered to be so important? Firstly, it provides you with a chance to describe yourself and your goals to the admission committee – who you are, how an MBA would help you in reaching your career goals, why you should be selected for the program etc. Secondly, it provides you with an opportunity to put forward your strengths and weaknesses, and also share your experiences, achievements and even failures, while explaining how it contributed to making you who you are. The MBA essay thus enables you to put forward all those points that you couldn’t have included in your resume or personal details section of the application, but which are still very important.
MBA Essay Word Count
Each university specifies the word count of their required MBA essays. If it is mentioned a thousand words, then adhere to it. In case there isn’t mentioned a required word count, then you have flexibility. It is still suggested that you follow a short, five-paragraph format MBA essay as they are more concise, to-the-point and distinctive in admission process.
MBA Essay Format
Usually the MBA essay formats are divided into three sections and 5 paragraphs. This is the Five-Paragraph format. It is as follows:
- Introductory Paragraph
- Three Body Paragraphs
- Concluding Paragraphs
You can also follow a well-known “S.T.A.R” approach while writing an MBA essay.
- S stands for Situation
- T stands for Task
- A stands for Action
- R stands for Result
Follow a narration of essay keeping the above format in mind to produce a distinct MBA essay.
Tips to Write an MBA Essay
Writing an MBA essay takes time, since you have to make sure that you are able to convey all the important points successfully. Here are some tips that would help you in coming up with a powerful MBA essay that will ensure your selection in your chosen MBA school:
Be Introspective When Planning Your MBA Essay
The questions you need to ask yourself before starting on your MBA essay are: Why an MBA? Why right now? Why ABC school? Having a solid answer to these 3 questions allows you to have a clear idea about your goals and expectations, which you can then easily incorporate within your essay.
Also Read: Best Answer for Why MBA
Create a Structure
Your MBA essay should have a distinct opening, body and conclusion. Use the 3-part approach to develop a coherent and easy-to-follow format. The body should be about 60% of the total content, with 20% reserved for the opening and 20% for the conclusion. Use the conclusion to support your overall points.
Be Mindful of the Length
Review the required lengths for each essay and adhere to them. However, just because there is a word limit mentioned, you don’t need to write that many words mandatorily. Remember that the members of the admission committee have to go through hundreds of essays in an application season, so it is in your best interest to reach your conclusion as concisely as possible.
Set a Time Limit
Many candidates get stuck on the MBA essay questions. Although the MBA essay is important,it is only one component of your overall application profile. For that reason, set yourself a reasonable amount of time to write your essay and try to complete it within that time. While more time may improve an essay, it doesn’t guarantee it.
Also Read: Career Goals for MBA Aspirant in 150 Words
Ask A Colleague/Friend For a Review
You obviously have more background knowledge about your abilities and goals than anyone. Because of this, there is a chance that you may have used some jargon or written it in a way that may seem incomprehensible to others. By asking someone less familiar with your industry to read your essay, you can be sure that the language you’ve used is clear.
Make Use of the Optional Essays
Is there something on your application that deserves further explanation, like a low test score or a lack of coursework in core business courses? Do you have a personal story to tell that may distinguish you from other applicants? With the optional essay, you have the opportunity to provide that information to the admission committee.
Demonstrate Your Character and Personality
MBA essays provide an opportunity to help the admission committee learn more about your background. It’s always useful to share your volunteer work, accomplishments and general interests through your essay.
MBA Practice Essay Topics
Here are a few topics that you can practice and polish your essay writing skills.
- Women’s Reservation Bill.
- Financial crisis in Europe.
- The recent financial crisis highlights the perils of Capitalism.
- No one is wise by birth. Wisdom results from one’s own efforts.
- Business and ethics don’t go hand in hand these days.
- Banning politicians with criminal records from contesting elections is against their right.
- India versus Bharat: a divided nation.
MBA Essay Sample
Humans have caused considerable changes in the climate which has led to massive shifts in natural phenomena. Multiple cooperations and global brands have equally contributed to these climatic changes.
Worse luck, we haven’t been fortunate enough to have leaders who are willing to complete their jobs and try to lessen the intensity of climate change. I feel people can reduce climate change by investing in eco-friendly resources.
My immediate goal is to develop skills and conduct enough research in the field of climate change and global warming. I also want to invest in such eco-friendly resources that can be used as an alternative for traditional resources like plastic, nylon, etc. that cause damage to the earth, I also want to conduct trials and errors to test the sustainability of these products.
Post my MBA, my long-term goal is to have a startup that invests in clean recyclable energy, accessible clean water, and eco-friendly technology. I also want to build myself enough to be able to inspire others to implement the same and offer them resources to assist their goal.
I certainly believe that an MBA degree can help me become competent, provide a global perspective of people’s behavior, and also help me become an entrepreneur and a leader in my venture.
The values and concepts taught at XYZ University stick to my vision and goals. I believe this university is a perfect choice for building my future.
Top Schools for MBA
Now that you do have an idea of how you can write your MBA essay, it is also a good idea to make yourself familiar with the popular schools around the world from which you can pursue your MBA degree. Here is a list of the top MBA Schools around the world.
| School | Country |
| The Wharton School | United States |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business | United States |
| INSEAD | Multiple Campuses |
| MIT Sloan School of Management | United States |
| Harvard Business School | United States |
| London Business School | United Kingdom |
| HEC Paris | France |
| The University of Chicago Booth School of Business | United States |
| Haas School of Business | United States |
| The Kellogg School of Management | United States |
Here is the list of Best MBA Colleges in World!
FAQs
To start writing an MBA essay, reflect on who you are and start by showing the same in the essay, with clear focus on your goals.
An MBA essay should be in a five-paragraph essay.
Each institution provides a word count for MBA essay. But if it is not mentioned, students should not write a lengthy essay, and be sure to follow the five-paragraph format.
Hope this blog was successful in making you aware of how to write an MBA essay. Following the points mentioned above will surely help you in coming up with a strong essay that will greatly increase your chances of getting selected for the degree. Are you an MBA aspirant? Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu for guidance in identifying the perfect MBA course that aligns with your career goals. Sign up for a free session today!
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