Stanford GSB Essay Questions for Class of 2017

by Stacy Blackman Consulting, May 20, 2014

The Stanford Graduate School of Business has updated its admissions website with the two essays required for the 2014-2015 MBA application. These questions remain essentially unchanged from last years application, but the number of required essays this year has dropped from three to two.

Essay A:

What matters most to you, and why? (650-850 suggested word count)

A strong response to this question will:

• Focus on the why rather than the what.
• Reflect the self-examination process you used to write your response.
• Genuinely illustrate who you are and how you came to be the person you are.
• Share the insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspectives, rather than focusing merely on what youve done or accomplished.
• Be written from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.

Essay B:

Why Stanford? (250-450 suggested word count)

Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.

A strong response to this essay question will:

• Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management.
• Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.

Length

Your answers for both essay questions combined may not exceed 1,100 words.

For more information, visit the Stanford GSB admissions website.

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If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more.