Myths and Facts about Your MBA Application Essays

by , Dec 2, 2009

First, ditch all your MBA essay preconceived notions. Before you start writing your essays you need to know the FACTS, the secrets that will transform your drafts from a pile of meaningless, monotonous, boring mush into persuasive, compelling prose that introduces you as a must-have candidate to the admissions staff.

Myth #1: Essays are read by machines, not people.

Fact: If essays were run through machines, then all you'd have to do is type up a string of keywords that would prove you will be a stellar businessperson. Since essays are read by people, though, and not machines, cramming in keywords like "leadership," "management," and "success" is not going to get you accepted.

Admissions committees want you to show them, not just tell them, that you are a leader who belongs in management. They want to hear stories and they want to be moved. They want you to demonstrate that you have leadership and organizational skills in addition to compassion and integrity. In short, your essays will be read by humans interested in your humanity, your talents, and your ability to enhance the reputation of their school.

Myth #2: Admissions committees are objective judges who reward past accomplishments, merits, and good stats with the grand prize of acceptance.

Fact: If acceptances were based on objective criteria, then there'd be no need for any essays, and an application would be reduced to a simple compilation of test scores, grades, and a list of extracurricular activities. The fact that essays are required shows how little the adcoms care about rewarding you exclusively for your competitive stats.

Yes, admissions committees do, ultimately, give out the prize of acceptance, but not solely because of objective criteriaagain, they are people not computers. The adcoms' primary job is to create an elaborate mosaicthe next class in their top B-School. Like artists or stone masons, they must choose just the right stones that will contribute to the beauty of the mosaic as a whole. They evaluate your qualifications as an artisan would study a potential mosaic tile: Are you unique? Do you stand out? Do you have what it takes to shine individually while simultaneously contributing to the whole?

Myth #3: Application essays should paint a picture of your mammoth goals and dreams and should represent you as a mythical, perfect specimen of human life.

Fact: Please do not fall into the trap of writing about who you WISH you were, rather than who you actually are. Think of your essay as a human interest story about you. Adcoms want to read about people who are not super-human, but real, occasionally flawed, and demonstrably steeled to overcome challenges. That's not to say that your essay should be a laundry list of your weaknesses. Not at all, but it should be filled with true anecdotes about your real life. You, as you are today, have more rich and valuable experiences to draw upon than you probably realize. Don't rely on the imaginary or potential you.

For more information on constructing your personal, human interest story please check out the following Accepted.com resources:

• Submit a Stellar Application, an ebook.
• Five Fatal Flaw to Avoid in your MBA Application Essays
• The Roadmap to Bold & Brilliant MBA Essays
• Distinctiveness: By-product or Goal?