LBS Previews 2013-2014 MBA Essays

by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Aug 20, 2013

London Business School has launched an MBA admissions blog, and the first post by Oliver Ashby, head of MBA recruitment and admissions, gives a sneak peak of the essay questions that will form a part of the upcoming application.

Changes to this latest set of essays is based on the school's desire for an authentic glimpse into applicants' personalities, notes Ashby, and to allow you more freedom in how you construct your essays. Below each question you'll find Ashby's comments and suggestions for drafting your answers.

1. What will your future look like after completing your MBA? (500 words)

We are extremely focused on helping our students to achieve their goals and ambitions. This essay gives you the opportunity to share your future aspirations with us.

They dont have to be ultra-specific but if your goals are particularly ambitious, you may want to think about some steps as to how you will achieve them and think about having a coherent back -up plan if they dont immediately work out.

Also remember that your future can include other aspects of life, not just your career. Think about how your relationship with LBS will evolve in the years following your graduation.

2. What value will you add to London Business School? (300 words)

This essay is deliberately straightforward. At LBS, one of our core values is collaboration. We are looking for students who will be highly active members of the community. This might be membership of one of the many student clubs, helping fellow students in their jobs searches or myriad other contributions. You should think carefully about what you intend to bring to London Business School and your future classmates.

One of the most common failings we see in applications is an inability to differentiate between top business schools. Many applicants will apply to more than one school and that is absolutely fine.

However, when you apply to different schools you should know exactly why you are applying to each specific school and how it is unique from other world-class institutions. If you cant tell the difference, you probably need to do some more research, think about visiting the school and speak to the admissions team.

3. What is the Schools responsibility to you and what is your responsibility to the School? (400 words)

At London Business School we take our relationships with students very seriously. We firmly believe that the relationship between the school and our students should be a two way process. We believe that the LBS MBA is a well-rounded, transformative experience, but it is vital that from day one our students understand what they can expect from us in terms of support, and what we expect from our students in terms of contribution to the LBS community.

Our community is vibrant, fun and extremely diverse. Though, when it comes to academic performance all LBS MBA students understand that the degree is a solemn undertaking and as a result, take their studies seriously. When answering this essay think about how you will approach your MBA studies and how you will manage the competing demands on your time. Feel free to be open about what you expect from us and what you believe the school should deliver both during your studies and after.

Ashby indicates the application will go live on August 19th, and while deadlines have not yet been formalized, the first round date will be in early October.

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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.