mbaMission's Monday Morning Essay Tip

Monday Morning Essay Tip: Earning Your Keep
August 24th, 2009 | Posted in Monday Morning Essay Tips, Blogroll

https://www.mbamission.com/blog/2009/08/ ... your-keep/

Anyone who has written an email that has been misunderstood, let alone an MBA application essay, is no doubt aware of the subtleties of language and the simple nuances that can change a message’s meaning. Well, these nuances need not only be negative. Indeed, it is entirely possible to invigorate a simple sentence by choosing a more active verb, such as ”earn.”

By using “earn” in the examples below, instead of the more passive approaches, we change one word and thereby change each sentence’s meaning. Suddenly, you are in control—suddenly you worked hard and, as a result, attained great accomplishments.

Bad: “I received my PhD in Nuclear Physics from the University of So-and-So.”
Good: “I earned my PhD in Nuclear Physics from the University of So-and-So.”

Bad: “I was promoted from junior to senior analyst.” (Also bad because of passive voice.)
Good: “I earned a promotion from junior to senior analyst.”

Bad: “As a result of obtaining my MBA, I will be able to….”
Good: “As a result of earning my MBA, I will be able to….”

Once you have finished your essays, review them and check to see how often you can replace certain words with the word “earn” or a form of the word “earn”—you’ve earned it!

Monday Morning Essay Tip: Multi-Dimensional Brainstorming
August 31st, 2009 | Posted in Monday Morning Essay Tips, Blogroll

Monday Morning Essay Tip: Multidimensional Brainstorming

https://www.mbamission.com/blog/2009/08/ ... torming-2/

We always tell our candidates, “You can’t turn a bad idea into a good essay.” We insist on taking our candidates through a lengthy brainstorming process (which begins with a thorough questionnaire) to discover the stories that make each candidate distinct. Even as you uncover your stories, it is still important to consider them from as many different angles as possible. While this will help ensure that you understand the various “weapons in your arsenal,” this will also provide you with maximum flexibility (as MBA Admissions Committees ask questions which vary dramatically from school to school).

For example, a simple experience coaching a baseball team at an underfunded high school may have multiple dimensions. This may be the story of

creatively motivating this underachieving team and changing attitudes — despite losses
initiating and leading fundraising efforts so that each player can afford proper equipment/jerseys
mentoring a struggling player and seeing an improvement in his on-field performance
helping a player deal with a family issue off the field
recruiting other coaches and then working with a team to improve the team’s on-field performance
These are just a few of the stories that could be gleaned from this experience, which serves to reinforce the point that considering stories from various angles is quite beneficial and will help you discover many unique approaches.