This will make a good blog post but let me write down an answer quickly to get you on your way. Before approaching how to answer the question make sure you understand the
MBA Admissions Criteria and research the program thoroughly.
How is the question asked?
Schools can ask a contribution explicitly like McCombs does as part of a question "Please discuss why McCombs is the right program for you, what you hope to gain from your time in the Texas MBA Program both personally and professionally, and how you will contribute to your classmates' experiences?" Schools can also ask a contribution implicitly as Fuqua does in "When asked by your family, friends, and colleagues why you want to go to Duke, what do you tell them? Share the reasons that are most meaningful to you." I have also had clients use the optional essay to answer this question when the students background and/or visualized impact is strong and something the applicant should highlight.
What are MBA admissions committees looking for?
MBA admissions committees can gauge your strengths in various criteria such as overall fit in addition to different aspects of leadership, teamwork, global, personality characteristics, etc. But also schools want to directly know what your impact will be because of the greater need by MBA administrators and faculty to have business school students impact the school than the need is by undergraduate school administrators and faculty. Let's face it. In comparison to undergraduate schools, MBA schools have students for half the time (two versus four years), but are more dependent upon their business school students to lead in even a greater variety of ways.
How do I answer the question?
Try a thought exercise. Assume this is Day 1 of your two years at XYZ Business School. What leadership roles would you assume in which areas and specifically how would you impact these areas? Does this tie into the school's overall mission in any way?
So, map different aspects of your background. But do not regurgitate what is found elsewhere in your application and resume merely reference this (as implicitly giving your answer more credibility). Also, do not regurgitate what is on the school's website. The school can see your background and they know what they offer. What they do not know is the connection between your background and what they offer, factor your interest too. Remember your answer to this question should harmonize with the rest of your application.
I am lost. How can I visualize impact when I am not yet at the school?
You can impact a school in many different ways from within the classroom to its student organizations to its conferences to within the greater school and city community to a number of programs to academic research, etc. You also can impact a school not only for the two years you are there, but also for the rest of your life. How do you discover all the different ways you could impact McCombs? Start with the website.
Research every facet of the school. Contact students. Schools that ask this question and other schools like NYU Stern that explicitly asks "What actions have you taken to determine that Stern is the best fit for your MBA experience?" want to know that you would go to the program if accepted. If a student copies and pastes another generic contribution essay swapping out clubs, the school can tell.
How do I research a school?
Start with the website but do not stop there. School have similar structures to their websites to help you access pertinent information. So let's go back to McCombs.
- Read through the Student Life section (which includes Student Profiles, Day in the Life, Student Organizations, Austin, Diverse Community and Families & Partners). Do any organizations or does any aspect of what you read resonate with you and can you envision your impact? You will see there is a contact email for each student organization so reach out to organizations that interest you.
- Read through Academics which includes (Curriculum, Concentrations, Dual Degrees, Faculty & Research, Learning Environment and Academic Advising) and Hands-On Experience (which includes Texas MBA+ Leadership Program, International Opportunities, Fellows Program, MBA Investment Funds, Washington Campus and Academic Challenges).
- Connect with the school through the Admissions Events (which includes On-Campus , Off-Campus and Online , Women's Forum and Diversity Forum Events) and Social Media (which includes Admissions Blog, Student & Alumni Blog, Career Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram pages. Schools usually have Student and sometimes Alumni Ambassadors. Note that is another way you can contribute too.
Hopefully, this has started you on your way and I have not delved down too deeply into "the rabbit hole" in any one direction.
Best of luck,
