Several career choices after mba or list one?

[Ashish8]

Almost all schools ask you to write an essay about "what career goals do you want to pursue after an mba?" When writing this essay, is it better to list all the different fields that interest me and how a mba would help be one step closer to each one of them, or should the essay be very specific to one choice?

[Betsy Massar]

Hello Ashish8,

How funny you should ask -- I just wrote a blog post on the career goals essay today! It should be up on the BeatTheGmat blog network.

But to save you from clicking around, I would answer in one word: FOCUS. Even if many students navigate away from the choice they wrote about on their application, you would do well to put together a clear plan toward a specific long-term objective. Schools want to know that you have thought the through what you want to do. They want to know that you can figure out how to get from A to B.

Many schools want you to connect your personal experience with your career goals. That doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be in the same field (it is absolutely ok to switch careers); it means you have to connect what kind of person you are and what kind of experiences you have had as a foundation for what you want to do. Harvard calls this your career "vision" -- Stanford asks about your "career aspirations." Personally, I like Duke Fuqua's phrasing, which asks "Describe your vision for your career, your inspiration for pursuing this career path?" That covers a lot of ground!

It's good to be asking these questions now -- that gives you time to think things through and consider the many career paths in front of you.

Good luck!

Betsy Massar
Master Admissions
www.masteradmissions.com

Here's the blog post I wrote on this very subject: https://masteradmissions.com/wp/?p=129

[Ashish8]

Thanks a lot Betsy. You think saying something like "Investment Banking" is too broad?

[Betsy Massar]

Hi Ashish,

I do not think "Investment Banking" is too broad at all. As someone who has worked in investment banking, (as well as institutional sales and investment management) I think IB is a great choice!

Best,
Betsy

[McKagan13]

I by no means am an expert admissions consultant, but I would say be honest and share your true thoughts. I went against the grain from a "typical" essay structure without conveying clear and concise goals and was admitted into every program I applied to. I mentioned that though I had a few potential ideas about where I wanted to head, one of the main reasons I was heading back to school was to find out what else is out there, gain new perspective etc. I did however explain this in a clear and concise manner. I think my essays went over well because they stood out, and did not follow typical b-school essay idealogy. Just a thought though. Good luck.

[Ashish8]

Thanks McKagan, thats definitely food for thought.