Essay and Recommendation Questions

15 August 2022

BERKELEY HAAS

Required Essays
At Berkeley-Haas, we seek candidates from a broad range of cultures, backgrounds, and industries who demonstrate a strong cultural fit with our program and defining principles. Our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles — Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself.
Learn more about the Berkeley-Haas Defining Principles: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/community/culture.html
Please use the following essays as opportunities to reflect on and share with us the values, experiences, and accomplishments that have helped shape who you are.

Essay #1
If you could choose one song that expresses who you are, what is it and why? (250 words maximum)

Essay #2
Please respond to one of the following prompts: (250 words maximum)

Describe an experience that has fundamentally changed the way you see the world and how it transformed you.
Describe a significant accomplishment and why it makes you proud.
Describe a difficult decision you have made and why it was challenging.

Essay #3
Tell us about your career plans. How have your past experiences prepared you to achieve these goals? How will Berkeley-Haas help you? (500 words maximum)
You are encouraged to reflect on what it is you want to do after business school, including the types of roles, responsibilities, and organizations that are of interest. Through this essay we hope to learn about your professional journey to date and how an MBA will facilitate your success – broadly defined – in the future.

Supplemental Information (for the applicant)
1. If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.

2. List in order of importance all community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each organization or activity using the format below:
• Name of organization or activity
• Nature of organization or activity
• Size of organization
• Dates of involvement
• Offices held
• Average number of hours spent per month

3. List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies, indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.

4. If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.)

Optional Essay
Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? You may also use this essay to provide further explanation of employment gaps or your quantitative abilities. (500 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions
1. Describe your relationship to the applicant. Are you, or have you been, the applicant’s direct supervisor? If not, what is the
nature of your relationship? How long have you known the applicant and how frequent is/was your interaction with him/her?
2. How does the applicant’s performance compare with that of his or her peers?
3. What are the applicant’s two greatest strengths? What are the applicant’s two greatest areas (in need) of improvement? Please cite specific examples.
4. How does the applicant overcome negative outcomes? Please cite specific examples.
5. In the Berkeley MBA program, we develop leaders who embody our distinctive culture’s four key principles

[www.haas.berkeley.edu/strategicplan/culture] one of which is “confidence without attitude” or “confidence with humility”.

Please comment on how the applicant reflects this Berkeley-Haas value.

Please give us your appraisal of the applicant in terms of the traits listed below. Compare the applicant with others whom you know have applied to business school or with individuals who are being groomed for leadership positions within your organization.

It should be extremely rare for any candidate to receive “truly exceptional” in all areas, and unusual for a candidate to receive either “superior” or “truly exceptional” in all areas.

• Self-confidence
• Communication skills
• Self-awareness
• Maturity
• Respect for different viewpoints
• Empathy
• Ability to influence without authority
• Ability to accept constructive feedback
• Intellectual curiosity
• Analytical Ability
• Quantitative Ability
• Ability to question the status quo
• Initiative
• Adaptability
• Resilience
• Personal integrity / ethics

CAMBRIDGE JUDGE

Essay questions:

Required
1. What did you learn from your most spectacular failure? (200 words maximum)

2. What are your short and long term career objectives? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them? What do you hope to gain from the degree and how do you feel it will help you achieve the career objectives you have? (500 words maximum)

Additional Information
Please provide information on any aspect of your candidacy that requires further explanation, or information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know (300 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions

Peer Letter of Reference
1. Elaborate and / or provide us with concrete examples if you have rated the applicant as below average, outstanding or exceptional on any of the qualities in the table above.
2. Describe what you like most and least bout working with the applicant.
3. Tell us about any particular weakness the candidate has compared to other peers /team members that you regularly work with.
4. Describe the applicant’s attitude and behavior when working with: (a) managers/supervisors (b) peers (c) subordinates.
5. Suggest what you think the applicant will be doing in ten years.

Pro Letter of Reference
1. Elaborate and / or provide us with concrete examples if you have rated the applicant as below average, outstanding or exceptional on any of the qualities in the table above.
2. Tell us about any particular weakness the candidate has compared to her or his peers group.
3. Describe the applicant’s attitude and behavior when working with: (a) managers/supervisors (b) peers (c) subordinates.
4. Tell us whether the applicant has real leadership potential; what do you think will be her or his biggest challenge in leading a large group of people?

CHICAGO BOOTH

Essay Questions:
View this collection of shared Booth moments. Choose the moment that best resonates with you and tell us why.

Presentation/Essay Guidelines:
•Choose the format that works for you.Want to illustrate your response visually? Submit a slide presentation. Like to express yourself with words? Write a traditional essay. Use the format that you feel best captures your response, the Admissions Committee has no preference.
•Determine your own length.There is no prescribed minimum or maximum length. We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be, but we recommend that you think strategically about how to best allocate the space.

Technical Guidelines:
•File Size:Maximum file size is 16 MB.
•Accepted Upload Formats: Acceptable formats are PDF, Word, and PowerPoint. We strongly recommend converting your piece to a PDF file prior to submitting.
•Multimedia Restrictions: We will be viewing your submission electronically and in full color, but all submissions will be converted to PDF files, so animation, video, music, etc. will not translate over.

Optional Essay:
Is there any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? If so, please address in an optional essay. (300 word maximum)

Re-applicant Essay:
Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions:
• How does the applicant’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
• Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

CMU TEPPER

Required Essay
Imagine that you meet up with a member of the admission committee at an airport while on a layover. You have an opportunity to make a memorable impression. Use this essay to introduce yourself. Include any information that you believe is important for the committee member to know about you both professionally and personally. (Maximum 300-350 words, 12-point font, double-spaced)

Optional Essay
Use this essay to convey important information that you may not have been otherwise able to convey. This may include unexplained resume gaps, context for recommender selection, etc.

Re-applicant Essay
If you are a re-applicant, explain how your candidacy has strengthened since your last application.

COLUMBIA CBS

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.

Short Answer Question:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (51 characters maximum)

Examples of possible responses:
“Work in business development for a media company.”
“Join a strategy consulting firm.”
“Launch a data-management start-up.”

Essay 1:
Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals going forward, and how will the Columbia MBA help you achieve them? (100-750 words)
Essay 2:
Columbia Business School’s students participate in industry focused New York immersion seminars; in project based Master Classes; and in school year internships. Most importantly, our students are taught by a combination of distinguished research faculty and accomplished practitioners. How will you take advantage of being “at the very center of business”? (100-500 words)
Essay 3:
CBS Matters, a key element of the School’s culture, allows the people in your Cluster to learn more about you on a personal level. What will your Cluster mates be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (100-250 words)

Optional Essay:
An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

Knight-Bagehot Fellows:
Rather than answer Essay 1, current Knight-Bagehot Fellows applying to Columbia Business School should use the space allocated to the first essay (500 words) to complete the Wiegers Fellowship application essay.

Wiegers Fellowship Essay Question:
What are your career goals? How has the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship affected these goals? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals? (500 words maximum)

CORNELL JOHNSON

Essay Questions

Table of contents
You are the author for the book of Your Life Story. In 500 words or less, please create the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style. Alternative submission formats may include a slide presentation, links to pre-existing media (personal website, digital portfolio, YouTube etc.), as well as visually enhanced written submissions.

Maximum file size is 5 MB. We recommend that you upload your submission in MS Word, PowerPoint, or PDF format. We cannot accept .zip or .exe files.

Goals
What are your short and long term goals and how do you see the Cornell MBA enabling you to achieve both? Please limit your response to 500 words or less.

Optional essay
Complete this essay if you would like to add additional details regarding your candidacy. For instance, if you believe one or more aspects of your application (e.g., undergraduate record or test scores) do not accurately reflect your potential for success at the Johnson School.

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application since the last time you applied.

Please limit your response to 500 words or less.

Park Fellowship Essay
If applying for the Park Fellowship, please answer the essay question below. What is your greatest example of leadership and what personal qualities helped you succeed in that role? (1000 character limit)

Recommendations
Please verify your information and provide answers for the additional questions.

Comment on the following topics when constructing the letter of recommendation:
• Strengths and outstanding qualities
• How applicant gets along with others
• Oral and written communication skills
• English language ability if English is not the applicant’s native language
• Areas of improvement (weaknesses)
• Anything else you would like to say about the applicant

Please write on company letterhead if company policy allow and also note that a one page recommendation letter is sufficient. Please upload the letter of recommendation at the bottom of this form.

How long have you known the applicant?*
Do you have any connections with Cornell or the Johnson School?

Overall Recommendation*
Please upload recommendation letter

DARTHMOUTH TUCK

Essay Questions
Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. There are no right or wrong answers. We encourage applicants to limit the length of their responses to 500 words for each essay. Please double-space your responses.

1. Tuck educates wise leaders who better the world of business. What are your short- and long-term goals? How will a Tuck MBA enable you to become a wise leader with global impact?
2. As a diverse and global community, our students arrive at the same place from many different paths. Tell us about an experience in which you have had to live, learn and/or work with other people very different from yourself. What challenges and/or opportunities did you experience, how did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself as a result?
3. (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.
4. (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.

Recommendation Questions
1. How long have you known the applicant and in what context? Have you served as the applicant’s supervisor? If so, please provide approximate dates. Please comment upon the frequency and nature of your interactions with the applicant.
2. What are the applicant’s three principal strengths? Please provide an example of each
3. In which three areas can the applicant improve? Please provide an example of each. How has the applicant worked to address these areas?
4. How does the applicant respond to constructive criticism?
5. Please give examples in the space below to support any Top 5% or Bottom 20% ratings.
6. If you would like to provide any additional insights into this individual’s candidacy, please feel free to attach additional pages.

DUKE FUQUA

Essay Questions
Three short answer questions and 2 essays are required from all applicants.
• Responses should use 1.5 line spacing and a font size no smaller than 10-point.
• Respond fully and concisely.
• Responses must be completed before submitting your application.
• Prepare your responses carefully. The Admissions Committee considers your answers important in the selection process.
• All essays are scanned using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is considered a cheating violation within the Honor Code and will not be tolerated in the admissions process.

Required Short Answer Questions
Instructions: Answer all 3 of the following questions. For each short answer question, respond in 500 characters only (the equivalent of about 100 words).
1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?
2. What are your long-term goals?
3. Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable. Should the short-term goals that you provided above not materialize what alternative directions have you considered?

First Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself
Instructions: Answer the following question — present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be only a few words, while others may be longer. Your complete list should not exceed 2 pages.

1. The “Team Fuqua” spirit and community is one of the things that sets The Duke MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. When a new person joins the Admissions team, we ask that person to share with everyone in the office a list of “25 Random Things About Yourself.” As an Admissions team, we already know the new hire’s professional and academic background, so learning these “25 Random Things” helps us get to know someone’s personality, background, special talents, and more.In this spirit, the Admissions Committee also wants to get to know you–beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. You can share with us important life experiences, your likes/dislikes, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are. Share with us your list of “25 Random Things” about YOU.

Second Required Essay (choose 1 of 2)
Instructions: Your response should be no more than 2 pages in length.
Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and are vital to providing you with a range of experiential learning and individual development experiences.
Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, how do you see yourself engaging in and contributing to our community, outside of the classroom?

Optional Essay
If you feel there are circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them in an optional essay (such as unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance).
• Do NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area of the application.
• The Optional Essay is intended to provide the Admissions Committee with insight into your circumstances only.
• Limit your response to two pages.

Recommendation Questions
We require two letters of recommendation for applicants, with the exception of re-applicants, who must submit only one additional recommendation. One recommendation should reflect your performance in your most recent professional setting. Volunteer activities or other service-oriented roles in which you are deeply involved may also be excellent sources for recommendations. The most valuable recommendations come from people who know your professional skills and abilities. We encourage you to submit at least one recommendation from someone who knows you well in your current position and can critique your professional performance, such as a current supervisor. Recommendations from relatives or friends are strongly discouraged by the Admissions Committee.
1. Describe the peer group to which you are comparing the applicant.
2. Comment on the applicant’s interpersonal skills (effectiveness in establishing and maintaining relationships; working with peers, supervisors, and subordinates; willingness to work in a team environment).
3. What do you consider the applicant’s three primary talents or strengths? Please provide examples, if relevant.
4. In what areas does the applicant need improvement or growth? If you have had the opportunity to provide the applicant with constructive feedback, please provide specific examples of the feedback and the applicant’s response to it.

EMORY GOIZUETA

Essay Questions:
Answer all essays, following the directions indicated in the questions. NOTE: Applicants who apply to more than one MBA program will only complete the essay question requirement related to their first-program preference.
1. Define your short-term post-MBA career goals. How are your professional strengths, past experience and personal attributes aligned with these goals? (300 words maximum)
2. The business school is named for Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, who led the organization for 16 years, extending its global reach, quadrupling consumption, building brand responsibility, and creating unprecedented shareholder wealth. Mr. Goizueta’s core values guide us in educating Principled Leaders for Global Enterprise. Provide an example of your leadership – professional or personal – and explain what you learned about yourself through the experience. (300 words maximum)
3. Complete one of the following statements. (250 words maximum)
• I am passionate about…
• The best piece of advice I’ve received is…
• The best day of my life was…
• A personal goal I want to accomplish is…
4. Share with the committee and your future classmates a fun or noteworthy fact about you. (25 words maximum)

Optional Essay: If you have additional information or feel there are extenuating circumstances which you would like to share with the MBA Admissions Committee (i.e. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance issues or areas of weakness in application). Please limit your response to 250 words.

Please note, if you are applying for a Center Fellowship through one of our Centers (Center for Alternative Investments, the Marketing Analytics Center or Social Enterprise @ Goizueta) an additional essay is required. Please visit the Center Fellowships page for more details on the fellowships and the application process.

Re-Applicant Essay
Applicants who have applied to Goizueta Business School in the past are required to answer the following questions:
1. Define your short-term post-MBA career goals. How are your professional strengths, past experience and personal attributes aligned with these goals? (300 words maximum)
2. Explain how you have improved your candidacy for Goizueta Business School’s MBA Program since your last application. (250 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions:
1. How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity?
2. What characteristics or attributes best describe the applicant?
3. In what area is the applicant most exceptional?
4. In what area does the applicant need the most improvement?
5. How well do you feel the applicant handles disappointment or differences of opinion?
6. Please indicate to which group you are comparing this candidate (i.e., co-workers, MBA graduates, etc)

ESADE

Essay Questions:
Personal essays (each question is limited to 2000 characters including spaces, 30 lines approximately)

What makes you YOU?

Today there is a growing need for outstanding business leaders who excel in their field and adapt quickly to the changing needs of the market.

Companies look to us for future leaders – people whose expertise and entrepreneurial abilities are flexible and suit a variety of leadership roles. Your drive and motivation and the individual qualities that you bring to the table are your best selling points and are what will enrich your team members most.
It is this individuality, together with the diversity at ESADE and our commitment to leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship that make us what we are: a talent pool for the business leaders of tomorrow.

The following questions are designed to help us get a more complete picture of who you are and the impact that you will have both here at ESADE and on society after completing your MBA.

Please respond openly, explaining what makes you the person that you are and who you will become.

1. Which aspects have you improved on during your academic and professional career so far? Which tools or values have helped you achieve this? (*)
2. How will your background, values and non work-related activities enhance the experience of other ESADE MBA students and add to the diverse culture we strive for at ESADE? (Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have accomplished) (*)
3. What are your motivations in pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life? Describe your mid-term and long-term visions for your post-MBA career path. What is it about ESADE you think will help you reach your goals? (*)
4. Complete two of the following four questions or statements (1000 characters per response) (*)
a) I am most proud of…
b) People may be surprised to learn that I…
c) What has your biggest challenge been and what did it help you learn about yourself?
d) Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?
5. Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include gaps in employment, your undergraduate record, plans to retake the GMAT or any other relevant information.

Recommendation Questions:
1. How long have you known the candidate? In what context?
2. What do you consider to be the candidate’s most noteworthy qualities
3. What are the areas in which you believe the candidate needs to improve?
4. Please comment on the candidate’s potential for senior management.
5. Describe an occasion on which you observed the candidate in a leadership role.

Please give us your opinion in terms of the following criteria:       Exceptional     Good     Average     Poor     Unobserved
• Leadership potential
• Organisational skills
• Teamwork
• Maturity
• Self-confidence
• Creativity

Additional Comments
Please add information on the ratings you have assigned and make any additional comments about the applicant’s motivation, ability, leadership potential or any personal qualities you would like the Admissions Committee to take into account.

Please rate the candidate’s potential for becoming a responsible and successful manager compared with other employees.
Excellent. Top 5%            Very Good. Top 10%                    Above Average. Top 25%
Average. Top 50%            Below Average. Bottom 50%

HARVARD HBS

Essay Questions

There is one question for the Class of 2019:
As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?There is no word limit for this question. We think you know what guidance we’re going to give here. Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don’t know your world can understand.

Joint program applicants for the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Kennedy School must provide an additional essay:
How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (400 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions
1. How do the candidate’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words maximum)
2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words maximum)

HEC

Essay Questions
The HEC MBA essays consist of five required responses and an additional optional essay.

Essay 1: Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? (500 words maximum)

Essay 2: What do you consider your most significant life achievement? (250 words maximum)

Essay 3: Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you. (250 words maximum)

Essay 4: Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? (250 words maximum)

Essay 5: Please choose from one of the following essays (250 words maximum):
a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why?
b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyse it.
c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc).

Optional Essay: Is there any additional information you would like to share with us? (900 words maximum)

Essay Questions
Express Yourself
In this second part of the section “More about You” you have the chance to show us in a freer, more personalized way characteristics of the way you think and work, which will help us analyze your candidacy in more depth

You have to choose and respond to three questions. At least one of these responses must be in text format. You have the option of responding to the rest of the questions through the following forms of human expression: poetry, photography, drawing, video (with a response that is spoken, sung, danced or played on a musical instrument), animation or presentation. With the exception of compositions in text format, all the rest of the responses must be linked to content hosting platforms. You may also choose to tweet your response using the hashtag #IEApplication and copy the link of your tweet in the bottom of this page.

We suggest the following platforms:
• Photography or Drawing: Picasa, Flickr
• Video or Animation: YouTube, Vimeo
• Presentation: Prezi, SlideShare

All your compositions must be absolutely original and specifically intended for this admission application. The compositions must be composed, executed and completed by you alone, without the direct help of outside experts. Before submitting the links, check that they work correctly. The links must be active and available for consultation for a minimum of 18 months after the date the application is submitted.

These are the questions you must choose from:

1. If you had the opportunity, what actions would you demand of the United Nations Secretary General and why?
2. Describe the situation with the greatest ethical complexity that you have faced in your professional or academic life, and how your input helped resolve it.
3. Describe a time when you took a great risk. What was the outcome?
4. Cite at least one example of when your leadership had an impact on or changed a certain situation, and justify how an IE Master’s Degree program would help you to strengthen or improve this competence.
5. Describe the most outstanding leader you have worked with. Indicate some aspects of the way you work that are similar to the way this leader works and others that are different.
6. You have just participated in an important meeting with your superior. How will you ensure that every part of the instructions you received will properly reach all subordinates, suppliers and clients, located in different parts of the world?
7. Do you think that the lifestyle of the inhabitants of your town or city reflects behavior that is in line with the concept of sustainable development? In your opinion, what should be improved?
8. What do you believe are the greatest challenges facing the sector or industry you would like to specialize in at IE? What role do you hope to be able to play in this sector or industry in the medium term?
9. Show us an activity you enjoy doing. Tell us how you think it contributes to your personal and professional development
10. How do you imagine social interaction within 10 years, taking into consideration the impact of technology on human relations?
11. If all of the world´s cultural heritage (sports, music, fashion, architecture, literature, painting, etc..) was contained in a time capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of your country?
12. How do you envision the city of the future?

Upload your essay(s) in text format here

Write between 400 and 600 words per essay (in .pdf, . doc or. docx, font size 11, line spacing 1.5). Remember that all the essays must be in one single file, with the question(s) being answered indicated in its header.

Include the link(s) if you are responding in a format other than text.

IESE

Essay Questions
1. Please describe your short-term professional goals and how you plan to achieve them. Be as specific as possible for example including the industry or sector, specific companies, etc. (200-word limit)
2. Describe one substantial accomplishment and one failure in a professional, academic or private endeavor (400 words)
3. Describe the most difficult situation (personal, academic or professional) that you have faced recently (200 words)
4. Describe a past experience that has shaped who you are today (200 words)
5. I consider myself a young talent suitable for the program because… (200 words)

IESE Scholarship Essay How do you plan to finance your MBA and why do you think you deserve a scholarship? (200 words maximum)

Please include the essay number and question in your response, use arial font, and make sure to add a 1 1/4 inches top margin.

Recommendation Questions
1. How long have you known the applicant and in what context?
2. What do you consider to be the applicant’s talents or strengths?
3. What do you consider to be the applicant’s weaknesses?
4. Please give us your appraisal of the applicant in terms of the qualities listed below: (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, No Information)

• Initiative
• Communication Skills
• Team work
• Leadership
• Career focus
• Quantitative ability
• Motivation
• International focus

5. Please comment on the ratings that you have assigned above and make any additional statements about the applicant’s record, potential, or personal qualities which you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in considering this person’s application.

IMD

Essay Questions
1. Describe yourself in two hundred words or less. (200 words maximum)
2. Give an example of a time when you were confronted with an unrecoverable event. How did it affect you and what were your greatest learnings? (300 words maximum)
3. On your 75^th birthday someone close to you presents your laudatio (tribute). It can be a friend, colleague, family member etc.
Please describe in detail what they would say about you and your life. (300 words maximum)

Administrative Questions
How do you intend to finance your MBA at IMD? What would your budget be? (300 words maximum)

Optional Essays
Additional Information: Is there any additional information that is critical for the Admissions Committee to know which has not been covered elsewhere in this application? If you would like to comment on career gaps, education, GMAT/GRE, a disability or illness, please use this space. (300 words maximum)

INDIANA KELLY

Essay Questions
Your essays will give us an idea of your personality, perspectives, and opinions and will let us know how closely your professional objectives match the objectives of the MBA program.

We encourage you to be honest, informative, creative, and concise.

Required:
1. Please discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals.How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words maximum)
2. Please respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words maximum)
• My greatest memory is…
• I’m most afraid of…
• My greatest challenge has been…
• I’m most proud of…
3. Please share with the admissions committee an interesting or surprising fact about you. (25 words maximum)

Optional:
Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions
1. How do you think an MBA degree will contribute to this candidate’s career progress?
2. What do you consider to be the outstanding talents or strengths of this candidate?
3. What characteristics related to work do you consider in need of improvement?

INSEAD

Essay Questions

Job Description Essays
Essay 1: Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (short answer)

Essay 2: What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company? (short answer)

Essay 3: Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (short answer)

Essay 4: Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with or without an MBA from INSEAD. (short answer)

Optional: If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the programme starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the programme.

Motivation Essays
Essay 1: Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary (approximately 500 words).

Essay 2: Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned(approximately 400 words).

Essay 3: Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (approximately 300 words)

Optional Essay: Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (approximately 300 words)

This year, the number of motivation essays has been reduced from four to three, and INSEAD has also introduced a video component in this application cycle.

Once submitting their application, applicants will receive a link to a video interview. This video component is required to start the evaluation of your application. You will have until a week after the application deadline you are applying for to complete the video interview.

Recommendation Questions:
1. How long have you known the candidate? Define your relationship with the candidate and the circumstances whereby you met.
2. Comment on the candidate’s career progress to date and his/her career focus.
3. What do you consider to be the candidate’s major strengths? Comment on the factors that distinguish the candidate from other individuals at his/her level.
4. What do you consider to be the candidate’s major weaknesses?
5. Comment on the candidate’s potential for senior management. Do you see him/her as a future leader?
6. Describe the candidate as a person. Comment on his/her ability to establish and maintain relationships, sensitivity to others, self-confidence, attitude, etc. Specifically comment on the candidate’s behaviour or skills in a group setting/team environment.

LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL LBS

Essay Questions
1. What are your post-MBA plans and how will your past experience and the London Business School programme contribute? (500 words maximum)
2. What specific areas of London Business School life are you most excited about getting involved in and where will you add value? (300 words maximum)
3. Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (300 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions
1. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection?
2. What do you consider to be the applicant’s major talents and strengths?
3. What do you consider to be the applicant’s major weaknesses or areas for improvement?
4. In what developmental areas has the applicant changed most over time?
5. What will this individual be doing in 10 years? Why?
6. It also asks you to rate the candidate on the following qualities:
Intellectual or academic ability, quantitative skills, initiative/ability to take decisions, problem solving skills, organisational skills, leadership skills, team skills, impact/charisma, self-confidence, self-motivation, oral English communication skills, written English communication skills.

MICHIGAN ROSS

Essay Questions
1. What are you most proud of and why? How does it shape who you are today? (400 words maximum)
2. What is your desired career path and why? (250 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions:
We’re requiring only one recommendation letter. Ideally, it should be from a current direct or immediate past supervisor.
1. How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words maximum)
2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicants. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words maximum)

MIT SLOAN

Essay Questions

Required:
Please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Senior Director of Admissions. (250 words or fewer)

Optional:
The Admissions Committee invites you to share additional information about yourself, in any format. If you choose a multimedia format, please host the information on a website and provide us with the URL.

Suggested guidelines:
Please keep all videos and media limited to 2:00 minutes total in length.
Please keep all written essays to 500 words or less.

A second, short-answer question will be asked only of those invited to interview:
The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. Please share with us something about your past that aligns with this mission. (250 words maximum).

NORTHWESTERN KELLOG

Essay Questions
Required Essays

1. Leadership and teamwork are integral parts of the Kellogg experience. Describe a recent and meaningful time you were a leader. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? (450 words maximum)
2. Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. How have you grown in the past? How do you intend to grow at Kellogg? (450 words maximum)

Certain applicants will respond to additional questions:
• Dual-degree applicants: For applicants to the MMM or JD-MBA dual degree programs, please explain why that program is right for you. (250 words maximum)
• Re-applicants: Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words maximum)

All applicants have the opportunity to provide explanations or clarification in Additional Information:
• If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc.) (no word limit)

Video Essay
The Video Essays provide applicants with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what they will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community – in an interactive way. Each applicant will complete two short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.
• After submitting a completed application, each applicant will be asked to complete two Video Essay Questions. One will be about the candidate’s interest in Kellogg and the other will be a “getting to know you” type of question.
• There are 10 practice questions which candidates can complete as many times as they like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool and help applicants feel prepared.
• There is not an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions. We encourage applicants to practice so they are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions.
• Candidates will have 20 seconds to think about their question and up to 1 minute to give their response.
• We estimate the Video Essays will take 30 minutes to complete – which includes time for set-up and answering all the practice questions.

Recommendation Questions
1. How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words maximum)
2. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words maximum)

NYU STERN

Essay Questions

Stern essay questions give you the opportunity to more fully present yourself to the Admissions Committee and to provide insight into your experiences, goals and thought processes.

Please note the following details when completing your essays.
• Written essays must be submitted using double-spacing and 12-point font.
• Your response to Essay 1 should answer all parts of the question with a total maximum of 750 words.
• Your essays should be written entirely by you. An offer of admission will be revoked if you did not write your essays.

Essay 1: Professional Aspirations
(750 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

Why pursue an MBA (or dual degree) at this point in your life?
What actions have you taken to determine that Stern is the best fit for your MBA experience?
What do you see yourself doing professionally upon graduation?

Essay 2: Personal Expression
Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative.

Essay 3. Additional Information (optional)
Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL or any other relevant information.

If you are a re-applicant from last year, please explain how your candidacy has improved since your last application.

OXFORD SAID

Essay Questions

How do you fit with Oxford Said’s mission? (500 words maximum)
Is there anything not covered in the application form which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you? (250 words maximum)

If you are applying under the 1+1 scheme you also need to submit the following essay:
Explain why you see this as particularly beneficial for you and how it fits with your careers and personal development aims (Maximum 250 words)

Re-applicants will need to complete the essays mentioned above and another essay on the topic:
What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Maximum 250 words)

When reviewing your essays the Admissions Committee will be looking for evidence of the following: Good communication skills, leadership potential, analytical skills, fit within the Oxford MBA community, among other characteristics.

Recommendation Questions
We would like to know how long you have known the candidate for and in what capacity. We would also like to hear about his/her academic and professional background, as well as his/her soft skills and potential.

RICE JONES

Essay Questions

1) Describe your short-term and long-term goals, and how the MBA will help you to achieve those goals. Include in your discussion: Why is now the appropriate time to pursue an MBA and why are you interested in obtaining a Rice MBA?” (750 words)

2) Choose one of the following three options:

Describe a defining moment or event that changed your life (300 words)
If you had to tweet something to the world for the first time about yourself, what would you tweet? (140 characters)
Introduce yourself to your classmates in a 90 second video

Optional: You may use this essay to discuss anything else that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you, or to provide information or clarification on any aspect of your application. (Maximum 750 words)

RSM ERASMUS

Essay Questions
Your three essays should address the following topics (for the 2017 intake) and be around 500 words per essay:

How do you see your career developing and how will this programme help you achieve your goals?
Describe how the socio-economic environment in which you live/work impacts your business decisions. Please explain your answer and use examples from your own experience whenever possible.
Describe the most difficult decision you have made and its effect on you.

STANFORD GSB

Essay Questions
Stanford requests applicants to write two personal essays. The personal essays give them glimpses of candidate’s character and hopes. In each essay, they want to hear the applicants’ genuine voice. Applicants should think carefully about their values, passions, aims, and dreams prior to writing the essays.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?
For this essay, we would like you to:

Focus on the “why” rather than the “what.”
Do some deep self-examination, so you can genuinely illustrate who you are and how you came to be the person you are.
Share the insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspectives, rather than focusing merely on what you’ve done or accomplished.
Write from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.

Essay B: Why Stanford?
Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.

Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management.
Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.

Length
Your answers for both essay questions combined may not exceed 1,150 words. Each of you has your own story to tell, so please allocate these words between the essays in the way that is most effective for you. Below is a suggested word count, based on what we typically see.

Essay	Suggested Word Count
Essay A	750
Essay B	400

Formatting

Double-spaced
Indicate the question you are answering at the beginning of each essay (does not count toward the word limit)
Number all pages
Upload one document that includes both essays

Be sure to save a copy of your essays, and preview the uploaded document to ensure that the formatting is preserved.

Recommendation Questions

How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

TEXAS MCCOMBS

Essay 1. The University of Texas at Austin values unique perspectives and cultivates a collaborative environment of distinct individual contributions. It is the first day of orientation. You are meeting your study group, comprised of five of your classmates from various backgrounds. Please introduce yourself to your new team, highlighting what drives you in your personal and professional life.

Select only one communication method that you would like to use for your response.
– Write an essay (250 words)
– Share a video introduction (one minute)

Essay 2. Based on your post-MBA goals and what drives you in your personal and professional life, why is the Texas MBA the ideal program for you and how do you plan to engage in our community? (500 words)

Optional Statement:
Please provide any additional information you believe is important and/or address any areas of concern that will be beneficial to the Admissions Committee in considering your application (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, or extenuating personal circumstances). (250 words)

UCLA ANDERSON

Essay Questions

Required
We believe that the best results are achieved when you share success, think fearlessly and drive change. With this in mind, what are your goals at UCLA Anderson and in your short-term and long-term career? (750 words maximum)

Optional
The following essay is optional. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit an optional essay. Please note that we only accept written essays.

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

Re-applicants
Re-applicants who applied for the class entering in fall 2014 or 2015 are required to complete the following essay:
Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum)

PLEASE NOTE:
Your essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans with the admissions committee. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.

You should try to distinguish yourself by showing what makes you different from others who share similar profiles.
Personal expression is what we are looking for, not platitudes.
Making a strong case for your future plans requires you to first do research on career paths and find one that resonates. Even if this target will change during business school, your application essays should lay out a clear trajectory for short-term and long-term goals. Do this by demonstrating how you expect to build on skills from your past, and those you expect to gain from the MBA.
Essays are more compelling if they include specific courses, programs, groups, opportunities, activities, etc. from which you would benefit, if admitted to UCLA Anderson. These references are best found through website research, personal discussions and a campus visit (if possible).
Content and clarity are key elements, as we seek superior communication skills.
Style is a consideration too, although we understand that those who speak other languages may have different manners of expression in English.We do check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own work.
Length does not equal strength. A well-written short essay can have even more impact than a longer essay. Please try to respect the word limits indicated below.
All responses to essays must be on double-spaced pages that are uploaded as a document. We do not accept essays in any other media but written form.

Recommendation Questions:

1. How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well‐qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.

2. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response

3. In UCLA Anderson’s school culture we share success, drive change and think fearlessly. Please give examples where the applicant exhibited any or all of these.

UNC KENAN-FLAGER

Essay Questions

Required
Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how your professional experience has shaped these goals, why this career option appeals to you, and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)

Optional Essays
1. What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (300 words maximum)

2. If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)

3. Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions

The Admissions Committee requires two professional recommendation letters, preferably from supervisors.

1. How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?

2. Describe the applicant’s potential in becoming a responsible and successful manager?

3. What are the applicant’s major strengths?

4. What are the applicants most noticeable areas for improvement/growth?

UPENN WHARTON

Essay Questions
The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid, and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself.

First-time applicants and reapplicants are required to complete the same set of essay questions.

(Required) What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)
(Required) Teamwork is at the core of the Wharton MBA experience with each student contributing unique elements to our collaborative culture. How will you contribute to the Wharton community? (400 words)
(Optional) Please use the space below to highlight any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about your candidacy. (400 words maximum)

Additional Question for Reapplicants:
All reapplicants to Wharton are required to complete this essay. Explain how you have reflected on the previous decision about your application, and discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words maximum)

All applicants, including reapplicants can also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions
We require two letters of recommendations from individuals who are well acquainted with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a current or former supervisor.

The title or position of the evaluator is not as important as his/her ability to comment knowledgeably and specifically about you. Submit recommendations from people who can speak directly about your aptitudes and capabilities.

We require all recommendations to be submitted electronically. After you have contacted them about providing you a recommendation, complete the form on the Recommendations page and answer yes to the question asking “Will this provider be submitting the letter of recommendation online?” They will be sent an email with instructions and a Web address where they are to complete the recommendation.

In addition to the questions below we also ask the recommenders to fill out a grid that appraises some of your attributes. It is important that this be completed as well, so please make sure that your recommender receives access to and submits the online form.

1. How do the candidate’s performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words maximum)

2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words maximum)

USC MARSHALL

Essay Questions:

Essays should be single-spaced. Limit your response to the length indicated.

Required

Please complete both sections in no more than 700 words combined:
– What is your immediate short-term goal post-graduation from the USC Marshall MBA program? (please include industry and function information in your answer.)
– How will USC Marshall enable you to develop or improve your skills in order to reach your goals?
Tell us about a time went you went beyond what was defined, established, or expected. (200 words max).

Optional
Please provide any additional information that you believe is important and/or will address any areas of concern that will be beneficial to the Admissions Committee in considering your application. (250 words maximum)

Re-application
Please describe any significant professional, personal, or academic growth since your last application to the USC Marshall School of Business. Discuss your specific professional goals and how the USC Marshall Full-Time Program will help you achieve these goals. (500-700 words)

Recommendation Questions:

1. Against which group are you comparing the applicant? (500 character limit)
Examples: All students I know who have entered graduate school, all students I have taught or known, etc.

2. In what capacity have you known the applicant? (500 character limit)

3. How long have you known the applicant? (500 character limit)

4. What do you consider the applicant’s most outstanding talents or characteristics? (500 character limit)

5. What are the applicant’s areas for growth? (500 character limit)

UVIRGINIA DARDEN

Essay Questions
Describe the most important professional feedback you have received and how you responded to this feedback. (500 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions
1. Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant’s role in your organization. (250 words maximum)

2. Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words maximum)

3. How does the applicant’s performance compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (250 words maximum)

4. Please make additional statements about the applicant’s performance, potential or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee. (250 words

VANDERBILT OWEN

Essay Questions
1) Explain your short-term and long-term career plans as specifically as possible (500 words)

2) Discuss how you think you could contribute to Owen and the program (500 words)

Optional: If necessary, you may provide an additional statement to explain poor academic performance, weak test scores, significant gaps in full-time employment, lack of recommendation from your current or most recent supervisor, academic misconduct or anything else that you think is important for the Admissions Committee to know about you that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application.

WASHINGTON OLIN

Essay Questions

Required
Please respond to both of the following required items in one uploaded document:

In one or two sentences, please describe your immediate career plans upon graduation from Olin.
At Olin, we pride ourselves on our close-knit community and aim to know every student by name and story. In an essay of no more than 500 words, please introduce yourself as you would to your future Olin classmates.

Optional
Please provide any additional information not previously addressed in other areas of the application that you feel would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in its assessment of your candidacy. (300 word maximum)

YALE SOM

Essay Question:
Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words maximum)

Recommendation Questions:

Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant’s role in your organization. (250 words maximum)
Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words maximum)
How does the applicant’s performance compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (250 words maximum)
Please make additional statements about the applicant’s performance, potential or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee. (250 words maximum)

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