sample admission essay

Getting a degree from a business school would give you a wide array of options for your career path.  This is because the theories and the training you will get from an MBA school are also useful if you want to pursue a career in non-business fields.  However, if you are planning to enter an MBA school, you have to work hard for it.  Before you get the chance to be admitted to a business school, you still have to meet various qualifications.  One of the factors that could make or break your admissions is your MBA essay.  To help you write an essay that would ensure your entry to an MBA school, below are some things you should know.

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Getting an MBA degree would open various doors of opportunities for you.  Whether you want to start your own business or work in a company, a degree from a business school would equip you with skills and experience that are necessary in your career endeavors.  The first step to business school admissions is to write your MBA essay.  Below are some tips to help you make a notable MBA admissions essay.

What makes the MBA admissions essay different from other graduate essays?

There are various benefits of getting an MBA degree.  One of these is the variety of career options that you can choose from if you have a degree from a business school.  In an MBA school, you will be trained in various fields that would be beneficial if you pursue a career even outside the business world.   Because of the great things a degree from a business school can give, many are attracted to enroll in one.  Due to the intense competition, writing an MBA admissions essay is more difficult than writing essays for other graduate schools.  The tight competition in MBA school admissions make it necessary for you to write not just a well-structured and error-free essay, but also one that would grab the attention of the readers.

What are the top five mistakes to avoid in your MBA admissions essay?

Although writing an MBA essay is not as easy as writing other types of essays, you can still have a good chance in getting accepted to a prestigious MBA school if you know the topics that you should or should not include in your essay.(1)

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For someone who has no background whatsoever in business and management jargon, it’s easy to get lost in the tangle of words people use in MBA admissions. It’s expected of applicants to do their own research before going through the MBA admissions processes, so you should do your own vocabulary update before facing the MBA admissions committee. Having some knowledge on even the most common terms used in MBA schools also shows that you’re an “insider” and that you know what you’re talking about. Below are some terms and acronyms often encountered in MBA admissions and business schools:

ACBSP or Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs

ACBSP is an association that establishes and promotes educational standards in business schools, including MBA admissions processes, school curriculum, etc. ACBSP operates mainly in the US and is currently considered as an accreditor for small graduate MBA degree programs.

Association of MBAs (AMBA)

The AMBA is a UK-based accreditation organization that focuses on, and approves, quality MBA programs in the UK and in other countries.

Company or corporate programs

Company programs are private MBA programs that are offered only to employees of a specific company. These kinds of “specialized” MBA programs also have different MBA admissions procedures because they cater to a specific group.

Distance Learning or Online Programs

As the name implies, these kinds of MBA programs employ teaching methods that are conducted online. These programs usually cater to professionals who can’t afford to leave their jobs or do not have the flexibility of time to go to campus-based classes. MBA admissions procedures and requirements for distance learning are generally less demanding; not all online programs require GMAT scores and letters of recommendation.

Dual MBA program

As the name implies, this is a type of MBA program which allows students to take two major fields of business study under one program.

Executive MBA (EMBA)

Executive MBA programs are differentiated from regular MBA programs in that the former are essentially designed for managers and executives with years of professional experience. EMBA degrees are usually part-time or modular. Similarly, MBA admissions requirements differ because those who take EMBA degrees are experienced professionals.

Focus or concentration of study

Most MBA programs employ integrated teaching methods – they cover a wide range of management topics. Having a focus or concentration of study allows students to take courses that are aimed toward specific aspects of management like Finance and Marketing. In the MBA admissions process, the focus of study is usually disclosed in the applicant’s statement of purpose or personal statement.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

The GMAT is an essential MBA admissions requirement that measures the applicant’s writing and quantitative skills. The minimum required score for the GMAT is usually 400-600, and is one of the ways through which MBA admissions committees filter their applicants.

Modular MBA

This kind of MBA program doesn’t have “normal” class schedules as compared to full-time MBA degrees. As the name implies, students’ attendance are dependent on the modules being taught, and these programs usually require fewer but longer class periods. MBA admissions requirements for modular degrees are also different from full-time MBAs.

Open program

Open MBA programs are differentiated from the others in terms of the MBA admissions requirements. Such programs do not have the usual academic MBA admissions requirements, and for this reason, are called ‘open’ programs. This program is usually targeted for those who don’t meet the academic requirements but have substantial professional experience.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
TOEFL is one of the common MBA admissions requirements for non-native English speakers.

Statement of purpose

Also called personal statement or admission essay, the statement of purpose is a common MBA admissions requirement. It outlines the applicant’s career goals, academic and professional achievements, etc.

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Ways in which Sample MBA Essays Can Help You Get into an MBA Program

Getting into an MBA program is tough because you’ll be competing with many other candidates. However, you should know that you can increase your admissions chances by writing an MBA essay that is compelling. Your MBA essay must be able to engage the interest of the reader and leave a lasting impression. If you don’t know how to write an MBA essay, taking a look at some sample MBA essays.  Use sample MBA admission essays to help you write your own application essay.  Here’s how:

Sample MBA essays can give you ideas

Don’t know what an MBA essay is supposed to contain? If so, then looking at sample MBA essays can give you ideas. These sample admission essays can help you create an MBA essay that an admission officer will find unique and interesting. Because you need to have ideas before you start writing your essay browsing through various sample MBA essays can help you decide what to write.

Sample MBA essays can help you choose your topic

If the school you’re applying for does not require you to answer specific questions for your admission essay, then you need to choose your own topic. When you look at sample MBA essays, you can see what others write and this will give you the chance to think of something that will set you apart from the rest. What you need to do is to draw from your own personality and life experiences and articulate how these influenced your career path and your want to get an MBA degree.

Sample MBA essays let you know what to avoid

Not all sample admission essays are equal. Scrutinize different sample MBA essays carefully and see what makes one interesting. Reading sample MBA essays gives you the chance to see both the weaknesses and strengths of these essays, which in turn gives you more insight as to what you have to avoid and what you should write about.

Sample MBA essays can inspire you

You can get inspiration from reading sample MBA essays. These essays can inspire you to think of different things to write or other angles to approach your piece. When you see what others have already written down, then you know what to do so that you can write something that distinguishes yourself from them. You will also be able to see what makes some sample MBA essays unappealing. Knowing this can help you craft a good essay.

Writing a good admissions essay takes a great deal of time. Don’t rush yourself into creating an essay just days before the deadline. You need to do an outline, gather your thoughts, and pen these thoughts down to form a coherent, interesting essay. Take the time to look at various sample MBA essays and learn from these. These sample MBA essays can help you learn how to improve your chances of getting accepted into an MBA program.

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Getting accepted into an MBA program is tough, but with a little preparation, you can surely get accepted into the program you want. When you apply for an MBA program , you’re vying for a spot that many other individuals also want to get. What you have to keep in mind, though, is that even if you have a low grade point average and exam scores, your MBA admission essay can still increase your admissions chances.

Take a look at sample MBA essays

If you don’t know how to write an MBA admissions essay, then you should find sample MBA essays to help you. These sample MBA essays can help you craft an MBA application essay that makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates. Writing a compelling essay begins with ideas , so looking at sample MBA essays can help you get those creative juices flowing.

How sample MBA essays can help you write a compelling essay

Draw inspiration from sample MBA essays that grip you right from the start and leave you thinking that the writer is someone you’d definitely consider admitting if you’re an MBA admissions officer. Keep in mind that your MBA essay showcases how you write and what your thoughts are, which are things that exam results or a transcript cannot give. Before you start writing , read some sample MBA essays but don’t end up copying these.

The most appealing sample MBA essays have engaging openings and sentences that flow freely all throughout. Make sure that your own essay is well-balanced and leaves a lasting effect on the reader.

What your MBA essay needs to contain

When writing your essay, you have to write not only about your career goals and why you want to get accepted for the program you’ve chosen, but you also have to express which particular aspects of your life experience and personality draw you to wanting an MBA degree. There are some sample MBA essays that make use of this approach.  Other MBA application forms focus on specific questions.  The key focus should be:  ANSWER the question posed by the application form.  You’d be surprised to find out how many fail to follow instructions.

Give yourself enough time to write your essay. The great sample MBA essays you find were probably written well before the deadline. Don’t rush yourself into writing your essay just days from the submission. Do an outline based on the various sample MBA essays you see and write your thoughts down. The best sample MBA essays contain no grammatical errors, so you must proofread and edit repeatedly.

You should also be original and creative. There are some schools that require you to answer particular questions when you write your essay, so make sure that you pay attention to these as well while still making your essay unique . Remember that you have to leave a lasting impression on the admission officers and it’s through your MBA essay that you can do this. Letting them know more about yourself and why this affects your career choice should be your priority when writing an MBA essay.

Ever since my junior year in college I had envisioned graduating from an MBA program. Aside from the usual encouragement given by my faculty members, I had realized that, on my own, I had a longing to expand the knowledge and training that I had gained throughout my business management education in college. My junior year in college was spent in China, where I had the chance to learn about Mandarin and the Chinese culture through a student exchange program. This experience immersed me in a place and culture that I knew nothing about, aside from what I had read in books and seen in documentaries or the news. It was an experience much like that of entering into an MBA program, where students are exposed to a new environment, new challenges and new people.

Over the past four years, since I graduated from college, I have sought ways of expanding my knowledge and experience in business. The experiences I had studying in China predisposed me to a global business model, one that goes beyond the confines of the city that I grew up in and attended my first two years of college at. After graduating from college, I sought a line of employment that would help me in achieving an MBA. Employed in a multi-national corporation, I was involved in handling the sector of management information systems. The position gave me much needed experience and training in the field of business administration.

Beyond my experience as an employee, I have sought experience as an employer as well. Just last year, I was able to set up a small computer cafe, which I am currently managing and learning from. Throughout this venture, I have been exposed to a different facet of business. The experience continues to shape my experience and knowledge in business and life in general. The opportunities that I have had throughout college and after graduation have left in me a passion for business and a passion for obtaining an MBA. I feel that _______ University is the only university that offers the courses, environment, and faculty that can help me achieve this drive.

While I am proud of the experiences and accomplishments that I have achieved so far, I am by no means contented. I am dedicated to earning an MBA from _______ University, because I strongly believe that the University provides just the type of training, education and exposure needed to pursue my future plans. This is a program that is devoted to the development of personal qualities that are in tune with internationalism, humanism and international business – one that fits perfectly into my view of what an MBA program graduate should be.

HISTORY OF UC BERKELEY

The University of California at Berkeley has one of the richest histories among the United State’s premier educational institutions. It began as a merger between two universities in the mid-1800’s: the College of California and the Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College. The College of California was a private institution, whose curriculum was structured in the mold of Yale and Harvard with the added focus on modern languages. The Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College, on the other hand, was a public institution that focused on agriculture, livelihood, military studies, mechanical arts, and to a lesser but equally essential extent science and engineering. While the College of California suffered financial troubles, the  Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College received sufficient public funding, but possessed no land on which to build its institution. Each possessing the solution to the other school’s problem, the two universities merged together and created the University of California, situating itself on the land the former College of California owned. This merger created a highly well-rounded and dynamic educational body that boasted of many fields of study. On March 23, 1868, the Organic Act was signed, thus finally creating the University of California.

In1899, the university began to receive renown. Then President Benjamin Ide Wheeler managed the school’s finances well and recruited the top minds in the university’s fields of study, thereby placing his university at the threshold of the top education institutions of his time. Since 1930, this drive for academic excellence through the recruitment of promising professorial talent persisted and has attained huge academic capital for the school, not to mention a reputation as a leading research facility.

Famous Alumni

The university’s excellent academic reputation made success for both its educators and alumni highly possible, if not inevitable. Berkley’s physicists were the team leaders in the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II and the eventual production of the hydrogen bomb. The University of California, Berkeley also oversees the nation’s two primary nuclear weapons laboratories. True to its origin of fusion and dynamism, the university has garnered achievements in not just one field of study. Other than its research exploits, the University of California has received numerous awards for intellectual studies and works of art. Its alumni boasts of great scientists, such as Steven Chu (PhD, ‘76) and John C. Mather (B.S., ‘74); successful businessmen, like Steve Wozniak (B.S., ‘86) of Apple Computer and Gordon Moore (B.S., ‘50) of Intel; Nobel prize winners Thomas Schelling (BA, ‘44) and Hamilton O. Smith (BA, ‘52); and even popular culture icons, such as Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, actor Gregory Peck, and Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins.

What makes UC Berkeley prestigious?

There is no doubt that the University of California is a prestigious research institution. It is nationally ranked at number one in terms of the number of graduate programs considered to be in the top ten in their fields. Twenty four Nobel Prizes have been awarded to its alumni in various fields, such as Physiology/Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics. There have also been 4 Pulitzer Prizes won by alumni of the university. It is also considered the number one public university in the nation. As an institution, the University of California has won its accolades and cannot be discounted as one of the premier colleges of the nation.

Why people apply to this school?

The more than evident success of both the school and its alumni are clear indicators of the reason why applicants to the school reach tens of thousands every year. The numerous specializations and fields of study also assure applicants of the diversity of education in the university.

How to apply

Visiting the UCB application site to view the detailed application process for the various University of California campuses. Each application costs $60. Applicants can apply to more than one campus.

There are two ways to become eligible to apply to the University of California:

1. For state-wide eligibility, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

a) two years of education in History/Social Science
b) four years of English
c) three to four years of Math
d) two to three years of Lab Science
e) two to three years of study of a language other than English
f) one year of Visual and Performing Arts
g) one year of college preparatory electives

2) Local eligibility can be given to students, whose GPA (based on the required coursework) in a Californian high school are in the top 4 percent. These students will be informed of their eligibility by their respective school administrators during their fourth year.

To apply, simply fill out an on line application found at the following site:http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply_to_uc.html . Applicants can also print out a form from the same site to have a hard copy application. An application form can also be mailed to applicants by request. This can be done by emailing the request to the following address:ucinfo@ucapplication.net.

All freshmen applicants must also take two SAT subject tests and the ACT Assessment plus Writing or SAT Reasoning Test for that year. Instruct the testing agencies to forward the test scores to the University of California.

Information

For additional questions, applicants may call (510)642-5215, go to the university’s website http://berkeley.edu , or visit the campus at 1950 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA 94720.

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Getting a Master’s Degree in Business Administration seems to be an “automatic requirement” for many people in the corporate world these days. But knowing how to determine the prestige of an MBA program and choosing where you want to get your degree takes some careful planning and decision-making on your part. Otherwise, you could just be holding a degree (an expensive one at that) that won’t open too many doors for you.

Program Types

You can choose an MBA program depending on your situation in life. Taking up a part-time master’s degree may be better for working professionals who are available only at night or weekends; or you make enroll in one that requires you to be a full-time student for two years on average, if you can dedicate two years to learning. Distance education is available, where the class doesn’t meet on a fixed basis and the learning pace depends on the student. If you’re a non-traditional student , your needs may also differ. Executive programs will be better suited for those managers who have been at their jobs and just want to master high-level skills and strategic management.

School Rankings

Among those schools that you could go to, determining the prestige of an MBA program that they offer is fairly easy. Go with schools that garner respect from others in your field, because it doesn’t matter if you have a master’s degree if it comes from some unknown school nobody even heard of. One way to determine the prestige of an MBA program is look at your school’s ranking among others in a list, like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) . Top schools on this list are there for a reason, and that’s because they really do offer programs that have a “global” appeal.

However, if you’re looking at an MBA degree as mostly a way to get promoted within your current organization, then an MBA program that has local cache would probably do the job. Again, determining a degree’s value depends on your intended purpose for it.

MBA Faculty

Another thing that is essential in determining the prestige of an MBA program of a particular school is the credentials of the faculty teaching the course. Former/retired CEOs and distinguished authors will be excellent gauges on the quality of the program a school offers. That’s not to discount managers and other people, however, because they will have valuable hands-on experience that they can pass on to their students.

Successful Graduates

The alumni of an MBA program will also be able to help you choose a program that is right for you, and you can see how closely their experiences parallel with your goals for getting an MBA. The success that they’ve had in their field will also be an excellent gauge determining the prestige of an MBA program.

Company Preferences

If you’re eyeing a career with a particular company, look into their history of employment and see the experiences they’ve had with graduates from particular schools. Companies will have preferences when it comes to their choice graduates of a particular school because of the good experiences they’ve had with these individuals, or because their board members are all from the same institution. This can greatly influence your choice of school.

Career Management

An MBA program should have a career management aspect, and these functions should have input on what they have to offer for your career. This function should also include feedback from students who have completed their courses, to be used a way to constantly improve their curriculum according to the changing times. This aspect on how to determine the prestige of an MBA program will also help you define your choices more sharply, and see if what they have matches what you need from an MBA.

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Deciding to enroll in an MBA program is an important decision, but even more significant is your decision of which program to take up. Some people choose to look at rankings to guide their decision. In truth, there is much more to consider when choosing the MBA program that is right for you.

Committing to Commitments

One thing that you have to be cautious of when choosing your MBA program is commitment. Not only do you have to mind your commitment to your program, but you must also be mindful of any prior commitments that you’ve made – such as a job or your family. Depending on your situation this factor has the potential to hold the most weight in deciding which MBA program you take. Luckily, there are many kinds of program types to choose from:

Part time vs Full time
One year vs Two years
MBA vs Executive MBA
Specialty degree vs Joint degrees

Although your commitments play a central role in this decision, there are other factors that will help you hone in on what is just right for you.

Key Elements

There are a number of key factors that will help you narrow down your choices. Most of these elements have to do with MBA schools and their accommodations.

Location – this will have an effect on where you live, what kind of people you will deal with, and the culture that you will encounter
Students and Faculty – a program that is culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating can broaden your view of business and challenge you to higher achievements
Networking – the people you work with will determine much about your comfort level and your future network
Accreditation – which of your subjects will be accredited when you enter your program of choice?
Cost – be sure to look into tuition, scholarships, and any other costs that may come about like living quarters

Choosing Success

Choosing a program that you find interesting, achievable, and beneficial to your future plans will greatly increase your chances of success. Talk to people who have taken the programs that you’re interested and try to discern whether or not the course is right for you. Ask for opinions, insights, and suggestions as to what school to choose, which program to take, and what program types to consider. There are many ways of determining what is right for you, it is just a matter of choosing success.

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If you are seriously considering applying to college or any graduate school, part of the preparation that you cannot ignore, aside from taking the required standardized tests, is the preparation of a well-crafted college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, as part of your application to college or grad school. This part of the application process is a measurement of your personality, and constitutes an integral part of the admissions process. With the number of applicants wanting to pursue higher education dramatically rising since the early 90 s, many colleges and post-graduate schools have imposed certain safeguards to regulate the entry of admitted applicants to their programs. The goal is to admit only candidates who hold promise and are likely to succeed in their chosen field of endeavor. The college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay, is one such safeguard.

Free College, Grad School, and MBA essay resources

Free sample admission essay outlines customized to YOUR biography
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It is important, therefore, to come up with a well-polished college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay. And doing so need not be a problem if you are capable of articulating your experiences in written form quite well.

What do you actually need to present in a college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay? It varies actually. Some schools have several specific topics from which you are required to choose and write about. However, on the average, admissions essays usually seek to present you as an individual. This may include a listing of your past and present experiences, your nature, preferences, ideals, principles, family and social backgrounds, your school years, grades received, extracurricular activities, etc. But these are not simply listed down. The essay should seek to present these profiles in clear and specific details and preferably, accompanied with one or two related anecdotes.

The area of extracurricular activities will be of particular significance. Many admissions officers are no longer impressed with high test scores as well as high grades. They realize that these do not represent the total you. They are not satisfied with the numerical side of yourself. What they would like is to get to know more about you and the activities you got involved in, which may be presented in the college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay. Specifically, they want you to present evidence that your field of expertise, for which you are seeking further studies on, is one that is very close to your heart. That being the case, you naturally do not limit your knowledge of the field to theoretical concepts in school. You go out and engage in projects wherein you are able to apply school theories in actual situations.

Such evidences, again, as written down in the college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay – as the case may be, along with an excellent school record as well as a good performance in the admissions test, will persuade school administrators that you are capable of adding something significant to your selected field of study and their school in particular.

However, such evidences should not be listed down in general terms. What is usually required in many college admission essays or graduate school admission essays, including MBA essays are specifics. Detailed accounts of the off-campus undertakings that you immersed yourself in while attending school. Undertakings that are directly connected to your area of concentration. A good example would be something like the following: wanting to enter medical school, you decided to sign up, in the final year of your pre-med course, as a volunteer in the relief operations organized by the group Band-Aid to help the famine-stricken country of Ethiopia. There, your eyes were opened to the harsh reality that not everything is ok in the world. You began to acknowledge that while a number of countries may be well-off, countless others are living way below certain human standards of living. And they are in dire need, not only of food and shelter, but such other basic necessities like medicine and health care.

The college admission essay or graduate school admission essay, including MBA essay affords you the opportunity to present yourself as someone capable of sharing something significant in a particular field, and not just a mere statistic in the same.

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