sample admission essay

Getting into the MBA school of your choice can be quite challenging.  Not only do you have to have reasonable grades to get admitted into a good MBA school, but you are also expected to write MBA admission essays.  Most schools have specific questions or topics for you to answer in your MBA essay, such as “what is your career vision?” or “how have you engaged with a community or organization?”(1)  Whether or not the school you are applying to has specific essay questions or topics, it can still be difficult to go about writing your MBA admissions essays.  One of the best areas to focus on in your MBA essays is your entrepreneurial endeavors.  Here are some tips on how to write about and develop topics of entrepreneurship and professional experience in your MBA essays:

MBA essay questions: know what to expect

Before you get started with your MBA essays, it’s important to have a good idea of what admissions committees expect from you and your essays.  First, check out the admissions requirements of the school you are applying to and make sure that you know exactly what questions or topics they expect you to write about in the essay.  Some schools require multiple essays, each one answering a different question.  While some essay questions will ask specifically about your career life or professional experience, others will focus on more general topics.(2)

Try to take a look at the questions independently and collectively to get an idea of what the admissions committee is expecting of you.  For example, some questions may be more centered on values and virtues, while others are focused on achievements and success.(3)  Knowing what to expect and knowing what is expected of you will help you set clear and precise goals for your MBA admission essays.

Looking at sample MBA essays with the theme of entrepreneurship: getting ideas from an MBA essay sample about how to develop the topic of entrepreneurship

Now that you have a basic idea of what to write about in your MBA essays, you may want to gather information and ideas on how to successfully develop the theme of entrepreneurship in your essay.  Perhaps the best way to begin your research is by reading sample MBA essays of those who have been successful in getting into the business school of their choice.  You can find sample essays from numerous sources, such as co-workers, friends, and relatives.  Aside from asking those around you, consider using the Internet to search for sample MBA essays.  In fact, some websites have listings of sample application essays submitted to particular MBA schools.(4)

When you locate some useful sample MBA essays with the entrepreneurship theme, make sure to take note of how they developed the theme.  What types of endeavors does the sample mention? Did the writer use a creative or unique angle to express his or her ideas? You will probably notice that many of the successful MBA essays based on a theme of entrepreneurship are those that go beyond a simple enumeration of the writer’s achievements, endeavors, and successes.  Try to get ideas of what to write about and how to express it successfully.(5)

Writing about your business or entrepreneurial endeavors in your MBA admission essays

When writing your MBA essay, make sure to keep in mind the form and substance of your essay.  The form is how the MBA essay is written and organized.  It is important to effectively convey your message, while keeping your essay concise and coherent.  The substance of your essay, while focusing on your entrepreneurial endeavors, should also speak for some of the values and virtues that you have learned along the way.

Possible topic #1: Stating in your MBA admissions essay how an MBA degree can further help your business

You may want to start by writing about some of the business experience that you have gained throughout the years.  Remember that the admission resume already serves as a list of your achievements, so try to focus on only one or two of your experiences in entrepreneurship.  You may want to give a little background, but make sure to keep your focus on how an MBA degree can help you with your current entrepreneurial ventures.  Try to explain why you think it’s the right time for you to get an MBA degree in the context of your business.  Finally, you may want to conclude your MBA essay with a few sentences about what you plan to do once you complete your MBA education.(6)

Possible topic #2: Indicating in your MBA admissions essays how an MBA degree can equip you with skills to finally start your own business

MBA admission essays can make or break your chances of getting accepted into the MBA school of your choice, so be sure to take the time and effort to write excellent essays.  Indicating in your essay how an MBA degree can help you establish your own business is another good topic.  By using this as a topic, you’re actually letting the admissions officers know about your future goals as a first-time entrepreneur.

Remember that writing an essay will not only help you convince the admissions committee to accept you, but it will also be a great way of reflecting upon your success, career, and life in general.  Writing an MBA admission essay may seem like a daunting task at first, but, with a little inspiration and motivation, you can write an excellent essay that can get you in the MBA school of your choice.

(1) http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/writtenapplication.html
(2) http://www.admissionsessays.com/business_school.html
(3) http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/programs/duke_mba/daytime/apply_daytime/
(4) http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/mbainsider/sample_essays.html
(5) http://www.sampleadmissionessay.com
(6) http://businessmajors.about.com/od/admissionessays/