MBA – Applications – Essays
MBA Application Review & Advisory Service
(Grammar & Style Review; In-depth Advice on the Theme & Coherency to Ensure a Compelling & Consistent Self-Presentation) |
| Pack: |
Essay Review – Single Essay (Global) |
| Cost: |
US$125
(You will be contacted within hours!)
(To find out more, fill out Info Request now! You will receive special offers, syllabus & free insider reports.) |
|
 |
| Pack: |
Essay Review – Mini Pack (Global)
– Resume & 1 long or 2 short Essays |
| Cost: |
US$200
(You will be contacted within hours!)
(To find out more, fill out Info Request now! You will receive special offers, syllabus & free insider reports.) |
|
|
| Pack: |
Essay Review – Basic Pack (Global)
– Resume & All Essays per School |
| Cost: |
US$450
(You will be contacted within hours!)
(To find out more, fill out Info Request now! You will receive special offers, syllabus & free insider reports.) |
|
|
| Pack: |
Essay Review – Advanced Pack (Global)
– Resume & All Essays for Two Schools |
| Cost: |
US$800
(You will be contacted within hours!)
(To find out more, fill out Info Request now! You will receive special offers, syllabus & free insider reports.) |
|
|
Essays are one of the most important elements in your B-School applications. First you will need to consider who you really are.
You should present yourself in a truthful manner. Any dishonesty or stretching of the truth will not lead to a coherent application.
Thus, you must determine what your true strengths are and match those traits with the schools to which you are applying.
If your strengths really do not resemble the ideal student profile of a school, we suggest that you seriously consider applying
elsewhere.
You must understand what each question is truly asking. One major mistake applicants often make is not answering the question.
This should be avoided at all cost. If the question asks: "How did your past experiences lead you to want to attend Harvard
Business School?" Do not simply list your past experiences. You must explain them and how they caused you to make Harvard Business
School a committed choice of yours.
This may appear rather simple but some schools write questions that require a greater attentiveness to the way the question
is phrased than others. Other questions require leaps of imagination to demonstrate creativity. In such situations, it is wise
to be creative and to say something that other applicants would not, again within the bounds of your own particular background.
This will make you a more unique applicant.
Design a way to answer the question. If, for example, you are answering the question asked on Stanford's application for
its 2005/2006 entering class: "What matters to you most and why?" You are going to reflect on your true passion. Is it running
your own firm, helping people, achieving your goal, making a difference, or others? You should also be able to substantiate your
choice of passion with concrete and consistent examples of your past efforts.
Simply jog your memory for unique challenging experiences and you may be surprised by what you remember. Experience means both
personal and professional experience. It is often the more personal aspect of experiences that a school will find unique.
Do not limit yourself to the business world. Take some time to think about particular elements of those experiences. It will
be useful to detail each element in writing. If this selection process proves difficult, ask for help. Consider talking to parents,
friends, siblings, mentors, relatives, they may remember elements of your past that you have forgotten.
We recommend the following method of tackling your essay:
- Match yourself to the school.
- Determine what the question is asking.
- Consider how to answer the question: Brainstorm.
- Organize. Select the aspects of yourself to emphasize and back them up with examples / stories / anecdotes from your experience. Put this information into an outline format that you find comfortable.
- Write the essay, paying attention to format.
- Make revisions.
- Have someone read it over.
Manhattan Review's admissions consulting team can offer you expert advice on essays and the application process.
The guidelines around which we suggest engaging in the essay writing process are the following:
 |
Convince your reader |
|
Distinguish yourself |
|
Demonstrate sincerity |
|
Write in a fashion that keeps the reader's attention |
To do this we suggest the following:
(1) Select different and unique, but honest experiences. You may want to expand upon an experience to make it seem more unique.
Try to select those experiences that make you a unique candidate.
(2) Convey your experience honestly. The admissions committee will notice the difference between extreme embellishment and
sincerity and depth.
(3) It is in your writing that you have the opportunity to demonstrate your personality. One important way of doing this is
through your style. Within your essays you want to continue to keep the reader's attention. Try to use the 1st person singular,
use "I" and avoid "we". Avoid using the passive voice as well as 'to be' verbs.
In addition, Manhattan Review's Admissions Consulting staff is made up exclusively of graduates from the top Ivy League
business schools and committed to your success. Our expert advice will help you recall and select the experiences that will
be most favorable to your application. Please email us at info@gmat-review.co.uk
or call us at (0)20 8114 9247!
|
