Three Tips: Preparing to Write MBA Admissions Essays

Linda Abraham, Founder & CEO of Accepted.com, suggests that you ask yourself the following three questions when writing your MBA goals essay.

1. What do you want to do? There’s no way you can write a successful MBA goals essay if you don’t know what you want to do. Take some time to think about (and then outline) the broad picture and the specifics of what you’d like to do one year post-MBA, and then five, 10, and 20 years down the line. Make sure you think in terms of function and industry.
2. Why do you want to do it? The admissions committees don’t just want the what of your goals, but the why as well. Why are you passionate about these particular goals? Why are you so motivated to make these dreams a reality?
3. When have you demonstrated interest in similar activities or goals in the past? Last but not least, the admissions committee want to know that these goals haven’t materialized out of thin air. What is the basis for your interest in pursuing these goals? What past experiences have you had that have led you to this point? And finally, have you had similar goals in the past that you’ve set out successfully to achieve?

See Accepted’s special report Why MBA? for more pointers on how to think about and write about your MBA goals.