Blog: Archive for the “Application Tips” Category

Sincerity. Honesty. Candor. We encourage MBA candidates to incorporate these attributes into their applications, and when they do, successful essays tend to follow. Yet, can an applicant go too far? The answer is “yes,” especially when candor turns to negativity. Sometimes, when MBA candidates believe they are being candid, they are in fact revealing themselves … Read More  

Sometimes, incorporating a famous quote (or perhaps a lesser-known quote by a well-known person) into one of your application essays can add a little something special to the story you are trying to tell. If the quotation truly enhances your message in a significant way, it can serve as an effective tool, making your submission … Read More  

In your MBA application essays, you must ensure that the tone you use allows the admissions committee to readily recognize your certainty and self-confidence. Being clear and direct about who you are and how you envision your future is vital. Consider the following example statements: Weak: “I now have adequate work experience and hope to pursue … Read More  

If you were to read a skilled professional writer’s work, you would find articles that are characterized by “connectivity.” Simply put, an adept writer ensures that each sentence is part of a chain—each sentence depends on the previous one and necessitates the next. With this linkage in place, the central idea is constantly moving forward, … Read More  

As a general rule, “etc.” should never appear in the text of your MBA application essays. Consider the following sentences: I helped draft prospectuses, analyze key company data, value companies, etc. I look forward to courses such as “Small Business Management,” “Leading Teams,” “Multiparty Negotiations,” etc. In the first example, “etc.” replaces information that the … Read More