Blog: Archive for the “Business School” Category

The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) requires two 400-word essays of its applicants. The first essay’s topic—“tell us your story”—is so open-ended that it will likely be challenging for some candidates, especially considering the limited word count. IMD’s second essay is more traditional, asking applicants what they hope to gain from the program. Candidates … Read More  

The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin requires two brief yet revelatory written essays from its applicants. Combined, the essay prompts cover the core topics of why you need an MBA, why you want to attend McCombs, what you value, and how you will contribute. For the program’s first essay, … Read More  

Shari Hubert, Associate Dean, Admissions at Duke Fuqua, joins The mbaMission Podcast to explain how Fuqua evaluates MBA applicants, from the “25 Random Facts” essay and authentic AI use to academic readiness, recommendations, and finding a community where you can thrive.

Two applicants apply to Harvard Business School (HBS) with near-identical test scores, GPAs, and career trajectories. One earns an interview invitation. The other does not. More often than applicants expect, the recommendation letter is what separates them. Your recommendation letter is the only part of your application where someone else speaks for you, and when … Read More  

Choosing the right MBA recommenders requires more than finding two impressive advocates. Learn how complementary recommendation letters can demonstrate your analytical abilities, leadership potential, interpersonal skills, and readiness for business school.