Emory University’s Goizueta Business School requires applicants to respond to three short-answer questions, craft two relatively brief written essays, and record a one-minute “small talk” video essay. Two of the three short-answer questions address common MBA essay topics: one’s short-term professional objectives and how the school can help in achieving them. The third, however, asks candidates to share a “fun fact” about themselves. Applicants must also respond to two prompts with essays not exceeding 300 words each. The school’s video essay element might cause some candidates a bit of anxiety, given that Goizueta provides no advance information about what question they will be asked, thereby requiring candidates to be ready to respond extemporaneously. If needed, applicants can use the optional essay to provide clarification about any unclear acpects of their candidacy. Read on for our full analysis of these elements of Goizueta’s 2026–2027 application.
Table of Contents
Short-Answer Questions
Answer all 3 of the short answer questions below. Each response should be no more than 40 words.
- What are your short-term post-MBA career goals?
- How will your professional experience and the Goizueta MBA help you to achieve those goals?
- What’s a fun fact about you that you would like the committee to know?
As we noted in our introduction, two of these short-answer questions cover standard elements of a traditional personal statement. Although you do not have the space to write a full essay on these topics here, we nevertheless encourage you to download a free copy of the mbaMission Personal Statement Guide, which discusses in depth how to think about and approach these subjects within the context of an MBA application (with numerous illustrated examples).
As for the third short-answer question, which comes as a bit of a curveball after the first two, first be assured that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers here. The admissions committee simply wants you to balance your serious, professional side with something more personal and light. Consider this example: “When I made my big debut as a contestant on The Price Is Right, I sadly never advanced beyond Contestants Row, but I still cherish—and use!—my beloved consolation prize: a motorized wheelbarrow.”
That is (mbaMission Founder) Jeremy Shinewald’s sub-40-word answer, and it is undeniably his. He “owns” it, by which we mean that more than likely, no one else could make that exact statement. This kind of singularity is what makes an impression on the admissions committee and helps a candidate stand out. Moreover, the statement speaks well of him by showing that he has a sense of humor and irony, in addition to an obvious sense of adventure. And, as the question requests, it is undoubtedly a “fun” fact. This single sentence manages to say a lot—and you can, too. You do not need to mine your past for anything this absurd to make an impression, but you do need to reveal your personality through your statement.
Essay One
The former CEO of The Coca-Cola Company and namesake of Goizueta Business School, Roberto C. Goizueta, had a philosophy that he lived by: “If you take risks, you may fail. But if you do not take risks, you will surely fail. The greatest risk of all is to do nothing.” Tell us about something meaningful you’ve been wanting to pursue but haven’t yet. What’s holding you back? (maximum 300 words)
To effectively answer this question, we first encourage you to brainstorm to identify the top things that are important in your life. Consider all the realms of your life, especially those outside of work, because your personal or extracurricular activities could certainly be the focus for this essay. Reflecting on your past is important, because if you discuss wanting to pursue something that is not related to anything you have already done, you will not be able to convince the Goizueta admissions committee that you genuinely care about your stated pursuit. Therefore, you will need to illustrate in this essay that the idea you are presenting has been important to you for a while, and also why that is the case. Highlight past experience(s) that corroborate your claims, and be specific in doing so. Then, you can discuss the significance of taking the next step.
However, your response will not be complete unless you also address the “What’s holding you back?” part of this prompt. Here is where you can identify the risk(s) associated with your pursuit. Of course, a “risk” does not need to insinuate that your quest could become dangerous, but you need to identify the negative consequences that could arise during your endeavor. So, pinpoint the gaps or deficiencies that are currently deterring you, and then describe your plan to mitigate or overcome those challenges. You could even discuss the resources or experiences available at Goizueta that would help you deal with these obstacles and enable you to fulfill your goal.
Essay Two
Our lived experiences shaped who we are, the aspirations that we have, and the ways that we show up personally and professionally. Throughout our lives we will continue to have experiences that change, sharpen, and refine us. Tell us about something you’ve come to understand differently over time. What experiences, information, or perspectives contributed to that evolution? (maximum 300 words)
For this question—even more than for the previous one—we suggest that you focus on a topic that is outside your professional realm. The Goizueta admissions committee is seeking evidence that you are capable of recognizing and appreciating multiple perspectives. In business school, you will encounter classmates with backgrounds, beliefs, and ideals that are different from yours. The school wants to make sure that you are open to hearing others’ points of view and possibly even changing your mind. Even if your perspective is not completely shifted, you need to be able to understand another side.
To respond effectively to this prompt, you should discuss an idea that you feel differently about now than you did in the past. Ideally, you can illustrate that this change did not happen by accident. If possible, show that you were proactive in wanting to understand an alternative perspective on something, and explain how you went about gaining this understanding. Perhaps you sought out a speaker to hear their view, even though you knew you were not the speaker’s typical target audience. Or perhaps by simply initiating open conversations with friends, colleagues, or classmates, you gained new information that has altered your mindset on a topic or issue. Ultimately, showing that you have an open mind and can learn and grow from taking in different perspectives is what is important here.
Video Essay
Telling your story in the written essays is an important part of the application, but the video essay lets us hear your words in your own voice. In the required video essay, every candidate will answer a “small talk” question to help the MBA Admissions Committee get to know you. The video essay instructions and link are located in your application portal.
First, try not to panic. Most MBA programs that include a video component in their applications do so just to get a better idea of who their candidates are beyond the statistics in their files and the written words in their essays. They are not looking for the next prime-time anchor or expecting an Oscar-worthy performance—they simply want to get a sense of your spoken communication style, personality, and perhaps demeanor. Because the school does not offer applicants a choice of questions to which to respond or let them know ahead of time what their question will be, the admissions committee is likely also using the video as a way of gauging how you deal with the unexpected, think on your feet, and convey relevant answers in a time-conscious way. This is, after all, similar to what you will be doing in the Goizueta classroom as an MBA student.
Although the school does not present any sample questions in advance and refers to the question as a “‘small talk’ question” in the prompt, a slight possibility exists that you could encounter one of the options offered in past years, such as the following:
- What is the best advice you have received and how have you used it in your life or career?
- Outside of family and work, what is something that you are passionate about and why?
If nothing else, these are good practice queries. You could also ask a friend or family member to help you prepare by asking you questions (consider Googling “MBA interview questions” and/or downloading a free copy of the mbaMission Interviews Guide for some options) and providing feedback. This will give you a feel for what delivering an oral response within the school’s 60-second timeframe feels like (ideally without talking at lightning speed!). As you practice, strive to minimize your use of filler words and phrases (e.g., “um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know”) so that you are less likely to depend on or default to them when the time comes for your actual video submission.
But again, do not panic. If you make a small mistake or bungle your words, just pause, smile, and get back on track. Let us reassure you that none of Goizueta’s questions will have a “correct” answer, and you are not going to be judged on how energetic or enthralling you are in delivering your response. You should speak as naturally as possible so that the admissions committee can get a feel for your true character and bearing. And if possible, sharing a story from your life that helps illustrate or support your answer will make your response even more compelling. Otherwise, simply breathe, relax, and give the school a brief glimpse of the unique individual you are.
Optional Essay
Still have more to share? This optional essay is your opportunity to share something you couldn’t find a place for on your application. This is also where you should address anything the committee may question (e.g., gaps in employment, academic challenges, choice of recommender). You can use essay format or bullets. Please identify topics if more than one is addressed. (500-word limit)
With this prompt, Goizueta obviously wants to give applicants an opportunity to clarify any potentially problematic elements of their profile, but the admissions committee is clearly not interested in long-winded expositions or unnecessary filler. Its note in favor of bullet points is evidence of this. So do not view this option as a chance to squeeze in another accomplishment story or pander to the school in any way, and only take advantage of it if you have complementary information the admissions committee truly needs to hear to be able to fully and fairly evaluate you as a candidate. For more information about deciding when and how to respond to these kinds of prompts, download a free copy of the mbaMission Optional Essays Guide.
Reapplicant Essays
1. What will professional success look like immediately after your MBA experience? Please describe where you would like this degree program to take you professionally. Include information such as desired job title, responsibilities, company, impact, and/or industry. Explain how your professional experiences and personal strengths align with your post-MBA goals. (200 word limit)
2. Explain how you have improved your candidacy for Goizueta Business School’s MBA program since your last application. (200 word limit)
Like most business schools, Goizueta wants to learn the reasons behind its applicants’ decision to pursue an MBA, though fewer and fewer programs these days seem to still ask candidates to write a full essay on the topic. Very simply, the admissions committee wants to know that you have given serious thought to your professional trajectory and have identified where you want to go, how equipped you already are to get there, and how an MBA will help you move forward. The specific goal you present is less important here than showing that you understand what is involved in progressing toward your objectives and recognize the qualities and abilities you currently possess that will help position you for success. The prompt includes an explicit request for such details as “desired job title, responsibilities, company, impact, and/or industry,” so this is not the place to discuss your plans at a high level. Be direct, clear, and specific, and give the admissions committee the information it wants.
Give some thought to what more you have learned in the interim about the career you are targeting or about why it is fitting for you, and use these insights to enhance your essay. If you have not gained any additional knowledge on these topics, now is the time to do so—before you dive into writing your essay. Read industry magazines and websites, for example, or reach out to individuals in your preferred field or role to get their first-hand perspectives. You want to show Goizueta that you are truly committed to your desired path and have continued to progress and learn, despite the temporary setback with respect to your MBA goals.
For the school’s second reapplicant essay, whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or taken on some sort of personal challenge, the key to success with this essay is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. Goizueta wants to know that you have been actively striving to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the previous year to do so, because an MBA from its program is vital to you. The responses to this essay question will vary greatly from one candidate to the next, because each person’s needs and experiences differ. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one assistance with this highly personal essay to ensure that your efforts over the past year are presented in the best light possible.
