Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business has only one required written application essay, and applicants are given a choice of two prompts to respond to. The first asks candidates to discuss a time when they navigated a complicated situation, and the second tasks applicants with explaining how they will use the Tepper program to develop and advance both personally and professionally. Candidates must also record a brief video about their post-graduation aspirations. Applicants who feel the need to convey an additional important aspect or two of their candidacy to the admissions committee can take advantage of the optional essay, whose prompt is broad enough to accommodate topics other than problem areas in one’s profile. Our more in-depth analysis of Tepper’s 2026–2027 essay questions follows.
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 can also submit a short optional statement if they have additional information to disclose. For a full analysis of IMD’s essay questions for this application season, please read on.
What does a nonprofit manager who graduated from Harvard Business School (HBS) in 2010 and studied ethics and leadership have in common with an investment banker applying to HBS in 2024 to study finance and global business? Virtually nothing.
At mbaMission, applicants often ask us whether they should work with a consultant who earned their MBA from the same program the applicant wishes to attend, and our answer is always an emphatic No. Allow us to explain.
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, you will need to explain McCombs’s role in achieving your desired growth. In other words, what are you hoping to accomplish in your career, how would you like to grow personally, and what about McCombs makes it the right MBA program to prepare you to do so? The second essay tasks you with identifying a core value you possess and explaining how it has influenced you in your life and will shape your MBA experience at McCombs. In addition, you will need to respond to a handful of recorded video questions within one week of submitting your application. If you have any potential problem areas in your profile, you can submit an optional essay to address the issue. Although brief, the Texas McCombs essay components give you the chance to provide meaningful insight into your character and strengths. Our more in-depth analysis of the program’s essay prompts for 2026–2027 follows.
With MBA application deadlines fast approaching for many candidates, we thought we would share a piece of advice that might help alleviate some of the deadline-related stress you might be experiencing. After you have completed your application(s), find someone you trust—perhaps a professional admissions consultant or an individual with insight into the MBA application process—to read your essays one last time before you submit anything and give you feedback. However, we strongly suggest that you limit the number of people you approach for this kind of help and request feedback from no more than two individuals.
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