IESE, like all business schools, is in search of capable, ambitious candidates who know why they need an MBA and what they want to do once they have one. The school’s two required essays provide applicants with the opportunity to show that they understand the program’s specific resources and opportunities. Candidates must also record a video essay consisting of three questions. An optional essay is available for anyone who has still more information to share with the admissions committee, whether to mitigate a shortcoming in their profile or to highlight a key strength or story that the committee would otherwise not learn about. Our more detailed analysis of IESE’s essay prompts for this season follows.
The University of Toronto Rotman School of Management does not require applicants to provide any prewritten essays as part of their application. However, after submitting their application, candidates will receive a link to a timed written assessment, for which they must compose spontaneous responses to two questions. Read on for our analysis of this portion of the Rotman application for the 2025–2026 admissions season.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the health care industry is the largest employer in the United States. As the industry continues to grow, it presents exciting opportunities for individuals who are eager to have a meaningful impact. Health care encompasses a wide array of sectors, including biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, big pharma, health technology, insurance, and government services. Given the industry’s broad scope, pursuing an MBA with a health care focus offers a pathway to leadership in these dynamic areas. In this post, we touch on a few of the key benefits of pursuing such an MBA and highlight some of the top programs you might consider for earning one.
Because you spend so many of your waking hours working, and the MBA is the vehicle you are choosing to use to drive your career forward, you may naturally believe that your professional experiences are all that matter to the admissions committees. Do not get us wrong: you need to have strong professional stories to share, but top-tier business schools are looking for much more than just examples of professional excellence. If you discuss only your work experiences in your application, you will present yourself as a one-dimensional character, and today’s managers need to demonstrate that they can handle a multitude of tasks, situations, and personalities—both inside and outside the workplace.
MBA admissions committees try to identify applicants who are constantly active, challenging themselves in all spheres of their lives. As a result, extracurricular and community activities are not only powerful in showing an MBA candidate’s benevolence, but they also help create the impression that the applicant is steadily pursuing goals and is therefore predisposed to success.
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