{"id":30365,"date":"2025-09-17T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T13:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/?p=30365"},"modified":"2025-09-17T09:19:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T13:19:28","slug":"avoid-negativity-and-overusing-quotes-in-your-mba-application-essays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mbamission.com\/blog\/avoid-negativity-and-overusing-quotes-in-your-mba-application-essays\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoid Negativity and Overusing Quotes in Your MBA Application Essays"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sincerity. Honesty. Candor. We encourage MBA candidates to incorporate these attributes into their applications, and when they do, the result tends to be successful essays. But can an applicant go too far? The answer is \u201cyes,\u201d especially when candor turns to negativity. Sometimes, when MBA candidates believe they are just being candid, they are actually revealing themselves as predisposed to pessimism\u2014which can make connecting with their profile challenging for the admissions reader. Such situations are unfortunate, but luckily, they are also avoidable; an ostensibly \u201cnegative\u201d idea can almost always be expressed in a positive and optimistic manner.<\/p>\n

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Example<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my current position, I am no longer learning and am afraid I will continue to stagnate without my MBA. I cannot achieve my objective of becoming a leader in the marketing department at my firm unless\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Common sense would dictate that admissions committees probably do not get very excited about applicants who believe that they have stopped learning or that their career progress can be thwarted by basic obstacles.<\/p>\n

Revised Example<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I look to the future, I recognize that with MBA training, I could dramatically increase my impact on my firm. With an eye toward a leadership position in our marketing department, I am\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

In this revised example, the candidate is expressing the exact same need for an MBA in\u00a0positive<\/em>\u00a0terms and thereby comes across as a warmer and more engaging prospect, while still candidly stating a need for further education.<\/p>\n

Before submitting your file, check for unnecessarily negative statements. Although we would never suggest that every line in your essays must be full of sunshine, you should certainly take steps to avoid portraying yourself as a pessimist.<\/p>\n

Take care also to avoid relying on famous quotes in your essays. Sometimes, incorporating a well-known quote (or perhaps a lesser-known one by a well-known person) 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 that much more compelling. Consider the following examples:<\/p>\n

Example 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2013 Theodore Roosevelt\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Roosevelt\u2019s words are as true today as when he spoke them. The essence of a manager is\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Example 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Peter F. Drucker said, \u201cManagement is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.\u201d I have found the distinction between management and leadership especially important\u2026
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\nHowever, some candidates fall into the trap of using quotations as a kind of crutch, essentially relying on someone else\u2019s clever or poignant wordsmanship in place of their own. Think of using a quotation as a way of enriching an already interesting narrative, rather than as a shortcut to a more impressive essay.<\/p>\n

Before using a quote in your application essay, ask yourself three questions:<\/p>\n