Revisit MBA Admissions Essay QuestionsNow that we have reached the end of this
guide, let¡¯s actually walk through some essay questions to see
how the information mentioned in this guide can be applied.
For now, let¡¯s just use the actual questions from the Fall
2006 application for Harvard Business School as an example
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Harvard Business School: Fall 2006 Essay
Questions
1. What would you like the MBA
Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic
experience?
The answer to this question is not
covered in this guide as your academic performance in undergraduate
is already on paper. You will need to explain that to the HBS
admissions committee in the best way that you can.
2.
What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you
view them as such?
This is the exact kind of
question that this guide helps you answer. Hopefully by now, you
have done some great projects at work, professionally outside of
work, in the community and personally for yourself. You need to pick
three accomplishments and explain why they are important. The tip is
to pick ones with the most impact and preferably a different one
from each realm.
A sample answer could be: ¡°My three most
substantial accomplishments are: (1) My recommendations for a new
process at work cut the company¡¯s cost by 50% in the first quarter
it was implemented. (2) I started an entrepreneurs club in my city
and got entrepreneurs and venture capital companies participating in
a business plan competition organized by my club. (3) As an elected
board member for a community service organization in my city, I led
a team of volunteers to help build homes for low income families¡.¡±
3. Discuss a defining experience in your development
as a leader.
In this question, pick one project that
you did in which you learned the most as a leader. You could pick a
project that you already mentioned in question #2 but it would be
better to pick something new. Do you see why you need to follow this
guide and keep yourself busy in all the realms?
4. In
your career, you will have to deal with many ethical issues. What
are likely to be the most challenging and what is your plan for
developing the competencies you will need to handle these issues
effectively?
This is an integrity question. Remember
I told you to take note every time you have to make moral and
ethical decisions? This question is best answered with at least one
concrete example followed with your own commentary about the topic.
5. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a
leader?
You should have many examples to draw from
for this question. Go back to all your projects in the various
realms and examine your strengths and weaknesses as a leader.
6. What are your career aspirations and how can an MBA
help you to reach them? Why now?
This question wants
you to tie why you want an MBA to all the things that you have done
and all the things that you want to do in the future.
7. What do you wish the MBA Admissions Board had asked
you?
This question is here to make sure that the
admissions committee doesn¡¯t miss anything special about you. This
could be a good section to put one of your personal interests or
passions. Now, I wouldn¡¯t just say, ¡°I wish the admissions committee
asked me if I like to play golf. It¡¯s my favorite sport and I play
it every weekend¡¡± A better answer would be, ¡°I wish the admissions
committee had asked me about what the game of golf has done for me.
A year ago, I had never touched a golf ball in my life. Today I am
the founder of a golf club that plays several tournaments a year to
benefit various charity organizations. For example, last summer, we
raised $X amount for a charity¡¡±
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