ways to approach common college essay questions

3 Tips for Writing a Stellar MBA Application Essay

1. Get specific with your goals

With every MBA application essay you write, you have to talk about your long-term and short-term goals. It’s a tough task that may bring up repressed memories of tense dinner convos with your parents talking about “the future,” but you’re an adult now. You’ve got this.

2. Quantify your success

You know you’re smart, hard working, successful and a hot prospect. But to make your application stand out, you’ll have to prove it. Your achievements have to be quantifiable — stuff you can prove. Numbers are your friend. Whatever your achievement, use numbers and statistics to back it up.

3. Stand out with your personal qualities

This should be the heart of every great application. What makes you a unique and interesting person? This is actually much harder than it sounds. This isn’t about listing hobbies and making generalizations about your personality. Think of something only you enjoy, even though your friends think it’s weird or uncool — that’s what makes you unique. Then make sure and connect it to the rest of your essay.