Xxxxxx XxxxxxxxxEditorial
XXXXXXXXXMBA EssAys
Communicating future aspirations
A. Dream and be real: You have to walk a fine line here. On the one hand E. Differentiate yourself: A common question is: “Should I include a family
you must think big. Whether you want to manage a billion dollars, or create and kids in my stated life goals?” The problem in doing this is not that you
new brain technology industries, or fix Africa – whatever it is, you should will appear a less serious candidate if you want a family; you will spend precious
communicate high aspirations and a potential career worthy of an MBA space talking about a very common goal. You benefit most by focusing your
graduate in 20 years time. On the other hand you must demonstrate career- reader on the aspirations that set you apart.
path realism: your dreams will take a lifetime to mature, and even then they
may not. You should sound like you understand how careers evolve in your 5. How to flunk the “Why an MBA?” question
field and the ways you might have to “do your time” (even if highly paid) • You don’t answer parts of the question asked, or you answer parts not asked
before you become a true titan of your industry. • Your style for this essay is flippant or frivolous
• You fail to talk about the specific attributes of the program you are applying
B. Show first steps: The best don’t wait for acceptance of their b-school to, and why they are relevant to your education and your future
application before getting on with their dreams. You raise your stock • You have aspirations that are too low, too dull, or you are uncertain of
immeasurably if you can show you have already taken steps towards the goal them
you claim to aspire to. Have you done the certifications you need for your • Your career goals don’t require an MBA, or the role of an MBA is not clear
career move? Do you have a plan for attracting investors to the business you • You have goals that are unrealistic, or you fail to explain a realistic path
hope to set up? Convince the committee that you will make it happen no to them
matter what – even if you don’t get into their school, or any school. • Your goals are illogical or an extreme stretch given your past – suggesting
career flakiness. (You’re a Kurdish linguist: you want to be a Wall Street
C. Have a worthwhile future: Faced with applicants who have equivalent analyst.) The committee will ask: “Is this aspiration logical? Will s/he
grades and GMATs, the admissions committee will promote those who are be recruited?”
on a unique, interesting, worthwhile career mission. You may have to work
hard to polish up whatever dullness or omissions lurk in your past, but your
aspirations are safely ahead of you where no committee can verify them. So
Copies of MBA Admissions strategy may be purchased through your
local bookstore or
amazon.com or McGraw Hill or Open UP.
don’t hesitate to project yourself into valuable, distinctive roles.
AV Gordon, MBA, is Director of the MBA Admissions studio, a
D. Don’t hedge on your aspirations: Applicants sometimes say something
specialist admissions coaching and essay editing practice for MBA
like: “I want to go to Silicon Valley and create a startup using my knowledge of and executive MBA applicants.
XPF-Bio data mining. If that doesn’t work out I may go back to my old job at
Bear Stearns, or join the family business.” Adcom prefers to bet on candidates
Please visit us at
www.mbastudio.net for more information about the
who have a single-minded focus and who will do anything (legal) to realize their
book and our admissions consulting services.
dream. If you don’t back yourself 100 per cent the committee won’t either.
TopMBA CAreer Guide
www.topmba.com 71
MBA_FALL_08_pp_066-287.indd 71 14/8/08 17:30:50
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