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Nearly all applications will
feature a question that asks about your reasons for
wanting to obtain an MBA at this stage of your career.
Some will explicitly ask you to tie these reasons into
your background and your goals. Even for schools that
don't offer this specific direction, you should plan on
such a discussion of past and future, as it provides
essential context for your application.
"Why MBA?" is often the
first question asked and without a doubt the most
important essay you will write. It includes essential
information about whether you're qualified, whether
you're prepared, and where you're headed. The other
essays fill in details about these fundamental points,
but a strong answer about, for example, how you overcame
a failure will not revive a candidacy that failed based
on a lack of career focus.
Every answer should contain
the following elements, unless the application has
separate questions addressing them individually:
1. Your long- and
short-term goals.
2. Your relevant past experience.
3. An assessment of your strengths and the gaps in
your experience/education.
4. How an MBA program will bridge your past and
future and fill in those gaps.
5. Why this particular MBA program is a good match
for your needs.
Occasionally there will be
overlap with other answers, and you will have to use
your judgment on the extent to which you should
reiterate important ideas. For example, some schools
will ask about your goals in separate questions. In that
case, the bulk of your discussion should fall under the
goals question, but you will have to bring over key
points from that answer to establish context for your
reasons for obtaining an MBA.
There are no groundbreaking
reasons for pursuing an MBA. This is not a place to aim
for bold originality. Rather, you should focus on
articulating detailed reasons that are specific to your
situation. Moreover, there is plenty of room to
distinguish yourself when discussing past experience and
future goals; the reasons themselves, however, come from
a more limited set. That said, you should not try to
drop buzzwords for their own sake. Make sure you tie
your specific objectives to other aspects of your
application.
This applicant details
a unique background in environmental science and a
focused interest in becoming an entrepreneur within this
field. Thus he paints a clear picture of past and future
before making the following transition: "In order to
accomplish this goal, however, I must deepen my
knowledge of the field. Despite my experience, I still
lack some important knowledge and management skills,
especially in finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
I am also aware that my knowledge of American
environmental issues is insufficient. Since dealing with
aspects of international business will be an integral
part of my job as an entrepreneur, it is essential that
I fill in these gaps." Only after he has established
sufficient context about his personal situation does he
attempt to assert his reasons for pursuing an MBA. This
approach ensures that you're not simply stating the
obvious, generic reasons without personal insight.
Note that the writer goes on
to add depth to his reasons by focusing on
entrepreneurship, the area that encompasses his main
interests. Finally, note that he cites specific programs
that show he has researched the school carefully and can
identify unique aspects that fit his objectives.
This applicant begins
with an extensive discussion of Brazil's political
situation and a specific industry before going on to
describe the background that makes him qualified to
pursue his vision. Thus, in contrast to the previous
applicant, he discusses goals prior to history. Either
approach can work effectively; your best bet would be to
start with and highlight what makes you unique, whether
it's a vision you have or a past accomplishment. After
that, the important thing is to ensure that everything
is coherently focused.
Note that this applicant
also places his reasons for pursuing an MBA at the end.
He does, however, include the following in the fourth
paragraph: "Through Columbia's MBA program, I plan to
further build on this foundation by leveraging the
experience in engineering and international management I
have accumulated both in Brazil and in the United
States." This kind of statement can be helpful to remind
the reader of where you're headed. Some writers will
even articulate their basic reasons in the introduction,
but the full discussion is best reserved for after you
have established full context. |
