The #1 Mistake MBA Applicants Make in Essays

This is a big holiday weekend in the United States.

Not only is it the “unofficial” end of summer with Labor Day suddenly here, but for those who are applying to business school in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, this is also the last weekend before some important Round 1 Full-time MBA deadlines next week. (Looking at you, Harvard Business School!)

There are also some of my favorite schools with Early Decision deadlines next week, including UVA Darden and Duke Fuqua.

So, if you are spending time polishing up your essays this weekend in between barbeques and beaches, I wanted to take a minute share the biggest mistake that I see MBA applicants make before they hit submit.

What is it? Drumroll….

Quite simply, telling the school something they already know.

Here are some examples:

• Harvard Business School educates leaders who make a difference in the world.

• Harvard Business School is renowned for the case study method of learning.

• Harvard Business School has world-class faculty.

Remember:

The job of the admissions reader is to make an INFORMED decision about someone they most likely have never met within a short period of time (20-30 minutes, in some cases).

The job of the admissions reader is to understand YOU beyond your resume, transcripts, and recommendations.

The job of the admissions reader is not to read something they already know, but to read something they DON’T know.

So, instead of messaging that sounds like the business school’s website, use that precious space to learn something about you. (In the instance of HBS, you have ONLY 250/300 words per essay!)

Here’s what I mean:

• My role on the cybersecurity transition team has not only influenced my future career choices but has shaped me into someone who truly wants to make a difference in the world through a commitment to… (essay 1).

• My experience as the co-chair of the case study club in my senior year of college shaped me as a leader because… (essay 2)

• One of the most significant ways that I’ve demonstrated curiosity beyond the workplace is through my weekly podcast of business leaders in the Australian Outback. This experience is like being in a class each week with world-class faculty who have influenced my growth by…. (essay 3)

As you are reviewing your essays, ask yourself:

1. Does this sentence tell the reader something they don’t already know?

2. Am I helping the reader better understand me beyond my resume and transcripts?

3. Do I sound like a website or myself?

This simple check before hitting submit will help YOUR application stand out in a competitive pool. In other words, don’t make the reader “labor” too hard to learn about you!