Through its application, UVA Darden is looking to understand how you will help make business a force for good. While the school’s application essays have been simplified a bit this cycle, think about ways you can highlight how you have created purpose, challenged ideas, and created impact. Through your resume and the short-answer responses within the application, you can share what you have done in the past. Leverage the two written essays to communicate what is unique about you and clearly articulate your goals.
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Short Answer 1: Relationships Matter Here
What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (200 words)
Although this question appears first, we suggest approaching it last. What final bit of your story do you need to weave in so the admissions team can understand your whole story? This essay is a great opportunity to highlight your primary strengths or relate a notable anecdote or achievement that is not covered in any other part of your application. For example, if you are a career changer and have a personal reason for making this change, offer an anecdote that helps explain why you want to take a different professional path. If your other essays have not effectively showcased your ability to collaborate on a team, share a story that demonstrates what collaboration means to you. Don’t take the prompt too literally and mistake it for an introduction only to your classmates; be thoughtful about what more you want the admissions committee to know about you and your candidacy after they have read your other essay, and then leverage this essay to fill that gap.
Short Answer 2: Careers With Purpose
At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career. (200 words)
Here is where you get to share your plans for your professional future and showcase the self-reflection you’ve done to formulate this path. You can either start with your short-term goal and build up to your long-term vision or start with your long-term vision and work backward to reveal the skills, experiences, and relationships you need to possess to be able to achieve it. Either way, you should explain how your post-MBA role will help you on your path to attaining your long-term aspiration.
When describing your initial post-MBA goal, make sure to include the specifics for which Darden is asking. A sample goals statement might be something like this: “Product Manager at a large established tech company like Google or a marketing role at a mission-based consumer products company like Patagonia.” You can highlight the skills or experiences you will gain in this role that will help you achieve your long-term vision. Although you don’t have to have all the steps worked out, you need to be able to convey your post-MBA goal clearly enough that the admissions committee can assess whether it is a feasible one. If you are too vague, they will have a hard time determining whether you have set an ambitious yet attainable goal, and you would frankly not be answering the question.
If you are making a career change, Darden will want to understand why you want to switch and the background and abilities you already possess that you could leverage in your new role. Use a combination of this essay and the first essay to present and clarify that why.
Additional Comments
If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee, please provide it. (250 words)
Optional submissions like this one should always be used judiciously. If you feel your application conveys a complete, accurate picture of who you are as a strong Darden candidate, then you’re likely best off not writing anything in response to this prompt. There’s little to be gained from adding to the admissions committee’s workload by asking them to review additional information that isn’t crucial to your profile. But if you do have an issue of some sort in your candidacy that could benefit from additional explanation, then this is your chance to expound on and clarify it as necessary.
Video Essay
From the UVA Darden blog: For the 2026–27 cycle, Darden has added a video essay to the Full-Time MBA application. Applicants will receive a prompt selected at random from a large pool of questions, then have 10 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to record their response. The video essay gives applicants another way to share their voice, communication style and critical thinking skills — integral components of the case method classroom.
Like many schools in recent years, Darden has added a video essay to its application. Preparing for this element of the application process can be a great first step in getting ready to interview with the school. The goal is to provide an authentic representation of how you communicate and how you formulate an answer on the fly. The prompts could range from “Tell me about a time” questions to more personal questions about yourself. Think about the general types of questions that business schools like to ask in interviews — ones about your collaboration, leadership experience, and problem solving, in particular. Also consider what makes you unique and examples you could offer to back up your claims. You will be able to practice on the platform before you record the actual video essay. Take advantage of this practice opportunity to make sure your technology and lighting are all working well. Overall, relax and think of this as a conversation with someone who wants to get to know you better.
In Stratus Admissions’ How to Get into UVA Darden School of Business, you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings, such as First Coffee, the Batten Institute, the case method, and Darden Worldwide Courses.