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July 6, 2026
UCLA Anderson stands out among MBA programs because of its location in a large city with many different industries, its collaborative culture, and the flexibility it offers to customize your business school experience. Anderson looks for applicants who embody the school’s three pillars: sharing success, thinking fearlessly, and driving change. As you think about the…
July 6, 2026
Cornell Johnson has a small, close-knit community and an amiable, internationally focused culture with an emphasis on collaboration. The school looks for candidates who will have an impact on the program both as students and after graduation. Leadership, teamwork skills, the ability to analyze problems, and strong interpersonal capabilities are key traits the admissions committee…
July 2, 2026
MIT Sloan wants you to make your pitch for admission in a somewhat unique application essay format: a business cover letter. Although the information the admissions committee wants is not that different from what most programs seek, the presentation might be a bit daunting for some candidates. Sloan also asks for a short video introduction,…
July 1, 2026
NYU Stern’s collaborative, dynamic, and diverse culture is truly shaped by the school’s location in the heart of New York City and can be defined simply as IQ + EQ. While I believe that Stern still truly believes in supporting change, this year, the school has switched up its application essays to give you more…
June 30, 2026
This year, Michigan Ross condensed its essay questions to one short career-related query and a multiple-choice prompt designed to provide an opportunity for you to share a story that demonstrates your resilience, grit, and community-building traits. Part 1: Career Aspirations What is your short-term career goal, and how do you plan to leverage the Ross…
June 25, 2026
I’ve had this conversation too many times to count over the last ten years: talking to an MBA applicant who aspires to scale the ten-foot wall to break into the elite world of investment banking (IB). I’ve helped them, and I can help you too. The path from auditor, engineer, pricing analyst, consultant, and even…
June 23, 2026
The school’s essay prompts focus on three specific themes. In these essays, HBS seeks evidence that applicants are business minded, leadership focused, and growth oriented, and in this post, we offer our tips on how to approach these essays. Business-Minded Essay Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations. (300…
June 22, 2026
The application essays for the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) are among the more expansive and demanding of those for the top MBA programs; the GSB truly wants to get to know you. With a 650-word essay that necessitates some soul-searching, 350 words on your interest in Stanford specifically, and multiple optional short answers…
June 22, 2026
Duke Fuqua presents its applicants with one of the most creative, and maybe challenging, essay prompts out there — asking candidates to come up with a list of more than two dozen “random” bits of information about themselves. Then, applicants need to craft a more traditional essay in which they explain their fit with the…
June 17, 2026
Throughout the MBA application process, you’ll effectively put together a campaign based on your personal story making the case for why you should be accepted to your target school(s). Many people find it challenging to tell their personal story in a logical and compelling way within the limits of business school applications. Therefore, recommenders are…
June 17, 2026
Through your application essays, Berkeley Haas wants to get to know more about who you are and what drives you. Here are some thoughts to help you stand out in your Haas application. Demonstrating how you embrace or embody one of Haas’s four Defining Leadership Principles — Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students…
June 15, 2026
If you think a Master of Public Policy (MPP) program might be right for you and you’d like to start preparing for the application process, it’s time to ask yourself three essential questions: 1. How do you want to serve? Many prospective students apply to policy programs because these candidates have a general sense that…
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