There are no major changes to the UNC Kenan-Flagler essays for this upcoming MBA season, but that’s not to say there are not big things happening at the school. The biggest headline from UNC Kenan-Flagler in 2026 is the opening of Stephen D. Bell Hall which is the newest home of the school’s MBA program and will complement resources in the McColl Building, which is also undergoing major renovations. I was fortunate to tour the building this spring when UNC Kenan-Flagler hosted MBA admissions consultants from around the world as part of the annual AIGAC conference. The school hit a home run in showcasing this state-of-the-art building that fosters community, natural beauty and the latest technological innovations. Applicants should take note of an earlier Round 1 deadline. Round 1 is now September 30th, a few weeks earlier than previous Round 1 deadlines.
The school also redesigned their curriculum to allow students to take more electives prior to their summer internships and boasts exceptional results for students interested in Real Estate, Finance, Healthcare, Energy and Consulting careers.
Table of Contents
Essay 1 (250 words maximum).
We value the different paths and aspirations that each student brings to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Please share your goals for pursuing an MBA, or the path you’re considering, and how they reflect your unique background or perspective.
Before you jump in and present your immediate post-MBA career goal, consider sharing a brief story that provides some context for why your goal is important to you. Your professional objectives will be so much more interesting and differentiated in the minds of the admissions team if you also offer a unique and meaningful story about why your chosen goals make sense in relation to your aspirations and experience.
You have only 250 words for this essay, so think carefully about how you can use your answer to differentiate yourself through sharing insights and stories that only you can tell. Here’s a chance to show that you have been reflective in understanding how the MBA makes sense for you to achieve your career goals.
Essay 2 (250 word maximum).
UNC Kenan-Flagler is guided by four core values that shape who we are: impact, innovation, inclusion, and integrity. Which one of these Core Values resonates most deeply with your professional journey? Please share an example that demonstrates how this value has influenced your actions or decisions.
This essay offers another opportunity to share something that lets the admissions committee get to know you and your motivations better. Take time to truly reflect on Kenan-Flagler’s core values. The school views these as concentric circles, with the foundation being integrity, then moving outward to think about how to create inclusive environments that foster innovation and ultimately drive impact. Focus on one of these four values, and pair it with a story from your professional life that presents a specific example of how a decision you made or an action you took was guided by that value. It would be a mistake here with only 250 words to try to cover more than one value or more than one story, because you would miss the opportunity to paint a picture of a moment in time with your words that will help the admissions team better understand your professional journey.
Essay 3 – Optional (250 words maximum).
We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application.
Optional topics:
- Personal or professional accomplishments
- Interests and passions
- Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
- Context for recommender selection
- A fun fact about yourself
This year you have 250 words instead of 200 to answer this question. While not every applicant will need to address gaps in employment, academic performance issues, or recommender selection, everyone should take this opportunity to share a personal or professional accomplishment and any particular interests, as well as a fun fact about themselves. This prompt lets you help the Kenan-Flagler admissions team get to know you more fully and differentiate yourself from other applicants with a similar professional background. In particular, the “fun fact” option gives you a way to share something interesting about you that could compel the admissions team to want to learn even more! For example, If you’ve built a tiny house, this fact might stick in the mind of someone on the admissions team who is also interested in this topic, and they might even ask you more about your experience building the house when they meet you. You now have a connection with them, and this might make your overall profile more memorable.
If you do not need to address any problematic topics, you might not need to use all 250 words, but don’t miss the opportunity to let the admissions team learn something interesting about you through your response to this question.
Essay 4 – Reapplicants (100 words maximum)
Essay 4 is required only for previous applicants to any UNC MBA program format.
If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.
If you are taking the time to reapply, refresh your application, including your resume and essays. When I reviewed applications for Kenan-Flagler, one of the first things I looked to see was whether a candidate had provided new material in the essays compared to the previous application. Taking a fresh look at your application speaks volumes about your interest in the program. Enhance your resume to reflect an extra year or more of professional growth. Ideally, you have grown in your leadership outside of work as well. If your test scores were not a strength in your previous application, address how you have attempted to improve your skills or knowledge, either through additional coursework or an improved score, or both. Your ability to highlight your most impressive improvements will signal self-awareness to the admissions team and help you make your case for admission.
Video Essays
Applicants will also have to answer two questions as part of a video essay. These two questions will appear on your screen at the same time and will have a total of two minutes to answer both questions. You can allocate the time as you see fit in answering both questions. You have the opportunity to re-record once if you don’t like your first answer but you cannot revert back to the first attempt once you move to your second response. The video essay is part of a growing trend in MBA admissions to allow candidates to present themselves authentically in the admissions process and it’s a great opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their professional presence and maturity as they answer the questions. There is no AI shortcut here; review some professional moments where you’ve had impact and be prepared to answer questions that could be behavioral or opinion-based. You have the opportunity to share more about yourself here so don’t repeat a similar story shared in your application essays.