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2024-2025 Kelley MBA Essay Tips and Analysis

Admit expert.

• August 16, 2024

The Indiana Kelley MBA program is renowned for its focus on experiential learning and leadership development, attracting candidates with diverse backgrounds and ambitions. For the 2025 admissions, the essay prompts give applicants a chance to showcase their professional goals, personal reflections, and unique qualities. Crafting standout essays is crucial for success, and this article provides an in-depth analysis, expert tips, and a winning framework for approaching each of the 2025 essay prompts. Whether you’re outlining your post-MBA career plans or sharing a defining moment, this guide will help you craft essays that resonate with the admissions committee.

Essay Prompts

• Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

Respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words) a. My greatest memory is… b. I’m most afraid of… c. My greatest challenge has been… d. I’m most proud of…

Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

• (Optional) Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

Kelley MBA Essay 1

What the admissions committee seeks.

Indiana Kelley’s 2025 MBA essay prompt focuses on your immediate post-MBA goals and the practical steps you’ll take to achieve them. Kelley’s admissions committee is looking for applicants with a clear vision of their career trajectory, realistic short-term goals, and a solid understanding of how the Kelley MBA can facilitate this path.

• Clear Post-MBA Goals : The admissions committee expects you to define specific career objectives. A vague goal such as “taking on a leadership role” will not suffice. Instead, Kelley seeks candidates who have researched their post-MBA industry and have a clear plan. Your essay should include not only the job title and function you aspire to but also the industry and, ideally, the companies you are targeting. Furthermore, it’s beneficial if these companies are among Kelley’s recruiting partners, which shows you’ve researched their placement track record.
• Alignment of Professional Experience : Kelley is interested in how your professional background has shaped your career aspirations. They want to see a clear progression from your pre-MBA experiences to your future ambitions. Detailing how your work history has equipped you with certain skills, while highlighting the gaps that an MBA would fill, demonstrates to the committee that you have a strategic approach to your career development.
• Realistic Backup Plan : Kelley’s essay prompt stands out by asking for a “Plan B” in case your primary goal doesn’t materialize. The admissions committee is not only assessing your ambition but also your adaptability and pragmatism. They expect you to have thought through potential challenges and mapped out alternative career paths. However, these alternate paths should be related to your primary goal and not a drastic career pivot. A well-thought-out Plan B shows foresight and flexibility—key traits in future business leaders.
• Kelley’s Unique Value : Finally, the committee is keen to understand why Kelley specifically is your top choice for pursuing an MBA. They will be evaluating how well you’ve researched the program and whether you understand how Kelley’s resources—its curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and student organizations—will support your professional growth. This is an opportunity to showcase how you will contribute to the Kelley community and benefit from its unique offerings.

How to Write the Essay

• Start with Your Post-MBA Goals : Begin by clearly stating the role, industry, and company you are targeting post-MBA. For example, if you are pursuing a career in management consulting, specify a role such as “Consultant” or “Associate” and identify the firms you aspire to work for—such as McKinsey, Bain, or Deloitte, which recruit at Kelley. Be specific about why this position is important for your long-term career goals, which may be reaching a partner level at a consulting firm or transitioning into an executive role within a particular industry.
• Connect Your Professional Experience : After outlining your goals, connect the dots between your career so far and your future ambitions. Explain how your previous roles have prepared you for the job you wish to secure after your MBA. Be detailed about the skills you’ve acquired—whether that’s managing teams, solving complex problems, or working in fast-paced environments—and identify the knowledge gaps that an MBA will help you address. If you’ve worked in a related field or gained experience that informs your career choice, this is the section where you can highlight those experiences.
• Why Kelley MBA? : This section is crucial. You need to demonstrate that Kelley is the right place for you to bridge the gap between your current skill set and your career goals. Research Kelley’s program in-depth, identifying courses, experiential learning opportunities, and student organizations that align with your goals. For example, Kelley’s Business Marketing Academy or its experiential learning programs like “Kelley on Location” could be instrumental in your career path. Discuss how these elements will equip you with the tools to succeed in your desired role.Additionally, mention how you plan to contribute to the Kelley community. Are you interested in leading a student organization? Do you have ideas for events or initiatives that align with your expertise? Showing your willingness to contribute to Kelley’s culture will make your essay stand out.
• Alternative Career Path : The final part of the essay asks for a contingency plan. If your first choice doesn’t work out, what is your Plan B? This plan should align closely with your primary goal. For instance, if your primary goal is to work in venture capital, you might consider a secondary goal in private equity or strategy consulting. Avoid making a drastic pivot in your alternate plan, as this could signal to the admissions committee that you haven’t thought through your career aspirations carefully. A well-aligned backup plan shows that you are adaptable and prepared for the challenges of a dynamic job market.
• Wrap Up with a Strong Conclusion : Your essay should end by reinforcing the link between your short-term goals and the Kelley MBA, reiterating how you will benefit from the program and how the school aligns with your career aspirations. If possible, include a brief mention of your long-term goals as a way to frame your entire essay. Finally, restate your commitment to contributing to the Kelley community, showing that you are both an ambitious professional and a team player who will enhance the experiences of your fellow students.

What Admissions Committee Seeks

The admissions committee at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, is focused on understanding the unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations of each applicant. By asking candidates to respond to one of the short essay prompts, they aim to gain insights into the applicant’s personal values, resilience, and self-awareness. The prompts— My greatest memory is… ,  I’m most afraid of… ,  My greatest challenge has been… , and  I’m most proud of… —allow candidates to showcase pivotal moments or emotions that have shaped their identities. Key Attributes Sought by the Committee:

• Authenticity : The committee values genuine stories that reflect the applicant’s true self. Authenticity helps them assess how well the candidate’s experiences align with the values of the Kelley community.
• Self-Reflection : Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate introspection. The admissions team looks for individuals who can critically evaluate their past experiences and articulate how these moments have influenced their personal and professional growth.
• Character and Values : Through the chosen prompt, applicants have the opportunity to reveal their core values and character traits. Whether discussing pride in an achievement or fear of failure, the committee seeks to understand what drives the candidate.
• Fit with Kelley : The committee is interested in how well candidates will integrate into the Kelley community. They look for evidence of collaboration, leadership potential, and a commitment to personal and professional development.

In summary, the admissions committee is not just looking for a recounting of events but rather a narrative that illustrates the applicant’s journey, highlighting how their experiences have prepared them for the challenges and opportunities of an MBA program.

How to Write These Essays

Writing compelling essays for the Kelley MBA application involves careful consideration of the chosen prompt and a structured approach to storytelling. Here are some strategies to effectively respond to the short essay prompts.

1. Choose the Right Prompt : Selecting the prompt that resonates most with your experiences is crucial. Reflect on which topic allows you to share a meaningful story that showcases your character and aligns with the values of Kelley.

2. Structure Your Response:

• Introduction : Start with a hook that captures the reader’s attention. Briefly introduce the memory, fear, challenge, or source of pride you will discuss.
• For “My greatest memory is…” : Describe the memory vividly, including sensory details that transport the reader. Explain why this memory is significant and what it reveals about you.
• For “I’m most afraid of…” : Discuss your fear candidly. Explain its origins and how it has impacted your life. Highlight any actions you have taken to confront or manage this fear.
• For “My greatest challenge has been…” : Outline the challenge clearly, focusing on the obstacles faced and the steps taken to overcome them. Emphasize the lessons learned and personal growth achieved.
• For “I’m most proud of…” : Share an achievement that reflects your values and aspirations. Discuss the effort involved and the impact of this achievement on your life and those around you.
• Conclusion : Tie your story back to your aspirations and how it connects to your goals at Kelley. This could involve discussing how the experience has prepared you for the challenges of an MBA program or how it aligns with your future career objectives.

3. Be Authentic and Reflective: Authenticity is key. Write in your voice and be honest about your experiences. The admissions committee values sincerity over embellishment. Reflect on what your story reveals about your character and how it aligns with Kelley’s collaborative and innovative culture.

4. Edit and Revise: After drafting your essay, take the time to revise for clarity, coherence, and conciseness. Ensure that every word contributes meaningfully to your narrative. Seek feedback from trusted peers or mentors to gain different perspectives and improve your essay further.

5. Adhere to Word Limits: With a limit of 300 words, every sentence must serve a purpose. Be strategic in your word choice and avoid unnecessary filler.

In this prompt, the admissions committee is looking for a glimpse into your individuality. They want to understand what makes you unique beyond your academic and professional qualifications. This is an opportunity to showcase a personal trait, experience, or interest that could serve as a conversation starter among peers. The aim is to assess your ability to present yourself succinctly and engagingly, reflecting your personality and how you might contribute to the Kelley community.

How to Write This Essay

To craft a compelling response to this prompt, consider the following steps:

• Brainstorm Unique Aspects : Reflect on your life experiences, hobbies, or achievements that set you apart. Think about what you are passionate about or any unusual experiences that could intrigue others.
• Be Concise and Specific : With only 25 words, every word counts. Aim for clarity and impact. For example, instead of saying, “I love hiking,” you could say, “I’ve hiked all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot peaks.”
• Create a Hook : Start with a captivating fact that piques interest. This could be a surprising achievement, a unique skill, or an unusual hobby.
• Stay Authentic : Ensure that the fact you choose genuinely reflects who you are. Authenticity resonates more than trying to impress with something that doesn’t truly represent you.

Essay 4 (Optional)

Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? (300 words)

This optional prompt allows candidates to provide additional context about their application. The admissions committee is looking for insights that may not be covered in other parts of the application, such as your resume or essays. This could include explanations for gaps in employment, challenges you’ve overcome, or additional accomplishments that demonstrate your suitability for the program. It’s a chance to reinforce your narrative and clarify any potential concerns the committee might have.

To effectively respond to this optional prompt, consider the following guidelines:

• Identify Key Points to Address : Think about aspects of your application that may need clarification or additional context. This could include a lower GPA, a career transition, or personal challenges.
• Focus on Growth and Learning : If discussing challenges, emphasize what you learned from the experience and how it has prepared you for the MBA journey. This demonstrates resilience and a growth mindset.
• Highlight Additional Strengths : Use this space to showcase achievements or experiences that further illustrate your qualifications or fit for the Kelley program. This could include leadership roles, community service, or unique projects.
• Be Concise and Relevant : Stick to the 300-word limit and ensure that your response remains focused and relevant. Avoid repeating information already provided in your application.
• Proofread and Revise : After drafting your response, take the time to review and revise. Ensure clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy, as a polished essay reflects your attention to detail.

Final Thoughts

The Indiana Kelley MBA essays provide a platform to present not just your professional goals but also the personal values and experiences that shape your leadership style. By strategically aligning your goals with Kelley’s offerings and delivering authentic, well-structured responses, you can present a compelling application. Whether addressing your post-MBA career objectives or sharing a memorable moment, these essays are your opportunity to stand out in a competitive pool. Thoughtful preparation and in-depth research into the Kelley program will put you on the path to a successful MBA application.

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Indiana Kelley MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2022 – 2023]

These questions are a straightforward mix of professional and personal. The adcom wants assurance that you have a clear professional focus and a solid plan for making productive use of the Kelley MBA resources. Beyond that, they’re looking for engaging applicants who are willing to share their life experiences and understand what they can contribute. Strive for balance and coherence among the essays overall: use them to present different facets of your character while avoiding contradictory qualities (i.e., you can be a bold risk-taker in one and a tender-hearted soul in another, but not a bold risk-taker in one and overly cautious in another).

Indiana Kelley 2022-2023 MBA application essays

Kelley mba essay question #1.

Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

This question encourages you to present your goals in the context of your experience and to integrate your MBA plans with both. With only 500 words, be selective and strategic about what points from your career to discuss. Also, the question specifies short-term goals. While it would be fine to add a sentence or so about longer-term goals or overall career vision, keep your goals discussion focused on the same time frame the question focuses on: immediately post-MBA. This question is asking for linkages among your experience, your short-term goals, and your anticipated MBA experience, so make an essay plan or outline that forms an integrated message out of these elements.

In answering the last point, continue the linkage approach: the alternatives you identify should build on your experience in some way and be consistent with your expressed career interests. Show that you are adaptable and strategic, informed about the options, and resourceful in your thinking.

Kelley MBA essay question #2

Please respond to  one  of the following short essay prompts.  (300 words max) a. My greatest memory is… b. I’m most afraid of… c. My greatest challenge has been… d. I’m most proud of…

Consider which question will give you the best avenue to both (a) round out your profile and (b) showcase an interesting and relevant aspect of your life and/or experience.

Once you decide on a topic and question , write this short essay in mini-story format. Sometimes the story itself will convey the message and/or insight, sometimes you may want to add a concluding sentence with this information. And be sensitive to the tone and presentation of the question – it really is asking for something engaging, meaningful, and lively.

Kelley MBA essay question #3

Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words max)

Your topic selection here should balance the topic in essay 2 and reflect another aspect of you. Also, if you choose an older story above, make this one more recent. (It’s fine to have them both be recent, but not great to have them both from far in the past.)

Kelley MBA essay question #4 (Optional)

Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your essays and credentials represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words max)

This question first and foremost invites you to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of recommender if not a direct supervisor, etc.). As far as unnecessary points, that last phrase is a polite warning that anything extra must be pretty darn important.

For expert guidance with your Indiana Kelley MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you too!

Indiana Kelley at a glance

Kelley MBA average GMAT score: 679

Kelley MBA average GPA: 3.33

Kelley MBA acceptance rate: 31.5%

U.S. News  ranked Indiana Kelley #22 in 2023

Check out the Business School Selectivity Index for more stats.

Indiana Kelley 2022-2023 MBA application deadlines

Source: Indiana Kelley website

Related Resources:

• Why MBA? , a guide to writing the goals essay
• 9 Secrets to Telling an Attention-Grabbing Story
• Applying for Your MBA Through The Consortium: Best Deal in Town

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Kelley MBA Essay Examples

Kelley MBA essay examples can help you get into one of the best MBA programs in the US , according to several MBA rankings . The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is one of the oldest business schools in the country, but it has developed one of the top-rated online MBA programs in the world, and has graduated thousands of sought-after MBA students. The school operates on three different campuses and has four dedicated MBA programs all of which have unique MBA requirements , but all require that students submit MBA personal statements based on different prompts and questions. This article will provide expert-approved samples to those questions and prompts and give you more tips on how to get in. 

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Article Contents 10 min read

Kelley school of business essay prompts: full-time mba program,  kelley mba required essays.

• Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)
• Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)
• Respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)
• My greatest memory is...
• I'm most afraid of...
• My greatest challenge has been...
• I'm most proud of...

Kelley MBA Optional Essays

Prompt: Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn't feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

Kelley MBA Essay Example #1

Prompt: Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

Upon completing my MBA at Kelley, my immediate post-MBA professional goal is to secure a position as a strategic consultant in a top-tier management consulting firm, with my two top choices being Capgemini or KPMG. With my prior professional experience and a Kelley MBA degree, I am confident in my ability to excel in this role and contribute to the success of client organizations.

My professional experience prior to pursuing my MBA has provided me with a strong foundation in project management and business analysis. While working at Prairie Consulting Services, I collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify operational inefficiencies and implement process improvements. This experience sharpened my analytical skills and honed my ability to navigate complex business challenges.

The Kelley MBA program will complement my professional experience by equipping me with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the field of strategic consulting. Through the rigorous coursework, I will develop a deep understanding of various business functions, including finance, marketing, and operations. The program's emphasis on experiential learning and real-world consulting projects will provide me with opportunities to apply my learning to actual business scenarios, enhancing my problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking.

Additionally, the Kelley MBA program's extensive network of alumni and corporate partners will provide invaluable opportunities for networking and mentorship. Through engagements with industry professionals and alumni, I will gain insights into the consulting industry's latest trends, best practices, and potential career opportunities. The program's career services and recruitment support will also enhance my chances of securing internships and full-time positions with leading consulting firms.

In the event that my short-term goal of joining a management consulting firm does not materialize immediately, I would consider alternate career paths that align with my skill set and long-term aspirations. One potential alternate path could be pursuing a corporate strategy or business development role within a technology company. With my strong analytical background and strategic mindset, I believe I could contribute to shaping the long-term growth and innovation strategies of such organizations.

Another alternative career path could involve working in an internal strategy role within a large corporation. This would allow me to leverage my strategic thinking and business acumen to drive operational efficiencies, identify growth opportunities, and contribute to the organization's overall success.

However, given my passion for entrepreneurship, I might explore the option of starting my own consulting firm or joining a startup in a strategic or operational capacity. This would enable me to combine my business acumen with my entrepreneurial spirit, taking on the challenge of building and growing a business from the ground up. 

The combination of my prior professional experience and a Kelley MBA degree will equip me with the necessary skills, knowledge, and network to succeed in this role. Should my short-term goals not materialize, I would consider alternate career paths such as corporate strategy, internal consulting, or entrepreneurship, leveraging the skills and experience gained through my MBA journey.

Prompt: My greatest challenge has been...

Losing my father during my undergrad was the greatest challenge I faced on my way to applying here at Kelley. The loss of my father had a profound impact on my family and myself, but it also threatened my academic performance. I faced a decline in my grades, which was a stark contrast to my previous achievements. I asked for a leave of absence because I knew that my decline would only worsen if I didn’t properly address or confront my grief.

This decision to take time off felt guided by my father, as he had always advised me about the necessity of self-care and the importance of dealing with negative, painful emotions. I sought out the counseling services provided by my university, which helped me process my emotions and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Once I felt well enough, I set about regaining my academic momentum.

I attended office hours regularly, seeking clarification and guidance on challenging subjects. Through my determination and the support of my professors, I was able to improve my academic performance gradually. And this work gave me a welcome reprieve, albeit a temporary one, from my grief. But I also learned how to live with my grief rather than trying to expel it entirely.

I think that is one of the most important things this experience taught me that grief is love’s natural end and that it can live within you as something positive and constructive. The love I have for my father became grief and that transformation was difficult. It threatened to derail everything that I was working for, but it ultimately taught me the value of resilience, adaptability, and seeking support when needed.

Kelley MBA Essay Example #3

Prompt: I'm most proud of...

  We were stranded in the wilderness, facing freezing temperatures and limited supplies. When I couldn’t see anymore because of the whiteout conditions, I remembered the advice my brother told me as the only thing to think about to survive in a blizzard, “take shelter”. I was only a month into my six-month tour on the permanent station at McMurdo research station when I got caught in a blizzard with my brother and other members of his research team.

Fortunately, we had checked the weather conditions before so we knew the blizzard was coming. We brought extra survival gear, emergency shelters, and extra rations. We had also tied ourselves together in a line so we wouldn’t be separated in case the blizzard hit as we were travelling. It was a gamble we all took. We had to get the samples we collected back in time before they spoiled and lose an entire day’s work.

We knew it was possible that the blizzard would descend on us when we were outside, but we decided to risk it instead of losing the samples. But what ultimately saved us was how my brother and his colleagues worked together. They all participated in setting up one tent, which was easier and faster than each of us struggling to set up our own tent.

Since they had trained for this, it was almost like second nature to them. I did not have their training and it was better that I didn’t get involved, as I only would have delayed things. In only a few minutes we were all inside our respective tents. That display of teamwork quite literally saved our lives and it made me envious how people could be so organized and well-trained that they could do so such a thing in such difficult conditions.

Kelley MBA Essay Example for Kelley Direct Online MBA 

Kelley mba essay example #4.

Personal Statement for Kelley Direct Online MBA

Throughout my professional journey, I have cultivated a strong passion for leadership and a relentless drive to make a lasting impact in the business world. My ultimate goal is to assume a leadership role at a global technology company, spearheading innovative strategies and driving transformative growth.

Recognizing the importance of continuous learning and professional development, I have pursued relevant certifications, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which I obtained through the Project Management Institute. This credential has equipped me with industry-recognized expertise in project management methodologies and best practices.

In addition to my professional experience, I have dedicated myself to strengthening my academic foundation. I have engaged in online courses and workshops offered by reputable institutions such as Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. These educational endeavors have exposed me to business theories, frameworks, and strategies, enhancing my analytical thinking and strategic mindset.

Choosing the Kelley School of Business for my Online MBA was a clear and deliberate decision. The school's esteemed reputation, distinguished faculty, and comprehensive curriculum perfectly align with my aspirations and career goals. I am particularly drawn to the Kelley Direct Online MBA program's emphasis on experiential learning, collaborative environment, and focus on innovation and technology.

The flexibility of the online format will enable me to seamlessly integrate my studies into my current professional responsibilities, allowing me to immediately apply the knowledge and skills I acquire in the program. I am confident that the program's team-based approach, fostered through platforms such as Kelley Direct Live, will provide me with valuable networking opportunities and enable me to forge connections with talented professionals from around the world.

Moreover, the Kelley Online MBA program's incorporation of real-world case studies, virtual simulations, and consulting projects will provide me with practical experiences that mirror the complexities of the business landscape. These hands-on opportunities will refine my decision-making abilities, strategic thinking, and leadership skills, setting me apart as a capable and dynamic business professional.

As I embark on this transformative journey at Kelley, I am excited to engage with renowned faculty members such as Professor Michael Johnson, an esteemed expert in strategic management. I am eager to leverage their expertise, alongside the guidance of career advisors like Jennifer Davis, to further refine my career goals, develop a robust skill set, and broaden my professional network 

In conclusion, my career goals are fueled by a deep-rooted passion for leadership and an unwavering determination to make a meaningful impact in the business world. Through a strategic career trajectory, continuous learning, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, I have laid a solid foundation to succeed in the Kelley Online MBA program. I am committed to embracing this opportunity, immersing myself in the collaborative learning environment, and leveraging the vast resources and network at Kelley to accelerate my professional growth and unlock new horizons of success.

 Kelley MBA Essay Questions/Topics

• What you do day-to-day in your job.
• What are your short-term (2-3 years) and long-term (3+ years) goals? What would your next job look like? Possible goals might include: gain a promotion, land a job in a new organization, change function. (For example, you are an engineer and want to go into finance.) You should note you want explore your goals through our career coaching program.
• How will you use the Kelley Evening MBA to get where you want to go?
• What unique perspective can you bring to classroom discussions? (e.g. Born in Somalia? Spent a year in Chile? Speak three languages? Volunteer with an organization? Involved in a corporate reorganization? Serve on a board? Launched a new product? Holding the line in costs in a small company?)
• If you do not reside within commuting distance of Indianapolis, briefly explain future plans that will allow you to participate in the Kelley Evening MBA Program.

 Kelley MBA Essay Example #5

Prompt: How will you use the Kelley Evening MBA to get where you want to go?

I currently hold the position of Senior Consultant within the Strategy and Operations practice of Deloitte USA. My primary role is advising clients in the technology industry on strategic initiatives and operational improvements. I work closely with several teams to develop and implement solutions that drive business growth and operational efficiency. But I come from far humbler beginnings.

I was born in Greenfield, Indiana on a farm that my great-great-grandfather, an immigrant from Sweden, settled in the 1800s. My grandparents were children of the Depression, and my parents are not people of means, but they knew the value of education, which is why my brother and I both woke up with our father at dawn so we could catch the bus especially for us to ride two hours every day to get to school.

It was during those arduous bus rides where I believe the seed was planted for me to succeed, but for the benefit of my entire community, not only myself. One of the reasons I chose the program at Kelley is its strong focus on entrepreneurship and small business management, which are two areas I think apply to Greenfield in terms of how it can revitalize itself into a bustling economic area.

I look forward to the experiential learning opportunities and access to faculty expertise that Kelley offers, so I can further refine my idea for creating blueprints for how rural and remote communities can remake themselves as economic engines. I hope to gain a deep understanding of the key principles and strategies involved in starting and managing a small business, as all my experience up to this point has been with multinationals and tech start-ups.

This knowledge will enable me to provide guidance and support to local entrepreneurs and business owners in the community. Kelley not only offers courses on small business management, but hands-on learning and engagement with real-world business challenges. I hope to take advantage of these opportunities to test-run theories I have about the factors that influence economic growth and community development.

But I feel the practice alone will allow me to contribute to the formulation of policies and initiatives that support the long-term economic health and vitality of the community, which are my ultimate long-term goals. For these reasons, and more, I believe the Kelley School of Business can play a vital role in equipping me with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to effectively contribute to community revitalization efforts.

Kelley MBA essay samples are only one way to help your MBA application, short of hiring an MBA essay writing service . The samples written here are only to guide your own writing process, and you should use them as a way to brainstorm your own ideas and narrative. Developing writing and effective communication skills are something that you should also strive for, as they will be beneficial to your long-term career goals.

The MBA acceptance rate for the Kelley School of Business hovers somewhere between 20 and 40%, which is higher than the most competitive Ivy League MBA programs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business or Harvard Business School . By comparison, the Kelley MBA programs are some of the easiest MBA programs to get into but still have similar MBA requirements such as submitting an MBA resume and MBA statement of purpose, but does not require any previous business course work. 

Each MBA essay topic has a different word length. There are four separate programs at Kelley and each has its own formatting requirements, but the shortest essay is only 300 words and the longest has a maximum word count of 500 words.  

The acceptance rate for the Kelley School of Business fluctuates between 20 and 40%, which applies to the school’s four different MBA program. The school accepted 125 students last cycle for its full-time MBA program. 

Yes, all MBA essays are important and they are an essential part of the application process, which is why MBA admissions essay samples are a useful aid. The essays give the admissions committee a window into your writing and communication skills, while also expounding on your professional experience and leaderships goals, which are the reasons the school gives for writing the essays. 

Applicants to the full-time MBA program must submit two essays and a brief description of themselves but they have the option to submit an additional essay. Applicants to the three other programs only have to submit MBA personal statements. 

All applicants to the Kelley School of Business must create an account with the school’s online application platform and submit all relevant materials there, including essays and MBA recommendation letters . 

All letters should be typed in the Indiana University Graduate CAS for all four MBA programs, but some of the programs allows applicants to email the letters. 

The full-time program has specific MBA prompts aimed at revealing your goals and previous experiences in leadership or challenges you had to overcome. The other program essays also use prompts about your current job status, future goals and any diverse aspect of your history or background. 

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Kelley MBA Essays: Tips for 2024-2025

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, behavioral essays, etc.. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for the Indiana University Kelley School of Business.

Career Goals Essay

• Discuss your  immediate  post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (upload file, 500 words)

Personal Essay

• Choose  one  of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

a. My greatest memory is…

b. I’m most afraid of…

c. My greatest challenge has been…

d. I’m most proud of…

• Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

Optional Essay

• Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

Applying to Indiana Kelley

KSB aims to create a collaborative environment that spurs partnerships among students, faculty, and other areas of academic life on campus.  Through the story you relate in your essay, the admissions council is looking to see if you reflect the same values that the school does. Kelley is looking for students who take responsibility for their individual actions and are straightforward in their communication. The best way to represent that you possess those qualities is through the type of essay you choose to write. 

It’s crucial to pick the right experience to discuss in your essay, and the different types of prompts help narrow that down for you. Keep reading for a closer look at the different types of essays, and how best to utilize them in order to write a stand-out essay for Indiana Kelley.

The Career Goals Essay

You’re not the only one hoping you’ll have a job after you’ve graduated with your MBA. Admissions committees are looking for students who are motivated and clear in their intentions so that when they get a job post-grad, they’ll be more willing to speak positively of their experience in the program. And, of course, in the hopes that their alumni will earn enough money to become a donor to the school one day. 

There are three aspects to the career goals essay: 

• What you want your future profession to look like.
• Why an MBA is necessary to advance your career.
• Particularly, why a degree from KSB will be most beneficial to you and your job plan. 

Your aspirations need to be convincing, ambitious, and realistic. Indiana Kelley is looking for applicants who have meaningful goals grounded in their past experiences, and it’s important that you relate that notion in your essay, however it applies to your experience in life.

The Personal Story

Like we touched on earlier, schools are looking for the right fit for their campus community, just as you are searching for the school that aligns best with your goals. In the personal essay, this is your chance to show IU Kelley the values that drive you both as a person and as a student. These values tell the admissions council what you prioritize, the moral code you live by, and, most importantly, who you are as a person. 

In these essays, you can talk about almost anything; typically, applicants will write about relationships in their lives, or times when there was a hardship they had to overcome. Be warned, though: there are some topics to avoid, and we have outlined a few things to watch out for  in this article . 

Once you’ve completed your application, the optional Ross essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

Writing strong, coherent, genuine stories is an essential part of your MBA application. These essays are meant to help you stand out among many other applicants, so it is worth your time to do the work and write about situations unique to your life and that you truly learned from.

Unlock the secrets to crafting standout Kelley MBA essays with the support of our dedicated MBA admissions consultants .

Related Articles

• Indiana Kelley MBA Program Overview
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Kelley School of Business Essays for 2024-2025

Are you targeting IU Kelley School for your MBA degree? Then, take a look at the Kelley School of Business essays and deadlines for the 2024-2025 application cycle. Reapplicants will note that they remain unchanged from the previous season.

Kelley School of Business Essays

Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

Please respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

• My greatest memory is…
• I’m most afraid of…
• My greatest challenge has been…
• I’m most proud of…

Essay Three:

Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

Optional Essay:

Is there anything else you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your essays and credentials represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

For more information on applying, please visit the Kelley School  admissions site .  If you need guidance on your Kelley School of Business essays or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis  of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

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With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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Kelley School of Business MBA Application Essay Questions and Tips

Jatin bhandari.

• October 6, 2021
• MBA Consulting

Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business ranks amongst the top 50 schools in the world. With just over 200 students in their MBA class, Kelley boasts a tight-knit community and an accessible and rich faculty lineup.

Hitting the road running takes a new form at Kelley as the school provides MBA students with hands-on learning experiences in the first year of the MBA program. Kelley is also far from being a cutthroat MBA environment. Focusing on holistic growth, the admissions committee at Kelley have often spoken about humility being an important part of the fabric of the school.

One of the biggest things MBA applicants struggle with is understanding how much a “good fit” to the business school community matters. With schools like Kelley, the emphasis is even higher.

Fortunately, the Kelley MBA application process allows applicants to share how good of a fit they are for the school. The four MBA essay prompts that Kelley provides give each applicant ample space to share their story.

Kelley School of Business MBA Application Essays

1. discuss your immediate post-mba professional goals. how will your professional experience, when combined with a kelley mba degree, allow you to achieve these goals should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider (500 words).

The first part of this question is your standards career goals essay . Here you need to talk about what your post-MBA plan is. And you can’t be vague about it. Don’t talk about wanting to “hold a leadership position at a Venture Capital firm”. Instead, be specific in your approach to your post-MBA goals. Having a clear plan shows commitment and research done by an applicant. Along with the job role, and industry, mention the firm you would like to be working at.

Choose a firm that recruits at Kelley. Here is a list of Recruiting Companies at Kelley . If the firm you want to work at post-MBA doesn’t recruit at Kelley, it might discourage the admissions committee from moving you onto the interview stage. If the business school can’t place you after you graduate from their MBA class, they are more likely to not take a risk on you.

The second part of this question is trickier to navigate. Not many business schools ask MBA students for their Plan B. Those that pose this question generally ask students what they would do if they got rejected. However, Kelley simply asks the applicant what role they would choose if their initial plan doesn’t work out.

To answer this question don’t have a drastically different Plan B. For example, if your Plan A was to join a Venture Capital firm, don’t select an HR role for your Plan B. Go for something similar to Venture Capital. In this particular scenario, you could choose a career in Private Equity or even Management Consulting as they provide a growth option into Venture Capital.

Do deep research into your post-MBA goals to answer this prompt. Talking to an MBA graduate that is currently in your Plan A job could also help you understand the job roles and industries that feed into your Plan A.

2. Respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

a. My greatest memory is… b. I’m most afraid of… c. My greatest challenge has been… d. I’m most proud of…

Before you blindly decide which one of these prompts you will be answering, answer them all.

Rather than writing a 300-word answer to a single prompt and then realizing that another prompt would have been more impactful to answer, answer all these questions in a few words.

Once you have small versions of your answers to all these prompts, figure out which answer adds the most value to your MBA profile. Do any of your answers back up any claims your MBA profile makes? Does any answer show traits or values that the school resonates with?

Once you have your prompt selected, don’t just share the answer to “What?” for all these questions. Also, answer the “Why?”. Why are you fond of a certain memory? Why does something make you the most afraid?

Be real with the admissions committee. Sharing something personal in such detail can be a great show of strength and empowerment so use them to convey the same.

3. Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

This is a small space with just 25 words to answer, so choose wisely. I would suggest picking a personality trait that isn’t something most people don’t pick up about you when they spend time with you initially.

It will keep the answer personal, and interesting.

Optional: Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

This essay is the perfect space for you to just talk to the admissions committee and share your story. Don’t write this essay to detail more accomplishments simply because you have this space available.

If there is a significant accomplishment that couldn’t be mentioned in any other space throughout your Kelley MBA application, use this space to mention it. Make sure you also explain why that accomplishment is significant enough for you to share it with the Kelley admissions committee.

The purpose of this space, however, is to allow students to explain the weak points of their MBA application essay.

Do you have a low GMAT score? Is your undergraduate GPA lower than the Kelley average? Did you have to approach a non-conventional recommender for your LoR?

Use this space to explain the circumstances behind these situations. Make sure you don’t simply paint yourself out to be a victim. Take responsibility for your weaknesses while explaining how a particular situation or decision might have affected you at that moment.

How to get into the Wharton School of Business MBA Program? Kshitij cracks Schulich Business School with a low GMAT score Sneha cracks a top US school, Purdue’s Krannert How to Get Top MBA Scholarships Despite a Low GMAT Score?

For over 15+ years as an Entrepreneur, and India’s Top Educationist, Jatin has led a range of initiatives in the Education Industry. In this role, he has created many successful educational services and products geared towards generating success for professionals aspiring to join IVY League and global Top Tier Universities for MBA Programs, Masters Programs, and undergraduate courses. He is the Founder and CEO of PythaGURUS Education, and has been recognized as a thought leader in the Higher education sector. Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Times of India, India Today, Business Today, Tribune, and many other national newspapers have recognized his work, and have given him numerous opportunities to be a regular columnist. He has also served as a panelist for NDTV, and other national news channels.

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Achieve your unique career goals with the Full-Time +Flex MBA, designed to provide the proven advantages of our top 20 full-time MBA with the option to complete your second year in Bloomington or online—living wherever life takes you.

Everything you want in a traditional, full-time MBA plus the choice to finish your second year in Bloomington or online

Only with the Full-Time +Flex MBA will you experience:

• Immersive career-focused Academies
• An unbeatable ROI compared to other top-ranked full-time MBA programs
• A supportive, tight-knit community from all over the world
• The option to continue in Bloomington or take classes from the #1-ranked Kelley Direct Online MBA Program in year two, enabling you to accept a job offer, return to your employer or family, travel, or live wherever you choose—potentially reducing costs. See note below about visa considerations.*

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Description of the video:

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.840 The Kelley Full-Time Plus Flex MBA Program 00:00:02.840 --> 00:00:06.500 is the only two-year MBA that gives you the flexibility 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:08.390 to spend your second year on campus 00:00:08.390 --> 00:00:10.560 or anywhere life takes you. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:13.160 Kelley Full-Time Plus Flex MBA students 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:15.110 get all the benefits of a top 20, 00:00:15.110 --> 00:00:17.210 traditional MBA paired with the option 00:00:17.210 --> 00:00:18.990 to finish their degree online. 00:00:18.990 --> 00:00:22.440 You'll start on campus at Indiana University Bloomington, 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:25.230 taking in-person classes with renowned faculty, 00:00:25.230 --> 00:00:28.250 bonding with classmates, and networking with top recruiters 00:00:28.250 --> 00:00:29.640 from all over the US. 00:00:29.640 --> 00:00:31.620 With Kelley's immersive Academies, 00:00:31.620 --> 00:00:34.400 you'll gain the experience you need in the field you 00:00:34.400 --> 00:00:35.450 want to work in. 00:00:35.450 --> 00:00:38.360 For year two, continue your residence on campus 00:00:38.360 --> 00:00:40.380 or finish your degree online. 00:00:40.380 --> 00:00:43.550 Taking classes in the number one-ranked Kelley Direct Online 00:00:43.550 --> 00:00:47.850 MBA Program, Plus Flex, means you choose: stay in Bloomington, 00:00:47.850 --> 00:00:51.840 start a full-time job, return to your employer, travel, relocate.

Explore our program

See how you’ll combine exceptional academics with leadership and career development.

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Begin building the career you want. The first round application deadline is October 15.

Need a career boost or reset? This flexible MBA delivers

During your first year, you’ll spend 10 impactful months in Bloomington immersed in a supportive MBA community and all Kelley has to offer, including your Career Foundation Academy of choice—and your Academy’s focused networking, career coaching, mentorship, and real-world projects that prep you for your summer internship. The first-year Academies focus on consulting, finance, marketing, and operations.

Your degree ROI is important to us, too

Nationally ranked quality combined with outstanding career outcomes produces an unbeatable ROI for Kelley MBA graduates—our ROI is #2 nationally among top-ranked programs. Lower living costs in Bloomington and generous merit aid from Kelley lowers costs even more. The +Flex option can lead to cost savings, as well.

Unmatched professional development experiences

Choose mba majors and minors that further your career goals.

You’ll combine our challenging integrated core curriculum, which strengthens your business acumen in key areas such as finance, marketing, quantitative analysis, and strategy, with majors and minors that focus on your interests. Five of these seven majors are STEM designated.

With our smaller class sizes of 125 to 150 students, you'll get personalized attention from faculty, your career coach, and from your talented peers. We all work with you as you prepare for recruiting and choose from the MBA majors, minors, and certificates that can help you achieve your career goals. Students who +Flex their MBA second year online will learn from the same professors who teach in-person classes.

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Picture your MBA in Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana, is recognized as one of the top college towns in the United States. In addition to an affordable cost of living, this vibrant, welcoming community has much to offer students, partners, and families.

Choosing an MBA is a big decision—let's talk about it together

We offer many ways for you to meet us. Join a virtual roundtable discussion or attend virtual office hours hosted by members of the admissions team. During roundtable discussions you’ll join a group of prospective students for a virtual information session and discussion led by members of the admissions team and student ambassadors. We hold these discussions bi-weekly when classes are in session. Virtual office hours give you the opportunity to drop in for quick answers from Kelley MBA admissions staff.

*Note about visa considerations: For international students to maintain F-1 visa status, you must enroll in a full load of in-person classes each fall and spring semester. For graduate students, that is at least 8 credit hours per semester.

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MBA Essay Questions for the 2023- 24 Application Cycle

The MBA application season 2023-24 is upon us, with deadlines for most MBA programs 7-8 weeks away. Many MBA programs have already announced their application deadlines and essay questions. Some programs like HBS, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Fuqua, Emory, Kelley, and LBS have retained their previous year's essay questions, while others, such as Kellogg, Haas, CBS, Tuck, McCombs, Ross, Anderson, and Cambridge, have introduced changes to their essay prompts.

In this blog, we have gathered essay questions for the upcoming application cycle and provided information on the specific alterations made by different schools. We will continually update this blog as additional schools release their essay questions.

Take a look and stay informed.

Harvard Business School continues to require applicants to write an open-ended question.

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program? (900-word limit)

2.     Stanford

Stanford applicants will also write two essays about what matters most to them and why they are interested in Stanford.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why? (650 words)

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you've identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford? (400 words)

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

3.     Wharton

Wharton's essay questions remain unchanged. Like previous years, Wharton seeks to understand how applicants plan to leverage the resources at Wharton to achieve their goals and contribute to the program.

Essay #1: How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)

Essay #2 : Taking into consideration your background– personal, professional, and/ or academic- how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)

Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

Optional Essay : Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)

4.     Berkeley Haas

Berkely Haas has introduced some changes in essay questions this year. Essay #1 remains unchanged from last year. Essay # 2 and Essay 3 are new this year. Last year's ‘leadership essay' has been replaced with 'goals essay'. Additionally, Haas has introduced a Video essay about one of the principles of Haas and a question about applicants' experience around DEI.

There is no change in the optional essays about candidates' personal information.

Essay #1:  What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

Essay #2 : How will an MBA help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals? (300 words max)

Required Essay #3: Video Essay: The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles. Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. (Not to exceed 2 minutes.)

Required Essay #4: Can you please describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace? (150 words max)

Optional Essays

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate's character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Information #1:  We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements:

• What is the highest level of education completed by your parent(s) or guardian(s)?
• Did not complete high school
• High school diploma or equivalency (GED) Associate's degree (junior college) or vocational degree/license
• Bachelor's degree (BA, BS)
• Master's degree (MA, MS)
• Doctorate or professional degree (MD, JD, DDS)
• What is the most recent occupation of your parent(s) or guardian(s)?
• Skilled worker
• Professional
• If you were raised in one of the following household types, please indicate :
• Raised by a single parent
• Raised by an extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)
• Raised in a multi-generational home
• Raised in foster care
• What was the primary language spoken in your childhood home ?
• If you have ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate:
• Extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)
• Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on other hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements, and impact . (300 words maximum)

Optional Information #2: This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include an explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

5. Columbia

The short answer question and Essay #1 about 'goals' remain unchanged. Essay #3 about 'fit with Columbia' also remains the same. Essay #2 about 'inclusive leadership' is new this year. Columbia no longer requires applicants to write an essay about their favorite book, movie, or song.

Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)

Essay #1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3 to 5 years, and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)

Essay #2: The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to develop as inclusive leaders. Through various resources and programming, the goal is for students to explore and reflect during their educational journey on the following five inclusive leadership skills:  Mitigating Bias and Prejudice; Managing Intercultural Dialogue; Addressing Systemic Inequity; Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking; and Creating an Inclusive Environment.

Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one of more of these five skills and tell us the actions you took and the outcome. (250 words)

Essay #3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place. CBS proudly fosters a collaborative learning environment through curricular experiences like our clusters and learning teams, an extremely active co-curricular and student life environment, and career mentorship opportunities like our Executives-in-Residence program.

Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you academically, culturally, and professionally? Please be specific. (250 words)

Optional Essay: If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words)

6.     Darden

Darden has retained its 3 essay questions from last year which cover an introduction to classmates, DEI experience, and career goals. There is a slight change in word limits. That is, Introduction essay is reduced to 100 words, and career goals essay is now 200 words instead of 100 words.

Essay #1: Community of Belonging: What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

Essay #2: Inclusive Impact: Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words)

Essay #3: Career 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)

7.     Duke Fuqua

Duke Fuqua has kept last year's essay questions. It continues to require applicants to write a short question about career goals, its iconic 25 random things essay and a contribution essay.

Required Short Answer Question (Instructions: Answer the following question in 100 words.) What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (100 words)

First Required Essay: 25 Random Things About Yourself

The 'Team Fuqua' spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us "25 Random Things" about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU - beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.

Second Required Essay: The Fuqua community and you { Instructions: Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum)}

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?

Optional Essay: Tell us more

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum ).

Reapplicant Essay

It is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. Please share with us the self-reflection process that you underwent after last year's application and how you have grown as a result.  How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply?

Your response will be limited to 1 page (500 words maximum).

8.     Emory

There is no change in essay questions. While Essay 1 asks about career goals, Essay 2 focuses on leadership experience, and essay 3 on why Emory and the applicant's contribution to the program. Emory applicants are also required to submit a video essay as part of their application.

Post MBA Career Goals

Essay #1:  Define your short-term post-MBA career goals. How are your professional strengths, past experience, and personal attributes aligned with these goals? ( 300-word limit )

Leadership in Business:

Essay #2 The business school is named for Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, who led the organization for 16 years, extending its global reach, quadrupling consumption, building brand responsibility, creating unprecedented shareholder wealth, and demonstrating a commitment to values and positive impact on society. Roberto Goizueta's core values guide us in educating principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society.

Provide a specific example of your leadership and explain what you learned about yourself through the experience. (300-word limit)

Why Goizueta?

Essay #3: What are you looking to gain from Goizueta's MBA and how do you see yourself contributing to the Goizueta community? (200-word limit)

Video Essay

Telling your story in the written essays is an important part of the application process, but we also want to hear you tell some of your story. The video essay lets every candidate talk to the MBA Admissions Committee, and we enjoy getting to know you through the "small talk" questions.

Optional Essay

If there is an important part of your story missing from your application (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic probation issues), please use this section to provide a brief explanation. Please use bullets if you need to address more than one topic. (200-word limit)

Reapplicant essays

Applicants who have applied to  Goizueta Business School  in the past are required to answer the following questions:

Essay #1: Define your short-term post-MBA career goals. How are your professional strengths, past experience, and personal attributes aligned with these goals?  (300-word limit)

Essay #2: Explain how you have improved your candidacy for Goizueta Business School's MBA Program since your last application.  (250-word limit)

9.     McCombs

McCombs no longer requires applicants to envision themselves on their graduation day. Instead, they have introduced a Cover Letter essay prompt.

Video Assessment introduced last year remains a requirement.

Additionally, this year's applicants have the option to participate in an Optional Peer Interview along with an Optional Statement.

Essay: Please write an application cover letter summarizing your aspirations, qualifications, and personal and professional experiences that make you a strong candidate for the Texas Full-Time MBA program. (500 words)

Optional Statement: If applicable, applicants can provide an optional statement in the essay section of the application. Applicants should only provide an optional statement if there is something they wish to address about their candidacy that is not addressed elsewhere.

Video Assessment

Texas McCombs has always been at the forefront of innovation and continuous improvement, consistently seeking new ways to enhance the application process for prospective MBA candidates. In line with our school mission and values, we introduced a dynamic video assessment component as part of the 2022-23 admission cycle, offering an alternative approach to a more traditional essay and interview format. Given all applicants complete the video assessment, MBA candidates will have increased access to the application process and the opportunity to share their stories with us in their own voice. Through the video assessment, the admissions committee will have a chance to experience the "real" you, beyond a resume, test scores, and transcripts. Lastly, the video assessment will enable Texas McCombs to reduce bias in the admissions process by providing all applicants with a structured and consistent assessment experience.

All applicants will be required to complete the Video Assessment shortly after submitting their application and paying the fee. Applicants have 7 days to complete the assessment upon receiving access to the video submission platform. There will be 4 question prompts and applicants will have 90 seconds to answer each prompt.

Optional- Peer Interview

One of the most vital parts of the MBA application process at Texas McCombs is the human component – "Human-Centered, Future-Focused" is our mantra for a reason. We pride ourselves in getting to know you at a personal level during the admissions process and will continue to provide hundreds of virtual and in-person ways for you to meet our students, alumni, faculty, and admissions team.

We invite all MBA applicants to close out their application process in a human-centered way and complete a short, optional virtual interview. While not required, registering for and completing an interview is highly encouraged.  

These interactive virtual sessions present a valuable opportunity for our applicants to connect with Full-Time MBA students, showcasing their collaborative skills, reaffirming their motivation for pursuing an MBA and leaving a lasting positive impression on Texas McCombs.

The optional interview will last 20-30 minutes and are available throughout the round. The student ambassador will introduce themselves and ask you up to 3 questions that focus on collaboration and your motivation.  The rest of the time is yours to ask 2-3 questions that are top of mind.

There is no change in MIT's Essay Questions. Applicants are required to write a cover letter and record a video to introduce themselves to their classmates. They also have the option to submit an optional short essay question.

The following are the different components of the MIT Sloan Application:

• Cover Letter
• Video Statement
• One Letter of recommendation
• Two additional references and
• Company Organization Chart (outlining the internal structure of your department)
• Optional Short Essay Question

MIT Sloan MBA Application Cover Letter

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative— true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems and strive to pre-empt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity, respect, and passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your Letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the admission committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

MIT Sloan MBA Resume

Please submit a  one-page  resume. This will help us easily track your academic and career path. Try to focus on your work results, not just your title or job description. Here are some pointers on formatting: 

• One page limit
• Times New Roman font
• Size 10 font
• Word or PDF formats only

Provide the following information in reverse chronological order:

• Education: Please include relevant awards, scholarships, and professional societies
• Work Experience: Please include company name, title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skillset, and dates

Additional information: Please include extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests, and languages spoken (if applicable

MIT Sloan MBA Application: Video Statement

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here's your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can't wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

• No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
• Single take (no editing) 
• Speaking directly to the camera
• Do not include background music or subtitles

Optional Short Answer Question

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. This is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the Admissions Committee, should you choose to do so. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background. (Please do not include any links in your response. 250 words or less.)

11. George Town McDonough

All essay questions, including the video essay are new this year.

Please select one of the following three essays to complete in 500 words (approximately two pages, double spaced) and include the essay prompt and your first/last name at the top of your submission.

• Essay Option One– Georgetown Community Our mission is rooted in Jesuit principles of equality and respect for everyone and an ethos of caring for the whole person. Inclusivity and diversity are core to supporting a community of people with an intersectional understanding of themselves and the world around them. Share how your educational, familial, cultural, economic, social, and/or other individual life experiences will contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University.
• ​ Essay Option Two– Leave Your Legacy Commitment to service and community is an important value that Hoyas share across Georgetown McDonough's 40+ MBA student-run clubs and organizations, nine centers and initiatives, and various other co-curricular activities. What do you want your legacy to be as a McDonough student and alumni? Be as specific as possible.
• Essay Option Three– Magis Magis is a Jesuit value that instills the sense of achieving "more" or "greater" excellence. Share how you achieved magis during a professional experience as evidenced on your resume. Describe why this experience exemplified excellence and what your involvement (i.e. strengths or skills) contributed to the excellence.
• You may use your phone, computer, or other means to record the video, but please ensure all audio and visual components are clear. We recommend a well-lit room and minimal noise distraction.
• The admissions committee would like you to appear in person during part of your video.
• We recommend unscripted, conversational videos – help us get to know the real you!
• Upload your video to an accessible website (such as YouTube, Vimeo, Youku, or Tudou), and submit the direct video URL into your online application.
• Please note that all videos must remain active and accessible to the admissions committee online for a minimum of five years for record retention purposes.
• For your privacy: Do not include your name in the title of your video. You may submit "unlisted" videos via YouTube or password protected videos through Vimeo. If using a password, please include immediately after your link in the text box below. [Ex: www.youtube.com/123, password: Hoyas]
• Optional Essay:  Please provide any information you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced).
• Re-Applicant Essay: Required for re-applicants. How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced).

12. Michigan Ross

Ross has made several changes to its essay questions. Short Essay Question 1 remains unchanged. Essay 2 which focused on resume has been removed. Essay 3 about career goals has been modified. Its two parts-(short-term goals (25 words) and why this short-term goal is right for you (150 words) have been combined into one with a 150-word limit. Consequently, this year's applicants will only have a total of 350 words to present their candidacy to the program,

The optional essay remains the same as last year.

Michigan Ross MBA application short-answer questions: Part 1

Select one prompt from each group of the two groups below. Respond to each selected prompt in 100 words or less. (<100 words each; 200 words total)

I want people to know that I:

I made a difference when I:

I was aware that I was different when:

I am out of my comfort zone when:

I was humbled when:

I was challenged when:

Part 2: Career Goal

What is your short-term career goal and why is this the right goal for you? (150 words)

Optional Statement: Is there something in your resume or application that could use some explanation? You might want to discuss the completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate.

Reapplicant process

Applicants can submit an abridged application. They will complete an application form, submit an updated resume, and update a letter about their achievements and goals since their original application. The updated letter should be uploaded via Essay 3 Optional Statement. They will submit a new test score if their previously submitted scores have expired.

LBS's essay questions also remain the same. Applicants are asked to discuss their career goals and how they align with their past experiences and the resources provided by LBS. There is also an optional essay of 500 words where applicants can provide additional information about themselves.

Required Essay 1: What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School program contribute towards these? (500 words)

Essay 2: Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (Optional) (500 words)

14. UCLA Anderson

Like the last few years, UCLA Anderson requires applicants to write only one essay of 250 words. The essay question has been changed this year. The new essay question asks applicants to recount an experience in which they demonstrated perseverance. They have the choice to share either a personal or professional story.

UCLA Anderson seeks to develop transformative leaders who think fearlessly, drive change, and share success. We believe the ability to persevere is an essential component of effective leadership.

Please share an example from your personal or professional life where you demonstrated perseverance to accomplish a significant goal or milestone. (250 words maximum)

B) Optional Essay

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

Tuck has made some tweaks to the first 2 essay questions focusing on 'Why Tuck' and applicant's 'individuality'. Essay 3 which previously asked about meaningful experience helping someone now includes a DEI ( Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) component.  

Essay #1: Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words)

Essay #2: Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words)

Essay #3: Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else's sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words)

Kelley's essay questions remain unchanged this year. Applicants are still required to submit  3 essays : Why Kelly, a short essay question, and an interesting and surprising fact in 25 words.

Your essays will give us an idea of your personality, perspectives, and opinions and will let us know how closely your professional objectives match the objectives of the MBA program. We encourage you to be honest, informative, creative, and concise.

1. Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

2. Respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

a.My greatest memory is..

b.I'm most afraid of...

c.My greatest challenge has been...

d.I'm most proud of...

• Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn't feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

17. Kellogg

Like previous years, Kellogg asks applicants to write 2 essays of 450 words. But it has introduced some changes to its essay questions. The leadership essay has been rephrased, and the longstanding 'value essay' has been replaced with a 'contribution essay.'

Kellogg is unique in that we ask you to complete written essays as part of the application as well as video essays. This is your chance to tell us why you think Kellogg is the right place for you. Take some time to think through the experiences that led you here and how they have shaped where you want to go.

Written essays

The following two essays are required of all applicants:

Question 1(450 words)

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today's pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you've needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish ?

Question 2 (450 words)

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community?

Certain applicants will respond to an additional question about their interest in our specialty programs.

Reapplicants will receive a prompt about their growth since their last application: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

Video essays

We've read your essays; we've read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why Kellogg is the right place for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.

A video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment.

You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone

The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup.

After submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page.

Here are some additional tips:

There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool to help you feel prepared.

We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions.

You will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.

This year, Yale offers three essay prompts, and applicants can choose one to write about. The options include the iconic "biggest commitment" prompt, as well as prompts on contribution to the community and the most significant challenge. Applicants should select the option that resonates most with them.

The prompts are:

1)Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you, and what actions have you taken to support it?

2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Choose the prompt that speaks most strongly to you and about which you have the most enthusiasm. In answering the prompt – whichever one it is – you should think about the life experiences that have been most meaningful to you and that you most want to communicate to the committee and pick the question that will best allow you to express that aspect of yourself. We find that the most compelling essays are the ones that are truly most important to you, so make sure that's your guide in choosing what to write about; don't try to guess what we're looking for or what you think we want to hear. Importantly, regardless of which prompt you choose, you'll want to support your essay with concrete examples .

Optional Information : It truly is optional

The Optional Information section is truly optional. It's not an additional required essay – if no aspect of your application requires further explanation, you should leave this section blank. In most cases, we get all the information we need from the various components of your application, and there is no need to complete this section.

Behavioral Assessment: Going beyond the academic record

Yale SOM is committed to continuous innovation in the ways we identify future members of our community. The Behavioral Assessment might be the most unique of these innovations.

The Behavioral Assessment is an online exercise administered by ETS, the testing service behind the GRE. But unlike the GMAT or GRE, which are tests of certain cognitive abilities, the Behavioral Assessment is a non-cognitive instrument that measures a set of inter- and intrapersonal competencies that are associated with academic success in business school. We look at it alongside, and sometimes as a counterpoint to, traditional academic metrics. And much like any other piece of the application, the Behavioral Assessment will never be the deciding factor for admission but will instead be used in combination with the rest of a candidate's profile.

The exercise itself should take about 25 minutes to complete. You will receive 130 pairs of statements, one pair at a time, from which you're asked to select the statement that best aligns with your own behaviors. The assessment is adaptive, so no two candidates will receive the exact same set of statements. No preparation is necessary to take the assessment, and no special knowledge is required.

Video Questions: Hearing from you directly

Like the Behavioral Assessment, you'll complete the video questions after you submit your application and pay the application fee. The video questions are not a substitute for the interview. Instead, they provide a unique way for us to assess your communication and English language skills, and enable us to create a more dynamic, multi-dimensional portrait of your candidacy.

Every candidate will receive a set of previously recorded questions asked by an admissions team member. The questions asked are similar to typical interview questions. There are no "trick questions"; we're not trying to stump you. The responses do not require any specific knowledge or preparation beyond the practice tool you can use before answering the questions, and your responses will be used with a "light touch," as we say – they won't make or break your application.

19. Cambridge

Cambridge has made changes to its essay questions. While the personal statement in Essay #1 has been tweaked, the remaining three questions are new this year. The "difficult decision" essay prompt in Essay #2 has been replaced with "professional mistake," and the "team project" prompt in Essay #3 has been replaced with the prompt about the "best team you have worked with." Finally, for Essay #4, instead of writing about 'advice to your 18-years self', the applicants will write about a person who has positively impacted their life.

You must complete the careers objectives statement and 3, shorter essays:

• What are your short and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these?
• Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate?
• How confident do you feel about meeting your short-term career goal? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them, and what preparation are you doing now?
• Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)
• Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)
• Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)

20 . Chicago Booth

Chicago Booth's essay questions remain unchanged. Booth has asked the same questions for the last three years. The first essay asks about candidates' immediate and long-term post-MBA goals, while the second essay requires candidates to share their non-work experience. There is also an optional essay of 300 words where they can provide additional information about any weakness in their profile. Like the previous four years, there is a minimum word limit of 250 words instead of a maximum limit. So you should use your best judgment about allocating the space best. We recommend keeping your submissions for each essay within 500 words.

The essay prompts are:

Essay #1: How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum, no maximum)

Essay #2: An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we'd like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)

Optional Essay: Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (Maximum 300 words)

Re-applicant Question: Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/ or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words maximum)

21.   Cornell

Cornell’s essay questions remain unchanged from last year. The program continues to ask for a goals statement and impact essay of 350 each. The Goals Statement asks applicants to explain their short-term and long-term. They are also encouraged to specify their target job role, job company, and industry and how their past ( e.g, industry experience, projects, etc.) have influenced their future career goals. The Impact essay expects candidates to explain how they intend to enrich the Cornell community.

The essay prompts are :

Short Answer

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long-term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?

Essay 1: Impact Essay

At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words maximum)

Optional Essay (Required for Reapplicants)

You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum).

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application and candidacy since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Application Guide for additional information about reapplying (350 words maximum).

Like in previous years, there is one required essay for all  Tepper MBA applicants (except college seniors).  There is no change in the essay question. Additionally, applicants will  submit a video about their post-MBA goals.

Essay: The Tepper community is dynamic and unique, with students who strive to be collaborative, supportive, and inclusive. Please provide an example of when you experienced or created an inclusive environment and how you will use that experience to help members of the community reach their full potential.

Video Essay: Goals

We know this is an important component of your decision to attend business school. We take it seriously as well. Please describe your post-MBA career goals.

It would be helpful to consider the following information in your response:

• You have up to 2 minutes to respond to this question.
• Please be as specific as possible. If you have not yet identified specific companies, that is okay. Just tell us what interests you for your next role or company. What about the industry, company, or functional role is appealing to you?
• If you have any criteria you are using to evaluate career opportunities, please share those as well. We may have great opportunities to add to your list.
• How does this post-MBA career goal relate to your long-term career plan?

Free Resources

Overarching Essay Tips

MER Students Share their success Stories

Case Studies

About MER ( myEssayReview )

Poonam Tandon, the founder of MER ( myEssayReview ), is a Ph.D. in English with 12 years of MBA consulting experience and three decades of teaching experience in India and the US. A master storyteller, Poonam has successfully guided hundreds of students worldwide to gain admission into the esteemed MBA, EMBA, and specialized Masters's programs in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Throughout her four-decade-long professional career, she has reviewed 10,000+ essays written by applicants worldwide. Poonam is recognized as one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club (142 reviews ).

Do you have questions about your application for the 2023-24 application cycle? E-mail Poonam at [email protected] or sign up here for a free consultation.

This blog was first published in myessayreview .

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• Admission Consultant
• Berkeley Haas
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• application essays

Which program are you applying to?

How can you write great mba application essays.

On the Accepted blog, our experienced MBA admissions consultants - all former admissions committee members themselves - give specific and actionable advice for tackling essay questions from all the top business schools. We breakdown and analyze each essay question from schools such as Harvard Business School, the Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Sloan, London Business School, and dozens others, plus include this year's deadlines and class profile information.

Looking for a specific school's essays?

Click the links below to read our advice on how to answer each business school's essay prompts.

Cambridge Judge

Chicago Booth

Columbia Business School

Cornell Johnson

Dartmouth Tuck

Emory Goizueta

Georgetown McDonough

Harvard Business School

Indiana Kelley

London Business School

Michigan Ross

Oxford Saïd

Stanford GSB

Stanford MSx

Toronto Rotman

UC Berkeley Haas

UCLA Anderson

UNC Kenan-Flagler

University of Washington Foster School of Business

University of Texas McCombs

USC Marshall

Vanderbilt Owen