MBA Essays: Topics from the Top 30 Business Schools

MBA Essays: Topics from the Top 30 Business Schools – Business schools put a generous amount of consideration when formulating the MBA application essay questions. The MBA essay topics are designed to showcase the aspirant’s qualities creativity, goals, diversity as well as team spirit as clearly as possible so that the Admissions Committee can judiciously decide whether the applicant is suitable for the program and vice versa. These questions encourage the students to be truthful yet innovative while answering them. Read on to know the MBA questions from Top Business Schools ranked 21–30 according to the QS World Subject ranking in the domain of business and management.

The Top 21-30 Ranked Business Schools

Most applications for MBA programs in the top business schools requires applicants to submit a number of personal supporting documents which include a resume or CV, a statement of purpose or personal statement, MBA essays and letters of recommendation.

Click here to know more about the MBA essay topics for the top 10 business schools.

Click here to know more about the MBA essay topics for the top 20 business schools.

21. School of Management, Yale University (USA)

The Yale University application constitutes one required essay and one optional essay. Students who are re-applying to the MBA program must answer an additional re-application essay question as well.

The MBA essay questions for Yale University are:

• Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words)

• If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, etc.), please provide a brief description here. (200 words) (optional)

Application Fee: USD $175.

Yale MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

22. AGSM/UNSW Business School, The University of New South Wales (Australia)

The personal statement essays required for application to the AGSM MBA program offered the University of New South Wales comprises three required essay questions and an optional essay.

The MBA essay questions for this program are:

• What are you made for and how will an AGSM degree help you achieve it? (250 words)

• What are you most proud of personally and/or professionally and why? (250 words)

• How will you contribute to your classes and to the AGSM community? (250 words)

• Is there anything else we need to know about you? (250 words) (optional)

Admission Fee: AUD $125.

AGSM MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

23. Stern School of Business, New York University (USA)

Admission to the full-time MBA program at Stern School of Business requires the applicants to submit three MBA essays out of which one is optional. The second required essay is slightly different and requires more creativity than the essays generally required by other top business schools.

The MBA essay topics for New York University and the basic essay guidelines are:

A. Topic 1: Professional Aspirations (500 words)

• What are your short and long term career goals?

• How will the MBA help you achieve them

B. Topic 2: Personal Expression (a.k.a. “Pick Six”)

Describe yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. Your uploaded PDF should contain all the following elements:

• A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).

• Six images that help illustrate who you are.

• A one sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and significant to you.

C. Topic 3: Additional Information (optional) (250 words)

Application Fee: USD $250.

New York University MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

24. Warwick Business School, The University of Warwick (UK)

For applicants to Warwick Business School’s full-time MBA program, three essays are required to be submitted with the application material as well as one optional essay.

The MBA essay questions for this program are:

• Describe the short and long-term career goals you have set yourself and how the WBS MBA will help you to achieve these? (350 words)

• Outline the top strategic objectives for your current or previous organisation and in what ways you have helped contribute to achieving these objectives? (300 words)

• If you are self-funding and interested in applying for a scholarship, please outline why you believe you are a worthy candidate? (300 words)

• Please use this page for any additional information that was not captured within your application. If you feel you've already provided us with sufficient information about yourself, you need not add anything here. (300 words) (optional)

Application Fee: £80

Warwick MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

25. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan (USA)

MBA applicants for Ross School of Business need to answer three short answer questions which have two options each as a part of the application material. Additionally, two essays are to be submitted of which one essay is optional for applicants.

The short answer prompts for Ross School of Business’s MBA program are to be answered in 100 words or less.

A. Group 1

• I want people to know that I:

• I made a difference when I:

B. Group 2

• I was humbled when:

• I am out of my comfort zone when:

C. Group 3

• I was aware that I was different when:

• I find it challenging when people:

The MBA essay questions for this program are:

• Michigan Ross is a place where people from all backgrounds with different career goals can thrive. Please share your short-term career goal. Why is this career goal the right choice for you? (300 words)

• This section should only be used to convey information not addressed elsewhere in your application, for example, completion of supplemental coursework, employment gaps, academic issues, etc. Feel free to use bullet points where appropriate. (optional)

Application Fee: USD $200.

26. Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

For application to the MBA program offered by the University of Hong Kong, applicants are required to submit a single essay-type answer which has no specified word limit.

The MBA essay topic for this program is:

Reasons for interest in this program:Please provide below a statement explaining why you are interested in doing this programme, why you are suitable for it and the value of the MBA programme to your future career.

Application Fee: HK$300.

Application Deadline: The application deadline for the full-time MBA program offered by Hong Kong University is 22 November, 2018.

27. ESADE Ramon Llull University (Spain)

The application for the MBA program offered by ESADE doesn’t require any SOP and instead the MBA essay questions are given priority. All of the essays focus on motivational topics as well as additional information and most questions do not have a defined word limit.

The MBA essay questions are:

• Are you applying to other Schools? Please provide detail of Schools and Programmes. This information is for our own records; it will not affect the Admissions Committee's decision.

• Did you learn about this programme through an Alumnus recommendation? If so please provide us with the name and graduation year. (optional)

• Which aspects have you improved on during your academic and professional career so far? Which tools or values have helped you achieve this?

• How will your background, values and non-work-related activities enhance the experience of other ESADE MBA students and add to the diverse culture we strive for at ESADE? (Note: The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have accomplished)

• What are your motivations in pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life? Describe your mid-term and long-term visions for your post-MBA career path. What is it about ESADE you think will help you reach your goals?

• Please, provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include gaps in employment, your undergraduate record, plans to retake the GMAT or any other relevant information. (max 3 000 characters)

• Complete two of the following four questions or statements (1000 characters per response)

  1. I am most proud of...

  2. People may be surprised to learn that I...

  3. What has your biggest challenge been and what did it help you learn about yourself?

  4. Which historical figure do you most identify with and why?

Application Fee: €135.

ESADE MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

28. HSBC Business School, Peking University (China)

Candidates who want to apply to Peking University’s MBA program have to submit a single MBA essay as a part of the application material. The essay required is a personal statement which is similar to an SOP and the maximum word limit is 800 words for the essay.

The MBA essay or personal statement topic for this program is:

Please demonstrate your interest in the program you are applying for, the activities you have been involved in that contribute to this interest and prepare you to pursue it further, your career objectives, and your academic and research experiences during your undergraduate study.

The application deadline for the fall 2019 intake for Peking University’s MBA program will be tentatively available in October,2018.

29. Monash Business School, Monash University (Australia)

For admission to Monash University’s MBA program, applicants are not required to answer any MBA essay questions. Instead, applicants need to submit a statement of purpose or SOP which enlists the applicant’s motivation, interests and expectations from the program.

Application Fee: AUD $100.

Monash University MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

30. Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (Netherlands)

For application to Erasmus University’s full time MBA program, candidates are required to submit three essays. Each essay needs to be answered in 500 words or less.

The MBA essay topics for this program are:

• How do you see your career developing and how will this programme help you achieve your goals?

• Describe how the socio-economic environment in which you live/work impacts your business decisions. Please explain your answer and use examples from your own experience whenever possible.

• Describe the most difficult decision you have made and its effect on you.

Application Fee: €100.

Erasmus University MBA Application Deadlines for Fall 2019 Intake

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