Five MBA Essay Mistakes to Avoid

Hi everyone,

Now that we've reviewed a bunch of Round 1 essays, we revisited our "5 Mistakes" blog from last year and updated it slightly, but also found a lot of it is still pretty relevant!  As you're thinking about your Round 2 Essays, here are some quick traps to watch out for...

1. Answering a Different Question - As simple as this sounds, we have found that a number of essays sent to us actually answer a different question than what is being asked.  Many times, this is because candidates first identify parts of their personality and professional experiences that they want to showcase, and then figure out how to "force fit" these experiences into the essay questions. The best way to avoid this mistake? Do it the right way - think of the question, and then write the answer, not the other way around.  After you're done, go back and check - have you answered the question exactly as it's asked? 

2. Skimming over the Details - "That day, I learned how collaboration and teamwork are critical to leadership...". Whenever you have one of these "I realized / learned" revelations, check to make sure that before or after you have supporting details that explain why or how you realized what you did.  The best essays are detailed enough that they naturally lead the reader to the conclusion that you were trying to hit.

3. Distracting Creative Imagery - "Beads of sweat dotted my brow as I lifted the rusty hammer to hit the moss covered..".. Great for a fiction novel, not so great for a business school application. We have seen a number of essays which are fun to read because they are written so well - unfortunately, they're just not written for an application. Especially all you very gifted writers out there, try and keep a check and keep the language simple.

4. Language, Grammar - If English isn't your first language, invest a lot of time in polishing the language and grammar in your essays. While a lot of people think it is OK to write in loose language if you are an international applicant, remember that you are competing with other international applicants who may not have this problem. As long as it feels like you have taken the effort to polish the language, you'll be in good shape.

5. Super-glorifying your accomplishments - Essays are all about you and your achievements. We get that, and of course you should brag about your achievements.  At the same time, if you were a first year analyst in a MBS group in an investment bank, don't say you helped your organization battle the credit crisis (if you didn't). State your accomplishments as is, and they will sound great. In an attempt to magnify accomplishments, we have seen a lot of essays that lose their authenticity and credibility.

Hope this helps! If you have something else you'd like to see covered here, send us an email at essaycritique@gmail.com.  We look forward to working with you!