When you are writing your business school application letters, remember that the two most important parts of the story are the actions you took and the results you achieved. The actions taken show your approach to a situation and provide some insight into your strengths and abilities. The results indicate that you were able to make an impact.
For the essays with the most potential, we recommend that you go one step further with your notes. For each story, complete the "STAR framework" to refine your thoughts and summarize the key parts of the story and what was accomplished. Remember if in the story you are not the primary protagonist then it might not be the best story to promote your brand. The acronym STAR stands for Situation - Task - Action - Result.
This acronym will help you stay focused and write an answer that provides background, tells exactly what you worked on, and will end with results.
• Situation - Start by explaining the situation and presenting the issue. An example could be: My company was losing market share to a new startup.
• Task - Identify what your initialize was and how you worked on it. An example could be: I decided to change our strategy to aim for a more expensive market.
• Action - Explain the steps you took to accomplish your goal. An example could be: I listened to customers to see what they were looking for and changed the product accordingly.
• Results – Discuss the outcome and how your team made an impact. An example could be: By the end of the year, we gained 15% additional market share.
For more robust guidance on your MBA application essays, check out the Stacy Blackman Consulting Essay Guide Series – school specific guides with essay tips, sample essays, information on what your target schools value and more.
Visit https://www.stacyblackman.com/essay-guides/ to learn more.
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I’ve only heard about the STAR Method as it refers to job interviews, but I guess it really can be applied in a number of different scenarios. Thanks for the insight.