Purdue Krannert 2015 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines

First, the statement of purpose will introduce you to Krannert –it is in essence a classic goals essay. Then you must address an issue clearly of high interest to Krannert in the required essay: integrity. That essay will illuminate not only what you think about integrity, but also your thought process itself. The key to making these very different essays work together is to create a synergy between them – i.e., the experiences and plans you portray in the statement of purpose will form a vivid foundation for the thoughts, examples, and ideas you discuss in the required essay.

Essays:

Statement of Purpose – Please submit a statement introducing yourself to the admissions committee. (500 words max)

Some topics you may wish to discuss include:

a. Brief academic and professional background

b. Reason for seeking an MBA or Master’s degree at Purdue

c. Desired career path after graduation

d. Your thoughts on giving back as a student and as an alumnus

This question doesn’t technically require you to discuss the a-b-c-d points. But if the adcom mentions them, you can be sure the adcom is interested in them. So you can’t go wrong in addressing these points, even if you weave in something else as well.

A natural and effective approach is to portray aspects of your experience (educational and/or professional) that animate your goals, and then elaborate on your goals. Use your response to point “b” to demonstrate understanding of the program. Point “d” gives you an opportunity to present distinctive experiences, including ones that may not necessarily relate to your goals, but that will enable you to enhance and invigorate your MBA class.

Required essay: Integrity - What does integrity mean to you? How does integrity relate to building communities of trust in academic, personal and professional settings? What expectations should Purdue have towards its students with regards to academic integrity? What consequences should students who do not uphold these standards face? (500 words max)

This is really four questions (each one of which could use more than 500 words!). Your answer to the first question, what integrity means to you, will shape the essay and guide your responses to the subsequent questions. Answer this initial question with a succinct definition and illustrate it with a concrete example showing what integrity means to you and why. Address the subsequent questions in a way consistent with your initial definition, adding further brief examples as warranted. In the part about Purdue’s expectations, weave in specific details of Purdue’s program structure or approach.

Optional essay – If you feel there are any parts of your application that require additional explanation, or if there is any additional information you wish to share with the admissions committee, please use this optional essay as an opportunity to do so. (250 words max)

This question invites you to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of recommender if not direct supervisor, a bad grade, etc.) – and also to present new material that will enhance your application. If you choose to do the latter, make sure it’s a point that is essential for a clear and full picture of your candidacy.

Remaining Deadlines:

If you would like professional guidance with your Purdue Krannert application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Purdue application.

By Cindy Tokumitsu, co-author of The Finance Professional’s Guide to MBA Admissions Success, and author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her last fifteen years with Accepted.com.