No matter the word count, applicants’ MBA application essays require just as much thought as ever.
Kaplan annual survey of admissions officers from business schools, graduate schools, law schools, medical schools, and colleges across the nation is in, and we’ve got the newly released findings about the trends and practices that will help you navigate business school admissions and get into those elite MBA programs. The hot topic of 2014’s survey, reflecting trends that will continue into 2015? Business schools slashing the number of application essays they require, or the word count therein.
While it’s true that some of the most competitive programs like Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and Wharton have instituted some version of the application essay slash, Kaplan’s research has found that the practice might not live up to the popularity its high-profile frontrunners have bestowed upon it. Only 13% of the more than 200 business schools that participated in our survey say they have cut the number of essays or words for this cycle, and only 3% of MBA programs told us that they plan to cut the essays in the next application cycle.
So here’s the takeaway: While it’s true that some of the top MBA programs have either reduced the number of essays or total words that applicants are required to write, the vast majority of business schools still see value in gathering more, not less, information about their applicants.
Our survey additionally shows that those business schools that have cut their admissions essays have done so to streamline the application process, believing they can get what they need from applicants with fewer, more focused essays. Aspiring business school students should keep in mind, therefore, that the motivation is not necessarily to attract applicants, make it easier to apply, or boost application numbers. The top business schools, after all—those who started the trend—will rarely have trouble securing high-level applicants at high volumes.
As for the matter of ease, keep in mind that a shorter essay is not necessarily a simpler essay, and the participating MBA programs’ goal is to streamline the process for them—not necessarily make it easier for you. Therefore, the application essays you will write and ultimately submit are expected to be more succinct and focused, and this can present its own challenge.
Regardless of word count or quantity, however, it’s important to continue to put thought and effort into your application essay. What hasn’t changed, after all, is the fact that this part of the application can showcase things admissions officers cannot find out about you through more quantitative measures like GPA, standardized test scores, and work experience. Use this as an opportunity to show why you’d be a good fit for the program.
Here are a few ways you can do this:
MBA Application Essay Tips
Maybe you’ve heard these tips before in some way—but they bear repeating.
- Stay on topic—and within the word count. If you are asked what your biggest workplace success story is, don’t write about why you’ve wanted to go to business school X your entire life. They already know you want to go there. That’s why you are applying. If they say no more than 200 words, they mean it. They mean that 210 words are 10 words too many.
- Be genuine. Don’t write about the person you wished you were; write about who you are. Admissions officers were not born yesterday, and they see a lot of applications. They can usually tell who is faking it. Furthermore, a charade—even a well-crafted one—becomes harder to pull off if you are asked to come in for an interview. Struggling to remember the “facts” about yourself—which is pretty much all the interviewer will know about you—is dead giveaway that you were less than authentic on your essay.
- Have a colleague, friend, or family member proofread your essays. These are the folks who know you best, so they will be able to tell you if your tone is authentic. If they’re not great with grammar and content, find a second, third, or fourth person to review your application essay.
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The post The Truth Behind the Cuts in MBA Application Essays, and Tips to Improve Yours appeared first on Kaplan GMAT Blog.
