A good application essay is comprised of both anecdote and analysis, the what and the why of your personal experiences. Telling a straight story (anecdote without analysis) will leave your essay flat, with no depth or insight into your character or motivations; on the other...

In honor of the first birthday of MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools, by Linda Abraham and Judy Gruen, we are posting a series of excerpts from the book throughout November. This post is excerpted from Chapter 5:...

Applying to the Consortium will save you time when it comes to applying to individual MBA programs—but that’s not to say you’re not going to have to put in the time to get this application exactly right. The Consortium application essays require that you prove...

You’ve got great stats and strong skills. Any top business school would be thrilled to have you join its next class…almost. There’s one obstacle standing in your way: your MBA resume. The problem is that you are victim to what can be referred to as Frequent...

In honor of the first birthday of MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools, by Linda Abraham and Judy Gruen, we are posting a series of excerpts from the book throughout November. This post is excerpted from “How to...

This set of essay questions is one of the most comprehensive among EMBA applications. LBS is keenly interested in the right fit for its EMBA class, in terms of experience, goals, perspective, personality, character. Hence, the essays push you to articulate what you will bring...

You may be familiar with David Pogue, who writes articles for The New York Times about technology (and writes dozens of books about technology, and hosts many television programs about technology, and so on). Recently he proposed to his fiancée in a most unusual way:...

MBA applicants with technical backgrounds have the distinct challenge of distinguishing themselves from a large, overcrowded, highly qualified pool of applicants. You probably have solid work experience, impressive skills, and high test scores – but so do the other thousands of techies vying for the...

UVA Darden prides itself on producing successful, ethical, community-focused, leadership-driven MBAs. If you want a spot in next year’s Darden class, you’ll need to prove that you have the skills and the drive to commit to this top b-schools ideals and goals. Exhibit your skills...

Leadership, teamwork, ethics, and a global approach to business are essential elements of the Duke Fuqua MBA, which is why you’ll need to make sure you express your passion for these ideals in your application essays. Impress the Fuqua adcom by positioning yourself as an...