MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like?

Oldest

Best Reply

Author

Message

Intern

Joined: 30 Aug 2010

Posts: 26

WE 1: Strategy Consulting

Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 4 [0], given: 1

MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like? [#permalink]

17 Sep 2012, 13:21

What are peoples' thoughts on how MBA essays should be approached?

Should they be more direct... i.e., clear and direct topic sentences

Or should they be more storylike... i.e., starting off with a quote, or something like "Issues? What Issues?"

BSchool Forum Moderator

Joined: 12 May 2012

Posts: 80

Location: United States

Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy

Schools: HBS '15 (A)

GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V39

GPA: 3.2

WE: Engineering (Energy and Utilities)

Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 26 [0], given: 47

Re: MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like? [#permalink]

17 Sep 2012, 16:54

I have no idea what the "right" answer is since I am also writing essays for this round, but mine fall on the story telling side. This is because I feel most natural writing in a story telling tone and the repeated advice I have read is that you need to write in your own voice and be as authentic as possible.

So maybe the answer is that it depends on what syle of writing would best convey to the adcom your personal message about who you are?

Senior Manager

Status: Yale! (whipped and bound)

Joined: 02 May 2012

Posts: 354

Location: United States (CA)

Concentration: Nonprofit

Schools: Stanford '15 (D), Kellogg '15 (A), Haas '15 (WL), Yale '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 730 Q48 V42

GPA: 3.41

Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 100 [0], given: 68

Re: MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like? [#permalink]

17 Sep 2012, 18:06

I think that either way can work as long as you answer the question they're asking. If you can answer the question through a clearly articulated story, that will probably be more interesting. However, a clearly worded answer will be superior to a confusing and unrelated story.

My strategy has been to answer in one or two sentences completely directly and then to go into storytelling mode. Basically I'm setting the stage and then bounding off into the sunset...and it's hopefully an intelligible sunset!

_________________

Blogging about the MBA application process. Because I need to do something with all this bschool energy.
http://www.mybreakaway.com/ Recent post: May 11, "Blogs a-gogo"

Vote for me and other great bloggers HERE!

Manager

Joined: 16 Jan 2012

Posts: 66

Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 4

Re: MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like? [#permalink]

17 Sep 2012, 21:16

You have got some great advice from the previous responders. Let me point out a few places where people really go wrong in their story telling - avoid these mistakes:
1. A lot of people who use quotes tend to forget that it should also have a relevance to their story. The quote begins to stand apart and the reader is left wondering why it was there in the first place.

2. Many applicants are unable to weave a common thread through their essays, especially in the behavioral ones. They tend to start the essay from point A (introducing one of their strengths), explain it through an anecdote, and conclude at point Z (introduce another strength, rather than concluding the first one). Closing the loop is important.

3. In the anecdote itself, its your role in that situation which is most important, not the situation itself. A lot of applicants spend all their space situation building and the reader gets no idea about their problem solving skills .

4. Maturity- this should reflect both in the way you handle the situation, as well as write the essay.

Hope these help,

Namita
www.mbadecoder.com

Admissionado

Joined: 30 Nov 2009

Posts: 1597

Location: Chicago, IL

Schools: Brown University, Harvard Business School

Followers: 23

Kudos [?]: 224 [0], given: 18

Re: MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like? [#permalink]

18 Sep 2012, 00:02

Well why not both? you DO have to directly answer the question. Because if you are passing that by, then well, that ain't good, let's say. But DRAMATIZING the story through quotes, structure, detail, actions, statistics, results are all GREAT ways to get your essay leaping off the ground!
You aren't gonna get any brownie points for having essays so standard that they put the reader to sleep, so it is a good idea to "shake things up" a bit.
_________________

Jon Frank
Founder, Admissionado
http://www.admissionado.com
GMAT Club EXCLUSIVE: $100 off Bootcamps and Writing Workshops!

If you like the post, give it a KUDOS!

Get a Free Consultation!

Re: MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like? [#permalink] 18 Sep 2012, 00:02

		Similar topics	Author	Replies	Last post
Similar Topics:		More	praveen_rao7	17	31 Jan 2005, 11:20
		Spending more time on GMATClub, less on essays	mNeo	11	26 Jul 2007, 13:10
		New Time Article: MBA = More Bitterness Ahead	jallenmorris	1	23 Oct 2008, 14:36
	19	How to Attract More Members to the International MBA Forum?	bb	61	05 May 2009, 15:11
		Top MBA ticket to more money?	GermSad	0	23 Dec 2012, 22:14

MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like?

Moderator: Zatarra

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources

GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council ® (GMAC ®). GMAT Club's website has not been reviewed or endorsed by GMAC.

GMAT Courses

Admissions Consulting

MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like?

MBA Essays: More Direct? Or More Story-like?

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources