garbus222 wrote:
Note first, to avoid comments: I don't wanna give even slightest impression that I'll get admitted there or even get close to admissions (i.e. interview). But my $0.02 below...
What's so difficult about Harvard or Stanford? Maybe that's only me, but I really have an impression that people exaggerate H/S simply b/c of their rankings/reputation.
What do you find so difficult about Harvard (below)? 1: standard. 2: standard. 3-6: nice mixture of standard and creative so something nice for everybody.
1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)
Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):
3. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
4. Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
5. What area of the world are you most curious about and why?
6. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?
Stanford... different (1-2) and standard (3-6). Anyway better than boring standard stuff other schools ask. No BS here (i.e. short-/mid-term career vision which anyway will change while at school and majority writes this type of essay in a very 'acceptable' way - how do I look honest, but in reality give AdCom an impression of 'employability' after MBA). At least for Stanford you really write what your heart tells you (for essays 1-2).
So all in all I really don't get it... what so difficult here? Chicago no.2 - that's different story. Boring and nightmare to write.
I agree the HBS questions don't look especially tough to me. Of course, HBS is out of my league and I'm not even applying there but I think Chicago's app is WAY tougher.
Also, I wanted to respond on the comment about the Yale essays. I actually thought they seemed relatively easy (relative is the key word here, I think the essays for every school are tough so I'm just talking in relative terms here). For essay 3 they give you 7 options and then for essay 4 you can choose another of those 7 or make up any question you want. That gives you a lot of leeway to find a couple essays you can borrow from other schools. As with most schools you can also borrow a lot for essay 1, the career essay, except that Yale does add a twist about your impact on the world which is pretty tough.
I voted for Chicago. I think essay 2 is the toughest essay of any school. And for non creative types, like myself, the powerpoint question is probably the 2nd hardest of any school. I'm dreading this application.