The London Business School 2009 thread

Yes, LBS hasn't changed its questions in the last two years by much ( although who knows what will happen next year).

Essay tips : ummm to be honest I am bad person to ask for those. As you know I was on the waitlist for a long time (almost all of last year) mainly because of my poor essays. However here are a few things that you may want to consider :

Aims:
Strong and interesting aims are a key differentiator, if you are talking an aim which involves about joining IB or MC - think about how interesting and differentiating it is (it is not). On the other hand you want to save the world from poverty and war - think about how your background and MBA (specific to school) will help you achieve it - and whether it makes any sense. Adcom are interested in how you background will help you achieve your stated aims so whatever you pick - you should be able to say that its all gonna happen, MBA will just speed it up.

Current Job:
Your current job is important. A recommendation from your current employer is very useful. It shows strong career progress. It is also an indication that you're not just doing an MBA because your current job sucks. It also gives a perspective to adcom about what you are about immediately before joining there program. So, describe it well and talk it up.

Profiling:
What are you about ? What are your values ? What are your achievements ? etc. etc. etc. Think about all of these things and create a profile (Avi Gordon's MBA Admission strategy is a great read about profiling). In your essay package you have to tell the adcom about all these important things. As many as possible. Without any repetition.

Tone:
Remember that its an essay / a story and NOT a thesis (like my essays). Make it interesting, set the scene, add a little drama. Keep the reader interested. Use rich metaphors. Harry Bauld's How to write a successful college application is a good read on how to convey a good tone. Of course having said that, its not a Stephen King novel either. So balance it out.

Resume:
Very important. LBS gives you just one page. That really sucks. It did for me as I have 9 years of WE and many many roles. I had to really think about what was a good role worth talking about and what was not.

Good luck.