This UNC Kenan Flagler 2011 MBA Application tip post is one of a series of posts providing MBA application and essay advice for applicants to top MBA programs around the world. You can access the entire series at https://blog.accepted.com/acceptedcom_blog/tag/2011-mba-application-tips. My tips for answering Kenan Flagler's essay questions are in blue below.
UNC Kenan Flagler 2011 MBA Essay Questions
Some applicants seek the MBA as a career enhancing tool to accelerate advancement in their current field. Career switchers want the MBA to help launch new career paths. UNC Kenan-Flagler recognizes each of these motivations as legitimate reasons to pursue the MBA, and we encourage both types of candidates to apply.
UNC Kenan-Flagler encourages you to assess your known talents and potential skills, understand your personal style, and confirm your values and interests. If you do this prior to beginning your MBA studies, you will be better equipped to navigate the many options the MBA program will provide. There is not enough time to do all the activities and take all the courses that will be available to you. It is important, therefore, to make your choices based on your own development plan. Think of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application as a first step toward uncovering the unique attributes and goals that will inform your development plan. Please be thoughtful and reflective in your answer
Essay One (Required)
What are the 2 or 3 strengths or characteristics that have driven your career success thus far? What are the other strengths that you would like to leverage in the future? (500 words maximum)
Rather than list Strength 1, Strength 2, and Strength 3, I recommend you start with an anecdote that illustrates ideally 2-3 or your strengths and then analyze how they have contributed to your career success. Remember to describe your achievement in terms of impact and to quantify as much as possible. Another approach: Describe the accomplishment anecdotally and then go into the characteristics that contributed to it.
In both cases, also include a paragraph about a trait that you would like to use in future projects and successes.
Essay Two (Required)
Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA. Explain how: your professional experience has shaped these goals; why this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words maximum)
What do you see yourself doing immediately upon graduation and what would you like to do ten years from now? Describe why this path attracts you. What experiences have convinced you to pursue it? Why do you need an MBA, especially one with UNC's approach to business education, to proceed down your chosen path.
Essay Three (Required)
What personal qualities or life experiences distinguish you from other applicants? How do these qualities or experiences equip you to contribute to UNC Kenan-Flagler? (500 words maximum)
Everyone has a story. What's yours? What makes you unique? What hobbies and experiences will differentiate you from the IT guy, consultant, real estate developer, or banker that the adcom just read about? How will your perspective contribute to the classroom and community at Kenan-Flagler?
Essay Four (Optional)
If your standardized test scores are low, or if you have not had coursework in core business subjects (calculus, microeconomics, statistics, financial accounting), please tell us how you plan to prepare yourself for the quantitative rigor of the MBA curriculum. (300 words maximum)
This is pretty straightforward. Just answer it. You may also want to highlight professional preparation that you have already had in quantitative areas.
Essay Five (Optional)
Is there any other information you would like to share that is not presented elsewhere in the application? (300 words maximum)
My favorite: The optional essay. A gift allowing you to give the adcom one more reason to admit you.
If you would like help with UNC's Kenan-Flagler essays, please consider Accepted.com's MBA admissions consulting and editing services or our UNC Kenan Flagler School Packages. All non-rushMBA essay serviceschool packageare 10% OFF with our Early Bird Special. End July 31.
UNC Kenan Flagler 2011 MBA Deadline
| Application Due | Decisions Released | |
| Round 1 (EA) | Oct 22, 2010 | Dec 13, 2010 |
| Round 2 | Dec 3, 2010 | Feb 7, 2011 |
| Round 3 | Jan 7, 2011 | Mar 21, 2011 |
| Round 4 | Mar 18, 2011 | May 2, 2011 |
* Requests for admissions decisions before the decision release dates cannot be granted. You are urged to apply early and to submit the personal information and resume portion of the application. UNC Kenan-Flagler's class size is small, and admission is very competitive.
The admissions office must also receive official GMAT or GRE (if applicable) and TOEFL scores by the application deadline in order to consider your application in that cycle.
Decisions are also posted online by 5 p.m. on the decision mailing dates.
By Linda Abraham, President and Founder of Accepted.com.
