This IE 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. The tips for answering IE’s essay questions are in blue below.
Like its Barcelona peers Esade and IESE, Madrid’s Instituto de Empresa is recognized as one of the world's top business schools, boasts an incredibly international student group and has a strong focus on ethical, social and environmental issues. This commitment to society is built into each of its 80+ core classes and boasts a dedicated department, Social Impact Management, and a specialization in Social Entrepreneurship.
The school is known for its strengths in entrepreneurship, finance and general management. 25% of IE alumni end up starting their own businesses, and the school has exchange programs with 53 international universities, including MIT.
There are 3 core essays for IE, plus a slew of short, simple questions. Each core essay is minimum 250 words and maximum one side of paper (1.5 line spacing).
A. If you had the opportunity, what would you ask the president or leader of your country, and why?
With its focus on developing socially responsible leaders and a student class that comes from 70+ countries, this is a terrific way to identify an issue that is pertinent to both your professional goals and to your country’s socio-economic environment. Why is this issue important? How does it impact you and your country? You could also posit your position on the issue and how you would handle it.
B. Cite the most difficult situation you have faced in your professional life and how your input helped to resolve it.
This is your chance to show leadership in action. It’s also a great way to show what you define as challenging and how you respond to it. The SOAR approach works well here: describe the work related Situation and why it was so tough, state your Objective or task, show what Actions you took to solve or work around the challenge and describe the Results: How did this impact you? Your company? Your co-workers?
C. Cite at least one example in which your leadership impacted or changed a situation and discuss how you think IE Business School will help you refine, focus, or enhance this skill.
This question is about impact: how did your leadership skills help you make an impact? What aspect of your personality helped you and how did you apply it? As this is a fairly open-ended question, the essay can also be about a situation in which you could you have done better, particularly with IE’s help: This is a chance to hone in on some specific things that you like about IE and how the program will help you on a developmental level.
*The admissions process is a rolling process and as such there is no deadline for applications for a particular intake. However, given the limited number of places on the program, we recommend that you embark on the process many months or even a year before you intend to start.
By Paris-based Accepted.com editor Tanis Kmetyk, who has well over a decade of experience advising applicants to top MBA programs. She’d be happy to share her expertise with you when you apply too.
