Georgetown McDonough, the top MBA program at the intersection of business and government, takes advantage of its Washington D.C. location, its connections to the greater Georgetown University community, and its Jesuit roots while at the same time focusing on the global nature of twenty-first century business. Your application should show that you need the education provided by McDonough to achieve your goals and that you wholeheartedly embrace its values.
Create your essays in separate documents and upload them into the appropriate application fields. Please adhere to word limits, and label each page with your name. Re-applicants will be prompted to submit a specific essay question. Dual degree applicants and Georgetown MBA re-applicants will be prompted to submit specific essay questions.
(Essays should be double-spaced using a 12-point font.)
1. Why You? (Hint: we are looking for an answer that cannot be found from research on our website) (750 words or fewer)
This question is all about fit. It is an attempt by Georgetown to learn about you and why you think you belong at Georgetown and why Georgetown should admit you. Georgetown wants to see how you think and come to a major decision. It also wants you to make a coherent case for your own acceptance to McDonough.
There are lots of different ways to approach this essay. Clearly you shouldn't spit back the McDonough web site. If you can, talk to current students about the culture and distinctive elements of the program to gain a deeper understanding of it. You also need to reflect on the reasons Georgetown should choose you? While your reasons for wanting to attend are a factor, the big question will be what do you intend to contribute. What will you add?
You could start with a highly influential experience that molded your decision to pursue an MBA, go into more depth about what you hope to achieve and why you believe Georgetown is the best place for you to achieve it.
Alternatively, you could start with a day in the future where you attain your goal and then circle back to discuss the development of that goal and McDonough's role in helping you achieve it. You can also discuss how you intend to contribute to McDonought's community.
In short, why should McDonough accept you? How will you make the school proud that they did?
Optional Essays:
1. If you are not currently employed full-time, use this essay to provide information about your current activities. (250 words or fewer)
Show them that you are using this period of unemployment to acquire new skills, contribute to your community, or grow in some way.
2. Please provide any information that you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included. (500 words or fewer)
Please see “The Optional Essay: To Be or Not to Be.”
Re-Applicant Essay:
How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally. (500 words or fewer)
This is a key question (whether asked explicitly or not) for all reapplicants to any MBA program. What has changed? How are you "new and improved" since last year -- when you were rejected? Georgetown does you the favor of providing this explicit prompt so you can address this question while retaining the ability to address the main essay.
If you would like professional guidance with your Georgetown McDonough School MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our MBA Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Georgetown McDonough MBA application.
Georgetown McDonough 2016 MBA Application Deadlines:
| Application Deadline | Decision Notification | |
| Round 1 | October 1, 2015 | December 15, 2015 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2016 | March 20, 2016 |
| Round 3 | April 1, 2016 | May 15, 2016 |
By Linda Abraham, president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools.
Related Resources:
• 2016 MBA Application Essay Tips
• Optional Essays: When and How to Write Them [Short Video]
• The Georgetown McDonough MBA: Everything You Need to Know
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com, the official blog of Accepted.com.
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