The key to admissions success here is to exhibit your keen analytical capabilities through your essays—that and your strong passion for learning and your desire to expand your role as an innovative leader. Get those points across to the adcom members and you could be well on your way to the tech-savvy business education that only Tepper can provide.
Post-MBA Goals:
1: What is your professional goal immediately following graduation from Tepper? (Maximum 250 words)
What do you want to do immediately after you get your MBA and in which industry do you want to do it? If geography is important to you, then include that information too.
Since Tepper is giving you more room than is necessary to simply state what you want to do and where you want to do it, you can give Tepper background on the development of your goal. What experience convinced you this career path was right for you? As you answer this question, make sure that this response and Essay #1 do not duplicate each other.
2: What are your long term career goals? (Characters left in your response 1000)
Your long-terms goals should flow naturally from your short-terms goals. Since they are farther into the future, it is understandable if they are fuzzier and less clearly defined. But the reader should understand how you would like to see your career unfold.
If there is a greater purpose animating your life and career choices, be sure to include that vision.
1: What transferrable skills have you developed that are related to your professional goals outlined above in the Post-MBA Goals short answer? Identify and explain the skills that you will need to develop or enhance. Specifically, how will the Tepper MBA help you achieve these goals? (Maximum 500 words)
Presumably your work experience to date and previous education have prepared you partially for your post-MBA goals. Discuss key traits that you and that support your goal.
But also acknowledge gaps: Things you need to learn. Skills you need to acquire. Perspective you need to gain. Show that Tepper will fill those gaps. Then what do you plan to acquire at Tepper and how do you intend to do so? That's the guts of this question.
Do your homework on the Tepper program and community before you answer this question. Credible specifics and self-awareness will make this essay work.
2: Describe a defining moment in your life and explain how it has shaped you as a person. (Maximum 300 words)
This question is an attempt to get to know you, the person. The previous questions are professionally focused. Use this essay to present a different side of you. Don't write about work and your professional goals here.
In any case, tell a succinct story of that defining moment. What happened and what was the impact on you? How has that event influenced you going forward? How is your behavior, your life different because of that moment?
3: How will your presence in the Tepper MBA program benefit your fellow students? How will you contribute to the School as a student and as an alumnus? (Maximum 300 words)
Again do your homework before you respond to this question. If you can, talk to current students or recent alumni from Tepper to get a feel for the culture. If you can visit, even better. Review the information on the Tepper web site to get a picture of student and alumni life and research those activities you would like to participate in, initiate, or lead. Then write about one or two clubs or events that you would love to throw yourself into.
Optional Essay: Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you should not feel obligated to answer this question. This essay is intended to provide a place for you to add information that you think is important but is not covered elsewhere in the application. This could include clarification of your employment or academic record, choice of recommenders or helpful context for the admissions committee in reviewing your application. (Maximum 500 words)
Use this optional essay, or lose an opportunity to provide even more reasons for Tepper to admit you. Just don’t rehash information found elsewhere. That’s a waste of time — yours and your reader’s.
If you would like professional guidance with your CMU Tepper 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 CMU Tepper application.
CMU Tepper MBA 2014 Application Deadlines:
| Application Deadline | Decisions Released | |
| Round 1 | October 7, 2013 | December 16, 2013 |
| Round 2 | January 2, 2014 | March 24, 2014 |
| Round 3 | March 15, 2014 | May 15, 2014 |
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.
Accepted.com's experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn't, so contact us to get started now!
This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.
