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.
Tepper has tweaked its application this year, changing slightly question #1 under the Post-MBA Goals, replacing the #2. and dropping one of the other essay questions.
Post-MBA Goals:
1. What is your professional goal immediately following graduation from Tepper? (Maximum 1500 characters)
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? When did you demonstrate the skills or qualities this role requires?
2. If you are not successful in your first choice of role after graduation, what other role would you consider? In other words, what is your Plan B? (Maximum 1500 characters)
This is a easy question to answer -- if you have a Plan B. If you don't have one, thoughtfully create one.
If you don't get the job you describe in #1, how you you take advantage of your past experience and your new Tepper MBA? Would you slightly change long-term goals and go down a different path? Or would you stick with the long-term goals and attempt to achieve them in a different way? Either option is possible. Choose the one that best reflects you.
1. Describe a defining moment in your life, and explain how it 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?
2. Based on your research and interactions with the Tepper community, share why you are a good fit with the Tepper MBA program. (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 would like to share with the Admissions Committee 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 2015 Application Deadlines:
| Application Deadline | Decision Notification | |
| Round 1 | October 5, 2014 | December 15, 2014 |
| Round 2 | January 4, 2015 | March 25, 2015 |
| Round 3 | March 15, 2015 | May 15, 2015 |
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:
• Best MBA Programs, A Guide to Selecting the Right One
• 2015 MBA Application Essay Tips
• Top 10 B-Schools with the Most Satisfied Graduates
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.
