{"id":30828,"date":"2015-10-11T13:25:55","date_gmt":"2015-10-11T20:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=30828"},"modified":"2016-07-27T16:02:33","modified_gmt":"2016-07-27T23:02:33","slug":"mit-sloan-2016-executive-mba-essay-tips-deadlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/mit-sloan-2016-executive-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/","title":{"rendered":"MIT Sloan 2016 Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Click<\/a><\/p>\n

This set of essay questions shows that MIT seeks applicants who understand the impacts of their actions; applicants who have the judgment and practical skills to take on the challenges that will fly at them as they re-define industries and functions, push the boundary of what\u2019s possible, and exercise \u201cprincipled leadership\u201d in a torrent of change. \u00a0The essays are your main means to show that you possess, as MIT\u2019s website states, \u201cstrong leadership performance, global perspective, functional expertise, and innovation.\u201d \u00a0While the statement of purpose challenges you to succinctly create your portrait as an applicant, the three essay questions, each in its own way, probe how your perception and thinking lead to specific impacts and outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an overall plan for the essays, the statement of purpose works as a context, a positioner, an opening pitch, a frame. \u00a0You will describe specific experiences in each of the three essays, so strategically try to select experiences that are different, to give a comprehensive view. \u00a0Also, usually it\u2019s advisable to discuss recent experiences, to allow the adcom to see you working at a high level and showing what you\u2019ll bring to the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Statement of purpose<\/strong>:<\/strong> Please provide a statement indicating your qualifications, why you are pursuing the MIT Executive MBA Program, and what you will contribute to the program. <\/span>For reapplicants: please highlight developments since your last submission. <\/span>(500 words or less, limited to one page)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This is your portrait \u2013 your candidacy at a glance. \u00a0It should convey a vivid, immediate sense of you as a person and as a candidate for this program. \u00a0It should go beyond just facts to present a point of view and a message. \u00a0Decide your message first, before drafting the essay, and let it guide you in selecting and elaborating the content details.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beware of a potential pitfall: in discussing qualifications, do not repeat your resume<\/a> in prose format. \u00a0Also, don\u2019t present all your qualifications. \u00a0Select carefully, focusing on those that (a) are really distinctive and relevant to the MBA and\/or (b) support your goals directly or indirectly and also (c) reflect your message. Make a short, meaningful point about each qualification, such as the insight it lends or its influence on you, supported by a fact or example.<\/span><\/p>\n

For why you are pursuing the MBA, of course you\u2019ll discuss your professional goals and objectives. \u00a0Focus not only on what you want to do, but also on what you want to accomplish for the organization and\/or its customers\/market (your \u201cvision\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

The contributions you mention should reference your experience from work or outside work; think of what about you would be most meaningful and interesting to prospective classmates. \u00a0This element of your response is an opportunity to show that you understand the program.<\/span><\/p>\n

Question 1<\/strong>:<\/strong> The educational mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to \u201cdevelop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world.\u201d Please discuss how you will contribute toward advancing this mission based on examples of past work and activities. (500 words or less, limited to one page)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In answering this question, clarify what \u201cprincipled, innovative leader\u201d and \u201cimproving the world\u201d mean to you. \u00a0These points represent your point of view, your perspective \u2013 they should be short, but without them this essay lacks focus. \u00a0The bulk of the essay will focus on action \u2013 your examples of past work and activities that make the case for how you have been and will continue to be a principled, innovative leader who improves the world. \u00a0They key to making this a gripping, memorable essay is strong experiences and examples combined with your reflection on them pertaining to the essay\u2019s theme. \u00a0End by <\/span>briefly<\/span><\/i> discussing how you will build on these experiences to be such a leader in the future<\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Question 2<\/strong>:<\/strong> Please select one of the two questions below. (500 words or less, limited to one page<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

2A:<\/strong> Tell us about a time when you created a competitive advantage for your organization. Comment on the factors you considered and any barriers you encountered in the organizational culture.<\/span><\/p>\n

- or -<\/span><\/p>\n

2B:<\/strong> Tell us about a time when you inspired others to achieve success in a complex situation, such as across cultures or regions or in an adverse situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both of these options zero in on the impacts of your actions, and they also require you to portray the path to those impacts. This path includes not just what you did, but what you thought and perceived and decided. \u00a0Approach either essay as a story, straightforwardly.<\/span><\/p>\n

For option 2A, as you narrate what happened and what you did, show your thinking at pivotal points. Weave in barriers you encountered and factors you considered as they happened, within the process. \u00a0Zoom in on those key moments in the story.<\/span><\/p>\n

For option 2B, make sure that you really do show and specify the \u201ccomplex situation\u201d \u2013 make it vivid. You want the reader to do more than understand it; you want the reader to see and feel the challenge of the particular complexity. \u00a0And also be specific about \u201cothers\u201d --- please don\u2019t just say \u201cstakeholders\u201d! <\/span><\/p>\n

Question 3<\/strong>:<\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0Please select one of the two questions below. (500 words or less, limited to one page)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

3A:<\/strong>\u00a0Tell us about one of your initiatives that resulted in a lasting organizational change.<\/span><\/p>\n

- or -<\/span><\/p>\n

3B:<\/strong> Tell us about one of your ideas or initiatives that faced healthy skepticism and what you did.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you choose option 3A, you need to present a situation that happened long enough ago to allow time for it to actually deliver a \u201clasting organizational change.\u201d \u00a0I would say roughly six months before at latest. \u00a0You may approach it as a story, or you may use other organizing principles. \u00a0In either approach, indicate your rationale and motivation for the initiative and how you implemented it.<\/span><\/p>\n

For option 3B, be sure to include \u201c<\/span>healthy<\/span><\/i>\u201d skepticism, not just resistance. \u00a0\u201cHealthy\u201d implies something positive in it, so the skepticism must be reasonable, even if you disagree with it. \u00a0In the \u201cwhat you did\u201d part of the discussion, show how you engaged with the skepticism, don\u2019t just make it an essay about how you convinced somebody you were right.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Deadlines<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis with the following deadlines:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/a> By Cindy Tokumitsu<\/a>,\u00a0co-author of <\/em><\/em>The EMBA Edge<\/a>, and author of the free special report, <\/em><\/em>Ace the EMBA<\/a>. Cindy has helped MBA applicants get accepted to top EMBA programs around the world. She is delighted to help you too!<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"5<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Ace The EMBA: Expert Advice for the Rising Executive<\/a>\u00a0[Free Guide]
\n\u2022\u00a0The GMAT and EMBA Programs<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Executive MBA: Applying to EMBA Programs<\/a><\/p>\n

Picture Courtesy of Vitor Pamplona<\/span><\/p>\n

This article\u00a0<\/a>originally appeared on\u00a0<\/em>blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/em>get accepted<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This set of essay questions shows that MIT seeks applicants who understand the impacts of their actions; applicants who have the judgment and practical skills to take on the challenges…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[60,1780,1271,1523],"class_list":["post-30828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-emba","tag-emba-admissions-advice","tag-mit-sloan-school-of-management","tag-sloan-emba","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30828"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30851,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30828\/revisions\/30851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}