{"id":52452,"date":"2021-06-27T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-27T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=52452"},"modified":"2021-06-24T05:35:16","modified_gmt":"2021-06-24T12:35:16","slug":"understanding-stanford-gsbs-interest-in-personal-qualities-and-contributions-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/understanding-stanford-gsbs-interest-in-personal-qualities-and-contributions-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Stanford GSB\u2019s Interest in Personal Qualities and Contributions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/stanford-gsb-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kp15446gcoz47p1vpn9ol6gj-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/What-is-Stanford-GSB-Looking-For-Personal-Qualities.jpg\" alt=\"What is Stanford GSB Looking For Personal Qualities\" class=\"wp-image-65287\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>What are the qualities that Stanford GSB is looking for as they build their class? How do successful applicants stand out from the crowd? At a school as competitive as Stanford, it\u2019s a fact that many smart, accomplished applicants won\u2019t get in\u2014so how can you demonstrate that you have that \u201cit\u201d factor? Let us walk you through&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gsb.stanford.edu\/programs\/mba\/admission\/evaluation-criteria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stanford\u2019s evaluation criteria<\/a>&nbsp;and give you some advice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal qualities and contributions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In an MBA essay on a meaningful personal experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Applicant A describes his ascent of Machu Picchu; we learn that it was awe-inspiring, challenging, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/display-teamwork-in-application-essays\/\">required excellent teamwork<\/a>; he concludes by asserting that he was moved on a deep level and grew from the experience.<\/li><li>Applicant B takes us on a walk around her block. We learn about the struggles of her neighbors facing gentrification and her mixed feelings as one of the gentrifiers; how she informally refereed an argument among residents over local policing; the diversity of canine life on the block and the blossoming friendship between her pug and a neighbor\u2019s Rottweiler.&nbsp;She eventually gathers a diverse group of community members to try to proactively address the policing issue. &nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal qualities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We conclude from these essays that Applicant A spends a lot of money on personal fulfillment, lacks imagination, relies on banalities, and relishes physical challenges; and that Applicant B is alive to the richness of daily life, addresses ambiguity head-on, has humor, is compassionate, is attentive, and cares about meaningful issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Point:<\/strong>&nbsp;Our personal qualities flow from and mirror our character. And when it comes to personal qualities, be assured, Stanford will prefer those of Applicant B \u2013 even though Applicant A\u2019s topic is superficially more dramatic \u2013 because of the quality of character they reflect. Unlike Applicant A, Applicant B\u2019s personal qualities represent an engaged, observant, thoughtful person. Certainly, there\u2019s nothing wrong with climbing Machu Picchu or with writing about such an experience \u2013 but it\u2019s not the fact of doing it that will impress; rather, what you have to&nbsp;<em>say<\/em>&nbsp;about it, arising from your personal qualities and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/different-dimensions-diversity-episode-193\/\">reflecting your unique perspective<\/a>&nbsp;that will catch the thoughtful admissions reader\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Don\u2019t struggle and strain for \u201cunique\u201d things to say.<\/li><li>Rather, for Stanford, share your life. Open it up, let it dance or swagger or sashay or skip or march or cartwheel, whatever your style is.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contributions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now the&nbsp;<strong>contribution<\/strong>&nbsp;part. Because Applicant B is attentive to and cares about her surroundings, she responds and contributes to the daily life of her neighborhood. She is involved, she acts, and her actions have an impact (small and large: refereeing the argument; later starting a community group). She cares. She has specific questions and concerns and feelings and insights \u2013 and based on them she takes meaningful actions. She can bring this abundance, this world, this humanity and this energy \u201cto the table.\u201d You just know&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/4-ways-show-you-will-contribute-future\/\">this person will be a big contributor<\/a>&nbsp;wherever she is. She doesn\u2019t have to explain that fact \u2013 it\u2019s obvious! Follow her example. Let your personal qualities come alive by sharing what\u2019s meaningful to you in your essays (and elsewhere if possible in the application) and how they are a springboard for involvement and action. Don\u2019t&nbsp;<strong><em>explain that<\/em><\/strong>&nbsp;you will contribute;&nbsp;<strong><em>show<\/em>&nbsp;<\/strong>that you do contribute. It\u2019s simply who you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Applying to Stanford? Check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">MBA Admissions Services<\/a>&nbsp;and work&nbsp;one-on-one with an expert advisor who will help you create a stand-out&nbsp;application for Stanford GSB. Click here&nbsp;to learn more about how we can help you get accepted.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also register right here for our upcoming (free!) webinar,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/webinar\/stanford-graduate-school-of-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><em>Get Accepted to Stanford GSB<\/em><\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/58291\/69354270-0979-45a7-930d-70630c157725?__hstc=76425034.168288ac69c5c2cbe81451270cdfd970.1611857174497.1624474181452.1624535394226.138&amp;__hssc=76425034.7.1624535394226&amp;__hsfp=2810202661\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/58291\/69354270-0979-45a7-930d-70630c157725.png\" alt=\"Register for our free webinar: Get Accepted to Stanford GSB!\" width=\"525\" height=\"263\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/cindy-tokumitsu-accepted-consultant\/\" alt=\"Cindy Tokumitsu, admissions expert\" class=\"wp-image-64552\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/service-request-cindy\"><strong>Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2022&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/guide\/five-fatal-flaws\" target=\"_blank\">5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your MBA Application Essays<\/a>, a free guide<br>\u2022&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/stanford-gsb-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips &amp; Deadlines<\/a><br>\u2022&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/proving-character-traits-in-your-application-essays\/\">\u201cI\u2019m Smart, Really I Am!\u201d Proving Character Traits in Your Essays [With Sample Essays]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/understanding-stanford-graduate-business-school-interest-personal-qualities-contributions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">This article<\/a>&nbsp;originally appeared on&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>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 to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">help you get accepted<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are the qualities that Stanford GSB is looking for as they build their class? How do successful applicants stand out from the crowd? At a school as competitive as&#8230;<\/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":[924,48,1038],"class_list":["post-52452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-stanford-graduate-school-of-business","tag-stanford-gsb","tag-stanford-mba","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52452","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=52452"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52459,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52452\/revisions\/52459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}