Last visit was: 13 May 2026, 17:02 It is currently 13 May 2026, 17:02
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
PsychGuy17
User avatar
Joined: 30 Nov 2015
Last visit: 01 Nov 2020
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
24
Given Kudos: 30
Concentration: Marketing, Strategy
Schools: Consortium-Yale '19 (D) Consortium-Ross '19 (A$) Kellogg '19 (D) Consortium-Tuck '19 (M$)
Schools: Consortium-Yale '19 (D) Consortium-Ross '19 (A$) Kellogg '19 (D) Consortium-Tuck '19 (M$)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 24
Post MBA goals 28 Jul 2016, 17:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have read about 100 sample essays through the various admissions consultant blog sites, or current MBA students who've just been admitted to top MBA programs. In 99% of these essays the recurring theme seems to be effecting change in X country (not America). I have friends who've lived in America all of their lives writing they'd like to change XYZ about Grenada or some other country where they have distant ancestry. It doesn't seem to be genuine and often these candidates don't end up executing it. i'm writing my MBA goals and I wholeheartedly believe that it's what I would like to accomplish.

Perhaps, I've missed this memo so I'd just like clarification. My question is do you have to have international goals that have some greater good (ie modernizing China's transportation system through finance) for them to resonate with the AdCom? If your true goal is just be CEO, CFO, CMO for a Fortune 500 company in the US is that weaker than a goal that has some international focus to it? My thought process is I am aspiring to attend an American business school to do things in America (my birth place). I don't want to be disingenuous at all, but I just want to make sure I'm not asking for a rejection by not having super lofty, ambitious, goals that affect another country.
User avatar
MBADecoder
User avatar
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Last visit: 13 May 2026
Posts: 2,973
Own Kudos:
801
Given Kudos: 224
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,973
Kudos: 801
Post MBA goals 28 Jul 2016, 20:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
PsychGuy845
I have read about 100 sample essays through the various admissions consultant blog sites, or current MBA students who've just been admitted to top MBA programs. In 99% of these essays the recurring theme seems to be effecting change in X country (not America). I have friends who've lived in America all of their lives writing they'd like to change XYZ about Grenada or some other country where they have distant ancestry. It doesn't seem to be genuine and often these candidates don't end up executing it. i'm writing my MBA goals and I wholeheartedly believe that it's what I would like to accomplish.

Perhaps, I've missed this memo so I'd just like clarification. My question is do you have to have international goals that have some greater good (ie modernizing China's transportation system through finance) for them to resonate with the AdCom? If your true goal is just be CEO, CFO, CMO for a Fortune 500 company in the US is that weaker than a goal that has some international focus to it? My thought process is I am aspiring to attend an American business school to do things in America (my birth place). I don't want to be disingenuous at all, but I just want to make sure I'm not asking for a rejection by not having super lofty, ambitious, goals that affect another country.
Show more

That's a very interesting question PsychGuy.

Ultimately your goals have to be what you believe in because only then would you be able to defend them wholeheartedly. Yes, b-schools like to hear from applicants who "change the world" and are 'leaders of tomorrow'. But your goals don't have to relate to another country just to bring 'international focus' to them. Somebody will need to become a leader in the US as well, right?

As your company's CXO, you may still want to tackle a large scale industry problem, so you would still be framing ambitious career goals, without sounding unrealistic.
Infact talking about something to which you have no connection will raise a bigger red flag.
User avatar
PsychGuy17
User avatar
Joined: 30 Nov 2015
Last visit: 01 Nov 2020
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
24
Given Kudos: 30
Concentration: Marketing, Strategy
Schools: Consortium-Yale '19 (D) Consortium-Ross '19 (A$) Kellogg '19 (D) Consortium-Tuck '19 (M$)
Schools: Consortium-Yale '19 (D) Consortium-Ross '19 (A$) Kellogg '19 (D) Consortium-Tuck '19 (M$)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 24
Post MBA goals 29 Jul 2016, 03:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Helpful- thank you!
User avatar
MBAPrepCoach
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 24 Mar 2015
Last visit: 03 Dec 2025
Posts: 3,936
Own Kudos:
1,545
Given Kudos: 634
Status:MBA Admissions Consultant
Affiliations: MBA Prep Coach
Location: United States
Farrell Nelson: MBA
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,936
Kudos: 1,545
Post MBA goals 29 Jul 2016, 04:11
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I agree with the statement above. They're looking for someone who who wants to be a leader and a change agent, and that can be done in a number of ways. Creating greater understanding and properity across continents could definitely be included under that banner. Also keep in mind that at least 35% of these essays are written by international students. I will say that you should omit any kind of line like I want to go to an American business school to help America. That comes across as nationalistic, potentially xenophobic and quite off-putting. Lastly, keep in mind that criteria for evaluation includes international exposure, preferably International work experience.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
User avatar
PsychGuy17
User avatar
Joined: 30 Nov 2015
Last visit: 01 Nov 2020
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
24
Given Kudos: 30
Concentration: Marketing, Strategy
Schools: Consortium-Yale '19 (D) Consortium-Ross '19 (A$) Kellogg '19 (D) Consortium-Tuck '19 (M$)
Schools: Consortium-Yale '19 (D) Consortium-Ross '19 (A$) Kellogg '19 (D) Consortium-Tuck '19 (M$)
Posts: 100
Kudos: 24
Post MBA goals 29 Jul 2016, 04:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MBAPrepCoach
I agree with the statement above. They're looking for someone who who wants to be a leader and a change agent, and that can be done in a number of ways. Creating greater understanding and properity across continents could definitely be included under that banner. Also keep in mind that at least 35% of these essays are written by international students. I will say that you should omit any kind of line like I want to go to an American business school to help America. That comes across as nationalistic, potentially xenophobic and quite off-putting. Lastly, keep in mind that criteria for evaluation includes international exposure, preferably International work experience.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
Show more

Thanks for your reply!

To follow up: I am definitely not including the wording I want to go to an American school to help America, just thought it was useful in explaining that before crafting goals dedicated to improving things overseas, I'm genuinely interested in helping to effect change in my homeland. Similarly, you mentioned that the international students who wrote many of these essays are especially interested in positively changing their homelands. I'm not quite sure why you've internalized my several word statement as being potentially xenophobic. Further, if I possessed an irrational fear of people from other nations, I would not be applying to top MBA programs that boast heavy diversity percentages. Undoubtedly, through academic peer groups, cohort sections, clubs I'll be heavily interacting with a diverse set of peers. In fact, that is one of the major draws about my target programs. I do agree though there is a fine line between being prideful about one's heritage versus being nationalistic. I will make sure I effectively convey it so that can't be misinterpreted.

I appreciate your feedback and find your posts helpful as I navigate this process. Please do have a wonderful weekend!
User avatar
MBAPrepCoach
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 24 Mar 2015
Last visit: 03 Dec 2025
Posts: 3,936
Own Kudos:
1,545
Given Kudos: 634
Status:MBA Admissions Consultant
Affiliations: MBA Prep Coach
Location: United States
Farrell Nelson: MBA
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,936
Kudos: 1,545
Post MBA goals 29 Jul 2016, 22:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I would recommend focusing on the actual problem being solved, like the problem that you want to solve in America, rather than dividing it along the lines of America versus not America. I think that would set the proper context.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com