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spiridon
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Admission Essays tips? 27 Dec 2008, 18:01
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Does anyone have tips or something inspirational on writing ' What is your most valuable possession and why?' or 'What literary character best represents you and why?'

I have two application essays books from admited!(R) but those essays are kinda dry and I was bored to death reading every one of them. I dont want to put adcom to sleep... Help!
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Admission Essays tips? 27 Dec 2008, 18:58
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Make the response to those essays relevant to either getting an MBA or your post-MBA career goals.

Favorite possession = baseball glove from my college days where I experienced what it was to work as a team
Literary character = Tyler Durden from Fight Club because of his unique approach to problem solving :wink:

RF
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spiridon
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Admission Essays tips? 27 Dec 2008, 19:56
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those topics that u mentioned (why mba and goals) are covered in other two essays with those topics

this one is supposed to be 'insight' one - where u have to tell who u r

however, i am writing this for american audience so i cannot use the style that i am used to or they might not get it...
i mean americans r used to happyends and kinda 'i must win' stories heh

:)
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Admission Essays tips? 27 Dec 2008, 20:11
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spiridon
those topics that u mentioned (why mba and goals) are covered in other two essays with those topics

this one is supposed to be 'insight' one - where u have to tell who u r

:)
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I didn't say you should discuss "why MBA" and "goals". I said your answer should somehow relate to your getting your MBA or your goals.

I think if your essay has nothing to do with getting an MBA, you'll miss out on a opportunity to showcase your talents.

If you wrote that your favorite possession was your grandfather's old watch because of how much it reminded you of the good times you had together, you'll tell the adcom nothing. Now if you said that your favorite possession was your grandfather's old watch because it reminded you of him and the life lessons he taught you (honesty, persistence, charity) then you'd be getting a lot of value out of the essay.

RF
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spiridon
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Admission Essays tips? 27 Dec 2008, 20:34
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Well, the thing is if this is supposed to be a 'creative' type essay, is it a good idea to incorporate MBA drives into it or should the focus be on the personality traits and self revelation
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Admission Essays tips? 27 Dec 2008, 21:48
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Well, the thing is if this is supposed to be a 'creative' type essay, is it a good idea to incorporate MBA drives into it or should the focus be on the personality traits and self revelation
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I think you should focus on personality traits or self-revelation that have some connection to your MBA goals (in a very general sense). HOWEVER! You don't need to make a direct connection.

In other words you don't need to say "Doing X activity has allowed me to acquire the skills to better understand marketing." For these types of "creative" essays, you don't need to (and probably shouldn't) mention your MBA goals. HOWEVER! You should highlight traits or reveal something about yourself that would put you in a positive light in the adcom's eyes. After reading the essay you want the adcom to think "This guy would be a great fit for our school!".

For example, you might say "The person who has had the biggest impact on my life is my grandfather because he taught me how important honesty is." Leave it at that. You don't need to state the importance of honesty to your MBA goals, it's self-evident. But it's important that you highlight something relevant.

RF
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Admission Essays tips? 28 Dec 2008, 02:03
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refurb

I think you should focus on personality traits or self-revelation that have some connection to your MBA goals (in a very general sense). HOWEVER! You don't need to make a direct connection.
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I second that opinion. I think the topics you are struggling with are designed for the AdCom to get to know you. What makes you tick? What inspires you? It should be a very personal and insightful essay that reveal something about what you would be like as a MBA? Would you give up family and friend for success? etc.

topic 1: You should reveal what matters to you. Use the possession to demonstrate why blah blah blah matter to you. For example, Michael Jordan autographed basketball because I admire leadership and persistence, blah blah blah.

topic 2. You should reveal what type of person you aspire to. For example, I like Huckleberry Finn because he's adventurous and follows his heart.
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Admission Essays tips? 17 Oct 2014, 20:47
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Hello from the GMAT Club MBAbot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

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