Application Essay Dilemma

Question

I have a slight dilemma. I'm applying to Stanford, Haas, and UCLA, as most of you know by know. The thing is, both Stanford and Haas have come out with their essay questions, but UCLA hasn't. I want to get a start on writing essays, but most books and people recommend you work on the schools you REALLY want to get into last, after you get some practice. They also recommend that you write the 1st draft of all the essays for ONE school before going on to the next. 

Thus, should I begin writing my essays for Stanford and Haas, even though they're both schools I *really* want to get into? It makes no sense to wait until UCLA essays come out, but I'm worried that there's some "hidden mistake" that I'll make by writing my essays for Stanford and Haas first. 

Another method I had in mind was to write the "Why MBA/Now/This School?" essay first for both schools, but again, people say to finish all essays of one school first.

Any advice on what I should do?

Oh yeah, either Montauk or Bodine's book said to do the Kellogg essays first, as it's the best overall set of essays that you can apply to other schools, but I'm not applying to Kellogg until R2... should I start there, even though I know nothing about the school at the moment?

grad_mba · Answer

Kryzak, why dont you start with Kellogg ? Yes, I do know that you dont plan on applying there, but I believe running through the entire gamut of kellogg essays wil prep you up for Stan and Haas, in fact any school that you plan to apply! just a thought ..

kryzak · Answer

Hrm... I guess it's worth taking a look, if many sources say Kellogg essays are the best for covering all your themes. I guess I just might end up submitting an application there if I do all the essays...

then again, is it wise to "delay" my Stanford/Haas essays by writing the Kellogg ones? 

Is it really that bad to write drafts of the Stanford/Haas essays and then come back to it and revise it later when you know more?

mNeo · Answer

I would say, begin with drafts of Haas. Then review them (And re-review them) when you're done with LA. In the end, work on Stanford.

zakk · Answer

nothing to add except I'd do the same.

kryzak · Answer

well, I haven't decided on Kellogg or Chicago yet... currently I don't plan on applying to both ($$, recommender, and essay time issues) and I haven't had a chance to evaluate the two in more detail (as I have Stanford, Haas, and UCLA).

Chicago's main essay also is the generic "Why" essay, so I could start on that too. But again, I don't see how mNeo's plan won't work better, to work on Haas, Stanford, and then do UCLA, and come back to revise Haas and Stanford again using knowledge learned from UCLA...

kripalkavi · Answer

Yup, agree with you. I started with Kellogg too.

aaudetat · Answer

I didn't find the order issue to be much of an issue. In fact, Cornell was the first one I did and I think it might have been the best.

Go ahead and work on Haas. Get solid drafts for all of them. Then go to Stanford or UCLA. I don't think that you need to completely finish, 100% signed and sealed, an application before starting on the next. You just want to have it fleshed out well enough that you won't confused about what you're working on. And you want to have a solid, cohesive thread for each, so that each seems like one long story, and not a bunch of jumbled up thoughts. Good drafts will do this for you.

I think you're over-thinking this.

kryzak · Answer

thanks for all the comments... haha, I guess with all the stress and anxiety, it's easy to overthink things... I think I'll follow aau's advice for now, and work on Haas, as I know the most about them (been talking with a lot of Haas people) and it's one of my top choices.

Application Essay Dilemma

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