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Nov 1909:00 AM PST
-10:00 AM PST
What’s in it for you- Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with Jenifer Turtschnow, CEO ARINGO. Come with your details prepared and ARINGO will share insights! Pre-MBA Role/Industry, YOE, Exam Score, C/GPA, ECs Post-MBA Role/ Industry & School List.
Nov 1910:00 AM EST
-01:00 PM EST
Get expert MBA strategy, instant essay feedback, and personalized advice on your entire application. Join My Admit Coach, the AI-powered MBA admissions platform built on 10K+ successful application docs for HBS, Stanford GSB, MIT and other top programs.
Nov 1911:00 AM PST
-12:00 PM PST
Round 2 is here — and it’s your chance to make your MBA dream happen! Join GMAT Club’s LIVE discussion with two top experts from The Red Pen, Gunjan Jhunjhunwala and Natasha Mankikar, as we break down everything you need to know- Nov 12
01:00 PM EST
-11:59 PM EST
Get expert MBA strategy, instant essay feedback, and personalized advice on your entire application. Join My Admit Coach, the AI-powered MBA admissions platform built on 10K+ successful application docs for HBS, Stanford GSB, MIT and other top programs. - Nov 18
11:00 AM PST
-12:00 PM PST
Join us in a live GMAT practice session and solve 30 challenging GMAT questions with other test takers in timed conditions, covering GMAT Quant, Data Sufficiency, Data Insights, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Reasoning questions. 
Nov 2010:00 AM EST
-10:30 AM EST
If you’re applying to Columbia, NYU Stern, or Yale SOM, you need more than strong stats. Each school defines “leadership” differently, and your essays must reflect that. Join Sia Admissions founder, Susan Berishaj on November 20th
Nov 2009:00 PM IST
-10:00 PM IST
Join our free expert-led Essay Workshops to discover how to choose impactful stories, highlight your core values, and align your background with each school’s distinct culture, making every word truly count.
Nov 2108:30 AM EST
-09:15 AM EST
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great, learn how you can present a strong MBA application, and connect with an Admissions Director to get your questions answered.
Nov 2109:30 PM IST
-10:30 PM IST
Learn how to craft powerful, authentic essays by mastering the 3 “WHYs” every top MBA program looks for: Why MBA, Why Now, and Why This School.
Nov 2408:00 PM PST
-09:00 PM PST
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
28 Apr 2025, 08:06
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Before You Write Anything: 3 Questions Every MBA Applicant Needs to Answer First
(And no, ChatGPT can’t do this part for you.)
If you’re planning to submit MBA applications for Round 1 deadlines in August or September 2025, you might already feel pressure to start writing your essays. It’s tempting to open a blank Google Doc and start typing — after all, deadlines come faster than we think.
But after years of experience as both an MBA admissions director and an admissions consultant helping candidates earn spots at Tuck, Darden, UCLA, INSEAD, and HEC Paris, I can tell you: the applicants who ultimately stand out don’t start with writing.
They start with reflection.
Before you worry about sentence structure or word counts, take the time to answer three essential questions. They will make the entire application process — essays, resume, interviews — so much clearer and stronger.
Why do you want an MBA — and why now?
This question seems basic, but most applicants either rush through it or offer vague answers like, “I want to pivot into consulting” or “I want to become a better leader.” Those responses might be true, but they won’t make you stand out.
Admissions committees are looking for intentionality. Why now, specifically? What has shifted in your career or goals that makes the MBA the logical next step? What gap are you trying to close? What new opportunities are you ready to pursue that you can’t reach without this investment?
Whether you’re pivoting industries, leveling up your leadership, or positioning yourself for bigger opportunities in a volatile market, the most compelling applications connect personal timing with professional clarity.
Where are you going — not just in two years, but in ten?
MBA programs expect you to share short-term goals — your first post-MBA role. But strong applicants show that they’re thinking longer-term, too. It’s not about having a rigid 10-year plan with job titles mapped out. It’s about showing that you are mission-driven and growth-minded.
What space do you want to lead in? What problems do you want to solve? What broader impact do you hope to create in your industry or community? Even if your short-term goals shift after graduation, your application will be stronger if you show a clear, credible sense of where you’re heading.
What’s your story — the one no one else could tell?
This is the part no AI can replicate. This is where the application becomes real — and where many applicants lose their way by sounding too polished or generic.
You don’t need a dramatic hardship or an earth-shattering achievement. You need self-awareness. You need to show that you’ve thought about what shaped you, what tested you, and what brought you to this point.
Think about the moments that defined your leadership. The challenges that changed your perspective. The risks that forced you to grow. Those are the foundations of a powerful MBA application. Those are the stories admissions officers remember.
Final thoughts
If you’re feeling anxious because you haven’t started your MBA essays yet, don’t worry. You’re not behind — you’re actually right on time. But before you rush into outlines and drafts, slow down and get clear on your foundation.
If you know why you want an MBA, where you’re heading, and what authentic story you want to tell, you’ll write stronger essays, build a better resume, and navigate interviews with confidence.
You don’t need to be the most polished writer. You need to be the clearest thinker.
And that’s something no chatbot or AI tool can fake.
If you’d like a second opinion before you dive into essay writing, I offer a limited number of free 20-minute MBA Profile Strategy Calls each month. No pitches, just real guidance based on where you are and where you want to go.
(And no, ChatGPT can’t do this part for you.)
If you’re planning to submit MBA applications for Round 1 deadlines in August or September 2025, you might already feel pressure to start writing your essays. It’s tempting to open a blank Google Doc and start typing — after all, deadlines come faster than we think.
But after years of experience as both an MBA admissions director and an admissions consultant helping candidates earn spots at Tuck, Darden, UCLA, INSEAD, and HEC Paris, I can tell you: the applicants who ultimately stand out don’t start with writing.
They start with reflection.
Before you worry about sentence structure or word counts, take the time to answer three essential questions. They will make the entire application process — essays, resume, interviews — so much clearer and stronger.
Why do you want an MBA — and why now?
This question seems basic, but most applicants either rush through it or offer vague answers like, “I want to pivot into consulting” or “I want to become a better leader.” Those responses might be true, but they won’t make you stand out.
Admissions committees are looking for intentionality. Why now, specifically? What has shifted in your career or goals that makes the MBA the logical next step? What gap are you trying to close? What new opportunities are you ready to pursue that you can’t reach without this investment?
Whether you’re pivoting industries, leveling up your leadership, or positioning yourself for bigger opportunities in a volatile market, the most compelling applications connect personal timing with professional clarity.
Where are you going — not just in two years, but in ten?
MBA programs expect you to share short-term goals — your first post-MBA role. But strong applicants show that they’re thinking longer-term, too. It’s not about having a rigid 10-year plan with job titles mapped out. It’s about showing that you are mission-driven and growth-minded.
What space do you want to lead in? What problems do you want to solve? What broader impact do you hope to create in your industry or community? Even if your short-term goals shift after graduation, your application will be stronger if you show a clear, credible sense of where you’re heading.
What’s your story — the one no one else could tell?
This is the part no AI can replicate. This is where the application becomes real — and where many applicants lose their way by sounding too polished or generic.
You don’t need a dramatic hardship or an earth-shattering achievement. You need self-awareness. You need to show that you’ve thought about what shaped you, what tested you, and what brought you to this point.
Think about the moments that defined your leadership. The challenges that changed your perspective. The risks that forced you to grow. Those are the foundations of a powerful MBA application. Those are the stories admissions officers remember.
Final thoughts
If you’re feeling anxious because you haven’t started your MBA essays yet, don’t worry. You’re not behind — you’re actually right on time. But before you rush into outlines and drafts, slow down and get clear on your foundation.
If you know why you want an MBA, where you’re heading, and what authentic story you want to tell, you’ll write stronger essays, build a better resume, and navigate interviews with confidence.
You don’t need to be the most polished writer. You need to be the clearest thinker.
And that’s something no chatbot or AI tool can fake.
If you’d like a second opinion before you dive into essay writing, I offer a limited number of free 20-minute MBA Profile Strategy Calls each month. No pitches, just real guidance based on where you are and where you want to go.
