Events & Promotions
|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
May 2208:30 AM PDT
-09:00 AM PDT
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great and how you can present a strong MBA application. Explore the difference between our One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs, talk to our admissions team, and meet students.
May 2208:30 AM PDT
-09:30 AM PDT
For many Indian MBA applicants, the default dream has long been a top US MBA. But as career goals, visa considerations, timelines, and global mobility priorities evolve, more candidates are seriously considering MBA programs in Europe.
May 2203:00 PM EDT
-04:00 PM EDT
The old MBA recruiting playbook is dead. Here’s how top admits are getting ahead this summer.
May 2308:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
May 2611:00 AM EDT
-12:30 PM EDT
This week, Columbia Business School announced the 2025-2026 application deadlines and essay questions. Check out Personal MBA Coach's quick tips video to help you navigate the CBS application!
May 2707:30 PM EDT
-08:30 PM EDT
Learn how to choose the right recommenders and strengthen your MBA candidacy in this live AMA with Stratus experts.
May 2910:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Download the MBA Launchpad App, for FREE access to the largest MBA database - Data backed read on your profile - Identify gaps before you apply - Build a balanced school list - Track your deadlines - Mock interviews - Extensive content library- Jun 10
06:00 AM PDT
-06:15 PM PDT
Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight Fair – the world’s premier event for serious MBA candidates. This is your chance to hear directly from Admissions Directors at nearly every Top 30 MBA program..
madammepsychosis
26 Oct 2012, 20:31
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hey all. Wanted to solicit some thoughts on a failure essay, specifically HBS's second essay this year (Tell us about something you wish you had done better).
I am thinking about writing about a time a couple years ago when I really failed to lead. Long story short, I had joined an auxiliary board at a non profit organization that I really liked but after a few months, after getting frustrated with the way things were done I up an quit. My main problem was that the events we were planning didn't connect to the charitable organization at all; we planned bar events and bags tournaments for young professionals, but it could have been a fundraising effort for any organization, save the banners and a few promotional materials. What is more, most of the other board members didn't seem to care much about what they were doing (lots of future b-schoolers looking to just get a bullet point for their resumes). So I never really felt part of the organization or its charitable purpose, and therefore left amicably.
I think this would be a good topic insofar as I looked back on my reaction and realized that giving up was the wrong and easy way out, and I could have worked harder to bridge the gap between the board and the charity (I had voiced some suggestions, but they were all shot down in favor of business as usual). I have at least one good example of something I've done since where me and my peers haven't seen eye to eye and, given that I did not have the final (or even an equal) say in the final decision, it would have been easy to get frustrated and walk away, but instead I worked hard to find compromises and shape the organization in small steps.
However, I am also hesitant to give an example of a outright failure to take a leadership role (as opposed to a shortcoming as a leader), especially given HBS's veeeery strong emphasis on admitting people who have consistently demonstrated leadership. What do you guys think? Is it shooting myself in the foot to tell this story, or is it an honest admission of failure that will show my understanding of the need to take leadership? Much thanks in advance!
I am thinking about writing about a time a couple years ago when I really failed to lead. Long story short, I had joined an auxiliary board at a non profit organization that I really liked but after a few months, after getting frustrated with the way things were done I up an quit. My main problem was that the events we were planning didn't connect to the charitable organization at all; we planned bar events and bags tournaments for young professionals, but it could have been a fundraising effort for any organization, save the banners and a few promotional materials. What is more, most of the other board members didn't seem to care much about what they were doing (lots of future b-schoolers looking to just get a bullet point for their resumes). So I never really felt part of the organization or its charitable purpose, and therefore left amicably.
I think this would be a good topic insofar as I looked back on my reaction and realized that giving up was the wrong and easy way out, and I could have worked harder to bridge the gap between the board and the charity (I had voiced some suggestions, but they were all shot down in favor of business as usual). I have at least one good example of something I've done since where me and my peers haven't seen eye to eye and, given that I did not have the final (or even an equal) say in the final decision, it would have been easy to get frustrated and walk away, but instead I worked hard to find compromises and shape the organization in small steps.
However, I am also hesitant to give an example of a outright failure to take a leadership role (as opposed to a shortcoming as a leader), especially given HBS's veeeery strong emphasis on admitting people who have consistently demonstrated leadership. What do you guys think? Is it shooting myself in the foot to tell this story, or is it an honest admission of failure that will show my understanding of the need to take leadership? Much thanks in advance!
dwinters
Joined: 07 Oct 2012
Last visit: 07 Jan 2015
Posts: 45
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Schools: Booth '15 (A)
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
26 Oct 2012, 22:10
Kudos
Bookmarks
not an expert so take everything with a grain of salt, but if you're looking for some feedback:
- i don't really get the sense that you really failed, it was more sort of like, things were the way they were. i don't see a specific failure of leadership on your part.
- i also do not get a strong sense that you have taken whatever past lessons and used to them to become better/work on the weakness/etc. you are kind of vague on that part in your post, so it's a hard read. but this is probably the more important part of the essay....the key takeaway/message....and i'm not really feeling it
- in the end, IMO the best essays are the ones that come from the heart. if you feel this is something that you really failed at, and something that you've grown from, then it's all you man. but overall from first read i don't get the sense that has the potential to be a HBS-quality essay
- i don't really get the sense that you really failed, it was more sort of like, things were the way they were. i don't see a specific failure of leadership on your part.
- i also do not get a strong sense that you have taken whatever past lessons and used to them to become better/work on the weakness/etc. you are kind of vague on that part in your post, so it's a hard read. but this is probably the more important part of the essay....the key takeaway/message....and i'm not really feeling it
- in the end, IMO the best essays are the ones that come from the heart. if you feel this is something that you really failed at, and something that you've grown from, then it's all you man. but overall from first read i don't get the sense that has the potential to be a HBS-quality essay
27 Oct 2012, 03:32
Kudos
Bookmarks
madammepsychosis
Well take mine too with a grain of salt
. I applied R1 2012.I wrote about a kind of failure that I learnt from and my next essay was essentially a success story ('you did well' essay) - I got rejected. I sense with the kind of applicant pool they are receiving they would expect you to right about something you did well as in got a 100x return but you could have done that better and got a 200x return - something i didnt realize. Although in the end you can never say what works.
