How to attack the Strengths and Weaknesses Questions

“Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (approximately 400 words)”- INSEAD

“Describe a time when you have led a team in a professional environment to implement a new idea or process. What leadership characteristics did you utilize? What could you have done to be more effective? And most importantly, what skills will you be able to bring to the teams you lead at McDonough?”

“We are a community designed for curiosity and lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. This is not a place for those who feel they have learned all they need to learn.”- Haas

Attacking the weaknesses question

An essay on weaknesses is the admissions committee's primary tool for determining whether the applicant has the ability to self-reflect on his or her own actions and character traits. Schools want to know what actions the applicant has taken, with sufficient awareness and effort to correct the eccentricity so that it does not affect the applicant's ecosystem.

The key to answering this question is to go beyond vague, unimaginative weaknesses such as "lack of business knowledge," "impatience," "workaholism," and so on. Such weaknesses may be respectively interpreted as a "lack of confidence," "personality issues," and "having one-dimensional personality"

Good examples of weaknesses are subtle eccentricities that, if shaped with will and positive reinforcement, can help the applicant become a better manager in what he/she is currently doing.

For example, suppose an applicant is aware that in his haste to complete a project and deliver a result, he has occasionally overlooked certain necessary reviews and approvals. He would acknowledge how his oversight has affected his stakeholders and the outcome, causing him to reflect and correct his course by taking extra care to align all parts of the project to achieve the desired result. The candidate may also add vivid details about the extent of the impact (initially negative and eventually positive after course correction) to lend credibility to the story. An example of an evolving person working on their mistakes builds the Adcom's confidence in the applicant's abilities.


Addressing the strengths question

The strengths question provides an additional opportunity to share your experiences, which will help the committee better understand the "real you". Do you comprehend your personality with maturity? This question allows you to establish trust with the reader by being straightforward about your strong points. Adcom will be more ready to believe your clear statements if you are honest.

An important thing to note while thinking about your strengths is that the traits you highlight must complement those identified by your recommenders and described in your application's narrative. In addition, by adequately researching each business school, you be aware of the school's distinctive, unique culture and values (INSEAD's communication and global outlook, Haas's innovation, Sloan's technology, innovation, and business). You must use your understanding of the school's culture to showcase your strengths as the ideal match for the school's MBA program. While all business schools value leadership, collaboration, analytic prowess, and communication abilities, your narrative should blend your true self with the "must-have" qualities needed for respective business schools.

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