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shailhills
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Joined: 30 Jul 2025
Last visit: 29 Aug 2026
Posts: 155
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Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Operations
Schools: Kellogg '27
GMAT 1: 740 Q51 V39 (Online)
Schools: Kellogg '27
GMAT 1: 740 Q51 V39 (Online)
Posts: 155
Kudos: 131
 [1]
MBA Essay Prompts 2026-2027 Updated on: 08 Jul 2026, 08:13
Originally posted by shailhills on 08 Jul 2026, 05:23.
Last edited by shailhills on 08 Jul 2026, 08:13, edited 11 times in total.
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Only schools with officially confirmed 2026–27 essay prompts are included in this post.

📌 SCHOOLS COVERED IN THIS POST

US Schools — M7
  • Harvard Business School (HBS)
  • Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)
  • Wharton — University of Pennsylvania
  • Booth — University of Chicago
  • Kellogg — Northwestern University
  • Sloan — MIT
  • Columbia Business School

US Schools — T15 & Beyond
  • Haas — UC Berkeley
  • Tuck — Dartmouth
  • Ross — University of Michigan
  • Yale School of Management (SOM)
  • Darden — University of Virginia
  • Fuqua — Duke University
  • Tepper — Carnegie Mellon
  • Johnson — Cornell University
  • Stern — NYU
  • Anderson — UCLA
  • Foster — University of Washington

International Schools
  • INSEAD (France / Singapore)
  • London Business School (LBS)
  • Oxford Saïd Business School
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🇺🇸 US SCHOOLS — M7
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🏛️ HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL (HBS) | Confirmed 2026–27
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Harvard Business School
Boston, MA | FT Global Rank: #10 | GMAT Club Rank: #3 | US News: #4=

Career Goals (Short Answer)
Quote:
Briefly tell us more about your career aspirations.
Show more
Limit: 500 characters

Essay 1 — Business-Minded
Quote:
Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations.
Show more
Limit: 300 words

Essay 2 — Leadership-Focused
Quote:
What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead?
Show more
Limit: 250 words

Essay 3 — Growth-Oriented
Quote:
Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth.
Show more
Limit: 250 words

Additional Information (Optional)
Quote:
Please share additional information here if you need to clarify any information provided in the other sections of your application. This is not meant to be used as an additional essay.
Show more
Limit: 75 words

Re-applicant Essay
Quote:
Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements).
Show more
Limit: 250 words



🌲 STANFORD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (GSB) | Confirmed 2026–27
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Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford, CA | FT Global Rank: Opted out | GMAT Club Rank: #2 | US News: #1

Essay 1
Quote:
What matters most to you, and why?
Show more
Limit: 650 words

Essay 2
Quote:
Why Stanford for you? Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use this essay to address your interest in both programs.
Show more
Limit: 350 words

Optional Short-Answer (Leadership Impact)
Quote:
Think about a time in the last five years when you've created a significant impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, civic, or academic settings. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the impact?
Show more
No stated word limit

Additional Information (Optional)
Quote:
If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it here. Pertinent examples include: extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, academic experience not noted elsewhere, explanation of why you are not using a current supervisor as a recommender, or plans for transitioning your company's day-to-day leadership while pursuing your MBA (for founders/co-founders). This section should NOT be used as an additional essay.
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🦅 WHARTON — UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | Confirmed 2026–27
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The Wharton School — University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA | FT Global Rank: #3 | GMAT Club Rank: #1 | US News: #2

Essay 1 — Part A: Immediate Goal
Quote:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal?
Show more
Limit: 50 words

Essay 1 — Part B: Medium & Long-Term Goals
Quote:
Describe your medium- and long-term professional goals after your Wharton MBA.
Show more
Limit: 150 words

Essay 2 — Community Value
Quote:
Taking into consideration your background — personal, professional, and/or academic — how do you plan to add meaningful value to the Wharton community?
Show more
Limit: 350 words

Additional Information Essay (Optional)
Quote:
Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
Show more
Limit: 500 words

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy.
Show more
Limit: 250 words




🏙️ CHICAGO BOOTH | Confirmed 2026–27
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Booth School of Business — University of Chicago
Chicago, IL | FT Global Rank: #20 | GMAT Club Rank: #4 | US News: #3

Short Answer 1
Quote:
What is your immediate post-MBA career goal?
Show more
Limit: 300 characters

Short Answer 2
Quote:
What is your long-term post-MBA career goal?
Show more
Limit: 300 characters

Short Answer 3
Quote:
Upload an image and explain its significance to you.
Show more
Limit: 300 characters

Short Answer 4
Quote:
Share a fun fact or something unique about yourself.
Show more
Limit: 300 characters

Optional Essay
Quote:
Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation or additional details you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?
Show more
Limit: 300 words

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application?
Show more
Limit: 300 words




🌊 KELLOGG — NORTHWESTERN | Confirmed 2026–27
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Kellogg School of Management — Northwestern University
Evanston, IL | FT Global Rank: #11 | GMAT Club Rank: #5 | US News: #4=

Essay — Part I (Why MBA / Why Now)
Quote:
An MBA is a significant investment of time, energy, and resources, and the decision to pursue one deserves serious reflection. Tell us about the pivotal experiences and decisions that have brought you to this moment in your career, how they have shaped your ambitions, and why now is the right time to take this next step.
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Essay — Part II (Community Contribution)
Quote:
Now turn the lens outward: beyond what you hope to gain, what do you hope to contribute to the students who will learn alongside you?
Show more

Combined limit for Parts I & II: 550 words

Video Essays
Quote:
Five video questions designed to help showcase your personality and experiences. Due 96 hours after the application deadline. Approximately 30 minutes to complete including setup time.
Show more

Additional Information (Optional)
Quote:
Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application.
Show more

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be?
Show more
Limit: 250 words




⚙️ MIT SLOAN | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #1 Globally in 2026
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MIT Sloan School of Management
Cambridge, MA | FT Global Rank: #1 (first time ever!) | GMAT Club Rank: #6 | US News: #6

Cover Letter
Quote:
MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee.
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Limit: 300 words (excluding address and salutation)

Short Answer — The World That Shaped You
Quote:
How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? Please use this opportunity to share more about your background.
Show more
Limit: 250 words

Video Question 1 — Introduction
Quote:
Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here's your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself.
Show more
60 seconds | Single take | No editing | No background music or subtitles

Video Question 2 — Random Open-Ended Prompt
Quote:
A randomly generated, open-ended question designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. It does not require prior preparation.

Example questions include:
• What achievement are you most proud of and why?
• Tell us about a time a classmate or colleague wasn't contributing to a group project. What did you do?
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10 seconds prep / 60 seconds response




🗽 COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL (CBS) | Confirmed 2026–27
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Columbia Business School
New York, NY | FT Global Rank: Opted out | GMAT Club Rank: #7 | US News: #7=

Short Answer 1
Quote:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal?
Show more
Limit: 50 characters

Short Answer 2 — August Entry
Quote:
How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business.
Show more
Limit: 50 characters

Short Answer 2 — January Entry
Quote:
Why do you prefer the January-entry term?
Show more
Limit: 50 characters

Essay 1 — Career Goals
Quote:
Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job?
Show more
Limit: 500 words

Essay 2 — Collaboration
Quote:
Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization.
Show more
Limit: 250 words

Essay 3 — CBS Fit
Quote:
We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership – academically, culturally, and professionally. How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific.
Show more
Limit: 250 words

Optional Essay
Quote:
If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points.
Show more
Limit: 500 words

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals.
Show more
Limit: 500 words


━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🇺🇸 US SCHOOLS — T10 TO T20
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

🐻 HAAS — UC BERKELEY | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #9 Globally
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Haas School of Business — UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA | FT Global Rank: #9 | GMAT Club Rank: #9 | US News: #10

Required Essay #1 — Video Essay
Quote:
Briefly introduce yourself, then tell us what makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? Please share something about yourself that may not be evident in other parts of your application. We are looking for an authentic and introspective response that demonstrates how you will contribute to the MBA class and culture at UC Berkeley Haas.
Show more

Required Essay #2 — Career Goals
Quote:
What are your post-MBA career goals, and how will the resources at UC Berkeley Haas help you achieve them? How do you plan to remain adaptable as your career evolves?
Show more
Limit: 300 words

Supplemental — Distance Traveled (Optional)
Quote:
We invite you to share aspects of your background, personal circumstances, or significant experiences that have meaningfully impacted who you are today and how you've reached this point. Please tell us how these experiences have influenced your perspectives, decisions, and aspirations, and how they contribute to the person you are becoming.
Show more
Limit: 300 words

Optional Statement
Quote:
This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.
Show more
Limit: 300 words




🌲 TUCK — DARTMOUTH | Confirmed 2026–27
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Tuck School of Business — Dartmouth
Hanover, NH | GMAT Club Rank: #10 | US News: #9

Essay 1 — Goals & Fit
Quote:
Your professional goals are described elsewhere in your application. What led you to those goals and to your understanding of where you need to grow? Why is Tuck the right environment to support that growth and help you achieve your ambitions?
Show more
Limit: 2,000 characters

Essay 2 — Who You Are
Quote:
People are often shaped by experiences that are not fully reflected in their resume. Tell us about an important aspect of who you are that has shaped you as a person. How will your perspective enrich the Tuck community?
Show more
Limit: 2,000 characters

Essay 3 — Supporting Others
Quote:
Describe a time when supporting another person was not easy or straightforward. What made it difficult, how did you respond, and what did you learn?
Show more
Limit: 2,000 characters

Optional Essay
Quote:
Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.
Show more
Limit: 2,000 characters

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally and how your understanding of Tuck has developed.
Show more
Limit: 2,000 characters




〽️ ROSS — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | Confirmed 2026–27
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Ross School of Business — University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI | GMAT Club Rank: #11 | US News: #13

Part 1 — Career Aspirations
Quote:
What is your short-term career goal, and how do you plan to leverage the Ross MBA and its program offerings in your first role after graduation? Please be specific and answer both parts of this question.
Show more
Limit: 300 words

Part 2 — Impact & Growth (Choose ONE of the following)

Option A:
Quote:
Think of a time something important did not go as planned. What did you do next?
Show more

Option B:
Quote:
What is something you worked on for an extended period of time (over six months) that ultimately resulted in a positive outcome? What kept you committed?
Show more

Option C:
Quote:
Share an example of a specific situation when your actions created a positive impact on your community or an individual.
Show more

Limit: 200 words (whichever option you choose)




🏛️ YALE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT (SOM) | Confirmed 2026–27
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Yale School of Management
New Haven, CT | FT Global Rank: #17= | GMAT Club Rank: #12 | US News: #11=

Career Goals (Short Answer)
Quote:
Briefly describe your short-term and long-term career goals and why Yale SOM is the right place for you to achieve them.
Show more
Limit: 200 words

Required Essay — Choose ONE of three prompts

Option 1 — Commitment:
Quote:
Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you, and what actions have you taken to support it?
Show more

Option 2 — Community:
Quote:
Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?
Show more

Option 3 — Challenge:
Quote:
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?
Show more

Limit for all three options: 500 words

Optional Information
Quote:
If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation, please provide a brief description here.
Show more
Limit: 200 words

Note: Yale also conducts video essays post-submission. Details released after the application is submitted.




🏫 DARDEN — UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #19
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Darden School of Business — University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA | FT Global Rank: #19 | GMAT Club Rank: #13 | US News: #11=

Short Answer 1 — Relationships Matter Here
Quote:
What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume?
Show more
Limit: 200 words

Short Answer 2 — Careers With Purpose
Quote:
At this time, how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission? How does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career?
Show more
Limit: 200 words

Video Essay
Quote:
Additional details about the video essay format, timing and prompts will be available when the application opens.
Show more




🔵 FUQUA — DUKE UNIVERSITY | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #16
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Fuqua School of Business — Duke University
Durham, NC | FT Global Rank: #16 | GMAT Club Rank: #14 | US News: #14

Short Answer — Career Goals
Quote:
What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan.
Show more
Limit: 100 words

Essay 1 — 25 Random Things About Yourself
Quote:
The 'Team Fuqua' spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us "25 Random Things" about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU — beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.

Your list will be limited to 2 pages (750 words maximum). Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer.
Show more
Limit: 750 words / 2 pages

Essay 2 — The Fuqua Community & You
Quote:
Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?
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Limit: 500 words / 1 page

Optional Essay — Tell Us More
Quote:
If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area.
Show more
Limit: 500 words / 1 page

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
It is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. Please share with us the self-reflection process that you underwent after last year's application and how you have grown as a result. How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply?
Show more
Limit: 500 words / 1 page




💻 TEPPER — CARNEGIE MELLON | Confirmed 2026–27
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Tepper School of Business — Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA | GMAT Club Rank: #15 | US News: #16=

Video Essay — Career Goals (Required)
Quote:
Please describe your post-MBA career goals. Be as specific as possible. Even if you haven't identified exact companies, share what kind of role, industry, or organization interests you — and why. If you have specific criteria for evaluating future opportunities, let us know.
Show more
Limit: 2 minutes

Required Essay — Choose ONE of two prompts

Option 1 — Leadership Under Uncertainty:
Quote:
At the Tepper School, we value leaders who can make confident decisions when facing complexity and uncertainty. Tell us about a time when you had to take action without having all of the answers. How did you navigate the situation and what was the outcome?
Show more

Option 2 — Transformation:
Quote:
The Tepper School of Business is committed to helping students reach their full potential by supporting their professional and personal transformation. How do you hope to transform, both professionally and personally, during your time in the program? Please describe your development goals and steps you plan to achieve them.
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Limit for both options: 500 words

Optional Essay
Quote:
Convey important information that you may not have otherwise been able to convey in your application.
Show more




🌿 JOHNSON — CORNELL UNIVERSITY | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #15
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Johnson Graduate School of Management — Cornell University
Ithaca, NY | FT Global Rank: #15 | GMAT Club Rank: #16 | US News: #15

Goals Statement
Quote:
A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences:

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].
In 5–10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].

Please share how you plan to utilize the resources available at Johnson, as well as any personal resources to transition to your immediate post-MBA career goal.
Show more
Limit: 350 words (for the narrative portion)

Essay 1 — Impact Essay
Quote:
At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. How do you intend to make a meaningful impact on the Johnson community?
Show more
Limit: 350 words

Essay 2 — Table of Contents Essay
Quote:
You are the author of your Life Story. Please create the table of contents for the book in the space provided or upload it as an attachment. We value creativity and authenticity and encourage you to approach this essay with your unique style. Alternative submission formats may include a slide presentation, links to pre-existing media (personal website, digital portfolio, YouTube, etc.), as well as visually enhanced written submissions.
Show more
Limit: 350 words written OR under 3 minutes for multimedia | Max file size: 5 MB

Optional Essay
Quote:
You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson.
Show more
Limit: 350 words



🗽 STERN — NYU | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #23
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Stern School of Business — NYU
New York, NY | FT Global Rank: #23 | GMAT Club Rank: #8 | US News: #7=

Essay 1 — Professional Aspirations
Quote:
What are your short-term career goals? Why is the Stern MBA the necessary next chapter in your professional story? Please be specific.
Show more
Limit: 500 words | Double-spaced | 12-point font

Essay 2 — Personal Expression ("Pick Six")
Quote:
Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:
• A brief introduction or overview of your "Pick Six" (no more than 3 sentences)
• Six images that help illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality
• A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you

Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF.
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Essay 3 — Additional Information (Optional)
Quote:
Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake the GMAT, GRE, Executive Assessment, IELTS or TOEFL, or any other relevant information.
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Limit: 500 words




☀️ ANDERSON — UCLA | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #32
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Anderson School of Management — UCLA
Los Angeles, CA | FT Global Rank: #32 | GMAT Club Rank: #20 | US News: #18=

Essay 1 — Career Goals
Quote:
Describe your short- and long-term post-MBA goals, including your desired role, industry, and examples of target companies. How will an MBA support your path to achieving your goals, and which UCLA Anderson resources do you expect to rely on most to reach them?
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Limit: 250 words

Essay 2 — Community Contribution
Quote:
How do you hope your UCLA Anderson classmates will describe you by the time you graduate? What qualities and/or values do you want to be known for, and how will you demonstrate them as a student leader and community member?
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Limit: 200 words

Essay 3 — Icebreaker
Quote:
What is the first thing you would tell your classmates about yourself upon arriving at Anderson?
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Limit: 50 words

Optional Essay
Quote:
Are there any extenuating circumstances or additional context you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who respond to this optional essay.
Show more
Limit: 250 words




🌧️ FOSTER — UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | Confirmed 2026–27
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Foster School of Business — University of Washington
Seattle, WA | GMAT Club Rank: Not ranked | US News: See usnews.com

Essay 1 — Post-MBA Plans
Quote:
Tell us your ideas about what lies ahead in your career. What are the gaps or deficiencies currently preventing you from pursuing these potential career paths? How do you plan to use your time in the Foster MBA program to fill these gaps and advance your career?
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Recommended: 550–750 words

Essay 2 — Foster Mission Statement
Quote:
TOGETHER – WE FOSTER LEADERS, WE FOSTER INSIGHTS, WE FOSTER PROGRESS – TO BETTER HUMANITY. This is the Foster School's mission statement, and it serves as the north star for how we do business here. Please select one part of our mission statement and describe how it resonates with you in your personal or professional life. Please describe a specific experience in which you put this into practice.
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Recommended: 350–550 words

Essay 3 — Optional
Quote:
Include this essay if you have additional information you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee in considering your application.
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Limit: 500 words

Essay 4 — Inclusion & Belonging (Optional)
Quote:
At the Foster School of Business, we embrace inclusion and belonging as two of the foundations of both successful business strategy and a world-class educational experience. We welcome you to share some of the ways you have practiced inclusion and promoted belonging.
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Recommended: 350–550 words


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🇫🇷 INSEAD | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #2 Globally | Jan & Aug 2027 Intakes
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INSEAD
Fontainebleau, France / Singapore | FT Global Rank: #2 | Jan 2027 & Aug 2027 intakes

Job Description 1 — Career Summary
Quote:
Provide a summary of your career since graduating from university, explaining the rationale behind your key decisions and career progression. Include a description of your current (or most recent) role, covering the scope of your work, major responsibilities, employees under your supervision, budget size, clients/products, and any notable results achieved.
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Limit: 500 words

Job Description 2 — Career Aspirations
Quote:
Describe your short and long-term career aspirations, including your target geography, industry, and function. How do you plan to bridge the gap between your current position and these goals, and how will INSEAD help you achieve them?
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Limit: 300 words

Motivation Essay 1 — Self & Leadership
Quote:
Give a candid description of yourself as a person and a leader, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses you recognize in yourself. Explain how you are actively working on your development, sharing key experiences that have shaped you, providing specific examples where relevant.
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Limit: 500 words

Motivation Essay 2 — Stress & Resilience
Quote:
Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others?
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Limit: 400 words

Motivation Essay 3 — Optional
Quote:
Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?
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Limit: 300 words

Video Assessment — Kira Talent (Required)
Quote:
4 video questions (45 seconds prep / 60 seconds to respond) + 1 written question (5 minutes). Pool of 65+ prompts, heavily focused on cultural dexterity and cross-cultural leadership. Must be completed within 48 hours of application deadline.
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🇬🇧 LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL (LBS) | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #4= Globally
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London Business School
London, UK | FT Global Rank: #4= (tied with IESE)

Required Essay 1 — Goals & Experience
Quote:
What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these?
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Limit: 500 words

Required Essay 2 — Uniqueness
Quote:
What makes you unique?
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Limit: 200 words

Optional Essay
Quote:
Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?
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Limit: 500 words

Re-applicant Essay
Quote:
How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please comment on how you have grown personally and professionally.
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Limit: 300 words




🇬🇧 OXFORD SAÏD BUSINESS SCHOOL | Confirmed 2026–27 | FT #27=
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Saïd Business School — University of Oxford
Oxford, UK | FT Global Rank: #27= | Rolling admissions; 2026–27 applications currently open

Required Statement (Primary Essay)
Quote:
Tell us something that is not covered in your application which you would like the Admissions Committee to know about you.
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Limit: 250 words

Career Path Questions (Short-Answer, Path-Specific)
Quote:
A series of short-answer questions (~1,250 characters / approx. 200 words each) that vary based on your selected post-MBA path:
• Employment: Covers your immediate plan, how your target sector recruits, how you meet those requirements, your preparation plans, and your alternative/Plan B.
• Entrepreneurship: Covers your business idea, business plan, and steps taken to launch.
• Family Business: Covers the nature of the business, your role, and succession plans.
• Other: Multiple questions covering how the MBA will equip you for your specific path.

Oxford is looking for clarity, realism, and research depth. Be hyper-specific.
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Online Assessment (Required — via Oxford's platform)
Quote:
3 questions via online assessment. Oxford looks for evidence of: integrity, vision, self-awareness, decisiveness, and collaboration. Not designed to cause stress — meant to give a more dynamic view of you as a candidate.
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1+1 MBA Essay (Only if applying to 1+1 scheme)
Quote:
Please explain why you see the 1+1 MBA as particularly beneficial for you, and how it fits with your career and personal development aims.
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Limit: 250 words

Reapplicant Essay
Quote:
What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA programme?
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Limit: 250 words


⏳ COMING SOON — PROMPTS NOT YET RELEASED

The following schools have NOT yet officially released their 2026–27 essay prompts. This thread will be updated as soon as they are confirmed:

  • HEC Paris (FT #6 globally) - Expected release: August/September 2026
  • IESE Business School (FT #4= globally) — Expected release: August 2026
  • Cambridge Judge Business School (FT #17=) - Expected release: August/September 2026
  • IMD Business School (FT #43) - Expected release: TBD


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Parask26
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MBA Essay Prompts 2026-2027 13 Jul 2026, 13:47
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shailhills Are the essay prompts for Tepper mentioned here the latest ones? I noticed they were the same as last year’s prompts.
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shailhills
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MBA Essay Prompts 2026-2027 13 Jul 2026, 17:55
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Hi there ! yes it is the same.
Parask26
shailhills Are the essay prompts for Tepper mentioned here the latest ones? I noticed they were the same as last year’s prompts.
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