MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Video Essay Tips 2020-2021
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05 Aug 2020, 07:56
Are you applying to MIT this coming cycle? In this article, we will be sharing a few tips that will help you craft your MIT Sloan cover letter and personal video essay!
THE COVER LETTER
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. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.
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 examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).
MIT is for the True Doers, as such, the format of your cover letter should reflect that quality. AdComs expect candidates to share in this short letter who they are, what they stand for, and how they will impact the MIT community:
“We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.”
The best way to approach this cover letter is to treat it like a letter you would write to market yourself for your dream job. Because of the very limited number of words allowed, you will have to select a couple of stories that highlight qualities that MIT Sloan is looking for in a candidate: someone who is innovative, fearless, independent and authentic.
To get started, identify 2 or 3 projects you undertook. What challenges did you experience in the process? What innovative approach did you take to successfully complete this project? Don’t forget to touch upon your ability to work well with a team. Like most top MBA programs, MIT Sloan is looking for candidates that will bring innovative ideas to the classroom while enhancing other students' experience.
Here’s a proposed outline for your cover letter: Start with a brief introduction and what you would bring to the MIT community. Then, briefly mention your career plans and how your experience has prepared you to successfully accomplish your future goals (this is when you introduce specifics examples- as mentioned above) and close with a “why MIT” statement, where you address why and how an MBA from MIT will help you achieve your goals.
VIDEO ESSAY
Please take a minute to introduce yourself to your future classmates via video. Include a bit on your past experience and why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your MBA. Videos should be a single take (no editing) lasting no more than one minute and consisting of you speaking directly to the camera. We recommend using an application such as QuickTime or iMovie to record yourself.
Upload the video file according to the detailed instructions within the application. We support the following file formats: .avi, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .webm, .wmv
Should you experience difficulties uploading your file, please ensure that you’re using a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) on the fastest wired internet connection available. An intermittent or slow internet connection can cause uploads to timeout.
The goal of this 60 second video essay is to know you on a personal level and put a face on your application. In order to make this essay as engaging and authentic as possible, think of this video essay as a way to introduce yourself to your classmates on the first day of class.
To approach this video essay start by crafting a rough script about who you are, where you are from and more importantly your values, remember to connect those values to what MIT is looking for in a candidate : someone who is driven, innovative and looking to make a significant impact in the business world and the MIT community.
Remember that the video should be a single take and edits are not allowed. Therefore, it’s important to craft a rough script beforehand (don’t repeat it word for word- you don’t want to sound scripted). Dress professionally, select a will lit quiet spot, speak clearly and practice as many times as needed. Remember the importance of body language, stand/ sit straight and look directly in the camera.
Once you complete the recording, check your pronunciation and sound quality. If you are a non-native speaker, don’t attempt to conceal your accent, it’s part of who you are, own it! As long as your English is clear and you speak with confidence, you’ll be fine!
Need assistance with your essay? The Admission Concierge is a one-on-one approach consulting service, founded by a former director of admissions with extensive experience in guiding applicants through the application process including interview prep and post admission assistance.