Stanford 2009 Essay Questions

Question

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/mba/admissi ... ities.html

Are those for Fall 2009 entry? I am not planning on applying but I know some of you are. If those are the new questions, get started! If not, delete this thread

terry12 · Answer

Yep, those are new. Amusingly, they've done away with page counts and are now limiting essays by word count. Good luck everyone!

kidderek · Answer

Is it even worth applying for us mere mortals? I mean I'd love to attend (who wouldn't?).

But is it even worth the gamble of paying the app fee, nevermind the endless hours working on the app?

sm332 · Answer

I have already decided it isnt!

terry12 · Answer

What!?! Don't be ridiculous. Sure, gmatclubbers haven't had the best of luck with the big S. I'm still not sure why (and I continue to hold out hope for the waitlisters). But we've had great experiences with virtually every other school including H and W. I'm hoping our luck with Stanford will catch up soon.

In all sincerity, I don't know what the key is to getting in. But I do know (corny as it sounds) that you won't get in if you don't try. I'll do my best to help with the upcoming application season.

p.s. Kid- love your new-ish avatar (my brother was an insane Mets fan in the 80s and 90s).

Raabend · Answer

For most of us its just a reality that it would be wasted time and effort. If I played Michael Jordan in bball is there a chance I would win?

bsd_lover · Answer

I find the word limits quite interesting. They have changed it down to a brutal 750 and 400 (and 300 for short essays). A choice of two out of four is a LOT like HBS.

futuredukemba · Answer

Just so you guys know. I was waitlisted then eventually dinged at Stanford. Meanwhile, I was still sitting down 2 days before the app was due debating whether I should donate 250 to the school until my family members advised me to. I am glad I did since I got into every other school I applied. And if I did not apply, I would always have had the what if feeling.

So if Stanford and the culture appeals to you and you think you have something to add to the class, I definitely say go for IT. At least there will be no what ifs.

By the way, Stanford was my last and best app and I am still proud of the application I put together.

kidderek · Answer

haha, yea I was never a huge Keith fan (I was too young), but watching him as an analyst makes me appreciate him so much more. i love his old-school attitude.

kryzak · Answer

OUCH!!! "What Matters To You Most and Why" in *750* words??! :shock:

I probably should apologize for "abusing" the page limit thing too much. I think I fit 500 words on each page, so my breakdown was something like 1200, 1200, and 500 for each of the short essays

Gone are the days where you had UNLIMITED length (yeah, only 3 years ago, surprising eh?). I still can't imagine how you craft a beautiful "What Matters" essay in 750 words. Compare that with the 10 page monsters that are in Montauk's book and you'll see why it's so difficult. I sure am glad I'm not applying this year.

But futureduke and terry are right, if you like Stanford and it's one of your top choices, then apply. You really can't know what your chances are. Like futureduke, I got into all the other schools I've applied to, and if I didn't apply to Stanford, I would have always wondered "what if." Stanford ended up being the set of essays where I poured my heart and soul out, and in turn, I learned a LOT about myself and my motivations. I think if you aren't cash and time strapped, doing this set of applications will help you tremendously in your MBA career and your life. I think one of the reasons I got into Kellogg was probably because I did those apps after Stanford and knew exactly what I wanted to write about.

Good luck y'all, and all of us past applicants will be on hand to help as much as we can. With terry12 in this year, we just might open the door a little more for GMATClubbers?

bherronp · Answer

Unlike these two shining stars, I got massacred except for Michigan, but I am still glad I at least tried. No "what if" 10 years down the road. Ya, i'd like to have my 250 bucks back now, but it was worth the shot.

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