ESSAYS STRATEGY

Question

Im preparing for writing my MBA Essays. I would like to have a clear strategy or schedule. I have 10 weeks to the deadline, so I dont have too much time. The Essay topics are basically the same: career goals, achivements, leadership and personal interest. I was thinking in a plan like this, what do you think, guys?

Week 1 Brainstorming: Discover my strengths
Week 2 Brainstorming: Focus in career goals
Week 3 Brainstorming: School fits
Week 4 First Draft Essay 1,2,3
Week 5 Review Draft
Week 6 Second Draft Essay 1,2,3
Week 7 Review Draft
Week 8 Third Draft Essay 1,2,3
Week 9 Review Draft
Week 10 Review Draft

Do you have any suggestion, tips o stories from your experience?

machichi · Answer

Looks good. You may have already thought about this, but the data forms for each school are really time intensive as well. Don't forget to set aside time to work on them!

Ward2012 · Answer

Sounds good. I will just say though that I have found some questions to be much easier than others. So while I may spend a couple hours churning out an answer to one question, another question may take me 6-8 hours because I'm really struggling. I set up a calendar for myself as well, but I found it hard to follow because of this. In the end, everything worked out and I got my applications in on time. You just may have to adjust a little when you actually are in the thick of the process.

theK · Answer

machici is right - Apart from being time consuming, some schools' online forms have mini essay(s) such as Tuck's 250 words 'International Experience' question. Paul from Amerasia identified a few others in the following post:
11th-hour-app-advice-things-to-consider-before-submitting-139615.html#p1125277

bodu · Answer

it definitely takes a long time! i would suggest this order (no time line though) 1. find out what the school asks in the essay 2. write out a list of items you need to research 3. decide what you want to put on your essay 4. start writing. at this time you will go back and forther between research and writing 5. have someone review it, review it yourself 6. submit! :lol:

aerien · Answer

I have to say this is a really detailed approach! Personally, I compiled a list of the school questions, attempted to match up essay themes (arguably you can't write the same essay for every school, but a lot of the examples/themes can be used again), and started writing to those. The first few weeks were difficult because it was hard coming up with ideas and I more or less stared at a piece of paper with crossed-out scribbles on it, but by the end I hammered out applications in 2-3 weeks each. You'll get there and good luck!

bodu · Answer

yep aerien is right. once you do maybe 2-3 schools, you will have developed an approach you can rely on. for me: 1. i figured out exactly why i need an mba, what my goals are, what have i done to achieve my goal, and how will my mba help me 2. i have a list of stories for different types of essays (goals, achievement, failure, passion etc etc) 3. i know what to look for: which concentration? which clubs? which extracurrcular activites? what kind of student do i want to contact? once you have a system, you can do your other schools in like 2 weeks! :lol:

ESSAYS STRATEGY

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