Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
May 2008:00 AM PDT
-08:30 AM PDT
What’s in it for you- Live Profile Evaluation Chat Session with Jenifer Turtschanow, CEO, ARINGO. Come with your details prepared and ARINGO will share insights! Pre-MBA Role/Industry, YOE, Exam Score, C/GPA, ECs Post-MBA Role/ Industry & School List.
May 2110:00 AM EDT
-10:30 AM EDT
Most candidates submit a resume built for a recruiter. Admissions committees are reading for something else entirely. This session covers what adcoms actually evaluate, where strong candidates lose ground before a single essay is written, and why...
May 2208:30 AM PDT
-09:00 AM PDT
Get the inside scoop on what makes Emory’s Goizueta Business School great and how you can present a strong MBA application. Explore the difference between our One-Year MBA and Two-Year MBA programs, talk to our admissions team, and meet students.
May 2203:00 PM EDT
-04:00 PM EDT
The old MBA recruiting playbook is dead. Here’s how top admits are getting ahead this summer.
May 2308:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Inquire for a free profile evaluation and guarantee statement for possible admits and scholarships!
May 2707:30 PM EDT
-08:30 PM EDT
Learn how to choose the right recommenders and strengthen your MBA candidacy in this live AMA with Stratus experts.
May 2910:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Download the MBA Launchpad App, for FREE access to the largest MBA database - Data backed read on your profile - Identify gaps before you apply - Build a balanced school list - Track your deadlines - Mock interviews - Extensive content library
Jun 1006:00 AM PDT
-06:15 PM PDT
Register for the GMAT Club Virtual MBA Spotlight Fair – the world’s premier event for serious MBA candidates. This is your chance to hear directly from Admissions Directors at nearly every Top 30 MBA program..
23 Jun 2016, 17:13
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi everyone,
Yes I know it's all over Internet and it's been asked a gazillion times, but I ask again because my case is a bit specific so I apologize for any repetition here..
I am applying for a MSc in Finance, not MBA. I don't know what's the typical limit for an MBA essay, but some schools I am applying to have a very small word allowance, they want "500-600 words" or "typically an A-4 page"
It happens that I have a lot to explain because I don't have any experience in finance, I come from very different field and I have really interesting background full of travel, etc and how I got to the idea of studying a MSc Finance.
Plus on a good essay:
-I have to briefly explain that my lack of quantitative background is not an issue.
-I have to tell my detailed career plans.
-I have to show that I know the contents of the course and how those are important for my career plans, so I have to talk on how the content of the electives etc fits my career goals.
-I would like to tell why I want that particular University.
-I want to fit a conclusion to all this saying how my experience will contribute to my success and the MSc success.
-I need to show I am determined to succeed based on my past experiences.
Oh and don't forget the "I would like to express my interest to study at ...." and "look forward to hearing from you soon" formalities part that eats like 10 lines.
phew... All of this on ONE PAGE????? Come on, how can I present a good, clear picture of myself, my plans and tell my story covering my weak points on just an A4 page? I need to transmit personality, story, cover weak points, show knowledge of the course, the University, write nice clear sentences not just lists, justify my choice of electives.
I would easily fit on 2 pages, but one is simply not doable...
Of course I can cut out something, but then the whole essay makes no sense. It would raise questions such as "why this guy wants finance?, what he wants to achieve?, why is he an interesting candidate? Why will he succeed? Oh he has no quant background, now what?"
I need some extra room to tell my story straight and there is no way I can fit on 1 page. Now I have like 1.5 pages.
Any advice on this? Can I pass the limit by 50%?.. It's usually like 10%, but then my story is incomplete and my chances are drastically hurt!
What part can I leave out?.. To me it all looks important! Plus, my story is interesting, I'm sure they don't see many candidates like me! Not because I am a genius, but because it's really an unconventional way to get to finance.
Thank you all for any input!
Yes I know it's all over Internet and it's been asked a gazillion times, but I ask again because my case is a bit specific so I apologize for any repetition here..
I am applying for a MSc in Finance, not MBA. I don't know what's the typical limit for an MBA essay, but some schools I am applying to have a very small word allowance, they want "500-600 words" or "typically an A-4 page"
It happens that I have a lot to explain because I don't have any experience in finance, I come from very different field and I have really interesting background full of travel, etc and how I got to the idea of studying a MSc Finance.
Plus on a good essay:
-I have to briefly explain that my lack of quantitative background is not an issue.
-I have to tell my detailed career plans.
-I have to show that I know the contents of the course and how those are important for my career plans, so I have to talk on how the content of the electives etc fits my career goals.
-I would like to tell why I want that particular University.
-I want to fit a conclusion to all this saying how my experience will contribute to my success and the MSc success.
-I need to show I am determined to succeed based on my past experiences.
Oh and don't forget the "I would like to express my interest to study at ...." and "look forward to hearing from you soon" formalities part that eats like 10 lines.
phew... All of this on ONE PAGE????? Come on, how can I present a good, clear picture of myself, my plans and tell my story covering my weak points on just an A4 page? I need to transmit personality, story, cover weak points, show knowledge of the course, the University, write nice clear sentences not just lists, justify my choice of electives.
I would easily fit on 2 pages, but one is simply not doable...
Of course I can cut out something, but then the whole essay makes no sense. It would raise questions such as "why this guy wants finance?, what he wants to achieve?, why is he an interesting candidate? Why will he succeed? Oh he has no quant background, now what?"
I need some extra room to tell my story straight and there is no way I can fit on 1 page. Now I have like 1.5 pages.
Any advice on this? Can I pass the limit by 50%?.. It's usually like 10%, but then my story is incomplete and my chances are drastically hurt!
What part can I leave out?.. To me it all looks important! Plus, my story is interesting, I'm sure they don't see many candidates like me! Not because I am a genius, but because it's really an unconventional way to get to finance.
Thank you all for any input!
23 Jun 2016, 21:46
Kudos
Bookmarks
Try to make the essay as concise as you can. Do not exceed the word limit in any case. Some of the schools do not allow more than the allotted words to be written in the online form. Hence, make sure your essay is crisp, concise and strong and at the same time abides by the word limit.
PersonalMBACoach
Expert
Personal MBA Coach Founder
Joined: 11 Sep 2010
Last visit: 18 May 2026
Posts: 3,824
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 11
Status:Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting from a Wharton graduate - Helping applicants get into top global business schools since 2008
Affiliations: Wharton, MIT
Location: United States (NY)
Overall Client Admit Rate: 96%
Expert reply
23 Jun 2016, 21:49
Kudos
Bookmarks
iliavko
50% is not advisable but you can go over the limit by a small margin. Most schools do not count the words, so a little over is ok but not by anything that would be noticeable. If you want help crafting your story in the allotted words, send me an email and I would be happy to help. It is challenging to get all of your stories across in a small number of words, but that is one thing you are being evaluated on. I do specialized masters applications and MBA applications and they both have word limits usually.
[email protected]
Good luck!
Best,
Scott
