Yale #2

Question

What to use for this? So many choices.
Leadership?
Setback?
Unique personality characteristic?
Personal Development?

Do they mind if you "create" a question that closely resembles another schools' question?

For those who have completed Yale's app, how did you go about this?

Thanks in advance

EconGirl · Answer

I evaluated all my experiences and choose to write about the one I felt might help the most to set me appart from other applicants. I wrote about a setback and how dealt/waht learned, which is a pretty common question in other applications. 

you should know that I did not hear from Yale though, which means that I probably did not get in ...

eazyb81 · Answer

I'm having trouble with this one as well....still not sure how I will approach it. 

Side note: Yale's 500 word limit on each essay is simply ridiculous. I am finding it nearly impossible to trim the 1st one down to 500 words - very frustrating.

darren1010 · Answer

I started with 650, and then cut it down to 450. now I have to fill it with some not-too-important details

lhotseface · Answer

I would suggest using a truly original question (not from another school's app) to highlight a personal quality/achievement.

aaudetat · Answer

Met a nice gal who is a first year Yale student. She obviously got in and got some pretty decent dough to boot.

She wasn't that into Yale when she applied, so she lifted her "most gratifying career achievement" essay from another school and used it for Yale. She swears she did change the school's name, at least.

BTW - you think 500 words stinks? Yeah, try this: Cornell only allows 400. They're outta control.

Frankly, if you need to trim your essay, give it to someone who isn't attached to your achievements like you are. It's so hard to slash and burn your own writing. For my Cornell stuff, i am down to 500 and am going to give it to one of my supervisees who used to be in publishing. She even uses the offical doo-dads when she crosses your stuff out. Very professional.

zargo79 · Answer

I'm also having the same dilemma on what kind of essay to use for this one.

Extracurr essay - Impressive but it doesn't seem to fit with my goals 
Personal History - Poignant and unique but again isnt' focused on my goals.
Leadership - Of professional nature so it may not sound as unique but it is easier to fit with my goals.


any suggestions?

aaudetat · Answer

I am sure you can make any of those experiences relate to your goals. You can show how you have gained a cross-applicable skill or lesson from any experience. Example: you grew up low-income, which you can use to show your determination, your ability to adapt yourself to new situations, your passion for making the world a better place, or your impressive array of trailer-court swear words. Your volunteer work with a local theatre might be a good way to show your diverse interests, your ability to work with a team, etc. 

One way to help you decide - is there anything you would love to tell the adcom, but you didn't get a chance to express in your application? Do you have any weaknesses that a well-written story would mitigate?

zargo79 · Answer

Do you think its better to explicitly state these cross functional skills or just let the essay/accomplishment speak for itself without saying "the lessons I learned doing XYZ can be applicable for AAA and BBB"

I always found these statements a bit cliche and kinda detracts from the flow of the essay but i guess it ensures that the adcom knows what you are bringing to the table.

aaudetat · Answer

I think the rule of thumb is to treat your reader like a bit of a moron and spell out what you want them to know. 

After all, this is a business school application; you should show that your experiences make sense in a business setting. I don't know if you have to be super-super-obvious ("I balanced the group's budget and untangled the finances after the previous treasurer was canned because he completely screwed it all up. These accounting skills will clearly help me in my accounting classes."). But I do think you want to tie it in by using the right words. In the previous example, you might talk about fixing up the accounting and then say something like, "I learned a lot about accounting and applying those skills in a non-profit situation." You've used the right buzz words - accounting, applying, skills, non-profit. They'll get it. 

Maybe a way to judge how specific to be by considering how obviously the skill relates to b-school. A story that shows your leadership accumen will be obvious. Something about booking artists for a community music festival will be less clear and require clearer linkages.

eazyb81 · Answer

I've decided to use a leadership-based essay that I will modify from another school's essay. However, it starts off on a somber note, and I hope that doesn't detract from what i'm trying to convey.

aaudetat · Answer

As long as you don't cast yourself in a negative light, and the essay ends with a nice, uplifting go-to-it note, it's probably ok.

Keep in mind that we want to show that we've overcome challenges and have learned about ourselves, but we don't want to look like we're damaged goods or just plain jerks.

EconGirl · Answer

This is useful. I am deciding on the concluding paragraph of my essay where a change I made helped out my team. I feel like an idiot saying this experience of XYZ enhanced my  leadership skills  ABC. On the other hand, I worry that by not spelling it out, I weaken the impact a bit.....

eazyb81 · Answer

I think I have done a good job illustrating how I rose to the occassion during a trying situation, and it's certainly not a "pity me" essay, so I feel good about it.....let's hope the adcoms do too.

Yale #2

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