Dos and Don’ts of Writing the Business School Admission Essay

Use specific examples to support details you share about yourself. For example, instead of writing you are financially savvy, supply a relevant anecdote about a time you saved your company a significant amount of money. Include how you managed this feat and add specifics in terms of just how much money you saved.

“Sometimes applicants spend a lot of time talking about why their commitments matters to them in a philosophical sense, but not enough on showing how they have approached those commitments in concrete terms,” adds Grodman. “Tell us what you set out to do and how you have gone about doing it, ensuring you are specific and detailed in describing that approach.”

This one might seem obvious. But admissions committees will write you off if your essay is riddled with grammatical errors or typos. There’s no excuse for those kinds of mistakes. You should be taking time to write and edit. And you should have someone else – someone you trust to proofread accurately – look over your work. After looking at the same page over and over, you sometimes miss even silly errors that fresh eyes will see.

Aside from those kinds of mistakes, however, another person can offer advice on the content itself. “A great essay is one that you could show to your mom or a close friend and they would recognize you in it,” says French Thomas.

While this advice is sound, also consider asking for a second opinion from someone who isn’t so close to you, someone who can offer a completely objective opinion.

Talk to anyone in admissions, even at top business schools, and you’ll learn of everyone’s big pet peeve – applicants who never answer the question. Each program asks a different question in the essay portion of the application. Even questions that are similar might be slightly different from school to school. Too many applicants never answer the question being posed.

One trick many admissions experts have shared is to have others read the essay and see if they can determine the question without knowing it. If they can, you’ve answered the question. If they can’t, you need to become more focused in your writing.

Another big no-no admissions committee members constantly discuss is a lack of customization. Many applicants mistakenly think they can write one essay and use it for every school. That is lazy, and it won’t get you far with most schools. Schools want to know what it is about their program that attracts you. They also want to determine if you’re a good fit for their particular program.

You will have to conduct proper research on each school to which you apply. Talk to students and staff at these places. Visit if you can. Write a personalized essay that addresses their nuanced question and includes information demonstrating you know the program and why you should be accepted to it.

Take your time. Rushing is not an option with business school applications. You need time to do the necessary research and write and edit well. Having time gives you the chance to avoid making silly errors. It also means you’ll have the chance to look over your work and make sure you’re satisfied with what you’re turning into the admissions committee. Ultimately, the essays are a window into who you are. You want that window to be open and transparent and offer an interesting view into your soul.