Once your GMAT is in a competitive range, the most important thing you can do is write strong essays. This is your chance to demonstrate that you have something valuable to contribute.
The admissions team works diligently to assemble a high-caliber and well-rounded class of students from a broad range of professional backgrounds. A diverse group is important because b-school is team-oriented, collaborative and interdisciplinary. Consequently, projects will be more successful and students will get more out of the experience when their teammates contribute unique perspectives.
This plays into your essay strategy. Be sure to highlight experiences – both on the job and in your personal life – that will bring value to the classroom. Rather than reiterating job responsibilities that can be found on your resume, your essays give you the opportunity to expand upon your most unique and interesting experiences.
The admissions team evaluates your complete application, which includes many different components. All components of your application integrate to provide us with an overall understanding of your academic ability and past experience to determine your potential for success in the program.
W. P. Carey Evening MBA and Online MBA Essays
1. Explain how your past accomplishments have prepared you for the W. P. Carey MBA.
Discuss your most unique personal and professional accomplishments. Share details about what you’ve done that you’re most proud of. Be specific about why these accomplishments are unique and how they have made you stronger. This question also offers you the chance to demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills.
2. How will the W. P. Carey MBA help you achieve your personal and professional goals? Please reference any area of emphasis you plan to pursue and discuss your career goals after the MBA program.
Explain your career path thus far with a clear link to your immediate post-MBA goals, how you plan to get there and where you hope to be longer term. To make this essay more than a recitation of your resume and career objectives, think about explaining the rationale for your personal and professional decisions and what your W. P. Carey education will launch you towards in the future. Convince the admissions team that you have a goal, then clearly and specifically explain that goal and why the MBA will help you accomplish it.
3. Please address any weaknesses in your W. P. Carey MBA application or provide additional information you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee.
Prove that you have self-awareness of your weaknesses and can learn from them. Explain to the admissions team how you managed through a weakness, what you learned, what insights into yourself you gained, and how you grew. If there are weaknesses in your application, this is the perfect place to address them.
W. P. Carey Full-time MBA Essays
1. What are the two most significant decisions you have made that influenced your career path to this point and what were the results?
Showcase your thinking, decision-making abilities and personal insight that have contributed to your professional path thus far. Share details about what you’ve done that you’re most proud of, why you’ve made the choices that you’ve made, and what the outcomes of these decisions have been. This question also offers you the chance to demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills. Significant international experiences or a diverse background will be an asset here. Keep in mind that you want this to show why you would be a valuable addition to the class, making it more diverse and well-rounded.
2. Discuss your post-MBA professional goals, beginning with the MBA specialization you plan to pursue. How did you decide on this career path, and why do you feel these goals are realistic for you?
Explain your immediate post-MBA goals, how you plan to get there and where you hope to be longer term. To make this essay more than a recitation of career objectives, explain the rationale for your professional decisions and what your W. P. Carey education will launch you towards in the future. You should convince the admissions team that you have a goal, then clearly and specifically explain that goal and why the MBA will help you accomplish it.
3. What unique skills and/or experiences will you contribute to the W. P. Carey Full-time MBA program?
This open-ended question gives you the opportunity to highlight your most unique personal and professional accomplishments, or anything special that you did not bring up in the other essays. Share details about what you’ve done that you’re most proud of. Be specific about why it is unique and how these accomplishments have made you a stronger individual.
