Blog Archive Monday Morning Essay Tip Goals Out Front

Blog Archive Monday Morning Essay Tip Goals Out Front When most business school candidates read an essay question, they interpret it quite literally. For example, when  Kellogg asks applicants to “Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at Kellogg. (600-word limit),” many applicants assume that they must answer each subquestion within the broader question in the exact order in which they were asked. However, this is not true. Such questions are indeed quite flexible, and at times, by pursuing your own structure, you can truly engage your reader. We have found that with regard to overrepresented candidates who have unique professional goals, one strategy that can be quite helpful is to lead with goals instead of professional history. After all, “typical” experience is not as captivating as unusual (but realistic!) ambitions. So, the Indian technologist who intends to open a boutique hotel or the male investment banker who aspires to start a competitive windsurfing circuit can use these bold goals to stand out from the start. Again, we emphasize that such candidates need to have (and show!) a compelling connection to their goals, and we do not suggest that overrepresented candidates strive to imagine or create “wild” goals just to catch the admissions committees attention. However, if you have a profound connection to an unusual goal, then reordering the question and ensuring that your goals are out front can make a difference. Share ThisTweet Monday Morning Essay Tips Blog Archive Monday Morning Essay Tip Goals Out Front When most candidates read an essay question, they interpret it quite literally. So, when Wharton asks, “Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect a Wharton MBA to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? (1,000 words),” many candidates assume that they must answer each sub-question within the broader question, in the very order that it was asked. But that is not the case. These questions are indeed quite flexible, and at times, by pursuing your own structure, you can truly engage the reader. We have found that when it comes to overrepresented candidates who have unique professional goals, one strategy which can be quite helpful is to lead with goals instead of professional history. After all, “typical” experience is not as captivating as unusual (but realistic!) ambitions. So, the Indian technologist who intends to open a boutique hotel or the male investment banker who aspires to start a competitive windsurfing circuit can use these bold goals to stand out from the start. Again, we emphasize that such candidates need to have a compelling connection to the goals themselves, and we do not suggest that overrepresented candidates strive to imagine or create “wild” goals. However, if you have a profound connection, then reordering the question and ensuring that your goals are out front can make a difference. Share ThisTweet Blogroll