A personal statement is arguably one of the most important components for business school applications. For many candidates, it is also the piece that causes the most anxiety. The point of a personal statement is in the title itself - it is personal. Every applicant’s will be different, and there’s no one size fits all approach. Writing a killer MBA personal statement will take time and effort - this is not a part of the application you want to skim over. If you don’t know where to begin, continue reading to learn some tips on how to write a great personal statement.
A great MBA personal statement can make or break an application. Admissions counselors are looking for well rounded individuals that can add a unique perspective or diversity of thought and experience to their class. If they are deciding between candidates, they may look to the personal statement to help them make their decision.
A personal statement will typically prompt candidates to introduce themselves, highlight their work experience and background, touch on their future career aspirations, as well as why the particular program they are applying to is a good fit. This is a lot of content to fit into one or a series of short essays!
How to write a great MBA Personal Statement
Focus on a theme that demonstrates one of the school’s key values
Be specific - why you’re a great fit for each program. Don’t use the same examples and personal statement for each program. Do your research on each program and draft targeted examples that show case interests and the program’s fit to your overall short and long term goals for Why MBA?
Think about what makes you unique - admissions counselors are looking for what makes you unique as an applicant and person. They want to know what is perhaps unexpected about you, and what makes you stand out amongst a sea of qualified candidates. Often, being yourself in terms of your personal background, influences, perspectives and experiences that make you who you are can be effective.
Use real life examples - although your personal statement is an opportunity to highlight your ability as a storyteller, the examples and experiences in the essay must be based on real life examples. Again, be as specific as possible when writing about your experience, and remain true to yourself. A good example could be a leadership challenge or achievement you accomplished at a workplace or within a team project. A poor example is when it highlights regrets and weaknesses without tying back to your goals for graduate school.
Be mindful of tone - essays need to show admissions counselors that the candidate has generally good character and is likeable. Being authentic, humble, and thoughtful are also qualities programs look for. Keep this in mind in writing style and the verbiage you choose. In fact, some programs care so much about likeability and personality that they have begun asking for video personal statements or essays.
Do consider ways to market your strengths and talents effectively without overdoing it or underplaying them. Don’t point out failures and flaws without framing what positive things you learned from those experiences. Weigh each example carefully as to how the specifics will uplift your overall candidacy. If there’s a gap in your work or academics you can also use an area of your application and writing to explain this. Consult with a counselor or an advisor regarding what information would help or hurt your application.
Leveraging resources and support in the form of an admissions consultant can help you craft your unique personal statement. To learn more on how CollegeLaunch can help you write your very best MBA Personal Statement, sign up for a complimentary consultation session today.