A shining start

Appropriately crafted business school application essays can make all the difference to your chances, writes Lee Yih

This is the time of year when many think about getting into a top business school. While much advice is floating around, my tips come from over 10 years of advising Kaplan students and listening to admissions officers.

Here are my Top Ten Tips for writing a winning business school application essay:

1) Essays should differentiate you from the many other candidates. Clearly explain what you are doing now. Take the time to do a good job on this, rather than trying to get 30 more points on the GMAT test. Revise your essays: put time into them, go away, then return and look at them again.

2) Reflect on the content. A top West Coast school's admissions officer looks for "reflection", "introspection" and "thoughtfulness". Show that you differ from other Asian candidates. Don't just write about yourself; reflect on what you feel about the data.

3) Chinese students' number one problem is not answering the question. Do your own work. Having advisory services write your essays is not allowed - admittances are revoked when people cheat in this way.

4) Think about what you want to communicate. Why is the MBA so critical to you and your future goals? Write this out separately and then work it into your essay. I cannot stress how important this is! Why do you want to go to business, not law school? What can the MBA do for you?

5) Too often, Chinese applicants ask, "What are the schools looking for?" and then try to show they are that person. It's hard to get away with a dishonest answer. It is better to be yourself and write a wonderful story about your unique gifts and qualities that would thrive in your chosen school.

6) Think about cause-and-effect relationships in your life. Help the reader understand your company's situation, why it was a challenge to head a project or supervise an individual. Think about your essay's tone.

7) A top East Coast school's admissions officer looks for "reflection", "insight", "maturity" and "perspective". Compare this to item two.

8) Being clear and concise is more important than creativity. Make sure your answer is "targeted" answer.

9) For the optional question, be savvy and careful. Do not spend too much time on it, as it does not have the same weight as the other essays. I would always take the option, but I would not make a huge deal of it.

10) Think of the essays as a chance to fill in the gaps, pull your whole application into a true story, shine, be an interesting person and say a lot about yourself.

Acknowledgement Lee Yih is currently executive director of the Chinese Entrepreneur Association, a US-based non-profit organisation of scientists, entrepreneurs and business professionals. He is also the chairman of Kaplan Educational Center (HK) Limited. He holds a MBA degree from Stanford University.

Taken from Career Times 2003/10/24