Every year some energetic early-bird candidates want to get an early start on their MBA applications. These students believe in getting an edge over other candidates, before Round 1 deadlines generally in September/October. The tricky thing in most business schools is that they do not release their updated MBA application essays until June, July, or sometimes even later.
This article gives an insight into what you can be doing instead of waiting for the last-minute panic to flood in. The top B-schools which will preferably be changing their essay questions are also mentioned in this space so, that you can consider for a head start. The MBA consulting services offered by our team have sincerely curated points for your reference to help you in your application process.
Points to remember to strengthen your MBA Application
Some important points to remember to strengthen the MBA Application are:
- Look through the points to be remembered by the “early-birds”.
- Start contacting or consulting students/alums of the targeted B-schools to have an insight into their requirements.
- Find people with a background similar to yours.
- Start the homework of identifying your “career vision homework”.
List of Top B-Schools Likely to change their application essays
As the top B-schools made several changes in their essay topics in 2020. So, even though the changes are expected to be seen in the coming year, there need not be major changes. In the past, the changes occurred mainly because of the societal changes and happenings in the world (the pandemic being the highlight), there may not have been similar major shocks in society in the past year, thus the changes are expected to be only a few. The change in the MBA Application essays is expected to be relevant to the changes in the world in the past years in general.
The most prominent and probable expected changes are:
- Questions revolving around “diversity and inclusion” as they will continue to expand.
- An increase in the AI tools for reliability about the significant concerns and the candidates using it for writing their application essays.
Harvard Business School (HBS)
There is a very low probability to find any change in the application essay for HBS. The institute will be hiring a new head of admissions soon, and the previous head of admissions didn’t make any substantial changes to the existing essay questions. Unless the institute hires someone willing to flip the situation for the benefit of the institute, there won’t be any significant change in the conditions.
Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB)
GSB will be hiring a new head of admissions in the coming session. And their classic question of “What matters the most?” has been in trend for more than 20 years and is not expected to change even in the present world. Since Stanford has optional leadership essays in their requirements they cover nearly all the questions they need answers to. It is least expected to see any changes in the application essay questions for GSB.
UPenn (Wharton)
The college structure is strictly focused on data analytics, tracking, etc, and changing the essay questions may not be the best decision for their institute as the structural different questions might bring in varied answers which might not bring in the correct image of the candidates. So, as per the requirements of the institute, it is clear that preferably no major changes in their traditional essay questions will be expected.
Chicago (Booth)
It is one of the top B-schools, that is most likely to flip things around. This institute has often changed its essay questions and it won’t be shocking if it does again as the same question has continued for quite several years now. So, it is sensible to be mentally clear about the possibility of having changes and completely unexpected question for your MBA Application.
Northwestern (Kellogg)
The new head of admissions is stable with the existing major essay question “Leaders who create lasting value” that has been in place for years and is least expected to change. Though the other essay questions such as “Values are what guide you” might undergo some modification. The Kira talent video interview questions are generally interesting but there is a possibility of seeing a change in the previously asked questions and honestly, it would be fun to see new possibilities arise. Anyways, this is the last thing to worry about as it is not that urgent at the start.
MIT has one of the favorite written applications. The forced brevity of the cover letter is loved along with the requirement of the organizational chart. It is sometimes wondered why not all business schools ask for the organizational chart as it is a useful tool for application analysis in a business school. The traditional written applications will not be seeing any changes soon though there is a possibility of change in the questions for the pre-prepared video round.
Columbia Business School (CBS)
As per the history of CBS admissions, we can see that essay number 3 is the most likely to change while the other two remain the same. The expectations suggest that the first and second essays might be clubbed together this year as the answer can be found in lesser words in general. One thing that is most likely to remain constant this year and even the next few is the “Why CBS?” question. Thus, thorough research and well pre-formed answer to this question can ease the application process.
Yale SOM
Their “biggest commitment” essay has already had a lot of effort in its development. The admission committee seems to be convinced by their question and the essay is expected to stay the same this year and even the following ones.
Berkley (Haas)
This B-school likes to make changes go around every once in a while. Their new head of admissions has the role for a couple of years at this point and they might be willing to play around with the topics now. There is a high possibility of changes in the essay questions thus, it is better to wait for the question to be out before deciding to put in the effort for it.
Michigan (Ross)
The past year says about the unpredictability of their admission committee as amidst the two admission officers leaving, the organization chose to add new essays. They tend to swap their 100-word essay by mixing the topics of the buckets. And, anyways writing a 1000-word essay is easier than a 100-word essay as the latter needs to cover information concisely and properly while the former can contain long stories. So, it is better to not assume anything at the moment while starting to prepare for the applications and wait instead.‘
Dartmouth (Tuck)
Though their core values are very unlikely to change, the specific essay wording/topic might change. If you wish to prepare beforehand for Tuck then the most suitable pathway you can choose is to contact the alumni from the college and identify the kind of people Tuck looks for and then brainstorm stories that will make you look the most suitable for it. This way you can create a full picture of your application without starting the application yet.
Duke (Fuqua)
The organization has been doing incredibly well in running its admissions office and its “25 Things” has been the most recognizable to the Fuqua brand than the Blue Devil mascot itself. Their brief, and to-the-point career essay, and the “contribution to the community” essay are pretty useful in the application process and are also helpful to read. There aren’t many changes expected in this application process.
NYU has had its “Pick Six” for a while, they must like it or find some value in it to continue it for so long. A year or two ago, they mixed it up with their “Change: __ It!” essay which matches their snazzy tagline. Now the tagline has been firmly launched so it is possible to see a change in the “Change: __ It” essay. The possibility of change and replacement of these articles won’t be surprising much.
UVA (Darden)
UVA was quick to add an “inclusive environment” essay topic a few years ago. They also have a lot of super-random mini-essays like “Where would you like to travel with school?”. They have been quite fluctuating about their essay topics in the past as well. So, sensibility would be in keeping the essays on hold for a while.
Cornell (Johnson)
The thing that matters to them the most is the student outreach and this makes sense given the Ithaca location. The specific text of the question may vary but one can expect the importance placed on student outreach as it is. Anyways, Cornell has a lot going on so you might come across a lot of things to enumerate in the essay.
Carnegie Mellon (Tepper)
They’ve been switching things up in their admission process in the past couple of years. The video part of their process is interesting. Their current question for the written application doesn’t give all the information they need to analyze the candidate. So, it won’t be surprising if they add something to it.
UCLA (Anderson)
UCLA has a reason similar to Tepper's that its written application question doesn’t provide enough analytical information to identify the candidate's acceptance into the institute. The addition to the question will most likely be around the understanding of the candidate’s applicability as a student in the B-school.
UT Austin (McCombs)
UT Austin has been famous for its capability to bring new ideas to the admission procedures. Last year, they did what most B-schools should do. They introduced the Seven Video interview questions in their application process. There is a possibility of seeing something new this time as well. Hold on before anything is released from their end as things might take a turn.
UNC-Chapel Hill (Kenan Flagler)
The main two essays are expected to remain the same, but their essay about “furthering your growth as an inclusive leader” is a little too complicated. There is a possibility to expect a change in this essay. This essay came out in the throes of 2020, and is similar to other “inclusion” essays, but probably gets manipulated by the cynical applicants. A change can be seen in this essay most probably, the rest will remain the same.
USC (Marshall)
USC wants to continue having their GMAT average rise, thus they keep the essay as easy as possible such that people with high GMAT scores can apply easily, which increases their rank. No recommendations are needed and there’s hardly any possibility of change in the essay. And in case that happens, it will be something equally easier.
These are the list of colleges that might choose to create a change in the existing patterns of their essay applications. The MBA Edge team guides MBA aspirants through their application process in all manners possible. Those, who are willing can consider the one-on-one counseling session with the experts for better clarity.
