Words have meaning and names have power
This particular line I think summarize the importance of writing winning admission essays for business school, if you want to make it to the any of the most renowned business schools in the world. While the GMAT scores and the undergraduate GPAs reflect your academic and intellectual aptitude, the college essays not only are an indicator of your verbal prowess but your leadership abilities. Even more than that, the essays prove to the admission committee members that the applicant portrayed by the words is indeed a blessing to the MBA program and will contribute handsomely to the pool of knowledge and experience.
However, that doesn’t mean you should stoop down to painting yourself in false light and concoct false tales to prove your mettle. Remember, words have meaning and it always pays to write honest and meaningful words.
In order to write impactful admission essays for gaining acceptance to a high ranking business school, you must first introspect yourself, determine your strength and weakness and then only set about giving words to your thoughts.
In my post on “Why MBA?”, I already urged you to think deeply and even rhetorically about your decision to pursue an MBA program. While writing the admission application essay, you need to narrow your thought process specifically to think about “Why MBA from X business school?”. In order to be able to answer this question convincingly, you need to know about the MBA degree programs and specializations offered by the business school, go through the curriculum and decide which program is the best for you, given your career goals.
It is obvious that to be able to decide astutely, you need to be well aware of your career goals, which again can be a really tedious process. More often than not, candidates find themselves moving and thinking in circles, only to send the pen crashing down on the table after musing for only a couple of hours.
The key to self awareness, at least where your career and business school aspirations are concerned, is to think clearly and be honest to yourself. Tabulate your findings, use correlation diagrams or chart your own career (past and future) to derive meaningful conclusion.
Once you are sure of what is that you want, set about convincing the same to the admission committee in your words, succinctly and precisely. Do not go over the boards explaining your intentions. No, you do not have to explain yourself to anyone, but simply convince them that you know what you are doing and how pursuing the MBA program at the particular business school is going to fit in your scheme of things.