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($) How are you ‘differentiated’ part 2

June 26, 2019 by EssaySnark - Discusses Harvard, Stanford GSB Leave a Comment

If you missed Part 1 of this topic, go read it here first and then continue on.

 
 

So here’s the thing: When you’re truly differentiated, you kinda know it. You might be the type of person who realizes that you could come across as braggy in certain situations if you’re not careful, because you’ve already done a lot in your short life.

Or if you’ve had to overcome some tough sh!t just based on cards you’ve been dealt. You know it.

For these types, it’s often only a matter of corralling the evidence that you already have into a meaningful form of an essay, without sounding like you’re bragging, and/or sounding like you’re trying to get admitted because of your personal backstory. Everything needs to be included in the right place at the right time. Too often, we see BSers trying to shoehorn some factoid or tidbit from their life into some essay because they’re really really enamored of that factoid, and they’re convinced that the adcom really needs to know it. (Like, “I’ve collected all the Pokémon!”)

Things need to be included where they naturally fit.

When someone tries to artificially insert stuff into their essays (ESPECIALLY for Harvard or Stanford) when it does not naturally belong as part of the question being addressed, then the whole thing falls apart quickly. Frequently, a BSers profile as a whole may show a little evidence of this when compared to the broader candidate pool, but when we see the essays, we don’t get any of that come through in the execution of the pitch. Especially not when it’s an essay for Harvard.

To be clear: Most people just don’t have that level of differentiation in their backgrounds, so when we give feedback on such an essay that it’s not enough, we’re not saying “you suck, your profile is weak and boring” -– we’re saying that Stanford is looking for zebras, and you seem to be a standard horse.

(Note: You do not need to be a unicorn to get into Stanford. Honest!)

* * *

 
 

Want to know how you can develop yourself into the type of person that Stanford wants?

Re-Defining the Corporate Superstar

Don’t wait to do impactful work
Paraphrase: “I meet a lot of people doing really impactful things and I wonder, what’s different about them and everyone else? They’re smart and hardworking, but the world is full of smart and hardworking people. So what is it? It’s that they went and did it. It’s not enough to be smart and hardworking. You have to go do it.”

Or here. Check out this word cloud published by the GMAC folks as part of a report on trends in graduate school admissions a few years back. They did a survey of admissions folks at graduate programs all over the world on what they valued in their applicants. Do any of these words resonate?

Pick a few words from that chart, 4 or 5 or maybe 6. Think about them. Investigate them. Dwell on them. Obsess about them. How can you show them through vivid examples of you in action, creating results, demonstrating your values, (dare we say it) making a difference?

Those examples shall form the basic map of your app strategy.

Those examples are where differentiation lives.

And we’ll just leave you with this:

Are you living your life that way now?

It’s never too late to begin.

Filed Under: leadership, values Bschools: Harvard, Stanford GSB

« Previous: ($) “All the bschools seem to care about values now. What in heck are those, and do I even have any?!?”
Next: ($) Already have a Master’s degree? Why do you also need an MBA now? »

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From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
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    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
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    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

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  • 2020: Now that most apps are in: What to do with your life
  • 2019: For reading and reflection
  • 2019: ($) "What if School D gave me money but I really want to go to School A?"
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