Since we’re in WRITING TIPS! mode again, with the ramp-up to Round 2, let’s continue the topics we started last week with identifying stellar stories to write about in your MBA essays. We’ve been coaching you on strategies for what to include and how much detail to go into, and how to write about the […]
Continue reading...($) Stanford GSB: Optional (not optional!) stories of impact
Once again this year, the Stanford GSB has an “optional” assignment as part of their MBA application: Write up to three statements of how you’ve made an impact in some area of your life. There are many questions of strategy that must go into your decisions of what to write about. The first one which […]
Continue reading...($) Kellogg essay 1: Leadership and creating value
Lots and lots of you are working through your Kellogg drafts to get them ready to submit. And lots and lots of you are struggling with these very difficult questions that Kellogg is asking! In case you missed our discussion of an essay on “meaningful leadership” recently, that’s available. We thought we’d spend a bit […]
Continue reading...($) Breathless bloat and gloat can backfire.
This is most frequently an issue with the older MBA applicant though we see it across the board. You’ve been involved in some high-profile projects. You have a sense that the adcoms want to hear about “impact.” You combine those two into an essay that talks about how “we helped millions of people by launching...
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($) More on that HBS MBA essay
We have gone on and on about that essay for Harvard Business School on this here blahg because, well, Harvard. There’s like everyone interested in going there. And there’s like everyone telling you how to write your essay for your HBS app. Here’s a subtle reinforcement — since that’s all you ever really get from […]
Continue reading...The proof versus the promise.
We’re reblahgging this gem from the snarchives that we just rediscovered at random – from way back in 2011! Dang we’ve been doing this a long time. Some posts are timeless. Amazing video from Pixar University: Very inspiring, touching on themes of innovation, collaboration, and even improv — though frankly, we weren’t sure if […]
Continue reading...($) A map to writing Columbia essay 3: “a leader you admire”
No offense, Columbia, but this is a crappy essay question and we’re surprised that you are using it. But maybe the admissions committee knows something we don’t. Here’s what we do know: Most people’s essays about “a leader you admire” totally and completely suck. Or perhaps that was the whole point. Maybe Columbia is using […]
Continue reading...($) What would it take for you to be the best at something?
Today is the last post in our Resume Week series. First post here, in case you missed it! (Can you believe that another week has cruised past? How on earth did it happen that HBS Rd 1 is in less than two weeks?!?) What we’re going to suggest to you today is really-truly still related […]
Continue reading...($) essay critique! HBS essay from a Navy submariner
As you likely have memorized, the Harvard Business School MBA essay asks: “As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?” We had a request for a freebie review of this Harvard essay come in a few weeks back […]
Continue reading...($) Another post about the Darden Class of 2021 “evolving leadership style” essay
In lieu of doing a half-baked update to our 2017 Darden MBA application guide, we’ve opted this month to post some guidance about the Darden essays directly here on the blahg — so, bonus, as a subscriber to the blahg, you’re already getting a leg up on the Darden app if you’re planning to try […]
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