Here’s some examples of the types of commentary we’ve offered to Brave Supplicants just like you in the past few weeks! (Modified to protect anonymity of course.) We figured, since we were repeating this so often to so many, that it would be worth publishing here as a caution for everyone. We’re reblahgging this in […]
Continue reading...($) NYU Stern MBA Essay 1: Change: _____ it
This year’s MBA application questions for NYU Stern include this: Essay 1: Change: _________ it (350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font) In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a […]
Continue reading...($) WRITING WEEK! Day 5: The promise of the premise
How has your writing gone this week, Brave Supplicant? Are you feeling proud of your accomplishments and progress? If not, never fear — you still have time! Or, if you have been productive: Good on you!!!! You’re probably not that thrilled that another week has slipped past, but one truth is that this phase you’re […]
Continue reading...($) Wharton “What will you gain professionally” essay
Sometimes we come up with some good shizzle when writing feedback to poor hapless BSers in our critiques of their essays. Along with our oft-repeated advice of you have to answer the question and you can’t contribute just by being there, we recently came up with a metaphor that seemed pretty useful. Or at least, […]
Continue reading...($) Stories of change and personal transformation in MBA essays
These can be some of the hardest essays to write – and they can be, hands down, some of the most powerful. These are the types of stories that schools like Stanford and Kellogg and Tuck and maybe Darden and others love. If you can write an essay like this – powerful, introspective, honest – […]
Continue reading...($) It should be called the HARD ESSAY not the HARVARD ESSAY
This post could also be titled: Why you will have less hair on your head and possibly bruising on your forehead when you make it to September the 8th. (That’s because you will either tear your hair out in chunks, and/or hit your head rhythmically on your desk multiple times, and/or you will age so […]
Continue reading...($) Here’s a vivid (we hope!) explanation of the critical essay-writing technique of show don’t tell
If you’ve gotten any feedback on your essays and apps from The ‘Snark, you’ve likely been told you’re not doing it right. No, that’s not what we do; we point to sentences that aren’t helping you, and we try to explain what the issue is. It is likely experienced as “You’re doing it wrong” but […]
Continue reading...($) “I collaborated with the team on the project.”
This is the kind of post that many people reading it when it goes posted will shrug their shoulders and say, “OK ‘Snark whatever” and go about their day. Because most of you aren’t in essay-writing mode right now (though you should be!!!). And even if you are in essay-writing mode, the point we’re going […]
Continue reading...($) Don’t let the essay get in the way of the story.
Sometimes we impress ourselves. We’re critiquing along, reading some BSers draft, and a turn of phrase pops out that so perfectly captures the issue that it inspires a full post. What we mean by this warning to not let the essay get in the way of the story is this: Premium content starts here… ———– […]
Continue reading...($) How to make your essays more powerful. (With whiskey.)
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! Yes EssaySnark is around — even today! If you want feedback returned through the holiday weekend, we’ve got a Speedy Review option you can use to expedite the snark. Check out the Subscriber’s FAQ in My SnarkCenter for details on adding it to your submission in the Review...
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