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      • Columbia 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
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      • *MORE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES HERE*
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MBA Essay Questions by Business School

The EssaySnark blahg is a veritable treasure trove for learning to write MBA essays. We have essay critiques for you to study, and dos and don’ts on how to approach this task. This directory of all the top U.S. business schools links to their dedicated page of essay questions and discussions which also includes the examples we’ve collected over the years. And the snark. Definitely the snark.

= using one or another version of standardized recommender questions in 2020
= using semi-standardized recommender questions in 2020
= doing their own thing with recommender questions in 2020
= a 2020 SnarkStrategies Guide has been released for this school

  1. Harvard Business School •
  2. Stanford GSB •
  3. University of Pennsylvania Wharton •
  4. Chicago Booth •
  5. Northwestern Kellogg •
  6. Dartmouth Tuck •
  7. MIT Sloan •
  8. Columbia Business School •
  9. NYU Stern •
  10. UC-Berkeley Haas •
  11. Yale SOM •
  12. University of Virginia Darden •
  13. Duke Fuqua •
  14. University of Michigan Ross •
  15. Cornell Johnson •
  16. UCLA Anderson •

If you subscribe to the online version of a guide here on essaysnark.com, you get a 90-day subscription, and if the 2020 version is released during that subscription period then you will get free access to the update at no additional charge. Please note: Because of the impacts of coronavirus on admissions, all of our essay guides are going through a fairly involved update process — and it’s taking awhile to complete this task this season. Many schools did not change essay questions, so you can still pick up the 2019 version and get started; the 2020 version will speak more to guidance on talking about coronavirus specifically and cases where that may be advisable, or not. Because of the added workload, it’s unlikely we’ll be updating the Cornell guide this year; other guides are being tackled in order of popularity. We appreciate your patience as we work to get you the best information possible for your 2020 applications!


We also have an application guide for European MBA programs that covers strategies for INSEAD, LBS, HEC-Paris, and more. This guide was updated in 2019. It does not go in-depth on all of these schools’ specific essay questions, with the exception of INSEAD which is covered in greater detail. You’ll get a full discussion of what’s different with the European schools as a category, since they do many aspects of admissions differently than U.S. schools do, and their trending is not identical. You’ll learn how to angle your strategy to show these schools the aspects they’re looking for you, so you can better put together a winning pitch.


EssaySnark’s Top 19
Our ranking of schools based on how “easy” it was to get in as of 2017 (yes dated, but still directionally accurate!).



Also a note that the MBA essay materials we post throughout this site are not “samples.” We don’t publish samples. It’s because reading sample essays won’t help you be authentic in your pitch to the schools. We only publish essays that are flawed… then we tell you why. These pages list out the schools’ questions, and we provide guidance on how to tackle them. Our essay reviews are of drafts that people tried earnestly at, but came up short. Navigate these waters carefully, Brave Supplicant.


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UPCOMING MBA APP DEADLINES

  • INSEAD Jan '22 intake Rd 1
    in 1 hour
  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 2
    in 1 month, 2 weeks, 4 days, 1 hour
  • (expected) HBS Class of 2024 app requirements released
    in 2 months, 0 weeks, 1 day, 2 hours
  • (expected) Columbia J-Term/ED app to open
    in 2 months, 4 weeks, 2 days, 2 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 3
    in 3 months, 1 week, 6 days, 1 hour
   
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
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    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
   
   

Brave Supplicants' latest reviews on The 'Snark


Feb 11, 2021
by hopeful on MBA Interview Prep: Custom Practice Questions
Helpful

Just wanted to say thank you for these questions! A lot of them were really tailored to my profile, ... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on EssaySnark
Great Starting Point

I thought getting over the GRE/GMAT hurdle was fairly straightforward--disciplined study then test execution... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on Single Shot Express MBA Essay Review
Worth Every Penny

I used the Single Shot Express to decimate essay #1 at my first-choice school. Paired with the school... Read more






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What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: The Fed and the virus
  • 2020: What you control in life
  • 2019: ($) "What can I do to improve my chances?" GMAT edition
  • 2018: Quote of the Day
  • 2018: The main argument in favor of a larger school
  • 2017: Plea for Help! "Maybe I'm not as qualified as I thought..."
  • 2015: *NOW* what are your reasons for going for an MBA?
  • 2015: ($) Everybody's at a disadvantage in admissions
  • 2014: Someone is starting early!
  • 2014: But are you likeable?
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