Admission essay myth 1: using high-fallutin words is impressive

Using highfalutin words in your admission essay is not a good idea. After all, what your essay readers would like to know about you is your suitability to the school’s program and student body, and not your vocabulary skills. Because the aim of your admission essay is to reveal the real you to the admission panelists, you would have to keep everything real by sticking to words that you know best. Admissions staffers won’t really enjoy reading application essays that look like scientific papers. Let your essay remain simple, and let its sincerity and effective arguments convince the readers that you deserve a spot at your dream school.

Application essay myth 2: using the spellchecker alone is enough when editing

Thanks to the latest advancements in computer programs, we now have all forms of editing software, with the spellchecker as one of them. However, don’t solely rely on this program when editing and proofreading your application essay. A good technique is to spellcheck your essay first using a word processing program, and then manually check it by reading your essay several times. This way, any grammar or typo error not captured by the software will still be corrected. Keep in mind that a well-written essay shouldn’t contain obvious grammar and typo errors. Submitting such an essay will create a bad impression among your readers.

To realize what the myths are in writing your MBA admission essay is the first step towards an excellent application essay. By keeping the truth behind these tips in mind, coming up with a well-written essay becomes easier.

Related questions:

1. Why is it better to use simpler words on the admission essay?
2. Are Admissions officers critical in your choice of words on the essay?
3. Is there a downside to using the spellcheckers?

The importance of an outline for your essay for admission

An outline for the admission essay is like the overall gameplan of a sports team. From this outline, you could begin the writing process with confidence, since you have a map to be used and you would not be winging it. With an outline, your thoughts would be structured, logical, and coherent. This would also show you in a glance (it should just be a page ordinarily) what your areas of focus would be. Also, you could immediately see if there are loopholes in the arguments or if one aspect of the essay has been saturated. Be flexible though, since an outline could and should be corrected as you go along; it is not a tabled commandment that could not be altered.

Tips when preparing an outline for your admission essay

In the essay paragraphs, indicate on the outline how you plan to go about it. As much as possible, every paragraph should have elements of your own and researched data. Assuming the paragraph talks of a life experience, then no research is necessary. But still, a logical sequence of events should be narrated.

Indicate how long (two paragraphs?) or short (just 3 lines?) your conclusion would be. It is a summary of all the high points of your essay, and gives a satisfying closure to the essay question (prompt).

At the end of the day, it would boil down to organization. Having a good outline would make sure that you would not go in circles and that unnecessary facts would be omitted. Don’t neglect doing an outline, as it would be the foundation of the whole essay.

Related questions:

1. What are the reasons for creating an outline for the application essay?
2. Should research possibilities be noted down on the outline?
3. What should the outline indicate regarding the essay’s conclusion?

MBA application essays that have boring sentences

This doesn’t just apply to the opening paragraph, but also in the succeeding statements as well. When writing your essay, you should aim to be interesting. Here is an example of a sentence that could be improved: My parents died when I was just thirteen, and it was a period of mourning. To catch the readers’ attention, include more details and change the sentence to: When I was just thirteen, a drunk driver rammed his truck right into the family car, turning me into an orphan. I was so devastated during that time of my life that I sincerely thought it would have been better if I was in the car with them when the accident happened. Now, the second version is longer, but even if you cut it down a bit, it is still more interesting. When writing your personal statement, let some flair get into your words and avoid boring statements, which includes cliches.

MBA essays that contain grammar errors

Now, even if your essay has been presented in a dramatic fashion, but if it is crammed with all kinds of grammatical errors, then it’s still bad writing in the eyes of the admissions staffers. After all, you are applying for an MBA slot, and that means you should make sure that simple grammar rules have been followed, such as subject-verb agreement and structure and composition.

By making your essay both error-free and compelling, you accomplish two things – the readers will remember your piece long after they’ve read it, and they would be impressed with the editing that you exerted on the final draft.

Related questions:

1. What is an example of a boring narration in the admission essay?
2. Is using a lot of cliches good for one’s admission essay?
3. How can one prevent a lot of grammar errors?

Keeping everything short but sweet when writing admission essays

Every main argument/point that you raised on the essay should be supported by any of the following: facts, theories (on some instances only), experiences, or statistics. Still, be direct to the point and avoid going in circles. One thing the Committee of Admissions members really hate is an essay that has no direction, no focus and shoots off useless trivia. Don’t fall for this trap- it would be your undoing in the application process.

Being honest and original in your application essays

To be honest does not mean you have to put down each and every weakness you have. It’s actually a common question on essays (what is one of your glaring weaknesses?), and the key here is to answer it. Answer it simply, don’t apologize, and impress upon them how you are working on this particular failing. To be honest also means avoid exaggerations in reference to your accomplishments. This is an amusing question but worthy of your attention: if it was an accomplishment worth writing, then no additional honking of your own horn is needed right?

As much as possible, go for originality. In narrating experiences, go as deep (personal) as you could make it. This would assure you the Admission officers have not heard it for the hundredth time.

To put it all in a cap: brevity would keep your narration easy to read, honesty would allow the readers to know you much better, and the originality would help your document stand out from among the countless essays.

Related questions:

1. What is meant by an admission essay that is out of focus?
2. Why is honesty a must on one’s MBA application essay?
3. In the essay, should one apologize for his/her weaknesses?

Think of your inspirations when writing your personal statement

One of the best practices that will help get your creativity flowing is to think about your inspirations. Play a favorite song, read a favorite inspirational quote, or do anything that helps provoke your thoughts and emotions. Finding inspiration in other things will help motivate you when writing your essay. You don’t necessarily have to write about the music or quotes that you love, but the idea is just to get yourself in the right state of mind. From there, you can divert your focus to thinking about some of the experiences, hardships, and triumphs that you have been through and how you have developed as a person because of these experiences. Find a point of connection between your inspirational thoughts or feelings and the essay that you have to write, and just let the creative juices flow.

Read unique sample essays for admission

If you are still having a hard time writing your admission essay, you may want to read sample essays. Reading sample essays will give you insights into what other applicants write about and how they develop their essays. Make sure not to copy other essays, but instead try to come up with your own unique essay inspired by some of the samples that you have read. These samples should give you a good springboard to start your MBA personal statement from.

Related questions:

1. Is it acceptable to use poetry or humor to show my creativity?

2. For my MBA admission essay, can I write about books or songs that have inspired me?

3. Will I be suspected of plagiarism if I make use of ideas from sample essays?

Create an impression on your admission essay readers

Some people think that creating an impression on the admissions committee is all about writing about impressive topics, such as your achievements and accolades. While mentioning some of your achievements and accolades may help to impress your readers, you will have to do more than that to truly leave a lasting mark in the minds of the admissions officers. The best possible way to leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee is to write about an experience in your life that made great impact on you. Write about moving experiences and how they have changed you for the better. If your essay is more personal and unique, chances are, it will be more moving and impressive to the committee.

Essay writing tips for your essay’s intro, body, and conclusion

- For the introduction of your essay, you want to make sure to capture the readers’ attention right from the start. Make use of an anecdote, quote, or simply an intriguing starting line to grab the readers’ attention. You may also want to start by giving a little background about yourself so the reader can get an idea who you are.

- The body is primarily used to develop your discussion further. This can easily become the most boring part of your essay, so you will have to use creative writing to keep the reader’s interest. Choose topics or perspectives that are unique and interesting, while keeping the discussion flowing well.

- Finally, the conclusion should be your clincher. It is in the conclusion that you want to make an impression in a big way so that your essay will leave a resounding mark in the mind of the reader. Sum up your essay and write a clinching sentence that is worthy of being quoted. You should have the readers’ attention through and through.

Related questions:

1. Can I use the format of a persuasive essay for my admission essay?

2. What are some literary devices I can use to make my essay more interesting and persuasive?

3. Is it acceptable to use quotes from other people, like famous authors, to strengthen my essay?

Mistakes you should avoid in your personal statement

1. Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make on your personal statement is to write what you think your audience wants to hear from you. Instead, write about a topic that you are comfortable with so you can really let your personality and individuality shine through.

2. Another huge mistake is to overlook the importance of proofreading and editing. The more grammatical and logical errors there are in your essay, the less your chances will be of getting accepted into the school of your choice. Make sure that your essay is worthy of being read by the admissions committee before you submit it.

3. It would also be a big mistake to make up stories, exaggerate, tell lies, or plagiarize in your essay. Telling the truth in your essay shows that you are honest and trustworthy. If you get caught telling a lie or plagiarizing in your essay, your application will surely get rejected and you may even face charges for plagiarism.

Tips for an effective MBA admission essay

1. Before you begin writing, take some time to think and reflect about what you are going to write and how your essay will reflect your unique personality. Brainstorm and jot down some ideas, then you can use your notes to come up with a solid outline that will guide you through the writing process.

2. Always make sure that you start writing your essay long before the due date. The last thing you want to happen is to wait until there is not enough time to come up with a great essay. You will need adequate time for writing, proofreading, and revisions.

3. Get other people to read your essay and give you feedback. The chances are that you are rather biased toward your own work, so you may overlook certain mistakes, or you may think you have a great essay when other people may find it to be rather normal. Getting second opinions and other perspectives is important to ensure that you have an essay that makes an impact on various readers from various backgrounds.

Related questions:

1. What are the dos and don’ts of writing a great admission essay?

2. Is it acceptable to use sample essays when writing my own essay?

3. Will I suffer any consequences from accidental plagiarism?

Avoid unrealistic claims

The first mistake you can make in any kind of sales pitch is to make unrealistic claims that will come back to bite you. This principal is the same when it comes to admissions essays. Do your best to avoid making unrealistic claims about you, your experiences, your grades, or anything else in your application package. Admissions officers can and probably will find out if you tell a lie in your application package, so it’s best not to even try. Instead, be honest, sincere, and accurate about the information that you provide in your essay.

Show them what you can do instead of merely recounting all your achievements

In a sales pitch, you basically have to show potential clients everything that they can get out of your product within a short amount of time. The application essay is very similar in the sense that you have a limited number of words or pages to explain what makes you a good candidate as a student in the school. To do this, you will have to be a little creative. Instead of just enumerating all of the achievements you have made, try to tell a story that brings the reader along on the journey. Get the reader interested in who you are, what you have been through, how you have developed (personally), and why this all makes you a better person who is ready for the challenges of MBA school and life, in general.

Don’t get cheesy with your writing style

Finally, avoid sounding too cheesy or up-in-the-clouds in your application essay. Some people make the mistake of trying to sound like a poet, an intellectual, or a literary genius. Try not to use big words that are verbose, or else it may come off like you are just trying to show off your vocabulary and writing skills. Instead of focusing on being someone or something else, focus on being yourself. Let your personality and character shine through in your writing. Try to write as naturally as you can, but still pay attention to the objectives of your application essay, which is basically to get the school to accept your application.

Related links:

Staying Focused – Staying on track in your admission essay
Using Samples – Making effective use of essay samples
Specializations – How to state your preferred specialization in your essay
Avoiding Jargon – About avoiding jargon in your essay
School Profiles – Profiles on top MBA schools

Sample Essays – How admission essays can help
Rhetorical Questions – Using rhetorical questions for an introduction
Entrance Essay – How to write an entrance essay
Helping your Child – Helping your child with the admission essay
Better Admission Essay – Making your admission essay better

Why keeping your focus is important when writing your essay

Getting distracted when writing your MBA application essay is unavoidable.  Because you really want to impress your readers, you think of several ways to creatively write your essay.  You may have thought of including an experience that made you realize that an MBA degree can greatly help you achieve your goals.  You then start by telling that story or experience.  As you write your essay, you become so caught up in your story that you forgot to actually answer the essay question.  As a result, your essay is not that effective and the admissions panel will probably throw away your work and read the next entry.

To avoid veering away from the topic of your essay, it’s important to keep your focus.  One key here is to know when to include details about an experience you want to discuss in your essay.  Remember, the point of your essay is to convince the readers that you deserve an acceptance letter into the MBA school, and not to tell your life story.

Tips to stay on track in your essay

Now how do you stay on track as you write your essay?  One tip is to think of a catchy topic.  Then create an outline that’ll help give direction to your essay.  Throughout the personal statement, you should be able to come up with supporting statements that provide the right amount of details — enough to catch the attention of the admissions panel without veering away from your topic or thesis.

You can also let others read your essay and let them critique your work.  If a reader was somewhat confused as to what you are actually trying to say in your personal statement, then maybe you need to revise your work and remove some statements that are confusing or that don’t really contribute to the overall coherence of your essay.

How well you respond to the essay questions that a business school requires for admission figures greatly on your acceptance chances.  The essays are designed to let admission officials get to know the candidate better and determine whether he or she is the right fit for their program.  Aside from that, essays also test the candidate’s ability to follow instructions and provide the best output set by the essay parameters and limitations.  Thus, writing an effective essay shows how well you grasp the purpose of the essay and presents how you provide the best output with those in mind.

Plan carefully what you want to write

First, plan what you want to put down on paper.  But even before you go to this stage, you should be clear on why you wanted an MBA in the first place.  You should know the reasons why you think having an MBA will help your career and yourself as a person, and how you can contribute to your organization and community.  Once you have these all thought of, it would be easier to answer the personal MBA application essays as you already have a foundation of beliefs and goals to rely on.  If you haven’t set your head straight on the reasons for wanting an MBA, you would not be able to express yourself more clearly and have an effective essay.

Answer the questions truthfully

As mentioned earlier, the MBA application essay is a way for admission officials to gauge your personality.  If you answer the essays using run-of-the-mill answers just to be safe, you won’t get far.  The best answers are those that come from the heart.  It may sound cheesy, but it’s true nonetheless.  In a more practical sense, you should answer the questions based on your experiences, abilities, and personal goal.

Keep it concise and stick to the word limit

Keeping your essays short and concise shows that you have consideration for your readers, good writing skills, and effective communication skills.  Doing so in your essay shows that you know what to say and how to say it.  Though some may think being long-winded look impressive, it really isn’t.  One has to remember that admission officials read hundreds of these essays every day and using long expressions won’t get them excited or interested in your essay.  So, do them a favor and keep it short.

If you really have a good message, a short simple expression that captures the whole idea is better than a long one that appears like showing off.  And do stick to the word count.  Admission officials have tons of these essays to go through, thus the word limits.  And another thing, keeping to the word count shows that you respect the instructions given in the essay.

An effective essay will benefit you a lot in your MBA application. Being effective in the essay is not that difficult to manage. It’s all a matter of knowing what to say, how to say it, saying it from the heart, and sticking to the limits.

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