There are certain things that make an MBA admission essay a really bad essay. Before you write your own MBA application essay, it’s best that you arm yourself with the right information regarding things admission officers don’t like to read in a personal statement. Always remember that these officers have so many essays to go through, that only the well-proofread and interesting essays have a chance of standing out. Read on to know what you should avoid when writing your own.
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?
Some applicants get the wrong notion that they should write something earth-shattering in order to impress the Committee members. Truth is: most, if not all of these evaluators could be impressed by three short adjectives: short, original, and honest.
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?
Find College Cards is a blog that is created to provide a general guideline for college and graduate students. There are even resources for those who have just finished high school. High school graduates will know what to expect from college while being guided as to what schools they can go to, given their chosen fields.
What sets it apart
Usually, guides about college exclusively focus on college life. There would be info on apartment houses, dorm rooms, cheaper books, and the like. However, Find College Cards went further by also providing reviews of universities for the most popular fields. Of course, the top universities of the country have also been featured. High school graduates won’t only know what college living is like but will also determine the right university for them. Even those who are already in college may realize that there is a better school out there for them. Find College Cards only confirms it for them.
An interesting article that found its way into Find College Cards’ archives is Obama’s Community College Plan. Find College Cards is not restricting the college students’ and future college students’ point of view within the walls of an Ivy League school, or even within the walls of a community college for that matter, but is also expanding their thoughts toward the greater picture. Students will know how education is being regarded by the government.
The blog is easy to navigate. The articles are divided by categories and also by the months when they are written. The background design is simple.
What are the glitches
While the blog is very easy to navigate, the categories should be tweaked a little. To be specific, there is a category named “College Life,” but many of the other categories are actually aspects of college life. Some of the articles included in this category could actually also belong into the other separate categories. What I suggest is that the “College Life” category be removed from the list, and the articles placed in the specific, separate categories. For example, there are dating articles under “College Life.” They can be moved to the category named “Dating.”
