career plans after mba essay

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Career Goals for MBA Aspirant in 150 Words

• Updated on  
• Apr 15, 2023

If you are someone who is planning to apply for MBA , you must be well-versed in the fact that you will be expected to produce certain essays that help the university understand your motivations for pursuing that degree. Most universities will expect you to begin your essay with your career goals in 150 words, and while this might seem like an easy task for some, it can be extremely daunting for others there are several things that everyone needs to keep in mind. The career goals you provide will help those reading your application assess if you are motivated enough to pursue the degree and if you have what it takes to successfully pursue it. So, while presenting your career goals for MBA aspirants in 150 words, you must mention your short-term and long-term goals for your MBA essay in an impactful and precise manner. It is normal to feel uncertain about how to make a statement in as little as 150 words so here is all the information you will need while attempting to answer this question.

This Blog Includes:

How to tackle career goals for mba aspirants in 150 words, essentials to include, quintessential details, don’ts, tips for writing short-term and long-term goals for mba, tips for career goals for mba essay.

There are numerous different ways in which you can approach this question. You can choose to be course-specific, industry-specific or position-specific. The trick with every way that you approach the question is that you build your answer in a way that supports your argument of how the specific thing will help you achieve your long-term goals. If you are writing with the specific course you wish to study in mind, it is important to let the university know how that course from their university will help you achieve your short-term and long-term goals for the MBA essay . You can also choose to mention how a specific faculty member from the university can be instrumental in your growth.

If you are being industry-specific or position-specific, those 150 words must comprise why you wish to work in that specific industry or at that specific position and how the college you are choosing will aid that development and how, in the end, all of this will add up to your professional growth and trajectory.

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While drafting career goals for MBA aspirants, there are various essentials that you need to keep in mind which might range from mentioning the chosen industry to creating a career plan. Let’s first understand the basics you must add to your career goals:

• Particular Industry : Write your specific domain and industry emphasizing why you want to work in it.
• Particular Positions : Once you have mentioned your industry, the next thing is to write about the career profile you want to pursue.
• Connection to Your Academic & Professional Records: While writing career goals for MBA aspirants, it is extremely important to link your academic and professional milestones with your aspirations to sketch out your career journey.
• Association with your Career Goals : Connect your mentioned objectives with your career aspirations and explain how you plan to fulfil them through this degree.
• Community Agenda i.e. how the degree will help you in making your contribution towards the community.
• Expected Outgrowth
• Unique Career Plan

Things to Keep in Mind

While the above-mentioned essentials can be a sure-shot guide to writing career goals, there is a host of other stuff that can help you in making an impressive list. Here is a list of the Do’s and dont’s that you must keep in mind while summing up career goals for MBA aspirants in 150 words:

• Keep it specific and personal.
• Highlight your short-term and long-term career goals in the MBA essay
• Carve out your interests and link them with your career goals as well as plans. 
• Make the article succinct and to the point.
• Always write something easy to talk about.
• Must include Education specific content and your ambitions in life in brief.

For instance, why you have chosen a certain business school, why you want to study under your chosen professor and what kind of exposure and outgrowth you are expecting to reach closer to your goals.

• Avoid elaborating on those career goals which don’t resonate with what has been asked in the essay.
• Mentioning activities or educational background not relevant to the career goals.
• Avoid being too vague and ambiguous.
• Do not beat around the bush.
• While mentioning your industry is important, don’t overdo it and keep the essay concise and coherent .
• Why these certain goals?
• When or how they were conceived?
• What past experiences/events make you feel that your set goals are realistic?
• Also, explain the significance of the goals in your life.

This can make your essay more personal and interesting.

As career goals will play an indispensable role in your MBA essay in 150 words, it is essential to know how you can efficiently incorporate them into your answer. Here are some insights into crafting the best short-term and career goals for your MBA essay:

Mention the major career goals you look forward to fulfilling post-MBA

This will include your short-term and long-term career goals post MBA and while drafting these, it is crucial to be precise and put an extra emphasis on showing a career map of what you look forward to. That’s why you should mention the industry you aspire to work in, the job position you want, and how you further aim to climb up the hierarchy accordingly.

Concisely elaborate upon why these goals are important to you

Showing your interest and passion for your short-term and long-term goals in your MBA essay can also help you impress the admission team. Give a unique and interesting reason why you want to pursue a certain industry or job role and connect it with the MBA course you have opted for!

Make it specific to the academic institution

Another imperative pointer to add to your career goals for MBA aspirants in 150 words is to connect your content with the school/college/university you are applying for as it will help the admission committee assess your interest in applying to a certain institution.

Examples of Career Goals for MBA Aspirant in 150 Words

It is always easier to understand how to go about a specific thing by looking at examples of it. Here are free career goals essay samples for MBA aspirants in 150 words:

My long-term goal is to secure the position of a senior (job position) manager in a company that caters to (industry needs). I aspire to create a significant impact in a dynamic and ever-changing industry and to advance the development and growth of such a corporation. I strongly believe that pursuing an MBA degree (specialization if any) from your university will help me develop a skill set that will be instrumental in both my personal and professional growth. I believe that through the duration of the course, I will be provided with ample opportunities to strengthen my leadership and administrative skills and they will help me contribute to the industry. I also believe that pursuing this course at your university will help me realize my long-term goals and over time help me contribute to society’s development as a whole. 

I wish to pursue an MBA in (specialization) from your esteemed institution because I strongly believe that the course taught by (the specific professor) will give me a dynamic learning experience, which will help me become well-versed with the fundamentals emphasized in the course offered by your university. This comprehensive course offered by your university is well-known for providing the essential skill set that will help me become a global leader in the industry. I strongly believe that my previous experience as (job experience) in the industry has equipped me well for pursuing this course and that the environment and exposure provided by your university will help me multiply my network and magnify my potential. My long-term goal is to create a sustainable mark in the industry that aids the overall development of society and that admittance to your university will be a major step on that journey.

My long-term ambition is to enthusiastically enter and be a valuable representative of a Multinational Corporation like Google or Microsoft as a top management consultant after completing the prestigious MBA program from the prestigious university (University Name). I want to learn from a diverse portfolio of client engagements and put all of my theoretical experience into practice in a real-world environment. I’ll work my way up to being a partner, and then I’ll focus on introducing digital and correct business strategies for the industry in the long run. In my position, I will mentor younger generations of aspiring consultants as well as work with clients. I wish to prove myself to be an important asset for the organisation where I will be working in the future.

My long-term goal is to investigate the situation of a senior (work position) Manager in a reputable and renowned company.  My ambition is to have a significant impact in a fast-paced, ever-changing market and the industry, as well as to help my organisation to further improve and develop. I’d like to pursue an MBA in (specialisation) from your reputable institution to gain the necessary insights and knowledge about the current dynamics and trends of the industry, as I am confident that the course taught by (the particular educator) will provide me with a powerful learning experience that will assist me in becoming knowledgeable with the fundamentals emphasised in the course. I also agree and assume that pursuing an MBA degree in (specialisation if any) from your college will assist me in developing a set of skills that will be useful in both my personal and professional growth. Finally, it will help me better grasp my long-term goals and, in the long run, contribute to the development of society as a whole.

Ans. Start with your short-term objectives and work your way up to your long-term objectives. Outline the measures for achieving those objectives in a few sentences. Maintain a laser-like emphasis on your employer and the work you’re applying for, as well as how your objectives would eventually benefit the business.Start with your short-term objectives and work your way up to your long-term objectives. Outline the measures for achieving those objectives in a few sentences. Maintain a laser-like emphasis on your employer and the work you’re applying for, as well as how your objectives would eventually benefit the business.

Ans. A long-term goal is a goal that will be accomplished by a series of smaller goals over a long period, usually five to ten years or more. You might be asked about your long-term objectives and how they fit with the organisation you’re interviewing with during an interview.

Ans. MBA programs instil analytical skills, long-term strategic thinking, networking, and leadership in their students.

Ans. You’ll learn business strategy, preparation, and even financial management in an MBA programme. These abilities will allow you to effectively manage your own business while also contributing to your country’s economic growth.

While we’ve given you an insight on how to go about it, it is normal to feel apprehensive about whether or not what you have written will guarantee you a place in your desired college. But you don’t have to be uncertain about such an important aspect of your application. With the help of the mentors at Leverage Edu , you can write an essay that will meet the university’s expectations and give you an edge over other applicants.

Team Leverage Edu

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MBA Career Goals Essay Examples

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Career Goals Essay Samples

Almost every MBA application has a career goals essay. Here are some important resources to help you nail it. Scroll down for sample MBA Career Goal Essays from successful admits.

Career Goal Guidance from Key Members of our SBC team

How to Structure your MBA Essays

Successful Examples of Career Goal Essays

One of the things I value most at Company X is the collaboration between teams to advance new technologies. As a Program Manager, I coordinate research and development (R&D) projects for the engineering department. R&D is an exciting field to me because we make quick decisions, progress at lightning speed, and focus on the future. Currently, I am directing a X project that impacts the future of autonomous driving.

Post-MBA, I will join the R&D group for a technology or automotive company as a product manager. I want to own the product lifecycle and effectively shepherd a product from inception to market. Ultimately, I aspire to influence monumental decisions like Porsche’s recent $6B investment in electric cars and electric charging infrastructure.

Product management capitalizes on my strengths: communication, teamwork, leadership, planning and organization. I enjoy the breadth of exposure through this role because successful new product development requires me to leverage resources from all over the company – R&D, finance, marketing, supply chain, and production.

But to achieve this goal, I first need a Goizueta MBA. Specifically, Goizueta’s extensive core coursework will teach me how to manage budgets and identify new product markets. Opportunities to apply my classroom learnings to real-world problems through an IMPACT 360 project and to further my leadership development through the Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy will enable me to pivot to a R&D product manager role and advance my career.

Additionally, Goizueta’s culture of engagement will be instrumental to my development. Building camaraderie through extracurricular and social opportunities will enhance the shared learning I seek in my MBA program, as I envision gathering with my classmates every Thursday at KEGS and exploring Atlanta on the weekends. Essentially, Goizueta provides a business education that will not only facilitate my career progression, but also offers a lasting, lifelong community.

My immediate post-MBA goal is to secure a client relations position at a private equity firm, focusing on global expansion in Latin America. In this position I will hone-in on my knowledge of Latin American banking and finance, coupled with my Spanish speaking fluency, to apply the financial acumen gained at Kelley, to help drive firm’s expansion into the Latin American market. I know that a Kelley MBA would help me pivot into the private equity space and enhance my technical finance and analytical skills needed to excel while working in this unique investment class.

In my three years of professional experience, I have an increased understanding in interpersonal skills needed for a client relations position; however, I want to continue to advance my career in finance through a private equity role. A Kelley MBA will help me enrich my financial expertise and build technical skills needed to succeed in the industry. Additionally, I will acquire deeper problem solving and data analytics skills through courses in the Quantitative Analysis for Business Decisions and Financial Accounting disciplines. Specifically, I am excited how Kelley offers finance electives as early as my second semester, which I will take advantage of in preparation for my summer internship. Finally, Kelley’s Capital Markets Academy will be key to my development. The Capital Markets Academy, particularly Academy Fridays, will provide me with additional coverage into the financial services industry where I can gain the core finance skills necessary to grow, as well as delve into networking opportunities outside of the classroom.

My immediate post-MBA goal also includes being a business leader with global perspective. I anticipate enhancing my managerial skills through courses such as International Management and Organizational Behavior and Leadership in order to be a more effective manager and a stronger communicator. Because of my interest in working with a global financial services organization, I will pursue the Global Business Achievement certificate program. Through Kelley’s Global Business Achievement certificate program, I can further develop my Spanish speaking skills and potentially work on a global research project in hopes of enhancing my worldview, gaining exposure to other international companies, and expanding my global perspective; all key to leading international teams.

In summary, I believe my MBA from Kelley, coupled with my experience working in Latin American finance, will make me a competitive candidate for a position at a private equity firm. In the event I do not get an offer from a private equity firm, I would look for client facing roles at an international bank or hedge fund. Ideally, these opportunities will also focus on Latin American expansion, as I am interested in continuing to work in Latin American finance and improving my Spanish language skills. I know that Kelley offers exposure to diverse financial firms and opportunities in banking, ensuring my successful launch on a new path.

I am excited by the ability of technology to make tools and information more accessible. Television and libraries have been made available globally through internet distribution at virtually no cost. I too have leveraged data and technology to exceed expectations in my educational and professional experiences. For example, I spearheaded the development of Energy First’s iPhone application in 2008, and integrated Live Meeting as a collaborative tool in my retail territory. As I uncovered further applications of technology, I began aspiring to work on the strategic development of such advances, rather than merely their adoption. Having spent the last three and a half years with Energy First, a conservative organization, I look to further my career with more innovative organizations that drive change – such as Facebook or Google – before working in a strategic capacity for a startup venture.

I have always been an entrepreneur at heart. In the sixth grade I published a magazine on my home computer, seeking subscribers from classmates. In 2005, I ran a consulting service that provided computer training for baby boomers. As I look to shift my career path to the technology sector, a strategic roadmap is required to ensure I develop the appropriate skills to facilitate this transition. In the short-term, I plan to gain experience with leading providers of online solutions through internships and post-graduate work. Industry experience will help me apply strategic theory in practice, while I learn best in class marketing tools and processes. I will learn to apply my refined analytical skills in scenarios that are pertinent to preparing for my long-term goals. Having already worked in strategy and execution roles with Energy First, I see myself applying these complimentary foundations in a new sector. After gaining industry experience, refining my quantitative skills and learning to apply a rounded skill set with leading organizations, I will be prepared for a prominent marketing and strategy role in an innovative online service startup. I seek to work on leveraging technology to improve accessibility to information and services. Just as Google has leveraged data mining to launch Google Books and expand global access to literature, I believe further opportunities exist that I plan to uncover as I gain industry knowledge. Any organization in which I work will also need to have a significant focus on leveraging their resources to help the community. UCLA Anderson provides an ideal foundation for achieving both my short-term and long-term goals, as well as allowing me to continue developing a socially conscious mindset through various leadership opportunities.

In order for my career to take a crucial step forward, I need to put myself in an innovative environment where I can challenge and be challenged. I have developed a strong understanding of what my strengths are, and more importantly, what areas require development – financial analysis and business planning in a new industry. An MBA at UCLA Anderson will provide me with the best foundation to take that next step for three reasons. First, the culture of energetic and passionate students and faculty from diverse professional and geographic backgrounds will facilitate idea sharing from varied points of view. For example, the opportunity to learn from Professor Bob Foster on technological business plan development will be a crucial element of my graduate studies. Secondly, Anderson’s reputation for developing exceptional team leaders is evidenced by some of the inspiring alumni, such as Jim Stengel. Teamwork will be at the forefront of any business that I enter, and learning leadership principles that have produced success in the past will ensure that I am adequately prepared to lead a team-based organization. I will develop my teamwork and leadership skills in clubs such as the High Tech Business Association as well as community-driven endeavors such as the Challenge for Charity. Finally, Anderson’s Applied Management Research Program will allow me to build on the principles of the rigorous curriculum, as well as acquire knowledge firsthand about an organization in an industry that I am passionate about. The challenge of working with a team to develop recommendations will provide invaluable experience that will prepare me for business plan development in a method unique to a traditional class-based curriculum. I am confident that my experience at UCLA Anderson will help me target my current weaknesses, share my strengths and experiences with my colleagues, and develop my entrepreneurial skills so that I am able to play a key role in a venture that is both financially and socially responsible.

After several years as a Wireline Field Engineer, I am at a crossroads where I will start to define the future of my career. I envision becoming the VP of Strategic Marketing at a technical firm. Unlike most of my fellow engineers, I plan to merge my technical background with a marketing education to put myself in a position where I can be successful in such a career. A marketing position in a technical firm fits my interests and talents perfectly. Cutting-edge technology fascinates me, and with an engineering background, it is a language I speak. Most engineering jobs deal with technology, but few are primarily focused on human interaction, something that is an essential part of my vision. I enjoy dealing with people; while solving a complex engineering problem can provide great pleasure, it is no match for the satisfaction I derive through team interaction. Similarly, I have always enjoyed coaching others, whether it’s by conducting mock interviews at the high school where I volunteer or teaching nuclear theory to new engineers at a wellsite. The idea of taking a complicated concept and packaging it in such a way that the client clearly understands the benefits is highly appealing.

While my current technical position has many advantages, it is time for a change. I love the challenge of problem solving, and I thrive in such an international role, but I lack a strong business background. As I progress and move into an office job within Schlumberger, I do not see a career path allowing me to follow my goal without taking the initiative to gain further marketing knowledge. I have set my sights on this goal and will devote the necessary time and energy to put myself in a position to be successful.

Anderson is my choice in an MBA program for three reasons. First, it has excellent access to the Asia Pacific region, a market I am familiar with and would like to do business with in the future. My time spent in Thailand has been phenomenal, and I hope to work with such gracious, hospitable people throughout my career. Second, Anderson has a diverse student body from all over the world, something that is essential if I am to be multi-cultural upon graduation. Finally, Anderson is known to be an excellent all-around program, and being well-rounded is extremely important to me. With high quality training from Anderson, I am certain that I can succeed in the strategic marketing position I desire. I understand that a career of this nature requires a great deal of work. I embrace the challenge and look forward to a career which combines my professional skills and my enjoyment in working with others, but for the near future I look forward to an MBA program with exposure to the brightest teachers and young professionals from different business sectors across the globe. Learning to solve business problems, not just technical ones, is the next critical step toward a career in which I will thrive for years to come.

Growing up as one of five bi-racial students in a small farm town south of Dallas, I yearned to see the world outside of Texas. Looking for the first opportunity to broaden my horizons, I only applied to East Coast colleges to ensure that I would experience a variety of ways of life. At seventeen, I moved to New York to attend NYU where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and immediately after moved to the Midwest to experience another area of the country, attending Indiana University Law School. Further pushing my boundaries, I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain my first summer of law school and realized not only the joy of experiencing different cultures, but also my desire to have a career with a global impact. While interviewing for post-law school positions, I found I was not interested in the more traditional legal roles, but that my skills and passions were better suited for the business sector where I could combine the reasoning and analytical skills I learned in law school with my interest in marketing and travelling. My first job with Kaplan was a perfect balance of these qualities. My responsibilities as an account manager, including creating and implementing effective strategies, plans and promotions to increase preference at law schools, sparked my interest in discovering consumer needs. Last year, I accepted a position with Princeton Review as a regional manager, where I manage and analyze sales goals for over 100 representatives, work with outside corporate sponsors to increase revenue and brand recognition, and partner with cross-functional teams to drive growth. Additionally, this position has required numerous business travels, which, in addition to my international travels, has strongly piqued my interest in the hospitality and travel industry and I am now ready to make a career shift to this sector. My long-term vision is to become an innovator, developer and leader as a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of a large hospitality company. The most rewarding aspect of my past two roles is bringing a product that I believe in to other people. As a CMO, the opportunity to share my passion on an international level is exciting and motivating. After three years of sales and account management experience, I have developed a thirst for understanding consumers and discovering their needs, their motivation to purchase products or services and ultimately how they become loyal to a specific company or product. Within the hospitality industry, specifically airlines and hotels, providing excellent service and a quality product makes travel easier and more enjoyable, increases travelers’ happiness and encourages future travel and brand loyalty. To reach this goal, in the short term I want to become an associate brand manager within the hospitality industry with a company such as Virgin America or Kimpton Hotels, helping grow their business traveler segment, while maintaining their current brand as a luxury service. Here I will learn the ins and outs of the hospitality industry, while receiving hands on experience managing a product, coordinating marketing functions, and leading cross-functional teams to ensure that the marketing plan is properly executed. After learning the basic skills of brand management, I expect to progress through the company as a marketing director and eventually my ultimate goal of a CMO. An MBA is essential to reach my goals. As I have only worked on the sales side with a legal research and a bar review prep company, I realize my limitations without more formal training. Without knowledge of how to read and analyze a profit & loss statement, bring a brand to market and position it for success, evaluate pricing patterns, synthesize market reports and understand consumer learning, I cannot be successful in a brand management role. An MBA will not only ease the transition, but will also help me gain the building blocks of marketing and business in general and gain broader strategic skills to effectively manage multiple large products. I look forward to my MBA putting me on the path to achieving my personal and professional goals.

Having the opportunity to observe the intricacies of private real estate operations in my current position, I have come to the realization that there’s a considerable gap in how sustainable design (planning strategies that minimize environmental impact and reduce energy consumption) is integrated with development/construction efforts. Consequently, I see significant promise in expanding green awareness to urban planning and wish to dedicate my career to support sustainable growth in the real estate industry. Therefore, in the short term after earning an MBA, I plan to take a position as a development manager for a national REIT and work to implement programs that derive economic gain from environmentally-conscious construction. In the long run, I will capitalize on these experiences by founding a consulting firm that will provide strategic expertise to support and improve private retail, real estate, and development firms’ sustainable initiatives.

My passion for green design began when I was a young painter growing up in an overpopulated Taipei neighborhood. As a boy, I often found the city’s monotonous gray backdrop insufficient for the contents of my canvas. The drastic Taipei urban expansion, resulting from rapid economic growth in the 80’s, drained many environmental resources and plagued the sky with pollution. During this time, I started recreating the city’s outlines into a more ideal community through imagination, and in the process found a passion to combine my artistic talents with my creativity to reshape the surrounding neighborhood. After moving to the US, I decided to make a leap from my imagination to reality and embarked on a career in sustainable design by enrolling in the School of Architecture at the University of Arizona.

After graduating, I took a position with Thompson Architecture in 2004 for the opportunity to work on program implementations that emphasized green construction. Recognizing the potential impact of my position, I consistently went beyond my defined technical roles to assume managerial responsibilities and became the youngest Project Architect in the 600 employee firm at the age of 24. In this new role, I was provided significant exposure to project delivery management, contract negotiations, and client interactions, and in the process deepened my overall interest in business operations. My increased client access also enabled me to initiate sustainability research proposals for them, an endeavor that resulted in landing new green design deals with retailers including Coffeeland, Clothestime, and Shoetown. However, in the process of analyzing the costs and environmental benefits for these green stores, I learned that this case by case approach offers rather limited effects on the environment, and the only way to maximize the benefits of sustainability is through implementation on a more massive scale. After working with the real estate groups of these major retailers and witnessing the impact of ROI analysis on the direction of corporate development, I discovered my true passion would be to work in a business capacity that had exposure to all sides of the real estate development business and could drive environmental impact through broad company initiatives.

Upon evaluating my objectives, I believe I have attained the core technical knowledge necessary to fulfill my future aspirations, but lack the business expertise to execute upon my abilities. Specifically, I would like to enhance my knowledge of market analysis, financing options, economics, and the overall trends/cycles of the real estate industry, in order to propose effective, sustainable solutions. Additionally, as my current role is limited to serving only retailers, I would like to learn appropriate strategic frameworks for consulting other types of clients. I also hope to refine my managerial and communication skills, which will be essential for obtaining buy-in for alternative development proposals. Having identified my goals, I feel now is the right time to attain a business education that can complement my technical experience and facilitate a career transition into real estate development.

From my campus visit this summer, interaction with current students, and discussions with school alumni, I strongly believe that Haas offers the best MBA program for me. First, the Fisher Center offers a wide array of real estate courses, such as Real Estate and Urban Economics, that will provide a valuable foundation for understanding the market dynamics of the development industry. I have already studied Professor Jaffee’s insightful research on the trend toward green development and discussed my interests at length with current Haas Real Estate student Steven Shanks. Therefore, I sincerely believe the Fisher Center will empower me with the necessary resources to identify high-potential sustainable opportunities and organizational skills to generate substantial returns. Outside of the classroom, I plan to take on leadership roles within the Real Estate Club and contribute through activities such as the Bank of America: Low Income Housing Challenge. Finally, I am excited about the Real Estate career opportunities that Haas has to offer, and plan to be actively involved with the new ACRE program.

Haas also stresses global entrepreneurship and innovation. As an innate entrepreneur who has implemented numerous personal and professional initiatives to improve our environment, I look forward to participating in Lester Center activities such as the Berkeley Solutions Group and YEAH. Additionally, through the Haas Social Venture Competition, I plan to propose a business idea for assisting private real estate companies address public urban concerns while achieving financial returns. I also hope to explore different leadership styles and further expand my international exposure by interacting with a truly global student body and learning environment. To that end, I am interested in leveraging Haas’ global entrepreneurial perspective to assist underprivileged communities around the world by participating in the International Business Development program. Through the sponsorship of nonprofit sustainable-oriented clients, such as Beahrs ELP, I hope to assist low-income neighborhoods similar to where I grew up through proposing effective green planning and environmental conscious construction.

Lastly, I am ultimately impressed by Haas’ unparalleled commitment to integrating corporate social responsibility within its entire business curriculum. My definitive goal is to implement innovative programs that positively advance our surroundings and Berkeley’s socially active student body passionately shares such vision. I plan to contribute through the Net Impact Club by making use of my non-profit experience while proposing novel and publicly useful business plans to local private companies. Thus, I will stay involved with the local community while investing in my cross-functional skills alongside a diverse set of talented peers. I am deeply impressed by Haas’ strong support and tradition, and I sincerely believe Berkeley’s close-knit student body will strengthen my capacity to lead the important changes that I could only imagine as a young painter twenty years ago.

Entering the classical music industry just before the economic downturn has opened my eyes to disconcerting financial weaknesses in professional symphonies. As lucky as I was to be a working musician, I saw signs of economic instability in orchestras around America. As a committee member of the Santa Barbara Symphony, I see firsthand how orchestras are financed from year to year and the room for improvement is tremendous. Almost immediately after the housing bubble burst and the market crashed in 2008, orchestras began to show signs of financial insecurity. Due to the recent economic downturn, symphonies across the country are shortening seasons, instituting hiring freezes, and even filing bankruptcy. Top ranked symphony orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic, have enacted hiring freezes for vacant positions, and highly regarded orchestras in Houston, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Philadelphia have enforced pay cuts after posting an average of $1.5M in budget deficits. Clearly, changes need to be made on how these primarily nonprofit organizations operate.

After working as a cellist in this economic climate and seeing the strain on my colleagues, I am moved to make a career change to the business side and revolutionize how symphony orchestras are managed. Over the past four years, I have witnessed my peers struggle to find work, soloist friends go weeks without concerts, and prominent symphony musicians show deep concern for their livelihoods. In spite of recent hardships, I believe there is incredible room for growth and revitalization within the classical music community, specifically in symphony orchestras. With the right guidance, I know that symphonies can not only become more financially secure, but also stir a renewed interest in orchestra concerts in their surrounding areas. Armed with an education in general management and exposure to nonprofit business models, I will be able to exact that change. With the skills gained from a Rice MBA, I will join a symphony in a general management role to improve operations and better manage endowment funds and revenue from ticket sales and donations. Long-term, I will transition my career to consulting, where I will help orchestras around the country operate more efficiently and profitably, thus enabling them to thrive both financially and artistically.

To be effective, I need both the strong educational foundation and practical application that Rice offers. At Rice, I will gain the knowledge and skills I need through its comprehensive general management core curriculum. Specifically, I intend to maximize my education through the Leadership Intensive Learning Experience, case-based coursework, public/nonprofit financial management elective, and real-world Action Learning Project. I believe that attacking real world issues and learning from real examples will be key in my transition from a leader as a cellist to a leader as an executive. Coming from a collaborative musical background, I believe that Rice’s well-rounded core curriculum, which emphasizes a healthy balance of class lectures by leading faculty and real world applications of concepts, will give me the tools I need to transform from musician to businessman. Moreover, the Leadership ILE courses will give me a chance to turn my leadership skills in music into strong leadership skills in business. Finally, participating in the Consulting, Net Impact, and Finance Clubs will further equip me to work with orchestras by learning from and being inspired by my diverse peers, all the while building lifelong friendships with like-minded colleagues.

I look forward to bringing my experience as a team player and leader from a unique background as a musician back to Rice and growing both professionally and personally within a culture where students challenge and encourage each other. I am confident that I will contribute to the overall culture, atmosphere, and education of the Jones School by working well with my classmates both inside and outside the classroom. With my unique background as a concert cellist and pedagogue, I also look forward to offering a different perspective in class discussions while having my eyes opened to many different perspectives drawn from equally diverse experiences. Furthermore, I look forward to being able to exercise the problem-solving skills I acquired as a teacher, an ensemble team member, and a section leader in my transition to a businessman at Rice. As my MBA classmates inspire me to constantly evolve and improve on my strengths and weaknesses, I know will do the same for my peers.

As a high school senior, I was given an interesting Christmas present from my parents. They opened up a brokerage account in my name and deposited few hundred dollars into it. It wasn’t the stereo system or the new set of golf clubs that I had hoped for, but it would turn out to be the best present they could have given me. I did not realize it at the time, but this gift would ultimately have a great impact on my future. Sitting down at the computer with my father, he taught me the basics of investing in stocks and mutual funds. My interest in investing grew throughout that final year of high school and became even greater in college. The more I learned about finance and the capital markets, the greater my interest grew.

Not surprisingly, I chose to study economics and finance as an undergraduate student at SMU. The summer after my freshman year of college, I obtained an internship with Merrill Lynch, assisting a Senior Financial Advisor with the daily duties of his job. I continued my studies throughout college and upon graduation, accepted an Operations Associate position at Condera, a boutique asset management firm in Houston. Supporting several financial advisors in the management of around $200 million in assets, my duties include performing portfolio analysis, implementing our strategies by executing trades in client accounts, and interacting with clients on a daily basis. This role has enhanced my leadership and communication skills, two areas in which I can contribute in my endeavors at the Jones School. The autonomy of the position and the willingness of my supervisors to listen to my suggestions are extremely satisfying and for this experience, I am grateful.

Throughout my career at Company X, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the sophisticated investment strategies that we employ for our clients, institutions, and foundations. Working with two industry veterans, I make it a point to learn as much as possible from them. They allow me to undertake challenging tasks, such as explaining our investment philosophy to prospects and researching new products to use. As I have grown into a more proactive role in client service, the advisors have focused more on bringing in new assets, thereby increasing revenue for the firm. It is from these experiences that my passion for the analytical side of investing has emerged. I have a deep interest in modern portfolio theory and, after completing my MBA, plan to apply that theory in a role that focuses on market and securities analysis. I believe the Jones School curriculum and the environment fostered by the students and faculty will give me a more comprehensive understanding of modern portfolio theory and its application to institutional asset management.

Long-term, I plan to start a boutique asset management firm that services foundations, endowments, and institutions. Recent trends in the financial services industry indicate that the big box brokerage firms such as Merrill Lynch and UBS are losing favor with many investors. Independent advisors are leveraging the services of custodial firms like Fidelity and JP Morgan to run asset management shops that provide completely unbiased and independent financial advisory services. I see this trend continuing as the major investment houses go through drastic changes during the current financial crisis and intend to capitalize on the migration of assets to independent advisors.

The MBA program at the Jones School provides the best bridge for connecting my current career to the future career that I seek. I have gained a strong, core knowledge of investing and finance and need to build on this knowledge, acquiring a more in depth view of the capital markets. After visiting the campus, speaking with students at a partio, and sitting in on one of Professor Weston’s finance classes, I have concluded that the Jones School offers the curriculum and environment that will best prepare me for that career. The real-world asset management experience that the Wright Fund provides is also of particular interest. Another impressive aspect of the program is the wide array of finance courses available to students. I look forward to being a part of a diverse class that will allow me to learn as much from my peers as I will learn from my professors. It is this collaborative aspect of the Jones School that impresses me the most. I know that I will contribute to the Jones School community in a profound way while growing both personally and professionally from all that the program has to offer.

My earliest memories are punctuated with aromas of my Mexican mother cooking tamales, while my Iranian father taught us about Navroz – the Persian New Year – where life begins anew, and dreams are revitalized. This idealism excited me, and watching my parents struggle to provide for my sister and myself, I wanted to help them create a fresh start. I channeled this motivation into opportunities where I could deliver positive change. My career vision, to lead a Latin America-centric microfinance organization such as Accion, capitalizes on these experiences. In the interim, I will prepare myself by attaining an MBA, and joining the International Finance Corporation’s Global Transaction Team as an Investment Officer.

After graduating from UCSB, I wanted to maximize my contributions and exposure and found this opportunity at [XYZ Sports], a small, established apparel manufacturer. While my primary responsibilities were in finance, I made time to work with marketing, sales, and operations teams, understanding their challenges, and helping implement proposed solutions. I wanted to apply this newly acquired knowledge at a startup, passionate about influencing a fledgling entity. At [Memorabilia Retailer], my goal was to implement financial and accounting processes forming the company’s backbone. Working in an ambiguous, often chaotic startup environment, I holistically analyzed each issue and its ramifications. I also built relationships with functional experts, incorporating valuable insights from them. I confidently presented a tough but necessary set of strategic recommendations around financial operations reengineering to management, and won their approval. As an Investment Officer at IFC, and later, a leader in microfinance, I will leverage the poise I developed during these early-career experiences.

Next, I accepted a job at [ABC Healthcare], coming in to an under-resourced finance department. I suggested augmenting our human-capital base in Costa Rica, expanding our limited presence there, and lowering costs. Although this went far beyond my official job description, I spearheaded this project. Spending significant time in Costa Rica, I understood the work environment, hired resources, and trained them on our business processes. Under my direction our Costa Rican office now efficiently handles all our accounting processes, and has grown from a staff of two women, to 20. This success hinged on my ability to safeguard against the risks of developing an international location, a practice that is imperative to the sustainability of a microfinance organization. Further, witnessing the impact meaningful employment can have on families and communities paved the way for my professional ambitions.

Inspired by the transformation I saw in Costa Rica, I began actively volunteering at a local non-profit microfinance organization, Foundation for Women (FFW). As a Senior Advisor, I partner with low-income entrepreneurs to develop their businesses. Through this first-hand microfinance experience, I have reaffirmed that it is an area of business in which I thrive personally and professionally. I have also recognized the skills I need in order to attain my goals.

An MBA’s academic rigor will form the theoretical foundation on which I will build my future career. Courses such as Business Strategies for Emerging Markets, and Corporate Finance may sound similar to what other business schools offer, but Haas’s approach to the MBA via the BILD curriculum is distinctive, and especially appealing to me as its focus on forging change fits well with my personal leadership style. Through its emphasis on innovative leadership I will prepare myself for the volatility often inherent in international microfinance. I am looking forward to embracing knowledge outside the classroom as well. Applying academic theories to real world issues through Haas’s International Business Development Program will be a unique opportunity to learn from diverse teammates, professors, and clients, while gaining exposure to different geographies and their intricacies. I would also love to add an element of microfinance at the 2013 Latin American Business Conference, perhaps by inviting my contacts from FFW to attend or speak.

The Haas MBA will prepare me for a summer internship in banking and a full-time job at the IFC’s Global Transaction Team, where I will strengthen my understanding of the investor’s role in microfinance and build a toolkit for analyzing businesses with a discerning eye. Focusing on Latin America at the IFC and studying the design and productivity of the region’s microenterprise operations, I will become well versed in its cultural and socioeconomic challenges. Armed with this analytical acumen and regional perspective, I will be ideally positioned for a career at Accion, ultimately building on my experiences and network to establish a robust microfinance infrastructure in a country like Costa Rica and eventually across Latin America.

Upon receiving my MBA at USC Marshall, I will assume a managerial role at XYZ where my mother has been the President and CEO since she took the company over from my grandmother in 1998. XYZ is a leading managed care company in Southern California, providing billing and quality oversight services for over 7,400 physician practices. As the future leader of XYZ, I seek to expand its success by addressing the fast-changing management dynamics of medical groups; a Marshall MBA is critical to this career path.

To ensure an efficient transition to my managerial role at XYZ, I will enter the Marshall program with knowledge from my public health masters program and preceding consumer-oriented work. Through my public health masters program, I have developed an innovative masters thesis that evaluates Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), the latest healthcare delivery model put forth by the President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Through this project, I have become savvy in the ACO model and have gained an understanding of’s current and future potential clients, many of which are already ACOs in the Southern California region. My preceding work in connecting to the consumer mindset through marketing programs and, before that, through internships at XYZ, will also contribute to my informed managerial role.

I have a unique opportunity to create a renewed vision for our company that leverages the emerging paradigm shift in healthcare; the industry is moving away from a system of “sick care”—or acute care for diseases and illness—to a focus on preventing chronic disease and reducing costs. In the short-term, as a manager at XYZ, I intend to align my department and influence my employees to set the industry standard for coordinating care by evaluating the effectiveness of provider networks under this new model of care. I will expand XYZ’s services and client-base by creating sustainable, cutting edge products. I intend to enable the company to thrive in the next era of provider services.

My short-term career goals will be only realized if I fuel them with the functional knowledge and critical leadership skills of the Marshall MBA. I will immerse myself in the curriculum at USC Marshall and apply this knowledge in practice through its international programs and on-campus opportunities. In my first year, I will choose marketing as my functional area to hone my skills in management and team-building and will then take electives in healthcare during my second year to learn the specific business principles that guide my industry. The new core curriculum will allow me to explore subjects outside of my specialization to become a holistic leader. Marshall’s coursework will help me acquire the adaptability and rigorous knowledge that is critical for my high-impact career in healthcare.

My experience at Marshall will empower decision making that is socially-conscious within an increasingly global healthcare arena. I require an understanding of social responsibility to make my mark in the healthcare industry. The Pacific Rim International Management Education (PRIME) is a platform to understand these perspectives and will make me a more self-aware, globally-minded professional. The PRIME program will facilitate my learning of the global economy in healthcare as well as further my knowledge about XYZ’s client-base, as XYZ currently coordinates care for patients in the Pacific Rim. The PRIME program will give me a deeper understanding of our clients abroad and potential opportunities for global business development.

USC Marshall will also help me achieve my career goals because of its proximity to XYZ, as I will actively develop my professional network of future business partners and colleagues from the start of the program. Marshall’s core communities will create invaluable networking opportunities with fellow students. As healthcare is quickly evolving into a collaborative, interdisciplinary field, Marshall’s culture will reinforce the values that I will need as a healthcare leader. To further create connections with peers, I will be an active leader in the Healthcare Leadership Association and star player in Challenge for Charity, where I will use my passion for soccer for philanthropic benefit. After my MBA and several successful years working in a managerial position at XYZ, I hope to inherit my family’s business with a strong sense of duty and capability. Only an education from USC Marshall will give me the integrated foundations and networks to transform our business in the decades to come.

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Harvard HBS, Stanford GSB and every elite business program in the US and Europe.  These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Erin , who was Assistant Director of MBA Admissions at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) and Director of MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

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Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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How to frame practical Post MBA Goals Essays?

MBA & Beyond Team

15/11/2023 | 12:14 pm

Schools view essays as a tool to discern applicants’ strengths, weaknesses, and fit within the program. Among the commonly posed essays is the Post MBA Goal Essays, which holds significance in shaping the school’s ranking and employment report.

Craft coherent post-MBA goals linking your motivations, experiences, and short-term and long-term objectives.

In this article, you will learn the distinction between short term goals after MBA and long term goals after MBA. It shows how your goals align with your career objectives and strengthen your case to MBA admissions committees.

Here is the Snapshot of the article:

WHAT ARE CAREER GOALS ESSAY?

Career goals for MBA form a pivotal element of Post MBA Goal Essays, outlining a vision for successful professionals and serving as benchmarks for students’ lives as they aspire to become impactful leaders. These goals, intrinsic to Post MBA Goal Essays, are intertwined with academic and professional aspects, providing clarity on future roles or accomplishments. Passion and determination should serve as the driving forces behind your self-improvement and motivation in pursuing MBA goals.

There are two types of goals that define your vision and approach in Post MBA Goal Essays. The first one is the short-term career goals, which mean what you will do immediately after earning your MBA degree from your dream program. The second one is your long-term career goals that represent your esteem stage, the eventual position you wish to achieve in your respective field.

In your essay, articulate career aspirations and highlight achievements that support your MBA goals. Additionally, outline the approaches you intend to adopt to propel yourself even further. A valuable tip is to set MBA goals for various stages of your career, ensuring your essay follows a sequence of adaptation, formation, maturity, and later stages.

CAN YOUR GOALS BE VAGUE?

We understand for a maximum of applicants it is difficult to set their MBA goals which is quite common because our current career goals for MBA might not be the same after a period of time. Also, some applicants choose to argue with adcoms that they are too vague with their career goals for MBA and act that the school is responsible. Both approaches will create a negative impact on adcoms.

After all, why will the adcoms grant you a precious seat in their reputed program if you cannot even express your post MBA career goals? The committee acknowledges that your career goals for MBA may evolve, but they are interested in understanding the depth of your consideration for these goals and how you convey your passion and commitment towards your post MBA career objectives.

FREE CONSULTATION WITH AN EXPERT TO SET YOUR “POST MBA GOALS”

POINTS TO ALIGN WITH YOUR CAREER GOALS ESSAY

Before beginning, we suggest you keep all these points in your mind while writing as it will help you to give the direction and structure to your career goals essay .

Be Determinant in your Post MBA Goal Essays

Some schools are comfortable understanding if you have multiple short term career goals and help you decide, but some top schools demand that you must have clear post MBA career goals. Therefore, we strongly recommend expressing your goals with determination to the admissions committees. Consider selecting a couple of goals and experimenting with them to reach a conclusion that resonates more with your aspirations.

Consistency is the Key

Ensure authenticity and truthfulness in your post-MBA goals. Maintain consistency across applications, while also being flexible to tailor your expression to align with each school’s vision and community. This approach enhances your impact and solidifies your career objectives for the MBA journey.

Want to pursue an MBA but not sure if your profile fits?

Talk to our Profile Experts to know your chances for a top MBA Program.

Practical Career Goals are a must in Post MBA Goal Essay

We understand you are tempted to achieve bigger things in life and receive so many awards and recognition in every field (you can), but while writing this essay, adcoms don’t want daydreamers. They want your career goals for an MBA to be practical and attainable. To align with this, research which industry or position you fit well.

Demonstrate logic in your Post MBA Goal Essay

Now that you’ve established the foundation, it’s crucial to consider the strategies that will aid in achieving both your short-term and long-term career goals. Bridging the gap between these milestones should follow a logical progression, making sense to readers.

Express your USP

Primarily, your ultimate aim in Post MBA Goal Essays is to convey your uniqueness and authenticity effectively to the readers. Additionally, the objective is to infuse creativity into expressing your MBA career goals, ensuring a logical and thoughtful presentation. Furthermore, it’s essential to go beyond merely stating the desired position and delve into the intricacies of your aspirations in your Post MBA Goal Essays.

Consider your career goals after MBA this way: MBA education will be one of your most significant investments, not only in terms of money but also in time and effort. So, throughout your 1-2 years in college, you must focus on the right stuff in terms of education, networking, placements, career goals after MBA, and so on, and you can only get the best out of your MBA if you are clear on your purpose for doing MBA. This clarity is what you should aim to convey in your Post MBA Goal Essays. And that is why our founders established MBA and Beyond to help intellectual people like you have clarity of your post MBA goals, purpose, vision, long term goals after MBA, and short term goals after MBA before you go for an MBA. 

HOW TO ADDRESS YOUR SHORT TERM GOALS AFTER MBA?

Short-term goals following MBA completion involve envisioning yourself immediately upon graduation from your desired business school, a critical aspect to highlight in your Post MBA Goal Essays. These goals must be precisely defined, including the industry, location, specific firms you are targeting, and the role you aim to secure.

Transitioning into your short-term goals necessitates fully acquiring the skills essential for the position you aspire to secure after completing your MBA. Additionally, this involves effectively managing the primary responsibilities associated with the role and demonstrating the expected outcomes.

FORMAT FOR SHORT TERM GOALS MBA ESSAYS

Here are the formatting guidelines for your Post MBA Goal Essays:

• Include white spaces on all sides with the help of one-inch margins in your short term goals MBA essays.
• Choose “readable” fonts (e.g., Times New Roman or Arial).
• The recommended font size is 11 or 12-point to write short term goals MBA essays.
• Using extra spaces between the paragraphs will create a negative impact.
• Add a title at the top of the page with a middle alignment.
• Enter your full name and date in the left alignment (or you can add this info in the header).

WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF YOUR SHORT TERM GOALS AFTER YOUR MBA

Here are six key points to include in your Post MBA Goal Essay:

• Emphasize the domain or industry you aim to work in as part of your Post MBA Goal Essays.
• Specify the career profile or position you wish to pursue after the industry.
• Link your academic and professional experiences with your vision to strategically design your career journey.
• Align your objectives with your short-term career goals and develop a plan to achieve these career goals after your MBA.
• Ensure your short-term goals after MBA are detailed, reflecting in-depth research and clear direction.
• Focus on acquiring skills, competence, and experience vital for your career goals after MBA.

KNOW YOUR CHANCES FOR TOP B-SCHOOLS ADMISSION AND SCHOLARSHIPS

HOW TO DEFINE YOUR SHORT TERM GOALS IN YOUR POST MBA GOAL ESSAY?

1 . progression in your career goals after mba while implementing the short terms goals after mba.

Working towards your career goals is a case of your short term goals after MBA. For example, if you are currently engaged in a role within a related industry, your aim may be to expedite progression to higher positions or enhance your standing within the corporate brand.

Example for short term goals after MBA:

1. I am a software engineer with product development expertise seeking a position in product management for a Silicon Valley technology startup. An example of vertical growth is not changing dimensions but seeking a more prominent role in the same industry.

2. I work at a corporate law firm and wish to go into the M&A or strategy team of a big corporation.

Defining and managing short-term goals after completing an MBA remains a rational and straightforward task. When articulating these goals in your post-MBA essay, the fundamental requirements persist. However, the key lies in your capacity to envision yourself in the desired role and effectively highlight the skills you contribute to your career objectives after MBA. It is easier to explain because you already have peers or seniors undertaking that post MBA career role and can explain the difference between it and your current position. 

The first step in writing your post MBA goals essay is to look up your target school’s employment statistics and reports. For example, if you want to have a promising career in Investment Banking in the US, you may want to consider which schools have the highest graduates going to these fields shortly after their post MBA. Second, look at the subjective factors of career goals after MBA- how your school will shape you and your career for both short term goals after MBA and long term goals after MBA .

You may want to sign up for this free coffee session to help you shape your post-MBA goals  for MBA applications.

2. Addressing Career Breaks in Post MBA Goal Essays

Transitioning into a new career after MBA is a common short-term goal among applicants. You aspire to move into a more interesting position within an exciting industry and company, encapsulating your post-MBA goals in essence. So, you want to shift your industry , position profile, and, most likely, area. This situation accounts for more than 60% of all individuals interested in pursuing an MBA.

As an example of Career Shift as a short term goal after MBA:

1. I am a software engineer in a technology firm looking to advance into a business strategy function with a giant tech firm/start-up.

2. I am an entrepreneur who aspires to work as a product manager in an organizational structure.

Such transformations necessitate a considerable amount of awareness and research. Moreover, for these short-term goals after MBA, you require superior convincing abilities to demonstrate your employability. Additionally, admissions committees seek to understand your grasp of the position, identifying which talents are transferable from your current work to the new role envisioned, and how the MBA will facilitate the acquisition of lacking skill sets to achieve your career goals post-MBA.

SHORT TERM CAREER GOALS FOR MBA STUDENTS

Here are essential elements to consider for your Post MBA Goal Essay:

• The timeframe for your short-term career goals after MBA should span from the internship phase to the first 2-3 years post-graduation.
• Initiate short-term MBA goals to pave the way for achieving long-term MBA objectives.
• Conduct thorough research and be specific about geography, industry, function, and potential companies in your Post MBA Goal Essays.
• Ensure your goals are achievable and realistic.
• Focus on developing capacities, expertise, and experience relevant to your desired field.
• Illustrate your understanding of the MBA recruitment process and how it aligns with your career aspirations.

HOW TO ADDRESS YOUR LONG TERM GOALS AFTER MBA?

Your long-term goals after MBA delineate your ultimate career aspirations, representing the answer to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” However, it’s crucial to recognize that an MBA serves not only to facilitate the achievement of short-term goals but also significantly influences long-term objectives.

Therefore, consider the implications of your long-term goals after MBA. Reflect on how you intend to benefit personally from the experience of achieving these goals, focusing less on intricate details and more on the overall impact throughout your career. The admissions committee is keen to understand your aspirations after MBA, your character, vision, principles, and the way you aim to influence an industry or community.

And believe us when we say this aspect of your application will need you to do a lot more digging about your long term goals after MBA. You can read this story of an Indian engineer achieving 30k worth of dollar scholarships from Rotman to help you get started on your goals and applications now. 

WHAT NEEDS TO BE COVERED IN POST MBA GOALS ESSAY FOR LONG TERM GOALS

When crafting your Post MBA Goal Essay, consider addressing the following points:

• Explain why this business school is the perfect fit for you, aligning its offerings with your career aspirations.
• Detail your expectations following the MBA application, focusing on how the program aligns with your Post MBA Goal Essays.
• Describe how your past experiences have contributed to your growth as a professional and how they’ve prepared you for an MBA.
• Discuss how the graduate program will enhance your skills and influence your career goals after completing your MBA, emphasizing specific aspects of the program that are relevant to your objectives.

FORMAT FOR LONG TERM GOALS MBA ESSAYS

For your Post MBA Goal Essay, adhere to these formatting guidelines:

• Opt for the 5-paragraph essay format to structure your content effectively.
• Use “readable” fonts like Times New Roman or Arial to ensure clarity.
• Stick to a recommended font size of 11 or 12-point for readability.
• Maintain one-inch margins on all sides to create ample white space.
• Ensure there is a logical connection between paragraphs to maintain flow in your Post MBA Goal Essays.
• Adhere to a formal style of writing and refrain from using informal language.
• Avoid long sentences to prevent confusion and enhance comprehension for the reader.

CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF A POST MBA GOALS ESSAY:

In your Post MBA Goal Essay, consider incorporating these elements for long-term career planning:

• Outline the timeframe of your career goals after MBA, focusing on the next 10 years and beyond.
• Define your ultimate long-term goal post-MBA, reflecting on what you aspire to achieve in your career peak.
• Emphasize the impact of your long-term goals after MBA, highlighting how they align with broader industry or societal contributions.
• Ensure your long-term goals are aspirational and inspiring, showcasing your ambition and vision.
• Illustrate how your long-term goals reflect your core values and professional ethos.
• Clarify the purpose behind your short-term goals and how they serve as stepping stones toward your long-term aspirations.
• Acknowledge the flexibility in achieving your career goals by outlining multiple pathways (plan A, B, C…) to reach your desired outcomes.

Example of long term goals after MBA:

1. I want to transform Europe’s healthcare system by discovering creative methods to reduce the cost of diagnostics so that funds can be spent on better treatments and facilities.

2. I am looking for an executive-level position with a renewable energy organization, such as a wind farm or solar farm, to help me reach my ultimate goal of reducing the world’s carbon footprint as the CEO of a worldwide renewable farms organization.

The narrative presented in your post-MBA goals essay should logically depict your objectives and long-term goals after MBA. Additionally, it should align with your current professional path, effectively illustrating how the school can support your aspirations.

A successful application can tell a unified and convincing tale about the applicant’s career goals after MBA. Furthermore, it should highlight their prior successes, extracurricular activities, and personal highlights in their post-MBA goals essay.

THREE WINNING COMPONENTS FOR WRITING LONG TERM GOALS

If you have a personal story that influenced your choice of long-term career goals, crafting an essay describing these goals for MBA becomes more straightforward. Moreover, your long-term career goal essay should flow seamlessly, offering clarity and a connection to your journey. Additionally, we have three components that you should follow to write your career goals essay.

HOW TO WRITE YOUR POST MBA GOALS ESSAY?

Well, after 10 minutes of extensive expert advice, if you need us to write your post MBA goals essay or spoon-feed you, then an MBA is not for you!

No one is interested in reading your boring post MBA goals essay. Admissions committee members review around 1000 applications a day, discarding 999 within 5 minutes. Your achievements and resume details are already outlined. Therefore, ensure your post MBA goals essay is brief, engaging, and enjoyable to read. Navigate directly from point A to B without unnecessary elaboration, conveying your passion for achieving these goals and realizing your vision.

Connect your long term goals after MBA to the values your target school respects. Research target schools to see how they’ll support your short-term and shape your long-term MBA goals.

You can read this goals and achievements essay and take critical insights into framing your post MBA goals essays.

Our sole purpose of a unique consulting process is to help applicants find clarity in not only their post MBA goals but also in life- one we always needed! Many applicants call the first segment of our process “therapy .” We are here to help you establish the proper set of professional goals and develop an overall powerful story by truly knowing who you are. You are not only leading your way to your dream schools but finally being able to reach where you are destined for!

So if you get stuck along the way while defining your career goals after MBA, feel free to connect. We’ll be happy to curate the path to your success in your MBA journey because the world needs intellectuals like you!

We offer a limited number of free profile evaluations each week, where we match you with students and alumni from leading B-Schools based on your background and target schools. During this call, our experts will uncover your unique selling proposition (USP) for top B-schools and offer honest feedback on your profile, assessing your chances at your target schools.

You can also comment on your concerns regarding crafting post-MBA goals essays, and our experts will reach out to you within 24 hours. Happy applying!

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Writing a compelling MBA Career Goals Essay

W riting a compelling MBA Career Goals Essay requires you to do more than just list the companies and titles you plan to add to your resume following the completion of your studies.

Your essay needs to demonstrate that you are passionate about the career you envision while convincing the MBA admissions committee that a larger sense of purpose directs your career goals.

Furthermore, admissions officers will judge your career action plan to determine if the dots connect between your skills and experiences and future aspirations.

In this article, we provide you with insights and tools you need to build a powerful MBA Career Goals Essay.

First, we’ll talk about why admissions committees ask you to write an essay about your career goals and share the characteristics of an outstanding answer. We will also help you to avoid the common mistakes applicants make when writing a Career Goals Essay.

We’ll even provide you with a set of building blocks for crafting a unique and powerful essay of your own.

In the final section of this article, we analyze a sample Career Goals Essay to illustrate the principles we taught you in action.

Why Do MBA Admissions Officers Ask About Your Goals?

The MBA Career Goals essay question regularly appears in one form or another on just about every MBA application. Many applicants wonder why MBA admissions officers are so interested in what they plan to do after graduating from business school. Others feel these types of questions are downright unfair. Isn’t business school a chance to figure out what you want to be when you grow up? And what’s the point of making plans when everyone knows those plans are going to change?

The reason admissions officers ask the Career Goals Essay question year after year is because the mission of a top MBA program is to train future leaders who will go on to make an impact on the world. In a sense, when you apply for an MBA, you’re also applying for the job you will take upon graduation, the job you will progress to five years after graduating, and even the executive job you dream about taking 10-15 years after that.

An acceptance letter to a top-tier MBA program is not a blue ribbon for past achievements. Admissions committees want to know what you aspire to become and want to achieve as a future leader. As it turns out, a strong Career Goals Essay is one of the best tools in your application to get the Admissions Committee excited about your potential and to communicate where and how you plan to make an impact on the world after completing your MBA education.

Business schools ask about your career goals in a variety of ways :

• “What are your short-term and long-term career goals?”
• “What are your professional objectives?”
• “Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing an MBA.”
• “What do you want to do—REALLY?”

When answering these kinds of essay questions, top marks are earned by having clearly defined post-MBA career plans that go well beyond climbing the corporate ladder and making lots of money. Admission officers want to know that you have a passion for the career you imagine and that your career goals are fueled by a sense of purpose.

What Makes For a Strong MBA Career Goals Essay?

Defining your career goals is central to your Application Strategy because a powerful Career Goals Essay will tell the admissions officers how you plan to become a leader of consequence once you graduate. The coherence of your Career Goals Essay serves as elegant proof of your potential.

You’ll also need to persuade admissions officers that your career aspirations are realistic. In other words, they must be convinced that you possess many of the skills, talents, and experiences that you will need to achieve your ambitions. Many candidates undermine their chances for acceptance by proposing a set of lofty career goals that don’t appear achievable when viewed in the context of their past experiences and strengths. Grand ambitions are fine, but you must be able to convince admissions officers that the dots connect from your past accomplishments to your future aims.

Next, remember that admissions officers believe that their job is to find and accept future business leaders who will make a positive difference in the world. The goal of this essay is not to outline your plans for climbing the corporate ladder. Think about how you can devote energy and your career to helping others in some way. This doesn’t mean you have to go to work for a not-for-profit – no matter what field you are interested in, you can identify ways that your career will make a positive difference in the world.

Even when the essay question doesn’t include words like vision and aspiration or doesn’t ask you why your career goals are meaningful, you should let admissions officers know your deeper motivations and that you have a sense of purpose.

Finally, the caveat to all of this advice is that admission officers read thousands of these essays and can tell the difference between aspirations with integrity and those that are simply engineered for effect. To put it bluntly, admissions board members have world-class B.S. detectors, so make sure your career goals pass the sniff test.

Your career goals, if properly developed and defined, can set you apart from other candidates competing for a spot at that school, and that’s precisely what you want them to do. Before you begin brainstorming, you will need to do extensive career planning work to assemble the content building blocks for your Career Goals Essay.

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What Makes for a Weak MBA Career Goals Essay?

Let’s discuss some of the weaknesses in applicants’ MBA Career Goals Essays so you can avoid making mistakes in your essay that might hurt your chances of being admitted to a top business school:

Unfocused career vision

No sense of purpose: passion, meaning, and significance, lack of evidence that the candidate understands his or her future industry.

• Dots don’t connect between prior skills/experiences and post-MBA career goals

Unconvincing motivations for pursuing an MBA

We’ll expand on these common pitfalls.

When it comes to essay and interview questions about your career goals, the “I will figure out my goals once I’m in business school” answer isn’t sufficient. If you haven’t determined what your career goals are, then how can an admissions officer be sure an MBA is your best next step? More importantly, how can you?

The bottom line is that your candidacy will not compare favorably with the applicants who know where they want to go and can explain clearly how an MBA will help get them there. Admissions officers know that once you’re in business school, you’ll have more work to do than there are hours in the day; there’s not much time available for self-reflection and career planning. In fact, within weeks of arriving on campus for your first year, you’ll be polishing your resume up and submitting it to recruiters for summer internships. If you don’t have a vision for your career, you may not benefit from the MBA experience in the same way as other candidates who do have a defined and focused career vision.

MBA programs were founded on the belief that business leaders can and do play an influential role in contributing to society’s prosperity. Schools are looking for future leaders who aren’t just in it for themselves. Admissions officers are proud that their job is to find and accept future business leaders who will make a positive difference in the world. If your career goals are a thinly veiled plan for making loads of money, then your candidacy is in trouble.

Once your long-term career goals are in focus, you should further educate yourself on the industry in which you plan to work. Admissions officers are understandably skeptical when an applicant claims to want to work in a particular field like venture capital, sustainable energy, or social enterprise but doesn’t seem to know much, if anything, about those industries.

Dots don’t connect between prior skills / experiences and post-MBA career goals

Many candidates undermine their chances for acceptance by proposing a set of lofty career goals that don’t appear realistic when viewed in the context of their past experiences and strengths. An admissions officer will examine your resume through the lens of future corporate recruiters. Suppose your Career Goals Essay says that you want to work in strategy consulting post-MBA. In that case, admissions officers will evaluate whether your current resume, combined with the skills and knowledge you would acquire in their program, would appeal to a recruiter at a strategy consulting firm. If the dots don’t connect for the MBA admissions committee, your application will be less competitive.

Your career goals directly relate to your motivations for pursuing an MBA. Therefore, defining those career goals is critical to explaining why you want an MBA. Unconvincing motivations for pursuing an MBA can be another big weakness in your candidacy. If the only answer you can come up with for “why you want an MBA” is “I’m working at a private equity firm, and everyone here goes for an MBA,” then you need to do more thinking about your motivations and reasons for applying to business school. If you haven’t built a solid case for this huge investment of time and money, then admissions committees would be justified in wondering what kind of business leader you’re going to be in the future.

Now that you understand the characteristics of a successful MBA Career Goals Essay and some pitfalls to avoid, we will share some content building blocks to help you design and write a winning essay.

Content Building Blocks for the MBA Career Goals Essay

Now we’ll tie the preceding insights together into a set of building blocks and provide you with a Career Goals Essay example, so you feel fully prepared to write a convincing essay of your own.

The four content building blocks for an excellent Career Goals Essay are:

• Career Purpose
• Career Meaning
• Your Long-Term Career Goal, and;
• Your Career Action Plan

Your first step is to develop a statement of career purpose . The building block question is, “What is the purpose of your career — who will it serve, and how will it benefit others?” A statement of career purpose doesn’t exist on an organization chart. It’s not the job; it’s what you hope to achieve in the world in a larger sense.

The next content building block is career meaning . Ask yourself, “Why is the career I envision meaningful to me?” Admissions officers believe that great ambitions are achieved when an individual’s goals are fueled by their interests and passions. Even if the application doesn’t ask the question directly, you should tell the admissions committee why these career goals matter to you.

Once your career’s purpose and meaning are defined, you can progress to building a succinct statement of your long-term career goals . Your long-term career goal may indeed be found on an organization chart — you should include the job you want and the kind of organization you want to be leading in 15 years – CEO, founder, managing director of a non-profit, etc. What is your dream job ?

“What’s the path to your dream job?” — The final building block is your career action plan – it includes the jobs and organizations you plan to work for along the way toward your long-term career goal. For each position on your path, you can briefly explain how the role fits into your overall plan and moves you a step closer to your long-term career goal by providing additional skills, essential knowledge, and a more robust network.

To wrap up this lesson, let’s take a look at a Career Goals Essay sample so you can see these principles and our content building blocks in action.

MBA Career Goals Essay Sample

Our example applicant “Adam” is an investment banker who wants to return to the private equity world post-MBA.

As you’ll see, by using the content building blocks, he goes beyond answering the “what question” – as in WHAT are your career goals – and answers the “why question” – setting himself up to write a Career Goals Essay that will score top marks.

Adam was born in Ukraine, and his career goal is to help people in that part of the world by spurring economic development. He plans to share how troubled he was by the hardships he saw while on a recent visit to Kyiv, during which his career goals came into focus.

Adam makes his career goals more unique than simply saying he wants to start a private equity fund – the fund he wants to create will invest in the former Soviet Union, providing much-needed economic development in the region. Adam plans to work for an established fund in the CIS region before eventually starting his own fund. His dream job is to serve as an economic advisor to governments in that part of the world.

Having completed his building blocks exercise, Adam has the content he needs to satisfy the career goals question criteria. His answer will be comprehensive and memorable and will set him apart from other candidates who also have their sights set on a future in private equity.

Below you will find an excerpt of the essay that resulted when these content building blocks were assembled. Review the sample essay carefully, and then you will be ready to get to work outlining, drafting, and rewriting your own essay until you and your advisors feel you have an outstanding Career Goals Essay for your application.

(CAREER PURPOSE) By the end of the trip, my career goals were clearly in focus. I want to play a leadership role in economic development in the CIS, first as a private equity investor, and eventually, an economic advisor to the government in Ukraine.

(CAREER ACTION PLAN) Directly out of business school, I want to move to Russia and work with an established private equity group such as Baring Vostok (“BV”). I’ve worked for almost two years in private equity in the US, and working for a firm in Moscow like BV for five to seven years would give me regional private equity experience and ties to capital in Russia and the CIS.

(LONG-TERM CAREER GOAL) Long-term, I want to start my own fund in the former Soviet Union, ideally based in Kyiv. I believe there’s plenty of opportunities. My Uncle’s manufacturing company in Kyiv is actually a good example; he needs growth capital, but his business’s risk profile is wrong for a bank and better suited for a private equity fund.

Final Thoughts

Sharing your excitement about your future career path with admissions officers via your MBA Career Goals Essay is an essential step toward earning an acceptance letter from a top MBA program. The coherence and clarity of your essay can convey your desire to be a leader of consequence once you finish your MBA studies.

Ultimately, the goal of an MBA Career Goals Essay is to convince admissions officers that you will go on to use your MBA education to make a positive difference in the world. The lessons we’ve shared in this article can help you to write a high-quality essay. The effort you devote to writing an excellent MBA Career Goals essay will almost certainly help increase your chances of being accepted by one of the world’s top business schools.

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• What Will You Contribute? Essay Example
• Why MBA? and Why Our School? Essay Example
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How to Get the Adcom Excited About Your MBA Career Goals Essay Plus an Example

In last week’s article, we provided some tips to ensure the short-term goals you share in your MBA career goals essay will resonate with the admissions committee. We shared that your post-MBA goals should be specific, realistic, and logical. This is all true, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. While a strong short-term MBA career goal will demonstrate to the admissions committee that you understand the type of companies that hire out of their program, it won’t get them excited about having you as part of their incoming class. This is where the long-term component of your MBA career goals essay comes in. By long-term MBA career goals, we mean your end game – where you see yourself at the pinnacle of your career. 

Don’t think small or hold back here, it’s ok to be ambitious. Top MBA programs aren’t looking for people who are afraid or unable to dream big. Exactly the opposite – they want to educate the next generation of leaders who will leave an indelible mark on the world. Intimidated? We get it! However, with some deep reflection, research and soul searching, we know your dream job is out there (or maybe it isn’t yet and your plan is to create it – that’s fine too!).

So that’s the big picture. Here are some guiding principles to use as you think about your long-term MBA career goals. At the end of this article, we’re also sharing a strong MBA career goals essay example from a past client that really puts our advice into practice.

1) Your Future Should Connect to Your Past

A great place to start when brainstorming your long-term career goals is with your past. Think about situations – whether early in life, in college, or throughout your career – where you’ve felt truly fulfilled or energized. What was it about these situations that made you feel this way? Is there a common thread between them?

As an example, perhaps in college you built a new campus organization from the ground up and loved the sense of ownership you had during the experience. Fast forward to your current job, perhaps the most exciting project you’ve been involved with was helping your company enter a new market or launch a new product. The connection I see between these two things is an entrepreneurial spirit, which is something that could absolutely factor into your ultimate career goal.

Beyond a linkage to your underlying passions or motivations, your long-term goal should have a more tactical connection to your past. It’s hard to make the case that you want to pursue a certain path if you haven’t had even a touch of exposure to it in the past. For instance, if your pre-MBA career is in investment banking, it would be hard to justify a long-term goal as the founder of a nonprofit (unless another part of your background is heavily social impact focused).

Said simply, there has to be a solid ‘why’ driving your long-term goal that the adcom will understand within the confines of your application and specifically within your MBA career goals essay.

2) You Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel

A common concern I work through with clients is how to differentiate themselves if their long-term career goals are ‘typical’. For instance, someone who followed the investment banking / private equity pre-MBA career path and wants to remain in the private equity space throughout their career.

Rest assured that targeting a finance career (or consulting, etc.) is ok! Remember that large portions of the graduates from top MBA programs go these ‘typical’ routes (see statistics at the far right of this table ) and a notable amount of them remain there for the long haul. Clearly the adcom is amenable to these goals.

I do, however, encourage my clients to make these types of goals ‘their own’.  Each of these careers has numerous areas of specialization, whether that be an industry focus, investing philosophy, etc. By identifying one about which you are passionate, rooted in past work or personal experience, makes the goal more unique and interesting.

If not an industry specialty, perhaps you are passionate about a certain leadership philosophy (like Ray Dalio, a Harvard Business School graduate, and his ‘idea meritocracy’) or a cause that could be tied in with your future career ambitions. The key, if you are targeting one of the more common post-MBA careers (and even if you aren’t, quite frankly), is to put your personal spin on the goal and tie it in with the values and passions that make you who you are.       

3) Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day – Your Career Goals Shouldn’t Be Either

As I said earlier, arriving at authentic, well developed long-term MBA career goals is hard – and that’s exactly why it matters to the admissions committees at top MBA programs. I find that many applicants rush to a conclusion about ‘what they want to be when they grow up’ without enough self-reflection and end up with a goal that is run of the mill and uninspiring.

Take the time to research where MBAs that have gone into your field of interest have ended up 10 to 20 years after graduation. Read about business leaders you admire and the path they followed to get where they are. Last and most important, network with alums of your target programs that have gone into your field of interest.  These things will get your wheels turning and help you develop a compelling narrative for your application, while inspiring you to set and achieve lofty goals.  

An MBA Career Goals Essay Example

To help put theory into practice, below is a career goals essay example from one of our past clients that does a particularly good job of incorporating the advice we’ve shared in this and last week’s article.

Prompt (Columbia Business School) : Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

As a first-generation immigrant to the US, I was raised on the principle of investing in the future. My parents gave up their life in <country> to invest in better education and career opportunities in the US for me and my sister. When I moved to New York and struggled to learn English in 6th grade, I spent two months of my allowance on several pocket-size notebooks and pens that I carried around to jot down unfamiliar words that I would later look up in the dictionary. This habit earned me a few jeers on the playground, but I knew the long-term pay-off – mastering the English language – would be worth it.

This long-term lens continues to shape my career. At <Company>, I have stepped up to become the biomass industry lead analyst because I believe in the potential of the industry to be one of the long-term environmental solutions for carbon emission. I was particularly excited to lead a meeting in 2019 with a multi-billion dollar <Client> to share my biomass industry analysis, helping drive their investment in sustainable energy infrastructure. However, given the scope of credit rating analysis, I often find myself disappointed that I have no stake in the investment decision outcome. I want to be in a position to directly invest in companies that have a positive long-term impact. As such, I want to become an investment manager focusing in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investing, which targets responsible investing opportunities.

In the next 3 – 5 years after CBS, I plan to work as a research associate for an asset manager or investment fund that has an ESG focus, such as Neuberger Berman or PIMCO. I hope to convert my summer internship into a full-time position at one of these funds, as did <Name> (’20). My goal as a research associate is to leverage my investing skills and application of ESG concepts garnered from my Columbia MBA, the Value Investing program and the Three Cairns Climate Fellowship in particular, to lead teams in crafting investment portfolios that meet the long-term investment objectives of ESG investors. From managing the entire investment process, I’ll understand every aspect that is factored into an investment decision, strengthening my analytical acumen and ultimately growing my network and reputation in the ESG investing community that will help me achieve my dream goal.

My dream job is to be the founder and CEO of a global ESG-focused investment fund that manages the entire ESG investment process in-house – from formulating the top-down ESG selection process to executing on the investment decisions – as most funds either offer ESG as one of many investment options or largely depend on third party analytics as an input to their ESG investment decisions. This tailored in-house investment approach would offer much-needed transparency, enabling investors and stakeholders to monitor the impact that their investments are making. From my personal experience, I fully understand what it means to “invest in the next generation”, and I firmly believe that ESG is a powerful way for investors to focus beyond monetary return.

Need help applying this advice to your own situation? We would love to help. Click here to schedule an initial consultation. 

Katie is a passionate mentor and coach, helping her clients craft a unique, compelling story by leveraging her experience as a corporate executive, alumni interviewer, and campus recruiter. Before completing her MBA at Kellogg, Katie spent five years in banking where she learned practical finance skills as well as how to operate in a demanding, high pressure environment. She pursued an MBA in order to transition to an industry role where she could utilize her finance knowledge to drive change within an organization. Post-MBA, she worked in finance and strategy for a leading CPG firm, progressing to an executive role leading the finance function for a $2B business segment. Her experience managing diverse teams led to a passion for developing others. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, she led her firm’s MBA recruiting efforts and served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Kellogg.

MBA Career Goals – Crafting a Compelling Short-Term Vision

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How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples

The MBA essay is critical to your business school application. Read our guide to writing the perfect MBA essay, with successful admit examples.

Posted July 4, 2024

Featuring Nate S.

How to write a "Why Stanford" essay that stands out

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Table of Contents

What is the mba essay.

The MBA admissions essay.

Those words alone are enough to make most MBA candidates run screaming. Writing in general is hard enough. Writing about why you want an MBA? Your short-term goals and career aspirations? What matters to you most, and why? Forget it.

Of course, you still have to write these essays.

The MBA essay is perhaps the most important part of the business school application. Every other part of the application — your GPA, your test scores, your letters of recommendation — is quantified, cut and dried, or out of your control. The essay is your chance to show up as a fully realized MBA candidate, with hopes, dreams, and vulnerabilities. Admissions committees are not simply assessing your candidacy as a future leader — they're looking to admit human beings. That's where the MBA applicant essays come in.

That being the case, rather than being intimidated by it, treat the MBA essay writing process like the opportunity that it is — the chance for you to highlight your unique, iridescent self; the only moment in the MBA admissions process (prior to the interview) when you can speak directly to admissions officers; the time when you'll show them who you really are. It's not easy to write something that will do that, of course, but with the tips and tricks in this guide, and some help from one of Leland's vetted, world-class admissions coaches, we know you can do it. Give the essay the time, attention, and respect it deserves, and you'll be on your way to an offer of admission at your dream school.

Without further ado, let's dive in!

Ultimate MBA Essay Guide

See the MBA essay prompts, top tips from experts, and real examples from admits with this comprehensive guide.

How Long Will My MBA Essay Take?

First things first: let's talk about timing.

The MBA application is a behemoth; between exams, resumes, gathering your official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and the applications themselves, there's a lot to juggle. That being the case, we suggest you give yourself ample time to draft, write, and revise your essays. The last thing you want is to be rushed to the finish line.

So, give yourself at least three months to write your MBA admission essays. That should allow you enough time to draft, write, and edit. For more information on timing your entire business school application, click here for  A Comprehensive MBA Application Timeline--With Chart .

Now, on to the critical question:

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What Makes a Great MBA Essay?

At the highest level, the answer is the one that is truest to you. The whole point of an MBA application essay is to shine through as an authentic, vibrant human being, so the best essays are the ones that cut through the clutter, and allow you to do that.

Which begs the question — how do you cut through the clutter and shine through as a vibrant human being? Here are four critical tips to follow as you begin thinking about your essays.

1. Answer the Question

This one sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many applicants launch into their story, get carried away, and forget to answer the question. Follow the prompt, and answer the question the admissions committee has asked you. Those prompts can actually be very useful when writing MBA essays — it's a great deal harder to write when you have no guidance or guardrails. With these essays, you have a very specific question you need to answer. So answer it!

2. Be Specific

Another mistake some MBA applicants make is to stay at a high level in their essays, keeping their writing abstract and therefore inaccessible to the admissions committee. If at any point, an admissions officer could replace your name with the name of another applicant, then your essay isn't getting deep enough. It's not enough, for instance, to say that you suffered adversity in high school, or that you really, really want a Wharton MBA. You need to explain, in detail, the adversity you faced, and give concrete and unique reasons why you think Wharton is the right program for you. The best essays offer hyper-specific examples and anecdotes, with details and anecdotes that no other candidate could bring to the table. To get those anecdotes, we recommend using the STAR template, as explained below:

• Situation : What was the situation you were facing? Where were you? How old were you? If you were in a professional role during this anecdote, what was the role, and how long had you been in it? If you were volunteering, at what organization? How long had you been volunteering there? Why did you start? Offer all the relevant information that the admissions readers will need to understand your story.
• Task : What was the task at hand? What went wrong? In your professional role, what was the challenge you faced? In that volunteering experience, what were the hurdles you had to overcome? You can't have a good story without conflict or tension, so after you set up the anecdote, explain what that conflict or tension was (and remember, be specific!).
• Action : What was the action you took to resolve the problem? What did you have to do to fix that issue at work? How did you clear that hurdle in your volunteer experience? Again, be specific about how you came through on the other side of that conflict/tension — and while you're doing it, highlight your leadership capabilities as much as possible! Remember that top MBA programs are looking for future leaders who can assess a situation and decisively take action. (We'll say a bit more about this below, in the Personal Statement section.
• Result : What was the result of your action? If you were facing a growth problem at work, were you able to increase sales? If so, by what percentage? If you were advocating for diversity and inclusion at your local charity, what new programs did you implement to help with that effort, and what was the enrollment like in those new programs? Detail what happened in your anecdote with as much specificity as possible — and quantify, quantify, quantify!

If you want to learn more about how to master the STAR Method, read our article How to Nail “Tell Me About a Time…” Interview Questions .

3. Get Vulnerable

Most MBA admissions essay prompts are written with the goal of getting to know as much about you as possible in the shortest number of words. To do that, you're going to have to share real things from your life — to get personal, intimate, and vulnerable. Do not shy away from this. If you're starting to get emotional during the reflection, drafting, and writing process, good — that means you're on the right track. Keep going.

Pro tip: If it’s making you cry, it will make them cry.

Another good rule of thumb is to put something real and true on the table. Admissions officers have to read thousands of applications from thoroughly qualified individuals, some of whom might come from similar roles to yours, with letters of recommendation from equally impressive supervisors. In order to cut through that noise, you'll have to share something honest.

If you're doing it right, this can feel risky. At some point, you’ll likely think to yourself: “Can I say that?” The answer is: “Yes.” Of course, there is a line, you don’t want to be crass or offensive but always err on the side of being open and authentic.

The very worst thing you can do is be overly cautious and write something you think will please the admissions committee. These poor people have to read thousands of essays. If yours is just like everyone else’s, they’ll fall asleep. Don’t let that happen. Wake them up by putting yourself —your true, bright, vibrant, quirky self—on the page.

4. Don't Exaggerate

Finally, do not exaggerate, over-inflate, or lie. This goes without saying, but admissions committees are looking for honest candidates. The surest way to get rejected is to lie about something. (Business schools do a background check on you before you're properly admitted, so they will find out.) Don't be the person who over-inflates on their essays and then has their offer letter rescinded.

The Types of MBA Essays

All right — since we've covered high-level approaches to the MBA essays, it's time to dig into the various types.

There are three general categories of MBA essays you'll see across the board.

1. Personal Statement

These questions ask you to offer up something sincere about yourself. They'll often touch on such things as your values and your character. In these, you'll want to be as authentic as possible, while also highlighting attributes like leadership, intellectual vitality, and teamwork that business schools are looking for.

Here are a few examples of previous personal statement essays:

• 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? (HBS)
• What matters most to you, and why? (Stanford GSB)

2. Why an MBA/Why This School

In these, schools first want to hear about how an MBA will fit into your career, both short and long term. Top MBA programs are looking for candidates who will: first of all, be gainfully employed upon graduating, second of all, have an illustrious career that will make their institution look good and encourage future generations of applicants to apply, and third, be consistent and generous donors. That being the case, they want to know about your career trajectory, and how an MBA will fit into it.

Pro tip: Here, you want to be ambitious and inspiring in laying out your future career, but not naïve. Walk the line between shooting for the stars and sounding dreamlike and uninformed.

In this set of questions, you'll also encounter questions geared at figuring out why you would want to attend a specific school. MBA programs want to know that you're serious about attending their school — yield, or the percentage of admitted candidates who accept their offers of admission, is an important metric for them — but they also want to envision how you'll contribute to their admitted class. What will you uniquely bring to the table, the things that you'll do that the other candidates wouldn’t be able to offer?

We've heard former deans of business schools say that, in choosing a class, they're curating a world-class dinner party, and that each person invited to the dinner party has to bring something different. What will you bring to the dinner party?

Another Pro tip: To demonstrate that you've done your research, and to help the admissions committee envision you in their program, indicate which classes you might take when earning your MBA and why, which professors you might hope to study with, and in which clubs you might participate.

Here are a few examples of "why MBA / why this school" essays we've seen before:

• How is a Columbia MBA going to help you? (Columbia)
• What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (Wharton)
• Why Stanford? Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. (Stanford GSB)

3. Behavioral/Other

Finally, most other essays will be behavioral in the sense that they’ll ask you about experiences, traits, strengths, weaknesses, and achievements. There's a wide variety of topics here, but all the guidelines from above apply, with the final note to always prioritize authenticity (as mentioned in the Personal Statement section) and leadership ability (remember, business schools are choosing future leaders).

Here are a few examples of behavioral/other essays from the past:

• Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (Yale SOM)
• Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song and why it resonates with you. (Columbia)
• Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? (Stanford GSB)

Top MBA Program Essay Prompts (Updated 2024)

To help you get started, we've compiled the required prompts from a few top MBA programs below:

1. Harvard Business School (HBS)

• Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (300 words)
• Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (250 words)
• Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (250 words)

For more information, visit A Guide to the HBS Essay .

2. Stanford Graduate School of Business

• What matters to you most, and why? (650 words)
• Why Stanford? (400 words)

Read: What Matters Most When Writing the GSB Essays.

• How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)
• Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)

For Wharton-specific advice, visit A Guide to the Wharton Essays .

4. Columbia Business School

• Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)
• Essay 2: The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to develop as inclusive leaders. Through various resources and programming, students explore and reflect on the following five inclusive leadership skills: Mitigating Bias and Prejudice; Managing Intercultural Dialogue; Addressing Systemic Inequity; Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking; and Creating an Inclusive Environment. Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one of these five skills, and tell us the actions you took and the outcome. (250 words)
• Essay 3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership--academically, culturally, and professionally. How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)

If you’re looking for more tips on the CBS essays, read our Guide to the Columbia Business School Essays .

5. Chicago Booth

• How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum)
• An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (250-word minimum)

*Pro tip: Some essay questions such as these will say “no maximum.” While it’s certainly a good thing that you’re allowed to write more, keep in mind to never write too much. Our rule of thumb for things like this is to never go over 200 words past the “minimum” count.

Read more at A Guide to the Booth Essays .

6. Northwestern Kellogg

• Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words)
• Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

For more on Kellogg’s essays, read How to Nail Your Kellogg MBA Application Essays .

7. MIT Sloan

MIT Sloan doesn’t use traditional essay prompts; instead, applicants are required to submit a cover letter, video, and short answer questions, as well as the other traditional application materials.

Cover Letter

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity, respect, and passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation)

Video Question 1

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

• No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length
• Single take (no editing)
• Speaking directly to the camera
• Do not include background music or subtitles

Note: While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared beyond the admissions committee and is for use in the application process only.

Video Question 2

All MBA applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question. The question is designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. It does not require prior preparation.

Video Essay 2 is part of your required application materials and will appear as a page within the application, once the other parts of your application are completed. Applicants are given 5 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response.

Short Answer Question

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background. (250 words)

For top-notch advice on the MIT Sloan question prompts, read our articles Expert Guide to the MIT Sloan Short Answer Question and MIT Sloan Video Statement: Overview, Advice, & Common Mistakes .

How to Start Writing Your MBA Essay

So you've read about the types of essays, and seen some of the prompts from top MBA programs. Now it's time to actually start diving into the essay.

The very first thing to do, before putting pen to paper, is to look inward .

Why do you want an MBA? What role will this degree play in your professional growth? How do you imagine it will shape your life? What do you want out of your career? What is the most important thing in the world to you?

Yes, these are life’s deep-end questions, but you’ll need to tackle them in these essays, so before you start all of your writing, take the time to think through them. Go for a run, swim some laps, bake a cake—however you get into the flow — and start a dialogue with yourself. Put down your work, turn your phone off, and give your mind permission to go to the places it usually avoids. That’s a good place to start. That’s where the answers are.

Pro tip: The first sentence is the hardest one to write. When you're starting out, it can be intimidating and anxiety-producing. The trick is to simply put anything down — and don't look back. Keep putting one sentence after the other. You can edit later: let whatever comes to you out onto the page. If you’re struggling with self-critique, dim your computer screen until you can’t even see the words you’re typing. Then keep going.

Additional Tips & Tricks

Once you've started your essay, it's a matter of persistence: keep writing, then keep drafting and editing until you have something you're really proud of.

To help you write a successful MBA essay, here are a few more tips and tricks:

Take Breaks

When you hit the wall — and you will hit the wall — stop and take a breather. This is your brain telling you it needs to do something else. Walk your dog. Take a lap around your room. Eat some cheese. Your body needs sleep every night to function; your mind is the same way. That next leap of inspiration will come exactly at the moment when you’re least expecting it.

Read it Out Loud

When you finally have a draft, print it and read it out loud to yourself. Your ear will catch things your eyes miss. Reading out loud is the best way to pick up on spelling errors, clunky transitions, and paragraphs that still need ironing out. It’s also a good way to envision how the admissions committee will experience your essay.

Don’t be precious with your essay. Send it to anyone willing to read it. Solicit as much feedback as you can. If you don’t like what people have to say, you don’t have to incorporate it, but you need an impartial third party to give notes on what they’re seeing, thinking, and feeling. (You’re too close to things to do it for yourself.) This is where a Leland coach comes very much in handy!

Complete Everything Early

This is more of a timing consideration, but you do not want to trip at the finish line because your internet went down the night before the deadline, or your credit card was denied when paying your application fee (it's happened before). Don't let that be you!

Here is another article to get you started, written by an expert essay coach: 7 MBA Essay Tips to Make You Stand Out in 2022 .

Example MBA Essays

Finally, here are two essays to help inspire you. The first, a personal statement essay, was submitted by an admit to Berkeley Haas' Executive MBA program; the second, a career goals / why MBA essay, was submitted by an admit to Chicago Booth's deferred MBA program.

Haas Admit:

A person’s identity is shaped by many different aspects, including family, culture, personal interests, and surrounding environments. Please share a facet of your identity or story that is essential to who you are. (300 words) My upbringing in India, filled with countless myths and legends, had a profound influence on me. The most formative tale was about a sage who prays for years to the goddess of knowledge, but in vain. In the end, the goddess didn’t appear for the sage because he was turning his prayer beads the wrong way! As a child, this story upset me: the sage worked so hard and had the right intentions. As an adult, though, I’ve come to realize that the goddess of knowledge was right: you can’t succeed unless you do things the right way.

Seven years ago, two friends and I started a company, XXXX: a digital health platform that would allow patients to store medical records online and consult doctors remotely. We had early success—we brought on 2,000 patients at XXXX, a gynecology clinic in XXXX—but ultimately we didn’t have the resources to properly scale, and had to shut the company down. Among the many lessons I learned, the most valuable was that ideas and hard work are common; businesses succeed or fail based on execution—on doing things the right way. Two years ago, I relearned this lesson in the most painful way possible: when my marriage ended. My wife and I loved each other, but we weren’t there for each other when it mattered most. Our feelings weren’t enough—we had to back them up with the right actions.

It’s disheartening when you have good intentions but still fall short. When this happens, though, you have to keep trying—because eventually you will do things the right way. I carry the story of the sage with me always, not as a harsh lesson, but as a motivating goal: one that keeps me striving towards doing things the right way.

Booth Admit:

How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250 word minimum)

I want to start a geothermal company that will help lead the energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy—by targeting existing oil wells as sites for geothermal plants. Oil fields are close to electric grids and have high nearby subsurface temperatures, making them ideal sites for geothermal plants. By building geothermal infrastructure nearby, my company will produce cleaner, cheaper energy, making it more profitable for operators to switch from oil to geothermal. As oil companies decommission their wells, I’ll negotiate for their land rights, so I can use their existing wells for new geothermal vents. I want my company to prove the case for economically viable, carbon-neutral energy production.

After getting an MBA, I want to start a geothermal company which will help me lead the energy transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. I plan to target developed oil fields in Texas, where, in many places, producing wells are flowing enough hot fluid to generate clean energy. Using this geothermal heat, the carbon footprint of oil and gas extraction will decrease as fewer fossil fuels are utilized to power surrounding infrastructure. As the wells approach their economic life, I will negotiate the lease from various operators, saving them millions in plug and abandonment costs, and retrofit the wells for direct geothermal energy production via closed-loop binary fluid systems, bringing emissions to zero. To accomplish this goal, I need to shore up my knowledge of energy economics and entrepreneurial finance, develop a strong sense of leadership, and build a network of like-minded individuals that will help me lead the transition and I believe I can get those things at Chicago Booth.

My immediate career goal is to develop my first co-production site in Shelby County, Texas at the Blanton well site, which produces abnormally heated fluid from the flanks of an active salt dome. Before investing in capital expenditures, developing a strong sense of energy economics and broader markets is necessary to verify financial feasibility. The University of Chicago, through the Graduate-Student-At-Large: Business program, is already allowing me to accomplish this goal with my enrollment in “Microeconomics” with Professor Andrew McClellan. His instruction helped me understand the impact taxes and subsidies have on market equilibrium, an important aspect of renewable energy as green energy tax incentives continue to change on a yearly basis. As my company continues to grow, having a strong finance and accounting foundation is imperative to building and sustaining a healthy company. Electives such as “Accounting for Entrepreneurship: From Start-Up through IPO” will provide the skills I need to be successful by following the life-cycle of a business that originates as a start-up and covers topics such as building an initial accounting infrastructure. I understand that the execution of the business is as important as developing the idea and proof of concept, and Booth is the best place for me to develop financial fluency.

Leading the energy transition will require a strong sense of leadership. Not only will I need to lead those I get to work with over my career, but to lead the energy transition, and reverse the impact fossil fuels have had thus far, I must have the emotional intelligence to inspire others to join me in my journey. The “Interpersonal Dynamics” course at Booth will allow me to develop my communication skills and better understand the emotions and perceptions of my colleagues. These skills, synthesized with leadership development acquired in “Leadership Practicum” will prepare me to act as a relational leader, who understands the needs of others. As a relational leader, I hope to foster an environment which promotes happiness and maximizes efficiency, not only to make our efforts in changing the world more successful, but to excite other people to join our cause.

To find the greatest chance of success in leading the energy transition, I will need a network of like-minded individuals who can provide a diversity of thought. Chicago Booth provides the opportunity to develop that network through different community experiences. The Energy Club’s “Energy Forward” conference, which designates time to topics in oil and gas and renewable energy will allow me to hear from industry leaders, build meaningful relationships with peers, and contribute my sector experience to the public forum as I learn from those around me. Opportunities through the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Group such as “SeedCon” will help me connect with successful entrepreneurs and early-stage investors whose ideas and funding might change the course of my venture’s trajectory. Even in the GSALB program, I have had the opportunity to connect with other students in various sectors, including the energy industry. I hope to continue to strengthen those connections and continue building new ones with matriculation into the full time program.

Connect with an Expert for all your MBA Essay Questions

We know that a lot goes into the process of MBA essay writing. Research, planning, and execution all are major stages that take a lot of time. If you’re looking to fast-track your essay writing process while still blowing away the admission committee, try looking at some of our all-star MBA admissions consultants . We have a wide array of experts ready to give you as much help with MBA essays as you need, just check out some of our top-rated coaches below!

FAQs for Writing Your MBA Essay

What is the most important aspect of an MBA essay that admissions committees are looking for?

• The most crucial aspect of an MBA essay is authenticity. Admissions committees want to see the real you, so be honest and genuine in your responses. Highlight your unique experiences, values, and aspirations to stand out.

How long should my MBA essay be?

• The length of your MBA essay will depend on the specific prompts and guidelines provided by each school. Generally, essays range from 500 to 1,000 words. Always adhere to the word limit specified in the prompt. In the event that there’s no limit, we recommend floating within 200-300 words of whatever posted word count there is.

Can I use the same essay for multiple MBA applications?

• You can use similar content, but it’s essential to edit each essay to be about the specific school and prompt. Schools are looking for personalized responses that demonstrate your understanding of their program and how it aligns with your goals.

How do I figure out what to write about?

• Select experiences that showcase your leadership, problem-solving skills, and personal growth. Focus on stories that highlight your unique qualities and align with the values and culture of the MBA program you're applying to.

What should I avoid doing in my essay?

• Avoid clichés, generic statements, and exaggerations. Be specific and detailed in your responses. Also, steer clear of overly technical jargon that might be hard for the admissions committee to understand unless it’s directly relevant to your story.

Who can I ask for feedback on my essay?

• Seeking feedback from trusted friends, family, or mentors can be very helpful. In addition, consider working with one of our admissions coaches who can provide professional insights and help refine your essay to make it more compelling.

What should I do if I don’t have a traditional business background?

• If you don’t have a traditional business background, focus on transferable skills and experiences that highlight your leadership, analytical abilities, and teamwork. Demonstrate how your unique perspective will contribute to the MBA program and your future career.

How do I handle multiple essay prompts for the same school?

• Approach each prompt separately and ensure that each essay provides new insights about you. Avoid repeating the same information across essays. Instead, use each essay to highlight different aspects of your experiences, skills, and aspirations.

Here are several other articles that you may find helpful as you put together your MBA application:

• The Most Frequently Asked Questions on MBA Applications
• How to Answer the "Why an MBA?" Essay Question
• My Top Piece of Advice for MBA Applicants
• How I Nailed My MBA Interview and Gained Admission to Top 10 Business Schools
• 4 Expert Tips on Paying for Business School

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How to Write a Perfect MBA Goals Essay

May 5, 2023

What are goals?

Can i keep my goals vague, what do clear, detailed goals look like, an interview-winning formula, past experience, future goals, present mba, answer the question.

• Get expert help

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on July 10, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

It’s not always phrased the same way, but each school is asking for the same thing: your goals essay . 

Your response must be a personal statement that describes much more than just your short- and long-term goals (though they are, of course, the key to the whole essay). Crafting a compelling goals essay that lands you an interview means giving context to your goals and showing that you’ve thought through them enough to be specific and realistic.

In other words, a good goals essay will include both your short- and long-term goals as well as the context and motivation for having those goals, past experience you have in the field to support your plans (and ideally, some storytelling !), as well as the impact you envision making in those positions. 

As you can see – goals alone are not enough. You will need to support them with other elements to convince the admissions committee to accept you into their program. To help you understand how to craft a convincing goals essay, we’ve compiled some of our best tips below.

While it may seem obvious, let’s start at the beginning: what are goals in terms of your MBA essay ?

Goals are what you imagine becoming as a future professional. Your short-term goal is what you imagine becoming immediately after earning your MBA from your dream program. Your long-term goal is the eventual position you hope to achieve in your field (this could be anything from 5-10 years to where you see yourself at the end of your career). 

This means that your own vision of your future career path must be crystal clear since no elite business school will admit candidates who do not state clear, well-argued goals . After all, why should the admissions committee grant you a precious spot in their program if you cannot show them exactly how you plan to use it?

Let me repeat that just to be sure: your essay must state clear, detailed short- and long-term goals. 

You may be tempted to keep your goals vague to allow for the many possibilities available to you in the future. After all, how can you be sure that you will still want your current desired position after 15 years? Sometimes, we even see candidates who would prefer to argue that they just don’t know what their goals are and instead hope that business school will help them figure that out.

Neither of these strategies will land you a spot in a top-tier MBA program. The admissions committee knows that things change and that your goals may change, too. But they want to see that you have thought clearly about how to translate your passions and dedications into a plan, and for this, specificity is key. They particularly want to see, as of now, what you plan to do with your MBA so they know you will use it wisely.

Chicago Booth, for example, explicitly states the need for clear goals when outlining who they are looking for when analyzing applications:

Arguing that you hope that an MBA will point you in the right direction long-term is also not the solution. Remember, the one thing that all programs ask is about your goals. Revealing that you have no idea will get your essay – and your candidacy – set aside.

So, no, you cannot keep your goals vague in a winning MBA admissions essay.

The key to a good goals statement is clarity and detail. Failing to provide this can leave the reader feeling like they do not fully understand your goals – and that you don’t, either. 

Avoid vague goals like, “I want to work for a Fortune 500 company,” because who doesn’t? According to a Bentley University admissions team member , it’s much more effective to do your market research and choose a specific organization you’d like to work for because they are particularly innovative, socially responsible, etc. Be sure to show why you are aiming for the role and organization in your statement, not just what . 

Furthermore, your chosen goals demonstrate your “career risk” to the admissions committee. In other words, they show the admissions officers how likely you are to succeed in the future and how well their program can set you up for success. 

If your goals are vague, they will not be able to determine your career risk and your application will likely be rejected.

For example, in her first draft, one of our clients initially wrote:

 “My goal is to increase sustainability in major Brazilian companies.” 

However, there are some key elements missing in her statement. Who does she plan on working for and in what field? What kinds of sustainability? What kinds of companies does she aim to do this for? All of these things leave the reader wondering if the candidate actually knows what she wants to do in the future.

In a good goals statement, however, all of these questions will be clear. Take a look at how the candidate’s long-term goal developed by the end of the editing process with our team :

“In the long-term, I hope to become a principal at BCG who focuses on emphasizing sustainable solutions by promoting renewable energy in consumer goods companies across Brazil. In this position, I can not only help companies become more sustainable but reinforce this mindset among BCG teams in order to increase widespread environmental awareness in business.”

Not only is her long-term goal clear but she also details a plan to manifest this goal. Specifically, she names the position and company she hopes to work for as well as how she plans to focus on sustainability in that position.

In other words, by adding detail, you also add clarity to your MBA goals.

If nothing else, you must be specific enough to name both the position you hope to hold in the future as well as the company (or an example of the type of company) you plan on working for. If your goals do not feature these elements, I can tell you right now: they are not specific enough.

Looking for example goals essays to help you start writing? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of successful sample essays, in addition to all types of essays from countless schools, brainstorm guides, resume templates, interview mocks and answer models, and much more. Find out more about your one-stop shop for MBA application success here .

If you’re still not quite sure what you want to do post-MBA, you may want to consider career coaching before endeavoring to write a convincing goals essay. 

Assuming you have some rock-solid goals in place, let’s get started!

Try to think of the MBA goals essay as a story. The important components of the story are your past, present, and future and how they all connect. Specifically, how they connect should look like this:

Past Experience + Present MBA = Future Professional Goals

Your story should flow well between these components, building upon each of them and creating a unified narrative. However, that narrative shouldn’t follow a ‘past, present, future’ sequence at all since it’s difficult to explain why a particular program is perfect for you if you haven’t stated your goals yet. 

Instead, go with a ‘past, future, present’ format . This means talking about the skills, strengths, and lessons learned you’ve accumulated, showing how all of this has led you to decide on your short- and long-term goals, and then putting it all into the context of the MBA you’re applying to (including how the program complements your previous experience and fills in gaps before you are prepared to achieve your goals). Organizing your essay in this way will provide clarity and a pleasing flow to the information.

Now let’s look at what each section should include.

Whether the question asks for it or not, a little bit about your work history is important to include in this essay. It gives context to your goals, proof that you have relevant experience and motivations related to your goals , and sets up the argument for why you’re applying for that specific MBA – a crucial aspect of your MBA goals essay. Bonus points if it also sets up the type of impact you envision for your goals.

If the question does ask about your career progress to date, keep in mind the information the admissions counselors already have. The goal here is not to list every achievement you’ve made (they can see that on your resume) but to give brief, strong examples of an accomplished career, especially focusing on achievements that relate to your future goals . 

For example, though you may have had a highly successful marketing internship but have since forged a career in M&A, you may want to leave your marketing achievements out of your goals essay to focus on more relevant information.

Picking and choosing relevant experiences also helps emphasize storytelling , an element our editors highly recommend incorporating into all of your MBA admissions essays. By formatting your experiences into stories , you can connect more easily with your reader, help them remember your application better, and help keep your reader engaged in your tale. 

A good story doesn’t talk about your evolution at a major company over five years. Instead, a good story focuses on a specific problem you had while at that company, what you did to solve that particular problem, and what you learned from the experience. 

If you want to make sure you are choosing your stories wisely, be sure to check out our blog post on this topic. 

Nonetheless, not everyone has a perfectly linear path where each step logically leads to the next. Your work history might look disjointed on paper, but the key is to emphasize growth and highlight your capabilities. All of this needs to add up to the next section: your future goals .

Your essay revolves around your short- and long-term goals, which means you need to think through these two things more than anything else. 

At the same time, everything in your essay should be connected. It is important that you explain the relationship between all the lessons you learned along your career journey and your future – how has your past prepared and inspired you for your future?

As mentioned above, you should almost always include both short- and long-term goals in this part of your essay. Each of these elements should include your desired role, company/organization (or at least what kind), key actions and achievements, and ideal impact.

We highly suggest you take a look at other successful essay responses before you begin writing. 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of past successful essays for these prompts – and many more! – and detailed brainstorming worksheets to help you plan out an essay that gets you into your top-choice MBA. 

Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join !

This is your chance to really sell yourself to the admissions committee – why is their school the very best for your specific needs?

You have proven you have experience and knowledge, and the goals that resulted from your skills gained and lessons learned. Now you need to show that this program can give you everything you need to reach those goals. Specific classes, the school’s non-academic offerings, and school culture can all be referenced to support your argument that this program is the very best (or only) way to build the skills you need to reach your goals. 

While some schools, like MIT , like their candidates to rely on general, school-specific arguments, most others want to know what specific opportunities you will take advantage of on their campus.

Here are some good examples of specific opportunities:

“I want to take advantage of the class Leadership in Small Businesses to gain an international perspective of how family-run business decisions are made, since my previous experience has been entirely with major companies.”

“Through the Education Club, I will further engage in the community to enhance my knowledge of the educational landscape.”

“Additionally, CBS’ Global Immersion class will allow me to learn in-depth international business practices, especially by meeting with business executives and government officials.”

As you can see, these statements not only make it clear what you want to do at the school but also why you want to do it. By showing how each of these opportunities will help you grow, you can argue more effectively the school’s essential role in helping you reach your post-MBA goals.

There are many ways to achieve this: arguments relating to specific professors, values that the school holds in particular regard, or even connections to alumni are often good bets here. Columbia Business School , for example, feels it is important that candidates feel a connection to their prime location in New York City.

Whatever arguments you choose, make sure they are specific to the school and, like all other parts of your essay, detailed.

In general, we suggest using “The Rule of Thirds” when writing a goals essay. Though this does not apply to all essays and all profiles, a good rule of thumb is to devote ⅓ of your essay to the past, ⅓ of your essay to the future, and ⅓ of your essay to the present. 

The above formula is a great way to make sure you include the crucial information in every goals essay, no matter the school. Of course, it’s also important to read each specific school’s question carefully and make sure you’re answering it relevantly. 

Though many candidates want to reuse content from other schools to save time, our experience guiding 98.9% of our clients to receive at least one admissions offer proves this can be a costly mistake. 

For example, Wharton has long asked a question asking candidates for an essay to discuss their career objectives. 

INSEAD, on the other hand, asks applicants to get straight to the point, sensible advice considering how much space the school’s nearly 10 essays gives candidates to introduce themselves:

For that reason, carefully consider how the school is asking you to position your goals and make sure your essay answers this question. 

Other elements that don’t directly answer the question should at least support your main point. Don’t gloss over questions that deviate slightly from the norm – if the application asks why you’re applying now or what you will contribute to the school, incorporate those aspects into the story, but keep things unified.

It is paramount that you don’t cave to the pressure of making your essay ‘meaningful’ and choose goals that you think the admissions committee wants to hear. 

Gradschool.com states that “success on this MBA application essay has nothing to do with manufacturing a statement of purpose that is engineered to hit the admissions committees’ hot buttons.” Keep in mind that this group has read thousands of essays, and can easily tell the difference between “a career vision that has integrity and one that is simply engineered for effect.”

When writing about your goals, your passion needs to shine through. This means writing about something more impactful than climbing the corporate ladder or making tons of money, but it also means being honest and sincere about your vision for your future. Here too, storytelling can be a great way to emphasize both authenticity and passion in your MBA admissions essay .

Show cause and effect

A logical progression of thought needs to be present throughout your entire essay so that the admissions officer can see how your past experiences have shaped your future goals and why you now need an MBA at that school to achieve them.

Cause and effect comes into play even more when talking about your short- and long-term goals. Make sure that what you hope to achieve in the few years post-MBA can realistically lead to what you are aiming for long term . If the two seem slightly disjointed at first glance, you might just have a little more work ahead of you to show the relationship between them. If you can’t find a connection between the two, you may want to take a step back and reflect more in-depth about your post-MBA plans. 

One helpful way of successfully illustrating this cause-and-effect connection is by talking to an MBA consultant about your career path. The key is simply communicating your past and future well – something that we here at Ellin Lolis Consulting can also help you with. 

Make sure your goals essay stands out from the crowd

Standing out as a prime candidate to admissions counselors means writing a goals essay with clarity and purpose, showing that you are informed and visionary enough to see your goals through. If you follow the above format and tips, you will likely be on a path to achieving your next goal: landing an interview with your top choice MBA program.

However, crafting a goals essay that convinces the world’s toughest admissions committees that you deserve a place in their program can often be a daunting task. 

That’s why many candidates turn to us to help put our 98.9% acceptance rate and personalized approach to work for them . 

Not only can we help you develop a strong personal brand and identify the achievements that will best reinforce your brand but our expert team of editors can also ensure you’re able to turn ideas into essays that cut through the noise and help the admissions committee connect with you and your ideas.

As our client (and Columbia admit) Elisa H. said,  “Ellin Lolis MBA Consulting helped me clarify my goals for the future and communicate those ideas effectively in my various essays. I’m confident that their editing suggestions helped me present myself as the best candidate I could be, which led to acceptances at every school to which I applied.

I would highly recommend Ellin Lolis as they were fantastic at helping me flesh out ideas I had in my head in a way that would make the most impact with an admissions committee.”

Want to put the Ellin Lolis Advantage to work for your admissions essays? Find out more about our team of expert MBA essay editors here .

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Career Goals for MBA Admissions Essay Writing and More

When it comes to MBA admissions, a captivating personal story and high test scores are not enough. MBA programs are in the business of boosting your career, which boosts their stats and reputation in turn. In preparing your application, you will need to think carefully about career goals for MBA jobs that are realistic for someone with your background, and then formulate achievable short- and long-term career goals that support your overall application narrative.

This article will cover the basics of how to best articulate your career goals for MBA admissions committees, with tips on how—and how not—to make your case.

MBA Career Goals and MBA Rankings

In order to frame your career goals for MBA Adcoms in the right way, you need to understand why career goals are so important to them in the first place. It comes down to two reasons: 

• Your career prospects after graduation directly affect the school’s ranking
• More generally, they have a major impact on your future satisfaction with the MBA itself 

First, let’s consider the effect of your post-MBA career on school rankings. Even if you are sick and tired of hearing about the MBA ranking and how it factors into every aspect of your application, you have to accept that business school admissions committees (or “AdComs”) think about their ranking constantly, and admitting the right applicants is their best bet to improve it.

As you are likely aware, every MBA program publishes an employment report that details the statistics of the most recently graduated class: how many people have a job, its location, its starting salary, its sector. For top-tier MBA programs, these numbers are always high. 

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In 2019, for example, Wharton reported that 98.5% of their graduating student body had job offers . And with fierce competition for top-rankings, MBA programs pay close attention to even the smallest movement of the needle in either direction. Selecting candidates with ambitious-yet-realistic career goals is an excellent way to maintain a prestigious ranking.

That is not to say, however, that rankings are the only factor when evaluating your career goals. More generally, admissions committees want to ensure that applicants will find success after an MBA, as career success often translates to satisfaction with the decision to pursue the MBA in the first place. AdComs really do consider whether you can benefit from their program, and you want them to believe that you’ll secure a job that satisfies you when you graduate.

Of course, this is not totally selfless thinking. Admissions officers know that graduates who are happy with their post-MBA careers make for involved alumni who are more likely to speak positively about their MBA experience and to give back, whether by donating money, volunteering their time, or both.

All this means that you want to present the very best case for your future employability, keeping the rationale of the AdCom in mind. 

Your Career Goals Should Help Define Your MBA Plan

In order to convince an admissions committee that you will be able to land a good job after graduation, you need to demonstrate exactly why a given MBA program will help you advance your short- and long-term career goals.

This might run counter to your personal desires surrounding your MBA aspirations. After all, you have been working hard for years at your job and the MBA may seem like a two-year respite: traveling, international exchange, and cocktail receptions for recruitment events.

But the AdCom knows something you don’t: even if you have been working an extremely demanding job like consulting or private equity, you will probably be working harder during your MBA than you ever have before.

After all, while the MBA will temporarily halt the stressors from your work, you will still be in a situation where you have to network with 300-900 classmates, return to the classroom after five years of freedom, do your research on which clubs to join and which corporate info sessions to attend, and learn how to prep for your job interviews. It will be incredibly stressful and busy. (Sponsored students are the rare exception.)

We even recall an HBS alumna who talked about the public service announcement posters all over campus informing stressed students that free counseling and trained emotional support dogs were available. Those services are advertised because they are necessary.

The admissions committee wants to know that when you are at your breaking point, stress-wise, you have a plan for making the most of the MBA program, since “figuring it out after you arrive on campus” is not going to work reliably.

Finding the Creative “Sweet Spot” In the Career Goals Essay

We’ve already touched on it in this article: your post-MBA job plans should be focused and realistic. This is not the place to talk about pie in the sky ambitions that reasonable readers would find totally unrealistic.

You also don’t need to try and distinguish yourself–and your application–by listing career goals that are different from every other applicant’s. Let’s take a closer look at the most common post-MBA career paths to see why.

First, many MBA candidates are sponsored by their employer and they will return to a job there after graduation. This is the least creative career goal possible! And it is perfectly acceptable to admissions committees. Usually, these sponsored applicants will write more about what they hope to accomplish after their return, since getting the job is a given.

Second, consulting or finance tracks are also common even for non-sponsored applicants, and MBA programs may send >50% of the class into these fields. Just take a look at Harvard’s employment report from 2019 .

Snippet from Harvard Business School’s Employment Report

So What Makes a Goal Realistic and Interesting?

It is perfectly acceptable to write in your career goals essay that you want to work in the consulting or finance industries—even if many other applicants will have similar goals—so long as you can explain why that is your goal. Too much idiosyncrasy in your career goals will make you look like a wild card. For example, an investment banker with no volunteering experience has no business stating their post-MBA goal is to become an impact investor, since the reader won’t believe the goal is sincere.

At the same time, you don’t want to be underwhelming. Saying that you want to “be promoted from consultant to senior consultant” is thinking too small and too transactionally. MBA programs are designed to transform your career in bigger ways.

So aim for the “sweet spot”: state a realistic career goal, explain how the MBA program will help you to achieve it, and use your story to explain why the goal is personally meaningful to you.

Use these employment reports to research the most common placements at your target schools, and craft your MBA career goals accordingly.

Employment Reports

• HBS Employment Report
• GSB Employment Report
• Wharton Employment Report
• Kellogg Employment Report
• Booth Employment Report
• Columbia Employment Report
• MIT Employment Report
• Dartmouth Employment Report
• Haas Employment Report
• Yale SOM Employment Report

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MBA Essays: Everything You Need to Know

Scott Edinburgh - Personal MBA Coach

Scott Edinburgh is an mba.com Featured Contributor and the founder of Personal MBA Coach , a boutique MBA admissions consulting and tutoring firm.

Nearly all MBA hopefuls are familiar with the term “MBA essay”, but what exactly does this mean and why is the MBA essay so important? To help guide MBA hopefuls, Personal MBA Coach would like to answer some common questions about the MBA essays and share details on the most common MBA essay types.

Why do I need an MBA essay?

Beyond the obvious answer that nearly all schools require you to write one in order to be admitted, the MBA essay is your chance to show MBA admissions committee members who you are BEYOND the facts and figures. These essays are your opportunities to show what makes you unique, share your goals and discuss how you will add to the dynamic community at your target business school. 

Do I need different MBA essays for each program I apply to?

Unfortunately, YES! While there are some overlapping themes across the most common MBA essay types (more on this below), each business school has its own unique essays. Unless you are applying through an organization such as The Consortium (which has some specific requirements), you must complete a separate application for each MBA program and answer each school’s specific essay questions.

To make this daunting task more manageable, Personal MBA Coach helps clients identify common elements across essay types. Ultimately, however, you should develop a separate essay for each school you are applying to.

What should I write about in my MBA essay?

First and foremost, you should answer the question. It is surprising how often candidates write beautiful essays that do not actually answer the question. Instead of writing what you think admissions committee members want to hear, answer the question.

What are the most common MBA essay questions?

While there are countless different essay questions across MBA programs, the three most common types of essays questions are Goals Essays, Why an MBA? Essays, and Personal Story Essays. (Often one essay question will ask clients to discuss both their goals and why they want an MBA.)

Below, Personal MBA Coach shares our tips for answering each of these key essay types:

Goals Essay

When answering a question about your MBA goals , it is crucial that you are decisive . While no one will hold you to what you write in your MBA applications, you should have a specific post-MBA plan. For most schools, you will want a short-term and a long-term career goal. This goal should be logical for you. This means it should flow naturally from your passions and experience. If it doesn’t, it is crucial that you explain why this goal makes sense for you.

Finally, this goal should be attainable. You are not going to be the CFO of Pepsi two years after graduating from business school (sorry!). Do your research in terms of what position might be reasonable in your target industry.

Why an MBA? Essay

To answer a question about why you want an MBA or why you want to study at X school, you want to show that you have carefully thought through how an MBA (at your target program) will prepare you to achieve your career goals. To do so, Personal MBA Coach suggests being very specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus.

Discuss classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, carefully think through how each offering will allow you to fill in your skill and/or experience gaps. Be sure to show an understanding of your target school’s culture and avoid writing vague statements and copying content from other MBA application essays.

Personal Story Essay

With a personal story essay, your objective is to show the reader how your story is unique and how you will add value and diversity to classroom discussions and on campus activities. This can be one of the hardest essays to write. To get started, Personal MBA Coach advises that you make a list of everything you have done in your life and take the time to write it all down. Then, think carefully about the decisions you have made, activities you enjoy and, most importantly, why you made those choices. Finally, look for a theme! What single idea connects these items? This is the hard part, so give it time.

How do you conclude an MBA essay?

Do not overthink the conclusion. In fact, with short word limits, Personal MBA Coach often advises clients to write just one concluding sentence or remove the conclusion altogether. Conclusions can be fluffy, generic or repetitive. You do not need (or want) to waste words here. If you have told your story well and you have addressed the question clearly and concisely, do not worry about the conclusion!

How far in advance should I start my MBA essays?

As soon as possible! It is never too early to start thinking about your MBA essays. In fact, Personal MBA Coach works with many clients 6 month – 3 years in advance through our Early Planning package, helping future applicants make the appropriate career and extracurricular decisions to ensure they have enough experience to write strong MBA essays.

That said, with diligence, some Personal MBA Coach clients are able to develop a compelling MBA essay within a month. (Keep in mind, this is a very compressed timeline and takes dedication to achieve!). Plus, you always want to leave time for proofreading and should avoid submitting your essays at the last minute. 

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2, currently holding the #1 ranking in the US on Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6M in scholarships!

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7 tips for writing a winning mba application essay.

Nervous about your MBA admissions essay? You’re not alone! Many applicants wonder how to put their best foot forward in a business school entrance essay.

In this article, I’ll tell you what admissions committees look for in application essays and offer MBA essay tips on how to make yours stand out. We’ll also take a look at the different kinds of business school essays and a few examples of MBA essay prompts.

Why Do Business Schools Ask for Essays? What Do They Look For?

Business schools ask for essays for several reasons, all of which help admissions committees determine whether you have the skills and traits to succeed in an MBA program.

First, MBA admissions committees want to see how you write. Communication skills—including concision, clarity, style, and fluency in English—will be essential to your success in business school. One way of discerning your level of writing ability is to require an original writing sample. In an MBA essay, you have to get your point across straightforwardly, elegantly, and concisely; being able to do this is a key element of succeeding in business school and the world of business in general.

Also, MBA admissions committees want to get a sense of who you are on a more personal level. MBA application essays tell admissions officials about you not only through what you say, but in how you say it. Are you self-aware, for example, and can you reflect on past challenges or mistakes in a thoughtful way? Do you demonstrate insight into who you are and your goals? How you answer questions about yourself, your career, and your journey can help MBA admissions officials discern your level of critical thinking and personal insight.

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You can have countless accomplishments, but to succeed in business school, you’ll also need to fit in with the campus climate, work well with your peers, and contribute to campus diversity in a meaningful way. The MBA essay is a place for you to talk about the background or experiences you have that are unique to you and that you believe could differentiate you from your colleagues and/or provide a fresh perspective to campus.

Finally, essays are a way for you to showcase the qualities that most MBA programs say they are looking for in applicants, such as leadership skills, community involvement, problem-solving skills, communication skills, clear goals, and a strong sense of ethics. Some of these traits might not be readily apparent from a resume alone, and an MBA essay can be a place for you to elaborate on how you’ve cultivated them in yourself.

MBA Entrance Essay Sample Prompts

Most MBA entrance essays ask you about one of several things. Many of them are variations on similar questions: the open-ended question, the leadership question, the personal growth question, questions on short- and long-term academic and career goals, and the diversity question. For each one, I’ll give an example of a real MBA essay prompt from 2016 or 2017.

#1: Open-Ended

The open-ended MBA application essay question is just that: open. It allows you to tell your own story, giving you quite a bit of freedom but also little to no guidance. For that reason, many applicants find it to be the most challenging MBA essay prompt.

Harvard Business School has only one essay for its MBA application, and it’s the quintessential open-ended MBA essay question. This is the prompt for 2017-2018 applicants.

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?

Note that, as in other open-ended MBA admission essay prompts, this question asks you to decide what you’ll write about. Successful Harvard applicants and HBS admissions counselors have advised applicants to use the prompt as a chance to demonstrate their past use of an especially desired trait, such as problem-solving skills. For example, many successful applicants use the prompt to describe a scenario in which they faced and overcame a challenge, especially as a leader or alongside a team.

Notably, Harvard also doesn’t list a word limit, so you can decide the appropriate length for your essay. However, most admissions counselors will advise you to keep it concise and straightforward.

#2: Leadership

Another common MBA essay prompt asks you to demonstrate your experience and skills as a leader. Leadership qualities are listed by nearly all MBA admissions counselors as fundamental to a career in business and, thus, to a successful business school application.

Let’s look at a sample leadership MBA essay prompt from Kellogg.

Leadership and teamwork are integral parts of the Kellogg experience. Describe a recent and meaningful time you were a leader. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn? (450 words)

In a response to this kind of prompt, you should be as specific as possible. Name the company you were working for or specifically describe the project you were heading. Who was on your team? What were your objectives? Did you meet them? How could you have done so more effectively?

While you shouldn’t be overly self-deprecating, don’t be afraid to address the challenges you met and how you overcame them (or would overcome them now, with more experience and knowledge). Remember that one important aspect of leadership is accountability, so if there were problems, don’t solely blame your team for them. Instead, reflect on how you successfully worked with your team to solve the problems, and/or on how you could have done so more effectively or efficiently.

#3: Personal Growth

The personal growth MBA admission essay prompt will ask you how you’ve changed in the past and how you want to grow in the future. Here’s one example from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. How have you grown in the past? How do you intend to grow at Kellogg? (450 words)

Don’t be afraid to get a bit personal with these kinds of prompts . They’re meant to gauge something about your personality and who you are, rather than only what you’ve done.

Many successful MBA admission essays that respond to these kinds of questions follow a past/present/future format. Ask yourself what traits you’ve gathered over the years that have benefited you personally and professionally, how you’ve improved, and what you’ve learned. What experiences have shaped you? Be as specific as possible.

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Then, take stock of yourself now: your career, your education, and where you see yourself in the future. What do you need in order to get there?

Finally, most essay MBA prompts in this vein (like Kellogg’s) will ask you how they can help you move towards that personal or professional goal. Be as specific as you can, focusing on the particular strengths of the prospective MBA program and how they match up with what you want to improve about yourself as a person, colleague, and leader.

#4: Your Plan

Some MBA application essay prompts will ask you about your career goals and how attendance at a particular business school will help you to achieve them. Let’s look at one from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Essay #1 (Required) – What is your specific, immediate short-term career goal upon completion of your MBA? Please include an intended position, function, and industry in your response. (word limit: 100)

As you can see, questions like these often request brief responses. So get straight to the point, and give details. Name a specific job you’d like to hold, what you’d like to do there, and even particular companies if you can.

Questions like this one will require some research. Research alumni from your prospective business school who’ve ended up in positions comparable to ones you’d like to hold in the future, particular companies and positions that match up with your personal and professional goals, and specific coursework or industry experiences offered by your prospective business school that would help you get there.

#5: Diversity, Culture, and Community

Finally, some MBA essay prompts will ask you how your unique background and experiences would contribute to the overall diversity and collegial atmosphere of a school’s campus climate and community. Here’s one example from USC.

Essay #2 (Required) – At Marshall, we take pride in the fact that our students work collaboratively, both inside and outside the classroom, to create a culture, a community, and an environment that truly defines what we call the Trojan Family. Please describe the contributions you expect to make to your classmates during your time at USC. How will they benefit from your presence in the program? (word limit: 500)

You can respond to questions like this, depending on the wording of the original prompt, by discussing your cultural background, identity, and/or personal experiences that have given you particular insight into a given community or that have lent you a unique perspective that could be valuable to your colleagues as you collaborate.

You can also discuss past community service projects or issues you’re passionate about and how you plan to carry those experiences and passions into your work at your prospective MBA program.

7 MBA Essay Tips

Writing MBA essays takes a particular skill set. Let’s go over the top seven MBA essay tips for making your application essay shine.

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#1: Write Early and Often

Even though MBA entrance essays are brief, they take a lot of polishing. Writing MBA essays takes time.

Don’t expect to write yours at the last minute or knock out a quality essay in a day. Most students need several drafts to make sure they’re getting their points across as elegantly and clearly as possible.

Start your essay well before the application deadline, when you don’t yet feel any pressure. For several weeks, don’t try to write at all. Instead, before crafting your essay for MBA admission, take notes on your past, present, and future. What have you learned? What unique experiences have you had? What have been the most meaningful projects you’ve undertaken? Ask friends, family, and mentors to tell you what they value most about you or what they see as your greatest personal and professional assets.

Only once you’ve gathered this material should you begin your first draft of your MBA application essay. Start with an outline for each one that includes the story you want to tell and the main points you want to get across.

Once you have a clear outline, you can start drafting. Taking the writing process seriously from start to finish will give you a much better product in the end than trying to write something hastily right before the deadline.

#2: Show, Don’t Tell

MBA admissions committees want to be able to tell that you have the qualities that are necessary to succeed in business school, such as leadership skills and integrity.

Your MBA admissions essay can be a great place to showcase those qualities. However, remember to show, not tell. Saying “I have strong leadership skills” doesn’t tell an admissions committee much. Through an anecdote about, say, meeting a difficult deadline or overcoming an obstacle, a reader should be able to tell that you have the qualities of a strong leader without your having to say so explicitly.

#3: Research Your Goals

When describing your future goals, be as specific as possible. Business schools know that your goals may change in the future, but stating specific goals now will show that you’ve done your research and have an idea of what you want and how an MBA program can help you get there.

Before writing your essay for MBA admission, research the ins and outs of the industry you want to enter, the position you’d like to have, companies you might like to work for, and coursework and internships or fieldwork that could aid you on your way to those goals.

#4: Keep It Concise

Never, ever go over a stated word count limit when you’re writing your essay for MBA admission. It might be tempting, but business schools want to see that you can get your point across concisely and straightforwardly.This rule goes for MBA essay prompts that don’t have specific word counts, too: sometimes, less is more.

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make in writing an essay for MBA admission is to use too much flowery language to come across as more professional. If you do this, it can be distracting and cause the admissions committee to miss the main points you’re making.

Bottom line, trim anything extraneous from your essay —that is, anything that doesn’t actively support the main point(s) you’re trying to get across.

#5: Show Self-Awareness

It might feel tempting to use the MBA admission essay as a space to list all of your accomplishments (and since your resume is already part of your application, this is unnecessary), but MBA admissions committees would rather see that you have insight into both your strengths and weaknesses. No one is perfect, and in your essay for MBA admission, you shouldn’t try to come across as if you’ve never made a mistake or faced a challenge that you’ve had to learn from.

Also, in business school and the business world at large, bouncing back from failures, being flexible, and problem solving are all essential skills. All of them require a thick skin and awareness of what you could do better.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t showcase your achievements, but if you’re asked about personal growth or an obstacle you’ve overcome, be clear about what you could have done more effectively in the past (at a job or in your education, for example) and the steps you’ve taken or will take to sidestep that mistake in the future.

#6: Share Your Personal Journey

Many applicants would prefer to focus only on their professional backgrounds and goals in their MBA essays, but you shouldn’t be afraid to get personal in your essay. You don’t need to tell your whole life story, but especially in response to questions that ask about your growth over time, you should showcase your personality and give the admissions committee an idea of your personal background and experiences.

#7: Ask for Edits

It might seem obvious, but many applicants don’t do it: proofread your work! When writing MBA essays, revision is key. Turning in an MBA essay with typos and other errors will come off as thoughtless and unprofessional.

You should also get a second (and, perhaps, a third and fourth) pair of eyes on your essay to make sure it’s coming across as you want it to. Going through several rounds of drafts is a necessary part of the writing process to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward in your MBA entrance essay.

What’s Next?

Worried about how your GMAT score matches up to other applicants’? Find out more in our list of average GMAT scores by school.

Concerned about your chances of getting into an MBA program? Our guide to business school acceptance rates will help.

Ready to apply to business school? Check out our top eight tips for applying to MBA programs here.

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Author: Laura Dorwart

Laura Dorwart is a Ph.D. student at UC San Diego. She has taught and tutored hundreds of students in standardized testing, literature, and writing. View all posts by Laura Dorwart

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Short-Term and Long-Term Career Goals Essay for MBA Grad

EssayEdge > Blog > Short-Term and Long-Term Career Goals Essay for MBA Grad

Note: This essay appears unedited for instructional purposes. Essays edited by EssayEdge are dramatically improved. For samples of EssayEdge editing, please  click here .

Please discuss your post-MBA short-term and long-term goals. How will your professional experiences, when combined with an MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals?

I was seven when I first visited my mother’s native Taiwan, and the trip was daunting. The sea of people crowding the sidewalks, the cuisine, and the local fashion seemed distant and foreign to me. However, as a teenager I realized that my heritage and love of the region still bound me to the people of Taiwan. Moreover, my work experiences have led me to recognize the numerable opportunities arising from the region’s favorable investment environment. Over time, my travels abroad—and particularly my visits to Taiwan—have helped to shape my goals and aspirations.

At this point in my career, I seek an MBA from The University of Southern California’s Marshall School of business because I believe it will broaden my knowledge of finance, allowing me to explore the new opportunities of the Pacific Rim. More specifically, an MBA from Marshall will help me to achieve my short-term goal of obtaining a corporate finance position in an emerging technology company with interests in Asia. The program will provide a theoretical foundation to complement my previous experiences in financial consulting, derivative risk management, and corporate finance, which will in turn help me fulfill my long-term goal of starting a business venture in the Pacific Rim.

My professional experiences so far have been diverse yet relevant to my ambitions. After graduating from college, I joined the Business Assurance Division of Coopers and Lybrand, where I became responsible for the firm’s highest profile clients and managed projects early in my career. After my first eighteen months there, I was invited to join a select group of ten consultants in the Dispute Analysis and Investigation Group of the Financial Advisory Services line. In this position, I provided advice to clients dealing with complex business problems and disputes. I enjoyed the challenge of adapting to different environments and the opportunity to work with a diverse, intelligent group of people. However, this job was devoid of my true interest: the financial markets.

In the summer of 1997, I accepted a position at Morgan Stanley that would allow me to pursue a career in finance and relocated to New York. Once again, I progressed rapidly. After just a year at the company, I was entrusted with managing the Credit Derivative Trading Finance Group. The products involved in this division are the fastest-growing investment and risk management mechanisms currently used by institutions and traders. Consequently, I was able to work with numerous complex valuations, as well legal, regulatory, and reporting issues. For example, I helped to develop a credit spread option and total return swap pricing model that is currently used by trading personnel. Through my work at Morgan Stanley, I have confirmed my desire to pursue a career in finance; at the same time, my aspirations have broadened considerably. Instead of managing the growth of a business, I now wish to grow my own business.

My short-term goal is to work in a corporate finance position at an emerging technology company in an international setting. I am specifically interested in the technology sector, because—as in the derivative market—change there occurs rapidly. I believe the Pacific Rim, in particular, has the largest market of unmet technological needs. However, it is apparent to me that I must develop additional skills to take on such a responsibility. Whereas I have already accumulated strong financial experiences, I need an additional theoretical base and the opportunity to learn from others in order to make effective decisions across an entire organization, from finance to marketing to sales.

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An MBA from Marshall will provide the additional knowledge base and network to pursue a career in corporate finance. By leveraging my academic and professional experiences, I know I will make the critical financial decisions that will enable a technology company to successfully complete in a global marketplace. At the same time, I will be able to develop the networks crucial to launching a Pacific Rim entrepreneurial venture.

I am confident that I can best achieve my goals through the education provided at Marshall. My desire to attend the school has been strengthened by the experience of my brother Raymond, who is currently in his second year at Marshall. I frequently visit him in Los Angeles, which has given me a chance to tour the campus on several occasions. Through these visits, I have realized that Marshall’s strength in general management and entrepreneurial studies, combined with its focus on the Pacific Rim, exactly mirror my aspirations. These strengths are evident not only in the curriculum, but also in the Prime Program, through which I plan to return to Asia.

Moreover, I am aware that textbooks are not the most critical component of an MBA program; contact with real businesspeople is just as vital. Marshall’s large population of international students and strong alumni base are especially conducive to forming lasting friendships and developing global business ventures. Finally, the school’s proximity to Los Angeles and San Francisco will give me access to one of the largest concentrations of technology companies in the world while allowing me to be closer to my family and friends.

I know that when I return to Asia, my reaction will be very different from when I was a seven-year-old on my first trip to Taiwan. Instead of feeling confused by a radically different environment, I will leverage the education I receive at Marshall to conduct business with the insight of a native resident.

If the chosen essay prompt asks you to describe your goals, this sample can act as a good template. Keep an eye on the organization, word choice, style, and other details to implement it all when writing. EssayEdge offers in-depth MBA essay proofreading. Place an order and impress the admissions committee.

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7 Common MBA Essay Questions and How to Tackle Them

There are a handful of business school essay questions that seem to capture the heart and imagination of many an MBA program.

It seems that, across the board, admissions committees feel these queries offer the best insight into the minds of their applicants. You are likely to see a version of one or more of these common MBA essay questions on your b-school application . These tips will help you craft the perfect answer.

1. Describe your specific career aspirations and your reason for pursuing an MBA.

This may be the most important essay question you tackle. You must convince the admissions committee that you deserve one of their few, cherished spots. Reference your background, skills, and career aspirations, demonstrating how this degree is a bridge to the next step in your professional life. Be sure to speak to how this particular program will help you realize your potential.

It's okay to present modest goals. Deepening your expertise and broadening your perspective are solid reasons for pursuing this degree. If you aspire to lofty goals, like becoming a CEO or starting your own company, be careful to detail a sensible (read: realistic), pragmatic plan.

Read More: Find Your Business School

2. What are your principal interests outside of work or school? What leisure and/or community activities do you particularly enjoy?

There's more to b-school than the library. The best programs buzz with the energy of a student body that is talented and creative and bursting with personality. These students are not just about case studies and careers. Describe how you will be a unique addition to the business school community.

B-school is also a very social experience. Much of the work is done in groups. Weekends are full of social gatherings or immersion experiences, and the networking you do here will impact the rest of your career. Communicate that people, not just your job, are an important part of your life.

3. Who do you most admire?

The admissions committee wants to know the qualities, attributes and strengths you value in others and hope to embrace. Drive, discipline and vision are fine examples but try and look beyond these conventional characteristics. Tell a story and provide specific examples. If you choose someone famous (which is fine), remember that you risk being one of many in the pile. Instead, consider a current boss, business associate, or friend. Know that your choice of person is less important than what you say about him or her.

4. Describe a situation in which you led a team. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

The committee isn't looking to see how you saved the team through your heroic efforts (so put yourself on ego alert). They want to see how you helped foster an environment in which everyone contributes, illustrating that the sum is greater than its parts. B-schools like leaders, but they like leaders who can help everyone get along and arrive at a collaborative solution.

You should shift gears for this question. Almost the entire application process thus far has asked you to showcase "me-me-me." Now the focus of your story needs to be on the "we" and how you made the "we" happen.

5. Our business school is a diverse environment. How will your experiences contribute to this?

This essay gets at two concerns for the admissions committee: (1) how will you enrich the student body at this school and (2) what is your attitude toward others' diverse backgrounds?

Diversity comes in many shapes. If a grandparent or relative is an immigrant to this country, you can discuss the impact of his or her values on your life. Perhaps you are the first individual in your family to attend college or graduate school. Maybe you are involved in a meaningful or unusual extracurricular activity. Whatever you choose to write, it's vital that you discuss how it contributes to your unique perspective.

6. Describe a personal achievement that has had a significant impact on your life.

Don't pull your hair out just because you haven't founded a successful start-up or swum across the English Channel. Smaller accomplishments with a lot of personal significance are just fine if they demonstrate character, sacrifice, humility, dedication, or perseverance. A good essay describes how you reached a personal objective and what that meant to you. Maybe you didn't lead a sports team to a victory. Maybe the victory was that you made it onto the team .

Read More: 20 Must-Read MBA Essay Tips

7. Discuss a non-academic personal failure. What did you learn from the experience?

Many applicants make the mistake of answering this question with a failure that is really a positive. Or they never really answer the question, fearful that any admission of failure will throw their whole candidacy into jeopardy. Don't get crafty. You should answer with a genuine mistake that the committee will recognize as authentic.

Write about a failure that had some high stakes for you. Demonstrate what you learned from your mistake and how it helped you mature. This is a chance to show b-schools your ability to be honest, show accountability, and face your failures head-on.

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HEC Paris MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024-2025], Class Profile

While the number of essays HEC Paris wants you to submit as part of its MBA application might initially be daunting, you should view them as a wonderful opportunity to share aspects of your whole self in telling your story. The adcom is looking to gain insight into your hopes, dreams, and accomplishments and into who you are as a person. They want to see that you are a well-rounded individual. They look beyond what you’ve done to assess how you think and respond, even how you imagine. 

Most importantly, HEC requires you to communicate complex thoughts and experiences directly. Don’t worry about waxing poetic here – you can approach the shorter essays in particular in a straightforward and succinct way. (But take care not to go over the word limit!) Jump right into your point or story, and use clear sentences without  (e.g., “had the opportunity to”). Don’t hesitate to use direct, declarative sentences. This writing approach has an added benefit: it conveys confidence.

Before you start writing your essays, sit down and brainstorm. Sketch out ideas for all of the school’s essays so that when you go to write them, you can tell a full story. After putting the puzzle pieces of your story together in an outline, step back to assess how the facets add up as a whole, and adjust topics as necessary to avoid redundancy and ensure a well-rounded presentation – one that will make the adcom feel they must invite you for an interview!

Ready to get to work on your HEC application essays? Read on.

HEC application essay tips

Hec application deadlines, hec class profile.

Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? (500 words maximum)

This is a traditional goals question , with a couple of twists. Your best bet is to answer these questions in order and in a direct fashion. Don’t overthink it. Tell the adcom why you want an MBA now, what your goals are, and why you want to attend HEC. Follow this approach: 

• First, the “why now” part should be explicitly addressed, even if it seems obvious. Doing so briefly is fine; your overall essay should ultimately make this case.
• Second, your “professional objective” is essentially your long-term career vision. The question implies that this vision or goal will drive your preceding steps, so present your shorter-term goals in that context: show how they pave the way for you to pursue and achieve your ultimate professional objective.
• Be brief but specific when discussing the HEC MBA. Tie aspects of its program directly to the achievement of your goals, and detail the two or three elements of the program that are most meaningful to you.

Finally, connect the dots. If well done, this essay will convey how your goals grow organically from your experience and are achievable given your previous experience and an MBA from HEC.

What do you consider your most significant life achievement? (250 words maximum)

Because you’re applying to a professional degree program, it can be tempting to write primarily or exclusively about your work experiences and goals – don’t. Here, HEC wants to learn about you as a person, so don’t tell them about the biggest deal or project you completed. Imagine, for example, that you state that boosting your organization’s bottom line (by whatever amount) is your greatest life achievement. The adcom might wonder about your values or whether you really have a life! On the other hand, if you can say that at work you saved jobs or lessened negative environmental impacts or were instrumental in developing a new medical advancement, that would be more substantial and could possibly fit the bill. Or, if moving to another country and building your career there has been your biggest achievement, that’s fine – but talk about the situation in a way that gives context to the impact on your life, rather than focusing on the work itself. 

For most people, this story will be personal. I think about clients who have persevered through, managed, and overcome major family crises. For others, it will involve impact with community, religious, and/or social organizations or groups; for yet others, it could involve a major milestone, such as a national sports ranking or photo exhibit or music performance.

Whatever topic you select, you have only 250 words, so simply narrate the story , and include the results or impact. It would be fine to have a sentence or two of reflection on why the experience is so meaningful to you, but don’t make a long explanation. The reason should be clear from the content.

Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you. (250 words maximum)

It feels like we hear about a new scandal in the business world on a daily basis, so that ensuring students have a fundamental grasp on business ethics is becoming increasingly important for MBA programs. HEC wants to make sure you have a strong moral compass when it comes to business, so even though you might not have had the level of seniority that would impact a major business crisis at this point in your career, no doubt you’ve had myriad opportunities to do the right thing when presented with an alternative. 

Again, keep the structure of your essay simple: tell the story, and end with a brief discussion of how the experience has influenced you. Don’t feel the need to present an overly dramatic story; many such situations are gray, not black and white. It might feel like a challenge to identify an experience that encompasses both leadership and ethics. However, addressing an ethics challenge will almost inherently require leadership (even if informal), whether on your part or someone else’s. When you explain how the situation influenced you , don’t just state generalities; give a specific example.

Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? (250 words maximum)

This essay is another opportunity to reveal a different side of yourself. I would use this as a chance to talk about something you are passionate about, such as a hobby or interest. If you’re not sure how to answer this, think about what you loved to do when you were a kid or something you have always wanted to learn or do.

Describe an imagined life that reflects something meaningful to you . Make it vivid, and show your passion . Note that the question does not ask what you would do if you were not in your current life/role; it asks you to imagine a life. Use that openness to express your creativity. In doing so, however, avoid being abstract. Weave in and employ your actual knowledge and experience; for example, if you love sports and are an avid athlete, you could build your imagined life in a way that portrays your knowledge and passion there. The reader should learn something interesting about you and your prospective contribution to the social milieu of the HEC program. 

Please choose from one of the following essays: (250 words maximum)

a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why? b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyze it. c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc.).

All these options are equally good, so choose the one that resonates most with you – the one that you want to answer. This is another opportunity to showcase your interests and passions. The “why” part is key. Avoid platitudes, be specific, and present focused, fresh insights.

Is there any additional information you would like to share with us?(900 words max)

This question invites you to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., a gap in employment, choice of recommender, a bad grade) as well as to present new material that will enhance your application. If you choose to do the latter, make sure that what you offer contributes to a clear and full picture of your candidacy. The school gives you a lot of words to work with, but don’t think that you must use all 900! As with any essay, convey what you need to without excess. 

Source: HEC Paris website

The school notes, “The HEC Paris MBA attracts the best candidates from all over the world. Due to the large number of applications that we receive, we encourage you to apply as early as possible, especially if you require on-campus housing or need a student visa.”

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with HEC directly to verify its essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***

Here is a look at HEC’s Class of 2025 (data taken from the Paris HEC brochure ).

Number of participants: 235

Nationalities: 49

Average age: 30

International participants: 95%

Average years of work experience: 6

Average GMAT: 690

Geographic Origins:

• Asia and Oceania: 56%
• Europe: 16%
• Latin America: 11%
• Africa and Middle East: 9%
• North America: 8%

For expert guidance with your HEC Paris MBA application, schedule a free consultation with an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you, too!

Kara Keenan Sweeney has more than 15 years of experience in MBA admissions, having worked for some of the world’s top business school programs, including Columbia Business School, INSEAD, and The Lauder Institute’s joint degree MA/MBA program with The Wharton School and the MA/JD program with Penn Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Kara has guided, coached, and counseled thousands of MBA and EMBA applicants, reviewed innumerable applications, sat on admissions committees, and interviewed countless applicants, including while running Wharton’s Team Based Discussions both virtually and in person. Want Kara to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! 

Related Resources:

• How to Get into HEC Paris MBA , podcast Episode 565
• Optional and Open-Ended Essay Questions: What’s the Best Strategy?
• Should I Use AI for My MBA (Grad/College) Applications? 

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How to frame practical post MBA goals essays?

To create the best post MBA goals, you must provide a coherent narrative that convincingly connects your personal motivations for getting an MBA with your prior experiences, as well as your short term goals after MBA and long term goals after MBA.

In this article, you will learn the distinction between short term goals after MBA and long term goals after MBA. How they interact as your career goals after MBA, and how they will improve your ability to communicate a convincing case of post MBA goals to admissions committees at MBA schools and programs.

Adcoms want to see the career goals after MBA that you've set for yourself. The vision of post MBA goals might shift, but you must be the type of person who has a picture of career goals after MBA in the first place. Otherwise, the whole application falls apart- how will you prove your contribution to the MBA community? How do you demonstrate that you are employable? How do you distinguish yourself? You must bring a personality in your application and show your passion for achieving your career goals after MBA while addressing your post MBA goals essay.

HOW TO ADDRESS YOUR SHORT TERM GOALS AFTER MBA?

Short term goals after MBA are those in which you envision yourself as soon as you graduate from your dream business school. The short term goals after MBA must be very well specified in terms of industry, location, the set of firms you are aiming for, and your seeking role.

You will be expected to clear the competence necessary for the post you envision for your short term goals after MBA completely, the primary duties you will be managing, and the outcomes of your short term goals after MBA you are expected to display over the following 1-2 years.

CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF YOUR SHORT TERM GOALS AFTER MBA:

• Your short term goals after MBA is the Stepping stone to your long term goals after MBA 

• Your short term goals after MBA should be as precise as possible, indicating substantial study and thinking relevant to industry/function/geography/potential firms

• Realistic and attainable short term goals after MBA.

• Concentrates on gaining skills, competence, and experience for career goals after MBA.

HOW TO DEFINE YOUR SHORT TERM GOALS AFTER MBA?

1 . Progression in Your Career goals after MBA while implementing the short terms goals after MBA

Working towards your career goals is a case of your short term goals after MBA. For example, you are already performing a function in a related industry and would like to accelerate to higher positions or the corporate brand.

As an example for short term goals after MBA:

I am a software engineer with product development expertise seeking a position in product management for a Silicon Valley technology startup. An example of vertical growth is not changing dimensions but seeking a more prominent role in the same industry.

I work at a corporate law firm and wish to go into the M&A or strategy team of a big corporation.

Such short term goals after MBA are rational and straightforward to define and manage. When it comes to explaining the short term goals after MBA in your post MBA goals essay, the requirements remain the same. Still, your ability to visualize yourself in that role and showcase the skills you bring to your career goals after MBA places a big role in how you address your post MBA goals essay. It is easier to explain because you already have peers or seniors undertaking that post MBA career role and can explain the difference between it and your current position. 

The first step in writing your post MBA goals essay is to look up your target school’s employment statistics and reports. For example, if you want to have a promising career in Investment Banking in the US, you may want to consider which schools have the highest graduates going to these fields shortly after their post MBA. Second, look at the subjective factors of career goals after MBA- how your school will shape you and your career for both short term goals after MBA and long term goals after MBA .

2. Career Shift as a short term goal after MBA

Career Change after MBA is the most common situation of applicants’ short term goals after MBA. You wish to "transition" into a more interesting position in a more exciting industry and company as your post MBA goals- in the crux. So, you want to shift your industry , position profile, and, most likely, area. This situation accounts for more than 60% of all individuals interested in pursuing an MBA.

As an example of Career Shift as a short term goal after MBA:

I am a software engineer in a technology firm looking to advance into a business strategy function with a giant tech firm/start-up.

I am an entrepreneur who aspires to work as a product manager in an organizational structure.

Such transformations need a great deal of awareness and research, and for these short term goals after MBA, you need better convincing abilities to show yourself employable. The ad-coms want to know your grasp of the position, what talents are "transferable" from your current work to the new role you are envisioning for short term goals after MBA, and how the MBA will help you learn the lacking skill sets and achieve your career goals after MBA.

HOW TO ADDRESS YOUR LONG TERM GOALS AFTER MBA?

Your long term goals after MBA outlines your ultimate aim, the pinnacle of your career – the response to the question "what do you want to be when you grow up?" However, before we move ahead with long term goals after MBA, you need to know that an MBA is not only to help you achieve your short term goals after MBA. While it may seem a little off the charts for a two-year MBA to shape your long term goals after MBA, but ten years down the line, you will understand that this MBA will shape a big chunk of your personality!

And so, you need to think about the impact of your long term goals after MBA. How do you want to gain from this experience of achieving long term goals after MBA for your personal development? You do not need to be very concerned with vivid detail for your long term goals after MBA. Instead, concentrate on the influence you want to make throughout your career. The admissions committee is interested in learning about your career goals after MBA, character, vision, principles, and how you want to impact an industry or community.

And believe us when we say this aspect of your application will need you to do a lot more digging about your long term goals after MBA.

CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF YOUR LONG TERM GOALS AFTER MBA :

The time frame of your career goals after MBA: 10 years and beyond

After MBA, the final long term goal is what you want to be "when you grow up.”

More focused on the impact of your long term goals after MBA.

Aspirational and inspiring

You are depicting a representation of your values in your long term goals after MBA.

 Communicate the purpose behind your short term goals after MBA.

Recognize that there may be more than one way to achieve your career goals after MBA (plan A, B,   C...) As an example of long term goals after MBA:

I want to transform Europe's healthcare system by discovering creative methods to reduce the cost of diagnostics so that funds can be spent on better treatments and facilities.

I am looking for an executive-level position with a renewable energy organization, such as a wind farm or solar farm, to help me reach my ultimate goal of reducing the world’s carbon footprint as the CEO of a worldwide renewable farms organization.

The narrative you present in your post MBA goals essay must demonstrate your aim and long term goals after MBA in a logical way that is consistent with your current professional path and how the school may put you.

A successful application can tell a unified and convincing tale about the applicant's career goals after MBA and his prior successes, extracurricular activities, and personal highlights in their post MBA goals essay.

HOW TO WRITE YOUR POST MBA GOALS ESSAY?

Well, after 10 minutes of extensive expert advice, if you need us to write your post MBA goals essay or spoon-feed you, then an MBA is not for you!

Unlike other consultants, we always have believed in leading applicants to write their own post MBA goals essays, to work on MBA applications on their own, but we are here to be your wall. And yet again, here we will give you a direction to write your post MBA goals essay and not provide a step-by-step guide!

No one is interested in reading your boring post MBA goals essay. An adcom member reads 1000 applicants’ applications in a day and throws 999 of them within 5 minutes of reading. You have already listed out your achievements and all the tedious elements in your resume. Here, your post MBA goals essay should be short, crisp, and enjoyable to read. Go to point A to B  without blabbing and with a passion for achieving those goals and vision. 

You don’t need to be an ideal candidate or distinguish yourself through your post MBA goals. You don’t need to think out-of-the-box. Yes, if you have different post MBA goals than the pool of applicants you belong to, it’s always a plus for your post MBA goals essays. But if you want to go into consulting like 900 other applicants- so be it! But that career goals after MBA should come from a strong motivation and passion and should connect to a more robust vision. 

Connect your long term goals after MBA to the values your target school respects. Do good research on your target schools and know how the MBA community will help you achieve your short term goals after MBA and shape your personality for long term goals after MBA.  You can read this goals and achievements essay and take critical insights into framing your post MBA goals essays. Remember, take insights from post MBA goals essay samples. Do not try to copy or imitate the structure or story of others' post MBA goals essays- it will do you no good!

Our sole purpose of a unique consulting process is to help applicants find clarity in not only their post MBA goals but also in life- one we always needed! Many applicants call the first segment of our process “therapy.” We are here to help you establish the proper set of professional goals and develop an overall powerful story by truly knowing who you are. You are not only leading your way to your dream schools but finally being able to reach where you are destined for!

So if you get stuck along the way while defining your career goals after MBA, feel free to connect. We'll be happy to curate the path to your success in your MBA journey because the world needs intellectuals like you!

You can also comment on your concerns regarding crafting post MBA goals essays, and our experts will reach out to you within 24 hours. Happy applying!

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• Master of Business Administration (MBA)

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Study Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Azusa Pacific University

You’ll graduate with sought-after credentials and skills, prepared to successfully manage and lead in business. You’ll build connections through firsthand interactions with companies and executives and boost your résumé with the opportunity to earn internationally recognized microcredentials. Pursue your unique career goals in a program based on your individual schedule and career interests, with a wide variety of concentrations, flexible class times and formats, and multiple in-person locations. 

Program at a Glance

Upcoming events, application deadline.

Students are admitted to and can start the  MBA degree  program in any of the six sessions during the school year. The application deadline is approximately three weeks before the start of any session.

Program Information

• Program Units: 42-45
• Cost per Unit: $690
• Base Cost: $28,980–$31,050*
• Azusa (Main Campus), Inland Empire, Murrieta, Online, Orange County

Yellow Ribbon and Military Friendly School

Gain Hands-on Experience

• Explore ethics in business through a Christ-centered approach.
• Build connections with businesses and executives, with opportunities for travel.
• Earn certificates and credentials that showcase your skills to employers.
• Complete real-world projects to apply learning at work.
• Learn from Fulbright Scholars and world-renowned professors with experience.

By the Numbers

Get started, program details.

The  Master of Business Administration (MBA)  program offers working professionals an accessible yet rigorous graduate business program that can be completed in 12-30 months. The program prepares students to lead in the workplace by equipping them with key strategic concepts and the analytical and relational skills to make sound recommendations and decisions. The curriculum is designed to strike a balance between theory and practice, combining scholarship with practical experience and actual corporate case studies of business decision making. Students also select an area of concentration based on specific interests and career aspirations.

Browse the tabs below—if you have questions, visit the  Student Services Center  page, and we’ll make sure you get the info you need.

Admission Requirements—Domestic Applicants

The  university graduate  and program admission requirements below must be met before an application is considered complete.

Applicants must possess:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• A minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4-point scale. Applicants with a GPA of 2.5-2.99 will be considered for  conditional admission .
• Potential for success in graduate business studies. An assessment of students’ total qualifications—the rigor of their undergraduate studies, academic performance, extensive work experience, and personal references—is made.

Applicants must submit:

• Graduate application for admission
• $45 nonrefundable application fee
• Official transcripts from all institutions leading to and awarding the applicant’s bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and all postbaccalaureate study An official transcript is one that Azusa Pacific University receives unopened in an envelope sealed by the former institution and that bears the official seal of the college or university. A cumulative minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average on the posted degree is required for regular admission status. Provisional admittance may be granted to individuals with a lower GPA if competency can be shown through multiple measures.
• Application essay of 1-2 pages describing educational and professional goals
• Résumé or curriculum vitae of work experience

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents respectively).

To apply for a graduate program at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and  program-specific admission requirements  specified above.

International applicants must also:

• Demonstrate proficiency in English through a placement test with the  Academic Success Center , or through a TOEFL/IELTS score that meets program-specific requirements. Refer to APU’s  English proficiency requirements  to learn more. Request that official test scores be sent to APU. All other forms of proof indicated in the English proficiency requirements must be submitted directly to International Services.
• Provide a  Graduate Affidavit of Financial Support (PDF)  and a bank statement from within the last six months proving financial ability to pay for education costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources.
• Submit a copy of a valid passport showing biographical data, including your name, country of citizenship, date of birth, and other legal information.
• Get foreign transcripts evaluated. International credentials (transcripts, certificates, diplomas, and degrees) must be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation agency. View our policy and a list of approved  Foreign Transcript Evaluation Agencies .

Send official transcripts to:

What to expect.

After all admission materials have been received by the  Student Services Center , the faculty or department chair reviews the applicant’s file. The applicant is notified in writing of the admission decision.

Conditional Admission

No GMAT or GRE score is required for the MBA. Conditional admits (those who have less than a 3.0 undergraduate GPA) may need to complete up to five prerequisite courses.

Multiple financial aid options are available to make your   MBA degree   affordable.

Delivering high-quality graduate programs takes a comprehensive support system. Your investment in an advanced degree includes a complete network of student services and access to a community of faculty and staff who partner with you in your pursuit of higher education. Below is a detailed breakdown of the fees associated with benefits and services that may be included in your degree program.

School of Business and Management Fees

Leung School of Accounting

View a complete list of   university fees .

All stated financial information is subject to change. Contact the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 for more information.

Several types of   financial aid   are available to graduate students. The resources range from federal loans and state grants to, for some graduate programs, fellowships and scholarships. For details about financial aid available for your program, please contact the   Student Services Center   at (626) 815-2020 .

Military Benefits

Military members—and in some cases their spouses and dependents—qualify for   financial assistance   covering tuition, housing, and books. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon University and Military Friendly School, so you can be confident that you’ll receive the benefits and flexibility you need to complete your education.

School of Business and Management Alumni Tuition Discounts

APU’s   School of Business and Management   offers an alumni tuition discount for APU alumni starting in the following graduate programs:

• Master of Arts in Leadership

Master of Business Management (MBM)

• Master of Science in Organizational Psychology

Students must be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress with a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students must be enrolled at least half-time. If qualifications are met, the discount may be renewed each term. APU will pay $500 per term (up to $2,000 over the course of the program). This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact   Student Financial Services   for complete eligibility details.

Note: Award and eligibility are applicable for the 2022-23 academic year and apply to students admitted beginning fall 2020. The discount is subject to change.

MOU Partner Tuition Discounts

The   School of Business and Management   offers a 15 percent tuition discount on the   Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) ,   Master of Business Administration (MBA) , and   Master of Business Management (MBM)   programs for employees, and their spouses and dependents (up to age 26), of the following organizations:

• City of Costa Mesa
• City of Rialto
• City of Temecula
• City of Upland
• County of Orange
• County of Riverside
• Stater Bros. Markets

Students fill out the   2019-20 MOU Discount Form   and provide proof of employment along with a form every year of enrollment. This discount cannot be combined with other institutional aid. Contact   Student Financial Services   for complete eligibility details.

Programs Requirements

Azusa Pacific’s traditional  MBA degree  program is designed for working professionals, offering flexible scheduling and various modes of delivery (face to face or online) for a more convenient experience. All students begin their  coursework  with a foundation class in ethical leadership that provides the framework for looking at leadership through a Christian ethical perspective and sets the stage for the faith integration that takes place throughout the program. All coursework is comprehensive, rigorous, and experiential, often utilizing real-life cases and simulations in which students act as the decision makers and use their creativity and MBA toolkit to make sound recommendations. Along with the business core, students must select a concentration from a broad range of options, giving them the opportunity to mold their program toward their specific interests and career aspirations.

How long is a semester?

School of Business and Management graduate programs run on 8-week terms.

How many units do I take each term?

Each student can complete this program at his or her preferred pace, so the number of units per term is up to you.

How many hours does each class session require?

Classes meet once a week for 4 hours and 5 minutes.

How many evenings per week do I attend classes?

Students generally attend class one to two nights per week, depending on the number of classes in which they are enrolled.

How soon can I finish this program?

This program can be completed in 1-5 years. Most students complete the program in 2.5 years.

Field Experience

Students may elect to complete an intensive field experience trip as part of their coursework. This provides students with opportunities for field case studies and experiential visits to observe and evaluate the inner workings, management, and operations of organizations and businesses in manufacturing, merchandizing, services, finance/investment industries, and/or government and nonprofit sectors of the economy. National and international field trip destinations vary each session and may include places in Asia, Africa, Europe, South and Central America, and North America.

APU’s   MBA degree   program offers a highly accessible and comprehensive online option, allowing you to earn your degree in a flexible environment without sacrificing the high-quality instruction and professor-student interaction for which APU is known.

Flexible Format

The dynamic format of the   online MBA   offers students the flexibility of taking courses wherever and whenever is most convenient for them. Students benefit from courses designed to maximize their interaction with other students and professors, creating a rich learning community. For many, the online format is the easiest, most convenient way to balance work, school, and family.

Convenient Schedule

APU’s   School of Business and Management   operates on a year-round schedule, with each academic year divided into 8-week sessions (see the   academic calendar   for dates). Most students take one to two classes per session, completing their degree in 15-30 months. While students can choose to extend the length of their program past the average completion time by taking fewer units per term, the School of Business and Management requires completion of a graduate degree within five years of initial enrollment.

New students are accepted to the online option throughout the year. The application deadline is approximately four weeks before the start of any session. For more information or to get started, contact APU’s Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions at (626) 815-2020 or   [email protected] .

Time Commitment

While your classes do not require you to be online during a specific timeframe, you should plan to be online 6-10 hours per week per unit to successfully complete assignments and participate in discussions.

Committed to Your Success

We want you to feel confident as you earn your degree online. That’s why all of our online programs include a two-week online orientation prior to the start of the first class; this offers you a chance to become familiar with the online format as you engage with helpful tutorials. Students also have access to the program coordinator to discuss scheduling classes. Academic advising provides an opportunity to continuously monitor your progress and individualize your programs of study. Keep in mind that all graduate students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the duration of the program.

How often do I need to be online for this program?

You must be online sufficiently throughout each week to participate in threaded discussions and to complete all assignments by their designated deadlines. However, there is no prescribed amount of time or designated time that you will be required to be online, because assignments and their deadlines will vary throughout each 8-week course.

Will I have to complete any part of my online MBA program at an APU campus location?

No. You can complete your   MBA degree   entirely online. No campus visits or meetings are required.

How do I get started?

For more information on how to get started in an APU online graduate program, contact one of our admissions representatives in the Student Services Center at (626) 815-2020 or at   [email protected] .

How long is a term?

School of Business and Management graduate programs run on 8-week sessions. Two 8-week sessions comprise a term.

To be classified as a full-time graduate student, one must be enrolled in at least 9 total units over the span of a term (fall, spring, or summer). Within each term, online MBA students take courses during two 8-week sessions. For example, a full-time student may take 6 units during the 8-week Fall I session and 3 units during the 8-week Fall II session, for a total of 9 units.

Most students complete the online MBA program in 15-30 months.

Azusa Pacific's   MBA degree   students are able to tailor their program by choosing from among the following seven concentrations:

Students pursuing this concentration may choose from advanced courses in accounting ethics, accounting information systems, accounting and tax research methods, auditing, forensic accounting and fraud investigation, and more. Students develop the skills needed to understand and critically evaluate financial statements, apply accounting principles in the workplace, and make strategic recommendations and decisions that benefit the financial health of for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Business Analytics

This concentration is designed for students who want to develop their analytical skills and learn how to use data-driven insights to make informed business decisions. Students also gain an understanding of how to interpret data and communicate their findings effectively to different stakeholders. Graduates will be prepared for a variety of roles in business, including roles as data analysts, business intelligence analysts, and data scientists.

Entrepreneurship

From ideas and inspiration through the feasibility-and-evaluation process, this concentration provides a framework for the application of practical business knowledge and tactics in transforming entrepreneurial vision into winning business strategies and thriving entrepreneurial ventures. Personal assessment and involvement exercises, team activities, new venture simulation, and case studies are utilized to provide knowledge and expertise as students analyze factors affecting consumer purchase decisions in the marketplace, apply behavioral and social science concepts, and study methods that organizations use for negotiating, marketing, and communicating with customers and prospects.

Finance professionals specialize in financial resource management at the personal and organizational levels in such areas as fundraising, cash management, investment activities, and budgeting for short-term and long-term success and growth. Students in this concentration learn about sources and uses of funds, the nature of capital markets, the role of financial institutions, financial instruments and investment principles, and the practical applications of the tools of financial management.

Government Financial Management

This concentration focuses on managing the finances of government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels. Students learn about the unique challenges of managing government finances, including the need to balance competing priorities and the importance of transparency and accountability. Students also gain an understanding of the laws and regulations that govern government finances, such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB). Graduates of a government financial management concentration are well-prepared for careers in public finance, government accounting, and budget analysis.

Healthcare Management

This concentration is focuses on the unique challenges of managing healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Students learn about the the healthcare business, including healthcare operations management, healthcare marketing, and healthcare quality and safety. Graduates of the healthcare management concentration are well-equipped to take on leadership roles in healthcare organizations, including healthcare administrators, healthcare consultants, and healthcare policy analysts.

International Business

This concentration prepares students for the global marketplace, challenging them to understand the macroeconomic and microeconomic environments in which global businesses function. The international dimensions of managing in different cultures, marketing to different societies, dealing with the financial complications of multiple currencies, and making ethical decisions in diverse contexts are explored and developed. Students also acquire increased awareness through study-away opportunities.

With the rise of social media and an increasing number of direct touch points with consumers, companies require marketing specialists with the skills to ensure that their organizations are cutting edge while maintaining high ethical standards to deliver a solid value proposition to customers and stakeholders. In this concentration, students learn about strategic marketing, which utilizes environmental turbulence levels, industry forces, and organizational change. Students also engage in hands-on research, planning, and analysis as they learn how to build market-centric organizations via digital marketing, integrated marketing communications, social media analytics, case study analysis, and decision making.

Public Administration

This concentration focuses on the management and administration of public organizations, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and international organizations. Students learn about the unique challenges of managing public organizations, including budget constraints, political pressures, and the need to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders. They also gain an understanding of public policy analysis, the policy process, and economic development. Graduates of a public administration concentration are well-prepared for careers in government, non-profit management, and international development, as well as consulting and advocacy roles in the public sector.

Organizational Science

This concentration serves the unique education and training needs of professionals with specific career objectives not captured by any other concentration. Each student designs this concentration according to his or her interests and career goals, proposing specific business courses and select courses from other graduate programs within the APU community. All organizational science proposal forms must be submitted to the School of Business and Management Graduate Program Committee for review and approval prior to beginning the concentration.

Sport Management

This concentration balances advanced business instruction with fundamental sport management training to prepare individuals for successful leadership and operation of various sport and athletic enterprises at the youth, collegiate, and professional levels. Students also acquire an understanding of the global business environment and how cultural and market diversities impact the world of sports. Students learn how to apply quantitative analytical abilities, effective collaborative and team-building skills, and an awareness of corporate social responsibility from a Christian worldview to become sport management professionals who are efficient and effective decision makers.

If you have questions, we’re here to help! Connect with a representative who can walk you through the program details and application process.

Contact Your Admissions Representative

School of Business and Management

(626) 812-3085

(626) 815-2023

[email protected]

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Student Services Center

Contact (626) 812-3016  or [email protected] , and visit  apu.edu/ssc  for details on the admissions process, financial aid, and class registration.

International Services

International students should contact +1-626-812-3055 or  [email protected] , and visit  apu.edu/international/ .

• Azusa Pacific University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).  
• The School of Business and Management receives accreditation from the  International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) , and is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

Featured Faculty

Professor Emeritus

Marlon Ware

Assistant Dean; Assistant Professor

See All Faculty

Career Outlooks and Outcomes

Related programs.

• Orange County
• Inland Empire

Available Concentrations:

Entrepreneurship, Government Financial Management, Healthcare Management, Human Resource Management, International Business, Marketing, Organizational Development and Change, Organizational Science, Public Administration, Sport Management

Healthcare Administration, MS

Financial Management in Healthcare Systems, International Health, Quality and Innovation in Health Care

Business Analytics Major

Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing

Explore APU

APU’s life-changing education develops you into a disciple and scholar, equipping you to succeed in your field and make a difference in the world.

Joseph Schooling’s Rise, Retirement, and Reflections on Life After Gold

J oseph Schooling, Singapore’s first and only Olympic gold medalist, is slightly embarrassed by a cardboard cutout of himself perched near the door of his parents’ office. The standee, designed for a meet-and-greet session in 2015, shows a young Schooling, then a rising swimming star, grinning ear to ear, frozen in time.

He keeps pestering his mum to get rid of it, he says, but she won’t budge. Can you really blame her for wanting to keep around this life-sized memento of a time when her son seemed on top of the world?

A year after his mother brought the cardboard Jo home, Schooling would make history at age 21 at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, besting American swimming legend Michael Phelps at the 100-m butterfly. Phelps, who was competing in the last Olympic individual event of his career, shared silver with South Africa’s Chad le Clos and Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh in a three-way tie three-fourths of a second behind Schooling, who set an Olympic record. Cseh described it as “the craziest race maybe in swimming history.”

Schooling was already famous in his Southeast Asian homeland of 6 million people, but now he was a national hero.

“Dad used to have a saying: the blind man doesn’t fear the tiger,” Schooling, who turned 29 in June, told TIME in an extended interview earlier this year. “And I didn’t really understand the magnitude or the steepness of the competition,” he said, reminiscing about the Olympics and his late father’s wise words, as he sat surrounded by childhood photos in his parents’ old office.

When Schooling returned to Singapore in the summer of 2016, crowds lined the streets and cheered as he waved from an open-top bus on a victory parade; lawmakers gave him a standing ovation in parliament; and parents across the city-state signed their kids up for swimming lessons, no doubt fueled by dreams of cultivating the next Olympic champions.

But less than a decade later, Schooling is done with racing. He didn’t compete in Paris, announcing his retirement just months before the Games in an emotional press conference . “To say this is a bittersweet moment doesn’t really do this moment justice,” he said.

Those who had been following Schooling’s swimming career would say they saw it coming: his meteoric rise gave way to years of lackluster results and public disappointment. But his experience also sheds light on the immense pressure many elite athletes face, compounded by a stigma surrounding mental health support in the industry.

“I feel like professional sport is hyper focused on who is the big item at that moment. And it operates a little like a conveyor belt where the athlete is in the spotlight, and then they just fall off a cliff and disappear from view, like they’re a commodity that is no longer useful,” sport psychologist Daniel Zimet tells TIME. “[Schooling’s] experience post the Olympics, I think, is a great example of how fragile being at the top of the mountain can be, and how fickle people’s grace can become.”

“You will always be the greatest joy in my memories, and also the reason why I stay awake sometimes and worry,” Schooling’s mother wrote in an open letter published in Singapore’s national newspaper after his retirement announcement.

In the races leading up to the 2016 Olympics, buzz had been building around Schooling, who had been chipping away at his timing and venturing into uncharted waters: he took home Singapore’s first swimming medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, broke a 32-year drought for a men’s swimming gold at the Asian Games in Incheon later that year, and won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Aquatics championship in Kazan—yet another first for the country.

But after Schooling’s success in the pool in Rio, something had shifted.

Still giddy from his whirlwind gold-medal performance, Schooling, then an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin, dove headfirst into training for collegiate competition. But at the 2017 NCAA swimming tournament, right before Schooling was set to walk out to the pool, he battled a crippling bout of what he thought were pre-race jitters; the team doctor would tell him later that it was a panic attack. He failed to defend the butterfly titles he had held for the previous two years, and he knew the confidence that had fuelled his rise was quickly being whittled down.

“You understand that the stakes are much higher,” he recalls now. “After winning basically every single race the previous two years, losing after the Olympics is just not an option.”

While there were still bright spots and medals along the way, Schooling’s performance over the next several years was shaky. He set a new record at the 2018 Asian Games, then failed to make the semifinals at the 2019 FINA World Championships; later that year he won six medals across six events at the Southeast Asian Games, but, in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics, he finished last in his heat for the 100-m butterfly. In March 2023, he pulled out of the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, saying that he was “not at the level at which I hold myself to perform.” A few months later, he failed to make the cut to compete at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

On top of everything he was feeling internally, Schooling also faced constant scrutiny from a public that had tasted the glory he could offer but wasn’t satisfied without more. When Schooling gained weight, he was swarmed with body shaming comments on social media. And when he failed to make the Olympic semifinals in Tokyo, he was met with a barrage of denigration.

“You not only have the expectations of yourself, but you have the expectations of the people around you, the media, the country, and all these eyeballs, where previously they weren’t even in existence,” he reflects.

Schooling made local headlines in 2022 after confessing to using cannabis while in Vietnam, though he was let go with a warning and maintains that the incident was a one-off mistake. In a public apology, Schooling attributed his drug use to “a very tough period of my life.” His father, who was battling liver cancer, had died the previous year.

This blemish on his squeaky clean image stirred much pearl-clutching through the city-state, notorious for its draconian anti-drug stance . Schooling was met with a mixed outpouring of sympathy and condemnation. In an open letter in the national newspaper, a sports editor offered stern encouragement, with a tinge of chiding over poor choices. “You’ve made us think about a lot of things this week. About champions and sainthood, drugs and humanness, errors and preachiness,” goes the letter’s last paragraph. “About why societies elevate athletes and who’s there to guide them. We’re all trying to learn and so, hopefully, will you.”

While Schooling’s retirement at age 28 is earlier than some other elite swimmers who have continued into their 30s , he’s far from the only young professional athlete to make the decision to cut short their career.

In April, 29-year-old Japanese badminton player Momota Kento announced that he was retiring from international competition. After nearly losing his life in a car accident in 2020, the former world champion never found the way back to his peak. “I tried so many things but I just couldn’t close the emotional, physical gap between who I used to be and who I am. I felt I couldn’t become world No. 1 again,” he said. And in May, two-time world champion figure skater Uno Shoma retired at age 26 because he felt “ lonely ,” he said, after the departure of his longtime rink rival, Hanyu Yuzuru, who had hung up his skates two years earlier. Even Phelps announced his retirement at 27 after the 2012 Olympics, saying later that he “was ready to move on”—though he changed his mind in 2013 and ultimately quit competitive swimming after winning five more gold medals as well as the silver behind Schooling at the 2016 Olympics.

The gravity of such decisions, particularly for athletes who have made it to the very top of their field, is difficult for most people to comprehend, says Zimet, the sport psychologist. “There’s a real sense of ‘Have I reached the apex of my life? Will I ever have an experience like this again? Or is it all downhill from here?’” Zimet explains. “To be [their age] and feel like your life’s greatest achievement is now behind you and you’ll never have that feeling again—it’s tough.”

The rigors of an athletic career can prove backbreaking from an early age, where the professionalization of youth sport is accompanied by high training volume and pressure. In the U.S., 70% of kids below the age of 13 drop out of organized sport, driven by factors like injury, a loss of enjoyment in the activity, and unattainable expectations from parents and coaches.

As adults, collegiate and professional athletes suffer disproportionately from psychological distress and sleep problems. Many turn to substance use—in 2009, Phelps famously was temporarily suspended by USA Swimming and dropped by sponsor Kellogg, for whom he had appeared on cereal boxes, after he was photographed apparently smoking marijuana—though experts caution that the habit often takes a toll on sleep quality, which can in turn detrimentally affect their mental well-being.

Sports organizations have been increasingly focused on mental health support for athletes. The NCAA , NFL , and NBA now mandate mental health services to be accessible to their athletes, while the International Olympic Committee has in recent years honed its emphasis on athletes’ mental well-being, acknowledging that “our mental health is irrefutably intertwined with our overall health, yet in sport it is often overlooked.”

In a hopeful trend, more top athletes, too, are breaking the longstanding taboo. Phelps has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety and depression, and lauded fellow athletes who are doing the same, such as tennis player Naomi Osaka . The four-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the French Open in 2021 after being fined for declining to attend press conferences, citing her mental health.

“In any other line of work, you would be forgiven for taking a personal day here and there, so long as it’s not habitual. You wouldn’t have to divulge your most personal symptoms to your employer,” she wrote in a cover story essay for TIME after her French Open withdrawal. Later that year, when American gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of some of her events at the Tokyo Olympics because of the “ twisties ,” Biles credited Osaka’s words of encouragement: “I know she knows exactly the feeling that I was going through, so it’s nice to relate to somebody on that high level.”

After a two-year hiatus, Biles returned in 2023, won golds at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, and became the most decorated gymnast in history. Her momentum continued into 2024, taking the all-around gold at the Core Hydration Classic in May before winning two individual golds, one team gold, and a silver individual medal at the Paris Olympics, during which she pointedly told the public and press to stop rushing to ask medalists “ what’s next? ”

The fact that athletes can take a break and come back stronger shows that rest does work. And Schooling can only wonder if he could have gone on to improve his personal best set in Rio—which was 0.57 seconds behind the world record then held by Phelps—had he learned how to properly take a break. “In hindsight,” he says, “I would have taken a bit more time off [after the 2016 Olympics] to just separate from swimming. Give me two, three months, completely off, not have to worry about coming to practice, not feel like it’s a chore … I actually to this day believe that, had I walked [that] path, I would have gotten that world record.”

“The body does need a certain measure of rest, and just training physically in and of itself is not enough to be able to win at the highest possible levels. You need to have the right mindset, you need proper rest,” says Zimet. “There’s more to it than just training 12 hours a day physically.”

After spending years on a Sisyphean mission to reascend to the peak, Schooling would never again clock his record Olympic timing, which U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel later broke. Schooling said in his retirement press conference in April that his performance eventually dimmed because of “complacency.” But speaking to TIME a month later, he attributed it to getting burned out. “You’re pushing yourself day in and day out to the brim,” he says. “I wanted to travel. I wanted to do something else that was not swimming.”

About a year ago, Schooling’s well-oiled routine started to creak. He no longer enjoyed waking up early for morning practice, or plunging into a cold pool at 5:30 in the morning. “I thought I’d sleep it off and one day just wake up and be magically in love with swimming again,” he says. “And that wasn’t the case.”

The feelings came as he was serving two years of military service—a mandatory rite of passage for men in Singapore—which had taken a toll on his training. After enlisting in January 2022, Schooling revealed to the national newspaper in April that year that he had briefly decided to retire the previous month—“due to existential circumstances”—before taking it back.

Schooling confided in his best friend, Teo Zhen Ren, whom he describes as his “sounding board.” The pair met while swimming, first as kids in the same country club and later for the national team and their respective universities. While Schooling represented the University of Texas at Austin, Teo swam for Santa Monica College in California. They would trade friendly banter, compare their swim times, and give each other reality checks.

As Schooling unraveled his feelings of ennui, over dinners and on the golf course, Teo understood exactly what he was saying, having retired in much quieter fashion before Schooling. (After years of breaking national records and having battled a stubborn shoulder injury, Teo swam his last race for Singapore in 2015 and competed in the NCAA for another two years before calling it quits.)

Teo tells TIME from London, where he’s currently doing an MBA, that his decision to retire came after “realizing that there’s so much more to life than just one thing that you do.” And it “really feels like there’s only one thing that you do for that 15 to 20 years when you swim competitively.”

With training taking up so much of an elite athlete’s time, there’s little opportunity for them to pursue other ambitions outside of their sport. As a result, upon retirement elite athletes often find themselves with little work experience that makes them competitive on conventional job markets—on top of a sense of loss of their identity.

“I’ve worked with a lot of post-career athletes, who feel like they’ve been abandoned by their sport and their fans after they no longer serve a purpose,” says Zimet, the sport psychologist.

Teo says he saw a renewed energy in Schooling when he talked about his projects outside of his athletic career, from building a swim school in Singapore to starting a venture capital firm with a couple of partners. Teo says it gave him “a lot of comfort” that Schooling had plans for what to do next. But, Teo adds, “I think everyone who dedicates their life for many years to something and suddenly stops doing it, no matter how well you prepare for it, it will be hard. So I’m not saying it will be easy for Joseph as well.”

“That was what I spent most of my time reflecting on or internalizing, knowing that my worth isn’t pegged to swimming,” Schooling tells TIME. It’s also an attitude that he’s taken into his post-retirement coaching and investing endeavors. “These are all ventures and these are all pathways which somehow deep down inside me I know that I need to be on,” he says. “How can I use my experiences and help that person, help the younger pipeline, youth athletes achieve greater heights than I did? … We want to provide them the platform and give them the tools in order to be the best versions of themselves.” 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joseph Schooling (@josephschooling)

Schooling’s retirement announcement in April ushered in a flood of tributes , hailing his historic feat that continues to inspire Singaporeans from all walks of life.

In a phone call with TIME from Paris, where he was training ahead of the 2024 Olympics, swimmer Jonathan Tan reminisced about watching Schooling’s famed race eight years ago. “That was a time when we realized that it was actually possible for someone from Singapore to win an Olympic gold medal.”

Inch Chua, a Singaporean singer-songwriter, tells TIME that she found resonance in Schooling’s resilience at the highest level. “People have let him down a lot,” she says. “It really takes a very powerful dreamer first and foremost, and then a really strong, passionate, and committed person to get there,” she adds.

“Ain’t it funny, when you got it all / the crowd is waiting for you to fall,” goes a song Chua wrote about Schooling in 2022, as his cannabis incident dominated headlines. “Break your back, no time for brooding / I wanna be like Joseph Schooling.”

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