[Essay] Yale SOM MBA 2020年入学 申请Deadlin & Essay及Essay解析 （耶鲁）

Application Deadlines

Essay

We have one essay question: “Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made.” We developed this question in collaboration with Amy Wrzesniewski, a professor of organizational behavior at Yale SOM. Your time in business school, and the choices you make thereafter, represent significant commitments. In asking this question, the Admissions Committee is seeking to learn about how you have approached a commitment of importance in your life.

When it comes to choosing a topic, be genuine. We want to hear about something that is meaningful and distinctive to you, in your own voice. Your commitment can be personal, specific or expansive. We receive outstanding, insightful essays covering a wide range of topics.

The content of your essay is every bit as important as the topic. Regardless of the commitment that you choose, the most effective essays do a great job of describing your approach to commitment. Point to the specific actions that you have taken, over time, to bolster your commitment. This is especially important if you have chosen a broad topic, such as an ideal or a belief. Don’t just explain why a commitment is important to you; we want to understand how your behaviors have demonstrated and supported your commitment.

"The first thing that may come to mind about our essay question is, ‘Why is it phrased so broadly?’ That’s intentional. We don’t want candidates to think that we are trying to steer them towards a particular kind of commitment, either in nature or scope. The question is meant to elicit self-reflection and result in you describing a commitment that is truly meaningful to you." — Maria Derlipanska, Senior Associate Director of Admissions

Optional Information

The optional information section is not an additional essay, and most candidates do not need to complete this section. This is a space where you can address any questions you think the admissions committee may have about your application. For example, if there’s a gap on your resume or you’ve chosen an unconventional recommender, this is the appropriate place to provide clarification.

Karen’s Essay Analysis （个人观点仅供参考，转载请注明出处）

我一直认为这个题和Stanford的“what matters most to you” 是异曲同工的。

Commitment，中文意思是“委身”或者“牵累”，是个很serious的事情，不仅仅是一瞬间的承诺，而应该是长期坚持的付出，为了实现某个目标或承担某种责任而甘于吃苦：比如风雨无阻每天晨跑，离开家人去远方求学，深入荒蛮之地传福音，赴北上广三地参加学校的info session。行动说明一切。这些选择背后的牺牲衬托了对你来说重要的东西——宁愿早起也要身体健康，宁愿孤独也要见多识广，宁愿危险也要履行教义，宁愿奔波也要拓展人脉。

你的commitment可以是一个idea，一个愿景，或一个价值观，由此来串起你的personal and/or professional stories：比如你深信平等的重要性，一直竭尽全力去维护它。小时候就为班上被欺负的弱小同学打抱不平，长大后去乡村支教确保孩子们同样有受教育的权利，再后来在某个行业里努力反抗垄断实现商业拓展。价值观引导、启发、塑造了你的行为，在实践当中你又进一步彰显了价值观。