关于各校的essay

doublejade

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Things you can do upfront (now) to prepare for essay-writing
Write your resume - it'll be good for all schools or interviews
Think about (and try to put in words - use them for your AWA excercises):
-why do you want an MBA at this time
-which area do you want to concentrate for your MBA
-what are your career goals post-MBA (short-term "5 years out" and long-term "10 years out")
-at least one personal and one professional achievment
-one personal failure
-your strengths and weaknesses

Develop a personal profile - logically connect your past/present/future, how your past leads to where you are today, and how your plans today will lead to who you will be tomorrow.

The follwoing are some exemplary essay topics for year 2000 application for your reference:
Chicago
1. Why are you seeking an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business? What do you hope to experience and contribute? What are your plans and goals after you receive your degree? (750 words maximum)
2. Ten years from now, an alumnus/a from the GSB calls you on the phone. Where will the phone ring, what will you be doing, and what wisdom will you be able to impart to them? (300 words maximum)
3.If you were to bury five items, to be dug up in 250 years, that best describe you and your accomplishments, what would those items be and why? (300 words maximum)

Wharton
1. Please discuss the factors, both professional and personal, influencing the career decisions you have made that, in turn, have led you to your current position. What are your career goals for the future, and why is now the appropriate time to pursue an MBA at the Wharton School? How will you avail yourself of the resources at the Wharton School to achieve these goals?
2 At Wharton, the Learning Team, which consists of approximately five first-year students, is often assigned group projects and class presentations. Imagine that, one year from now, your Learning Team has a marketing class assignment due at 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning. It is now 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night; time is short, tension builds and your team has reached an impasse. What role would you take in such a situation? How would you enable the team to meet your deadline? (Note: The specific nature of the assignment is not as important here as the team dynamic.) Feel free to draw on previous experience, if applicable, in order to illustrate your approach.
3. Describe a personal achievement that has had a significant impact on your life. In addition to recounting this achievement, please analyze how the event has changed your understanding of yourself and how you perceive the world around you.

Columbia:
1. What are your career goals? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals? Why are you applying to Columbia Business School? (Limit 1000 words)
2. In reviewing the last five years, describe one or two accomplishments in which you demonstrated leadership. (Limit 500 words)
3 Discuss a non-academic personal failure. In what way were you disappointed in yourself? What did you learn from the experience? (Limit 500 words)
4-A Discuss your involvement in a community or extracurricular organization. Include an explanation of how you became involved in the organization, and how you help(ed) the organization meet its goals. (Limit 250 words)
NYU
1. Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Describe the following: (2 page maximum)
Past: What decisions have you made that led you to your current position?
Present: Why is a Stern MBA necessary at this point in your life?
Future: What is your desired position upon graduation from the Stern School?
2. Agree or disagree to the two quotes. Use reason and/or example to explain it.
揟he truth is always the strongest argument.?Sophocles
揅hange in all things is sweet.?Aristotle
3 Creatively describe yourself to your classmates. Use whatever method you think appropriate including word, illustrations, etc.

One additional tip:
Get old application package now. Most schools provide downloadable application package. You can check schools specific requirements in advance. Check old essay topics to get a rough idea. Some schools like Wharton, NYU change 1 essay topic each year. Columbia did not change essays in past two years. Harvard changed 2 to 3 essays last year. So think about those old essays' requirements, you will save a lot of time in application season. Do not underestimate the time and energy you need to put into essay writing. If you apply for more than one school, you need to tailor your essays to each school, not only cut and paste.