关于optional essay

tiy

请问各位正在申请MBA的同仁或者已经被录取正在读的MBAers，optional essays需要写吗？写有帮助还是有害处，我听到了很多不同的版本，请帮忙解惑。

感激不尽

JonFrank

Hello my friend, it would be my pleasure to explain the purpose of an optional essay.  The whole point of the optional essay is for you to explain something negative in your application.  If, for example, there is a gap in your work experience, you would need to address it in an optional essay.  Same with your bad GMAT scores, low GPAs, etc.  The optional essay is the place to explain negative aspects of your application.  If you don’t have anything negative to speak of, then leave the space blank!    No need to write it, unless you have to make excuses for something.

I hope this is helpful for you!

Jon Frank
Founder,
HBS MBA Class of 2005
jfrank@mba2005.hbs.edu

越影

Hello my friend, it would be my pleasure to explain the purpose of an optional essay.  The whole point of the optional essay is for you to explain something negative in your application.  If, for example, there is a gap in your work experience, you would need to address it in an optional essay.  Same with your bad GMAT scores, low GPAs, etc.  The optional essay is the place to explain negative aspects of your application.  If you don’t have anything negative to speak of, then leave the space blank!    No need to write it, unless you have to make excuses for something.

I hope this is helpful for you!

Jon Frank
Founder,
HBS MBA Class of 2005
jfrank@mba2005.hbs.edu

-- by 会员 JonFrank (2010/9/16 9:49:52)

Only for the explanation of sth negative?
Hi, I'm applying for the 2011fall master program, still have the optional essay to write. I'm kind of wondering if i can dig deep sth about my experience in an optional essay, which might not be fully convinced in my PS?

JonFrank

Only for the explanation of sth negative?
Hi, I'm applying for the 2011fall master program, still have the optional essay to write. I'm kind of wondering if i can dig deep sth about my experience in an optional essay, which might not be fully convinced in my PS?

-- by 会员 越影 (2010/9/16 12:55:55)

[/quote]

Hey there—yes, you should ONLY use the optional essay to describe something negative, or something that you haven’t had a chance to explain elsewhere in your essays.  So if you don’t feel like you have discussed your experiences in your other essays, youll need to redo THOSE essays!  J  You do not want to cover “work experience” in your optional essay—they are specifically looking for something that you haven’t had a chance to cover elsewhere.   I hope this is helpful for you.


Good luck!
Jon Frank