[vibranture-]

Here's the deal: shoot all your questions, doubts and queries on mba essays at me. Throw relevant queries on essay questions - from ISB, Harvard, INSEAD, Stanford or whichever dream B-School you are applying to; you can expect thoughtful, pertinent and (hopefully) insightful responses from me.

Rules of the game: The more specific the question, the better and more useful the response will be. e.g. "In IMD Essay 7 should I mention alternative b-school choices?" is a far more effective query than "How do I write the IMD essays?".

Scope: I will take questions even distantly related to mba essay ("Is it a good idea to use Kung Fu Panda as an example in Wharton's second essay?" "I don’t like my mother-in-law. In which Rotman essay do I mention that?"). However please PLEASE resist the temptation to make generic admissions related or specific profile-fit queries.

OK. Enough prologue. Lets get started!

this is Prince signing off for **********

to the mods: I am aware that within/without the pg forum huge acreages of web space are devoted to essay tips. However these invariably pertain to GENERIC tips and GENERAL suggestions about essay writing. SPECIFIC focus on specific essay questions is rare; a concentration on CURRENT essays is even rarer. This thread hopes to redress that.

[vibranture-]

Lemme set the ball rolling with the isb case essay.

Essay Prompt: You have been appointed to head the team to build a dam across the River Zumba. Success in this project is critical for your company and would earn you a promotion. Failure would mean that your company would be bankrupt and will take along with it, its investors and its employees. Building a dam across the river would result in deforestation of a portion of the rainforests and would mean relocation of the tribals and destabilization of wild life at Zumba. There is resistance from environmental groups against your project. You are meeting the head of the resistance movement in one hour wherein you would have to explain your decision. Describe what you would do and why? (You will be evaluated on the creativity and practicality of your solution). (300 words max)

ISB has a penchant for including one essay question each year simply to terrorize the applicants!

Do not despair however, as this essay can also be the ace up your application sleeve. As there are very few questions in any MBA essay package that a majority of the applicants are actually afraid of attempting, each such question automatically presents you with a chance to create an advantage for yourself. This essay is definitely one such as it is easy to write a directionless, wavering, indecisive essay that gives no real solutions but just repeats the question. So seize this opportunity with both hands.

I am sure you have several questions. What should my solution be? Which side should I lean to? Can I bribe the head of the resistance movement (creative?! and practical?!). Where is this river anyway? Can I resign?

While the creativity and practicality of your River Zumba solution are important considerations, as important is the maturity, intelligence, reasoning and research that marks your approach to the solution.

Actually the solution itself DOES NOT MATTER quite as much, because this essay is NOT about the Zumba River dam but about YOU. While you are trying to present a original, workable solution to the issue do not overlook the potential of this essay for effectively presenting your attitude and outlook towards the environment, corporate social responsibility, ethics, ambition, career and success.

The solution you devise should fit your convictions, your personality (as reflected in the the rest of the application) and your thought process. How do you evaluate and prioritize varying (and sometimes opposing) goals and options? What are your values? What does your career mean to you? How much do you value corporate social responsibility? What is your negotiation style? How do you handle crisis situations? What kind of a leader are you? What kind of a person are you? Sure you don't have to answer all the above questions in 300 words, but a good response to this essay will answer at least some of them directly or indirectly.

Be honest. Be intelligent. Be creative. Be persuasive.

And if you feel that 300 words is too short to do all this in.. I agree. After all they took 129 words for the essay question! But it is 300 words that we have to work with; so let us.

Win 'em!

this is Prince signing off for **********

[rashs_inn]

Thaks for all your help!!!

I am writing applications for Wharton, LBS, INSEAD

There is a failure essay.....

I failed in 12th standard in Physics , chmeistry and Maths in the final board exams. Then repeated my 12th standard and was also able to get thru IIT JEE and completed my engineering from there.

Should I describe this as an falure as it changed my complete prospective of life. Will the schools take this as a -ve or +ve.

Leadership essays

How to project leadership. I have managed a culturally diversify team in china (Chinese, Indians, americans) from china and won all cream awards in my organization. I am not sure how to project this in accomplishmet or leadership essay.

Cultural shock: there are many but not sure how much I should write and what will intrest the readers.

any comments are most welcome.

My profile:

8.6 yrs exp in IT (finacial domain)
5 yrs international (3 yrs US, 1 yr China, 1 yr UK)
GMAT - 700, AWA 5
Extracarricular - Good

[quizophobic]

Hi Prince
Thanks for the initiative!!

I need some inputs regarding Ross Essay #4

Describe your experience during a challenging time in your life. Explain how you grew personally, either despite this challenge or because of it.

I've heard that the adcom wants to listen to experiences in last 3-4 years.. But then, life's biggest challenges don't come everyday. Right??

I had a tough time financially during my pre-engineering days..
When my classmates were having exorbitant coaching for engineering entrance-exams at various coaching institutes, I was tutoring younger school students to make some money for my family. I was juggling with own engineering entrance preparation and preparing the kids for their exams. Finally I was able to pull off a top 100 rank at a state exam to get an admit at a premier engineering institute..

Honestly speaking, this truly was a challenging time in my life.. Not only did this bolster my confidence in my abilities and values, but it also paved ways for successes to come..
The only problem with this is that this happened way back in 2000-01. Does this cause the adcom to be less interested in my story??

If you find this convincing enough, I've another Q for you.. Can I reuse this story for Duke Q3

Discuss a person, event or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why.

[vibranture-]

You kidding, rashs_inn?

You actually failed in M, P & C in 12th board exams and then cracked IIT JEE? Where is your fan site? How do I sign up?

Sure, it is wonderful material for your "failure" essay - in fact great material for almost any essay. I am impressed with the base story; if your essay reflects the courage, determination etc. that drove your "failure-to-success" story and also presents how it "changed my complete perspective of life" the AdCom should be too.

The only issue is that the event is more than a decade old. But the story is too damn good. Use it.

Leadership essay: you have great international experience leading multicultural teams. So what is the problem in projecting it? Didn't catch your question. Please clarify.

Culture shock: great to be in a position where you have too many choices :-) Assume your China/UK experiences were fun. Just use the story that shows your adaptability, global exposure and learning skills to best advantage.

Hope the response was of some use.

this is Prince signing off for **********

Originally Posted by rashs_inn

Thaks for all your help!!!

I am writing applications for Wharton, LBS, INSEAD

There is a failure essay.....

I failed in 12th standard in Physics , chmeistry and Maths in the final board exams. Then repeated my 12th standard and was also able to get thru IIT JEE and completed my engineering from there.

Should I describe this as an falure as it changed my complete prospective of life. Will the schools take this as a -ve or +ve.

Leadership essays

How to project leadership. I have managed a culturally diversify team in china (Chinese, Indians, americans) from china and won all cream awards in my organization. I am not sure how to project this in accomplishmet or leadership essay.

Cultural shock: there are many but not sure how much I should write and what will intrest the readers.

any comments are most welcome.

My profile:

8.6 yrs exp in IT (finacial domain)
5 yrs international (3 yrs US, 1 yr China, 1 yr UK)
GMAT - 700, AWA 5
Extracarricular - Good

[vibranture-]

Hi quizophobic,

Ross Essay: Now if you gave me a great story I would be a willing accomplice even if the event had transpired in the last century (1999!). But, while I appreciate the strengths displayed in the story, I am not convinced that it is a great/unique story.

Can you think of any other more recent opportunities where you overcame challenges?

Duke Essay: Simple answer: YES. But hey, this essay has much greater scope than the Ross essay prompt. The freedom to choose ANY person/event/experience can perhaps be more profitably used - instead of a repetition of the Ross essay.

Why don't you shortlist 2-3 stories after some intense brainstorming? And then make your decision. I know it is more work, but sometimes competition produces surprisingly good results :-)

Do your best with the essays. And keep up the good work with the blogs.

this is Prince signing off for **********

Originally Posted by quizophobic

Hi Prince
Thanks for the initiative!!

I need some inputs regarding Ross Essay #4


I've heard that the adcom wants to listen to experiences in last 3-4 years.. But then, life's biggest challenges don't come everyday. Right??

I had a tough time financially during my pre-engineering days..
When my classmates were having exorbitant coaching for engineering entrance-exams at various coaching institutes, I was tutoring younger school students to make some money for my family. I was juggling with own engineering entrance preparation and preparing the kids for their exams. Finally I was able to pull off a top 100 rank at a state exam to get an admit at a premier engineering institute..

Honestly speaking, this truly was a challenging time in my life.. Not only did this bolster my confidence in my abilities and values, but it also paved ways for successes to come..
The only problem with this is that this happened way back in 2000-01. Does this cause the adcom to be less interested in my story??

If you find this convincing enough, I've another Q for you.. Can I reuse this story for Duke Q3

[rashs_inn]

Thanks for the encouragement!!!

For INSEAD in 2 ccomplishment essay. I am thinking of combining my leadership experience with my accomlishment as following
Accomplishment :Winning prohect execution excellence award (chosen as best project from 7000 + project executed across globe).
leadership : The award was won for leading a multicultural team and get the best results out.

I have 100 words to demonstarte my leadership in this essay not sure how to put it in a way that it projects my leadeship.

Can i have personal mail id or contact number. My mail id <SNIP>

[mba_2010]

Hello **********,

I am planning to apply in top Indian and European 1 year MBA programs. I have around 9 years of experience in telecommunication product development and GMAT is 700 (V - 38, Q - 48 ), AWA 4.00.

I know my GMAT is in ballpark and AWA is low. Most of the colleges I am planning to apply do not require TOEFL but do you suggest taking TOEFL to explain low AWA score? Someone suggested me taking TOEFL and using additional essay to explain low AWA score.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,
Rajat

[vibranture-]

Hey rashs.. you’re quite welcome.

Leadership + Accomplishment: I believe the INSEAD essay has a 400 word limit and requires two accomplishments. The achievement you mentioned certainly fits the bill for one story.

How to do it:

1. Do NOT focus on the award itself – people outside your company (namely the AdCom) might care less about it than you might expect!

2. Think hard and identify your leadership actions and traits that made the project such a grand success. HOW did you “get the best results out”? WHAT made your project stand out from thousands of others – and HOW did YOU achieve it?

3. “I have 100 words to demonstrate my leadership in this essay” I hope you don't mean to tell the story first in 100 words and then use 100 words to say “1, 2, 3, are the leadership skills that made all this possible”. Let the story speak for you. Let the leadership qualities come through while you are telling the story –

[rashs - My identity is a state secret [within PG], though you could Google search for ********** or PM me within the forum. But why bother? You talk to me directly I am gonna bill you – while this here is for free!]

Hope the above helped.

this is Prince signing off for **********

Originally Posted by rashs_inn

Thanks for the encouragement!!!

For INSEAD in 2 ccomplishment essay. I am thinking of combining my leadership experience with my accomlishment as following
Accomplishment :Winning prohect execution excellence award (chosen as best project from 7000 + project executed across globe).
leadership : The award was won for leading a multicultural team and get the best results out.

I have 100 words to demonstarte my leadership in this essay not sure how to put it in a way that it projects my leadeship.

Can i have personal mail id or contact number. My mail id <SNIP>

[rashs_inn]

Ok!! got it!!!!

The story should cover everything and just conclude it with results of awards.

Now about the second accomplishment - I have taken intiatives outside ny work in the knowledge managemnt area of my Organization and have published 2 papers in Industry wide journal published by research arm of my organization.

Will this fit into that.