Sample Essays – MBA

“How will an MBA at our school help achieve your goals” or  “Why do you want to come to our school?”

Sample Essay 1:

I took 14 AP classes in highschool. While my primary aim was to excel academically, my underlying drive was fueled by the desire to get into a great college. Eventually, I achieved my goal and gained acceptance to top liberal arts school, Swarthmore College. 

My first semester on campus was pass-fail. This shifted my mentality to learning for learning’s sake. Embracing this new approach, I pursued an array of courses that piqued my curiosity from learning about the Roman Republic to the art of acting. At Swarthmore, education was no longer a means to an end but an end itself. 

Furthermore, the liberal arts curriculum exposed me to a range of disciplines across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences enriching my perspectives and ways of thinking of the world. For instance, a sociology seminar immersed me in ethnographic accounts of the homeless, conservatives in the Deep South, and African Americans which introduced me to new perspectives and cultivated empathy and more attentive observation of society. Meanwhile, coursework in my major Economics elucidated complex concepts through models demonstrating the relationship between the economy, governmental policy, and market dynamics.

Lastly, the tight-knit culture that encourages group-based discussion taught me the importance of collaborative learning. Exploring ideas with peers of diverse backgrounds enabled us to think from new angles.

Ultimately, these experiences revealed the true essence of learning. In pursuing an MBA, I am eager to take business courses I did not have the luxury of taking at Swarthmore like Leadership & Organizational Behavior and Strategy. Not only will I learn, but I will also gain new perspectives of effective leadership and navigating complex business challenges. Moreover, the HBS case method and diverse HBS community will foster collective learning for me and my classmates, empowering us to grow and excel together.

Sample Essay 2:

Growing up, I couldn’t help but notice the ubiquity of businesses in the world around me. From the Apple iPhone I use daily to the Nike shoes on my feet, and even the Chick-fil-A meal I had for dinner, businesses touch every facet of my life. Moreover, it isn’t just the household names the that play a critical role in the world, but also the less obvious players.

For instance, in my sophomore summer private equity internship Iworked with the investment team to acquire a company that manufactures specialty packaging for the sterile transport of coffee and dairy products. Businesses, large and small, serving consumers or other businesses, shape the fabric of our world. This realization fuelled my belief that by working in an industry that supports businesses, I had the ability to enact meaningful change in the world.

Upon graduation, I will be immersing myself in the dynamic realm of investment banking at Midwest-based firm R.W. Baird. My focus will be on advising clients on financial decisions, primarily relating to mergers and acquisitions, to promote growth, success, and change. In doing so, I hope to build my finance and business acumen. This involves understanding the core operations of companies, adeptly identifying challenges, and formulating innovative solutions. Recognizing the critical role of data to achieve such competencies, I am dedicated to developing my analytical skills in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis. Furthermore, I aim to refine my professional leadership skills like communication and time management, which are essential to career growth and development.

However, I am uncertain of my exact path after this point. Rather confining myself to financial services within a specific sector, I envision myself igniting change in the world by contributing to an established company’s operations and strategy or perhaps starting my own company. The Chicago Booth Scholars Program allows me to confidently gain great experience in the finance world, achieve the aforementioned goals, and freely explore other opportunities beyond financial services, all with the assurance of going to an esteemed business school in Booth later on. Furthermore, throughout the deferment period I will gain access to Booth’s extensive and distinguished alumni network which I can utilize to grow my network and gain insight into various industries, facilitating the next steps in my career.

Once I hone in on a career, a Booth MBA will serve as a critical component to my ongoing success. Through courses like Operations Management and Competitive Strategy, as well as participation in the hands-on leadership course LEAD, I will be able to build upon the skills I developed in investment banking to become a great leader in my company. Additionally, Booth’s uniquely flexible curriculum will provide me with the opportunity to deive further into specific areas I am passionate about, which is invaluable to me coming from a liberal arts school where such opportunities were limited. Lastly, the Booth MBA will give me a lifelong network of friends, fostering a community of encouragement and growth, ultimately driving positive change for each other and the world around us.