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Why MBA Application Essay: The Best Way to Explain How an MBA Will Help Your Career



Please enter your email below to gain 30 days of free access to our MBA Essay Writing course. Learn about the five most frequently asked MBA application essay questions and access our brainstorming tools and sample essays.


The essays are your opportunity to present your strengths and explain your weaknesses. They also go a long way toward convincing the adcomm that you have a lot to offer the program and that you belong in their class.




why mba application essay



The essays are also consistent among all applicants. In that way, they are less difficult to evaluate and compare. All candidates receive the same set of questions. The same group of admissions members reviews those answers. This creates a level playing field that can simplify the review process.


In this section, you will find resources to help you craft your best possible application. Of course, we are also here to help. Have questions? Email us or attend a virtual coffee chat with fellow prospective students hosted by member of our Admissions Committee.


Two essays are required and must be uploaded to your online application. The first optional essay allows you to tell us more about yourself, or to explain an area of concern. The second optional essay allows you to share ways you have been involved with diversity, equity and inclusion in your professional or personal life, or within your community.


Essay 3: Optional essay (500 words maximum)Include this essay if you have additional information you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee in considering your application.


*No separate scholarship application is required to be considered for Full-time MBA merit scholarships. However, we recommend that if you would like to be considered for the ROMBA Fellowship or Forté Fellowship, you indicate your qualifications and interest in these scholarships through this essay question.


Two recommendation letters are required; however, you are permitted to submit up to three. Preferably, recommendations should be provided by professional contacts rather than academic or personal contacts. Your recommendations should be submitted by the application deadline for the round you are applying to. You may designate your recommenders at any time after starting you application. Designate your recommenders in your online application profile, recommenders will receive an email directing them to the online recommendation form.


Occasionally re-applicants choose to re-use letters of recommendation from a previous application. You should first ensure the prior recommendations are the most accurate and current letters of recommendation that you want included in your new application before proceeding. Please visit our FAQ for instructions on how to re-use letters of recommendation.


Take the test as early as possible to allow time to re-test if necessary. The GMAT or GRE must be completed by the application deadline, and official scores should be reported by the deadline. If you have taken a test more than once, the admissions committee will use your highest overall total score to evaluate your application. Please note, we do not accept the Executive Assessment test for admission to the Full-time MBA Program.


GPA RequirementsApplicants should review our Class Profile for GPA averages for admitted students. Although Foster does not have a minimum requirement, a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better is generally the standard we look for in a competitive candidate. We holistically review all aspects of your application when making an admissions decision. Should your GPA fall below a 3.0 average, we closely evaluate your performance on the GMAT or GRE, as well as other aspects of your application, to assess your ability to succeed academically in our program. If you have specific concerns related to your undergraduate GPA, please contact one of our admissions counselors to discuss.


Most test scores are valid for two years. Applicants with scores below the minimum score requirements are highly encouraged to retake the exam before submitting an application. Official test scores must be sent directly to the University of Washington Graduate School by the application deadline.


All applicants will be asked to submit a video interview, and will receive an email 3-5 business days after the application deadline to which they applied with instructions on recording the video interview. The video interview allows us to get to know you better and to assess your communication skills and your ability to think on your feet as we review your application and consider your candidacy.


Once applicants receive the video interview invitation via e-mail, they will have approximately 4-6 days to complete this requirement. Applicants can test their video and sound , answer practice video interview questions, and ask for technical support if needed within the video interview system before recording their video interview. The email instructions will include the deadline to submit the video interview, applicants must complete this requirement in order for their application to remain under review.


As a partner school of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, Foster welcomes your application. If you plan to apply through The Consortium, please do not create a UW Online Application profile. Instead, proceed directly to the The Consortium website to start your Consortium application profile.


We look forward to reviewing your application once received from The Consortium and will communicate with all Consortium applicants via email while your application is under review by the Foster admissions committee.


Please review our Consortium FAQ for information on the application process and timeline, as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from Consortium applicants. If you have any questions regarding your Consortium application, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].


Admission interviews are by invitation only. Invitations are sent by email to select applicants within 3-5 weeks of the application deadline to which you applied. Interviews are conducted by Foster MBA Admissions staff and the interview invitation will provide instructions on how to schedule the interview. Interviews may take place on the University of Washington campus, in other select locations, or virtually via Zoom. If you are invited to interview, you must do so in order to remain under consideration for admission to the program.


If you submitted a complete application, including all supplementary materials, by one of the application deadlines, an admission decision will be sent to you via email no later than 5 p.m. on the above corresponding decision dates. All communication regarding the status of your application, including admission decisions, will be through email only.


On a limited basis, we accept applications from individuals who meet the Visiting Graduate Student (VGS) requirements and are eligible to take MBA courses without being admitted as a degree-seeking student. Before applying, we strongly encourage all prospective applicants to make an appointment with a member of our admissions team to verify eligibility, and to discuss the application process and upcoming deadlines. The application deadline for applicants is approximately 6 weeks before the desired quarter of enrollment. For more information or to schedule an appointment email [email protected] or call (206) 543-4661.


The question is: how to you write MBA admissions essays for top-tier programs that stand out from the stack and effectively tell your story? Here are five tips for compelling essays that will stick in the minds of the admissions committee and help you get into your top choice business school program.


Instead of squeezing in as much as you can, focus on sharing a few key highlights, peppering in some interesting details, and convey your authentic voice through your writing. This is your chance to explain your choices, show your accomplishments, and share your passions. The fewer things you try to cover in your essays, the more you will be able to achieve this objective.


We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes a former M7 admissions director and former M7 admissions interviewers.


Admission to the Wharton MBA Program for Executives requires the completion of our online application, which includes the provision of background information: contact information (e.g., mailing address and phone number), biographical information, academic degrees earned, professional experience, and optional family information.


Letters of sponsorship are to be provided by the person who has the authority to sign off on the time commitment involved with the program. The letter should be signed and uploaded to the application directly by your sponsor. If financial support for the program has been granted, that amount should be stated within this letter as well. Fellows applicants (i.e. applicants with less than eight (8) years of full time work experience by the program start date) are required to receive substantial financial and program-related support from their company. If the company is unable to commit to this amount, an explanation as to why should be provided within the sponsorship letter.


All applicants must submit standardized test results by the application deadline to be considered for admission. Applicants have the option of taking the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, if you have at least eight (8) years of full-time work experience, the Executive Assessment (EA). Fellows candidates must submit either a GRE or GMAT score. All applicants must submit results of a Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) that are no more than five years old. 2ff7e9595c


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