Sound Off On This Year’s MBA Applications!

Northwestern (Kellogg)

1. What’s the greatest obstacle you’ve overcome (personally or professionally)? How has overcoming this obstacle prepared you to achieve success now and in the future? (350 words.)

2. What have been your most significant leadership experiences? What challenges did you face, and what impact did you have? This is your opportunity to explain how you Think Bravely. (500 words.)

3. Part 1: What career/role are you looking to pursue and why? (250 words.)

Part 2: Why are Kellogg and the MBA essential to achieving these career goals? (250 words.)

MIT (Sloan)

1. The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. Discuss how you will contribute toward advancing the mission based on examples of past work and activities. (500 words.)

2. Describe a time when you pushed yourself beyond your comfort zone. (500 words.)

Columbia Business School

1. What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (100 characters.)

2. Given your individual background, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time? (500 words.)

3. Columbia Business School is located in the heart of the world’s business capital­Manhattan. How do you anticipate that New York City will impact your experience at Columbia? (250 words.)

4. What will the people in your Cluster be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (250 words.)

Dartmouth (Tuck)

1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you, and what will you uniquely contribute to the community? If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals. (500 words.)

2. Discuss your most meaningful leadership experience. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience? (500 words.)

3. Describe a circumstance in your life in which you faced adversity, failure, or setback. What actions did you take as a result and what did you learn from this experience? (500 words.)

UC-Berkeley (Haas)

1. If you could choose one song that expresses who you are, what is it and why? (250 words.)

2. What is your most significant accomplishment? (250 words.)

3. Describe a time in the last three years when you overcame a failure. What specific insight from this experience has shaped your development? (250 words.)

4. What are your post-MBA short-term and long-term career goals? How have your professional experiences prepared you to achieve these goals? How will an MBA from Haas help you achieve these goals? (750 words.)

Virginia (Darden)

1. Share your thought process as you encountered a challenging work situation or complex problem. What did you learn about yourself? (500 words.)

Michigan (Ross)

1. Introduce yourself to your future Ross classmates. (100 words.)

2. a. What about your professional experiences has led you to determine that business school is the right next step? (150 words.)

b. As you have researched MBA programs, what actions have you taken to learn more about Ross and what has led you to believe that Ross is the right MBA program for you? (150 words.)

c. What career do you plan to pursue after business school and why? (150 words.)

3. Describe a time in your career when you were frustrated or disappointed. What advice would you give to a colleague who was dealing with a similar situation? (400 words.)