3 Tips To Clearly Articulate Goals In Your Application

Articulating your goals is a critical component of the MBA application.

But how exactly should you convey those goals to admissions officers?

Jenny Clare, Associate Director of Admissions for the Berkeley MBA Programs for Working Professionals, recently discussed how applicants should describe their career aspirations in their MBA applications.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Clare says it’s critical that applicants appeal to their audience when discussing goals. In this case, the audience is the admission committee.

“Admissions committees see a large number of essays throughout the application process,” Clare writes. “To stay committed to the MBA program’s core values, admissions officers are trained to look for specific elements in an application that deem you an academic and cultural fit to the school. Appeal to these needs by assessing yourself as a fit first.”

When assessing fit, experts recommend researching aspects of a B-school such as the curriculum and culture.

“If you have laser-focused career goals, consider business schools that offer a concentration in your area of interest,” Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, writes. “You might also prefer a school with a more versatile curriculum from the beginning that you can really tailor to your needs. Choose a program with a curriculum that suits you and your learning style best.”

KNOW YOUR PROMPT

When articulating your goals, you want to make sure that you’re answering the prompt that’s provided.

“Read the prompts several times to understand what the essay should accomplish,” Clare writes. “For example, are they asking you to defend, persuade, inform, inspire, or otherwise?”

MAKE YOUR STORY PERSONAL

The essay you write should be unique to your voice, tone, and story. Clare stresses the importance of making your essays personal.

“Read the prompts several times to understand what the essay should accomplish; for example, are they asking you to defend, persuade, inform, inspire, or otherwise?”

Then, tie your personal story to your goals and where you’re headed.

“Within the context of the prompt, explain where you have come from, where you are heading, and why an MBA is critical for getting you there,” Clare writes.

Sources: Berkeley Haas, Stacy Blackman Consulting