Tips for Goizueta Business School’s 2021-2022 MBA Essays

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School ranks at number 22 in P&Q’s Top Business Schools ranking.

The school places a heavy emphasis on maintaining the quality of its small, intimate, and close-knit community. The Goizueta Class of 2022 includes only 145 MBAs. By comparison, at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 916 MBAs make up the Class of 2022.

Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently discussed Emory’s 2021-2022 MBA essay prompts and offered insight into what type of applicant the B-school seeks out.

ESSAY 1

The first required essay for Emory asks applicants the following:

Define your short-term post-MBA career goals. How are your professional strengths, past experience, and personal attributes aligned with these goals? (300 word limit)

Blackman says that this essay should focus on your short-term career goals while highlighting your strengths, past experiences, and personal attributes.

“Instead of reciting your resume, think about the key moments in your career,” Blackman writes. “Also, think over what has formed your experience, accomplishments, and shaped your goals? To get started, first identify a few defining career moments. Then you can describe your strengths and experiences that prepared you.”

That connection of your career and goals is incredibly important in essay one.

“This essay is most effective if you can show how your career so far fits with your goals,” Blackman writes. “Show the connection from past experiences to your Emory MBA to your goals. For example, say you have been working in management consulting and want to move to internal strategy.”

ESSAY 2

The second required essay for Emory Goizueta asks applicants the following:

The business school is named for Roberto C. Goizueta, former Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, who led the organization for 16 years, extending its global reach, quadrupling consumption, building brand responsibility, creating unprecedented shareholder wealth, and demonstrating a commitment to values and positive impact on society. Roberto Goizueta’s core values guide us in educating principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society.

Provide a specific example of your leadership and explain what you learned about yourself through the experience. (300 word limit)

This essay, Blackman says, is more about understanding how you think and approach leadership and what your approach in the past says about your values.

“Emory admissions knows that the best predictor of your future behavior is your past,” Blackman writes. “Therefore, this question asks about a past leadership example.”

To approach the leadership essay, Blackman suggests applicants to utilize the STAR framework.

“First, start with the situation,” she writes. “Then, explain the task in front of you. Finally, describe the actions you took and the result. Also, think about the lessons you learned. Remember that a recent leadership example is most convincing.”

ESSAY 3

The third required essay for Emory asks applicants the following:

What are you looking to gain from Goizueta’s MBA degree and how do you see yourself contributing to the Goizueta community? (200 word limit)

This essay is essentially a “Why Goizueta” essay. Thus, it’ll be helpful to do your research on the school and perhaps even visiting campus, Blackman says.

“When writing this essay, be specific,” according to Blackman. “For example, you can describe specific classes that will help you achieve your career goals. Also, professional clubs at Emory may help you gain relevant industry experience and academic knowledge.

Lastly, you’ll want to tie in the impact you hope to make on Goizueta’s campus.

“This essay may be a place to describe volunteer and community experiences,” Blackman writes. “Or, you can explain hobbies or interests that will be an asset to the community.”

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, P&Q, P&Q, P&Q