Improving Diversity: Lessons From Business Schools

University of Virginia, Darden School of Business

Darden Just Released its 2022-2023 Essay Prompts. Here’s What You Need to Know

At the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, ranked 14th in P&Q’s ‘Top Business Schools’ ranking, community is everything. Darden only seeks out students who can demonstrate that they have what it takes—both in the classroom and out—to be leaders. The B-school’s essay prompts give applicants an opportunity convey why they’re worthy of a seat in Darden’s class.

Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently dug into Darden’s 2022-2023 essay prompts and explained how applicants should approach each.

ESSAY 1

The first Darden essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Given that you will be forming lifelong connections with your classmates that extend beyond the classroom, what is important for your classmates to know about you that is not on your resumé? (200 words)

Blackman says this essay prompt is designed for applicants to introduce themselves to the Darden community.

“At Darden, your classmates are crucial to your learning. You will be assigned a team of diverse classmates to meet before class and discuss your case assignments,” Blackman writes.

Applicants should approach this essay by asking themselves a few key questions.

“What should your classmates know about your background?” Blackman writes. “What diverse perspective will you bring to the learning environment? Perhaps you have unique professional experiences that will be new to the class.”

ESSAY 2

This is the second essay prompt:

Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden. (300 words)

When approaching this essay, Blackman recommends first thinking about how you’ve engaged with diversity in your past.

“Past experience is a great predictor of future performance, and specific examples provide the most insight into your behavior,” Blackman writes. “If you have not spent a significant amount of time outside your own country or culture, look at college or work. Many people live and work with diverse groups at university or the workplace, which can be a good source of inspiration.”

ESSAY 3

The third essay prompt poses this question:

At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

The key to the third essay, Blackman says, is to align your goals with your personal story.

“The goal is to gain insight into how you think and plan and what motivates your career decisions,” Blackman writes. “If you are inspired by what you have experienced as a leader and as someone who positively impacts others, that inspiration should be part of your career aspirations. Darden will help you refine your goals and learn the skills you need.”

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, P&Q

Next Page: Harvard Business School gets $5 million to pursue DEI in sports management.

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