Experts Breaks Down Cambridge Judge’s Four MBA Essays

Cambridge Judge Business School ranked number seven in P&Q’s ‘Top Business School’ ranking this year. And there’s a good reason why. The B-school boasts “Silicon Fen,” which is the largest cluster of tech startups in Europe, and its curriculum places a strong emphasis on tech and entrepreneurship.

“Located at the center of the Cambridge Tech Cluster, Cambridge Judge Business School provides a great connection to the research centers in different departments, incubators, and accelerators in the wider Cambridge ecosystem,” Luvina Weilu Yao, a Class of 2022 MBA of Cambridge Judge, tells P&Q. “This is tremendously valuable in addition to the in-class training for students, like me, who are interested to learn entrepreneurship and venture capital.”

Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently delve into Cambridge’s MBA essays for 2022-23 and offered insight into what the B-school looks for in applicants.

ESSAY 1

The first required essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Please provide details of your post-MBA career plans. The statement should not exceed 500 words and must address the following: What are your short and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these? Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate. How do you meet the requirements of your short-term career goal? What preparation are you doing now?

The first essay, Blackman says, should highlight the details behind your career goals.

“This essay should address all of the questions posed in the question and demonstrate your research and thinking,” Blackman says. “Start by defining your short and long-term career goals. Why do you need an MBA to achieve these goals? And, what will you learn specifically at Cambridge to enhance your career?”

ESSAY 2

The second required essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Describe a difficult decision that you had to make. What did you learn from this, and how have you changed as a result? (up to 200 words)

To approach this essay, Blackman suggests reflecting on your decision-making process and what you’ve learned from difficult experiences that you’ve encountered.

“First, take a few sentences to explain the situation and failure,” Blackman says, “Then, dive into how you made the decision. Did you ask others for their input? How did you evaluate the information you had or seek more information? Then, write about what you learned as a result of your decision.”

It can help, Blackman says, to consider using either a personal or professional example.

“Any topic can work here if you show something about your leadership or unique qualities,” Blackman says. “However, consider what topics you focus on for essays 2, 3, and 4 to make sure you describe personal and professional stories.”

ESSAY 3

The third required essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Describe a time where you worked with a team on a project. What did you learn from the experience, and how might you approach it differently today? (up to 200 words)

Collaboration and interpersonal skills are key traits that Cambridge Judge seeks in its applicants. This essay, Blackman says, is your opportunity to demonstrate how you work within a team.

“As you did in essay 2, take a few sentences to explain the situation, then focus on what you learned,” Blackman says. “Also, you can describe your style when you work jointly and how you collaborate. Don’t forget to mention how you help others do their best work and manage challenges. For this Cambridge MBA application essay, consider if you have a particular role or skill within a team. If so, whether building consensus or taking a devil’s advocate position, explain that approach here.”

ESSAY 4

The last required essay prompt asks applicants the following:

If you could give one piece of advice to your 18-year-old self, what would it be? (up to 200 words)

While the first three essays are rather specific, the fourth essay is intentionally left open-ended. That’s because, Blackman says, the fourth essay requires the most introspection into your personal story.

“Consider the paths you took and the paths you did not,” she says. “Ask yourself if you have any regrets. Do you wish you had taken more risks in your life? On the other hand, you might wish you had persisted with something that seemed boring at the time. Remember, you only have 200 words to convey the point of this essay and should focus on briefly explaining the advice and the context behind it.”

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