How to Excel in Virginia Darden’s Essays

The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business seeks out students who can demonstrate three things: leadership, passion, and purpose.

The business school’s essays offer applicants an opportunity to highlight personal qualities that align with Darden’s mission and values. Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently offered tips for how to best approach Darden’s essays.

ESSAY 1

Darden’s first essay prompt asks applicants the following:

What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

The goal of this essay, Blackman says, is to demonstrate how you fit in with 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 says. “This essay allows you to introduce yourself to the Darden community. What should your classmates know about your background? 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

Darden’s second essay prompt asks applicants the following:

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

This essay is all about conveying what kind of impact you’ll bring to Darden, specifically around diversity and inclusion. Blackman suggests thinking about times in your life when you’ve spent time outside your own culture or instances where you’ve worked with diverse groups of people.

“For example, perhaps you started a mentoring program or funded internships for underrepresented employees,” Blackman says. “It’s possible only your department or company felt the impact of that action. However, it shows your values and allows you to discuss how you would significantly affect change at Darden.”

ESSAY 3

Darden’s third essay prompt asks applicants the following:

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)

This essay should highlight both your short- and long-term career goals. No matter what your goals are, Blackman says, be sure that they align with your personal story and convey why you are pursuing this path.

“The goal is to gain insight into how you think and plan and what motivates your career decisions,” Blackman says. “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