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London Business School 2008 MBA Essays, Deadlines, & Tips

July 25, 2007 By




UPDATE- THE TIPS FOR THE LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL 2009 MBA APPLICATION ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE- PLEASE POST QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO THE NEW POST.



London Business School posted its 2008 MBA essay questions on Monday. Its submission and notification dates are still under review. I’ll add them when they are available.


The questions are unchanged from last year, and so, pretty much are my comments. Still I am posting my comments below in red. 


LBS MBA Class of 2010 Essay Questions


The application essay questions for admission to the next Full-time MBA class (MBA2010) beginning in August 2008 have now been confirmed and remain unchanged from those required last year.


Question 1 (500 words)
In what role do you see yourself working immediately after graduation?  Why?  How will your past and present experiences help you achieve this?  How will the London Business School MBA Programme contribute to this goal? 


This is a classic goals question with the focus on your short-term goals — what you want to do immediately after you receive your MBA. How did you develop this goal? Why does it appeal to you? How did your experiences shape your goal and how do they reveal the appropriateness of your goal. (If you are a couch-potato or klutz, don’t say you want to be a professional athlete–which wouldn’t be a match for b-school anyway.)  Finally, how will LBS help you achieve your goal?


Question 2 (200 words)
Where do you see your career progressing five years after graduation and what is your longer term career vision?


Here come the long-term goals. LBS splits the goals question in two. That doesn’t mean the two unrelated. Far from it. Although a separate short question, your long-term goals should flow naturally from your short-term goals and previous experiences, including your hoped-for stint at London Business School.


Question 3 (500 words)
Please describe your experience of working in and leading teams, either in your professional or personal life.  Given this experience, what role do you think you will play in your study group, and how do you intend to contribute to it?


First of all learn about the role of student life at LBS, in particular the role of study groups. Also, reflect on your experience in teams. If you have been involved in teams outside of work and your other essays focused on work, then this essay presents an opportunity to discuss another facet of your life. Have you been able to both lead and occasionally take a back seat when others with skills or qualifications you lack are better prepared to lead your team? After thinking about your team experience and the role of study groups at LBS show how your past experience will help you contribute to your study group.


Question 4 (400 words)
Student involvement is an extremely important part of the London MBA experience and this is reflected in the character of students on campus. What type of student club or campus community event do you envisage yourself leading? How would you set about becoming involved in a leadership position and how would you align and communicate the goals and vision for the club to the wider School community?


Again, you need to research student life at LBS before you can answer this question. The best answers will directly respond to all elements in the question by showing that you have been involved in similar college, community or professional organizations in the past. And you will be able to illustrate your abilities to contribute at LBS by discussing your earlier contributions.


Question 5 (150 words)
Describe any significant experiences outside of your home country. What did you gain from these?


This question reflects the importance of international and cross-cultural experiences for LBS. Note the tiny word limit here. Short and sweet. What were the most 1-2 significant experiences you have had outside your home country and what did you learn from them.


Question 6 (300 words) (This question is optional)
Is there any other information that you believe would help the MBA Admissions Committee when considering your application?


Please see “The Optional Question: To Be or Not to Be “


The online application form will be made live at the beginning of September, but for those of you that wish to make a start on the essays, the template document can be downloaded here. Download essay_template_mba2010 (Word doc).


If you would like help with your London Business School MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and admissions consulting or an LBS Comprehensive Package, which offers soup-to-nuts advising and editing for the LBS MBA application.


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About Linda Abraham
  • babel

    For Q4, should you discuss just 1 club in great detail or 2 with less details?

  • Linda Abraham

    I think that depends on you and your interests and how you believe you will devote your time. I agree that you don’t want to list a bunch of clubs, but 1 or two sounds good. Just make sure that your past activities make this projected involvement seem real and that you show you have done your homework.

    Good luck!

  • A

    Does is make a difference if one applies to LBS in the first or second round?

  • Linda Abraham

    To my knowledge, no.

  • priya

    Can you please give me an idea about the questions that LBS will be asking the References about the candidates?

  • Vikas

    Hi,
    I got admit from HEC Paris for Jan 2008 batch, Unfortunately I am not in a position to go (family issues).
    Now I am thinking of applying to LBS. Do you think I should mention my admit offer from HEC? Will this create a +ve impact or take away something from my application?
    This will be my first attempt for LBS.
    thanks
    Vikas

  • Linda Abraham

    I don’t think your HEC acceptance will influence LBS at all. I also don’t think you should mention it. Focus on the reasons why you are right for LBS, not HEC.

    Good luck!

  • babel

    Hi Linda-

    Another question about Q4, I understand that we should do some research on the club we wish to lead, however, in response, should we be focussing on WHAT new or different initiatives we would undertake at the club or more on the process we would go about, the HOW?

    It seems to me that the WHAT isn’t all that important.

    Thanks!

  • Linda Abraham

    The question asks for both, and you need to balance the two. I agree, however, that the "how" is probably more important than the "what," but don’t discount the latter entirely. It’s there for a reason.

  • Raul

    Hi Linda:
    Do you know is there a difference to apply in round 2 or round 3? I tried to get to the second deadline but I won’t be able to do so.
    Thanks in advance!

  • Linda Abraham

    Raul,

    I don’t have stats but my sense is that third round is not as good as second round, but a lot better than fourth round. In any case, it is better to submit your best third round than something else second round.

    Good luck!

  • SallyO

    Hi…I am on the Waitlist after Round 1. LBS didn’t suggest anything specific in terms of making my application stronger when they sent me the notice of my Waitlist, except that they will re-evaluate on Feb. 14, 2008. I have your booklet "9 Mistakes for the MBA Waitlist." What should I do to get off London’s Waitlist??

  • Arov

    I am an applicant for LBS Sloan. How is this program viewed in terms of ROI?
    What value needs to be attached for the fact that LBS MBA makes one eligible for HSMP but the Sloan Fellow doesn’t?

  • Linda Abraham

    Sally O,

    If you have new information about increased responsibilities, initiatives, and success, let LBS know about them. You will showing how you are an even better candidate and also showing your interest in LBS.

    Good luck!

  • Linda Abraham

    Arov,

    Your ROI is going to depend on your income when you go in and what you want to do after you graduate. I can’t calculate that for you. The Career Management Center at LBS may be able to help you with stats and averages.

    You may also be interested in this interview http://accepted.squarespace.com/acceptedcom_blog/2007/3/26/qa-with-lyn-hoffman-associate-dean-of-the-sloan-fellows-program-at-london-business-school.html .

    I don’t know the answer to your second question, either. Sorry.

  • Hareesh

    Linda,
    I have a quick question about the length of the essays. Can I go over the specified length by 10-15 words for one or two essays? Please suggest.

    Thanks in advance,
    Hareesh

  • Linda Abraham

    Hareesh,

    IMHO, yes.

    Linda

  • sallyo

    Hi Linda, Re: Rd 1 waitlist: if I would like to have a business mentor write a letter on my behalf in an attempt to get off the waitlist, is it better to have him email it, fax it, or send it via the Post Office to the admissions manager? They are in London, of course, and he is in San Francisco. I want him to get it to them in the least offensive but most efficient manner! Thanks for you advice, Sally

  • Linda Abraham

    I’m not sure about LBS’ policy, but most schools prefer email at this point.

    Good luck!
    Linda

  • PharmD.

    Hi Linda,

    I recently graduated from a U.S. pharmacy school, and have been working in a community practice for about 6 months now. I have a total of 4 years relevant work experience (3.5 as a tech/intern, and 6 months as a pharmacist). I never considered LBS until I received a mailing from them this past week. Any suggestions for what I should do in the next few years to have a great shot at admission at LBS. Also, how competitive is LBS compared to top-10 MBA programs here in the U.S.
    Thanks

  • Linda Abraham

    LBS is a highly regarded MBA program. Its network in the US is not as well developed as that of US schools, but it is an excellent program, particularly in finance.

    If you want to go to LBS, first figure out why you need an MBA from LBS. Then obtain relevant work experience. It could be in a business role in a phramacy company; it could be in bio-tech. But a purely technical, pharmacist position would probably not be great preparation.

    In addition, LBS, like most b-schools values community involvement and well-rounded applicants. So make time for your hobbies and/or community service. And take on roles of responsibility and leadership that will enable you to show organizational and managerial skill.

    Hopefully you already have a good GPA and will earn a high GMAT.

    All these steps will improve your chances at LBS as well as top 10 b-schools in the US.

    Our Ebook Best Practices for MBA Admissions (http://www.accepted.com/ecommerce/teleseminar.aspx#mba ), discuss what you can do in to plan ahead for an MBA application.

    Linda

  • Lowmy

    My colleague and I are both applying for admission to LBS. Is it likely that only one of us will be chosen (we’re in the same training program, same age, just different backgrounds and nationalities)?

  • Linda Abraham

    Of course it is possible, but hopefully your differences will outweigh your similarities.

    Don’t compare essays or read each other’s essay. Your individuality and potential for contribution to the LBS class should come through.

    Good luck!

  • Anurag

    Does a recommendation from an LBS alumni as compared to someone else significantly increase the chances of getting an admit at LBS despite less than average work experience?

  • Anurag

    Can one take the recommendation of an employee who has already left the company at the time of application? If yes, then does that recommendation hold the same value as that of an existing employee of the company?

  • Linda Abraham

    Anurag,

    If the alumni recommender knows you as well as the non-alumni recommender, the alum is better. Whether the rec "makes up" for low work experience would depend primarily on the content, not the authorship.

    REarding your second question, if your supervisor left the company, he or she can still be your recommender. The closeness of the recommender’s supervision of you, the recommender’s experience with employees who have MBA potential or the MBA degree, and the content of the letter determine its value.

    Good luck!

    Linda