London Business School 2010 MBA Essay Questions

My comments are in red.

The Admissions Committee will consider carefully your answers to the following questions.  Please complete all of the essay questions beginning your answer below each question and giving word counts for each answer.  Once complete, please attach this document to your online application following the instructions given on the web form.  

Question 1 (600 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? Why is this the right time for you to pursue an MBA? 

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. London Business School splits the goals question in two. That doesn't mean the short-term and long-term goals are 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.  Include any specific challenges you have faced. Given this experience, what role do you think you will play in your first year study group?

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 s will you be involved with and why? How will you contribute?  

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 London Business School. 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 "

Question 7 (300 words)(This question is for re-applicants only)
How has your candidacy for the London Business School MBA improved since your last application? 

This is THE key question for all reapplicants. London just asks it explicitly. Please see:

• Application Advice for MBA Reapplicants
• Create a Better Sequel: How to Reapply Right to Business School
• Take 2: MBA Reapplicant Webinar

Question 8
Please provide a CV/Resume. This CV must only be one page in length. If you have any significant gaps in your employment history, please tell us why on a separate sheet.

Go beyond mere job description to highlight achievement. If your title is "consultant." Saying that you "consulted on projects" is uninformative at best. If you are a financial analyst boasting that you did financial analysis states the obvious. Writing that you "Led a 6-member team working on a biotech outsourcing project to Slovakia with a budget of $X. It came in on time and under budget" conveys infinitely more.

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. 

Reminder- Don't miss out on our upcoming London Business School Chat this Wednesday- September 16th! London's put together an impressive team to answer your question- so mark the date and bring all your outstanding London Business School questions!

London Business School 2010 MBA Deadlines

We operate a four stage admissions process. This means that places are awarded at the end of each of the stages. You can apply for the MBA beginning August 2010 at any time between now and 21 April 2010. We encourage candidates to apply as early as possible.

The admission dates for the MBA beginning August 2010 are as follows. All application deadlines are 17.00 UK time. Stage One references may be submitted up to one week after the 07 October application deadline: by 17.00 on 14 October 2009.