How to Write a Winning MBA Goals Essay: Tips to Clarify and Communicate Your Career Vision
Before you dive headfirst into your career goals essay for your MBA applications, here’s a little advice that might surprise you:
Stop.
Yes, you read that right – we’re telling you to pause. Take a breath. Step away from the keyboard.
Assuming you’ve already narrowed down your list of target MBA programs, your smartest first move isn’t writing, it’s thinking. Block out some quiet time, mute your notifications, and let those emails from your boss and your mom wait. (Okay, maybe not your mom’s).
Give yourself a little space to reflect. What matters to you? What lights you up? Where do you want to be 5, 10, even 25 years from now?
Your answers don’t need to be perfect yet, but they do need to feel authentic. This kind of clarity is the foundation of a strong MBA application – and especially of your goals essay.
Identifying Your Goals
Let’s start simple: why are you going to business school? Are you looking to pivot careers? Level up your leadership skills? Launch a venture of your own? Work globally? Expand your network?
MBA applicants usually have more than one reason, which is totally fine. But by digging into your motivations now, you’ll make the rest of the application process a whole lot smoother. Connecting the dots between your past experience, present interests, and future goals is key, and your goals essay is where that story really starts to take shape.
Let’s Talk Goals (the Real Kind)
Alright, time to get specific. Before you write a single sentence of your goals essay, do some self-inventory. The more introspection you do now, the easier the writing will be later.
Start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What did I enjoy most (and least) in my past roles?
- Where did I feel like I was making an impact?
- Where do I want to grow?
- What kinds of roles and industries feel exciting and achievable after my MBA?
Jot down some ideas. Think about the why behind the what. And if you’re planning a big pivot, be ready to explain how an MBA will help you make that move. Which courses, clubs, professors, career resources, or other offering(s) at your target schools will help you get there?
This is your chance to connect your experience with your aspirations and show the adcom that you’ve thought this through.
Five Tips to Make Your Goals Essay Shine
1. Distinguish between your short-term and long-term goals.
Break your goals down clearly. What do you want to do right after graduation? What’s your bigger-picture plan? Be specific by including job titles, industries, and, if possible, even target companies. Even if your plans eventually evolve, showing a thoughtful trajectory at this point helps the adcom understand where you’re headed and why business school is the right next step.
2. Explain how you want to make an impact.
Yes, your MBA is a personal investment, but the adcoms want to know that you’re thinking more broadly and not just about yourself. What kind of impact do you want to have, whether that is on your industry, your community, or even the world? Share the motivation behind your goals, not just the end result.
3. Do your research.
Your goals should not just be exciting; they also need to be realistic. This requires doing research into hiring trends, market shifts, and (of course) your target programs. Make sure that your essay reflects what’s actually happening in the business world and at the programs you’re applying to. Always double-check that you’re not mentioning a resource at the school that it doesn’t actually offer (it happens!).
4. Be familiar with the challenges of your chosen industry.
Every industry has its challenges, and you need to show the adcom that you’re aware of the primary ones in the one you plan to enter. For example, what trends are shaping your target field? What gaps or opportunities are emerging? Admissions teams want to see that you’re not just chasing buzzwords but thinking critically about where you’re headed in your career.
5. Explain why your target position(s) and industry appeal to you.
You might not be asked outright why you’re choosing a particular career path, but trust us, this is information that matters to adcoms. The stronger your why, the more compelling your essay will be. Why fintech? Why consumer goods? Why launch a social impact venture? Dig deep and be honest – what drives you? What matters to you? That passion is what will make your essay memorable.
Think Now, Write Later
Taking time to reflect on your goals now will save you a ton of time and second-guessing later. And when it’s time to write, you’ll be more confident, focused, and ready to tell your story with clarity and purpose.
So take that beat. Be honest with yourself. And dream big, but stay grounded.
Then go write the goals essay that only you can write.
You’ve got this.
Kara Keenan Sweeney has more than 15 years of experience in MBA admissions, having worked for some of the world’s top business school programs, including Columbia Business School, INSEAD, and The Lauder Institute’s joint degree MA/MBA program with The Wharton School and the MA/JD program with Penn Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Kara has guided, coached, and counseled thousands of MBA and EMBA applicants, reviewed innumerable applications, sat on admissions committees, and interviewed countless applicants, including while running Wharton’s Team Based Discussions both virtually and in person. Want Kara to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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