by Kelly Wilson
The Consortium MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2025-2026], Class Profile
Since 1966, the focus of The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management has been “the advancement of inclusion in the world of business.” While its exact positioning has evolved, The Consortium remains committed to “expand[ing] access and increas[ing] representation in business education and leadership.” If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient and share these values, applying to MBA programs through The Consortium might be for you. In addition to having the opportunity to receive a full-tuition scholarship to a top business school, Consortium fellows enjoy the benefits of being part of a strong network with other Consortium students and alumni from leading MBA programs. Additionally, fellows gain early access to The Consortium’s more than 80 corporate partners through the organization’s annual Orientation Program and Career Conference. Other benefits include a tiered application fee structure; you can apply to one school for $150, and each additional program is $50. You can also manage your applications via a single portal and submit them by one convenient deadline, considerably reducing the cost and anxiety that come with applying to business school. Although you must write a few additional essays, The Consortium’s essay questions are short and straightforward. I focus on these essay prompts in this post.
Ready to get to work on your application for The Consortium? Read on.
The Consortium application essay tips
Core Essay 1 (required)
Please describe your short- and long-term goals post-MBA. How has your professional experience shaped these goals and influenced your decision to pursue an MBA degree? (2,000 characters)
This is a standard goals essay. In 2,000 characters max, or roughly 400 words, you need to state clearly what your short- and long-term goals are and how your career to date has influenced those goals. Although you can briefly discuss how you got to where you are today, it’s crucial that you avoid going into excessive detail about your past experience and instead focus on your post-MBA plans. Additionally, you need to write about why you think an MBA is the right degree for you, given your professional aspirations. Consider the skills and knowledge you need to achieve your goals, identify any gaps, and then speak to how earning an MBA will help you close those gaps. You must be specific and realistic, stating objectives that are aligned with your career thus far and that business school will help you achieve.
Core Essay 2 (optional)
Is there any other information you would like to share with us that is not presented elsewhere in your application? (1,000 characters)
Although this is an optional essay, I always recommend writing it. You can use this essay to discuss anything that you believe needs to be explained, such as a gap in your work experience or a sudden drop in your grades. In fact, The Consortium notes that if you answered “yes” to any of the questions in the Personal Certification/Signature section of its application, you must provide an explanation, and this is the perfect place to do so. If there is nothing in particular that you need to explain, you can use this essay to write about something you think is important and have not already shared in the required essays, such as an experience from an extracurricular activity, a special hobby, or a unique story that would help you stand out. Given the tight word limit for all the essays, this is an excellent opportunity for you to share a part of yourself that the admissions committees would not otherwise see.
Mission Essay (required)
Our mission, supported by the strength of our growing alliance and network of committed allies, is to expand access and increase representation in business education and leadership. In collaboration with our member schools and partners, we work to strengthen enrollment and leadership across the following sectors: for-profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, government agencies and contractors, and entrepreneurial ventures in both for-profit and nonprofit environments.
*Please address the three questions noted below and use specific examples that clearly articulate your involvement, actions, and results.
1. The Consortium is committed to expanding access and increasing representation for individuals and communities that have not always had equal access to opportunity. Please describe the specific actions you have already taken—through your business, personal, academic, or volunteer experiences—that demonstrate your commitment to this mission. Include examples that show your values in action, the impact of your efforts, and how they contribute to building a more inclusive community. (400 word limit)
2. How do you plan to support The Consortium’s mission while enrolled in your MBA program? What actions will you take to help build a stronger, more inclusive community? (400 word limit)
3. After completing your MBA, how will you continue to support The Consortium’s mission through your career, leadership, or community involvement? (200 word limit)
When applying for membership selection, according to The Consortium website, “applicants should demonstrate a clear commitment to The Consortium’s mission, supported by detailed examples that show both personal alignment and a strong identification with its purpose.”
The Consortium’s three mission questions aim to reveal how your values align with those of the organization. Question 1 is backward-looking and provides an opportunity for you to share how you have demonstrated your values through action, convey the impact of your efforts, and explain how those efforts contributed to an inclusive community. Questions 2 and 3 are forward-looking at specific points in time. Question 2, which focuses on creating an inclusive community, asks how you plan to support The Consortium’s mission while enrolled in an MBA program. What, specifically, will you do to influence the community to create a stronger and more inclusive culture? Finally, via question 3, The Consortium seeks to understand your intentions for the ongoing support of the organization’s mission after you graduate from the MBA program. The prompt asks you to consider how you might lead and continue your involvement within this community as a professional.
It is important to note that your mission essay will not be shared with your target schools. However, Core Essays 1 and 2 will be sent to each MBA program you apply to through The Consortium. Additionally, Consortium scholarships are determined and funded by each member school.
School-Specific Essays
You must write at least one school-specific essay for each MBA program you are applying to. These programs will receive only the essays you have written for them and none that you have prepared for any other schools. For these essays, you will need to go to the Program Materials section of the application portal and add each program for which you plan to submit an application. You must upload each of The Consortium’s essays and the school-specific essays as separate documents. When you submit your responses to the three mission essay questions, you will paste your content into text boxes with the noted character limits for each.
Make sure that you “study” each of your target schools well before writing their application essays, just as you would if you were not applying through The Consortium. You need to pay just as much attention to these essays as you will to The Consortium’s, because the individual schools – not The Consortium – will ultimately make the decision to admit you or not. So, do your research on each program so you can demonstrate fit in your school-specific essays.
Every eligible MBA applicant who aligns with The Consortium’s mission should consider applying through the organization.
The Consortium application deadlines
| Early Application Deadline | October 15, 2025 |
| Traditional Application Deadline | January 5, 2026 |
| Admissions Decision and Funding Opportunities Notification | Varies by school |
Source: The Consortium website
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with The Consortium directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***
As a former admissions dean who has worked closely with The Consortium, serving on the Application, Fellowship & Membership, and Applicant Pool Development & Recruiting committees, I am happy to offer you my help in applying for Consortium membership and to Consortium member schools for your MBA.
As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for the MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management. Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources
