Cindy Tokumitsu, Author at Accepted Admissions Blog

November 11, 2020

Reading Time: 6 minutes

MBA Admissions: Application Advice for Younger Applicants

Accepting the offer from the small niche-consulting firm after college over the offer from the big-name consulting company proved to be a smart decision. In spite of the lower starting salary, in less than two years you are managing projects and staff, bringing in new business, and contributing to company strategy. In addition, the experience,…

October 28, 2020

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Harvard Kennedy School MPP & MPA2 Application Essay Tips [2020 – 2021]

The essays discussed below are for the MPP and the two-year MPA applications. (The MPA/ID and the MC/MPA and Mason’s program have different prompts.) HKS seeks well-rounded master’s students – people with proven academic success, strong leadership and career potential, and “commitment to advancing the public interest.” The school also wants the student body to be diverse….

October 16, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

MIT Sloan Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2021 – 2021]

These essay questions show that the MIT EMBA adcom seeks applicants who have the judgment and practical skills to take on the challenges that will fly at them as they redefine industries and functions. Applicants who push the boundary of what’s possible and provide principled leadership amidst a torrent of change. The essays (including Statement of Purpose)…

October 14, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

London Business School Master’s in Management (MiM) Essay Questions, Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

The London Business School Master’s in Management application essay questions indicate that the adcom values applicants who, at an early stage in their careers, already have self-understanding and the ability to reflect and self-critique. Why? For people who are just starting their careers and don’t yet have extensive real-world experience to draw on, these qualities…

October 5, 2020

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Finding and Articulating Fit with the Booth MBA

Booth’s MBA program – and hence its admissions focus – is rooted in “The Chicago Approach™” that centers on turning theory into praxis. Through examining “theoretical frameworks” from a range of disciplines directly relevant to business (e.g., economics, psychology), students hone analytic skills and deeply informed perspectives that form a robust foundation for future decisions…

October 1, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

MIT Sloan Master of Finance Application Essay Questions, Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

The MIT Sloan Master of Finance program is significantly influenced by being part of both the Sloan School of Management and MIT more broadly. The culture and values of those two entities infuse the MFin program. Yes, being a quant geek helps, but the program’s adcom wants more: people who have a distinctive perspective, a…

September 22, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

London Business School Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

The LBS EMBA website expresses the program’s emphasis on “Connect, Collaborate, Create.” The 2 application essay questions reflect this approach and value. The questions, although quite different, both ask you to discuss how you’ll connect with the LBS EMBA program, classmates, community. Of course, collaboration is inherently creative, and LBS students and alumni are (in…

September 13, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

London Business School Master’s in Finance Application Essay Questions, Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

The LBS Master’s in Finance (full-time program) essay questions, taken together, convey the adcom’s interest in two interrelated points: (1) how you envision and plan your future career; (2) your knowledge of and interest in the LBS Master’s in Finance program. Showing fit is particularly important because this is a rare MiF program that targets…

September 9, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

USC Marshall MBA Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Along with academic excellence, the USC Marshall MBA program is characterized by a powerful global network with special emphasis on the Pacific Rim, a close-knit and passionate community, and a strong regional presence. Your essays should show how you will both fit in and contribute to this dynamic environment, and the questions provide interesting opportunities…

September 6, 2020

Reading Time: 5 minutes

HEC Paris MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

The HEC Paris MBA application essays – and there are many compared to most MBA applications these days –give the adcom a well-rounded view of you. They go beyond what you’ve done to capture how you think and respond, even how you imagine. Moreover, they require you to communicate complex thoughts and experiences succinctly. For…

September 3, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Indiana Kelley MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

These questions are a straightforward mix of professional and personal. The adcom wants assurance that you have a clear professional focus and a solid plan for making productive use of the Kelley MBA resources. Beyond that, they’re looking for engaging applicants who are willing to share their life experiences and understand what they can contribute….

August 31, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

NYU Part-Time MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

NYU’s Stern Langone part-time MBA requires just one short essay: a straightforward goals essay. That means the other application elements – resume, recommendations, and application form will be especially important in terms of rounding out your profile and conveying relevant information. So, approach all the application elements thoughtfully and strategically. There is not even usually an interview…

August 21, 2020

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Stanford MSx Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Both the relatively complex MSx application form and your resume will establish you as a leader in your organization (and possibly even your domain), and that leadership experience is essential if you want to be a qualified MSx applicant. It’s important, but it’s just a qualification. Being qualified isn’t enough because Stanford MSx always receives applications…

August 19, 2020

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University of Texas McCombs MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

McCombs combines its rigor with a passionate community. To create its desired community, it seeks a student body that is diverse in every dimension and comprises individuals who can bring together their varied voices to form a cohesive group. The questions below reflect this value; they draw out applicants’ individuality, motivations, and ability to communicate,…

August 18, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Yale School of Management Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Yale School of Management’s Executive MBA fully reflects the character of the SOM and more broadly of Yale University: strong, vibrant community; holistic perspective; intellectual vigor; and real-world engagement and impact. Yale EMBA’s unique “areas of focus” approach is central to its identity, and while it may not be for everyone, for the right people,…

August 2, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Kellogg Executive MBA Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Kellogg’s 2 required EMBA application essay questions present a paradox: they’re straightforward and complex. Together, they draw out a fully rounded view of you as a person and as a professional, what you’ve done and how you think and perceive the world. To the extent possible, ground your essays in detail and concrete experience, and…

July 31, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

INSEAD MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Communication is key for INSEAD – in part because it is a key factor that their recruiters look for. Hence the INSEAD application elicits your communication effectiveness. First, INSEAD asks you to write reflective essays – and to do so succinctly. Balancing this emphasis on written communication is a video component – the adcom wants to…

July 30, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Wharton Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020-2021]

The Wharton EMBA adcom, through its three required questions, expresses its values and its interest in students who share those values. Its questions ask you to show both vision and responsiveness to uncertainty. Essentially you will need to show both focus and flexibility. Essay question 1 focuses on your goals and Wharton’s important role in helping you achieve…

July 29, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Oxford Saïd MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Oxford lets your resume, recommendations, application form, and transcript(s) speak for themselves. The one required MBA essay question indicates that the adcom wants a glimpse of you beyond these core elements. It seems like a simple question – but there is a little twist in it that amplifies its importance in the application and its connection…

July 28, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Chicago Booth Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2020 – 2021]

Chicago Booth EMBA gives you just one mandatory essay, but with ample space to make your case holistically. This approach to the essay question indicates that they are looking for people who can organize their thoughts, build a credible and compelling case for their candidacy, and maintain an extended yet focused discussion. The Booth EMBA…