Are you committed to increasing diversity and the inclusion of underrepresented populations in education and business? If so, applying to MBA programs through The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM) 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 25 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; for example, you can apply to two schools for $150 and to up to six schools for $300. You can also manage your applications via a single portal and submit them by one convenient deadline, reducing considerably the cost and anxiety that comes 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
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-term and long-term goals are and how your career to date has influenced those goals. Although you can briefly discuss how you got here, it’s important 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 goals. Consider the skills and knowledge you need to achieve your goals, identify any gaps, and then speak to how the MBA will help you close those gaps. You must be specific and realistic, stating goals that are aligned with your career thus far and that an MBA 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 share 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 a great opportunity for you to share a part of yourself that the admissions committees would not otherwise see.
Mission essay
Our mission, through the strength of our growing alliance and extended network, is to enhance diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership by striving to reduce the significant underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both our Member Schools’ enrollments and the ranks of global management 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. Please use specific examples pertaining to our target populations and clearly articulate your involvement, actions and results.
1. How have you positively impacted our target demographics (i.e. African Americans, Hispanic Americans or Native Americans) in your business, personal or academic life pre-MBA? Please provide specific examples. (2,000 characters)
2. How will you demonstrate your commitment to The Consortium’s mission while enrolled in your MBA program? (2,000 characters)
3. How will you demonstrate your continued commitment to The Consortium’s mission with respect to community service and leadership involvement post-MBA? (1,000 characters)
This year, The Consortium’s three mission questions have been repositioned slightly. Rather than asking, “What will you do?” the questions focus on “How will you do it?” This is a slight nuance, but the change seems to be rooted in the desire to hear about the manner in which you will act, not simply a list of things you will do. Asking “how” you will do something gets at the motivation, thought process, and approach behind your actions. For example, explaining how you will demonstrate commitment might involve discussing your passion for the cause, your understanding of its importance, and the methods you find most effective.
Membership selection, according to The Consortium’s website, “is based on community activism, professional involvement and life experience, and should be documented both in your application essay, résumé and at least one letter of recommendation.”
It is important to note that the mission essay will not be shared with your target schools. However, Core essay #1 and Core essay #2 will be shared with each MBA program you apply to through The Consortium.
School-specific essays
You will be required to write at least one school-specific essay for each school to which you plan to apply. Programs see only their individual essays, not any that you write for other schools. To complete these essays, go to the Program Materials section of the application portal, and add each program for which you will submit an application. Text boxes with specified character limits will be provided for the membership essay and all school-specific essays.
Make sure that you “study” each of your target schools well before writing their application essays, just as you would if you weren’t 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 – ultimately make the admissions decisions. You will need to do your research on each program so you can demonstrate fit in your school-specific essays.
Every MBA applicant who aligns with the organization’s mission should consider applying through The Consortium. First, as we noted earlier, you are eligible for a full-tuition scholarship for a two-year MBA program, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Second, even if you are not awarded a full ride, if you are accepted to be a member of The Consortium, you become part of a valuable network, one that will benefit you throughout your career. If you have actively worked to increase diversity in business through the inclusion of underrepresented minorities, applying to business school through The Consortium is likely the right step for you.
The Consortium application deadlines
| Early Application Deadline | October 15, 2024 |
| Traditional Application Deadline | January 5, 2025 |
| 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!
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