While the number of essays HEC Paris wants you to submit as part of its MBA application might initially be daunting, you should view them as a wonderful opportunity to share aspects of your whole self in telling your story. The adcom is looking to gain insight into your hopes, dreams, and accomplishments and into who you are as a person. They want to see that you are a well-rounded individual. They look beyond what you’ve done to assess how you think and respond, even how you imagine.
Most importantly, HEC requires you to communicate complex thoughts and experiences directly. Don’t worry about waxing poetic here – you can approach the shorter essays in particular in a straightforward and succinct way. (But take care not to go over the word limit!) Jump right into your point or story, and use clear sentences without (e.g., “had the opportunity to”). Don’t hesitate to use direct, declarative sentences. This writing approach has an added benefit: it conveys confidence.
Before you start writing your essays, sit down and brainstorm. Sketch out ideas for all of the school’s essays so that when you go to write them, you can tell a full story. After putting the puzzle pieces of your story together in an outline, step back to assess how the facets add up as a whole, and adjust topics as necessary to avoid redundancy and ensure a well-rounded presentation – one that will make the adcom feel they must invite you for an interview!
Ready to get to work on your HEC application essays? Read on.
HEC application essay tips
Essay #1
Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? (500 words maximum)
This is a traditional goals question, with a couple of twists. Your best bet is to answer these questions in order and in a direct fashion. Don’t overthink it. Tell the adcom why you want an MBA now, what your goals are, and why you want to attend HEC. Follow this approach:
- First, the “why now” part should be explicitly addressed, even if it seems obvious. Doing so briefly is fine; your overall essay should ultimately make this case.
- Second, your “professional objective” is essentially your long-term career vision. The question implies that this vision or goal will drive your preceding steps, so present your shorter-term goals in that context: show how they pave the way for you to pursue and achieve your ultimate professional objective.
- Be brief but specific when discussing the HEC MBA. Tie aspects of its program directly to the achievement of your goals, and detail the two or three elements of the program that are most meaningful to you.
Finally, connect the dots. If well done, this essay will convey how your goals grow organically from your experience and are achievable given your previous experience and an MBA from HEC.
Essay #2
What do you consider your most significant life achievement? (250 words maximum)
Because you’re applying to a professional degree program, it can be tempting to write primarily or exclusively about your work experiences and goals – don’t. Here, HEC wants to learn about you as a person, so don’t tell them about the biggest deal or project you completed. Imagine, for example, that you state that boosting your organization’s bottom line (by whatever amount) is your greatest life achievement. The adcom might wonder about your values or whether you really have a life! On the other hand, if you can say that at work you saved jobs or lessened negative environmental impacts or were instrumental in developing a new medical advancement, that would be more substantial and could possibly fit the bill. Or, if moving to another country and building your career there has been your biggest achievement, that’s fine – but talk about the situation in a way that gives context to the impact on your life, rather than focusing on the work itself.
For most people, this story will be personal. I think about clients who have persevered through, managed, and overcome major family crises. For others, it will involve impact with community, religious, and/or social organizations or groups; for yet others, it could involve a major milestone, such as a national sports ranking or photo exhibit or music performance.
Whatever topic you select, you have only 250 words, so simply narrate the story, and include the results or impact. It would be fine to have a sentence or two of reflection on why the experience is so meaningful to you, but don’t make a long explanation. The reason should be clear from the content.
Essay #3
Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you. (250 words maximum)
It feels like we hear about a new scandal in the business world on a daily basis, so that ensuring students have a fundamental grasp on business ethics is becoming increasingly important for MBA programs. HEC wants to make sure you have a strong moral compass when it comes to business, so even though you might not have had the level of seniority that would impact a major business crisis at this point in your career, no doubt you’ve had myriad opportunities to do the right thing when presented with an alternative.
Again, keep the structure of your essay simple: tell the story, and end with a brief discussion of how the experience has influenced you. Don’t feel the need to present an overly dramatic story; many such situations are gray, not black and white. It might feel like a challenge to identify an experience that encompasses both leadership and ethics. However, addressing an ethics challenge will almost inherently require leadership (even if informal), whether on your part or someone else’s. When you explain how the situation influenced you, don’t just state generalities; give a specific example.
Essay #4
Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? (250 words maximum)
This essay is another opportunity to reveal a different side of yourself. I would use this as a chance to talk about something you are passionate about, such as a hobby or interest. If you’re not sure how to answer this, think about what you loved to do when you were a kid or something you have always wanted to learn or do.
Describe an imagined life that reflects something meaningful to you. Make it vivid, and show your passion. Note that the question does not ask what you would do if you were not in your current life/role; it asks you to imagine a life. Use that openness to express your creativity. In doing so, however, avoid being abstract. Weave in and employ your actual knowledge and experience; for example, if you love sports and are an avid athlete, you could build your imagined life in a way that portrays your knowledge and passion there. The reader should learn something interesting about you and your prospective contribution to the social milieu of the HEC program.
Essay #5
Please choose from one of the following essays: (250 words maximum)
a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why?
b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyze it.
c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc.).
All these options are equally good, so choose the one that resonates most with you – the one that you want to answer. This is another opportunity to showcase your interests and passions. The “why” part is key. Avoid platitudes, be specific, and present focused, fresh insights.
Essay #6
Is there any additional information you would like to share with us?(900 words max)
This question invites you to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., a gap in employment, choice of recommender, a bad grade) as well as to present new material that will enhance your application. If you choose to do the latter, make sure that what you offer contributes to a clear and full picture of your candidacy. The school gives you a lot of words to work with, but don’t think that you must use all 900! As with any essay, convey what you need to without excess.
HEC application deadlines
| Application deadline (for January 2025 intake) | Decision date |
| September 16, 2024 | October 18, 2024 |
| October 14, 2024 | November 15, 2024 |
| November 12, 2024 | December 13, 2024 |
Source: HEC Paris website
The school notes, “The HEC Paris MBA attracts the best candidates from all over the world. Due to the large number of applications that we receive, we encourage you to apply as early as possible, especially if you require on-campus housing or need a student visa.”
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with HEC directly to verify its essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
HEC class profile
Here is a look at HEC’s Class of 2025 (data taken from the Paris HEC brochure).
Number of participants: 235
Nationalities: 49
Women: 40%
Average age: 30
International participants: 95%
Nationalities: 49
Average years of work experience: 6
Average GMAT: 690
Geographic Origins:
- Asia and Oceania: 56%
- Europe: 16%
- Latin America: 11%
- Africa and Middle East: 9%
- North America: 8%
For expert guidance with your HEC Paris MBA application, schedule a free consultation with an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you, too!
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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