Schools are looking for and will actively contribute not only to their student/alumni communities but also to the greater community and society. Many applications include an essay question with some variation of “What would you contribute to your future campus community?” or “How will you contribute to our program?” If you are invited to interview, you’ll…
Three Must-Have Elements of a Good Statement of Purpose
What are the essential components of a strong statement of purpose essay? Very simply, you’ll need to include your MAP: your Motivation, Aspiration, and Perspiration. At Accepted, MAP has a double meaning for individuals writing statements of purpose and goals essays. It illustrates the road one should follow when writing one of these essays. Here’s…
How to Get Into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Program [Episode 512]
Shortcuts to Key Insights from this Episode Shelly Heinrich, Associate Dean for MBA and MS-ESM admissions, and Director of Marketing at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, discusses everything applicants need to know about getting into Georgetown McDonough’s MBA program. [Show Summary] Are you interested in sustainability? Also considering an MBA? Well Georgetown University’s McDonough School…
Identifying the Ingredients of a Winning Essay
Check out all of the blog posts in this series: As you gear up to write your application essays, you might have looked at sample “winning” essays published in books or on websites, only to ask yourself afterward, “Sure, these are great, but what do these essays have to do with me?” This blog series will…
Bring Your Personal Statement to Life With Vivid, Active Verbs
Your personal statement is an essential element of your application and allows the adcom great insight into who you really are aside from your stats. However, no matter how extensive your experience or how accomplished you might be, all that can be lost in prose that does not do a good job of profiling who…
Got a Criminal Record? Here’s How to Address It in Your Application
If you have ever engaged in disorderly conduct or petty theft, gotten a DUI, been arrested during a political protest, or garnered any other kind of infraction (minor or major) on your record, we hope that you have learned important lessons from the experience and won’t repeat it. But if you are applying to a…
How Can You Show Passion in Admissions?
When one thinks of passion, one doesn’t generally think of investment bankers. But the admissions committees are looking for passion in their applicants; so how are you – a computer guy, an engineer, a biology major, or yes, an investment banker – going to craft a winning application that shows them the passion they’re looking…
Build Your Blueprint for R2 MBA Application Success
Did you miss our recent workshop, How to Create Compelling Round 2 MBA Applications? We had a great turnout, and would have loved to have had you with us, but don’t worry: We’ve made this amazing workshop on building a winning, strategic game plan for your R2 b-school applications available to watch. Get ready to…
Harness the Power of Storytelling in Admissions and Job Interviews
“Tell me about a time when you disagreed strongly with your supervisor. ” “How would you do things differently now?” “What draws you to this program more than to any other?” If you have interviews coming up, whether for a seat in a college program or a job opening, will you be ready to answer…
9 Secrets to Telling an Attention-Grabbing Story
You’ve completed most of your application. Now it’s time to write your personal statement. You want your statement to stand out from the rest, and the way to do this is to tell a compelling story – the tale of your greatest achievements, dreams, and challenges. You can tell a compelling story by tying together…
Writing a Powerful Leadership/Achievement Essay [Sample Essay]
Essays that ask you to write about significant achievements fall under the category of what are known as behavioral or experiential questions. The basic assumption behind these questions is that past behavior is a great predictor of future behavior. They are all varieties on the theme of “Tell us about a time when you…” These…
Short and Sweet: Tips for Writing “Mini” MBA Essays
What is an admissions committee’s message or intent in limiting an “essay” answer to 100, 200, or 300 characters? Just the facts, please. Actually, just the key facts. No adornment, no backstory, no extended rationale. In working with clients on such questions, for example the CBS short answer goals question, I’ve been struck by how hard providing “just the…
Writing About Your Experiences Abroad
You studied, worked, or volunteered abroad. Now you want to include part of this in your personal statement as part of an undergrad, AMCAS or other application. Maybe you want to show that you’ve experienced a different culture and expanded your perspective through your eye-opening experiences meeting new people, mountain-climbing, assisting in a rural community,…
How to Write a Great Statement of Purpose [Episode 473]
How to Write a Statement of Purpose That Gets You Accepted [Show Summary] Vanessa Febo is a PhD candidate in English Literature at UCLA and a writing instructor who has guided students to acceptance at top programs at Harvard, Stanford, and USC. In this episode, she shares her expert tips on mastering the writing required…
10 Tips for Better Essay Writing
Let’s take your writing up a notch–or two! Ready to up your game in the writing department? Since you’re probably eager to show the adcom that you’ve got the “write” stuff and can relate your significant experiences and insightful ideas eloquently, these 10 tips are for you: Think about writing as a conversation on paper….
Why MBA? The Winning Ingredients of a Dynamic MBA Goals Essay
Choosing MBA goals that are practical, not abstract or theoretical In the good old days, when Wharton still offered feedback to rejected applicants (way back, early 2000s), I spoke with a potential client who was reapplying to Wharton. He had received feedback on his first application, and the adcom had, in fact, really liked his…
Applying to U.S. Business Schools from Europe, Asia, the Middle East [Episode 467]
What international applicants to U.S. business schools need to know [Show Summary] Michelle Stockman has a Master’s in Journalism, 15 years of experience as an Accepted admissions consultant, and has lived all around the world. Bridging all of these experiences, Michelle gives her tips for international students applying to U.S. MBA programs. Interview with Michelle…
MBA Deadlines Are Coming Fast: Here’s What You Can Do
As you get closer to MBA application deadlines, watch this video for important last minute advice from MBA admissions expert, Michelle Stockman: 3 “Spring Week” Tips for MBA Applicants [Transcript] Hello, MBA applicants, welcome to Accepted. I’m Consultant Michelle Stockman. Now, many of you are nearing the end of what is a marathon MBA application…
How Should I Choose Which Essay Questions to Answer When I Have Choices?
You’re sitting down to face your application, and you are glad to see that you can choose which essay questions to answer. You’re not stuck answering a particular set of questions. It’s good to know you have options. After all, you are determined to answer the questions that allow you to portray yourself at your…
5 Tips for Writing About Extracurricular Activities You Started at the Last Minute
You are this close to finishing your application, but in the section that asks you about your extracurricular activities, you freeze up. I don’t really have any extracurricular activities, you think. What should I do now? How will I be able to stand out from the competition? We’re glad you asked. Team Accepted has worked…