The Do’s and Don’ts of Essay Writing

What is it that you need most to get into a business school? Is it excellent test results? An outstanding academic record? A perfect résumé? Admittedly, all of them are important, but it’s the essay that allows you to tell your own story and explain what makes you unique

After all, the GMAT scores are just numbers on a page, they don’t reveal much about your personality. The admission committee wants to know what makes you tick. Why they should choose you over other candidates. Let’s break it down into two categories, the tips to follow and the pitfalls to keep away from in order to write an excellent essay.

Here’s what you should do:

• Create a coherent narrative with your essays. Everything you tell the admissions committee should add up to a complete representation of your personality.
• Make it personal. This is your story, your chance to show who you really are. Use your own experiences, share your point of view, and don’t rely on general statements and common knowledge.
• Define your goals clearly. Why do you want to enter a business school? What do you plan to do after you get an MBA? You’re taking a risk, leaving the job market for two years, so make sure you know why you’re doing this.
• Always proofread your essays. Let’s be honest, an application riddled with typos and grammatical mistakes is not going to make a good impression. Just like your appearance at an interview, your writing should be spotless.
• Show the admissions committee you can be a leader. This is what business schools are looking for in their candidates. The whole screening process is designed to pick people who are able to solve problems and make the right decisions.
• Provide examples while enumerating your skills and talents. It’s not enough to simply claim you’re good at something, you have to show it in a situation that really took place in your life.
• Explain why you’re a perfect fit for this particular program. Why does it suit you? How will it help you achieve your goals? And what will you add to the mix? In order to do this convincingly, you have to do your research.
• Show some passion. If you’re really excited about all the possibilities the business school has to offer, the admissions committee can safely say you will be invested in the program.
• Add unique details. If your background has shaped your worldview or influenced the choices you’ve made, by all means, put it in your essay. Such details make a story more credible, but it won’t do to lose track of what you’re trying to say.
• Answer the question in the prompt. It should be obvious, but apparently it isn’t, since many students do make this mistake. Talk about things you’re asked to talk about, stick to the point, and don’t veer off topic. It’s that simple.

And here are some mistakes you should avoid:

• Using jargon, slang or technical vocabulary. Your writing should be natural and easy to follow. Moreover, don’t use long words just to sound smart, especially if you’re not sure what they actually mean. Such mistakes can be pretty embarrassing.
• Dry and detached writing. It’s time to show that admissions committee that you’ve got a nice sense of humor. Don’t get too carried away with jokes, though.
• Long and boring stories. Make it no more than the required amount of words. Remember, no one would like to read a paper as long as your arm. Make every word count.
• Mixing up the school’s name and/or address. Yes, such things happen.
• Mentioning your achievements from grade or even elementary school. Nobody cares about that football prize you won back in junior high. Admissions committee members are interested in the progress you’ve made after that, especially the recent developments in your career.
• Making lame excuses. Don’t try to justify your academic or professional low points. Instead, treat them as challenges and share what you’ve learned from your mistakes.
• Generalizing. If you want to prove a point, don’t write a Wikipedia page summary, make arguments based on your personal experience.
• Arrogance. Yes, the essay’s about you, but don’t make it too obvious. Show some humility. After all, even if you get in, you’re not going to be the only student in class.