Stanford Graduate School of Business Admissions Essay Requirements

Approaching the prompt

To create a response that will really stand out to the Stanford Admissions Committee, it may be helpful to think of the question in a different way: “What was the path in your life that led you to develop your most cherished values and goals as they relate to your decision to pursue an MBA education?” Therefore, whatever topic you choose, it should connect in some way to your decision to apply to Stanford GSB.

Most of all, Stanford wants you to show a process. They want to know where you started, what was the catalyst for you to begin this path, what you learned along the way (especially mistakes, disillusions, and unforeseen circumstances), and where you are now. Finally, they are looking for you to provide insightful commentary on the meaning of these events.

Common pitfalls

Expecting the admissions committee to ‘get it’: The meaning any one person would derive from an experience or circumstance is not what another person would. Tell the admission committee what your experiences have meant to you and how they have made you who you are today.

Focusing on information that is already presented in other parts of the application: Stanford is not looking for your resume in literary format. While it is perfectly acceptable to choose a topic such as the development of your career, avoid simply telling the story of what happened. Show Stanford how you have struggled and grown in your development. Moreover, show how the sum of these experiences is significant.

Taking the phrase ‘written from the heart’ too much to heart: Balance is key. If you choose to recount a deeply personal experience that is not really tied to the GSB program, you will need to demonstrate a clear connection between that and your decision to pursue an MBA education. Remember that this is an application to a graduate business program, and Stanford is looking for essays that will help them decide if you are a good match for their school.

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Approaching the prompt

An MBA education is an investment in your future. In this prompt, Stanford wants to better understand your rationale for undertaking this investment and why you think Stanford is the ideal place to do this. The cornerstone of creating a persuasive essay for this prompt is staying focused on the ‘want to do’ aspect. This essay should be about your vision and your plan for implementing that vision. Stanford asks for three things in specific, so be certain to fully address each one.

First, Stanford wants to know what your mid-range and long-term goals are in regards to your career. The next two are actually blended together. Stanford would like for you to make direct and meaningful connections between the offerings of Stanford’s program and your ability to achieve those goals. You can take this step-by-step: State what you wish to accomplish, and then explain how Stanford’s program is uniquely suited to helping you do this.

Common pitfalls

Failing to show gaps/vulnerability: It can be easy to get so wrapped up in trying to impress the admission committee that you forget to demonstrate your need for a graduate education. What are your growth areas? What do you need to develop? Show Stanford that you realize you will not be able to achieve your goals without a Stanford education. Tell Stanford directly how they can help you.

Not addressing all areas of the prompt: With a multi-aspect prompt such as this one, it can be tempting to skip over parts of the prompt that seem less important or to hope that a certain part of the prompt not addressed directly will be ‘understood’ by the selections committee. - - - - Your application to Stanford is too important to take these risks. Plan your essay well to avoid large-scale rewrites or even having to start over from scratch.

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Approaching the prompt

This is the place to show off your accomplishments. In the first two prompts, Stanford was looking for insight into your values, character, and goals. Now Stanford wants to see if you have the ability to turn your dreams into achievements. These essays are supposed to be short and energetic. They are about your actions and the reactions of others.

Because of their length, you can be less concerned with things like transitions and refined phrasing. Get to the point. Move fast. If it helps, look at them as skyscraper elevator pitches. Think big and have fun. While this may seem completely contradictory to the often grueling and nerve-racking MBA application process, Stanford is looking for you to show off here (a little!).

Common pitfalls

Really, really, really wanting to write about something that happened too far in the past: While something that happened five years ago may have been pivotal to you, Stanford is only looking for accomplishments in the past three years. If you feel that Stanford cannot understand the real you without knowing this previous accomplishment, look for how that accomplishment has set you on a certain path or direction. What achievement in the past three years was based on - the other one?

Unnecessary negativity: Stanford is looking for essays that celebrate your achievements. This is not the space to outline faults within your organization or others’ incompetence. That being said, great accomplishments often result from opportunities created by less-than-ideal scenarios, and these can make for powerful essays. If you need to write about less positive aspects, be completely factual and without judgment (e.g. ‘My immediate supervisor did not follow policy.’ vs. ‘My immediate supervisor behaved unethically by not following policy.’)

Choosing to make one of these into a longer essay: While you are free to use the 1,800 word count any way you choose, take Stanford’s guidelines very seriously. They are telling you what they want to read more about, and what they want to read less about. If you would need to use more than 350 words for either of these, you may want to rethink your topic and pick something that would more closely align with Stanford’s suggestions.

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