Power of Storytelling and Situational Analysis

F1GMAT: Many MBA Admissions consultants profess about the power of storytelling and situational analysis in MBA Application Essays. What is your take on Story Telling? Will it help MBA applicants stand out from the rest of the crowd?

AdmissionsConsultants: Storytelling is definitely a good way to distinguish your candidacy from your competition. Amongst other advantages, effective storytelling can reach a reader’s emotions, educate, entertain and articulate creative thoughts. History’s most effective communicators have used stories and parables for these very reasons. Hence, it makes sense for applicants to use them when faced with the herculean task of distinguishing their candidacies against so many other very highly qualified applicants at the world’s most selective business schools.

Situational analysis is extremely important to b-school admission success as well. Showing strong introspection is the only way to ensure the admissions committees understand what you have learned from your previous experiences. Remember, it’s not enough to have a lengthy list of accomplishments and extracurricular activities. The schools aren’t interested in the “Forrest Gumps” who get through life by being lucky. After all, these programs are vigorously seeking out the next generation of business leaders and those are the very sharp individuals with intimate senses of cause and effect. Quite simply, they learn from their mistakes and are continually growing as individuals. Strategically using situational analysis inside of your stories is the best way to show that you are the type of applicant the admissions committees truly want.

About David Petersam

David Petersam is the president and founder of AdmissionsConsultants, Inc., launched in 1996. He graduated from the University of Chicago with an MBA.At
Chicago, he gained an insider’s knowledge of MBA admissions, working in
the admissions office there and contributing to admissions committee
decisions. Prior to his MBA studies, he was a Certified Public
Accountant.
On college and graduate admissions, Petersam has been
quoted in the New York Times, featured in T.V. and radio programs, and
has published a guest column in the Washington Business Journal.