Harvard MBA Essay: Five Writing Tips

When you introduce yourself, the class should feel confident about your ability as a decision maker. If you had a change in career path, explain your move with sound reasoning (supported by trends, opportunities and potential) – an indication that interacting with you would lead to a better exchange of ideas.

What value will you offer to the learning team? You have to encapsulate five things with the way you introduce yourself:

1) Break Stereotypes

Almost everyone starts with their name, hometown (and country), Undergraduate Degree, Pre-MBA Title, and Experience.

Although it is the right way to introduce yourself in front of the class, a prepared candidate will go the extra mile and connect with the audience by shattering the one-dimensional narratives. The class will have certain assumptions about you when you state your city, pre-MBA title, or experience.  

How will you break the assumptions and demonstrate that you are a multidimensional personality with a worldview that matches with the class?

If I were an applicant, I would introduce myself with something unique about my hometown, and elements of my personality that will surprise the audience.

Break Profile Stereotype

If you are an Engineer, the class expects you to introduce yourself in a logical way. Surprise them, and share how your novel was adapted as a play in your city. Any creative extra-curricular should take 20-30% of the introduction.

Customize your introduction based on your job profile and undergraduate degree. Make your introduction interesting by playing with the template. Start with the name, and then change the sequence.


Break Hometown/Country Stereotype

Don’t Wikipedia your hometown and quote some facts. Prepare an anecdote about your hometown that only a local knows – not the best restaurant or tourist spot; something that defines the culture of the town – perhaps a movement that evolved the city from a traditional to a liberal society. Something that shows how your worldview has been influenced by the city (town). Has it made you a more tolerant person? If you have lived in more than three cities, explain how each experience has shaped you as a person.

The stereotype about countries is common. A renowned stand-up comedian from Iran who lived in Dubai shared this interesting story.

After a comedy routine, the comedian booked a cab. On reaching the lobby of the hotel, he saw an Indian Gentleman, with unkempt hair, dressed in a modest suit, curiously staring at him.

A large section of Indians works in Dubai as laborers and on other menial jobs.

Unsuspectingly, the comedian asked, “Are you my Cabbie?”

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