Q) Tuck students can articulate how the distinctive Tuck MBA will advance their aspirations. Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (300 words)

1. Motivation

The motivation typically falls into three categories – switch in career, exploration of career, or advancement of the career. Like in any other top school, exploration of the career without an end goal reads poorly in a Why MBA Essay. Mention exploration only after defining a clear post-MBA function and industry.

While quoting the post-MBA role, analyze the latest employment report, and quote a feasible path.

For example, Marketing (10%) for the Healthcare industry (5%) or Consulting (44%) for the Manufacturing industry (4%) are all viable options.

Make sure that one of the industries or the function that you quote are represented in double digits.

In addition to the specific career goal, Tuck MBA applicants cleverly highlight the importance of soft skills – managing incentives, communication, empathy, listening, and cultural sensitivity as pivotal in their future as a leader.

2. Curriculum

Understanding the curriculum structure is essential to answer the Why Tuck MBA essay question. Tuck is among the few schools that, in addition to electives in Year one, also has an experiential learning program – First-Year project scheduled during Spring.

The core courses are structured around Analytics (1 and II), Economics (Global Economics for Managers and Managerial Economics), Strategy, Leadership (Managing Organizations, Managing People and Management Communication), Marketing, Operations, Accounting and Finance (Corporate Finance and Capital Markets) – serving the popular post-MBA industries in Finance and Consulting.

The elective courses are themed around Accounting, Communication, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Ethics, and Social Responsibility, Finance, Healthcare, Marketing, Operations & Management Science, Organizational Behavior, Strategy, and themes in International development (Law and Business), K-12 education, and Doing Business in China & the Gulf states.

Experiential Learning

Global Insight Expeditions: Each March break, students embark on a global insight expedition with an advisor or two and explore a new country by interacting with the corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, non-profit representatives, policymakers, and people operating in various levels of the organization. Through these interactions and building relationships with the network in the region, students will gain a new perspective on the challenges and the framework of operating business in a new country.

Examples

• Belgium and Germany: Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) – a directive for manufactures to adopt sustainable practices
• China: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Venture Capital in China

OnSite Global Consulting: With a history of delivering 247 projects in 64 countries, the OnSite Global Consulting is a 2nd -year elective course that operates through the TuckGo Global experiential learning initiative where students gain hands-on experience by serving clients in diverse projects ranging from M&A, competitor analysis, digital strategy, customer acquisition, talent management, market assessment, product roadmap, marketing/branding strategy, supply chain management, and recently with COVID-19 response.

The Global First-Year Project offers first-year students the start in a global engagement where they work with a US-based company operating in an international location. By immersing in the cultural and local challenges, early in the winter, students will prepare for the march visit to a client location for five days. Through the project, students are measured on their adaptability to another culture, leadership, and deliverables in business analysis.

3.Why Now

Most applicants are capable of clearly articulating the Why MBA part. The ‘Why now’ is equally important. Many applicants try to pivot without an MBA and recognize the limitations.

Others narrate a pivotal moment – an interaction with a client, supervisor, or an Alumnus as the moment when they realized that an MBA now is the right career choice.

Some form of vulnerability should be expressed in the essay to connect with the admission team.

Sample Why Tuck MBA Essay: Marketing to Branding (287 Words)