In this Haas MBA Application Essay Tips series, I will talk about strategies to shortlist the example for the Haas What Makes You Feel Alive Essay.
Atul Jose (Admissions Consultant, F1GMAT): A professional has three transitions in their career. First is choosing your major, second is your first job, and third is your decision to continue in a technical role or pivot into management or a creative career.
One Big Problem with Professional Example
One of the common problems I see with applicants using a professional narrative for the What makes you feel alive Essay is that the example they cite is from a function they are currently in, but the inconsistency is that many are transitioning away from that role post-MBA, or they are looking for larger opportunities in adjacent industries or functions. The example doesn’t hold up.
Personality Trait as an Example
Another common problem I see is when applicants use a personality trait as an example to narrate an event. It is often some variation of a leadership trait. The challenge in creating an authentic narrative around leadership is competition. If you are applying to Berkeley Haas MBA, you will be competing against some of the best engineers or healthcare, or consulting candidates. They will also quote some form of leadership trait in their Essay. The example that you shortlist should have a universal appeal with modern themes of inclusivity and social goals.
For one client, it was the resilience to face a crisis head-on that made her feel alive. She worked with a Technology company that prided itself in breaking things while pushing the envelope, and she was the perfect fit. So whenever that call came from a Manager to a firefight, she felt alive.
Value as an Example
The best examples are value-based. It is a combination of leadership traits and a philosophy about life and our society that translated into a meaningful experience. Or a practice that helped the applicant face a challenging circumstance.
