When you are just hours away from submitting your application, it can feel daunting, and many applicants miss out on small details that can jeopardize even the most planned application. Here are 3 best practices before you submit your application.

1) Consistency of Voice

I remember reading an essay for review where the applicant was passionately talking about a cause that was controversial. At the end of the 2nd paragraph, the applicant went on to criticize a Businessperson -  a public figure who happened to have close associations with the Business School. It clearly showed a lack of awareness.

A theme that consistently appears in MBA application essays is using Power for Good. Schools carefully read any accounts of your non-profit engagements, team collaboration in your company, and your post-MBA goals to understand how you will use an MBA Alumni network and your acquired skills for the good of society.

Most MBA applicants use the opening line as a shock element. They start with something tragic, violent, anxiety-inducing, or scenery that gives the reader perspective that they are living a much more comfortable life compared to what the applicant went through. This approach works if your story truly has something unique – war, trauma, coming back from a life-threatening illness, or a challenge related to your identity.

If you are applying to Stanford, Harvard, Wharton, or any M7 MBA programs, you must assume that your competitors have unique life and career journeys.

When you are applying to MBA programs, you are switching between two contexts – as a person highlighting professional achievements and as a person managing supervisors through the recommendation letter writing process. On top of it, if you are working in an office with peers from similar backgrounds for 10-14 hours virtually or otherwise, the conversations are about your professional life, your industry, your clients, the project, and the pending recession.

An MBA class could have 35 to 70 nationalities. You will never be in a room with such diverse international peers. So it is surprising when applicants don’t mention this unique opportunity in their MBA essays.

In this MBA Application Essay Tips, I will share three qualities to ensure that your post-MBA goals Essay meet the expectations of the admissions team.

1. The Cliché

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.

The Duke Fuqua MBA application has three required essays. One is about the goal. The second is about the 25 random things, and the third is about how you will contribute to the Fuqua Community. Applicants, however, strategize the 25 random things as an opportunity to showcase personality traits that they couldn't highlight with Essay 3 - the three ways you will contribute to the Fuqua Community.

Atul Jose (MBA Admissions Consultant, F1GMAT): The answer is – it depends.

Required Haas MBA Essay #2: How will an MBA help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals? (300 words max)

Although Haas School of Business has not asked how Haas MBA will help you achieve the post-MBA goals, spend 50% of the 300-word on connecting the experience at Haas with the goals.

In today’s MBA application strategy tips, I will talk about the difference between vulnerability, sympathy, and empathy and why a vulnerability narrative is essential for your goals and personal MBA application essays.

In this Haas Video Essay Strategy tips, I explain the optimum speed of delivery, incorporating more than one principle, personal vs professional experience, and understanding leadership traits vs. principles.

The Video Essay question is:

In this NYU Stern Change Essay Tips series, I will share 2 strategies to approach the NYU Stern MBA Application Change Essay.