The change essay can be approached in two ways. The first is by aligning with the historical perspective of how Stern branded its experiential learning and the second with what the phrase suggests.
The first strategy might have led to the forced matching of stories to themes with less than spectacular results. That is why the Stern MBA Admissions team expanded its slogan to include:
Change: Dare it.
Change: Dream it.
Change: Drive it.
Change: Empower it.
Change: Manifest it.
Change: [Any word of your choice.]
The last option is interesting, and I have yet to see a client take the risk with a catchy phrase to beat the listed ones. But a few that came to my mind:
1) Change: Accept it
2) Change: Expect it
3) Change: Life
4) Change: Growth
Now let us break down a few scenarios where the slogans outside the listed one work:
1) Change: Accept It
Ask any consultant what the biggest challenge is in persuading the clients; it is always a lack of acceptance of the new reality in the market or customer behavior. By the time, they are ready to drive change, they are already at a disadvantage. One excellent way in which applicants can use this slogan is by citing examples of parents who are managing small businesses. The change for SMBs is not just about the lack of openness but an issue of survival where each change could have a catastrophic impact.
Don’t fix what is not broken is not just wisdom in the Tech industry or in governance; there are genuine risks to swiftly changing systems, processes, and personnel. This two-part narrative on the challenges of accepting the change read well in essays over the applicant playing hero and turning around a mindset. Capture the W-pattern.
2) Change: Expect it
The 50s felt like a golden era of progress in the US, but then the war happened, and the generations entering the 70s put the focus on injustice. Suddenly, the society's oiled, button-down version transformed into a radical thought experiment on equality and new policies. Then the society corrected itself with censorship that put political correctness to the 80s kids. Then, society was forced to correct itself with computers and the internet. The 2000s, again, moved the pendulum towards more openness, and in the 2010s, corrected again to the middle with censorship. Now, the 2020s, with news systems of finance, entertainment, and content, society’s relationship with its influencers are radically changing behaviors across countries.
In the Yin and Yang of society, finding left vs right vs centralist ideologies is the wrong approach. A better approach is expecting change.
Any industry that didn’t pivot its business model or professional who wasn’t prepared to accelerate their learning was just left behind.
And sometimes, catching up is an expensive endeavor.
If you have worked in a radically shifting industry – Finance, Energy, or Media, the journey and the struggles of aligning stakeholders to expect change is one narrative that will read well for Stern Change Essay.
3) Change: Life
Another unique narrative that is yet to be explored is about life. When I look back at my journey, every 5 years had at least one unique milestone that I didn’t expect. And with these milestones, my perspective about people, society, government, technology, relationships, and most importantly about myself changed.
I am certain you didn’t expect to be at this stage of your life in the industry or function or city or with a certain client.
But life is about Change.
A narrative looking back at your journey through the lens of change and the unimaginable heights you reached could be one way to look at the Change Essay – with gratitude.
If you are coming from an unconventional background – socio-economically or culturally from where you are now, the Stern Change Essay is an excellent way to capture ‘Life’ and show the reader how kind life has been.
4) Change: Growth
Not all changes lead to growth. Risk, by definition, is a change narrative, and many risky decisions don’t lead to wins.
If you had multiple careers – traditional, entrepreneurial, and creative, each experience might have led you to growth in perspective, values, and skills, even if the outcome was always in your favor.
Trying to find the growth lessons in your failures and unique perspectives from your success is one way to capture ‘growth’ as a theme for the Stern Change Essay.
