Q) How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background. (250 words or less)

Background Information: A consultant reflects the escape from the genocide in Rwanda and the impact the war trauma had in shaping his extra-curricular engagement as a visual storyteller. 

Theme: War Trauma, Creativity, Inclusion

Q) How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

Background Information: A field engineer in the oil and gas industry who transitioned to renewable wants to help businesses adopt sustainability practices to the climate-change realities we are likely to see in 2030.

Theme: Adaptability, Climate Change, Sustainability

Theme (Explained): Working towards holistic systems and adapting to the realities of climate change is a theme not many applicants are narrating. 

Haas MBA Essay: What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

Sometimes life’s mission might be something that has a ripple effect on an entire generation and the future of humanity. It could be working on a vision to bring equity into a society that is growingly becoming unequal. It could be working on systems, policies, and technology that would determine how humans will consume and expend resources for the next 1000 years.

Theme: Climate Change

Chicago Booth MBA Essay# An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office.

NYU Stern MBA Essay 1: Change: _________ it (350 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)

In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

Background Information: A technologist shares his unique 'listening' skill, the application of his skill for a retail startup, and his goal to apply his strength as a management consultant.

Theme: Listening

Stanford GSB MBA Essay A: What matters most to you, and why? (650 Words)

Background Information: Coming from an illustrious business family, the applicant found her true calling, serving the displaced at UNHCR – the UN’s agency assisting refugees to return to their home country or integrate/resettle in another country. 

Theme: Privilege 

Harvard Business-Minded Essay 

• Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)