How to remove irrelevant details from MBA Application Essays

If you have ever reflected on stories and movies that had the potential but just could not live up to the novel idea, one thing becomes very clear – “lack of relevance.” The writer is so focused on making the story an intelligent one; she starts including sub-plots into an otherwise interesting narrative. This trend is not limited to movies and novels but also prevalent in MBA application essays.

The MBA Admission consulting industry is a multi-million dollar industry that co-exists with GMAT Prep, MBA Tour & MBA Admission Interview Prep industries, often overlapping their services under a single entity. When MBA applicants realize this, they reason with something like “The MBA Application essay reviewers charge me by hundreds of dollars per hour. This must be due to their ability to translate simple essays to intelligent ones.” And so starts the rewriting process, resulting in out-of-scope essays.

Simplicity has amazing power to influence the reader. A simple, easy to read narrative is more than enough to convey your motivations for an MBA.

Here are some tips to remove irrelevant sentences, and experiences from the essay:

1) Personal vs. Social vs. Spiritual vs. Professional

Each of the four aspects of our personality plays a major role in defining our motivations, values, and achievements. A balanced approach to these four aspects is not necessary. Some applicants tend to think that if they don’t highlight their spiritual upbringing, it never fully convey their values. This is not the case. You can instead go into details on why you believe certain values without going into the origins of those values. There is a universal code for ethical behavior. You don’t need any special explanation to convey the importance of fairness and equality.

2) Avoid Politics & Religion

Conversation in Politics & Religion never ends well. It is especially ineffective in MBA application essays where the conversation is one-dimensional. You might believe is certain religious doctrines, and political agenda, but MBA application essays are the last place to include your beliefs. Instead, find out the values that you realized from these two organizations and check whether those values define who you are. If it is just a minor influence in your behavior, and motivations, avoid including them.

3) Understand Scope Before Life Audit

One strategy that we have recommended throughout our MBA Application Essay Tips is the process of life audit. During this process, the applicants should chronologically list events, people, and circumstances that influence their personality. But before doing so, one thing that should be clear is the importance of scope.

Scope is the “depth of details” that you are willing to analyze in order to explain a problem.

To show your motivations on how you started helping the under privileged children, your school performance in Math & Science subjects is irrelevant, unless you can connect those two ideas. It is amazing to read essays, and wonder why applicants go into details that don’t answer the question in hand.

4) So What?

If you are unable to find ‘irrelevant details’ in your essay, ask the “So What?” question at the end of each sentence. This is an effective step to question your motivations. There should be a clear explanation on why the sentence was included in the essay. If your explanation to the “So what?” question lacks merit, remove it or rephrase it. To judge the merit of your explanation, ask your friend, colleague, or an expert reviewer to sit with you and go through each sentence.

Each year, the word count is going down in MBA Application essays. Any words or sentences, that takes the focus away from the core question in hand will decrease the impact of the essay, and would reduce your chance from entering a top MBA program. Download our essay guide, and use it as a guideline for your MBA Application Essays.

Image Credit: Benis Arapovic