Since we collect the reviews offline, here are the reviews for F1GMAT's Harvard MBA Essay Guide for the 2023 Entering Class
"Recommended. Good advice from a writing sage. In this unique exploration of storytelling for Essays, the author demonstrates how the story is central to standing out from the competitors. The skill is powerful for Harvard MBA application. My favorites are essays where the setback element is strong. Atul goes into some dark places with his sample but doesn't linger too long to make the essay narrative about the setbacks. The switching techniques and the leadership lessons outside the cliches I have read in other consultants' books make the Sample Essays unique. " - Verified Purchase
"I loved this book. Mr. Jose writes in a digestible language that is engaging and easy to follow. Great for applicants who has a foundational command over writing. The book builds on the skills and goes into depth about storytelling and using patterns to engage readers. He outlines strategies that balance story with substance. I also liked the sample essays. Many I found moving and opened up to the possibility of highlighting certain vulnerable moments in my life. The transitions from personal to professional and back to personal through a seamless narrative is a learning I picked up from the book. "
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"Atul spends a good part of the book breaking down how to add the story to the essays, some of which is unconventional from any books on writing I have read. The book can get technical at times, but the examples reveal truths that hit a special emotional connection. The techniques he broke down in a logical way were an antithesis to the prose he uses in the essay. TBH, it made me forget about all the rules he demonstrated. And that is a skill of a master storyteller. It made me wonder about the broken persons quoted in the samples who fought against all odds to find a chance to be among the best at Harvard. At times, some lines made me think hard about my life, the hurtful comments, life's unpredictability, and the reserve I found to fight back. Inspiring!" - Verified Purchase
"Bottom line, this is the best book on writing Essays in the market. The book includes hundreds of brilliant, actionable techniques and strategies to expand applicants' storytelling skills. As a first-time writer who is used only to emails and reports, this book helped me with the tough decisions of designing the story. I planned to read some interesting sections from the index, but Atul's voice is so unique that he made me care about writing. I read the essay writing tips section of the book straight from beginning to end. Areas, where I feel the book helps are writing realistic event description, characters in your life that is relevant for the MBA application & essays, and the overall tone that is not too blog-like or too formal. " - Verified Purchase
"Despite being an Essay Guide for MBA application, the concepts discussed in the book are relevant for writing in general. The author masterfully explains why we connect with certain stories, from the use of chronology, the transitions, and the reveal in the 'middle' that breaks the expected structure of an essay. It's for anyone learning to write essays. While the examples are largely from profiles of applicants who had considerable struggles in their life, there were a couple of examples that looked similar to my profile - a typical IB professional from the East Coast. I found the book valuable as I could tell the best story for my application." - Verified Purchase
