The first draft of the essay should be a free flow of your inner thoughts, beliefs, and narrative excesses (blog-like). The real work starts at the Second draft. One common mistake that I have seen applicants make is taking the shortcut and directly writing with a tone that is similar to a second draft. They all sound the same with no uniquely identifiable attributes.
I hope you are ready with the first draft of essays with words that are double or triple the recommended limit. It doesn’t matter. The idea is to write freely and capture unique phrases that a consultant or a typical applicant might not use. If you are still not ready with the First Draft, subscribe to our Essay Review Service. We will help you shortlist the most impactful stories from your career and personal life. After that, we will guide you with narrative tips on making your essay engaging and unique.
Second Draft
The real work starts in the second draft where you have to structure the essay into:
1) A memorable opening
2) An interesting opening paragraph
3) An engaging middle
4) A concluding paragraph
5) A conclusion that captures the essence of the answer
The Middle
Most applicants understand the need for an opener. That is one of the most sought after request in F1GMAT’s Essay Review service, but I have seen applicants going complacent in the middle. The transitional middle is where the action picks up.
If you have read about the W-Pattern narrative in Winning MBA Essay Guide, you might have understood that the middle paragraph should include events that put the protagonist (you) in greater danger. Of course, the W-Pattern is not for all essay questions, but when the admission team asks about Failure or Weaknesses, the middle is where the real action happens. The opening paragraph offers context and sets the protagonist for a setback.
Violate Expectations
One way to counter the dip in narrative interest in the middle is to treat the paragraph as an opener. Use the most surprising turn of events in the first line, as reviewers typically lose interest in your essay after the first paragraph even if you have put great thought and energy into creating an engaging opening paragraph.
The Essay Reviewer is expecting events based on your personality, gender, job profile, education (quant-heavy or idea-heavy), country of origin and country of residence. I know it is not fair, but humans have survived for thousands of years by jumping to a quick conclusion or creating typecasts. The instincts cannot be wiped out just through an interesting opening paragraph (tips on creating a memorable opening in Winning MBA Essay Guide).
Your goal is to surprise and gain their attention. Without an element of surprise or injecting greater danger into the narrative, the admission team will not be invested in your story nor will they root for your candidacy.
Final Paragraph
After you have sustained the reviewer’s interest in the middle, the final paragraph should tie everything down to a conclusion about your personality.
Remember – show don’t tell
- Never explicitly cite your qualities in the middle paragraph or even the opening sentences of the Final Paragraph.
- Always use actions and exposure to events, cultures, and experience to demonstrate your worldview and strengths.
- Conclude with an explicit sentence highlighting your qualities.
If the reviewer reads your narrative with great interest but needs an anchoring statement to make a judgment about your candidacy, the final sentence should sub-consciously guide them.
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