Q) When I attended the info sessions for Stanford and Wharton, the panelists mentioned that I should show vulnerability in my essays. Can you elaborate on what the admissions team expects?
Atul Jose (MBA Admissions Consultant, F1GMAT): The best way to measure what the school wants is to look at their essays and whether they have changed the format.
Stanford has continued with the ‘What Matters to you the most and Why’ and the ‘Why Stanford MBA’ Essays while Wharton has persisted with a traditional – professional gains (rephrased Why Wharton MBA) and meaningful contribution at Wharton (rephrased what is your life outside work and how the experience will contribute towards Wharton)
Both the school want to see your motivation.
Of course, your achievements should be highlighted tactfully. However, if the entire narrative arc is about how great you are and just a line on what is lacking, you will miss a great opportunity to demonstrate an understanding of what it takes to succeed at the next stage of your career.
Without showing vulnerability and emotional intelligence to recognize your weakness, you will not seek the assistance of professors and peers when the course is not your forte.
Business School’s USP is in collaborative learning.
Lone Wolfs and applicants who have a low tolerance for accepting feedback (aka classic entrepreneurs) don’t fit into the ideal profile that the schools expect.
The extra-curricular/values essays – Wharton’s meaningful contribution, and Stanford’s ‘What Matters Most and Why’ are another opportunity to show vulnerability - not in highlighting a failure or awareness about weakness, but in creating a narrative that shows both the ups and downs.
Stanford expects a human angle to your narrative.
Wharton is keen on observing whether you had meaningful contributions outside work.
Meaning is subjective, but grandiose achievements and achievements that seem impossible for a general audience are good ones to highlight for this essay. Any extreme sports and adventure – the origin of your interest (don’t create a cliched pushing my limits narrative. Think beyond the clichés), will help you explain what is driving you.
Limit the bragging.
Both the school wants candidates who recognize their fallibility. So whenever you are tempted to create a grandiose narrative, stop.
