This post is a transcription of Brandeis’ MBA department’s admissions advice video on youtube. This transcription is made available under the Fair Use doctrine’s section on educational purposes.
Transcription of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KBdaR68RS4
Transcription:
Hello! I’m Marie Dillon and I am the admissions officer for the MBA Program. And as you apply to the program, I will be your main contact and help you through the process as you gather your materials and learn more about the program.
For the MBA program, please go online and fill out an application. You are welcome to either send all of your materials to us at once or you can send them piece by piece. We require you to submit a resume, a Statement of Purpose – which is where you really talk about why you are interested in our MBA program, what you can contribute to the program, and what you hope to gain from the program. We also require you to submit two letters of recommendation. We prefer them to be one from an academic professor or one from a…and one professional letter of recommendation. But we really want people that know you the most. So if you’ve been out of school for a while, we would be happy to receive your professional letters of recommendation. We also require applicants to submit a Management Problem Analysis.
Management Problem Analysis is a writing sample that showcases your analytical abilities. It should be about a management problem that you’ve experienced or read about and we want to know how you would have solved the problem. We also require you to submit your university transcripts and a GMAT.So if all of your materials are collected, I will send you an email to let you know that your application’s complete and you will go into review at the next batch of applications.
The college provides its students with much financial aid as possible. More information about financial aid opportunities can be found at our financial aid website. And please feel free to contact one of our financial aid staff members for more questions.
You can find a lot of information about the program on our website but if you really wanna learn about the program and talk about your interests and your fit with the MBA program, we encourage you to come and schedule a visit to learn, to meet with faculty, meet with students, attend a class, and get a feel for what our community is like. To schedule a visit, please just send me an email or call our office and I will be happy to arrange that for you.
This sample outline and essay excerpt are based on biographic information sent in by a reader of our blog network. If you’d like your own FREE outline and excerpt, fill out the form on the right side.
Excerpt:
I am a fortunate man. I had a good upbringing in a nice household that was part of a relatively good neighborhood, where I grew up with both of my parents looking after me. By the standards of my home country, I had it good. I like to think that it was my stable, steady, and otherwise “normal” upbringing that has allowed me to reach the achievements that I have. Honestly, my goals in life are simple: I want to be a good son, a good father, and a good career person. Today, I embark on a journey that I pray will take me to new heights as I prepare to take a leap of faith, leaving Bangladesh to pursue an MBA degree in the US. I believe that this is the school that will give me the tools I need to achieve my goals and dreams in life.
Outline:
I. Introduction
A. I am a fortunate man: good upbringing, nice home, good neighborhood, two parents raised me.
B. I had it good by the standards of my country (considering poverty rate, etc)
C. I believe that my normal upbringing is what helped me reach my achievements thus far.
D. Embarking on a new journey to get further education to reach my ultimate goals: good son, good father, good career person
II. Educational background
A. Along my mission to be a good son, father and professional, I took my studies seriously.
B. My parents paid well and I was fortunate to have a good education.
C. I earned a Secondary School Certificate (S.S.C) from __________ high school, then a Higher Secondary Certificate (H.S.C) from ________________), and finally achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from _____________________.
D. I felt prepared to begin my career path and be a big-time professional.
III. Career experience
A. With my good education, I went about pursuing my third goal, to be a big-time professional.
B. Work experience
i. IIUC information Booth
ii. Call center Agent (___________)
iii. _________ consultancy
C. My work experience helped me build character: Strong communication and inter–personal skills, work ethic, sincerity and self-motivation, and the courage to take challenges.
D. I feel that it is time to pursue the next level in my career path by earning an MBA and pursuing higher positions and, eventually, a well-respected professional.
IV. Why I want to study here
A. I believe that this educational institution is the best place for me to learn and earn an education that will ultimately bring me closer to my goals of being a well-respected professional.
B. At the same time, I believe that this institution teaches great values and virtues that are essential to being a good son and father, and ultimately a good person.
C. My goals to pursue a career in a reputed multinational company (various industries of interest)
This essay outline and excerpt is based on the input of a reader of our blog network. If you’d like to use this free service, please read the terms and conditions page on this blog and fill out the form on the right. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone and all readers requesting assistance must provide enough information for us to produce the outline and excerpt. Please read the terms and conditions.
MBA Essay outline:
I. Introduction
A. I have reached a turning point in life where my decisions and their results can have a life-changing impact
B. For some time now, I have worked for a Hong Kong-based private healthcare services company
C. Now, I want to reach higher aspirations and goals.
D. I turn my attention toward greater achievements, such as helping make progress in healhcare reform.
E. This is why I seek an ______ MBA education.
II. My education and career experience
A. I took up Food Nutrition & Health in college in Canada.
B. I majored in Nutritional Sciences.
C. After earning my degree, I sought accreditation as a nutritionist under the Hong Kong Nutrition Association.
D. After gaining accreditation, I started working with a private healthcare company, mainly dealing with medical benefit schemes for corporate companies.
E. I’ve seen how healthcare systems are in Canada as a college student, in Hong Kong as an accredited professional, and hopefully in the US through my MBA schooling.
III. How my experiences have helped to develop personality and character
A. I believe that there is a deep connection between what and how we eat, and our nature as spiritual beings.
B. The food that nurtures our bodies, gives us the fuel we need to pursue happiness and fulfillment in life.
C. This is the realization that truly made me want to enter into the food and nutrition aspect of healthcare.
D. This is also my main cause for wanting to contribute to healthcare system reforms, to make life better for people in any way I can, even if it’s as simple as advising them on their diets.
Essay excerpt:
I am in an important stage in my life — one that could possibly have a life-changing impact on me. After having worked about one and a half year with a private healthcare services company in Hong Kong, I feel obliged and driven to pursue greater goals and aspirations. I want to reach a higher level of learning, understanding, and experience in the field of healthcare services so that I may have the opportunity to contribute to the progress of healthcare system reformation. This is why I am seeking out an education under the MBA program of _______________.
The pursuit for learning is something that I would never get tired of. I deem that the search for knowledge expansion is both a necessity and passion. Although I have packed myself with this kind of outlook, I cannot say that the road I traveled was easy.
I was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder at the age of 13. This explained my unusual depressive mood swings. Although the doctors said that mine is not a very serious case, my family still opted to take precautionary measures. Since then, sadness was not welcomed in our home. My parents and sisters brought me to town meetings and other civic activities whenever they could. I was able to get acquainted with community volunteers through these gatherings. Soon enough, I found myself spending my free hours in volunteer work. The exposures I had at community activities enabled me to gain confidence.
I managed to join in different organizations in our school while maintaining my involvement in volunteer work. I became a part of our school’s soccer team. Soccer taught me to value team work. Aside from this, my three-year stint as our school newspaper’s photographer gave me the chance to express myself. It was also an opportunity to see things through the narrow lens of a camera. It gave me a different perspective.
The experiences I had with the organizations also enabled me to learn many things. I learned to be productive. The organizations were also avenues to make more friends. And best of all, the activities I had helped me avoid unwanted mood swings.
Aside from the assistance I got from my extra-curricular cavities, I also got support from my high school teachers. They are well aware of my medical situation. And somehow, all of my teachers have managed to keep me focused in class. I was never given special preference, though. Still, the school environment made me think that my disorder is not a hindrance. It would not stop me from getting the things I want to have for myself. Much more, I learned that a bipolar disorder cannot stop me from dreaming big.
I am aware that academic institutions for higher learning offer diversity. And in my opinion, they can open new doors. Aside from the fact that they can provide learning, educational institutions can give me the opportunity to see and compare different perspectives and ideas. I know that college life is very different from high school. It could bring me difficulties. But I think life, generally, is just like that. Coping with ordeals is an evitable part of the human maze. Ironically, it also makes living magical. College, for me, is synonymous to challenge. And I believe that I very much prepared for it.
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A Master’s in Business Administration could very well improve your personal marketability. Aside from the feather that an MBA could add to your hat, it can also enhance of your expertise in the competitive field of business. If you think that your undergraduate GPA won’t let you get the MBA program you want, you need not worry. You could just write a good sample personal statement essay to increase your admission chances. And the following tips may help you do just that:
MBA sample personal statement essay tip: be confident
A fair GPA is not enough reason to underestimate yourself. Believe in the things that you could do. Your sample personal statement essay must not reflect any self- inferiority. You could simply do this by not writing about your worries. Never let your readers feel your doubts.
MBA sample personal statement essay tip: show them what you’ve got
The sample personal statement essay is one of the bases of your admission. Flaunt. State the business-related subjects you have taken back in college. Share a particular life experience that could show your determination and maturity. Use the space of your sample personal statement essay to cite a situation where you have showed excellent leadership. Mention the affiliations that you have.
MBA sample personal statement essay: be persuasive
Utilize the sample personal statement essay to convince the screening committee that you deserve to be admitted. State the reasons behind your need of an MBA. Your sample personal statement essay must also include concrete situations that could show the benefits you could get from an MBA degree. Your sample personal statement essay could also be an avenue where you can share your long-term goals and aspirations. Of course, the plans you should include must require the use of your MBA.
MBA sample personal statement essay: prepare for it
Read about the business school you are applying for. This would let you identify their objectives. As much as possible, write separate sample personal statement essay for each school you’re applying for. Check websites that offer tips in writing admission essays. Review basic grammar rules. A little knowledge in editing could also be of use. You could also have a colleague, friend or professor review your essay. This way, you would easily know the strengths and weaknesses of your essay.
Although the sample personal statement essay is not the sole basis for an MBA admission, it could still be your ticket to a graduate business School. So, it is best to take it seriously.
Photo Credit : paul goyette
