mit sloan mba essay questions

2023-2024 MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jul 2, 2023

Who is MIT Sloan looking for?
How should I answer MIT Sloan essay questions?
Make Sure you Get Into MIT Sloan
MIT Sloan Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 27, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With the Media Lab, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation track, and a motto of “Mens et Manus,” or “Mind and Hand,” MIT Sloan is a hotbed for professionals seeking to work with cutting-edge industries and entrepreneurs alike.

However, with the number of MBA applicants hoping to land jobs in technology and entrepreneurship increasing every year, landing a spot at MIT Sloan has become more challenging than ever.

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Sloan admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to MIT Sloan MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Haas application your best shot.

1. Who is MIT Sloan looking for?

“MIT Sloan students are informed and responsible global citizens with the vision, drive, and practical experience to make significant contributions to their organizations and to the world.” MIT Sloan Admissions Team

As one of the prestigious M7 schools, the average MIT Sloan student tends to have a demonstrated track record of academic excellence and a high GMAT/GRE score. The ~400 admits to the Class of 2024 had a median GMAT score of 730. GRE verbal scores ranged from 157-168 and quant scores ranged from 158-169.

However, with a major focus on diversity (it’s been the theme of Sloan’s interview essay for the past several years), it’s no surprise that MIT Sloan’s admissions team works hard to continually increase the diversity of perspectives present in its class. The Class of 2024 had 63 countries represented and included 32% of students from underrepresented U.S. minorities and 46% women.

(Source: MIT Sloan’s Website)

In addition, MIT Sloan tends to favor applicants who demonstrate excellence and commitment both at the office and in the community.

So, if this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll have to think of the ways in which you align with the main characteristics of MIT Sloan’s students. This means forming your business school brand and then focusing on the aspects of that brand that align with collaborative leadership, analytical thinking, and a commitment to solving urgent issues in business and society.

2. How should I answer MIT Sloan essay questions?

This year, MIT has retained its famous cover letter question and has retained the same instructions for the video essay question. Given the limited amount of space you have, you need to make sure every word paints a picture of your accomplishments and potential additions to the MIT Sloan community.

The following analyses demonstrate how you may do that.

2.1. Cover Letter

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

After taking a short break from the cover letter question, MIT Sloan reinstated it several years ago, and it seems this “essay” is here to stay.

This is not surprising, considering how well the task of writing a cover letter aligns with Sloan’s goal of admitting practical candidates with a demonstrated track record of success. The cover letter, thus, allows you to concisely and pragmatically feature your key accomplishments, demonstrate your career plan, and demonstrate to Sloan’s admissions committee that you “fit” with their program.

Though it may sound obvious, approach this essay as though you are applying for a new job. A good professional cover letter opens by demonstrating your strengths and creating a strong picture of the value you can contribute to your future organization.

You should begin your MIT Sloan cover letter by doing the same. First, consider your background and professional history. Which examples show you are an innovator (a core value at Sloan )? What shows that you are passionate about the career you have chosen but are also practical enough to get results day in and day out?

After choosing 2-3 examples that show you thinking outside the box and offering pragmatic solutions to challenging business problems, as well as examples that demonstrate your leadership skills, consider how you might tell these stories in a short yet powerful way .

Then, begin your letter. We suggest you avoid a boring “My name is X, and I am applying to join Sloan” opening. Instead, craft a compelling hook introduction that not only grabs the reader’s interest, but that also sets the stage for the themes you will explore in your letter (opening with a line about teamwork then spending your whole essay talking about innovation, for example, would not be a good match).

TOP TIP : Dedicate roughly 75% of your essay to your past examples. Make sure these are told in STAR format .

After you show MIT Sloan what you’ve already accomplished (and make sure you do this well, MIT Sloan believes strongly that the best indicator of success is past behavior), you might want to mention a bit about your goals if it gives necessary context to why you are pursuing an MBA. In most cases, we find adding at least a brief summary of the mission or path you plan to explore in the future leads to a stronger overall cover letter.

Then, end the essay by giving one or two examples of what kind of student you will be at MIT Sloan and why Sloan is the right choice to help you achieve your goals. You do not want to include a laundry list of classes and clubs, but a few, well-chosen examples and connections to how the MIT Sloan MBA experience will serve you well.

TOP TIP: Format your cover letter essay as a traditional cover letter. Elements like your address, your salutation and your closing do not count towards your final word count.

Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of MIT Sloan essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning MIT Sloan essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join !

2.2. Video Statement

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length

Single take (no editing)

Speaking directly to the camera

Do not include background music or subtitles

Note: While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared beyond the admissions committee and is for use in the application process only.

Considering the short amount of time you have to make an impression on MIT, your goal with this essay is to introduce yourself to your classmates, and the best introductions usually contain a selection of interesting stories .

To start brainstorming which topics you might want to include, imagine you’re at your first day of work and need to introduce yourself to your team. What would you want to make sure your new colleagues know about you? Or, better yet, if a new colleague joined and was introducing himself, what would you want to know about him?

Since you’ll have your entire cover letter to discuss your professional achievements, we suggest you focus more here on your personal interests than on examples of big wins at work.

Of course, in your introduction, feel free to mention what you do for a living and give the necessary context for the experiences you do mention, but spend the majority of the video essay going beyond your profession.

So think about what makes you YOU beyond what the school has already learned about you in your CV , letters of recommendation, and cover letters.

You might want to devote your entire minute to one topic (for example, a client this year discussed her passion for fencing and her experience creating the first women’s fencing club at her university). If you do choose this route, you may want to consider filming your video in a creative environment that reflects your interest (the client mentioned above filmed her video wearing her fencing gear).

However, if you have many different interests and would like to talk about several of them, this approach also works. Make sure you are able to fully describe what you’re interested in and why it’s important to you. A laundry list of extracurricular achievements is not the goal here. If you choose this option, try to record in a somewhat neutral environment so the focus is 100% on you. Nonetheless, we see videos focused on a single topic tend to do better overall.

Finally, you might want to mention briefly how the theme you have developed connects to MIT Sloan and how you can contribute to the school. They don’t want to see a full-blown “Why MIT” statement, since they have asked you to speak to your classmates! However, if your whole video is about your passion for social impact, you might want to mention how how you’d share this passion of yours with fellow Sloanies. Or, if you use the fencing club example above, you might want to end by mentioning you’d like to create Sloan’s first Fencing Club! You don’t want to overdo it, however!

TOP TIP : Try to choose a background or setting that complements your video. To again cite the fencing example, this client recorded her video in her fencing uniform, removing her mask right before introducing herself. Another client, who talked about her passion for Italian cooking and her sabbatical year at a cooking school in Rome, filmed from her kitchen. There is no right or wrong answer here, so be creative!

No matter where you record, check your sound quality and lighting to make sure you will be easy to see and hear.

Finally, we suggest you write a script and practice recording yourself several times to get just the right take. Usually, clients are able to comfortably fit about 170 words of content into 1 minute. After recording yourself a few times, you may want to send a few options to friends, family, or trusted advisors to get their take on which clip to send. The most important thing is to show MIT your winning personality!

Make sure you do not exceed the 1:00 limit.

2.3. Optional Short Answer Question

Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250 word short answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. This is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the Admissions Committee, should you choose to do so.

MIT Sloan values applicants who can contribute to its greater community and the educational experience for all. This question offers you the chance to give the admissions committee more information about what makes you you , as well as show how you will contribute to the overall diversity of the class.

There is really no “right” answer to this question. We have seen clients discuss how growing up in a low-income context fueled them to overcome adversity and, later, share this success with other people in their communities. Other clients have talked about their varied multicultural experiences gave them a unique view of the world. When considering what to add here, I would suggest you think about what unique perspective you’ll bring to the MIT community and what experiences have shaped you to become this person.

Though this essay is optional, since MIT’s application is so short, we suggest that you take advantage of it. Just make sure you don’t repeat information that can be found in your cover letter or video.

2.4. Additional Information Essay

Please provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to know that may be helpful in evaluating your candidacy (i.e. choice of recommenders, areas of concern in your academic record, other extenuating circumstances, etc.). This information should be provided in a written format. (200 words or less).

Like all other elements of the MIT application, keep this short and sweet. We have written extensively on the issue of optional essays, giving tips and tricks for how to address issues like low GMAT scores or poor academic performance here.

2.5. The Interview Essays

MIT Sloan has also long required candidates who are called to interview to submit an additional essay. The questions themselves will be confirmed upon interview invitation.

Looking for MIT Sloan MBA essay examples? Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

3. Make Sure you Get Into MIT Sloan

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.

Not only can you take advantage of our iterative feedback process through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

4. MIT Sloan Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. You can access the MIT Sloan application here .

Real MBA Essays That Got People In

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MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

July 3, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

Rather than framing its required application essay as a traditional “essay,” the MIT Sloan School of Management instead requests that applicants submit a “cover letter,” including even the standard formal correspondence elements of an address and opening salutation. Writing cover letters will undoubtedly be a large part of students’ career development efforts at Sloan, after all, so why not start now? Candidates must also submit a one-minute self-introduction video in which they are expected to convey their personality and basically “be themselves.” Some MBA programs use video essays to evaluate candidates’ communication skills, grace under pressure, and potential to contribute to classroom discussions, and even though Sloan’s admissions committee will likely be able to glean hints about these qualities through its video, its primary purpose appears to be to reveal who the school’s applicants are as living, breathing people , rather than one-dimensional aggregates of words and numbers in a folder. As we have noted in the past, while somewhat unorthodox, the school’s “essays” allow applicants to deliver a balanced view of their professional and personal profiles, with a good amount of leeway for creativity. Read on for our full analysis of MIT Sloan’s application prompts for 2023–2024.

MIT Sloan 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Cover Letter: MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative—true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the mit sloan mba program. your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the admissions committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation)..

To start, we strongly advise that you avoid beginning your letter with a rote opening like “My name is , and I am seeking a place in the MIT Sloan Class of 2026.” Your admissions reader will likely be asleep before they even finish the sentence! Such information is obvious—we can assure you that the admissions reader is well aware of your desire to be admitted to the MIT Sloan program—and is therefore a waste of precious word count, not to mention that it is hardly the kind of gripping opening that will grab and hold someone’s attention.

The broad scope of this essay prompt allows you a great amount of freedom to choose and share the information you believe is most important for your candidacy. The 300-word maximum is equal to roughly three short paragraphs. Including specific examples of impact and leadership that clearly illustrate that you possess the qualities discussed in the prompt is crucial (we would encourage you to share at least two). Informal guidance provided by MIT Sloan’s admissions committee after the initial release of this essay question in 2017 indicated that applicants should focus on sharing their personal experiences, accomplishments, values, viewpoints, and/or skills to demonstrate (1) what they can contribute to the school’s greater community as a result and (2) why Sloan’s MBA program in particular is the best one for them. The school does not ask you to outline your post-MBA goals, but if doing so allows you to better substantiate your need or desire for a Sloan MBA specifically, a (very) brief explanation of your aspirations could be appropriate and useful.

After discussing your accomplishments—being careful not to brag!—along with any other elements of your profile that you feel make you a strong candidate for the MIT Sloan MBA program, strive to relate these achievements and qualities to the school’s offerings and community. Citing specific courses, experiential opportunities, or other relevant resources can help you make a compelling case for your spot in the next incoming class. For a thorough exploration of the MIT Sloan academic program, unique offerings, social life, and other key characteristics, be sure to download a free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the MIT Sloan School of Management .

VIDEO: Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

– no more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length, – single take (no editing), – speaking directly to the camera, – do not include background music or subtitles.

Before you do anything else, stop and take a deep, cleansing breath. We know video essays can be scary, but MIT Sloan is not trying to stress you out. The admissions committee just wants a more dynamic representation of your personality than a written essay can provide, so your primary goal is simply to be as authentic and natural as possible. This is not a job interview, and you are instructed to consider your fellow students your intended audience, which certainly implies that a less rigid and traditionally “professional” demeanor is okay, though you should obviously never be inappropriate or offensive. Do not concern yourself with trying to say the “right” things in your video. The topic here is one you know very well—you! A good brainstorming tactic is to imagine meeting someone for the first time at a party or other event and to think about the kinds of questions you might ask one another in the process of getting acquainted. What kind of information would you want to know about this person, and what facts about yourself would you be most eager to share, as a way of conveying who you are and making a connection? (You can even Google “icebreaker questions” to find examples of these sorts of questions.) Take some time to delve into your personality in this way.

The admissions committee’s enthusiasm comes through very clearly in this prompt, and we encourage you to make sure your own enthusiasm comes through just as clearly in your video. In a video on Sloan’s YouTube channel, Sloan’s associate director of admissions noted that this submission is “one of [their] favorite components in the application,” and we are pretty confident that is not because these videos tend to be stiff, boring recitations of applicants’ resumes and cloying compliments of the school. Spend some time really delving into what makes you you , what you are proud of, what you get excited about, what you like about yourself and feel you can offer to those around you—all the elements that make you the individual you are today. This is the content that will breathe life into your application. For further inspiration, consider asking your family members and friends how they would describe you to someone who had never met you and what they believe are your standout qualities, abilities, and/or accomplishments. Such outside perspectives can be inspiring and can alert you to compelling points you might have otherwise disregarded or forgotten.

Even though in the scenario the school presents, you are supposed to be addressing your fellow students, your actual audience will be the admissions committee, so keep in mind what they will already have learned about you from your cover letter essay and other portions of your application. If you have a particularly significant story or relevant aspect of your candidacy that you have not been able to convey elsewhere in your materials, this could be a great opportunity to share it (though this would not be the time or place to explain any problematic issues). Also, avoid pandering to the school or expressing your generic admiration for the program. You have only one minute in which to make an impression, and even without knowing you personally, we are confident that you have more to your character than can be conveyed in a mere 60 seconds—so do not waste any of them!

Given that this is a video, you will want to pay some extra attention to the clothing you will wear, your tone of voice, your language style, and other such details. In the end, your message is what is most important, so no fancy bells or whistles are needed, but if you are a more creative type, you might consider ways of nonverbally communicating some of your strongest attributes and key aspects of your life to help permeate your submission with as much information as possible. For example, if you are an avid cook, consider filming your video while standing in a kitchen, perhaps wearing an apron (if you typically do so) and surrounded by the ingredients and tools you need to create one of your favorite recipes. If you are a dedicated guitar player, perhaps hold your guitar as you speak. If you are especially confident, you could even sing about yourself! In short, think about what makes you who you are today, decide what you most want to share with your future classmates, and then let your creativity flow.

On a practical note, be sure to speak clearly. You naturally do not want any part of your message to be lost or misunderstood, and the admissions committee could view your communication skills and style as indicators of how you might interact with your classmates and/or speak in the classroom. Although we recommend spending some time practicing in front of a mirror or a friend, do not over-rehearse, and avoid simply reading from a prepared script. You want to come across as genuine as possible so the admissions committee can “meet” the real you.

Optional Short Answer Question: How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background. (250 words)

This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. this is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the admissions committee, should you choose to do so..

Although the Sloan admissions committee is very explicit in spelling out that this indeed is an optional portion of the application and that candidates will not gain (or lose) in any way if they choose to respond to this prompt (or not), we have little doubt that quite a few applicants will panic at the thought of not submitting something. Believe us when we say that you can trust the admissions committee and be confident that the school is not trying to trick or test you in any way. (If this were a test of any kind—and again, it is not —it would be of your ability to assess and respond to such opportunities appropriately, meaning knowing when to provide more information and when to leave well enough alone.) The obvious truth is that everyone is shaped by their background, but not everyone will have a worthwhile story to share for this mini essay. If you do, the admissions committee simply wants to leave the door open for you to do so. But do not force the issue.

If an aspect of your background has pushed you to develop a certain appreciation, value, or skill that is not otherwise conveyed in your application but is central to who you are and how you conduct yourself in the world, that might be worth discussing here. If you have something in your character that is perhaps more lighthearted but stems from an aspect of your upbringing or environment and would help demonstrate that you are a multifaceted individual who can add an interesting new element to the next incoming class, that, too, could be a fitting topic for this mini essay. The bottom line is to ensure that if you choose to respond to this prompt, you offer the admissions committee something that is truly additive to your profile and will help them better understand who you are and what you have to offer for the Sloan community and perhaps even the broader world post-MBA.

Reapplicants: We strongly encourage you to submit new application materials and emphasize what has changed since you last applied. Re-applicants may submit their applications in any round, and will have an opportunity to highlight changes since their previous application in a short-answer question.

Whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or taken on some sort of personal challenge, the key to success this time around is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. MIT Sloan wants to know that you have been continuing to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the time since you last applied to do so, because earning an MIT Sloan MBA is important to you. Make sure the admissions committee is fully aware of any significant work you have done and progress you have made since your previous application.

The Next Step: Mastering Your MIT Sloan Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free Interview Guides to spur you along! Download your free copy of the MIT Sloan School of Management Interview Guide today.

Candidates who are fortunate enough to be invited to interview at MIT Sloan (congratulations!) must respond to two additional essay questions.

Required Question #1 The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.

The key with this submission is showing initiative and input on behalf of others and making sure your actions and motivations are readily understood. In business school—as in life in general—you will encounter people who think differently from you, operate according to different values, and react differently to the same stimuli. And success in an endeavor often involves evaluating and even incorporating the views of others. With this pre-interview essay, MIT Sloan is hoping to learn how you view and respond to such differences, using the principle that past behavior is a fairly reliable predictor of future behavior. In the MIT Sloan MBA program, you will be surrounded every day by people who are unlike you in a multitude of ways, and you will need to work in tandem with and alongside these individuals when analyzing case studies, completing group projects, and taking part in other activities both inside and outside the classroom. Note, however, that the essay prompt is not about simply participating in a diverse and inclusive culture but actually helping to cultivate one. The admissions committee wants to know that you are comfortable within such a dynamic, of course, but seems especially interested in hearing about a time when you stepped up to actively bring various people together in a harmonious and productive way.

MIT Sloan does not specify that you must have led the effort you are describing, though an example in which you have played a leadership role would be ideal if you have one. What you do have to do, in any case, is be sure that both the extent and the nature of your particular contribution to the project or event is front and center. The school expressly stipulates that the incident you share involve “a work environment or organization,” so your selected story should not be about a time you did something of this nature completely independently. Perhaps, for example, you organized (or helped organize) a welcome-our-new-hires potluck for your department after a number of new employees joined the team. Or maybe you instituted (or participated significantly in) a mentorship program at your company, in which employees with different tasks and personal backgrounds were matched to learn from and support one another. Whatever your story, we recommend using a narrative approach to present it, while also conveying the thought process and motivation(s) behind your actions. This way, the admissions committee will take away both a clear picture of what you accomplished and the aspects of your character that inspired you and enabled your success.

Required Question #2 We are interested in learning more about how you make data-driven decisions and communicate results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to:

Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research (e.g. climate change, COVID maps, etc.).
In 250 words or less, please describe a recent data-driven decision you had to make, and include one slide presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context. Your slide must be uploaded as a PDF.

The important thing to understand here is that with these prompts, MIT Sloan is testing not your ability to present data but rather your ability to use data to make decisions and to explain the data in a way that is understandable to the non-quantitatively minded. To craft an effective response, you need to create a data visualization that is clean, clear, and easy to digest. The admissions committee wants evidence that you can communicate complex ideas in simple ways—or even simple ideas in compelling ways.

We suggest you start by identifying a difficult problem you recently solved or considered at length. What were the factors involved in helping you reach your final solution or conclusion? Some were undoubtedly qualitative (what your instincts told you with respect to the situation), but many, if not most, were based on the facts, numbers, and other data involved. How was your decision-making process driven by these numbers or data? And which numbers and data? Once you have determined the answers to these questions, you will have the foundation for your submission. Your next challenge is determining the best way of presenting the data so that anyone can understand it, and this part is key. If you opt for an overly complicated or sophisticated visualization, perhaps thinking you might impress the admissions committee with your advanced analytic capabilities, you will end up with a slide that is opaque and confusing—and that will not likely bring you the response you want. Instead, imagine that you were drawing a diagram for a ten-year-old (or at least someone with absolutely no knowledge of your area of expertise) to understand; what would it look like? A regression scatter plot? Probably not. Two bar charts? That sounds about right.

Similarly, crafting and presenting your chosen situation using a narrative format will make your essay both more compelling and more accessible. Consider starting with the 250-word essay, and strive to clearly describe the problem you addressed, the factors you considered in reaching your ultimate solution/resolution, and why these factors were central to your decision(s). Then, create a diagram that uses data points to illustrate how you came to that conclusion. Remember, the enemy here is being overly sophisticated in your diagram. Presenting a straightforward argument supported by a clean, accessible diagram is your goal.

To learn more about the essays for other top business schools, visit our MBA Essay Tips and Examples Resources Page .

2023-2024 Business School Essays Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) MBA Essay Tips

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MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips

If you’re applying to MIT Sloan’s MBA program , you’ve likely given thought to what you want to express in the required 300-word Cover Letter (or, ideally, have already started working on it). Perhaps the trickiest thing about the unique MIT Sloan essay is the word limit, which is incredibly short and forces you to have a laser focus on the elements of your personality / experience that demonstrate your fit with Sloan’s culture. Keep reading for tips to maximize those 300 words as well as advice on what to share in the required video statement.

MIT Sloan Essay Questions

“MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).”

In addition to the cover letter, Sloan asks you to submit a 60-second video statement, as described in the following prompt:

“Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!”

MIT Sloan Essay Tips

Let the prompt be your guide.

Pay close attention to the language of the MIT Sloan essay prompt because it helpfully describes the qualities Sloan seeks in a successful applicant. Many of these are similar to those sought by all of the top MBA programs – intellectual strength, track record of accomplishments, and ability to bring dimension to the cohort. However, the critical things to note here are those that make Sloan different – its orientation towards an independent mindset and creative problem-solving. They don’t just want someone who ‘got the job done’, they want the person who redefined the problem and came up with a solution no one had thought of before.

With only 300 words at your disposal, you simply don’t have space to separately demonstrate you possess each of the more basic traits. For these, utilize the other components of the application – your GMAT/GPA can help prove your intellect, your resume showcases your history of accomplishments, and your video essay should highlight what makes you unique. In the cover letter, make a solid case – supported by one or maybe two stories – that you are an innovative thinker who isn’t afraid of rocking the boat to enable progress.

Anchor on One Story that Highlights a Capstone Accomplishment and Demonstrates Fit with Sloan

The ideal story to use is career-focused (given the tone of the prompt), fairly recent, and has a connecting thread with how you will contribute at Sloan if admitted. Make a list of your ‘capstone’ accomplishments and select the one (or maybe two if they are short) that highlights how you led in a way that transformed others’ thinking, creatively solved a problem that had stumped others before, or identified an opportunity that no one had thought of (or had the courage to raise) before. These are the types of stories that will resonate with the Sloan adcom.

In addition to telling this story, your cover letter should read similarly to one you would use to apply to a job (that you REALLY want). The adcom has provided the ‘job description’ (i.e., what they look for in candidates), you need to convincingly pitch that YOU are the best candidate to fulfill these criteria. Tell your story but also tell the adcom why they should care. In other words, draw the connection as to why the story you’ve told about yourself (and the qualities it proves you possess) will make you a perfect fit for Sloan. Additionally, explain how you will put these qualities to use while at Sloan to benefit the experience of your peers in class, clubs, recruiting, etc.

Past Accomplishments, Not Future Goals, Should Be the Focus

We find that applicants always want to build in a discussion of their career goals and why MBA / why Sloan into their cover letter. We get why this is tempting! That said, 300 words is incredibly limiting, and the Sloan cover letter should be more about sharing what you will ‘give’ to Sloan than about what you will take away from it. You can certainly orient the ways you will contribute at Sloan towards things (i.e., clubs, classes) that are relevant to your future career goals. But, in our experience, it is hard to fully develop both what you will ‘give’ and what you will ‘take’ in 300 words.

MIT Sloan Video Statement Tips

Since your cover letter will likely be professionally focused, the video statement is a great place to share who you are outside of work and the unique attributes you would bring to the class. Specific content will vary from person to person of course, but remember that Sloan values independent thought, fearless creativity, and passion. What about you hits on these notes?

Perhaps the most important thing to do to ensure you submit a strong video statement is practice. You only have one take to get it right, so you need to make sure you know what you are going to say and that it fits concisely into one minute. This is hard to know unless you practice multiple times, OUT LOUD. Please trust us on this one – you will kick yourself if you work hard to perfect your cover letter only to walk away unsatisfied with what you submit for this portion of the application due to lack of practice.

If you’d like assistance with your Sloan essays or your broader MBA application strategy, click here to schedule an initial consultation!

The post MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips appeared first on Vantage Point MBA .

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MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips

MIT Sloan Essay Questions

In addition to the cover letter, Sloan asks you to submit a 60-second video statement, as described in the following prompt:

“Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!”

MIT Sloan Essay Tips

Let the prompt be your guide.

Anchor on One Story that Highlights a Capstone Accomplishment and Demonstrates Fit with Sloan

Past Accomplishments, Not Future Goals, Should Be the Focus

MIT Sloan Video Statement Tips

If you’d like assistance with your Sloan essays or your broader MBA application strategy, click here to schedule an initial consultation!

Katie is a passionate mentor and coach, helping her clients craft a unique, compelling story by leveraging her experience as a corporate executive, alumni interviewer, and campus recruiter. Before completing her MBA at Kellogg, Katie spent five years in banking where she learned practical finance skills as well as how to operate in a demanding, high pressure environment. She pursued an MBA in order to transition to an industry role where she could utilize her finance knowledge to drive change within an organization. Post-MBA, she worked in finance and strategy for a leading CPG firm, progressing to an executive role leading the finance function for a $2B business segment. Her experience managing diverse teams led to a passion for developing others. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, she led her firm’s MBA recruiting efforts and served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Kellogg.

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MIT Sloan: MBA Application Essays

We are back with our List of Top B-school essay questions and prompts! Today, we will specifically discuss the MIT Sloan Application Essays for the 2022-23 admission cycle. Additionally, MIT is a well-renowned B-school that aims to create a vibrant learning environment, rich in diverse ideas and life experiences, for aspiring MBA candidates. That’s why MIT again encourages applicants from all areas of study, including non-conventional backgrounds like humanities and the social/physical sciences, in addition to traditional experiences like business and engineering. In addition, the B-school is searching for curious, passionate candidates with good analytical skills who will enhance the collaborative community at MIT.

So, What’s your story? What experiences and decisions have shaped who you are today? To understand this better, MIT once again has its unique application process to evaluate all the relevant aspects of a candidate’s profile through their B-school essays. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get moving!

Above all, let us first take a glance at all the relevant dates regarding different rolling application rounds!

MIT SLOAN: APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR AUGUST 2023 ENTRY

**3:00 p.m. EST must receive all applications on the deadline.**

Great! Now that we are well-versed with all the important dates, let’s get started on the application essays!

MIT SLOAN: COVER LETTER

Rather than a traditional essay, MIT seeks a cover letter from their students whose individual characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of all the incredible opportunities available at MIT, both academic and non-academic. The School looks out for aspiring candidates whose presence will enhance the experience of other students hailing from diverse backgrounds.

Moreover, the School seeks thoughtful leaders with stellar leadership examples , exceptional intellectual abilities, drive & determination to put their mark on this dynamic business world.

What MIT Sloan Seeks in MBA Candidates

MIT welcomes people who are ‘independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative’ — true doers. The renowned B-school, moreover, again seeks candidates who can redefine solutions to conventional world problems and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. The School also demands integrity, respect, and unmatched passion for working toward your post-MBA goals.

Considering the above, every aspiring candidate must submit a cover letter seeking a place in the esteemed MIT Sloan MBA program!

We follow a unique framework to help applicants dig deep into their work experience, leadership potential, strengths, weaknesses, etc., and structure the stories in a way that can bring the most impact.

Want to pursue an MBA but not sure if your profile fits?

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Moreover, your letter should conform to standard business correspondence by including one or more professional examples that could illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Besides the cover letter, there’s an optional 250-word short answer question for expanding on your background.

Optional Short Answer Question – How has the world you come from shaped who you are today?

For example, your family, culture, and community all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

Although MIT mentions the question as truly optional, applicants won’t be evaluated more positively or negatively based on whether they choose to respond to the prompt or not. However, we think this is a great opportunity for candidates. It allows them to share more about their driving force, inspiration, determination, and how their decisions throughout their journey shaped their career. Additionally, be honest! Don’t overstate or exaggerate. Your world need not be perfect; instead, focus on your journey and the different routes you took to make it all worthwhile in front of the Admissions Committee.

MIT SLOAN: APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

A complete application for 2023 entry consists of the following:

Cover Letter
One-page Resume
1-minute Video Statement
One Letter of Recommendation
Additional References – *contact information for two additional professional references.*
Organizational Chart
Transcripts
Test Scores- *You can request a test waiver once the application is open. For more information about GMAT Waivers, you could refer to our article on- GMAT Waivers 2023
Relevant Coursework & Professional Certifications
Optional Short Answer Question.

That’s all about the MIT essay & application requirements! We hope this has helped you. However, if you are looking for a bit of more personal and precise advice, feel free to hop on a 1:1 profile evaluation call with our experts, where we’ll dive deep into your profile and help you understand your chances to top B-schools with absolutely honest feedback.

To understand how our process helps aspiring MBA candidates see a glimpse of how our Profile evaluations and consulting assistance works!

For more on B-School essays, you can check the links for our articles below!

2023-2024 MBA Admissions: MIT Sloan Essays

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, and behavioral essays etc. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for MIT Sloan.

Organizational Chart

Our goal is to learn about you and your professional background. Your employer’s organizational chart will help us better understand the role you play within your organization, who you report to, and the impact you might have on your department or company.

Some important details:

-Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.

-Please circle your role in red so that your position is easily identifiable.

-Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.

-If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.

-If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our FAQs for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

-Please upload an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your place of employment. Limit to two pages.

Click here to view a sample organizational chart.

Behavioral Essay (Cover Letter)

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Admissions Committee 50 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142

Your cover letter should be 300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation. If you have any additional questions, please visit our FAQ page.

Upload a Word or PDF document.

Personal (Video) Essay

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

-No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length

-Single take (no editing)

-Speaking directly to the camera

-Do not include background music or subtitles

Note: While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared beyond the admissions committee and is for use in the application process only.

Optional Essay

We’d like to give you the opportunity to expand on your background. This question is completely optional.

Please do not include any links in your response. (250 words or fewer)

Reapplicant Essay

Please let us know what’s changed since you last applied. (200 words)

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MIT Sloan Organizational Chart

Another of Sloan’s unusual admissions requirements is its organizational chart. From this chart, the AdCom wants to understand visually what your current role is in your organization or company, as well as where you sit in the hierarchy and chain of command. The admissions committee also wants to understand the role and position of your recommenders, so it’s important to be detailed, thorough, and accurate in your organizational chart.

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The Behavioral Essay

To make it simple: the behavioral essay is meant to show MIT Sloan that you have developed some sort of leadership skills, what your values are as a leader, and how you are going to most benefit from their development programs.

The admissions committee is looking for applicants that are self-reflective. Whether it’s through a setback you’ve experienced, or how you dealt with situations that have gone awry, the school is looking for students who are resilient and able to learn from their mistakes.

Do not overexaggerate (or underexaggerate!) the situations you decide to write about. Be honest about what happened; MIT Sloan is looking for genuine people to join their campus community, and they are less likely to admit an applicant who has overinflated their prior experiences.

Last but not least, make sure to describe what you learned and how you implemented this in a subsequent situation. This is an expected element of the behavioral essay, even if it’s not directly written in the prompt. The Admissions Team is looking for MBA essays that show you are a considerate leader who will make the best of their time in the program. The school “demand[s] integrity and respect[s] passion.” Prompts that deal with these topics can be daunting, especially when they require you to write about a weakness you have or a failure you’ve experienced.

The Personal Essay

Like we touched on earlier, schools are looking for the right fit for their campus community, just as you are searching for the school that aligns best with your goals. In the personal essay, this is your chance to show MIT Sloan the values that drive you both as a person and as a student. These values tell the admissions council what you prioritize, the moral code you live by, and, most importantly, who you are as a person.

In these essays, you can talk about almost anything; typically, applicants will write about relationships in their lives, or times when there was a hardship they had to overcome. Be warned, though: there are some topics to avoid, and we have outlined a few things to watch out for in this article .

When it comes to video essays specifically, we have some advice:

Practice—but don’t memorize: it’s always clear if someone has memorized what they intend to say in a video essay verbatim, and this can make your content seem staged and inauthentic. If you find that you’re repeating the same speech over and over again, change the first sentence. You’ll be surprised at how this will throw you off!
Make sure that your setting is appropriate: you want to make sure that your lighting is good and that there are no empty tequila bottles in the background.
Speak slowly and clearly: clear diction can make a big difference when it comes to reviewing your video essay.

Once you’ve completed your application, Sloan’s optional essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

For reapplicants, Sloan requires a specific essay in which you can address how your application has improved since your last application.

In this essay, you can address any improvements to your test scores, promotions at work, additional volunteer or community work, or any significant professional development that you have undertaken since you last applied to the program.

Timing is key for reapplicants, and when you’re applying for an MBA program a second time around, you want to be sure that you are a more qualified and desirable client than you were in the past—even if your application was stellar the first time.

Writing strong, coherent, genuine stories is an essential part of your MBA application. These essays are meant to help you stand out among many other applicants, so it is worth your time to do the work and write about situations unique to your life and that you truly learned from.

Elevate your Sloan MBA application with strategic MBA coaching and insider insights from experienced consultants.

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Essay • MBA • MIT

MIT Sloan MBA 2022-2023 Essay and Video Tips

July 5, 2022

Following the release of MIT’s MBA Deadlines , we’re presenting our definitive guide to Sloan’s written and video application essays. As a quick note, there have been no major changes to the app this year.

Importantly, once you pop open the application, you’ll notice that there is no traditional optional essay (i.e., one referencing problems in your candidacy) included. Instead of an optional section, applicants are provided with two spaces within the Academic Information and Employment Information portions to address any problems in their profile, such as poor school performance or significant job gaps. Should there be any red flags in your history, it goes without saying that it is in your best interest to use that space.

Because MIT’s MBA admissions process is hyper-competitive, the first step to standing out should be to learn about and connect with the program: dive deep into MIT’s courses, structure, culture, and the other things that make MIT unique. Interacting with the program’s staff, as well as former and current students, either virtually or in-person, should also play a key role in your admissions process for MIT Sloan.

Cover Letter – MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

One of the most common questions about this essay is whether or not MIT actually wants a cover letter. The answer is, sort of . While this essay’s format should follow that of a generic cover letter, its content should be oriented to match MIT’s particular tone and preferences.

In terms of substance, the two main areas of focus should be on your experiences and MIT’s MBA. The larger part of your essay should share examples from your life that reflect the values of MIT, such as recent professional experiences and successes. You can extend your focus, however, as long as you make sure to highlight those qualities that MIT is looking for, such as leadership, teamwork, creativity, and communication.

For the cover letter’s second portion, try connecting the experiences you just mentioned to concrete aspects of MIT’s program and/or culture. It’s best to only include relevant points gathered from your prior research and outreach; writing that’s too general risks being read as coming from a lack of effort, care or both. It’s important to remember that the purpose of this second part is to show how you fit the profile that MIT desires, which is difficult to accomplish without expressing a deeper understanding of the MBA.

Finally, while cover letters can at times come across as dry, it’s best to show a bit of style and creativity while writing this particular one. Try to avoid generic language when possible, and try to pique your reader’s interest by employing an engrossing and generally positive tone.

Optional Short Answer Question – Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250 word short answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity, please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

Let’s start with what worries applicants most: is this a truly optional essay? Yes, it absolutely is. Not only will you not be penalized for leaving this out of your application, it may in fact be to your benefit to not attempt this question. If you have nothing that you can add that would reveal an engaging or unique perspective that helps you stand out more from the applicant pool, there’s not much that needs to be added here. Having said that, the question does allow for a candidate at the margins to really bolster her candidacy with a show of her vibrancy or an expression of the difficulties that she has overcome.

Before you decide to tackle the question, think back to your history. What were the factors and experiences that drove you to become the individual you are? What shaped your world view or the way you interact with people? What helped create the drivers of your life? Once you have these in mind, weigh them against the rest of your application and what you believe others may include as responses. Will it improve the admissions committee understanding of your profile and might it help set you apart? Once you have the answers to these questions, you can decide on whether to include a response.

Potential Additional Essay (Interview Dependent) – The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe how you, as a member of the MIT Sloan community, would work to create a campus that is welcoming, inclusive and increasingly diverse.

Details for submitting your response will be included in the interview invitation.

MIT wants to grow its strong, supportive student and alumni network. In order to accomplish that goal, they try to ensure that admitted candidates will actively participate in Sloan’s MBA community. In order to best answer this potential essay, try to identify how your previous interests and activities align with those available at MIT, especially those outside of the classroom. Feel free to be creative. It may help to ask yourself how you can improve a particular MIT community or association, and how that improvement is linked with your unique strengths, interests, and former experiences. However, do remember to stay humble when mentioning your potential contribution, as MIT doesn’t want to run across any sort of hubris in this essay (even if it’s merited).

VIDEO ESSAY

Applicants are required to upload a 1 minute (60 second) video as part of their application. In your video, you should introduce yourself to your future classmates, tell us about your past experiences, and touch on why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your degree.

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length

Single take (no editing)

You should be speaking directly to the camera

Do not include background music or subtitles

We recommend using applications such as QuickTime or iMovie to record yourself. Upload the video file according to the detailed instructions within the application.

Video recordings understandably make many people nervous. However, this isn’t like INSEAD’s video essay where you’re asked a series of random questions and need to think on your feet (for more about that sort of requirement, read our post here ). Instead, for MIT you can plan the video out as much as you’d like. The question then becomes, what should you do with so much control?

Before we get to the shoulds , let’s quickly review the shouldn’ts . This is not a place where you should be mentioning any subjects that have been discussed in other parts of the application. Neither is this a question about your future goals, nor is it about MIT. This video is all about you .

Most applicants benefit from taking a personal approach here. First, take some time to outline the passions that define your life. What are the hobbies that take up most of your time? What are the events that have recently caused you to change your mind? What are the principles that guide your daily life? There are many questions you can ask yourself to help identify them.

Once you have a rough outline of what you’d like to present about yourself, consider how to best present those aspects. First of all, this isn’t a movie shoot: a camera crew is not a must (unless you happen to actually work in the film industry). However, there are many ways to bring your passions to life without having your video come across as overworked. If some of your main interests revolve around flight, for example, why not shoot your video amidst aeronautical materials or even in an airplane hangar – either could be a simple method to visually connect the viewer with your message. Beyond the mise-en-scène, we recommend that you practice your pitch so as to make sure that your speech comes across in a natural, friendly, and attractive manner, all while remaining professional.

If you’re planning on building a successful application for MIT Sloan, be sure to connect with our leading Sloan Experts .

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MIT Sloan Executive MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2022 – 2023]

These essay questions show that the MIT EMBA adcom seeks applicants who have the judgment and practical skills to take on the challenges that will fly at them as they redefine and reshape industries and functions to meet the needs of the future. Applicants who push the boundary of what’s possible and provide principled leadership amidst a torrent of change. The essays (including Statement of Purpose) are your main means to show that you possess the qualities that indicate fit for the MIT EMBA. While the statement of purpose challenges you to succinctly create your applicant portrait, the three essay questions probe how your perspective, ideas, and thinking lead to specific impacts and outcomes. As always, MIT Sloan is interested in what you’ve done – actions you’ve taken and impacts you’ve created.

In an overall plan for the essays, the statement of purpose works as a positioner, an opening pitch, a frame. In each of the three essays, strategically select experiences that show different facets of your experience to give a comprehensive view. Also, if possible, discuss recent experiences in at least 2 of the essays, to allow the adcom to see you working at a high level and to show what you’ll bring to the table. A pitfall of the essays is potential overlap in topics and examples. Before drafting essays, I suggest mapping out your topics and examples to ensure you present different types of impacts and experiences and “allocate” your relevant examples/experiences optimally. Finally, MIT EMBA’s mission is stated at the start of the essay questions; keep it on the radar for context as you draft the essays.

MIT Executive MBA application writing prompts

Mit executive mba statement of purpose.

Please provide a statement on your personal and professional qualifications. What is motivating you to apply to the MIT Executive MBA at this point in your career? (500 words or less)

This is your portrait – your candidacy at a glance. It should convey a vivid, immediate sense of you as a person and as a candidate for this program. It should go beyond just facts to present a point of view and a message (theme). Determine your message before drafting the essay, and be guided by it in selecting and elaborating the content details.

Beware of a potential pitfall: in discussing the qualifications (ideally reflecting accomplishments), do not repeat your resume in prose format. Select your examples thoughtfully, focusing on those that (a) are truly distinctive and relevant to the EMBA and/or (b) support your goals directly or indirectly, and (c) reflect your message. Make a short, meaningful point about each, such as the insight it lends or its influence on you. Don’t forget to include at least one personal (non-work) accomplishment!

For why you are pursuing the MIT EMBA, of course you’ll discuss your professional goals and objectives. Focus not only on what you want to do, but also why — your vision, what motivates this plan. Addressing “why now” should be part of this goals discussion. Finally, address how this program will help you realize your plans – note 2-3 specific attributes and components of the program and thoughtfully link them concretely to your needs.

MIT EMBA application essays

Three essays are required. The two short-form essays, and one long-form essay will provide you with the opportunity to highlight recent experiences from your professional life.

MIT Executive MBA essay #1

Lasting impact can happen on large and small scales. Tell us about how you inspired your team, and what you learned about yourself as a leader, through a recent difficult time. (300 words or less )

The bulk of the essay will focus on action – your chosen story of leading/inspiring your team through difficulty to achieve a lasting impact. While the story should reflect MIT’s educational mission, don’t strain to find something that literally mirrors all the specific points (innovative, principled, generate ideas, advance management practice). Rather, your story can reflect the spirit of this mission. The key to making this a gripping, memorable essay is including a bit about your thought process as you narrate your actions – at a key point, why you made an important decision, etc. And note the word “recent” in the question – hence the experience should have occurred within the last couple of years.

MIT Executive MBA essay #2

MIT Sloan finds strength through diversity. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. We seek to create a community that encompasses all dimensions of diversity and fosters excellence within MIT Sloan. This includes diversity of identity, thought, role, and perspective. Please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. (250 words or less)

Again, MIT seeks evidence that you take actions and have an impact that are consistent with its values. They are interested in learning how you implement change in what essentially is culture: diversity, inclusivity, welcoming – a potential pitfall here is to use “warm and fuzzy” verbiage; MIT is interested in concrete changes that make a real difference. You should cite actual outcomes as a result of your contributions. With only 250 words, keep it simple: focus on telling the story . Be sure to clarify your own actions and note your thinking at 1-2 key points. In selecting your example, keep in mind your topics for essays 1 and 3, to ensure that all together you are representing strategically meaningful aspects of your experience.

MIT Executive MBA essay #3

Please tell us about a time when you introduced an idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, and how did you measure success? (500 words or less)

This question requires you to address both thought (idea) and action (introduced…). MIT Sloan seeks people who have strength in both areas – who have vision and can execute that vision.

A suggested approach is to draft it straightforwardly, as a story: start with your idea and what prompted it, and then narrate your action – how you introduced the idea, and how you implemented it. Conclude with the results, clarifying the change in approach to the opportunity or challenge, and how you measured the success.

There are 2 ways to address the last part of the question. Option A: As you narrate the story, include and “zoom in” on factors you considered and the barriers/obstacles you encountered in the process; make them part of the story. Option B: narrate the story, and then in a concluding paragraph discuss the factors you considered and the barriers/obstacles faced.

For expert guidance with your MIT Sloan EMBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to MIT Sloan’s EMBA program and look forward to helping you too!

MIT Executive MBA 2023 application deadlines

Source: MIT Sloan EMBA website

Get all your MIT Sloan questions answered directly from the MIT Sloan admissions team in this AMA. Register now!

Related Resources:

Executive MBA Essays: How to Make an Impact [Sample Essay]
MIT Sloan EMBA and Sloan Fellows Programs: Move from Success to Significance , a podcast episode
EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants

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Analyzing the Applications: the MIT Sloan Essay Questions

The MIT Sloan School of Management lays out five characteristics that it looks for in candidates for its MBA program:

Leadership and an ability to inspire others
A collaborative spirit and focus on community
Intellectual curiosity and analytical strength
Creativity to generate new solutions to existing challenges
Growth in both professional and personal endeavors

MIT Sloan School of Management Admissions Essays

MIT Sloan main building – E62

These five character traits should serve as a checklist for any student developing his or her application to Sloan’s MBA program. As you consider the different pieces of your MIT Sloan admissions application, each often fits very naturally with one or more of these characteristics. For example, your recommenders should demonstrate your ability to inspire others and focus on the community. Your GMAT, GPA, and undergraduate transcripts should speak to your intellectual curiosity and analytical strength. Your resume should showcase your personal and professional growth. While the Sloan essays can serve as a platform to emphasize several of these characteristics, they also seem to be the best place to illustrate your creativity to generate new solutions to existing challenges. If your essays are really good, those “new solutions” will also showcase the importance you place on community and your ability to inspires others, as you’ll describe how you leaned on colleagues or friends for help you solve challenges.

This is a great place to start when considering how to approach MIT Sloan’s admissions essays. However, it’s critical to go beyond that and heed each word in the essay prompts, as its clear that the MIT Sloan admissions committee has a few pet peeves it demands applicants avoid.

Let’s consider each of the MIT Sloan essay prompts. First, the admissions committee provides some general advice: “ We are interested in learning more about how you work, think, and act. For each essay, please provide a brief overview of the situation followed by a detailed description of your response . ” Notice that they ask for a brief overview of the situation. They are more interested in how you responded then how you got there in the first place. This distinction is important, and you should limit your descriptions of situations to no more than about 100 words (out of a 500 word limit), ensuring your don’t ignore the admissions committee’s guidance here. While we are on the topic, it’s also worth emphasizing the importance of adhering to the admissions committee’s dual word- and page-limit guidance: no more than 500 words or one page. These may seem like strict limits, but ignoring them can be dangerous. As soon as you’ve written that five hundredth and first word, you’ve conveyed two things to the admissions committee: first, you do not follow instructions; second, and perhaps more egregiously, you think you are more important that all of the other applicants out there that did restrict themselves to the 500-word limit that MIT Sloan provided.

In the first essay question, the MIT Sloan admissions committee asks applicants the following: “ The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. Discuss how you will contribute toward advancing the mission based on examples of past work and activities “.

This is a tricky prompt; there are a lot of pitfalls to avoid. To address each part of the question properly, you must do several things:

Briefly address your goals and ambitions. While the Sloan admissions committee makes clear that it wants your essays to focus primarily on your past actions, it’s still important to demonstrate your professional ambition and vision for how you “will contribute” moving forward. After all, the admissions committee makes clear that “an applicant’s leadership qualities and ambition should be apparent in their personal and professional experience, essays, and recommendations.” Limit any discussion of your vision or ambition to a few short sentences, but make sure you include them somewhere.
Address how you will improve the world. As you focus on this piece of the essay, make sure you focus on past actions. That is, you should tell the admissions committee how you have effected change at organizations in the past. This is a hallmark of any leader, and it should comprise the bulk of your first essay. (While we’re on the subject of effecting change, please make sure you write about change you effected , not affected . It’s a minor grammatical rule — and the only time effect works as a verb — but it also can be a demonstration of your attention to detail and presentation).
Discuss your view of management practice. In other words, your view of good management style. This can be influenced by what you have seen as effective leadership styles of others. It can be a discussion of techniques you have tried as a leader in the past. Or it can be a bigger discussion about your small-p political view of the world – essentially how you view human behavior.

That is a lot to cover in 500 words, but it’s essential that you address each piece of the essay prompt. Be as detailed as you can along the way, shaping the essay as you would a parable that you might tell a colleague or friend, bringing the listener into the plot as if he or she had seen it himself. Along the way, if you are looking for parts of your essay drafts to cut, make sure you are emphasizing past actions, editing down longer paragraphs about your career vision and future ambitions to a sentence or two. This is not a “career vision” essay question; it’s a “tell us about your biggest accomplishments” essay question.

In the second essay, the Sloan admissions committee asks applicants to choose an experience from the past three years in answering the following question: “ Describe a time when you pushed yourself beyond your comfort zone .”

This is the kind of essay question that causes good applicants to go bad. Many candidates will try to force fit a story they used for other MBA essay prompts or an anecdote that they are particularly fond of, into this question. But if you aren’t able to genuinely describe a time when you pushed yourself beyond your comfort zone, then you’ll be begging to get dinged. It’s similar to when schools ask you to describe a personal weakness, and applicants say something along the lines of, “I’m too much of a perfectionist.” Essentially they’re trying to hide a strength within a question about weaknesses. Trust that MBA admissions committees can see right through that.

Once you’ve picked your anecdote for the question – an experience that genuinely pushed you outside your comfort zone – you need to describe how it made you feel. Why, exactly, did it make you uncomfortable? Why, exactly, did you allow yourself to be put in that situation when you might otherwise have avoided it? What were you trying to learn or how were you trying to benefit from the situation? How did it change you or your theory of management practice? Remember, the MIT Sloan essays are place to demonstrate that you are willing to creatively “generate new solutions to existing challenges.” This type of boundary-pushing question is a great platform to illustrate that characteristic.

As you have more questions about the MIT Sloan application and essays, feel free to reach out to Vincent and myself via our free consultation link or [email protected] , and we’ll reply promptly. Also, rely on MIT Sloan’s admissions Q&A, which you can find here . And of course, stay tuned for more posts in our analyzing the applications series ! Finally, make sure to give our MBA Matching Algorithm a try and let us know what you think.

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4 tips for MIT Sloan MBA Application Video Statement- 2023

Posted by Nayeem Noor | Feb 8, 2023 | Business Schools , MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

The video statement or video essay is a vital part of the MIT Sloan MBA application 2023. The video statement is an opportunity to exhibit your personality to the admissions committee, which may be difficult to express through other written components of the MIT Sloan application. In this article, we will share tips to create an impressive video statement for MIT Sloan.

MIT Sloan MBA Application Video Statement

MIT Sloan Video statement question and format

Why should you give importance to your video statement, tip #1 – create a script, tip #2 – present yourself well, tip #3 – set-up your recording space, tip #4 – practice well, key takeaways | how to prepare for mit sloan mba application video statement.

Below are the question and the format in which you should submit the video statement/ video essay:

Question : “Please take a minute to introduce yourself to your future classmates.”

Admissions Committee’s recommendation : Include a bit about your past experience and why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your MBA.

Video Specifications :

Duration – No more than 1 minute (60 seconds)
Speak directly to the camera while recording your video.
The video must be a single take – you should not edit it.
Upload the video file in any of these file format – .m4v, .avi, .mkv, .mpeg, .flv, .m1v, .m2v, .mov, .mp4, .wmv, .mpg, .webm.
Use any of these web browsers to upload – Safari, Chrome, or Firefox.

What would be a good GMAT score for MIT Sloan School of Management?

MIT Sloan introduced a video statement into the application process 3 years ago. Shauna LaFauci Barry , Associate Director of Admissions at MIT Sloan, says the video statement is all about getting to know you better. The 60-second video statement is an excellent chance to exhibit your personality, language skills, confidence, and presentation style in front of the MIT Sloan admissions committee. MIT Sloan admissions committee is evaluating your presence, your interests, and your passions.

Tips for creating an admirable MIT Sloan application Video Statement

Here are some tips to create an impressive MIT Sloan application Video Statement/ Video Essay:

Tip 1- Create a script
Tip 2- Present yourself well
Tip 3- Set up your recording space well
Tip 4- Practice well

Let us look at each of these in detail:

You must get ready for the video statement recording as you would prepare for any other interview. One added advantage you have in the case of MIT Sloan video statement is that you know the question ahead of time. Make sure you spend enough time to prepare yourself for the video statement. Use the below advice to frame an impressive video statement story:

Decide what to talk about : As a part of your MIT Sloan application, you must submit a cover letter, CV, and letters of recommendation in which you may discuss your professional or academic achievements. We recommend you give more focus on your passion and interests for video statement than on examples of triumphs at work. The emphasis should be on quality over quantity. Make sure you choose one specific topic rather than trying to cover multiple topics in a 60-second video statement.

When you start brainstorming about the topics to talk about, imagine you are on the first day at your work and how you will introduce yourself to your office colleagues. Or, think a new co-worker who joined, and he is introducing himself, what would you like to hear from him? Always make sure you go beyond just your name and job – where are you from, hobbies, something that you are proud of.

Connect your story to the values of MIT Sloan : When you write your script, keep MIT Sloan’s values in your mind. From MIT Sloan Admissions Team , “ MIT Sloan students are informed and responsible global citizens with the vision, drive, and practical experience to make significant contributions to their organizations and to the world.”

Consider your audience : MIT Sloan asks you to introduce yourself to your future classmates, not to the admissions committee. The admissions committee is trying to be strategic by not asking to sell yourself to them. They are asking you to be authentic and speak to your classmates & peers. When you prepare your statement, make sure the language and tone are similar to the way you talk to people close to your age.

Dress Professionally : Your classmates are your future professional network and social group; we recommend you to wear business casuals for your video statement recording. Even though you are addressing your classmates, the admissions committee will view this video as a part of your application process. For the same reason, you must avoid any casual wear for your video statement.

Speak Clearly : Make sure you are not rushing while delivering your introduction. Take enough pauses in between to accentuate your words. As we mentioned earlier, you must present yourself and your tone in the way you talk to people who are in your age group. Don’t make it too formal, and don’t forget to be pleasant while speaking.

Confident body language : Keep your body upright and speak directly, looking into the camera. Keeping your camera straight to your eye level will help you to avoid leaning.

MIT Sloan doesn’t expect you to be a cinematographer or hire a team for your video statement recording. MIT Sloan admissions committee recommends applicants to record video themselves using software like QuickTime, iMovie, etc. You can follow the below tips to record a good video statement:

Choose a well-lit and quiet area : While recording, make sure your face is well lit, and there is no background noise.
Stand in front of plain background : Make sure you stand in front of a plain background to avoid visual distractions, which may take away the attention from you.
Use good quality mic and webcam : Use a good quality mic and camera, which can give good quality audio and video output.

Unlike other MBA application video essays in which you get just 10-20 seconds to think before recording your video, for MIT Sloan video statement, you get ample time to think, script, and practice. If you are not naturally gifted in extemporary speaking, practice the script till your video statement look as natural as possible. Film your video while you are practicing. Review your practice videos and do a self-critique. You must practice looking straight into the camera and assume you are talking to an audience. Make sure you do not take eyes off from the camera while talking.

After recording your final video, review it to check whether you can understand all the words clearly. Send your final output to your friends and critics you trust to give productive feedback about the video.

Read how to make an impressive MBA Application Video Essay

MIT Sloan admissions committee uses the video statement to know more about your presence, interests, and passions.
Highlight your personality, including the details not covered in the cover letter or resume, and connect your story to the values of MIT Sloan.
While recording the video speak clearly, make sure that your background is free of any other sounds or visual distractions.
Practice your stories until you feel comfortable and record your practice videos to do a self-critique.

Video statement is a part of MIT Sloan MBA application which usually put people under pressure. But you can make an impressive video statement without any trouble by creating a good script and practicing it to perfection. You must consider the video statement as an opportunity to demonstrate your fit with MIT Sloan’s culture and convey to the admissions committee the type of person you will be on the campus. Keep in mind to have fun with the video and practice your delivery until you feel comfortable.

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What to Expect from the 2023-2024 MBA Essay Questions

While we cannot perfectly predict the future, our 16 years of experience as an MBA admissions essay consultant and careful analysis of past trends can help us assess what MBA candidates should expect with this year’s MBA essay questions.

Many MBA hopefuls who have already narrowed their target school lists are anxiously awaiting the release of the 2023-2024 MBA application essay questions and deadlines. In previous years, we have seen MBA essay questions released as early as the beginning of May. Using our insider knowledge of what each school is looking for, as well as successful business school essay examples from past admissions cycles, Personal MBA Coach has already begun working with our round 1 clients on a number of essays.

For this year’s prediction, we have divided top MBA programs into three categories and have included details on which MBA essay or essays to begin working on today!

MBA programs where at least one MBA application essay is unlikely to change
MBA programs where smaller changes are most likely
MBA programs with a higher likelihood of changing the MBA application essay questions

MBA Programs Where at Least One MBA Essay Is Unlikely to Change:

For the programs below, Personal MBA Coach believes that at least one of the 2022-2023 MBA essay questions will return for the 2023-2024 MBA application cycle. If any of the MBA programs below are on your list, we urge you to get started on the relevant MBA application essay questions today!

Harvard Business School

Stanford GSB

Columbia Business School

Chicago booth.

HBS has asked the same MBA application essay question over the past few years, and we expect this year’s question is likely to remain the same.

HBS’s 2022-2023 MBA Essay Question was:

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?

Stanford Graduate School of Business

Like HBS, Stanford GSB has not changed its MBA essay questions in recent years. While Stanford GSB has made some changes to the required essay length, we would be surprised to see a major essay question change from Stanford.

Stanford’s 2022-2023 MBA essay questions were:

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Columbia Business School’s first MBA essay has taken a similar form over the past years. While the exact wording could vary, we do not expect any significant change in CBS’s first MBA essay question.

Columbia’s 2022-2023 first MBA essay question was:

Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years and what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)

We also anticipate Columbia Business School’s essay about program fit to remain on the 2022-2023 CBS application.

This MBA essay question was:

Why do you feel Columbia Business School is a good fit for you? (250 words)

Watch Personal MBA Coach’s quick tips video for Columbia Business School application advice:

As with CBS, Wharton has kept its first MBA essay question largely the same for the past few years, and we expect some version of the same essay question this year.

Wharton’s 2022-2023 first MBA essay question was:

How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)

As with Wharton and CBS, Kellogg also is unlikely to change its essay questions.

Kellogg’s 2022-2023 first MBA essay question was:

Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire brave leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)

Similarly, Kellogg’s second MBA essay question has stayed the same for the past few years, and we do not anticipate that it will change.

Kellogg’s 2022-2023 second MBA essay question was:

Values are what guide you in your life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? (450 words)

Chicago Booth joins the list of schools for which Personal MBA Coach clients are working on essay #1.

Chicago Booth’s 2022-2023 first MBA essay question was:

How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum)

MIT Sloan’s cover letter essay has not changed in a while, and we expect it to stay the same in the 2023-2024 cycle.

MIT Sloan’s 2022-2023 MBA essay question was:

We do not expect the Yale SOM essay question to change from the previous cycle.

Yale SOM’s 2022-2023 MBA essay question:

Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words)

MBA Programs Where Smaller Changes Are Most Likely:

London Business School

Aside from minor tweaks or word limit adjustments, we would be more surprised to see major MBA application essay question changes from these programs.

If one or more of these schools is on your list, we suggest that you begin brainstorming, outlining and hopefully writing your essays as soon as possible. This will free up time (both personally and professionally) as summer nears.

MBA Programs with a Higher Likelihood to Change the MBA Essay Questions:

Below is a list of MBA programs for which Personal MBA Coach recommends that our clients hold off drafting their MBA essays. For some schools in this list, we suggest that you begin brainstorming now as the risk of a change is smaller. For other schools, hold off entirely until the MBA applications open later this spring. There are plenty of other MBA application components that candidates targeting these MBA programs can get started on today!

Michigan Ross (brainstorm only)
UCLA Anderson
Berkeley Haas (brainstorm only)
Dartmouth Tuck

Keep in mind, the details shared above are predictions only! As soon as this year’s MBA application essay questions are released, Personal MBA Coach will let you know what has changed and will share advice on how to tackle each MBA essay question.

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10 Best Questions to Ask an MBA Student or Alum

The journey to get an MBA is an exciting step in your professional and personal development. One of the best ways to gather insights about a business school is to speak with current students or alums. They can provide a unique perspective you won’t find in brochures or official websites. To make the most out of these conversations, asking the right questions is crucial. Here are the ten best questions to ask an MBA student or alum to get a well-rounded understanding of a business school.

Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.

Question 1: Why did you choose this business school?

This question can help you understand the main factors influencing their decision. Their answer might highlight the school’s reputation, specific programs, faculty, culture, or location. These responses will reveal what sets this school apart and whether those factors align with your priorities and career goals.

Question 2: What was your experience like during the admissions process?

The admissions process can vary from one school to another. Learning about their experience can provide valuable tips on navigating the application, preparing for interviews, and managing deadlines. It can also highlight any unique aspects of the school’s admissions process you should know.

Question 3: How would you describe the academic environment?

Understanding the academic rigor and support systems in place is crucial. Ask an MBA student or alum about the quality of the faculty, class sizes, the level of collaboration versus competition among students, and the availability of academic resources. That will help you assess if the educational environment suits your learning style and goals.

Question 4: Can you share insights on the campus culture?

Campus culture plays a significant role in your MBA experience. Ask about the social atmosphere, diversity, inclusion, student organizations, and extracurricular activities. Understanding the culture will help determine if you feel comfortable and engaged in the community.

Question 5: What opportunities are available for networking and career development?

Networking and career development are vital components of an MBA program. Ask an MBA student or alum about the strength of the alumni network, the availability of career services, internship opportunities, and on-campus recruiting. These factors can significantly influence your post-MBA career prospects.

Question 6: How has the MBA program impacted your career?

This question allows you to gauge the tangible benefits of the MBA program . Alums can share their career progression, job placements, salary increases, and how they have applied the skills and knowledge gained from the program. This information is critical in understanding the return on investment for the MBA.

Question 7: What are some challenges you faced during the program?

Every MBA program has its academic, social, or logistical challenges. By asking about these, you can get a realistic picture of what to expect and consider if you are ready to handle similar challenges. Additionally, you can learn how the school supports students in overcoming these obstacles.

Question 8: How accessible are the faculty and administration?

Faculty and administrative support can greatly enhance your MBA experience. Ask an MBA student about their accessibility, responsiveness, and willingness to mentor students. A supportive faculty and administration can provide valuable guidance and foster a positive learning environment.

Question 9: What has been the ROI of this MBA program for you?

While financial gain is not the only reason to pursue an MBA, understanding the program’s return on investment (ROI) is essential. Inquire about the cost of the program, availability of scholarships, average starting salaries of graduates, and long-term career advancement. This will help you evaluate if the financial and time investment is worth it.

Question 10: Would you recommend this MBA program to others? Why or why not?

This is a straightforward question that can yield honest and insightful answers. Alums and current students can provide a holistic view of their satisfaction with the program and highlight its strengths and weaknesses. Their recommendation (or lack thereof) can foreshadow the program’s quality and fit for you.

Asking the right questions can enhance your understanding of a business school and help you decide where to pursue your MBA. Remember to approach these conversations with an open mind and respect the time and insights students and alums share. Their experiences can provide invaluable guidance as you navigate your MBA journey. Happy networking, and best of luck with your applications.

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs. From our All-In Partnership to interview prep, essay editing, resume review, and much more, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds. Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students. In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Wharton, Booth and every elite business program in the US and Europe. These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Anthony , who served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise.

Meet Kim , who was an Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Chicago Booth.

Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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Poets&Quants’ 40-Under-40 Best MBA Professors Of 2024

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Jun Li and Andrew Wu are linked by many “boths.”

Both are accomplished professors at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. They are researchers at the top of their fields, winning multiple honors for their work. Both were finalists for Financial Times Research Impact awards.

Both earned their PhDs at The Wharton School. It’s where they met, actually. Li noticed Wu staring at her from across a Philadelphia bar and asked if he knew her. They didn’t realize they were in the same program until they got to talking.

Both are parents to four and six year olds about to turn into five and seven year olds.

And today, both are featured on Poets&Quants’ annual list of the 40 best MBA professors under the age of 40. It’s the first time (we think) we have featured a married couple in the same year, both selected on their individual accomplishments and merits.

“It is beyond our expectations, really exciting,” Li tells P&Q. “Thinking about all these years working together – both as family and partners – it is really rewarding. I tell people all the time that Andrew is the best co-author I’ve ever had.”

34 SCHOOLS FROM 9 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

We at Poets&Quants are proud to announce our collection of the 40-Under-40 Best MBA Professors for 2024. This is the 12th edition of our annual recognition, and our goal remains unchanged: To identify and celebrate the most talented young professors currently teaching in MBA programs around the world.

Federica De Stefano, HEC Paris

Professors on this year’s list come from 34 different business schools. That includes 15 schools outside of the United States, more than in any other year. The United Kingdom has the most professors outside the USA at five, while France has three and Spain has two. The list also includes professors from China, India, Italy, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

Five schools have two professors each:

Kelley School of Business, Indiana University
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
MIT Sloan School of Management
NYU Stern School of Business
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

We also honor 21 exceptional women, the most we’ve ever recognized in a single year. Included is Federica De Stefano , 36, Assistant Professor of Management and Human Resources at HEC Paris.

She was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in her early 20s, one week after graduating with her Master of Science. As a research assistant at Bocconi University, she started reading research on work, careers, and human resources. That’s when she knew she wanted to be a business professor.

“That research had a tremendous impact on my ability to navigate that phase of my life in an informed way. It answered some of my questions and left me with some more. I therefore decided that I wanted to find those answers to support people like me in navigating their work life, and that a business school was the right place to develop and share knowledge on this topic,” she says.

“As a survivor, I’m grateful for the so many amazing humans who have made this possible, giving me time and space to recover. I’m grateful for the other survivors I’ve met and who don’t cease to inspire me. I’m grateful for my mentors and co-authors who have been kind, patient, and not giving up on me. I’m grateful for the institutional and human support of my colleagues at HEC Paris during my disease and recovery. I’m eternally grateful for the unwavering support of my family and my beloved partner, who never gets tired of reminding me that ‘we’re going to be fine.’”

FIRSTS, YOUNGESTS & RISING STARS

At Poets&Quants, we love a good trailblazer. Along with our first married pair of professors, 2024 has several examples of the youngests, the firsts, and the rising stars.

Jennifer N. Wynn , 39, is the first Black woman to be a full-time faculty member at NYU Stern School of Business. She is the creator of the popular Stern courses Difficult Conversations and Inclusive Conversations.

Oliver Hauser, Exeter University

At 35, Oliver Hauser is the youngest full professor at Exeter University in England. He is a Professor of Economics and interim co-director of the Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. He’s also faculty affiliate at Harvard University’s Sustainability, Transparency and Accountability Research Initiative. Outside of the business school, he’s served as advisors to the UK Cabinet Office; the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; and BBC Children in Need.

“Oliver is the rare academic professor with such deep and meaningful insight into the world of practice that the students in his classroom actually feel like they are in the middle of real-world situations,” says Siri Chilazi, a researcher at Harvard University.

And Corinne Low , 39, is the first out, queer woman of color to receive tenure at The Wharton School. She created the popular “Economics of Diversity and Discrimination” course, a core part of the new DEI major.

“Professor Low’s class is one of the most impactful that I’ve taken at Wharton. It has prompted the most (and some of the most thought-provoking) conversations with classmates/friends/family outside of the classroom,” writes student Genny Silva.

Agni Orfanoudaki , Associate Professor of Operations Management at University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, is the youngest entrant on this year’s list at 29. The average age of all professors is 36.6.

PROFESSORS AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF RESEARCH

Many of the professors on the list research the topics at the cutting-edge of business, technology and the future of work: AI, machine learning, sustainability, etc. Others engage directly with the biggest problems of the day.

Darden’s Gaurav Chiplunkar is analyzing a dataset with billions of individuals across 90 countries and spanning five decades. He’s looking to understand how economic development affects people’s movement through the work force.

Rahul Bhui, MIT Sloan School of Management

“Our findings reveal a striking narrative: while traditional economic progress has seen men migrating from agriculture to manufacturing and services, women, in contrast, are more likely to exit the labor force altogether before re-entering at higher levels of economic development, and often within the service sector,” Chiplunkar says. “Despite significant advancements over these decades, women continue to be disproportionately relegated to clerical and secretarial roles, with managerial positions remaining elusive, even in the most developed nations.”

In his research, Jermain Kaminski of Maastricht University School of Business and Economics combines methods from machine learning and natural language processing with a specific focus on large text, audio and video data in entrepreneurship. He is a co-founder and co-chair of the Causal Data Science Meeting.

And Rahul Bhui combines cognitive science, computational neuroscience, and behavioral economics in his research to reveal the deep unifying principles that capture both rationality and irrationality. He is an Assistant Professor of Marketing as well as the Class of 1958 Career Development Professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management.

“My goal is to unravel a paradox of human nature: how can we be so smart and so stupid at the same time? Yes, this is a serious question,” Bhui says.

HOW WE PICKED THEM

Overall, we received more than 1,000 nominations from students, colleagues, business schools, and professors themselves. P&Q’s editorial staff evaluated each nominee on teaching (given a 70% weight) and research (given the remaining 30% weight).

For teaching, we considered the nominations received — both quality and quantity. For example, if we received a hundred or more nominations for a professor but there was little substance to the nominations, they weren’t as likely to score as highly as the professor that received a dozen in-depth and thoughtful nominations. We also considered any teaching-related awards the professors have won.

For research, we looked at the volume and impact of the professor’s scholarly work. To do this we examined Google Citation numbers as well as major media attention received by the professor and his or her research work. Lastly, akin to teaching, we considered research awards and grants the professors have received.

Jun Li and Andrew Wu, both professors at Ross School of Business were married in 2014. They met in their PhD programs at The Wharton School. Courtesy photo

ABOUT THAT ‘BEST CO-AUTHOR EVER’

Together, Li and Wu have published four papers. Now that their kids are starting school, they expect that number to pick up.

Their first paper on companies adopting ESG and its impact on society took just one month – from ideation, to finishing the paper, to sending it off to the journal. They talked about it on the way to work, at work, and they talked about it on the way home. They didn’t have to wait for email replies or meeting schedules because the other was typically right there or in the next room.

“I have no other project ever beat that,” Li says.

Both Li and Wu say they have found a home at Ross. A place where they are supported, have inspirational mentors, and teach highly impressive students. Both just recently received tenure.

“Ross is a school of explorers, innovators, and risk takers – both faculty and students,” Wu says.

Students are out there building companies and raising tens of millions of dollars. Engineers and other disciplines are teaming up with Ross students to build out their inventions. When Wu wanted to start a new FinTech program upon joining Ross back in 2016 – before Bitcoin was a thing – the school said go for it. Ross was one of the first B-schools to offer FinTech on a large scale.

“And now we’re doing the same thing for generative AI,” Wu says. “I said, we’ve got to integrate this thing into our business education; it’s going to be tremendously transformative.

“I think both of us are now engaged with building out the next chapter of integrating generative AI into the classroom and also in research.”

NEXT PAGE: The entire roster of P&Q’s 2024 40-Under-40 Best MBA Professors

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Career Stories: Javier Bello Medina, MBA ’24 – Part 1: Lessons Learned in Pivoting into Product Management

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By Javier Bello Medina , MBA ’24

Pivoting into Product Management

Ever had that “I want to do that!” moment, only to read a job description and think, “Do I need a time machine to go back and switch majors, or maybe a cosmic reset button to be born again?” At some point, I felt that way.

In 2020, facing the global realization that life is short and passions should be pursued, I found myself ready for a change. After a roller coaster of roles in the banking industry in Latin America—spanning corporate strategy, innovation, HR, and operations—I discovered Product Management. With some coaching (and therapy), I saw it as a perfect blend of my engineering background, passion for people, and financial experience.

I decided to become a PM and was excited about the tech industry. But then reality hit: Python, SQL, years [Insert absurd amount of years] of PM and tech experience, UX design skills, business acumen, work visas…the list went on. How was I supposed to travel back in time to become the ideal PM?

Here’s the good news: I realized I didn’t need a time machine. Even better, I understood that many of the skills I had developed were powerful and transferable to succeed as a Product Manager.

Breaking into product management is challenging, but I believed MIT Sloan could be the catalyst I needed to transition effectively and secure a PM role in tech. And it was!

Here are some key lessons I learned in my pivot to product management:

1. Know What You Want (and What You Don’t Want)

“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” —Michael Porter

At MIT Sloan, you’ll have countless resources and opportunities. While this is fantastic, it’s essential to stay focused on what you truly want to avoid getting distracted or overwhelmed by other opportunities and peer pressure (aka FOMO).

Many students apply to PM, consulting, entrepreneurship, and banking roles simultaneously, planning to decide later. This lack of focus can often lead to regrets and missed opportunities. Knowing what you want helps you make the most of your experience, secure the best opportunities, and build strong connections.

Start your MBA with a clear understanding of your goals. If you’re sure about PM, narrow down your interests. Do you prefer a data-oriented or engineering-oriented role? A product strategy or product marketing role? Knowing what you don’t want helps you say no to distractions and MBA FOMO (This is a real thing!).

For instance, I realized I love strategy, data insights, and user experience, so I focused my applications on Product Strategy, Growth Product Management, and user-focused PM roles, preferably with products I liked and could understand. This focus guided my choices in lectures, clubs, conferences, and any MBA experience.

2. Identify Your PM Superpowers and Weaknesses

Understanding how your skills fit into product management is crucial. Self-reflection is key!

If you don’t know yours yet, you can start with this list of technical and soft skills for PMs: “ Top 10 Product Manager Skills To Boost Your Resume ”

Since a Product Manager must lead and coordinate others without much formal authority, I also recommend reflecting on your leadership skills. I found this HBR article helpful: “ 8 Essential Qualities of Successful Leaders .”

I discovered one of my PM superpowers: synthesizing ideas. I can take many crazy ideas from a team and merge them into a cohesive concept. While I’m not super creative, I thrive with creative people and excel in organizing and coordinating, translating to product roadmaps and sprint planning.

My weakness was technical knowledge. Despite being analytical, I hadn’t coded in 10 years. Knowing I wanted a data-oriented role, I took data-heavy and technical courses during my MBA to build these skills. For instance, I enrolled in classes such as “The Analytics Edge” and “The Analytics of Operations Management,” which helped me bridge the technical gap and become more confident in my abilities. Additionally, I took advantage of online resources and certifications to supplement my learning, ensuring that I was well-prepared for the technical demands of a PM role.

3. “Productize” and “Keyword” Your Resume

Transform your resume into a “PRODUCT EXPERT” resume by customizing it. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with your desired job descriptions, showcasing your product management skills.

Include key terms and phrases from desired job descriptions to pass automated resume screening systems (ATS). Conduct a gap analysis to identify areas for improvement and ensure your resume is complete in terms of required skills and qualifications.

For example, I emphasized my experience in corporate strategy and operations by rephrasing them in PM-friendly terms. I highlighted projects where I led cross-functional teams, managed product life cycles, and used data to drive decision-making. This not only made my resume more appealing to recruiters but also demonstrated my readiness for a PM role.

Unexpectedly, this exercise helped me realize how much PM-related experience I already had, even if it was named differently. This realization boosted my confidence and allowed me to craft a stronger narrative of my value. By identifying and articulating my relevant experiences, I was able to present myself as a well-rounded candidate for product management roles.

4. Cultivate Experience and Leverage MIT Resources

Even if you take all PM-related lectures, the MBA coursework alone isn’t enough to become a product manager. As an “empirical” role, having Real-world experience is essential. Get involved to learn and demonstrate your commitment to this career path. Here are some ways to gain experience:

PM Lab : Collaborate with a company for hands-on experience. In PM Lab, I worked with a tech startup to improve their website and E-commerce experience. This journey allowed me to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting, understand the dynamics of working within a product team, and gain insights into the challenges faced by PMs.
Product Design and Development Class: One of the most integral product courses at MIT Sloan! Work with talented peers to prototype and create a product (Great example of MIT’s motto, “mens et manus.”) This class pairs MBA students with mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidates and designers from RISD (SO talented people!). Over five sprints, we took a product from concept to prototype, learning valuable lessons in collaboration, design thinking, and user-centric development. The intensity of this course helped me build resilience and adaptability, key traits for any PM.
Hackathons and Challenges: Participate in events like the Google PM Hackathon. These events are fast-paced and simulate the pressure and excitement of product management. In one week, I joined a team to develop a prototype app that addressed a real-world problem. The hackathon experience honed my skills in rapid prototyping, teamwork, and pitching ideas under tight deadlines.
PM Certificate : Pursuing this certificate and adding it to your resume shows your commitment. The PM certificate program at MIT Sloan offers specialized courses and workshops that deepen your understanding of product management. Completing this program not only expanded my knowledge but also signaled to employers that I was serious about my PM career.
PM Club : Engage in events, networking, and leadership roles to show dedication. Being active in the PM Club provides opportunities to network with industry professionals, attend exclusive workshops, and gain mentorship from experienced PMs. Taking on a leadership role in the club also demonstrated my commitment and initiative, making me a more attractive candidate to potential employers.
PM Conference : Attend, network, and help organize to build connections. The annual PM Conference is a significant event where you can meet industry leaders, attend insightful sessions, and learn about the latest trends in product management. Volunteering to help organize the conference also allowed me to build stronger connections within the PM community and showcase my organizational skills.

To sum up, transitioning into product management is a journey, not a sprint. Each step you take, every skill you hone, and every connection you make brings you closer to your goal. Trust in your abilities, leverage the resources around you, and stay focused on your vision.

The path may be challenging, but with perseverance and the right mindset, you can (and will!) achieve your aspirations.

Stay tuned for Part 2 , where I will be happy to share more resources and guidance to help you on your journey.

What’s the best MBA school? These schools produce the most Fortune 1000 c-suite executives

Map of the United States, with green circle depicting where Fortune 1000 executives received their MBA. Bigger circles means larger concentration of degrees.

There are quite literally hundreds of universities around the country that offer one of the most coveted degrees and experiences for aspiring business leaders: the master’s in business administration (MBA).

While it is true that many global business leaders, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk, do not hold the degree, for many students, it is still considered a rite of passage toward leading a successful company. Popular executives like Tim Cook, Satya Nadella, and Jamie Dimon are examples of those who do have an MBA (from Duke, UChicago, and Harvard, respectively).

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA

It may come as a shock that the latter group of leaders is actually in the minority when it comes to top business leaders with MBAs. Recent analysis by Fortune’s education team of all Fortune 1000 companies and their c-suite executives’ educational background found that only about 46% of CEOs, CFOs, and relevant technology leads ( CIO , CTO, or CISO) have the graduate management degree. But for those Fortune 1000 leaders with an MBA , Harvard Business School (HBS), University of Chicago (Booth), and Northwestern University (Kellogg) are the schools producing the most.

When it comes to chief executives in particular, Harvard is the clear leader; nearly 6% of all Fortune 1000 CEOs are alumni from HBS’s MBA program . For financial leaders, UChicago leads; about 4% of all Fortune 1000 CFOs have an MBA from the Booth School of Business .

According to Matt Weinzierl, senior associate dean and chair of the HBS MBA program, one of the reasons the school remains one of the most coveted programs is because students are always wrestling with learning through challenging real world problems, together.

“In an era of pervasive distraction, the immersive HBS case method—which has been at the heart of what we do for over a century—teaches something it’s otherwise very hard to get: what we call higher order skills,” Weinzierl tells Fortune .

Are the M7 still dominant in the business education world?

It is no question that one of the biggest factors in the MBA space is prestige. Graduating from one of the “Magnificent 7” or M7 business schools has historically brought along a sense of clout because of their notoriously rigorous curriculum, expert professors, and competitive admissions process.

These are the M7 business schools: Harvard Business School Stanford University University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Columbia Business School Northwestern University (Kellogg) University of Chicago (Booth) MIT (Sloan)

However, an M7 doesn't always necessarily mean success: Among executives with MBAs at Fortune 1000 companies, the University of Michigan , for example, has more alumni than two M7 schools: Stanford and MIT.

Many of the same students that apply to schools like Michigan are also applying for the traditional M7 schools, but as Sharon Matusik, dean of University of Michigan Ross School of Business says, students’ ultimate choice comes down to where they think they can best achieve their goals.

“We win some, we lose some,” she says—adding that Michigan emphasizes four key areas in its program: excellence, action, impact, and community, which touches on everything from faculty expertise and learning-by-doing to balancing economic and social impact as well as school spirit.

Michigan is just one example that counters the myth that M7 institutes are the be-all and end-all of graduate business education. In fact, of those executives with the degree, 69% of them got it at an institute other than an M7.

When looking at the top 20 programs, ranked in accordance with Fortune’s list of the best MBA programs , that number drops to 46.30%. This still means over half of the top executives at Fortune 1000 companies are MBA alumni of programs outside the 20 best.

However, there are some notable outliers, such as Washington University in St. Louis (Fortune ranked No. 39), Indian Institute of Management (unranked), Vanderbilt University (No. 26), University of Minnesota (No. 30), and Michigan State University (No. 31), all of which are in the top 20 in terms of number of MBA alumni leading a top company. On the flip side, Yale University , which is ranked No. 4 in Fortune’s ranking, is tied for having only the 43rd most MBA alumni.

Is an expensive, private school MBA worth it?

According to the U.S. Department of Education , there are slightly more public higher education programs than private nonprofit ones (1,892 versus 1,754 in 2020-2021).

However, historically, many of the schools with the highest academic prestige are private institutions. Case in point, all of the Ivy League and M7 universities are private.

But as anyone who graduates from a private school will tell you, it is not cheap—whatsoever, especially for a business management education. According to the Education Data Initiative , the average cost of an MBA is $56,850. At Harvard, the initiative predicts the entire cost of a 2-year degree program is $231,276.

Whether it be prestige, alumni networks, faculty, curriculum, or other factors to credit, private institutions do tend to produce more Fortune 1000 executives with MBAs. In fact, alumni from private schools outpace public schools by double.

This is not to say an expensive MBA is a requirement to become a business leader; the private school alumni still only make up 1 in 3 of the executives. Moreover, according to data collected by the Wall Street Journal , some of the private institutions, like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT are seeing a growing number of job-seeking graduates who are unable to find roles directly after their program.

What region dominates business school education?

Along with the university itself, one major factor of consideration when picking an MBA program is location. For current Fortune 1000 executives with the degree, an overwhelming majority of them decided to learn on the East Coast.

Boston, Chicago, and New York are three areas with a large concentration of successful students, which makes sense considering the locations are home to multiple top institutions. However, in many parts of the country, there is clearly a business school education drought. While cities like Austin, St. Louis, and Minneapolis are hubs for business students, cities like Denver, Seattle, and Miami are lacking.

What makes a business school great?

Ultimately, many business school programs have similar offerings: an innovative curriculum, top-notch faculty, immersive learning opportunities, network building, lifelong connections. But, for students, what truly can make their education more impactful than the next is how much effort they put into their learning experience.

"We talk a lot about what it takes to convert potential into impact, and the short version is ' hard work, with humility, for humanity .' Knowing that you always have more to learn and being willing to put in the work to learn it—especially by listening to others—is at the core of what we do at HBS to help our students achieve their goals and make a difference in the world," explains Weinzierl.

An MBA experience is all about which classes you spend a little extra time studying for, who you seek out to build connections with, and the ideas you take away and apply to your future goals. By and large, Fortune 1000 executives do not become leaders overnight nor do they just get their role handed to them on a silver platter. Hard work pays off.

Thousands of successful business leaders carve their own journeys in the business world. The data speaks for itself. While it may feel like otherwise, obtaining an MBA from an M7 school is the path taken by a relatively low percentage.

The age-old question: Is an MBA worth it?

The short answer is that it all depends on what you want to do and what your goals are. Many executives will tell you that while a graduate-level business education certainly may have helped get them to their current role—it definitely was not the sole reason. However, the universities, at least for one, hope that an MBA will be part of your experience—not only to help you understand and solve some of the most pressing challenges of today, but also so you can later come back and teach the next generation of students the lessons you learned along the way.

“At the end, for prospective students who are looking to make an impact, business, I think, is a really powerful tool that maybe is not obvious to everyone. So hopefully, they'll consider business education in the future,” Matusik says.

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Beyond the Syllabus: Learning to Address Bias

A professor speaking, with one student facing them in the foreground

In a newly-created course, Understanding and Reducing Bias in Organizations, Professor Jayanti Owens leads students through the best research-backed approaches to improving fairness in hiring and performance evaluations, reducing the wage gap, and other means to build more just companies and teams.

In this series, we talk to Yale SOM faculty members about how they develop and deliver innovative courses.

Course: Understanding and Reducing Bias in Organizations Faculty member: Jayanti Owens , Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior

Diversity is a uniquely contentious topic. Studies have found links between measures of diversity and organizational performance. And yet efforts to increase diversity face backlash. The U.S. Supreme Court recently swept away decades of affirmative action in higher education, while corporate DEI initiatives face pressure from investors and activists who question the value of such programs.

This is a terrain young leaders will have to navigate for decades to come. It’s little surprise that student demand for courses covering it has grown.

Jayanti Owens, an expert in how organizations negotiate diversity and difference, took on the task of developing and deploying such a course at Yale SOM. The elective Understanding and Reducing Bias in Organizations was offered for the first time in spring 2024.

The course, Owens says, is founded on research into what really works and prepares future managers to have impact over the course of their careers, as they will likely encounter bias in many forms and contexts.

The course is motivated by a desire to help students gain an understanding of the organizational levers they can pull to try to reduce the effects of bias and to increase belonging within organizations, while also learning strategies at the interpersonal level for effectively managing groups and teams who come from a broad range of backgrounds.

A leadership toolkit

The course builds from an examination of how bias functions and how it can impede organizational performance to study strategies to counteract that effect and foster belonging. The course utilizes research and case studies from both public and private sector organizations, with a focus on bias and inequality along lines of race/ethnicity and gender in the U.S., the areas where research is most developed.

We are thinking about organizations broadly. And so, across the course we study applications to businesses, whether that be financial services or retail or other consumer products, the government, and education. Because ‘business and society’ is such a dual focus at SOM, we want students to think about not only, how can I be enacting these principles in my workplace, but also how can I be a better citizen? How can I do this work in a way that permeates all aspects of my life?

Teaching on the leading edge of knowledge

The landscape of leadership and DEI is changing fast. While the course draws on research into what interventions have been shown to work, sometimes the research lags the real world. Owens says that students and speakers help bridge that gap by bringing real experiences to the classroom discussion.

This is a course that’s about evidence-based research. That means we have to wait for the research to go through the peer review process and then get published and disseminated. I would say the social landscape and the policy landscape is changing faster than the research, but there’s ongoing research to keep pace with those changes.

Learning by teaching

Owens’s research uses a range of methods, including social experiments and large-scale data analysis, to examines how organizations negotiate diversity and difference. She has won multiple awards for her studies of how racial and ethnic bias operate in K-12 schools and is currently studying how to make evaluation processes in organizations—such as performance reviews—fairer for people in minority groups, among other relevant topics.

It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to be teaching in this area because it is an area that is very close to my own research and to the things that motivated me to be a researcher in the first place. The conversations we have in class feed back into my research and give me practitioner perspectives on how the research I’m doing can be applied more effectively in different organizational settings.

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IMAGES

MIT Sloan MBA Essays 2020-2021: Analysis and Tips from an MIT Fellow
MIT Sloan MBA Strategy for 2023–2024: How to Tackle the Application
How To Ace The MIT Sloan MBA Video Essay
2023-2024 MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays
MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023-2024], Class Profile
MIT Sloan MBA Application Essay Analysis 2020-2021

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2023-2024 MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays
MIT Sloan Admissions Team. As one of the prestigious M7 schools, the average MIT Sloan student tends to have a demonstrated track record of academic excellence and a high GMAT/GRE score. The ~400 admits to the Class of 2024 had a median GMAT score of 730. GRE verbal scores ranged from 157-168 and quant scores ranged from 158-169.
MIT Sloan Essay Examples & Tips, 2023-2024
MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples. July 3, 2023. Jeremy Shinewald. Rather than framing its required application essay as a traditional "essay," the MIT Sloan School of Management instead requests that applicants submit a "cover letter," including even the standard formal correspondence elements of an address and ...
Frequently Asked Questions
MIT Sloan students accepted full-time and internship opportunities with 300 companies. In 2022, our top industries were Consulting (31.2%), Tech (22.6%), Finance (22.6%), and Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech (6.8%). The average base salary was $159,391, the median base salary was $165,000, and the range of base salary was $62,000-$270,000.
Sloan MBA Essays
Sloan MBA Essays & Analysis 2023-2024. The following analysis examines the admissions essay topics from the MIT Sloan School of Management. The Sloan MBA essays for the 2023-2024 admissions season are below. You can also review essay topic analyses for other leading MBA programs as well as general Essay Tips to further aid you in developing ...
MIT Sloan MBA Essays 2022-2023: Analysis and Tips from an MIT Fellow
MIT Sloan MBA Application Deadlines. Round 1. September 29, 2022. Round 2. January 18, 2023. Round 3. April 11, 2023. Take a look at this article to know the MBA application deadlines of other business schools.
How to Apply to the MBA Program
A third year with one semester at each school. Applicants who wish to pursue the dual degree option must receive: Concurrent admission to the MIT Sloan MBA program and the Harvard Kennedy School; and. Permission from MIT Sloan to pursue the dual degree option in three years. Applicants intending to pursue the dual degree option with the Harvard ...
MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023-2024], Class Profile
MIT Sloan class profile. Here's a look at the MIT Sloan Class of 2024 (data taken from the MIT Sloan website ): Class size: 408. Average years of work experience: 5. Women: 46%. International: 40%. Underrepresented minority: 32%. Countries represented: 63. Median undergraduate GPA: 3.62.
MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips
The post MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips appeared first on Vantage Point MBA. Published in MBA, Vantage Point MBA, Admission Consultants and Blog. If you're applying to MIT Sloan's MBA program, you've likely given thought to what you want to express in the required 300-word Cover Letter (or, ideally, have already started working on it).
MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips
MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips. If you're applying to MIT Sloan's MBA program, you've likely given thought to what you want to express in the required 300-word Cover Letter (or, ideally, have already started working on it).Perhaps the trickiest thing about the unique MIT Sloan essay is the word limit, which is incredibly short and forces you to have a laser focus on the elements of ...
MIT Sloan: MBA Application Essays
MIT Sloan: MBA Application Essays We are back with our List of Top B-school essay questions and prompts! Today, we will specifically discuss the MIT Sloan Application Essays for the 2022-23 admission cycle. Additionally, MIT is a well-renowned B-school that aims to create a vibrant learning environment, rich in diverse ideas and life experiences, for […]
2023-2024 MBA Admissions: MIT Sloan Essays
In the personal essay, this is your chance to show MIT Sloan the values that drive you both as a person and as a student. These values tell the admissions council what you prioritize, the moral code you live by, and, most importantly, who you are as a person. In these essays, you can talk about almost anything; typically, applicants will write ...
MIT Sloan MBA 2022-2023 Essay and Video Tips
VIDEO ESSAY. Applicants are required to upload a 1 minute (60 second) video as part of their application. In your video, you should introduce yourself to your future classmates, tell us about your past experiences, and touch on why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your degree. Videos should adhere to the following guidelines: No ...
How to Apply to the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Program
Application Fee. The non-refundable application fee of $250.00 USD must be paid online prior to submitting your application. In addition to the list below, attendees of some recruitment events and conferences where MIT Sloan is present may qualify for an application fee waiver.
How To Ace The MIT Sloan MBA Video Essay
Let's make some awesome MBA video essays for MIT Sloan! In a special, one-off extra to our MBA Monday on spontaneous business school video essays, Angela Gui...
MIT Sloan Fellows Essay Tips & Deadlines [2022-2023]
MIT Sloan Fellows cover letter. This global leadership development program is a 12-month, full-time executive MBA program designed to prepare an elite group of global mid-career managers with the management skills necessary to magnify their impact as leaders and innovators. Our guiding principles are to help you develop critical skills ...
MIT Sloan Executive MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2022
Finally, MIT EMBA's mission is stated at the start of the essay questions; keep it on the radar for context as you draft the essays. ... MIT Executive MBA essay #2. MIT Sloan finds strength through diversity. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound ...
Analyzing the Applications: the MIT Sloan Essay Questions
The MIT Sloan School of Management lays out five characteristics that it looks for in candidates for its MBA program: Leadership and an ability to inspire others A collaborative spirit and focus on community Intellectual curiosity and analytical strength Creativity to generate new solutions to existing challenges Growth in both professional and personal endeavors These […]
4 tips for MIT Sloan MBA Application Video Statement- 2023
Tips for creating an admirable MIT Sloan application Video Statement. Here are some tips to create an impressive MIT Sloan application Video Statement/ Video Essay: Tip 1- Create a script. Tip 2- Present yourself well. Tip 3- Set up your recording space well. Tip 4- Practice well. Let us look at each of these in detail:
What to Expect from the 2023-2024 MBA Essay Questions
MIT Sloan's cover letter essay has not changed in a while, and we expect it to stay the same in the 2023-2024 cycle. MIT Sloan's 2022-2023 MBA essay question was: MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic.
Preparing For Your Interview
When scheduling your interview, please try and select a time that you will be able to keep. We understand that things happen and you may need to reschedule; please email us at [email protected] as soon as you realize you cannot make your interview and we will work with you to find a new time slot. Please note that your interviewer may ...
10 Best Questions to Ask an MBA Student or Alum
These are the ten best questions to ask an MBA student or alum to get a well-rounded understanding of your target business school. Meet the Team; Work With Us. ... Essay Tips 23/24: MIT Sloan; Essay Tips 23/24: Northwestern Kellogg; Essay Tips 23/24: NYU Stern; Essay Tips 23/24: Stanford;
Poets&Quants' 40-Under-40 Best MBA Professors Of 2024
We at Poets&Quants are proud to announce our collection of the 40-Under-40 Best MBA Professors for 2024. This is the 12th edition of our annual recognition, and our goal remains unchanged: To identify and celebrate the most talented young professors currently teaching in MBA programs around the world. Federica De Stefano, HEC Paris.
Career Stories: Javier Bello Medina, MBA '24
Product Design and Development Class: One of the most integral product courses at MIT Sloan! Work with talented peers to prototype and create a product (Great example of MIT's motto, "mens et manus.") This class pairs MBA students with mechanical engineering Ph.D. candidates and designers from RISD (SO talented people!).
Deferred Admission Common Questions
In order to accept your offer, you will pay a $750 deposit at the time of admission to secure your spot in our MBA Early cohort. Additionally, MBA Early admits will submit an annual $750 deposit in each subsequent deferral year. All deposits are non-refundable but will be applied to your future tuition. Collapse.
What's the best MBA school? These schools produce the most ...
An MBA experience is all about which classes you spend a little extra time studying for, who you seek out to build connections with, and the ideas you take away and apply to your future goals.
Beyond the Syllabus: Learning to Address Bias
Beyond the Syllabus: Learning to Address Bias. In a newly-created course, Understanding and Reducing Bias in Organizations, Professor Jayanti Owens leads students through the best research-backed approaches to improving fairness in hiring and performance evaluations, reducing the wage gap, and other means to build more just companies and teams.
New leadership and management thinking from MIT experts
A new book from MIT CISR researchers explains how to decontextualize data and prepare data assets that can be reused for many purposes. ( Barbara H. Wixom, Cynthia M. Beath, and Leslie Owens) For more info Meredith Somers News Writer (617) 715-4216 [email protected]. Ten books with a fresh look at data monetization, DEI practices, disciplined ...

2023-2024 MIT Sloan MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

1. Who is MIT Sloan looking for?

2. How should I answer MIT Sloan essay questions?

2.1. Cover Letter

2.2. Video Statement

2.3. Optional Short Answer Question

2.4. Additional Information Essay

2.5. The Interview Essays

3. Make Sure you Get Into MIT Sloan

4. MIT Sloan Deadlines

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MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

MIT Sloan 2023–2024 Essay Tips

VIDEO: Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

Optional Short Answer Question: How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background. (250 words)

Reapplicants: We strongly encourage you to submit new application materials and emphasize what has changed since you last applied. Re-applicants may submit their applications in any round, and will have an opportunity to highlight changes since their previous application in a short-answer question.

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Anchor on One Story that Highlights a Capstone Accomplishment and Demonstrates Fit with Sloan

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MIT Sloan Essay Questions & Tips

MIT Sloan Essay Questions

MIT Sloan Essay Tips

Anchor on One Story that Highlights a Capstone Accomplishment and Demonstrates Fit with Sloan

Past Accomplishments, Not Future Goals, Should Be the Focus

MIT Sloan Video Statement Tips

MBA Admissions Advice About Social Media

Kick-Off Call Game Planning

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MIT Sloan: MBA Application Essays

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What MIT Sloan Seeks in MBA Candidates

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2023-2024 MBA Admissions: MIT Sloan Essays

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