Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)
A rather standard goal essay with an added layer of asking you about your plan B career option. The important elements of the essays are clear mention of what you want to do after completing your MBA, including the industry and function you want to join. If you can give an idea about possible target employers- even better! The next step would be to clearly demonstrate that you understand what you would gain from Kelley to take you to your career goals.
When writing about alternate career path, please make sure to keep them realistic and achievable. Your research and passion for the choices should come across clearly.
Please respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)
a. My greatest memory is...
While answering this question, please do remember that what you describe as your greatest memory should also have enough substance and impact on your life to claim that spot in your life- the GREATEST. If possible try to stay away from academic achievements, but use this to highlight your personal side.
b. I'm most afraid of...
Be judicious in answering this question. If answered correctly, it can provide a genuine glimpse of who you are as a person, but if not handled with maturity and finesse, it could easily work against you.
c. My greatest challenge has been...
Again, like the above question- use your best judgment to talk about a challenge which is an area of growth for you. It is not that incapacitating that it will make you unsuitable for a B-school, but impactful enough that conveys the seriousness of this question.
d. I'm most proud of...
You can take an anecdotal approach or decide to talk about certain achievements and their themes that you have had in your life. When talking about pride, try to throw light on how and why this is important for you.
Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy.
What is it about your background, interests, hobbies that would be counted as interesting and fun?
Choose something which presents you in a positive light, which highlights your strengths and also potentially positions you as a good fit with Emory. Ideally write about a quality, trait or achievement that has not been covered in the other essays.
Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn't feel obligated to answer this question.(300 words)
You could write this essay if you need to detail certain impressive contributions or qualities that you could not capture in the other three essays. If this aspect of your personality, career or life adds to the value to your application, you can consider writing the optional essay. Do not write this essay if you think quality of rest of your application is suboptimal. If that is the case, improve your other essays first.
Alternately, use this essay to explain shortfalls in your application which you feel are truly detrimental to your candidature. Absence of recommendation from current supervisor, areas of underperformance (academic or professional) or events which stick out (gaps in your resumes or second MBA) or application issues (reapplications) can be commented on if you have explanations that are intelligent and credible.
Whether you decide to showcase your strengths or address your weakness, it might be better to not do both of these in the same space. Pick one aspect that you think will truly help your application.
Kelley MBA application requires you to submit a one-page resume along with details about your employment and academics. The typical MBA resume format consists of employment, education, and extracurricular details. MBA resume tips
In your Kelley application, you will be asked to provide two MBA letters of recommendation - from your current or previous supervisors. MBA LOR tips
As is the policy with most top business schools, Kelley MBA interviews are conducted only by invitation. Students typically would receive an invite 4-6 weeks after submitting their MBA applications. MBA interview tips
