1. Community of Belonging: What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)
This essay is different from Darden's last year's MBA essay - "Given that you will be forming lifelong connections with your classmates that extend beyond the classroom, what is important for your classmates to know about you that is not on your resumé?"
Now, the Darden MBA admissions team wants you to write about something not on your MBA resume. While you could talk about an achivement or a fun fact about you, it would be prudent to think what makes you a good teammate, friend, or associate. You could even talk about a strong life philosophy, your motto- that you apply in your professional and personal lives - you can share that with your classmates.
Basically, this MBA essay must show Darden how you'd make a valuable addition to their community and be an engaged member of the Darden MBA class.Inclusive Impact: Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden. (300 words)
Since Darden follows a purely case-based teaching methodology that relies greatly on debates and discussions, Darden needs to admit MBA students, who can not only work effectively with a team but also proactively promote an inclusive environment. The students who would make an ideal fit with the Darden MBA are empathetic, encouraging, open-minded, humble, and proactively helping others feel included. So do your best to find examples that support these qualities.
Like all MBA essays that require you to describe an example - for this answer follow the CAR format: Context, Action, Result.
Start by briefly explaining the situation and challenges and how you took actions to create or mediate a conflict and enabled an inclusive culture where everyone was heard and felt respected.
And don't miss! - to finally connect this experience with what insights, learnings, and skills you'd bring to Darden to enable you to create a warm and welcoming inclusive community at Darden.
Careers With Purpose: What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (150 words)
As we often tell our students - one of the main reasons MBA applicants are rejected by top business schools, is the lack of clarity about their career goals. All top MBA programs expect you to give thoughtful consideration to your post-MBA career plans before you submit your MBA applications. This includes research on the kind of role(s) you might take up, your target employers as well as your long-term career vision after completing your MBA.
Darden too wants to admit MBA students who are very clear, focused, and realistic about their plans and can give a clear rationale for their career path.
For this MBA essay, you can start by talking about the industry and function you are interested in after completing your MBA and, if possible, give an example or two of your ideal employers (preferably from those that recruit at Darden). You must also include your geographical preference. For example, if you want to work in the US or want to go back to your home country after your MBA, mention that clearly so that Darden knows that you will be also doing an off-campus job search.
The most important part of the question is - how does your short-term career goal align with your long-term vision? So, in addition, to writing about what you want to do after your Darden MBA - make the connection between short and long-term plans very clear and strong.
Darden 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.
In the Darden application's employment history section, you will provide basic details about your various roles and responsibilities. So, use your resume to highlight your leadership and impact. What have you accomplished in your roles? And whenever possible, try to quantify your results.
As per Darden MBA admissions team's Instructions: a resume is also an opportunity to display your personality and offer insights about your passions and interests. Hobbies, favorite activities, books you’ve read recently, podcasts you’re currently listening to, countries you’ve visited. It’s all fair game. Including a few of these personal details can help us get a more complete picture of you. MBA resume tips
Darden requires one recommendation as part of our application process. As per Darden's admissions team, candidates may include a second recommendation with their materials, if desired. However, make sure this additional recommender is offering new insights regarding you and your candidacy.
Like many top business schools in the US, Darden MBA application constitutes of letter of recommendation questions from the GMAC MBA letter of recommendation template. MBA LOR tips
Darden interviews are unique. They are blind interviews, which means your interviewer will not have read or reviewed your application or résumé. It is Darden's policy to conduct anonymous interviews, so there is no need to send in your résumé for the interview. Each interview will be 30–45 minutes in length.
Open Interviews: Early Action applicants can interview from August through the end of September on a first come, first served basis. Early Action open interview availability will be announced in early August.
Invitation-Only Interviews: For those who apply in Rounds 1, 2 or 3, an invitation-only interview is conducted after your application has been submitted and reviewed by the admissions committee. Invitations to interview are sent on a rolling basis up to and including the decision release date for each round. MBA interview tips
