Avoid Getting Sucked Into the MBA Essay Vortex

In the last week or two, several business schools have released their essay questions for the next MBA application season. This, in turn, has led news outlets and admissions-related websites to feverishly analyze any changes to the essays questions to determine what that might signal for the next crop of MBA applicants. As an MBA candidate, by all mean take a gander to see whether your target schools have new essays or application guidelines. But just as quickly as you read the essay questions, put them aside and address the other areas of your MBA applications.

Every year with application deadline several months away, I talk with candidates who proudly proclaim that they have been working on their MBA essays. Getting a headstart isn’t a bad thing except when it detracts from more pressing to-do list items. If you have more than 75 days until your MBA application deadlines and you answer yes to any of the following questions, then essay writing should not be a priority for you now:

1. Are you still preparing for the GMAT?

Preparing for the GMAT requires time and focus. If you are working on your essays, then that means you are not working on the GMAT. Your GMAT score can impact which schools you ultimately apply to so put the essays away for another day.

2. Are you taking or should you take additional coursework to strengthen your academic profile?

While most MBA candidates that take additional quantitative coursework do so concurrently with completing the rest of the MBA application, ensure that you are on track with any courses before starting essay writing. Find courses that that are available locally or online, and sign-up. Also get off to a strong start in the class – your goals are to learn and to get an “A”.

3. Is your current job situation tenuous?

Your job is tenuous if (a) you are in a new position, (b) you are in the market for a new job, possibly because you are unemployed, or (c) you aren’t absolutely confident that you will get strong recommendations to use in applying to business school. If you fall into any of these categories, then focus on work and on deliver excellent job performance. You will have time for essays later.

4. Do you have a GMAT score that is above your target schools’ averages or at least within its middle 80% range?

I know I already asked about the GMAT, but I just wanted to ensure that you heard me loud and clear.

5. Are you still trying to determine the MBA programs to which you will apply?

If you aren’t sure of the MBA programs to which you are applying, then don’t start on MBA essays. This is generally true even if you do know one or two schools that are definitely on your list. Figure out your whole application strategy before launching into essays. Also, essay writing is made much easier when you’ve completed thorough school research. Don’t write essays using a fill in the blank strategy – i.e., filling school-specific information later.

6. Are you still clarifying your short-term and long-term goals?

Spoiler Alert: you will be required to share well-articulated post-MBA career goals in your MBA admissions essays. In the last sentence “well-articulated” modified career goals, not essays – well written essays are important, but credible, realistic yet ambitious career goals are critical to success in the MBA application process. Beyond just knowing what you want to do professionally, you also must understand how what you’ve done in the past positions you to achieve those goals.

If you answered yes to even one of the questions above, then save the essays for a couple of weeks to make progress on the more urgent components of your MBA application. If you answered yes to three or more questions, then I am going to need you to put the essays down and slowly back away.