personal statement for mba

Coming up with a Winning Personal Statement for MBA for a Successful Career in the Corporate World

Coming up with a winning personal statement for MBA is not difficult as long as you have the right reasons for entering MBA.  Just wanting to get an MBA is not going to cut it.  You need to be clear with yourself about the reasons for wanting an MBA and you should express those reasons in an interesting and attention-grabbing manner.

Be clear on your MBA goal

The basic thing that you should determine when applying for an MBA is the reasons why you are applying for an MBA.  Saying that your parents want it or that you think it will look good in your resume isn’t just going to cut it.  You would need to do some serious reflection (if you haven’t done it yet) on the reasons why you would like to get an MBA.  Sure, it sounds impressive, but you should remember that getting an MBA is more about you, your goals, and how an MBA will contribute to your growth as a person.  As such, getting into an MBA is not as simple as choosing your shampoo or the brand of cereal to buy.  You need to remember that your MBA goals should reflect your personality, abilities, knowledge, experience, and how those make you fit well with the MBA program that you’re applying for.  Basically, you should show that you know what you are doing with your life by applying for an MBA, and that you can help your organization and the community by doing so.

Watch your language

Once you are clear with the reasons why you want an MBA, the next step is putting that into words or writing.  Is there a specific tone or method that you should follow for a personal statement for MBA?  The good thing is that there is none.  But that would also leave one in a limbo as you would not know what to do. The best approach usually is to speak from the heart. As personal statements are devised to let admission officials know you personally, you should let your personality, beliefs, and opinions show in your personal statement.  But that doesn’t mean that anything goes. You should also be selective in the details that you present; you should present details that show your goals and your abilities, and forward your convictions and qualifications for deserving an MBA.

On a practical note, you should edit your statement as many times as it takes.  Get the feedback of as many people as possible on your work and objectively assess their points.  Doing so would let you see issues with your personal statement that you can’t see when you do it on your own.

Winning personal statements usually depend on the candidate, what his or her reasons are, and whether they gave serious reflection on those goals and whether they can express those ideas clearly.  In the end, it would depend on the person, his or her qualifications and reasons, and how well those ideas get through on the personal statement.

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Discussing Relevant Study Group Experiences in Your Personal Statement for MBA

If you’re looking for an angle to discuss in your personal statement for MBA and you have experience in study groups, then you could mention that in your personal essay.  It would be helpful if the study group that you were involved in was in the company level, but if it was from your university days, it will do as well.  The only thing you need to do is to relate your experience in the study group to the specific MBA program you want to apply to.  There are things that you can highlight when you do discuss your study group experience in your personal statement.  Here are some of them.

Teamwork and collaboration

As study groups require interpersonal relations, you can highlight your ability to work well with other people. You can mention instances of personality clashes and mention how you handled them.  You can also mention any leadership qualities that you displayed in the study group, like maintaining the focus and discipline of the group and making helpful suggestions.  Especially in a professional or company setting, you can mention any new initiatives or breakthroughs the study group achieved because of your suggestions.

Relating your MBA goals

You should also make sure to relate your study group experience to your personal and career goals.  Mention things that you’ve learned or experiences that influenced you in pursuing an MBA.  For example, if you’re pursuing a career in financial engineering, you can mention how your study group experience made you realize the importance of applying what you’ve learned in a business setting.

Aside from that, you can also mention skills that you’ve learned, challenges that you’ve faced while working with the study group.  This can give admission officials an idea of your potential for growth and ability to handle obstacles.  These details can help the officials gauge your leadership qualities and be convinced that you have what it takes to be an industry leader.

Relate the school

You also need to mention some details about the school and how you’re a right fit for their program.  You can mention how well the school’s program matches what you need in your MBA program.  This also shows that you have seriously considered your MBA goals and looked around for the right school that can give you what you need to achieve your career goals.

Another thing is, your study group experience may not amount to much if you didn’t study the school that you’re applying for.  So, show off some of your research skills by mentioning details about the school which you deemed best apt to help you in your MBA study.

Mentioning study group experience is a good angle so long as you know how to use it.  And not just use it, you should remember to mention this experience only if it was crucial in your MBA decision.  If it is, just highlight some of the things mentioned here to emphasize your skills and let admission officials know the person behind the MBA application.

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Effectively Discussing Your Preferred Business Specialty in Your Personal Statement for MBA

As a personal statement for MBA requires that you discuss your goals and reasons for applying for an MBA, it will be good for your application if you discuss what your plans are for your specialization.  Doing so would show that you have a clear view of the future, and that you consider an MBA necessary for your goals.  But how should you go about it?  Here are some things to consider when discussing your MBA specialization.

Don’t forget yourself

Though it’s tempting to discuss your qualifications and achievements, they are already in your resume and other application documents.  What the personal statement should contain is a glimpse of you as a person.  You certainly can mention your qualifications for a certain program, but you should also bring in your own story to the discussion. You can mention details as to why you chose that program, such as certain experiences or people that influenced you.  You can also mention some aspects of your personality that matches your preferred specialization.  These things can present both your qualifications and have the admission committee have a good grasp of you as a person.

Don’t forget the school

Make your personal statement as specific as possible to the school that you’re applying to.  If you sincerely believe in your goal and an MBA is the means to that goal, then you should have been serious in your school selection.  You should have done research on the school and found out reasons why you think the school provides you the best opportunity for your growth and success in your chosen specialization.  Once you have those details, it’s just a matter of sharing those details in your personal statement for MBA.  Basically, you just tell them why you think their school is one of the best that can offer you what you need to advance your career.  It may sound like sucking up, but it won’t be if you provide a context, mentioning your greater goal of achieving success in your chosen field.

Choose your details carefully

Since the space allowed for the personal statement is limited, you need to exercise discretion in the details that you’ll discuss.  You can’t mention everything about yourself, so you should choose the best details that can illustrate you’re suited for the school and the program.  How do you choose the details?  You already have your goals, the school, and the program as your guide.  Follow your gut; include details which you feel are the most important aspects on why you chose to take up MBA and select the particular specialization.  You can also ask friends, family, and colleagues for help on which details to discuss.  But eventually, it is you who will decide which are important details about yourself that relates strongly to your application.

Discussing your preferred specialization is a good angle to pursue when making your personal statement.  It shows that you have plans for the future, and that you’re aware of what you need to achieve your goals.  All you need to do is to express those reasons in your own words and you should come up with an effective personal statement.

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Columbia Business School, Fuqua School of Business, and MIT Sloan School of Management are some of the business schools included in the list of top MBA Schools in the US for 2008. Below are short profiles of these three notable business schools.

Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School is seventh in the ranking for the 2008 top US MBA schools. This business school came into existence in 1916. The school has produced many famous business leaders in the United States. Today, Columbia Business School is home to students from different parts of the globe. This academic institution also boasts various programs such as executive education and doctorate programs. This school is also proud of its various professors who are famed for introducing new concepts in the field of business.

Fuqua School of Business (Duke University)

Duke University was founded by James Buchanan Duke in 1924. The establishment of this school was made possible by the Duke Endowment, the philanthropic foundation of the Duke family. The school was once an expansion of Trinity College. It was in 1969 that the Fuqua School of Business was established. This business school is one of today’s best institutions for a business education in the US. The Fuqua School of Business offers MBA programs, executive education, and doctorates.

MIT Sloan School of Management

MIT Sloan in Cambridge, Massachusetts was established in 1914. It did not start as a business school; rather, it was an engineering administration curriculum within the MIT Department of Economics and Statistics. Currently, MIT Sloan offers various options for those who want to study business.

If you want to know more about each business school, you can visit the website of each school. Among the things you have to prepare if you want to be admitted in any of these three schools are your resume and your personal statement for MBA.

In the 2008 MBA School rankings by Business Week, the Haas School of Business falls in the 10th place, the Johnson Graduate School of Management is in the 11th rank, and the Tuck School of Business is the 12th placer. The following are short descriptions of these three MBA schools.

Haas School of Business (University of California–Berkeley)

The founding of the Haas School of Business was put forward by Arthur Rodgers who was a businessman and an alumnus of Berkeley. Rodger’s idea of a College of Commerce in the University of California was heard in his 1883 commencement address and it took more or less 15 years for this idea to become a reality. The types of programs offered at the Haas School of Business include full-time and part-time MBAs, undergraduate and executive programs, PhDs, non-degree programs, and Masters in Financial Engineering.

Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth College)

The Tuck School of Business is notable for producing graduates who later became distinguished individuals in the world of business. This business school was founded in 1900 and is located in Dartmouth. In the course of its long and splendid history, Tuck School of Business gave birth to many distinguished individuals who have helped shaped the world of business. Among them are Colin Kenny, Mark Byrne, Philip J. Moss, Anne Sullivan, John Jacquemin, and Quentin L. Kopp.

Johnson Graduate School of Management (Cornell University)

Another notable school of business is Johnson Graduate School of Management. This academic institution was founded in 1946. There are various programs to choose from at Johnson Graduate School of Management. Among these are MBAs, executive MBAs, and PhDs. Prominent alumni of Johnson School include Daniel Hesse of Sprint Nextel Corp., Nancy Schlichting of Henry Ford Health System, Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft Foods, Inc., Robert Ramin of National Aquarium, and Kyung-Bae Suh of AmorePacific Corp.

If you plan to pursue your studies in any of these academic institutions, you have to prepare your personal statement for MBA. You can visit the site of each school to get more information about the application process.

Leonard N. Stern School of Business (New York University)

Leonard N. Stern School of Business is the 13th placer in the 2008 Business Week MBA school rankings. NYU Stern was established in 1900 as an undergraduate School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance. This institution is located at New York University’s Washington Square Campus. In 1916, the graduate business program was established and accepted both full-time and part-time students. As the business trends developed over the years, NYU widens the range of programs it offers. The then School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance was renamed Leonard N. Stern School of Business after Leonard Stern donated $30 million for the improvement of the school’s facilities.

Anderson School (University of California–Los Angeles)

The 14th placer in the 2008 MBA rankings is the Anderson School of Management. It was founded 70 years ago, under the University of California. There are various programs to choose from at Anderson School of Management. Among these are PhDs, executive MBAs, and Master of Financial Engineering. On top of these, Anderson School of Management offers UCLA-NUS Global Executive MBA Programs, Global Access Programs, Riordan Programs, Management Development Programs, and Management Communication Programs.

Kelley School of Business (Indiana University)

The 15th placer in the list of top business schools in 2008 is Kelley School of Business. This was established in 1920 and was formerly called the School of Commerce and Finance. It was later renamed School of Business Administration. In 1997, E.W Kelley donated $23 million so the school was renamed Kelley School of Business. This business school offers full-time MBAs, undergraduate programs, online MBAs, executive education, specialized master’s degrees, and PhD programs.

To apply in any of these schools, you can visit their official websites. It is also a great help if you write your personal statement for MBA ahead of time.

Darden Graduate School of Business (University of Virginia)

In the 2008 Best MBA Program ranking by Business Week, Darden Graduate School of Business is sixteenth in rank. This school is one of the extensions of the University of Virginia, a university that gave birth to many famous figures such as the poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe. The Darden Graduate School of Business is considered as one of the highly recommended schools in the US for those who want to study business.

Kenan-Flagler Business School (University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill)

Kenan-Flagler stands seventeenth in rank in the 2008 Best MBA Programs by Business Week. In 1919, UNC Kenan-Flagler was established as the Department of Commerce of UNC Chapel Hill’s College of Arts. The current name of the school was given in 1991 after the couple Mary Kenan and Henry Morrison Flagler gave donations to the school. The renaming of the school is also in recognition of F.H Kenan of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise. The programs offered in UNC Kenan-Flagler include executive education, master of accounting, MBAs, and doctorates.

Cox School of Business (Southern Methodist University)

Cox School is eighteenth in the list of the 2008 Best MBA Schools by Business Week. Many major publications, such as Business Week and The Wall Street Journal, considered Cox School as one of the world’s best business schools. Among the program options for those who want to attend this business school are executive education, undergraduate, and graduate programs.

For those who are interested in apply to any of the business schools mentioned above, the schools’ official websites provide information about the schools’ application processes. It is also necessary to prepare your resume and personal statement for MBA when applying for these business schools.

When you enroll in an MBA program, you expect to learn advanced business skills.  This means that by the time you earn your MBA degree, you are better qualified for management positions or for a completely different career.  Of course, all these will depend on the kind of MBA program you choose.  Aside from this, an MBA degree also provides other benefits, which include the opportunity for networking.  Networking allows you to share ideas with people coming from different fields during your MBA stay.

The networking offer

An MBA program offers networking.  Though other schools will provide their own brand of networking, an MBA school will connect you with like-minded people: future entrepreneurs and managers.

The benefits of networking

Why is networking so valuable?  On the surface, networking is about socialization and about making sure that you have a  well-balanced life.  Of course, these are both valid reasons to support networking.  From a business perspective, however, networking also focuses on finding contacts that can help in your future business ventures.  Your current classmates may become future business partners or even clients.  Or, they can contribute helpful tips on how you can better run your future company even when you are still a business student. It’s crucial for those who attend MBA schools to ask for the contact numbers of people they deal with. Who knows, these people may help them achieve business in the future?

Networking within your MBA program

Of course, it is not advisable to make connections merely for gain.  You may establish friendship with other students or join organizations to expand your social network. This will help you become a good team worker and team leader as well.  If you treat them more warmly, they will be more willing to help you out in the future. To maintain a strong link or build a better relationship, aAlso share your own business insights.

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An MBA degree can improve your career status; it can also provide you with other field options.  You may fret about not having excellent grades in college to get that career improvement opportunity.  However, these grades may not decide your acceptance.  You also have ways to improve your odds of getting accepted. One way is to enroll into several programs.  Another way to improve your chances is to seek the advice of alumni.  Find out what they had to go through during their application; know what is needed in your personal statement for MBA.

Benefit of seeking alumni help

When you talk to MBA alumni, you are exposed to application, and overall MBA program, success stories.  You can find out how to succeed in your own quest to become an MBA student, doing this with the help of reliable sources.

How to approach MBA alumni

List down MBA alumni you personally know; this will include friends, relatives and even acquaintances.  Get their personal perspectives on what the MBA admissions committee is looking for. You can request them for detailed accounts of their application experiences.  Finally, you can ask advice on what to include or to exclude from your personal statement for MBA.  If you do not know any alumna or alumnus personally, you can visit the school’s forums on their MBA programs.  Here, you can ask professors and students everything you want to know about MBA admissions.

Asking advice on your personal statement for MBA

To complete the overall package you are creating with the help of alumni, you need to know how to represent yourself.  One way to do that is through the interview.  Alumni can give you advice on the interview but can also advise you on your personal statement for MBA.  They can advise you on both the structure and the content of your application essay.  This is very important, because your essay may be the deciding factor of your application.

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An MBA program will hone your business skills, but will also require some existing skills from you.  These skills will be both used and enhanced during your MBA study.  You will need these skills not only during the entire course of your MBA program, but also in preparation for your future business ventures.

Math and logic

Business means that you will be dealing with money or more numbers.  To deal with spreadsheets and other financial documents, you need to have good mathematical skills. You will also be dealing with more advanced mathematical functions, especially in subjects such as economics and actuarial science.  If you are already interested in mathematics as a whole, you will have an advantage in some of your subjects.

Data analysis

It is important to do well in business analysis.  If you can examine data carefully and create solutions for case studies, you will do well in the field of business.  When filling in your spreadsheets, you shouldn’t focus on the mathematical side alone, but will also have to relate these numbers to business probabilities.

Oral and verbal communication

You will need to write business proposals and pitch your products to make a sale.  This means that you will also need excellent written and verbal communication skills.  How can you use numbers and plans if you cannot put them into words?

Emotional quotient

Even if you are the smartest MBA student, you will not fare well in the real world without a high emotional quotient.  You don’t only need to communicate, but also hat to connect with people. You need to know how to work with a team and further develop your leadership skills. For your business to do well, you need to expand your social network.  This growing network may benefit your business in the future.

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