An MBA personal statement is your sales pitch to the MBA School of your choice. Instead of selling a product, you are selling yourself as a candidate. This means that your MBA personal statement must be well-written, and well-thought of. You have to catch the attention of school officials before they have a chance to see you; doing otherwise may get your application discarded. The MBA personal statement may be referred to as your statement of purpose or your application essay. Whatever the term has been used, you are expected to present a high-quality MBA essay that will show who you are beyond your Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score.
Like in any other plan of action, it is great to have a checklist to work with. There are five very important features your MBA personal statement must have. Without one of these features, your statement of purpose may not achieve its goal. As with any piece of writing, your grammar and spelling must be flawless. Your MBA personal statement may be well-meaning, but technical mistakes can make it difficult to read. This kind of MBA essay will make you look careless and incompetent. Another must-do for your MBA personal statement is to answer whatever question that has been given by your chosen university. Your application essay may be perfectly executed, but without what the university it is asking for, it really is not worth much.
Now, let us inspect the details of your MBA personal statement. The content must present why you are the perfect candidate by stating some experiences and qualities that qualify you as an MBA student. Your MBA personal statement must also contain specific details, not just overviews. You have to prove whatever you claim about yourself, so evidence through your specifics is important. The essay must of course be easy to read in order for it to connect with its audience. Some very technical writing can prevent readers from appreciating the content. Finally, you have to submit a distinctive MBA personal statement. You may be everything you have said and more, but without an edge that will distinguish you from other candidates, you may end up not getting in the program. Your MBA personal statement must then be fresh, and compelling, but genuine.
So, let us reiterate the five signs of a good MBA personal statement. One, it must be technically flawless. Then it must answer the question or give what is asked. The last three features also deal with content: it must emphasize your qualifications by giving specifics, connect with its audience and be distinctive. With the five features, you form a powerful MBA personal statement. This, together with a good GMAT result can make you a competitive candidate for Ivy League schools.
As soon as the essay question for your preferred MBA program has already been posted, you may start working on your MBA personal statement. In order to include the five important features of a good MBA essay, you have several drafts ahead of you. This is important to ensure that you have several chances to correct mistakes you may have neglected to see on the first proofread. After giving your essay your best shot, it is time to submit it to the university or universities of your choice, cross your fingers, and wait for the call.
Photo Credit : Paul Worthington
