Proofreading and editing are two of the most important steps in composing any kind of essay. When you are writing an MBA personal statement, however, the importance of proofreading and editing is magnified exponentially by the significance and purpose of your personal statement. Simply put, a personal statement that is not proofread and edited well can easily lead to your rejection by your school of choice. On the other hand, if you do a good job at checking for and correcting errors in your personal statement, you will be giving yourself the best chances of getting accepted into the schools you apply to. Here are some tips for checking for errors in your MBA personal statement:
Looking for grammar errors in your admission essays
The first step is to proofread for grammar and spelling errors. These errors are often the easiest to find and correct, but they are also red flags for admissions committees. For this reason, you shouldn’t just trust the grammar and spelling checkers on your computer. Instead, take the time to slowly go over your essay searching primarily for grammar and spelling errors. Make corrections as needed and keep proofreading until you are unable to find any more grammar or spelling mistakes. Then, you can go on to the more tasking proofreading and editing steps.
Looking for logic errors in your essays for admission
Aside from correcting grammar and spelling mistakes, you will also have to ensure that your personal statement is free from syntax errors and logical errors. Chances are that you may not remember all of the logical fallacies and common logical errors that were taught to you in English class those many years ago. To help you with this, you may want to find a webpage that has a list of some of the most commonly committed logical errors and use this list when you read through and edit your essay. Once you are satisfied with the changes you have made, you may want to have another person, such as a relative or (even better) an English teacher, review and proofread your essay for the mistakes that you may have overlooked. Heed other people’s advice, make corrections as necessary, and compose a final revision of your essay for submission.
Related questions:
1. Where can I find a list of logical fallacies?
2. Do grammatical or logical errors automatically result in the rejection of my application?
3. Where can I find more proofreading and editing tips and tutorials?
When faced with the task of writing your admission essay for MBA school, it is easy to get overwhelmed and confused about how to go about writing your essay. When this happens, however, it is important to keep your main objective in mind: to get accepted into MBA school. This means that you must write an application essay that is effective at persuading the admissions committee that you make a good fit for their school. Although it sounds easy enough, many people get stumped just choosing a topic for their essay, let alone write an essay that is excellent and effective. This article will provide you with some advice on how to write an effective MBA school admission essay.
Make your admission essay stand out
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when writing your essay is that your essay should stand out. Making an essay that stands out is more about letting your personality shine through in your writing, rather than having an overly creative way of writing. In other words, try to think of what makes you stand out as a person. You may want to think of it from this perspective: out of the nearly seven billion people on this earth, what makes you stand out? Try to reflect on some of the experiences that have made the greatest impact on your life, your mentality, your characteristics, and your outlook on life. If you can communicate your personality and your uniqueness through your essay, then the chances are that you will have a stand-out essay that will impress the admissions committee.
Don’t invent stories for your personal statement
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when writing an admission essay is to invent stories in an attempt at being unique. First of all, inventing stories does not represent your personality, despite the fact that it may be a great showcase of your imagination. Second, admissions committees have read hundreds or even thousands of admission essays and they can probably spot a fake story right from the get-go. If they have any reason to believe that your story is fake, they may double-check the information and reject you once they find out that it is false. Finally, inventing stories for your personal statement will only reflect that you are dishonest and insincere – two characteristics that do not impress admissions committees one bit.
Related questions:
1. What are the characteristics of an effective essay?
2. What if I can’t think of a unique or interesting topic to write about?
3. Is it ever acceptable to exaggerate for emphasis in my admission essay?
The admission essay is an important component of you application package to an MBA school. Because of this, it is important to do your best when composing your essay. One of the most important steps to ensuring your essay is ready for submission is proofreading and revision. Proofreading will not only help in correcting obvious mistakes such as grammar and spelling, but it can also help you realize and edit major issues in syntax, cohesion, and the overall flow of your essay. As a result, proofreading your MBA college admission essay should help in coming up with an exceptional essay that will give you the best chances of acceptance into the MBA school of your choice. This article will give you some great tips for effectively proofreading and editing your essay.
Dos when proofreading your MBA application essay
When proofreading your MBA application essay, you should be ready to read over your essay more than once. First, you should proofread for spelling, grammar, and syntax errors that can easily be edited. After correcting these simple mistakes, you may want to take a break from reading your essay. Do something that will completely take your mind off of your essay so that when you come back to read it again, your mind will be refreshed and more receptive to some of the mistakes that you may have otherwise overlooked. Try to practice a little detachment from the essay by taking on the perspective of the admissions officers. Remember that they will be reading hundreds of essays, so you will want to make sure that your essay has a fresh perspective, a solid structure, good formatting, and that it will catch the reader’s attention. Finally, make sure to save multiple copies of your admission essay as you edit it so that you can always go back and compare the changes you have made to see if they really made a positive impact on your essay.
Don’ts when proofreading your application essays
Aside from the things that you should do when proofreading, there are also some things that you must avoid when proofreading. First, you should try not to rush the proofreading stage, or else you may end up submitting an essay that is sub-par or one that has multiple overlooked mistakes. Second, do not limit proofreading only to yourself. One of the best ways to ensure that your essay is well-edited and ready for submission is to get the help of others. Have a friend, colleague, parent, or relative proofread and edit your essay as well to ensure that the essay is checked by a fresh pair of eyes and with a fresh perspective. Finally, don’t forget to make all of your final revisions and prepare your essay for submission along with your application package.
Related questions:
1. Where can I find a list of what to proofread for in my essay?
2. Are online proofreading and editing services worth it and safe to use?
3. Will I be rejected if I miss a few errors when proofreading my application essay?
What makes a truly outstanding sample admission essay? Here are three elements that you should be aware of when turning in your MBA admission essay to the committee of admissions:
Good essays get straight to the point
Rather keep your essay short but sweet. However, this doesn’t mean that you can ignore the minimum number of words and page limit. Do not be redundant and avoid cliches. Both would just lengthen the essay unnecessarily. Even if you are not under the pressures of a word count, avoid going in circles. This is not a case of “the longer, the better.” The selection panel won’t waste their time reading an essay with long paragraphs that seem to be going nowhere. Be clear with your intentions and purpose of writing right from the start.
Good essays avoid confusion in thoughts and transition
Avoid the following:
- using unfamiliar terms and jargon
- exaggerated claims in hopes of impressing the screening committee
- errors in sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and grammar
- trite expressions and cliches
Good essays are thought-provoking and appeal to the emotional side of the readers
When you say emotional side, it does not mean trying to make the admissions officers laugh like hyenas. One funny or witty sentence in the essay is OK; do not turn it into a script for Rowan Atkinson’s stand-up comedy. A short narration of a family tragedy (minus the heavy drama) followed by an explanation on how it instilled new values in you is an example of good content. Of course, you can skip family problems and focus on your aspirations and motivations. Let them in to your own world and be open to share personal views. Just keep it simple, unique, and interesting enough for them to remember your name and consider your qualifications.
Related links:
Essay writing process – About MBA admission essay writing process
Editing your essay – Tips on revising and editing your MBA essay
Career goals – Discussing career goals in your MBA essay
Personal statement advice – Tips on admission essay writing
Grad school guide – Guide to getting into grad school
Let us face it, you belong to multitudes of applicants vying for the limited slot for the MBA program. Some of these people would be more accomplished or intelligent than you, but this does not mean you have to lose. You can actually steal the spotlight from highly qualified applicants by turning in a compelling, well thought of admission essay. Here are some pointers for MBA essay writing that will gain approval from the selection panel.
Forget about lame introductions
Please, if the first two lines of the introduction would make the admissions people yawn and want to crawl under their bed, don’t expect to get admitted to the program. Make them want to keep on reading until the last paragraph of the admission essay. Make interesting intros that will grab their attention and make them want to consider your points. You can start with a personal anecdote, quote, or any fresh insight you can impart to your readers. Don’t make lame introductions if you want to get noticed by the selection panel of the
MBA school.
Provide juicy details in the body
Do not wear a mask– that’s another way of saying be yourself. Simply, don’t try to be someone you’re not. Instead of presenting an ideal candidate, be honest about who you are. With this approach in writing your MBA essay, readers will sense some sincerity in you. Elaborate on why you think you deserve to be part of the MBA program by discussing your personal views and work experiences, aspirations, and plans.
When you say juicy details, they don’t have to be controversial. They should at least be thought-provoking. You can use imagery for a more vivid form of writing. Just remember to weed out irrelevant information and focus on the main theme of the essay.
End with the feeling that readers have to know more about you
The conclusion is really important. It should sum up everything you’ve pointed out in the essay. So the selection panel will remember your application, try to end with a bang. Make them want to know you more by revealing an interesting part of you.
Related links:
Grad school guide – Guide to getting into grad school
Value of education – About goingt to college and the value of education
Editing your essay – Tips on revising and editing your MBA essay
Career goals – Discussing career goals in your MBA essay
Career switch – Writing about your plans for a career switch in your essay
Just like many things in life, there are limits you should be mindful of when writing your MBA admission essay. Here are a few pointers that will aid you in this endeavor:
Don’t get too personal
A lot of times, applicants get carried away, narrating why his or her mother already has three ex-husbands. Anecdotes or family-related bits are fine if they are truly relevant to your MBA application and they do not distract readers from the real focus of the essay. Although the real focus is you, there are still limits when writing your essay. Be aware that the screening officers would not be interested in every little thing about you.
Don’t make it seem like you are the next best thing to Bill Gates
You may have graduated cum laude and, at the same time, played three straight years for the chess varsity. You’re a very dynamic individual, doing some socio-civic works on your free time. Even so, it’s not a good idea to be too confident about your qualifications. Instead of bragging about your accomplishments, talk about your goals and intentions sincerely. Focus on your MBA application and the school. Do not turn the essay into a mini-autobiography. Also remember that arrogance can really put off the readers of your essay.
Don’t let your emotions take full control
If you will read some expert advice online, you would see that they encourage applicants to appeal to the emotional side of the admissions panel. But if you overdo it, if 80 percent of the pages contains sob stories after sob stories, it would backfire. They might not waste any minute skimming through your essay, thinking that it’s out of focus. Remember that the admission essay is for your MBA application and not the story of your life. Use personal experiences to illustrate your where you get your motivations and drive to success. A personal story can also be used to show your real character, but better keep it short.
Related links:
Essay writing process – ABout MBA admission essay writing process
Communication skills – Discussing your communication skills in the essay
Evalauting your essay – About how to evaluate your MBA essay
Personal statement advice – Tips on admission essay writing
MBA admission essays – Guide to MBA admission essays
Pursuing an MBA degree is not easy. You have to invest money, time, and effort. The admission process itself is arduous, and the competition for the spot in the the MBA school is tough. This is why in preparing for your MBA school application, you have to know the barriers to your MBA admission.
Not knowing the right MBA program for you
One of the common mistakes of applicants is not knowing the right MBA program for them. Some decide on the program based on peer pressure or pressure from their family. You have to keep in mind that obtaining an MBA school admission and spending years in MBA school will be your responsibility. Your friends and family could not do the job for you. This is why you have to decide on your own. You can consider their advice, but you have to also base your decision on your interest and skills. Your former professors and colleagues can also give advice on the MBA program that would suit you best.
Disregarding the requirements of the MBA school
Every requirement of the MBA school is very important. This is why you have to make sure that you submit each required document. With regard to your MBA admission essay, you have to know first if the admission committee requires you to answer some questions in your essay. If there are questions, make sure that you address each of them in your personal statement.
False expectations from the MBA degree
What do you know about MBA school? Before you apply to an MBA school, you should know what to expect. Ask MBA degree holders about their experiences. Don’t ever expect that the life of an MBA student is a bed of roses. Getting an MBA degree is difficult. You should know this to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Related links:
MBA career goals – All about ways to gain admissions to the MBA school that you want.
Bad student habits – About the barriers to success in MBA school
Winning essays – All about getting into your chosen MBA school
Online MBA – About pursuing online MBA degrees
MBA application essay – How to pass the MBA admission process
Writing an MBA admission essay may mean writing and revising your drafts for over a period of weeks or even months. Some actually dread the writing process because they are at a loss on how to convince the admissions panel that they should be accepted in the MBA school through a two or three-page essay. However, writing your MBA admission essay shouldn’t feel like torture. As a mattter of fact, there are ways on how you can actually make the entire writing process a fun experience. Here are some tips:
Do what motivates you
Before you grab that pen and paper or stare at a blank computer screen, try to do what inspires or motivates you. This could be a walk in the park, a movie date with your loved one, or a bonding moment with your family. By doing something that motivates you, you are actually stirring up your creative juices. You can even do your hobby such as painting or drawing before you start working on your admission essay draft. Once your creative juices are stirred, you are able to think of a more creative way to grab your readers’ attention through your admission essay.
Think of experiences that have inspired you
Any experience or event that had a great impact on you is something worth thinking about when writing your personal statement for MBA school. As a matter of fact, such experiences can serve as a springboard when thinking of a topic for your admission essay. If a very motivating experience made you realize that you want to pursue a master’s in business administration, then it’s probably a good topic for your personal statement.
These experiences can also include life-changing events that have shaped your thoughts, beliefs, and value system. If you’re planning to discuss a tragic event in your admission essay, make sure not to appeal to your readers’ pity. An effective way to discuss such an event as an essay topic is to show to the readers how you were able to overcome the challenges and how it has made you a better person.
Think of people who have changed you
This could be anybody — a favorite teacher or mentor, relative, friend, or even a co-worker. By thinking of people who made a great impact in your life, you’re able to get more topic ideas for your essay. Remember that your essay is a way for you to show a personal side of you to the admission panel. By discussing people who have inspired you in your essay, the admissions panel will be able to paint a clearer picture of you as they read your work.
By doing or thinking of things, people, or events that inspire you, putting yourself in a writing mood becomes easier. Plus, if you had a fun time writing your essay, this will definitely reflect on your work.
Setting Your Sights to Getting an MBA and Coming Up with a Winning MBA Admission Essay
The focal question asked by many nervous applicants to any MBA school is this: “will the admission essay ultimately decide whether I will be accepted or not?” One way to increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream school is to come up with a winning MBA admission essay. The MBA admission essay is a crucial part of the whole application process, but there are still other considerations. What the admission essay does is to serve as a tool for the admissions people to know the applicants better. An effective way to let the admissions people see a more personal side of you is to discuss your career goals in your essay.
However, so many MBA applicants commit the blunder of just turning the resume entries into complete sentences, consolidating all these sentences, and then call it an essay. The following are tips on how to come up with a winning essay.
Show your communication skills in your essay.
One thing that admissions committees look for is an applicant who has the ability to communicate. The admissions officers are cognizant of the fact that not everybody is an excellent writer, but if they see a personal statement that is riddled with punctuation blunders and spelling errors, they would simply make a conclusion that the applicant does not have what it takes. Excellent communication skills are very important, especially if you want to achieve your corporate goals and climb up the corporate ladder. Indeed, one could be motivated and intelligent, but if he or she could not properly impart his or her ideas to others, then the ideas are useless.
The good thing about the admission essays is that it (in a way) levels the playing arena. This means you can increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream school even if you don’t have the highest grades by coming up with an excellent essay. As such, the admission essay helps in determining if an applicant has the commitment, motivation, and communication skills needed to be a success in the business world later on.
Be truthful and sincere when writing your essay.
Another common blunder of so many applicants is that they think they should present a perfect picture of themselves through the essay. What the applicant must do is to focus on experiences that developed or showed his or her initiative to excel, to improve his or herself, and to contribute to the society. MBA admission committee members want individuals who could rise above the pack, while at the same time exhibiting qualities that show suitability to a particular MBA course.
Discuss your career goals in your essay.
Discussing your career goals in your essay is one way to add a more personal touch to your personal statement. Once the admissions panel see that you already have career goals, they’ll know that you are a person who has a direction in life and is determined in reaching your goals.
Photo Credit : thetorpedodog
Make Management Proud by Landing a Spot at Your Dream MBA School with a Winning MBA
Admission Essay
Almost all colleges and universities consider the admission essay as a crucial part of the application procedure. A very bright student who submits a half-heartedly written admission essay would be in for a rude awakening when he or she gets rejected because of it. In the same vein, a student who doesn’t have the highest GPA can increase his or her chances of getting in if his or her essay is original, compelling, truthful, and interesting. Having said all that, here are some tips to turn that MBA admission essay into a winning one, and impress your boss and colleagues by getting accepted into a top-notch dream MBA school.
# The MBA admission essay is not a list of achievements. A lot of applicants commit the sin of including all their achievements in the essay, even including irrelevant achievements. There are other documents (transcripts or records) to be submitted for your application, and as such, these lists of achievements would be best included on those documents. An essay that is compelling to the admissions board is one that tells a story, yet has a clear topic as opposed to something that goes in circles like a snake with a hangover. A relevant and interesting discussion of a very difficult time in one’s life is better than a recitation of all competitions won way back in high school.
# Just a tiny bit of humor is best. The admissions essay is an application essay, not a script for a comedian’s skit. A witty discussion would do well, and is appreciated by the admissions people. Sex-oriented or racist jokes are definitely a no-no, and if you make the mistake of including one in your admission essay, expect your chances of getting accepted to plummet faster than the speed of light.
# Your character must be revealed in the essay. Positive attributes such as honesty, integrity, and maturity should be reflected in your essay. While there is something to be said about straight A’s, this is not the sole criterion being sought by most colleges and universities. They need students who have shown and proved themselves as responsible citizens and matured individuals, and not just smart students with high grades.
# Pay attention to the technical side. Punctuation blunders, grammatical errors, and even spelling mistakes would make your essay look unprofessional. If every other sentence in your admission essay has one of the aforementioned blunders, the admissions officers would come to the conclusion that either you lack the perseverance to edit your work, or you are just a very poor writer. Whichever it goes, it is a bad mark as far as the application is concerned. Assuming writing excellently is not one of your assets, seek help from others such as your previous English professor in college or a mentor.
Getting into an MBA school could do wonders for one’s career, especially if one wants to impress bosses and colleagues at work. However, it all starts with the application process, with the MBA admission essay being a significant part of it. Make sure that your essay does not repeat data already included in other documents, and that it is well-written and edited.
Photo Credit : dabawenya
