Applying for MBA can be a very daunting task to a lot of people. One of the reasons is that it is very challenging to write an attention-grabbing MBA essay that will give you an upperhand over other applicants. Fortunately, there are some simple guidelines on writing an MBA personal statement that are not that difficult to follow. Magic MBA’s blog can give you the tips on how to make your personal statement more remarkable. Below are some of the things that students should avoid when writing their MBA essay.
* Answering a different question. Answering a different question tells me the candidate cannot follow directions and gets distracted easily.
* Using distracting creative imagery. Many candidates fall into trap of trying to become a best selling novelist. Unless you’re a naturally talented writer, don’t try. Just answer the question as powerfully, precisely, and efficiently as possible. And when appropriate, entertain the reader.
* Glorifying accomplishments. I read a client essay that was filled with over 20 different names; this technique is commonly referred to as “name dropping” I didn’t recognize any of the names. And even if she claimed some relation to Barack Obama or Michael Jordan, it would be completely useless if it didn’t include some context that was specific and relevant to the essay question.
Other MBA essay writing mistakes
Here are the other mistakes mentioned in the blog.
* Skimming over the Details
* Language and Grammar error
These two are very common mistakes among applicants when writing their MBA admission essays. When you skim over the details, you are actually stuffing your essay with tidbits of information without really discussing them. This would leave the readers hanging and unsatisfied. You have to include a few but relevant details and make sure that you explain them clearly. The language and grammar error, on the other hand, are technical mistakes that could give readers a negative impression about you.
How to avoid the common mistakes in MBA personal statement
Here are another set of tips from an MBA blog on how to avoid the mistakes people make when writing a personal statement for MBA.
* Know the possible questions to be asked
If you don’t have anyone to ask for MBA essay topics, what you can do is research on your own. Online, you’ll find tons of good samples. These samples don’t necessarily have to be the same as your own. You can use them merely as guide to possible questions and topics to be discussed. By reading some of them, you’ll also see what separates the good from the bad.
* Stick to the topic or question
The common mistake in writing an MBA admission essay comes from saying too much that the message tends to get lost somewhere in between the paragraphs. In which case, an outline will help get the message across more clearly. Develop different ideas for the topic. From the main ideas, create sub-topics that will help expound your thoughts and even make a relevant connection to your application for an MBA program. Only cite experiences or ideas that will support the thesis of your essay.
* Read, edit, and proofread
After you’ve written your article, go over your essay several times. Note what’s missing or what’s not clear. List them out, and use the list as a guide for editing. Don’t rush yourself to edit the whole thing. Be patient and take time to consider not just some ideas but the content of the entire article as well. You should stop at nothing to get the whole thing right. Don’t try to be so poetic or profound. Remember your readers.
Writing an MBA essay that could make your dream of going to MBA school a reality does require a keen eye for details. Avoid the common mistakes and follow the helpful tips mentioned above, so you can be confident that your application will be given due consideration by the admissions panel.
