MBA Application Essay Guidance

Starting from a blank page is a daunting challenge for any author. And when your future depends on your writing, it naturally feels arduous, stressful, and nerve wracking.

When starting to write, your thoughts will dwell on telling your story, on impressing the AdCom, on finding the right things that you imagine will improve your chances. 

And that is precisely the wrong thing to do. 

The first thing, the most important thing, and the only enduring thing across any and all applications is deep self-awareness. 

Self awareness in all its aspects- your image in terms of your qualities, the life story you tell yourself, your career progression, your goals/your academic interests, and the life you wish to create.

This is where you take a step back, center yourself, and look at things holistically. And when doing so, it is vital to be authentic and clear. They are the only constants in any application that YOU can control. 

Consolidating and expressing this self-awareness to address the essay questions/ personal statement guidelines with deep clarity about oneself and the program in an authentic voice is wherein lies the rub. 

Yes, achieving this takes time and that is why it is best to be clear about your target programs, their deadlines, and fit with the university to start early. 

Giving yourself time allows for deeper introspection and more insightful writing leading to an essay whose narrative has evolved significantly enough to give you the best possible shot at your dream college.

At GLC, we recognize the importance of bringing the subjective element when building the narrative of the application. 

You are the creator of your applications. We merely guide and shape the creation of stories that paint a clear picture of you, your career, and your life in the minds of the AdCom members. 

We achieve this through the Great Churn- an iterative process of framing increasingly precise questions through extensive writing and several meetings and discussions till they start approximating the target essay or yield insights that address the heart of the essay question/guidelines. 

THE GREAT CHURN

If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening the axe- Abraham Lincoln

Central to the Great Churn is the idea that one must not only introspect but also translate that into crafting narratives that are relevant, concise, and demonstrative. When we say narrative, we refer to the combined picture of you that emerges from different essays or parts of the application such as the resume, portfolio (if any), and letters of recommendation 

Furthermore, we believe the purpose of a successful application is to get you an interview invite and NOT an admit. With this perspective from day one, we will help you create essays that don't overshare or digress but paint a picture that intrigues the AdCom enough to see the whole movie for themselves. 

Naturally, our process is collaborative and exhaustive. We may have the experience but it is YOUR story.  

First, we need you to pour your thoughts on paper (Like a Pensieve in the Harry Potter universe). With the help of our reflection questions, you will dump all the thoughts, stories, and dreams swirling inside you. 

This achieves several things: 

1. By putting it out on paper, you will clear your mind and can thus take a bird’s eye view of yourself. 
2. You will create space to receive insights and clarity about yourself and your goals. 
3. Regardless of how many or which programs you apply, this reflection applies everywhere and it serves as the raw materials for more targeted questions and precise answers, which will be achieved through further discussion.

And the bonus? The initial reflection will feel like a therapy of sorts and you will feel lighter! 

Now that you have put it all out there, now is the time to start churning the waters. Through pattern identification, several discussions, and your own clarity, we will identify the recurring themes in your life and career (and other usual suspects such as strengths, weaknesses, habits, and drives) and frame the right questions which you shall answer in a precise and comprehensive manner. 

We are still not writing for the essays yet you will start seeing glimpses of the overall narrative emerging from your writing. 

And of course, we will guide you and train you on how to write. We believe that everyone can and should write effectively, that writing is an essential life skill, and that great essays come from a great draft which come from a great proto-draft  (if one could call it that). 

More importantly, we want everyone who works with us to be empowered in whatever manner he/she/they can be.

From the proto-draft will emerge a picture of the draft essay. By this time, you would be much clearer about what the draft should look like, what narrative you want or should craft, and how each essay will mesh with the other.  

More importantly, this is where knowing the MBA program, the culture, and your interactions with alumni/ admissions officers start becoming relevant. 

It is now time for these two streams to merge and through several rounds of yet further discussion, we will help you carefully weave the pearls of insight about yourself in an authentic and clear thread of narrative that fits not only the target essay but also contributes to other essays/application components. 

Over the course of several analytical discussions, we will help you create a draft essay that can either directly become the essay or be edited further. 

We care about your application ,so we will sit with you as long as it takes to create an outstanding application. This means no limits on the number of hours or meetings or discussion necessary. A successful admit is our only goal. 

Throughout this exciting journey, we are with you at each and every stage- gently shaping, guiding, and piloting the ship to home waters. 

Reach out to us if you like to start off with a free initial consultation or book one here (with our automated appointments system).