How to Prepare for Your Written and Video Essays

What Makes for the Best-Written Essays?

Here are five tips to get you started.

1. Be authentic. Business schools want to learn about you. Schools aren’t looking for just one answer, so make sure your personality shines through in your writing.
2. Talk about real-life examples. Adding specific anecdotes and details can have a tremendous impact.
3. Don’t just repeat your resume. Business schools have already seen your resume and your other materials, so use the essay as a way to expand on why you would be a great fit for the school. You can build on things that are mentioned on your resume, but make sure it’s additive to the rest of your application.
4. If you’re a unique applicant to a business school, play it up. Business schools across the country are looking to diversify their programs, and that includes people from unique backgrounds or who have an unorthodox path to getting an MBA.
5. Sell yourself. Ultimately, the essay portion of your application is your chance to sell yourself to a business school. Offer a convincing argument about why you would be a great fit for a particular school. Be sure to highlight what you will bring to the table and make sure your can-do attitude shows through.

What Should You Know About the Video Essays

Some business schools include a video essay as part of the application—an opportunity for a brief, authentic introduction to the admissions team.

At Minnesota Carlson, you’ll answer one impromptu question selected from a bank of imaginative or behavioral prompts. You’ll have two minutes to prepare and two minutes to record your answer.
 

How Do You Prepare for a Video Essay?

Video essays are another great way for you to show a business school your individuality. Here are three tips for this portion of the process:

1. Be yourself. Programs are using this format as a way to get to know you, your personality, and how you would fit at the school. The best video essays reveal the applicant’s personality.
2. Practice, practice, practice. While students applying for Minnesota Carlson only get one attempt at recording themselves, you can practice responding to the impromptu questions offline with a friend or colleague. Make sure you’re answering the questions directly and staying within the timeframe.
3. Don’t study too hard. The video essay questions are assigned at random, so while you should practice cadence and timing, it is not recommended that you memorize all of the questions. Remember, you want to share your experiences, not a script!
4. Relax. The video essay is often one of the last pieces of your application. Your GMAT, letters of recommendation, and most of your application are finished. All the hard work is done, so take a deep breath to help you not come across as nervous in your video.