Many candidates unwittingly discuss their personal experience with a specific MBA program in the most vague and general way. Because they are writing from memory and discussing their authentic experience, they do not realize that they are not being specific.“During my experience at Cornell, I was struck by the easygoing classroom discussion, the warmth of the professors and the time spent by the first-year student, who not only toured the facilities with me, but also went for coffee with me and asked several colleagues to join.” While the statements above may in fact be true, there is no Cornell-specific language in the text. If Yale, Michigan or any other school were substituted for Cornell, it would make no difference at all. This statement could be applicable to any other school, which is not good.
In contrast, the following statement could only refer to Darden: “I was impressed by Professor Carraway’s easygoing and humorous style, as he facilitated a fast-paced discussion of the ‘George’s T-Shirts’ case. While I admittedly felt dizzied by the pace of class, I was soon comforted by the fact that several students were reviewing the finer points of the case at Morning Coffee. I was impressed by when my first-year guide stopped mid-tour to check in with her learning teammate and reinforce the case’s central point. It was then I recognized that this was the right environment….”
If you were to substitute the Darden name and even Professor Caraway’s name with those of another school and professor, the paragraph could not work. The Darden-specific information regarding the day’s case, Morning Coffee and learning teams ensures that these sentences have a sincere and personal feel — necessary for a compelling personal statement that will catch the attention of the Admissions Committee.
Read the full article: Monday Morning Essay Tip: Ensuring That Your Personal Essays Are Truly Personal