Several business schools pose questions about the unique contributions you can make to their particular programs—Kellogg Essay 2, Tuck Essay 4, Duke Long Essay 2 and MIT’s Cover Letter all immediately spring to mind as examples.
One of the reasons we prefer to work with candidates “From Start to Finish” is so we can proactively prevent problems such the following. Many candidates unwittingly make the mistake of thinking that they have expressed their contribution by offering a bland, summary statement: “…and I will bring my leadership skills to Fuqua.” Simply telling a story about a past leadership experience and then repeating the main point does not prove that you will make a contribution to the school. In a well-written essay, you would apply your experience and show true understanding of your fit with the school.
Example 1: “…thus my experience as a stand-up comedian will allow me to bring humor to the Kellogg environment.”
With the conclusion above, the Admissions Committee is left asking, “How exactly will he bring humor to the environment? Does he really know what our environment is about?”
Example 2: “….thus my experience as a stand-up comic will prove particularly useful at Kellogg, a dynamic environment where I will be constantly joining new and energetic study teams. I am hopeful that I will be able to use my sense of humor to help create relaxed team environments, where everyone will feel comfortable contributing; still, I intend to use my sense of humor judiciously, such as offering an appropriately timed joke to diffuse tense moments during late-night study sessions…”
In Example 2, the writer has applied his personal experience and has shown a clear connection with the school, proving he has an intimate identification with the school and a true understanding of its nature.
Read the full article: Monday Morning Essay Tip: Your Contribution