Crafting strong MBA essays isn’t just about storytelling — it’s about showing admissions committees who you are beyond your resume and test scores. In this GMAT Club Podcast episode, Brian and Maria, along with Bruce DelMonico (Head of Admissions at Yale School of Management), dive deep into the real job of MBA essays and explain how AdComs evaluate them. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: Why business schools need essays when they already have your resume How admissions committees view the use of tools like ChatGPT in essays Common mistakes applicants make and what AdComs don’t want to see The real role of MBA essays in your application strategy Examples of standout essays from top applicants Balancing professional vs. personal stories (with insights from Yale SOM) How to showcase program fit authentically What happens behind the scenes — how many people actually read your essays Harvard MBA essay insights: business-minded, leadership, and growth-oriented essays
Intro
Why Essays When Schools Have My Resume?
How Schools See ChatGPT’s Use in Essays?
What AdComs Do Not Look For (in Essays)?
The REAL Job of Essays in MBA Application
Examples of Standout Essays from Top Applicants
Professional vs Personal Stories in Yale Essay
How to Emphasize that You are a Good Fit for the Program
How Many People Read your Essays?
Essay: The First Thing AdComs See?
Essay Roast Segment
Business Minded Essay (Harvard)
Leadership Essay (Harvard)
Growth-Oriented Essay (Harvard)