By Tino Matienga (One-year MBA Student Recruitment Manager)
As part of the application process for the One-year MBA at London Business School, you are required to submit essays. The essay section includes two mandatory questions and one optional question.
The essays give you a valuable opportunity to tell us about yourself and show your unique qualities, future aspirations and how you fit the programme. In short, we want to hear from you about you!
Your answers allow the Admissions Team to better understand your background, career goals, and what you bring to the programme. It is your chance to show off and bring together those qualities in an engaging story that builds on the information you would have included in your application.
This will help whoever is reading your essay to decide whether your goals and aspirations align with the programme and how we can support your career ambitions.
Tips for Crafting Strong Essays
With a limited word count, it is crucial to be focused and concise. Every sentence should add value to the overall narrative/story that you are trying to tell.
It is also important that your answers continually reference the question that is being asked, as it is easy to go off topic. Remember, if it does not add to your answer, then do not include it!
The Essay Questions
The essay section includes three questions, which have a different focus. The essay questions help to paint a more comprehensive picture of your experience, character, and ambitions, and the value you will bring to the LBS community.
Below is an overview of the essay questions and some ideas of what you can include:
- What are your post-MBA goals, and how will your prior experience and the LBS programme contribute to these? (500 words)
This is your chance to outline your aspirations by showing your short and long-term goals. You should effectively demonstrate how your experience has led you to the point of pursuing the One-year MBA.
Here you should effectively detail how the programme will bridge any gaps and give you the skills, knowledge, and network to help you achieve your ambitions.
This section also provides you an opportunity to show what you know about the school and include aspects of LBS that appeal to you, whether it is the faculty, staff, clubs, experiential learning etc. It is important to avoid generic statements and be specific about how the programme and LBS can elevate you on your career journey.
- What makes you unique? (200 words)
This is an open-ended question which you can show what sets you apart from other candidates. It is important to think beyond your resume – consider your skills and perspectives, and how these have shaped you thus far.
We encourage you to go deeper than your career and personal achievements. Reflect on your journey, any challenges you have overcome, worthwhile projects you influenced and even your cultural influences and how these different experiences have impacted you. Remember to be authentic – this is your chance to tell us in a compelling way, what makes you tick!
- (Optional question) Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know? (500 words)
This part of the essay section is truly optional; however, it provides you with a chance to conclude your story in a compelling way. This section gives you a chance to provide any additional information about yourself which you feel adds value, and that you were unable to include in previous essays.
Additional points that you might want to consider can be any personal projects or entrepreneurial ventures or volunteer work that show leadership and impact.
Remember that it is important to relate whatever experiences you add in this section to your skill set and your potential contribution to LBS.
Key Takeaways
Remember, a real person not an algorithm will be reading your essay. Make it personal, engaging, and relevant to you. Use the three sections to tell a compelling story about your journey and aspirations.
Additionally, avoid repeating information across different responses; ensure each section adds new insights about you. Finally, it is important to proofread and get a friend or family member to check for any mistakes.
For more information on the application process visit our How to Apply page.