The MIT Sloan MBA program is one of the most prestigious in the world and acceptance is extremely competitive. Between GMAT scores, academic and work experience, and letters of recommendation, the essay portion of the MIT Sloan application is a key opportunity for applicants to differentiate themselves from their peers. The MIT Sloan essays provide candidates a platform to share their personal story and experiences that have shaped who they are in a compelling, unique way.
For the 2015 application, MIT Sloan asked two primary essay questions. The first was a standard 250-word question asking candidates to discuss their short-term and long-term career goals and how an MIT Sloan MBA will help them achieve those goals. This essay gives applicants a chance to clearly articulate why they want an MIT Sloan MBA and convince the admissions committee they are a good fit for the program.
The second essay question for 2015 was intended to provide more insight into who the candidate is as an individual beyond just their resume. This 650-word essay asked “Describe a challenge you have faced and how it has affected you personally or professionally. Discuss ways in which the experience contributed to your development.” This essay gives candidates freedom to share a meaningful experience that helped define them while also demonstrating attributes like leadership, integrity, resilience and growth that MIT values in its students.
A successful 650-word essay for this prompt needs to follow a few key guidelines. First, the challenge or experience shared should be genuinely meaningful to the applicant on a personal level. Don’t choose something trivial just for the sake of having a story to share. The experience needs to reveal something important about who you are through adversity you overcame. Second, provide enough context and details for the reader to understand the nature of the challenge and its impact without wasting words. Third, candidly discuss the emotional, mental and tangible effects the experience had on you in both the short and long-run. How did it change your perspective or shape who you became? Fourth, specifically call out the qualities and skills you developed as a result. Did you gain confidence, resilience, empathy or learn the value of teamwork? Provide clear examples of growth.
Some candidates who were successful with this prompt chose to discuss challenges like recovering from an injury or illness, overcoming personal hardships, navigating professional setbacks, or dealing with family issues. No matter the specific experience, your essay should remain optimistic and solution-oriented while still being honest and vulnerable. The tone you strike is just as important as the experience itself. Reviewers want to get a true sense of who you are based on how you handle adversity. Your essay need not have a neat resolution either – works in progress can be just as compelling.
A few examples of standout 650-word essays from actual MIT Sloan applicants may help illustrate what makes a strong response to this prompt. One applicant wrote about struggling with depression and anxiety attacks during her senior year of college. She candidly discussed hits to her self-confidence but also how she learned to manage her mental health, ask for help from others, build a support system and shift her perspective to be more self-compassionate. While still a lifelong journey, she came away more empathetic, resilient and focused on living intentionally. Another applicant chose to talk about dealing with layoffs in his previous industry. He explored feelings of failure, how it challenged his career path assumptions and drove him to launch his own startup, ultimately gaining skills in entrepreneurship, risk-taking and leadership. A third applicant wrote about coping with a family member’s terminal illness, from the emotional toll to hands-on caregiver responsibilities. She demonstrated tremendous heart, discussed personal growth in patience, difficult communications and making the most of every moment.
Strong essays showed candidates willing to be candid yet optimistic about a meaningful challenge, while clearly tying the experience into skills and qualities aligned with success at MIT Sloan and beyond. Reviewers don’t expect applicants to be perfect – they want to see authentic individuals who continually progress. With practice, any candidate can craft a compelling 650-word response showcasing who they are through adversity using specific examples, an engaging tone and tying it all together succinctly. While certainly not the only factor in one’s application, a thoughtful, well-written 650-word essay has potential to really make an impression on admissions officers and differentiate an applicant from their peers. The prompt gives candidates a chance to share something genuine about their character and drive that won’t come across elsewhere in standardized test scores or resumes. With intentional reflection and craftsmanship, the 650-word essay can be a candidate’s most impactful opportunity within their MIT Sloan application.