Yale SOM Essay Samples
Yale School of Management is one of the most prestigious business schools in the world. It is perennially ranked within the top 5 MBA programs globally. Acceptance into Yale SOM is extremely competitive as it receives thousands of applications every year for a class size of only around 300 students. The Yale SOM application requires candidates to answer two essays of 450-550 words each. Essays are an important part of the Yale application as it allows applicants to share their unique background and experiences. Here are examples of strong Yale SOM essays that were successful:
Essay 1: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Many applicants discuss a challenging experience that helped them grow personally or professionally. This applicant chose to write about overcoming a learning disability:
“As a child, I struggled tremendously in school due to an undiagnosed learning disability. I faced immense frustration as subjects like math and science that came easily to my peers seemed impossible for me to grasp. No amount of studying yielded improvement in my grades and I began to doubt my intellectual abilities. It was not until 8th grade that I was finally diagnosed with dyslexia. This diagnosis, though it came late, was transformative. It provided an explanation for the struggles I had endured and legitimized the extra effort I had put in to keep up. Moreover, it opened the door for support strategies like extra time on tests and voice recognition software that leveled the playing field.
Armed with accommodations and a better understanding of my strengths and weaknesses, I decided to challenge myself. I opted to take the hardest math and science courses available in high school despite doubts from well-meaning teachers and parents. Through tireless practice and the support of wonderful educators, I started to see my grades and confidence grow. By senior year I had earned straight A’s, something once deemed impossible. More importantly, I learned the power of perseverance, adaptation and believing in my own potential even when obstacles seemed insurmountable. This experience shaped how I approach challenges today – with grit, creativity and the conviction that failure is not an option if the goal is important enough.”
This essay skillfully discusses a profound personal challenge and shares how the applicant overcame adversity through perseverance and self-belief. It provides valuable insight into the applicant’s character.
Essay 2: Describe a leader you’ve encountered who has inspired you and explain why his/her leadership style was effective. What lessons did you learn from this leader?
Many candidates discuss famous leaders they admire. This applicant chose to write about a lesser known individual who had a big impact:
“The most inspiring leader I have encountered is Ms. Johnson, the director of a small nonprofit that empowers homeless youth in my community. Despite having limited resources and a skeleton staff, she displayed exemplary leadership that transformed countless lives, including my own. Three qualities made her particularly effective.
First, she fostered a culture of dignity. Every young person who came through the nonprofit’s doors was treated with empathy, respect and compassion. Ms. Johnson understood that with the right support system, people overcoming homelessness can reach their fullest potential. Second, she powered the organization through sheer grit and relentless tenacity. On countless occasions, she persevered in the face of setbacks, bureaucratic roadblocks and lack of funding to deliver remarkable results. Her relentless “can-do” spirit was contagious.
Finally, she led with deep care, concern and connection to the community she served. Ms. Johnson knew each youth’s name, story and goals. She provided consistent mentorship and championed their successes. Her personal investment inspired reciprocal commitment. Over four formative years volunteering under Ms. Johnson’s leadership, I learned the transformational power of dignity, perseverance and compassion – lessons that have stayed with me as I strive to create positive change in my own career.”
This response discusses a clearly impactful leader in a meaningful way. It provides specific examples of her effective strategies and lessons learned, showing self-reflection and personal growth.
Essay 1 and 2 demonstrated strong storytelling ability, specific examples, reflection on lessons learned and insight into the applicant’s values and motivation. Both essays were thoughtful, authentic and painted a multidimensional picture beyond just accomplishments or stats. This level of quality and dimension is what Yale SOM admissions look for in successful applications. Of course, there is no single “perfect” essay, but these samples showcase general frameworks and styles that past successful applicants have utilized. The most important things are to answer the prompts genuinely and provide a window into who you are beyond your resume.