Accepted

BusinessweekOnline has posted the transcript of the chat it hosted for Paul Bodine, Accepted.com editor and author of Great Application Essays for Business School. Here's an excerpt from "Every B-School Essay Tells a Story."

heashish: Can it be true that even if we write a good essay, we still might not get admitted if it's not what the school is looking for?
AuthorBodine: All schools value a well-written essay that shows that you know who you are, where you're going, and that you'll add a distinctive set of experiences to their program. It is true, however, that different programs have different cultures, and you want to be aware of a program's self-image. If you're applying to a school that emphasizes leadership, then you need to make sure your essay is not only good but that it's also talking about leadership. For the most part, you can reuse your basic set of essays for multiple schools, but you have to tweak them for each school's culture.

Follow the advice in this chat to tell your story, submit an application that is unique and personal, and improve your chances of acceptance.