MIT Sloan Application Essays and Deadlines
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Round 1 Round 2
Submission Deadlines MITNov. 1, 2006 Jan. 10, 2007
Decision Dates Jan. 29, 2007 April 2, 2007
MIT Sloan MBA & LFM Essay Questions and Tips
Here are my tips for MIT Sloan's 2007 application. I will try something new this time -- indenting instead of putting my tips in red. If you prefer one approach or the other, please leave me a comment.
Cover Letter
Prepare a cover letter (up to 500 words) seeking a place in the MIT
Sloan MBA Program. Please comment on your career goals and those
factors which influenced you to pursue an MBA education at MIT Sloan.
The cover letter provides a chance for you to discuss your passions,
values, and interests. Through what you write we hope to discover
whether you will thrive at MIT Sloan and how you will contribute to our
diverse community. Address your cover letter to Mr. Rod Garcia,
Director of MBA Admissions.
Résumé
Please prepare a business résumé that includes your employment history
in reverse chronological order, with titles, dates, and whether you
worked part time or full time. Your educational record should also be
in reverse chronological order and should indicate dates of attendance
and degree(s) earned. Other information appropriate to a business
resume is welcomed and encouraged. The résumé should not be more than
one page long (up to 50 lines).
Essays
Use the essays to tell us more about you and how you work, think, and
behave. For each essay, please provide a brief overview of the
situation followed by a detailed description of your response. Include
what you thought, felt, said, and did. Please select experiences or
events from the past one to two years.
More than that, the essays are a chance for you to discuss your
passions, values, interests, and goals. Emphasize those experiences
that were most important and meaningful for you — which may not
necessarily be those that were most outwardly prestigious. Be sincere
and be specific. There is no one "right" kind of MIT Sloan student; in
fact, MIT Sloan deliberately builds each class to unite varied
strengths and perspectives. Tell us what particular experiences and
expertise you will bring to the mix. The essay instructions and
questions are included below.
We are interested in learning more about you and how you work, think,
and act. For each essay, please provide a brief overview of the
situation followed by a detailed description of your response.
MBA and LFM applicants only:
Essay 1: Please tell us about a time when you had an impact on a
person, group, or organization. Describe in detail what you thought,
felt, said, and did (500 words or less).
OK. The question. When did you effect change? When did your presence make a difference? What was you contribution. How did you innovate? In terms of structuring this essay, you can start in so many different ways: PAR. The situation before you got involved. The challenge. Your statement that turned the tide. Your mood when things were not going the way you want. The list is endless.
Essay 2: Please describe a
time when your team had to arrive at a compromise. Describe in detail
what you thought, felt, said, and did (500 words or less).
Essay 3: Please tell us a time when you advocated for a position. What alternatives did you consider? Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did (500 words or less).
New for 2007. When did you persuade others to follow your lead? When did you argue for a particular course of action or position? If you can, in addition to revealing what you thought, felt, said, and did, if you can describe the outcome. How did you affect, influence, and contribute? Quantify if possible.
Essay 4: Please tell us a time when you put an idea into action. Describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did (500 words or less).
This question relates directly to the MIT Sloan emphasis on innovation as well as its motto: mens et manus or "mind and hand" How can you translate your ideas into from potential to real, from thought to action. More importantly to MIT, when have you done so.
If you take a step back and look at these four questions they relate to MIT Sloan's core values: innovation, leadership, and collaboration as well as its motto of mens et manus . MIT Sloan clearly -- and this is true of most schools, wants to see that you have the qualities they value and want to develop (not create.) Keep those values in mind as you choose what and how to portray yourself in your essays. Also realize that if you don't share those values or can't demonstrate that you share them, you are probably not a fit for MIT Sloan.
Supplemental Information
Use this part of the application to give us any additional information
that might help us understand the choices you have made, your
leadership activities and skills, and your scholastic and professional
achievements. Please elaborate on your personal interests, activities
and hobbies, as well as any special circumstances you feel are
relevant.
We would like to know what you've learned and how
you learned it. Please tell us anything that will round out our
impression of you as a unique individual.
If you would like help with your MIT Sloan application or with any other MBA applications, you can now take advantage of Accepted.com's Early Bird Special and get 10% off all MBA essay advising and editing services purchased online. But only through July 31 so sign up ASAPSeveral years ago Rod Garcia told me that he starts reading an application with the answer to this question, which at the time was optional. This is not a throw away. Make a good impression on Rod if he is the one reading your file. Give everyone reading it another reason to admit you.
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