Stanford MBA Essays 2011-2012    Stanford Essay Tips

We read your essays to get to know you as a person and to learn about the ideas and interests that motivate you. Tell us in your own words who you really are. In other parts of the application, we learn about your academic and professional accomplishments (i.e., what you have done). Through your personal essays (Essays 1 and 2), we learn more about the person behind the achievements (i.e., who you are). Because we want to discover who you are, resist the urge to "package" yourself in order to come across in a way you think Stanford wants. Such attempts simply blur our understanding of who you are and what you can accomplish. We want to hear your genuine voice throughout the essays that you write and this is the time to think carefully about your values, your passions, your hopes and dreams. In your short answer responses (Essay 3, options A, B, C, or D), we learn more about the experiences that have shaped your attitudes, behaviors, and aspirations. Truly, the most impressive essays are those that do not begin with the goal of impressing us.

Essay Length & Format: You have your own story to tell, so please allocate the 1,800 words among all of the essays in the way that is most effective for you. We provide some guidelines below as a starting point, but you should feel comfortable to write as much or as little as you like on any essay question, as long as you do not exceed 1,800 words total. Essay 1: 750 words, Essay 2: 450 words, Essay 3: 300 words each.

Stanford Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why? (750 words - suggested)   Stanford Essay Tips

Stanford Essay 2: What do you want to do—REALLY—and why Stanford? (450 words - suggested)   Stanford Essay Tips

Stanford Essay 3: Answer two of the four questions below. Tell us not only what you did but also how you did it. What was the outcome? How did people respond? Only describe experiences that have occurred during the last three years. In your short answer responses (Essay 3, options A, B, C, or D), we learn more about the experiences that have shaped your attitudes, behaviors, and aspirations. (300 words each - suggested)

Option A: Tell us about a time when you built or developed a team whose performance exceeded expectations.   Stanford Essay Tips

Option B: Tell us about a time when you made a lasting impact on your organization.   Stanford Essay Tips

Option C: Tell us about a time when you generated support from others for an idea or initiative.   Stanford Essay Tips

Option D: Tell us about a time when you went beyond what was defined or established.   Stanford Essay Tips