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MBA Essay Prompt Tracker, 2025-2026

Last Updated:

Menlo Coaching offers the only centralized resource for tracking MBA essay prompt releases across dozens of top business schools. Below you’ll find a table where you can:

In the school-specific section, we organize essay prompts into clear categories—like Career Goals, Personal Story, or Optional Essays—and label them based on their source:

We update this page frequently as new information becomes available. If you’re applying this cycle, this is your go-to source for staying current.

Essay Prompt Status Table

Click to close table
Program Status Jump Link
Booth 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Booth Executive MBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Booth JD/MBA 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Booth Scholars 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Columbia August 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Columbia Deferred Enrollment 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Columbia EMBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Columbia January 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Columbia SIPA MIA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Darden 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Dartmouth Tuck 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Duke Fuqua Global EMBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Fuqua 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Georgetown McDonough 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Haas 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Harvard JD/MBA 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Harvard MPP 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
HBS 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
HBS MS/MBA: Biotechnology Life Sciences 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
HEC Paris September 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
IESE 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
INSEAD August 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
INSEAD January 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Johnson 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Judge 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Kellogg 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Kellogg Future Leaders 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Kellogg JD/MBA 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
LBS 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
McCombs 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
McDonough Executive MBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
MIT Sloan 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Ross 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Saïd 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Saïd Executive MBA Jan 2026 Enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Saïd Executive MBA Sep 2026 Enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
SDA Bocconi 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Sloan (MIT) EMBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Stanford GSB 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Stanford GSB Deferred 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Stanford JD/MBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Stern 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Tepper 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
UCLA Anderson 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
UNC Kenan-Flagler 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
USC Marshall 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
UW Foster 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Wharton 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Wharton Advance Access 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Wharton EMBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program
Wharton Lauder 2026 enrollment Unofficial Prompts Available Jump to Program
Yale 2026 enrollment Official Prompts Released Jump to Program
Yale EMBA 2026 enrollment Previous Year Prompts Only Jump to Program

Booth 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants
Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Booth application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Min. 250 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Text box, 250 words minimum/no maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Essay

Personal Story | All Applicants

An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of work. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are. (Text box, 250 words minimum/no maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information. Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? If so, please use this section to clarify. (Optional) (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Personal Information

Optional | All Applicants

Is there anything about your upbringing or family/household circumstances that you would like the admissions committee to know? (Text box, no word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (text box, maximum 300 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Short-term Career Goal (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

What is your immediate post-MBA career goal? (Text box, 250 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Long-term Career Goal (Short answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

What is your long-term post-MBA career goal? (Text box, 250 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Booth Executive MBA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Chicago Booth EMBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Resume

Other | All Applicants

Please upload a professional resume or CV. Please reference this template for suggested guidance on the resume format.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

Career Goals. This section will provide the admissions committee with further insights into your motivation for pursuing an MBA and what you hope to gain from the experience.

  • Please describe your career objective. (Dropdown, select one).
  • What is your short-term career goal? (Text box, 150 word max)
  • What is your long-term post-MBA goal? (Text box, 150 word max)


(Previous year’s prompt) Why Booth?

Other | All Applicants

Required Essay: Why are you seeking an MBA from Chicago Booth and what unique knowledge and experiences do you hope to contribute to the program? (Upload file; Please limit your answer to two pages)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional: Academics and Career

Optional | All Applicants

Optional Short Answer Questions. Please limit your answers to 250 words or less for these questions.

Academics and Career. The Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth is an academically rigorous course of study that focuses on the fundamental tools of business. As a student, you will draw upon key learnings from coursework and your professional background to make valuable contributions to the classroom. If there is anything else you would like the admissions committee to know about your academic background or professional experience, please share that information here. You may wish to respond to the following prompts:

  • Do you believe your previous academic performance is indicative of your academic potential? If not, please provide specific reasons for your underperformance.
  • Do you have a gap in your professional experience?
  • Are there additional insights that might be useful for the Admissions Committee to know?

(Text box, max 250 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional: Commitment to Diversity

Optional | All Applicants

Commitment to Diversity. At the University of Chicago, diversity is not only an ideal to which we strive, but a core institutional value. The Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth seeks a population of students across different industries, functions, cultures, and geographies. How will your life experiences help you contribute to and participate in this diverse learning environment?

(Text box, max. 250 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional: Scholarship Consideration

Optional | All Applicants

Scholarship Consideration. Each year, we award a limited number of merit-based scholarships to incoming Executive MBA students at all three program locations. Merit scholarships are awarded based on academic and professional achievement. All candidates are automatically considered and no additional application is required. However, if you’d like to provide one to two reasons why you should receive a merit-based scholarship, please do so here.

(Text box, max. 250 words)

Booth JD/MBA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

What is your immediate post-joint degree career goal? (text box, no word limit)

Career Goal | First-time Applicants Only
What is your immediate post-joint degree career goal? (text box, no word limit)

What is your long-term post-joint degree career goal? (text box, no word limit)

Career Goal | First-time Applicants Only
What is your long-term post-joint degree career goal? (text box, no word limit)

How will the joint degree help you achieve your immediate and long-term career goals? (text box, 250-word minimum)

Other | First-time Applicants Only
How will the joint degree help you achieve your immediate and long-term career goals? (text box, 250-word minimum)

The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee. It should demonstrate your potential contribution to the UChicago community beyond simply academics. It is also a writing sample and should demonstrate your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively. The Admissions Committee generally finds a statement that focuses on a unique personal attribute or experience is the most informative (as opposed to a restatement of your qualifications or resume). While there is no page or word limit on the personal statement, the Admissions Committee values clear and concise written communication skills (upload file, between 2-4 pages).

Other | First-time Applicants Only
The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee. It should demonstrate your potential contribution to the UChicago community beyond simply academics. It is also a writing sample and should demonstrate your ability to communicate your thoughts effectively. The Admissions Committee generally finds a statement that focuses on a unique personal attribute or experience is the most informative (as opposed to a restatement of your qualifications or resume). While there is no page or word limit on the personal statement, the Admissions Committee values clear and concise written communication skills (upload file, between 2-4 pages).

Additional Information. Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? If so, please use this section to clarify. (text box, 300 words)

Other | First-time Applicants Only
Additional Information. Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? If so, please use this section to clarify. (text box, 300 words)

Recommendations. Why did you choose these two recommenders? (text box, no word limit)

Other | First-time Applicants Only
Recommendations. Why did you choose these two recommenders? (text box, no word limit)

Research Booth

Other | All Applicants
Research Booth

Booth Scholars 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Booth Scholars application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Information (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

Personal History. Is there anything about your upbringing or family/household circumstances that you would like the admissions committee to know? (Text box, No word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Pre-MBA Plans

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-Graduation. What are your professional plans for your time in deferment prior to starting your MBA? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Choice of Recommenders

Other | All Applicants

Why did you choose these two recommenders? (Text box, No word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

How will the Chicago Booth Scholars Program contribute to your short-term goals during your deferment period? How will the Booth MBA then help you achieve your long-term post-MBA career goals? (Text box, 250-word minimum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Story

Personal Story | All Applicants

An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experiences and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of work and the classroom. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Text box, 250-word minimum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information. Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation or additional details you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? If so, please use this section to clarify. (Optional) (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Columbia August 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Columbia’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 4, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.gsb.columbia.edu/apply/?pk=mba

Career Goal (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (Text box, 50 characters maximum)

Summer (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (Text box, 50 characters maximum)

Career Goals

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Community

250 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2: Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

Co-creation/ Contribution

250 words | Other | All Applicants

Essay 3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership–academically, culturally, and professionally.

How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants
If you wish to provide the Admissions Committee with further information or additional context about your application, please include it here. You may write an essay or submit bullet points. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Reapplicant Essay

500 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (Upload file, 500 words maximum).

Resume

1-2 pages | Other | All Applicants

Please provide a current resume or CV. (Upload file, 1-2 pages)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants
  • Short Answer 1. What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)
  • Short Answer 2. How do you plan to spend the summer after the first year of the MBA? If in an internship, please include target industry(ies) and/or function(s). If you plan to work on your own venture, please indicate a focus of business. (50 characters maximum)


  • Essay 1. Through your resume and recommendation, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words)
  • Essay 2. Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (250 words)
  • Essay 3. We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership–academically, culturally, and professionally. How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (250 words)


https://academics.business.columbia.edu/admissions…

(Previous year’s prompt) Phillips Pathway / Leadership

250 words | Behavioral | First-time Applicants Only

Essay 2. The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to develop as inclusive leaders. Through various resources and programming, students explore and reflect on the following five inclusive leadership skills: Mitigating Bias and Prejudice; Managing Intercultural Dialogue; Addressing Systemic Inequity; Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking; and Creating an Inclusive Environment. Please respond to one of the below.

  • Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one of these five skills and tell us the actions you took and the outcome.
  • Alternatively, please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization.

(Upload file, 250 words maximum)

Columbia Deferred Enrollment 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Columbia Deferred application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Short Answer Question

Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your professional plans after you complete your undergraduate or current master’s degree? (text box, 50 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Essay 1

Career Goal | All Applicants

Applying to a deferred enrollment program suggests that your aspirations in the next 2-5 years will include an MBA. Why do you feel you need an MBA to achieve your long-term career goals and why would you like to pursue your MBA at Columbia Business School? (Upload file, Maximum 300 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Essay 2

Behavioral | All Applicants

Contributing to the community is an important part of the CBS experience. Discuss one experience or situation in your undergraduate or graduate career where you feel you contributed to your community and what you learned from the experience. (Upload file, Maximum 250 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Upload file, Maximum 500 Words)

Columbia EMBA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants
Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Columbia EMBA 2026 enrollment application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Resume

Other | All Applicants

Please provide a current resume or CV

(Upload file, 1 to 2 pages)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Short Answer 1: Goal – What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (text box, 50 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Remote Class Attendance Plans (Short Answer)

Other | All Applicants

Short Answer 2: For those that do not live in the NY tri-state area, please briefly share your plans for attending class from that distance. (text box, 50 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | First-time Applicants Only

Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Project Challenge

Other | First-time Applicants Only

Essay 2: Please describe a professional situation where you faced a particular challenge. What was the outcome and what did you learn from the experience about your own strengths and personal development needs? (Upload file, Maximum 500 Words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Optional Essay

Is there something else you feel would be helpful for the Admissions Committee to know? An optional third essay will allow you to discuss any topics that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. These might include, but are not limited to:

  • Adverse circumstances in your background
  • An exciting side venture in which you are working
  • Areas of concern in your academic record
  • Or just a fun fact!

This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Upload file, Maximum 500 Words)


(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Reapplicant Essay. How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (upload file, 500 words)

Columbia January 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Columbia’s application for January 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on May 26, 2025.

Start your application here: https://admissions.business.columbia.edu/portal/programs

Resume

1-2 pages | Other | All Applicants

Please provide a current resume or CV of 1 to 2 pages. (Upload file, 1-2 pages)


Career Goal (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (Text box, 50 characters maximum)

Why January Term? (Short answer)

Other | All Applicants

Why do you prefer the January-entry term? (Text box, 50 characters maximum)


Examples of possible responses:

  • “Work in business development for a media company.”
  • “Join a strategy consulting firm.”
  • “Launch a data-management start-up.”

Career Goals

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Collaboration & Community

250 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2: Please share a specific example of how you made a team more collaborative, more inclusive or fostered a greater sense of community within an organization. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

Co-creation/ Contribution

250 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 3: We believe Columbia Business School is a special place with a collaborative learning environment in which students feel a sense of belonging, agency, and partnership–academically, culturally, and professionally.

How would you co-create your optimal MBA experience at CBS? Please be specific. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants
If you wish to provide the Admissions Committee with further information or additional context about your application, please include it here. You may write an essay or submit bullet points. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Reapplicant Essay

500 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (Upload file, 500 words maximum).

(Previous year’s prompt) PPIL

250 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

The Phillips Pathway for Inclusive Leadership (PPIL) is a co-curricular program designed to provide students with the skills and strategies needed to develop as inclusive leaders. Through various resources and programming, the goal is for students to explore and reflect during their educational journey on the following five inclusive leadership skills: Mitigating Bias and Prejudice; Managing Intercultural Dialogue; Addressing Systemic Inequity; Understanding Identity and Perspective Taking; and Creating an Inclusive Environment.

Describe a time or situation when you had the need to utilize one of more of these five skills, and tell us the actions you took and the outcome. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

Columbia SIPA MIA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Columbia SIPA MIA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in late summer/early fall 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Professional Experience

Other | All Applicants

Submitting information about your professional experience is a two-step process:

  • (1) Click “Add Experience” to input your current or most recent FULL-TIME employment only. If you do not have full-time employment history, skip this step.
Do not put part-time work, internships or volunteer activities here; instead, include those experiences in the resume you upload. If you add them as full-time employment, it could cause a delay with your application.

If you have no full-time employment history, then skip to the next section of this page.


(Textboxes and drop-down menus)


  • (2) Upload your résumé/CV. Your uploaded résumé/CV is where you will list your comprehensive professional experience.
Everyone must upload a Résumé/CV.
(Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Language Résumé

Other | All Applicants

To be considered for the MIA program, you must upload a second résumé that highlights your language abilities, specifically how you obtained at least Intermediate Level 2 proficiency in a second or multiple languages.

Please click on sample resume here. (Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Introduce yourself (Short Response)

100 words | Personal Story | All Applicants
Introduce yourself in 100 words or less to your future classmates at SIPA. (Upload file, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Additional Info Essay

300 words | Optional | All Applicants

Discuss issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. Please share any additional information about yourself that you believe would be of interest to the Admissions Committee. Please focus on information that is not already reflected in the other parts of your application or might be unclear in the information submitted.

This space is available if you need to clarify any aspect of your application or share important context not covered elsewhere. For example, you might use it to explain gaps in your academic or professional history, unusual grading patterns, or other circumstances that could help us better understand your path.

If everything you wish to share is already included in your application, you do not need to complete this section. (Upload file, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Diversity Essay

400 words | Optional | All Applicants

We have all had unique experiences in life. Sometimes those experiences, whether positive or negative, help define our perspective. Please share an experience or personal history that has shaped your view on diversity. And how that perspective would enrich the educational experience of your peers and the SIPA community.

(Upload file, 400 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Impromptu video essay

90 second video essay | Other | All Applicants

A 90 second video recorded after application submission. Recording is in response to a randomized personal or policy question.

https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/admissions/applying-sipa/how-apply

Darden 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants
Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Darden application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Family Information

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Family Information (Optional).


a) If you were raised in one of the following household types, please indicate:

  • Raised by a single parent or guardian
  • Raised by an extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)
  • Raised in a multi-generational home
  • Raised in foster care


b) If you have you ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate:

  • Child
  • Extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)
  • Other
  • Parent
  • Sibling
  • Spouse/Partner

c) Are you a first-generation college student?

d) What were the primary languages spoken in the home in which you were raised?

e) Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements and impact. (Text box, 150 words maximum)


(Previous year’s prompt) Community of Belonging

100 words | Other | All Applicants

What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (Text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Inclusive Impact

300 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Careers With Purpose

200 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Exploring Charlottesville (Short answer)

25 words | Other | All Applicants

Darden community members love our city. Watch the video to learn why we love Charlottesville!

What are you excited to explore in Charlottesville? (Text box, 25 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Global Travel

50 words | Other | All Applicants

Darden Worldwide. The Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship provides all Darden students in our Full-Time MBA program with an opportunity to participate in a Darden Worldwide Course.

Darden has an incredible network of alumni and partners around the world, and, in a typical year, the School connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel? (Text box, 5 words)

And why? (Text box, 50 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Comments. If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admission Committee, please provide it: (Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

100 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

What have you done to improve your candidacy since you last applied? (Text box, 100 words maximum)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

SHORT ANSWER ESSAY PROMPTS

Relationships Matter Here

What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (200 words)

Community

Please describe an example of building community within your personal or professional life. What impact did this have on you and those around you? How will this experience contribute to the way you will build community at Darden? (200 words)

Careers with Purpose

At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)


Announcing Essays and Deadlines for Darden’s 2025-26 Full-Time MBA Application

Dartmouth Tuck 2026 enrollment

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Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Dartmouth Tuck’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 1, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.tuck.dartmouth.edu/apply

Career Goals

2000 characters | Career Goal | All Applicants
Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your goals and aspirations? What particular aspects of Tuck will be instrumental in your growth? (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

Tuck Values

2000 characters | Personal Story | All Applicants
Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your unique background contribute to Tuck and/or enhance the experience of your classmates? (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

Meaningful Contribution

2000 characters | Behavioral | All Applicants

Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally and how your understanding of Tuck has developed. (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants
Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. Read our guidance on the Tuck360 blog. (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

Career Goal Questions (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

The following short answer prompts are in the Application Specifics: Program Information section of the application:

  • Share your short-term professional goals. (Text box, 300 characters maximum)
  • Share your long-term professional goals. (Text box, 300 characters maximum)

Resume

Other | All Applicants
Please attach your resume. For an introduction to resume writing and formatting principles, read our guidance on the Tuck 360 blog. (Upload file)

Duke Fuqua Global EMBA 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Duke Fuqua Global EMBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Milestones or Challenges

Career Goal | All Applicants

Short Answer Question 1. Pursuing an MBA offers a fantastic springboard to your desired career goals. What are some professional milestones you’ve set for yourself or challenges you’re currently facing? How do you think Fuqua’s Executive MBA will specifically help you achieve your goals and navigate those challenges?

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Success or Impact

Behavioral | All Applicants

Short Answer Question 2. In what ways do you believe you will make an impact at Fuqua? Why is this important to you? (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) 10 Random Things

Personal Story | All Applicants

Short Answer Question 3. The Admissions Team wants to get to know YOU — beyond your professional and academic achievements shared with us in the application. Please share with us ten random things about you. This could include important life experiences, hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you uniquely you.

Please present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 10. Some points may be brief; others may be longer. No more than 2 pages.

(Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only.*

(Upload file, No word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Background Information

Optional | All Applicants

(Family Information Section) Lived Experiences. Do you have other lived experiences that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that may give us insight into your opportunities, challenges, and/or achievements? If so, please share 200 words or less explaining how those experiences might affect your contributions to Fuqua. (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) International Experience (Short answer)

Other | All Applicants

Briefly describe your international experience. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

Fuqua 2026 enrollment

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Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Fuqua’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 8, 2025.

Start your application here: https://admissions.fuqua.duke.edu/apply

Career Goals

100 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your post-MBA career goals? Share with us your first-choice career plan and your alternate plan. (Text box, 100 words maximum)

25 Random Things

750 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Essay 1: The ‘Team Fuqua’ spirit and community is one of the things that sets the MBA experience apart, and it is a concept that extends beyond the student body to include faculty, staff, and administration. Please share with us “25 Random Things” about you. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know YOU – beyond the professional and academic achievements listed in your resume and transcript. Share with us important life experiences, your hobbies, achievements, fun facts, or anything that helps us understand what makes you who you are.


Please do not copy the essay question in the document you upload with your application, and limit your response to 2 pages (750 words). Present your response in list form, numbered 1 to 25. Some points may be brief, while others may be longer. (Upload file, 750 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Contribution to Fuqua

500 words | Other | All Applicants

Fuqua prides itself on cultivating a culture of engagement. Our students enjoy a wide range of student-led organizations that provide opportunities for leadership development and personal fulfillment, as well as an outlet for contributing to society. Our student-led government, clubs, centers, and events are an integral part of the student culture and to the development of leaders. Based on your understanding of the Fuqua culture, what are 3 ways you expect to contribute at Fuqua?

Your response will be limited to 1 page (Upload file, 500 words maximum).

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Other | All Applicants

Optional Information. If you feel there are circumstances of which the admissions committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g. unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance). Note that you should NOT upload additional essays nor additional recommendations in this area. The Optional Information section is intended to provide the admissions committee with insight into your circumstances only. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Optional Background Info

Optional | All Applicants

Do you have other lived experiences that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee that may give us insight into your opportunities, challenges, and/or achievements? If so, please share 200 words or less explaining how those experiences might affect your contributions to Fuqua. (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Bonus Endorsement (Optional)

Other | All Applicants

In addition to the professional recommendation, if you have a Fuqua alum or current student who would like to submit an endorsement on your behalf, please share this endorsement form link with them so they may tell us why you would be an asset to our program. Our alumni know what it takes to be successful at Fuqua and we welcome alumni endorsements of your candidacy. Please note, endorsement forms are not required and only provide compelling support for a candidate when they are written by an alum or current student who knows you well.

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

500 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

Re-applicant Essay. It is not uncommon for it to take more than one try to achieve a goal. Please share with us the self-reflection process you underwent after last year’s application and how you have grown as a result. How did it shape your commitment to Fuqua and inspire your decision to reapply? (Upload file, 500 words maximum).

Resume

1 page | Other | All Applicants

Please provide a completed one-page resume including full-time employment, volunteer work, internships, part-time work experience, and education. For employment and volunteer positions, include the location, title, date, and responsibilities, starting with your most recent position. The education section should include dates of attendance and degrees received.

To upload your resume, choose your file and click the upload button. You will be able to preview your document once the upload has completed successfully. (Upload file, 1 page)

Georgetown McDonough 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Georgetown McDonough application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short Answer Questions)

Career Goal | All Applicants

The following questions can be found in the Future Goals section of the McDonough application portal.

Please share your post-MBA goals with the Admissions Committee in a maximum of 3 sentences.

What is your short-term career goal following graduation from an MBA program? Please share your preference on industry, function, and/or geographic area, if known. (Text box, 3 sentences maximum)

What is your long-term career goal following graduation from an MBA program? Please share your preference on industry, function, and/or geographic area, if known. (Text box, 3 sentences maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Georgetown MBA Essay (Select a Prompt)

Other | All Applicants

Georgetown MBA Essay. Our goal at Georgetown McDonough is to craft a diverse class with people who have had varying personal and professional life experiences. As such, we want to give our applicants the opportunity to select one essay (from a list of three) that allows them the ability to best highlight their experiences, characteristics, and values that showcase the value proposition that they can bring to the McDonough community.


Please select one of the following three essays to complete in 500 words or less (approximately two pages, double spaced). Please include the essay option prompt and your first/last name at the top of your essay.

  • Essay Option 1 – Georgetown Community: Our mission is rooted in Jesuit principles of equality and respect for everyone and an ethos of caring for the whole person. Inclusivity and diversity are core to supporting a community of people with an intersectional understanding of themselves and the world around them. Share how your educational, familial, cultural, economic, social, and/or other individual life experiences will contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University.
  • Essay Option 2 – Cura Personalis: As the oldest Jesuit institution in the United States, cura personalis is a Latin phrase deeply ingrained within our community and translates to “care of the person.” It encompasses a profound sense of care and responsibility for one another, rooted in personalized attention to each individual’s needs, unique circumstances, gifts, and limitations, fostering the growth of each person. Please reflect on a specific instance where you exemplified cura personalis by supporting a teammate or coworker. Describe the particular actions you took to guide them, and explain the impact of these efforts. Additionally, discuss how you would leverage these experiences to contribute to the collaborative environment at Georgetown McDonough.
  • Essay Option 3 – Achieving Excellence: Georgetown McDonough is committed to achieving greater excellence to enrich the legacies of our students and alumni. Please reflect on a professional experience from your resume where you achieved outstanding results. Describe why this experience exemplified excellence, highlight the strengths or skills you utilized that contributed to this achievement, and share how these qualities will help you leave a legacy at Georgetown.


(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Essay (Prepared)

Other | All Applicants

We believe a vibrant community is built on diverse and unique individuals, and we want you to bring your whole self to Georgetown McDonough. We’ve learned about your professional and leadership qualities throughout the application, but now we want to know more about you beyond work.


Whether it’s a new hobby, a fun adventure, or a simple pleasure, in one minute, share what has recently brought you joy outside of work.


(Video file upload, one-minute limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Optional: You may use this essay to provide any additional information that you have not otherwise included in your application. You may address anything in your academic or professional background or anything you feel the admissions committee may need to know regarding your application. (upload file, 300-350 words – appx 1pg double spaced – or less.)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application and why do you feel that you are better-positioned this year to begin the MBA Program? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally. (upload file, 300-350 words or appx 1 pg double spaced or less)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

We want to hear your story. When responding to our required essays, be authentic and take time to reflect on your goals and past experiences. Craft a response that explains how these experiences led you to pursue an MBA.

Personal Essay

Our goal at Georgetown McDonough is to craft a diverse class with people who have had varying personal and professional life experiences. As such, we want to give our applicants the opportunity to select one essay (from a list of three) that allows them the ability to best highlight their experiences, characteristics, and values that showcase the value proposition that they can bring to the McDonough community. Please select one of the following three essays to complete in 500 words (approximately two pages, double spaced) and include the essay prompt and your first/last name at the top of your submission.

Essay Option One – Georgetown Community

Our mission is rooted in Jesuit principles of equality and respect for everyone and an ethos of caring for the whole person. Inclusivity and diversity are core to supporting a community of people with an intersectional understanding of themselves and the world around them. Share how your educational, familial, cultural, economic, social, and/or other individual life experiences will contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University.

Essay Option Two – Cura Personalis

As the oldest Jesuit institution in the United States, cura personalis is a Latin phrase deeply ingrained within our community and translates to “care of the person.” It encompasses a profound sense of care and responsibility for one another, rooted in personalized attention to each individual’s needs, unique circumstances, gifts, and limitations, fostering the growth of each person. Please reflect on a specific instance where you exemplified cura personalis by supporting a teammate or coworker. Describe the particular actions you took to guide them, and explain the impact of these efforts. Additionally, discuss how you would leverage these experiences to contribute to the collaborative environment at Georgetown McDonough.

Essay Option Three – Achieving Excellence

Georgetown McDonough is committed to achieving greater excellence to enrich the legacies of our students and alumni. Please reflect on a professional experience from your resume where you achieved outstanding results. Describe why this experience exemplified excellence, highlight the strengths or skills you utilized that contributed to this achievement, and share how these qualities will help you leave a legacy at Georgetown.

Video Essay

We believe a vibrant community is built on diverse and unique individuals, and we want you to bring your whole self to Georgetown McDonough. We’ve learned about your professional and leadership qualities throughout the application, but now we want to know more about you beyond work. Whether it’s a new hobby, a fun adventure, or a simple pleasure, in one minute, share what has recently brought you joy outside of work.

Video Guidelines

  • You may use your phone, computer, or other means to record the video, but please ensure all audio and visual components are clear. We recommend a well-lit room and minimal noise distraction.
  • The admissions committee would like for you to appear in person during part of your video.
  • Please adhere to the time guideline of one minute.
  • We recommend unscripted, conversational videos – help us get to know the real you!
  • Upload your video to an accessible website (such as YouTube, Vimeo, Youku, or Tudou), and submit the direct video URL into your online application.
  • Please note that all videos must remain active and accessible to the admissions committee online for a minimum of five years for record retention purposes.
  • For your privacy: Do not include your name in the title of your video. You may submit “unlisted” videos via YouTube or password protected videos through Vimeo. If using a password, please include immediately after your link in the text box below. [Ex: www.youtube.com/123, password: Hoyas]

Optional Essay

Please provide any information you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced).

Re-Applicant Essay

Required for re-applicants. How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced).


https://msb.georgetown.edu/mba/application-components/#fall-2025-essays

Haas 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Berkeley Haas application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 2, 2025.

Start your application here: https://applynow.haas.berkeley.edu/apply/

Essay 1: Video Essay (Impromptu)

2-minute video | Other | All Applicants

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (Impromptu video Essay, 2 minutes maximum)

Your video essay may be recorded on the next page. The video essay can be completed either before or after submitting the application. The latest deadline to record the video essay is 7 days after the round’s deadline. Video essays may not exceed 2 minutes. Applicants may record the video essay up to two times. However, if you choose to use the second attempt, the first recording will be deleted and cannot be submitted.

This section of the application requires a webcam and microphone. Please be sure you are in a quiet and well-lit environment before you begin. You are allowed 2 attempts to record your Video Essay, and your response can be no longer than 2 minutes.

  1. Before recording, you will be prompted to test your audio-visual connection. Follow the steps on-screen and check the box to confirm your successful completion of the audio-visual test.
  2. You will then be asked to confirm that you are ready to begin recording your Video Essay.
  3. Once you click the “Ready” button, the Video Essay question will appear and you will have 20 seconds (on-screen countdown) before recording begins. Once you have finished responding, click the “Stop” button. Note that the recording will end automatically at 2 minutes – the maximum video length – if you do not click the “Stop” button.
  4. You will have the opportunity to review your first attempt and choose to submit or discard your recording. If you discard this first recording, you will have a final attempt to re-record your response.
  5. Once finished, you will be prompted to continue through the submission process.

  6. Note: this is an impromptu video recorded through the Haas application portal and NOT a video to be recorded in advance.

Essay 2: Career Goals

300 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals? (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Distance Traveled

300 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

At Berkeley Haas, we consider “distance traveled” as the contextual information that helps us understand the unique circumstances, challenges, or influences that have shaped your personal and professional journey.

We invite you to share aspects of your background, personal circumstances, or significant experiences that have meaningfully impacted who you are today and how you’ve reached this point. Please tell us how these experiences have influenced your perspectives, decisions, and aspirations, and how they contribute to the person you are becoming. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Optional Statement

Optional | All Applicants

This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Resume

Other | All Applicants

In addition to the work experience section, upload a one page resume in a standard business format. A second page may be used if you have extensive business or research experience. (Upload file)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Extracurricular Activities

Optional | All Applicants

List up to five significant community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each using the format below:

  • Org name
  • Role
  • Organization Size
  • Start Date/End Date
  • Hours per Week
  • Description of Participation (Text box, 500 words maximum)

Reapplicant instructions

Other | Reapplicants Only

Please see our website for details about reapplication.

If you have submitted an application to a Berkeley MBA program within the last two years, you are considered a reapplicant. If your application was incomplete or withdrawn, you are not considered a reapplicant.

What is required?

Whenever possible, please use the same email address from your previous application. You are required to complete and submit the below portions of the online application. Updating any other application materials is optional, although the Admissions Committee does note the effort that candidates put into their reapplication and will look for substantive change in your qualifications.

  • Valid test scores
  • Employment section (including current resume)
  • Education section, and a transcript for any new coursework completed
  • Video essay
  • New essay question (if applicable)
  • A statement outlining how you have improved your candidacy since your last application
  • Applicant acknowledgement
  • Application fee

(Previous year’s prompt) Feel Alive

300 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Essay #1. What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Diversity

Behavioral | All Applicants

Required Essay #3: One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

Candidates seeking consideration for mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Harvard JD/MBA 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Harvard JD/MBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle.


Prospective students interested in the JD/MBA joint degree program apply to Harvard Law School (HLS) and Harvard Business School (HBS) separately and must be admitted independently by each. HBS applicants interested in the joint degree program can apply in either of the two rounds of admission. All HLS applicants interested in the joint degree program must apply by February 15.

https://www.hbs.edu/mba/academic-experience/joint-degree-programs/harvard-law-school/harvard-law-school-admissions


(Previous year’s prompt) Resume

Other | All Applicants

We require a resume as part of the application. Please limit your resume to one or two pages in length. (Upload file)

Additional Biographical

300 characters max. | Other | First-time Applicants Only

Additional Biographical

1. Please check here if you wish to share that you identify as a first-generation college student (i.e., a member of the first generation of your immediate family to graduate from a four-year college or the equivalent):

2. Please check here if you wish to share that you identify as LGBTQ+:

3. We understand that the questions above may not capture an applicant’s lived experiences. If you wish to elaborate on your response or nonresponse to one or both of the prior questions, or the gender identity question on the previous page, you are invited to share more information below or to attach an Optional Statement. Additional instructions regarding Optional Statements are available in the Attachments section.

(text box, 300 characters)

Racial/Ethnic Background

300 characters max. | Other | First-time Applicants Only

We understand that racial and ethnic backgrounds may not be fully captured by the options above. Should you wish to elaborate on your response or nonresponse to the previous questions, you are invited to complete the section below. (text ox, 300 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Statement of Purpose

Personal Story | All Applicants

Statement of Purpose: What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?

Every applicant must submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective, responding to the prompts below.

Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement. Please place (a) the name of your Written Statement (i.e., either “Statement of Perspective” or “Statement of Purpose”) in the document’s header, left-aligned, and (b) your full name in the document’s header, right-aligned.

(Upload file, 1-2 pages)

Writing

300 characters max. | Other | First-time Applicants Only

Have you produced a significant piece of writing under the direct supervision of a faculty member or employer? Examples include but are not limited to: a thesis, a peer-reviewed and/or published article, or a white paper. If yes, please briefly describe the piece of work and the nature of the supervision. (text box, 300 characters)

Personal Statement

No Limit | Personal Story | First-time Applicants Only

Personal Statement

The personal statement provides an opportunity for you to present yourself, your background, your ideas, and your qualifications to the Admissions Committee.

(upload file, no word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Statement of Perspective

Personal Story | All Applicants

Statement of Perspective: The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.

Every applicant must submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective, responding to the prompts below.

Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement. Please place (a) the name of your Written Statement (i.e., either “Statement of Perspective” or “Statement of Purpose”) in the document’s header, left-aligned, and (b) your full name in the document’s header, right-aligned.

(Upload file, 1-2 pages)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Information

Optional | All Applicants
We encourage you to provide any relevant information that may be helpful to us in making an informed decision on your candidacy. If you need additional space beyond the application questions and required materials, you may include a brief addendum.

(Previous year’s prompt) Character and Fitness

Behavioral | All Applicants

Please answer the questions below carefully, keeping in mind that, in most cases, failure to disclose relevant information may be more serious than the underlying conduct itself. Failure to make required disclosures regarding misconduct, disciplinary action, or criminal history is (and has been) grounds for rescission of admission and/or serious disciplinary action at Harvard Law School, and may even result in post hoc withdrawal of a conferred degree. Subject to the limitations on criminal record disclosures set forth below, please make sure to disclose any information that could possibly fall into these categories. You may provide as much information about context and/or mitigating circumstances as you think necessary.


Education

  • Has your college, university, or law, graduate, or professional school career been interrupted for one or more terms, other than for your own health-related reasons?
  • At any college, university, or law, graduate, or professional school, have you ever been the subject of disciplinary or academic misconduct proceedings of any kind, or otherwise subject to probation, suspension, expulsion, or any other penalty (with the exception of an oral reprimand) for any reason? (For avoidance of doubt, you should disclose proceedings and/or sanctions that were suspended, expunged, or otherwise discharged.)
  • Are there any disciplinary or academic misconduct charges pending against you?

Criminal

  • Have you ever been convicted of (or pleaded guilty or no contest to) any felony or misdemeanor offense (or any equivalent crime under the applicable legal system)?
  • Are there any felony criminal charges or misdemeanor criminal charges (other than for drunkenness, simple assault, speeding, minor traffic violations, affray, or disturbance of the peace) currently pending against you

Professional

  • In a professional setting, have you ever been the subject of any disciplinary or misconduct proceedings? (For avoidance of doubt, you should disclose proceedings and/or sanctions that were suspended, expunged, or otherwise discharged.)
  • Are there any such disciplinary or misconduct charges pending against you?

Optional Statement

No Limit | Optional | First-time Applicants Only

Optional Statement

The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand your achievements in the context of your background and to build a diverse student body. If applicable, you may choose to submit an optional additional statement to elaborate on how you could contribute to the Harvard Law School community. (upload file, no word limit)

Addenda

No Limit | Optional | First-time Applicants Only

Addenda

We encourage you to provide any relevant information that may be helpful to us in making an informed decision on your application. Examples of information that may be relevant to individual cases include: unusual circumstances that may have affected academic performance, a description or documentation of a physical or learning disability, or a history of educational or sociological disadvantage. If a close relative has attended HLS, you may submit this information in this section.

If you have an addendum, please attach it here.

(upload file, no word limit)

Harvard MPP 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Harvard Kennedy School’s MPP application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in the summer or fall of 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Biographical Statement

Other | All Applicants

In 150 words or fewer, provide a biographical profile. Your résumé will contain detailed information on your academic history, professional/internship/volunteer positions held and specific accomplishments. What we seek here is a concise description of your academic/professional journey, career exploration, and areas of interest. Please type your biographical statement in the paragraph box below:

(Text box,150 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Resume

Other | All Applicants

The Admissions Committee is interested in your academic, professional, and personal development. Please provide a résumé that highlights the following information: employment, including titles, dates (month and years), job responsibilities, any gaps in employment history, academic degrees, achievements and honors, volunteer, public service, and political work, recent leadership experiences, and extracurricular activities and interests.

The length and format of your résumé or C.V. is up to your discretion.

You may only upload one document per resume section. If you need to replace a document before submission, please delete the document and upload a new document.

(Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) JFK Essay: Leadership

Other | All Applicants

The Harvard Kennedy School motto, echoing the President for whom the School is named, is “Ask what you can do.” Please share with the Admissions Committee your plans to create positive change through your public leadership and service.

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) MPP Essay: Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

The MPP curriculum is designed to broaden students’ perspective and sharpen skills necessary for a successful career in public service through a rigorous set of courses that draw on the social sciences but are adapted for action. Please describe how the MPP curriculum at HKS would leverage your distinctive abilities and/or fill gaps in your skill set as you equip yourself to achieve your career goals.

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal History Essay

Personal Story | All Applicants

Harvard Kennedy School believes that academic excellence and personal growth rely on engaging with varied perspectives, embracing our unique differences, and relishing healthy debate. Please share how you would contribute to the vibrant and diverse learning environment that is HKS.

(Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Adversity Essay

Other | All Applicants

Describe a time when you faced adversity or a significant challenge to achieving your goals, and how navigating through this shaped your educational or career trajectory. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Perspectives Essay

Other | All Applicants

Describe a time when interactions with others and/or an experience caused you to change your mind or expanded your point of view.

(Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Policy Interests (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

The information in this section is used to help the HKS Office of Admissions & Financial Aid consider ways we may be able to expand our recruitment efforts; it is not used for admission consideration and is not shared with the Admissions Committee.

  • What websites do you read to follow matters pertaining to policy issues and news you are interested in?
  • What print publications do you read to follow matters pertaining to policy issues and news you are interested in?

(Text boxes, no limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Statement

Optional | All Applicants

If you have any concerns about your prior academic, professional, or personal background that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee, please provide an explanation.

(Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Joint Degree Program Essay MPP/MBA

Other | All Applicants

Harvard Kennedy School’s mission is to improve public policy and leadership across the United States and around the world, so people can live in societies that are safer, freer, fairer, and more sustainably prosperous. How will a joint/concurrent degree enhance your pursuit of this mission?

(400 words maximum)

HBS 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Harvard’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 2, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.hbs.edu/apply/

Career Goal (Short Answer)

500 characters | Career Goal | All Applicants

Briefly, tell us more about your career aspirations. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

Business-Minded

300 words | Career Goal | All Applicants
Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Leadership-Focused

250 words | Personal Story | All Applicants
What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Growth-Oriented

250 words | Behavioral | All Applicants
Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Please share additional information here if you need to clarify any information provided in the other sections of your application. This is not meant to be used as an additional essay. Please limit your additional information to the space in this section.

We know you’ll be tempted, but please don’t send us any additional materials (e.g., additional recommendations, work portfolios). To be fair to all applicants, extra materials won’t be considered. (Text box, 75 words maximum)

Reapplicant Essay

250 words | Other | Reapplicants Only
Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Resume

1-2 pages | Other | All Applicants

Please provide a current resume or CV. Ideally, this would be about 1-2 pages in length and include dates and locations of your employment. (Upload file, 1-2 pages)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

Essays

Applicants to the MBA Class of 2027 (matriculating fall 2025) need to respond to these three essay prompts:


Business-Minded Essay:
Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)


Leadership-Focused Essay:
What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)


Growth-Oriented Essay:
Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)


https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/application-pro…

HBS MS/MBA: Biotechnology Life Sciences 2026 enrollment

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Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

The HBS MS/MBA: Biotechnology Life Science application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 3, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.hbs.edu/account/login

Career Goal (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Briefly, tell us more about your career aspirations. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

Business-Minded

Personal Story | All Applicants
Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

Leadership-Focused

Personal Story | All Applicants
What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Growth-Oriented

Behavioral | All Applicants
Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Please share additional information here if you need to clarify any information provided in the other sections of your application. This is not meant to be used as an additional essay. Please limit your additional information to the space in this section.

We know you’ll be tempted, but please don’t send us any additional materials (e.g., additional recommendations, work portfolios). To be fair to all applicants, extra materials won’t be considered.. (Text box, 75 words maximum)

Life Sciences Essay

Behavioral | All Applicants

How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (Upload file, recommended length: 400 words)

Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Resume

1-2 pages | Other | All Applicants

Please provide a current resume or CV. Ideally, this would be about 1-2 pages in length and include dates and locations of your employment. (Upload file, 1-2 pages)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

HEC Paris September 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s HEC Paris application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely during the summer 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Please describe your immediate career goals following your MBA including location. (Text box, 1400 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Why HEC?

Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the professional objective that will guide your career choice after your MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this objective? (Text box, 3500 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Achievement

Personal Story | All Applicants

Essay 2. What do you consider your most significant life achievement? (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Leadership

Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 3. Leadership and ethics are inevitably intertwined in the business world. Describe a situation in which you have dealt with these issues and how they have influenced you. (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Different Life

Other | All Applicants

Essay 4. Imagine a life entirely different from the one you now lead, what would it be? (Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Select a Prompt

Other | All Applicants

Essay 5. Please choose from one of the following essays:

  • a) What monument or site would you advise a first-time visitor to your country or city to discover, and why?
  • b) Certain books, movies or plays have had an international success that you believe to be undeserved. Choose an example and analyse it.
  • c) What figure do you most admire and why? You may choose from any field (arts, literature, politics, business, etc).
(Text box, 2000 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Is there any additional information you would like to share with us? (Text box, 6300 characters maximum)

IESE 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s IESE application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

300 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Career Goals Essay: What are your immediate career goals after graduation and your mid-term career goal 5-10 years after graduation? How will the IESE MBA program help you achieve them? (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

What would you like to highlight about yourself or your journey which may have not been captured in your application? (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

200 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

Tell us what has changed since the last time you applied (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Scholarship Essay

Optional | All Applicants
  • Tell us how you plan to finance your MBA (E.g., 40% savings, 60% loans OR 45K via savings and the rest via loan.) (Text box, 50 words maximuum)
  • Why do you think you deserve a scholarship? (Text box, 450 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Essay (Impromptu)

Other | All Applicants

This year you will also complete a Video Essay as part of the application. Once you submit the written application and pay the application fees, you will receive a Kira Video Essay link (within 24-hours) to be completed by the Application Round Deadline. The link will expire in 48-hours after receipt, hence to provide yourself with adequate time we recommend submitting the written section a few days ahead of the deadline. There will be two video essay questions that you will be required to complete. We will consider your application as complete and ready to be reviewed only once we have received your answers to the video questions. All instructions for this section will be shared with you along with the link.

INSEAD August 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants
Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s INSEAD application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

Research INSEAD

Other | All Applicants

As you begin reviewing prompts and preparing to write your application essays, you may want to revisit our INSEAD school profile page and related content:

You can use this content to help finalize your brainstorming: What specific offerings (classes, professors, conferences, treks) does INSEAD have that you can touch on in your essays?

(Previous year’s prompt) Job Description

200 words | Other | All Applicants

Job Description. Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Next Step

200 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Job Description. What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company instead of going to business school? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Description

300 words | Other | All Applicants

Job Description. Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

100 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Job Description. Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with an MBA from INSEAD. (Text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Activities list and short-answer question​

Other | All Applicants

Activities list: Please list significant extracurricular/extra-professional activities in which you are/have been involved, starting with your most recent activities (i.e. sports, performing arts, associations, club memberships, hobbies, community activities, etc.)(Dropdown selections for: Activity, Duration (from and to), and Position/Level)

Short-answer question: Describe the activities you listed above and explain how they have enriched your life (e.g., skills developed, personal growth, community impact). (text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Describe Yourself

500 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary (Text box, 500 words maximum).

(Previous year’s prompt) Handling Failure

Behavioral | All Applicants

Consider a situation where you failed to achieve your objective(s). How did you handle failure? What did you learn about yourself and/or your interactions with others from this situation? (Text box, 400 words maximum).

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (Text box, maximum 300 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Interview (Impromptu)

Other | All Applicants

Video Interview. Shortly after submitting this application form, you will receive a link to a video interview. This video component is required to start the evaluation of your application. You will have 48 hours after the application deadline you are applying for to complete the video interview. Once submitted, the video interviews will no longer be modifiable. Therefore please ensure that you carefully test your devices before starting the exercise.


We are keen on getting to know you better and believe that through a video you can come to life, so be spontaneous, be creative and be yourself! We look forward to virtually meeting you!

INSEAD January 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application OPEN

Other | All Applicants

INSEAD’s application for January 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on January 6, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.insead.edu/apply/

Job Description

Other | All Applicants

Provide a summary of your career since graduating from university, explaining the rationale behind your key decisions and career progression. Include a description of your current (or most recent) role, covering the scope of your work, major responsibilities, employees under your supervision, budget size, clients/products, and any notable results achieved. (text box, 500 words maximum)

Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

Describe your short and long-term career aspirations, including your target geography, industry, and function. How do you plan to bridge the gap between your current position and these goals, and how will INSEAD help you achieve them? (text box, 300 words maximum)

Activities list and short-answer question

Other | All Applicants

Activities list: Please list significant extracurricular/extra-professional activities in which you are/have been involved, starting with your most recent activities (i.e. sports, performing arts, associations, club memberships, hobbies, community activities, etc.)(Dropdown selections for: Activity, Duration (from and to), and Position/Level)


Short-answer question: Describe the activities you listed above and explain how they have enriched your life (e.g., skills developed, personal growth, community impact). (text box, 300 words maximum)

Describe Yourself

Personal Story | All Applicants

Give a candid description of yourself as a person and a leader, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses you recognize in yourself. Explain how you are actively working on your development, sharing key experiences that have shaped you, providing specific examples where relevant. (text box, 500 words maximum)

Stressful Situation

Behavioral | All Applicants

Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others? (text box, 400 words maximum)

Anything Else

Other | All Applicants

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (text box, maximum 300 words)

Video Interview

Other | All Applicants

Video: Shortly after submitting this application form, you will receive a link to a video interview. This video component is required to start the evaluation of your application. Please submit the video interview at your earliest convenience and no later than 48 hours after the deadline to which you are applying. Once submitted, the video interviews cannot be modified. Therefore, please ensure that you carefully test your devices before starting the exercise.

We are keen on getting to know you better and believe that through a video you can come to life, so be spontaneous, be creative and be yourself!

We look forward to virtually meeting you.

Johnson 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Cornell application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

350 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals and complete the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question.

  1. In 5 years I want to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] in the [Industry].
  2. In 5-10 years post-MBA my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] in the [Industry].


How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals? (Text box, 350 words maximum)


(Previous year’s prompt) Impact Essay

350 words | Other | All Applicants

At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (Text box, 350 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | First-time Applicants Only

OPTIONAL ESSAY. If you are applying for the first time and wish to submit an optional essay, please enter it here.

You may use the optional essay to explain gaps in your resume, call attention to items needing clarification, or provide additional details about any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson. (Text box, 350 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

350 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

REAPPLICANT ESSAY. If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application. (Text box, 350 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Leadership (Park Fellowship)

500 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Park Fellowship Leadership Essay. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Describe a past formal or informal leadership experience and how it informs your goals for growth as a leader. How would the Park Leadership Fellowship assist with these goals?


*Please note that consideration for the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellowship is by invitation only. Upon completion of the admissions interview, those selected for further consideration will be required to submit a response to the Park Leadership Fellows Program essay in addition to participating in one of our Leadership Exploration and Assessment Day (L.E.A.D.) events.


Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

2025-2026 MBA Admissions Essay Prompts

Applicants to the Two-Year Ithaca MBA program must complete the Goals Statement as well as one of two required essay prompts, the Impact essay or the Unique Trait that Defines Me essay.

Goals Statement

Use this short-answer section to succinctly share your short- and long-term goals. If invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate on your statement further, and you should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.

Goals Statement Prompt:

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long-term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question:

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

  • Targeted Job Role:
  • Target Job Company:
  • Industry:

In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

  • Targeted Job Role:
  • Target Job Company:
  • Industry:

Please share how you plan to utilize the resources available at Johnson, as well as any personal resources to transition to your immediate post-MBA career goal. (350 word maximum)

Impact Essay or The Unique Trait that Defines Me

Impact Essay:

At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. How do you intend to make a meaningful impact on the Johnson community? (350 words maximum)

or

The Unique Trait that Defines Me:

What is something unique about you that others will remember you by, and how will this trait help you contribute and engage with the Cornell MBA community? (350 words maximum)

Optional Essay (required for reapplicants)

You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson. (350 words maximum)

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application and candidacy since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Application Guide for additional information about reapplying (350 words maximum).


https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/mba-application-guide/application-requirements/

Judge 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Cambridge Judge application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in July 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Please provide details of your post-MBA career plans. The statement should not exceed 500 words and must address the following:

• What are your short and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these?

• Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate?

• How confident do you feel about meeting your short-term career goal? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them, and what preparation are you doing now?

Career objectives (text box, 500 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Professional Mistake

200 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay question 1. Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Best Team

200 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay question 2. Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Positive Impact

200 words | Other | All Applicants

Essay question 3. Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

200 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

Essay question 4. Additional question for re-applicants. Describe any relevant developments since you last applied to the Cambridge MBA? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Current Job

250 words | Other | All Applicants

Work experience. Primary responsibilities. Describe your primary job responsibilities;

1. type and size of internal and external teams with which you work or supervise

2. type and number of clients or projects you manage;

3. size of budget or revenue for which you are responsible;

4. international experience or exposure

(Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Challenge

200 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Work experience. What has been your most significant professional challenge? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Accomplishment

200 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Work experience. What has been your most significant professional achievement? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Gaps in your CV/resume

Other | All Applicants

Please explain any gaps in your CV (Text box, 200 words limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Information

Optional | All Applicants

Please provide information on any aspect of your candidacy that requires further explanation, or information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know (Text box, 300 words maximum).

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

You must complete the careers objectives statement and 3, shorter essays:

  • Please provide details of your post-MBA career plans. The statement should not exceed 500 words and must address the following:
    • What are your short and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these?
    • Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate?
    • How confident do you feel about meeting your short-term career goal? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them, and what preparation are you doing now?
  • Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)
  • Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)
  • Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)

Kellogg 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Kellogg’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on June 12, 2025.

Start your application here: https://admissions.kellogg.northwestern.edu/apply/


Career Goals/Why Kellogg

Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (Text box, 450 words maximum) *text box allows 480*

Leadership & Values

450 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2. Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (Text box, 450 words maximum) *text box allows 480*

Video Essay (Impromptu)

Other | All Applicants

Information via Kellogg’s Application Requirements page. See “Essays” > “Video Essays”

We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words.

The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

Some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

  • Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
  • A video essay link will appear on your Application Status Page after you submit your application and payment.
  • You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone.
  • The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup.

Here are some additional tips:

  • There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience to help you prepare.
  • We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions.
  • You will have a brief moment to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.

Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only
How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (Text box, approximately 250 words) *text box allows 280 words*

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants
We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (Text box, 280 words maximum)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Career Goal Questions (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Please tell us about your career goals. You’ll also have the opportunity to expand on this in other parts of the evaluation process.

    Industry desired after Kellogg (Dropdown menu)
    Functional area desired after Kellogg (Dropdown menu)
  1. Share with us the motivations behind your desired industry/function after graduating from Kellogg. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)
  2. What does a successful career look like five years after you graduate from Kellogg? (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

Resume

Other | All Applicants

Please upload your resume. (Upload file)

Kellogg Future Leaders 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Kellogg Future Leaders (Deferred admission) application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Pre-MBA Job Plan

Career Goal | All Applicants

Please share how you intend to spend the next few years prior to joining Kellogg. (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants
  1. Share with us the motivations behind your desired industry/function after graduating from Kellogg.(Text box, 500 characters maximum)
  2. What does a successful career look like five years after you graduate from Kellogg? (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals/Why Kellogg?

Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (Text box, 450 words maximum) *text box allows 480*

(Previous year’s prompt) Leadership and Values

Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2. Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (Text box, 450 words maximum) *text box allows 480*

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information. We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (Text box, 280 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Essay (Impromptu)

Other | All Applicants

Information via Kellogg’s Application Requirements page. See “Essays” > “Video Essays”

We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why Kellogg is the right place for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

  • Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
  • A video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment.
  • You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone
  • The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup.

After submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page.

Here are some additional tips:

  • There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool to help you feel prepared.
  • We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions.
  • You will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.

Kellogg JD/MBA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Kellogg’s JD/MBA application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on June 24, 2025.

Start your application here: https://admissions.kellogg.northwestern.edu/apply/

Resume

Other | All Applicants

Please upload your resume (Upload file, no word limit)

Career Goal 1 (Short answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Share with us the motivations behind your desired industry/function after graduating from Kellogg. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

Career Goal 2 (Short answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants
What does a successful career look like five years after you graduate from Kellogg? (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

Essay 1

450 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (Text box, 450 words maximum)

Essay 2

450 words | Behavioral | All Applicants
Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (Text box, 450 words maximum)

Essay 3: JD-MBA essay

250 words | Career Goal | All Applicants
Why is the JD-MBA Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Reapplicant essay

250 words | Other | Reapplicants Only
How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (Text box, approximately 250 words, text box allows for 280 words)

Additional information

Optional | All Applicants

We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (Text box, 280 words maximum)

Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Stanford’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on June 18, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/apply/

Short Answer 1: Intentions

250 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Describe your short term and long term academic and professional intentions. (Text box, 250 word limit)

Short Answer 2: Tell us when…

250 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Please tell us when you:

  • Engaged with someone with a different perspective
  • Acted with courage
  • Fell short of expectations
(3 Text boxes, Combined Word Count out of 250 words maximum)

Short Answer 3: Improbable Facts

150 words | Other | All Applicants
Please tell us eight improbable facts about you. These could include: facts that people wouldn’t expect to be true and/or facts that others are surprised to learn about you. (8 Text boxes, Combined Word Count of 150 words maximum)

Personal Story

550 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Connect the dots. How have the influences in your life shaped you? (Text box, 550 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

One Last Thing.

While we believe that we get to know you well through your application, we recognize that no application can fully capture all elements of your life.

You may use the space below to share essential information not conveyed elsewhere in your application (e.g., a factor affecting your academic performance).

Do not include essays, additional recommendation letters, portfolios, etc.

(Text box, 750 characters maximum)

LBS 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s London Business School application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in August 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay Question 1. What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these? (500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) What makes you unique?

Personal Story | All Applicants

Essay Question 2: What makes you unique? (200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Essay Question 3: (Optional) Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School? (500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Current Employment Questions (Short Answer)

Other | All Applicants

Current employment.

1. What’s your organisation’s main area of activity? (Text box, no word limit)



2. Tell us about your responsibilities. Describe your day-to-day role, details of any clients you work with/for, the level/title of the person you report to, the size of budget for which you are directly responsible and the number of people in your team. (Text box, 400 words max)*


3. Reason for taking on this role (Text box, 255 characters maximum)*


4. If you are currently not working, or if you plan to leave your current employer more than three months before the programme starts, please explain your activities between leaving your last role and the start of the programme (Text box, 300 words maximum)


5. Is your employer willing to support you? In what way – time, tuition, or both? (Text box, no word limit)


(Previous year’s prompt) English-speaking environment

Other | All Applicants

English language ability. Please outline your experience of working or studying in an English-speaking environment. Do you plan to take further English language tuition before the programme starts? (Text box, 300 words max)

(Previous year’s prompt) Academic Performance

Other | All Applicants

1. List any academic honours, award, or scholarships previously received. (Text box, no word limit)



2. Do you feel that your academic performance so far gives an accurate indication of your potential for success on the programme? If so, why? If not, why not? (Text box, no word limit)*


3. Have you ever received formal disciplinary action from an academic institution, been forced to withdraw from a course of study, or failed to graduate? If so, you must declare that information here. (Text box, no word limit)*

(Previous year’s prompt) International Experience

Other | All Applicants

Please tell us your most significant international experiences to date. (Text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Interests & Activities

300 words | Other | All Applicants

Tell us about your main interests and activities in your free time. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Attended an event

Other | All Applicants

Have you attended an event on or off campus, or online where you met with representatives from the school? If yes, please tell us when, where and who you met (Text box, 100 words max).

(Previous year’s prompt) Impact of MBA on Family/Friends

300 words | Other | All Applicants

We encourage applicants to take into consideration the impact of study on family and friends. Who have you discussed your plans with and what was the response? (Text box, 300 words max)

(Previous year’s prompt) LBS Students/Alumni

300 words | Other | All Applicants

If you know any London Business School Alumni or Students, please give their names, graduating class and tell us how you know them. (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

For Reapplicants only. How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please comment on how you have grown personally and preofessionally. (300 words maximum)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

Begin drafting and writing your essays, as per essay questions below.


Question 1. (500 words) What are your post-MBA goals and how will your prior experience and the London Business School programme contribute towards these?


Question 2. (200 words) What makes you unique?


Question 3. (500 words) (This question is optional) Is there any other information you believe the Admissions Committee should know about you and your application to London Business School?


https://www.london.edu/masters-degrees/mba/apply

McCombs 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s McCombs application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Ambitious Goal or Change

Career Goal | All Applicants

Short Answer Prompt 1. At Texas McCombs, we do things a little differently. We embrace those who take the initiative and forge new paths. What ambitious goal or change do you aim to achieve with an MBA, and why is Texas McCombs your ideal launch pad? (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Unique Qualities

Personal Story | All Applicants

Short Answer Prompt 2. Here, you are what’s next. At this pivotal crossroads where you’re deciding your future path, the Texas McCombs MBA experience will equip you with the tools and mindset to make “what’s next” happen in your career. Please share unique qualities you possess that highlight your potential to shake up the status quo in your professional life. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Lead Change

Behavioral | All Applicants

Short Answer Prompt 3. The University of Texas at Austin’s motto, “What starts here changes the world,” embodies a spirit of impact and transformation. What fuels your drive to lead change and make your mark in the world? (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Optional Statement. Please explain any gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, and/or academic performance issues that may help the admission committee in reviewing your application. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Assessment

Other | All Applicants

All applicants will be required to complete the Video Assessment shortly after submitting their application and paying the fee. Applicants have 7 days to complete the assessment upon receiving access to the video submission platform. There will be 4 question prompts and applicants will have 90 seconds to answer each prompt.

Learn more on our MBA Insider Blog.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

The following prompts can be found in the Employment History section of the McCombs application portal:


  • Self-Characterization: Choose one… Career Enhancer, Career Explorer, Career Switcher, Career Entrepreneur
  • Short-term: Immediately after graduation, what are your short-term career goals? (Text box, 140 characters maximum)
  • Long-term: Ten years and beyond graduation, what are your long-term career goals? (Text box, 140 characters maximum)


McDonough Executive MBA 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants
Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s McDonough Executive MBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.


(Previous year’s prompt) Select a Prompt

Personal Story | All Applicants

Our goal at Georgetown McDonough is to craft a diverse class of students with varying personal and professional life experiences. As such, we want to give our applicants the opportunity to select an essay prompt that best showcases their experiences, characteristics, and value proposition that they can bring to the McDonough community.


Essay Options: Please select one of the following essay options:

  1. Option 1: Tell us something that is not on your resume.
  2. Option 2: Describe your proudest accomplishment. (This can be a personal, professional, or academic accomplishment)
  3. Option 3: Choose a quotation that defines you and explain why. (Please clearly state the quotation you’re referencing)
Essay Guidelines:


  • The essay should be double-spaced using 12 pt. font and not exceed 500 words.
  • Prepare your attachments offline in separate document files and upload them individually.
  • Please follow the instructions regarding length of each attachment, and label each page with your name.
  • Georgetown McDonough pride’s itself on honesty and integrity. Plagiarism is not tolerated and the Executive and Specialized Degree Programs office reserves the right to deny applicants or rescind admission if plagiarism is found.

(Upload file)


(Previous year’s prompt) Video Essay (Optional)

1-minute | Other | All Applicants

Video Essay Prompt: Please introduce yourself to your future cohort members.

In a one-minute video, describe the most unique and compelling aspects of yourself that you’d like to share with your future classmates. (Hint: one minute goes fast! We already have your resume and goals – share something new!) Use this video as an opportunity to bring life to your application.

The video essay provides personalization to your application along with demonstrating how you present yourself to the Admissions Committee. We encourage you to appear in front of the camera throughout your video essay and discourage you from including other speakers. When reviewing your video essay, the Admissions Committee will consider your verbal communication skills along with the content of the essay itself.

(Previous year’s prompt) Scholarship Essay (Optional)

Other | All Applicants

Our program offers merit-based scholarships. Applicants interested in being considered for a merit-based program scholarship must include a scholarship essay with their applications. The Admissions Committee will typically release scholarship award notifications with their admissions decision.


Scholarship Essay Prompt: For scholarship consideration, please explain what unique values and perspectives you will bring to the program.


(Previous year’s prompt) Diversity Essay (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

Optional Statement (Diversity, Personal Background, and Contributions): As Georgetown is a diverse, global community, we encourage you to upload a brief statement of up to 500 words to help the Admissions Committee understand the contribution your personal background and individual experiences would make to our community. As appropriate, you may wish to address any educational, familial, cultural, economic, and social experiences that have helped to shape your educational and professional goals; or how your background (e.g., first-generation student, resident outside the U.S.) or activities (e.g., community service and leadership) will contribute to the diversity of perspectives and ideas at Georgetown University.

(Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Information (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information: Please provide any information you would like to add that you have not otherwise included in other sections of your application. For example, you can use this space to describe inconsistent academic performance, gaps in employment, or any other relevant information.

(Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Re-Applicant Essay Prompt: How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally. (Upload file)


Essay Guidelines:

  • The essay should be double-spaced using 12 pt. font with 300 words or less.
  • Prepare your attachments offline in separate document files and upload them individually.
  • Please follow the instructions regarding length of each attachment, and label each page with your name.
  • Georgetown McDonough pride’s itself on honesty and integrity. Plagiarism is not tolerated and the Executive and Specialized Degree Programs office reserves the right to deny applicants or rescind admission if plagiarism is found.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants
  1. What is your short-term goal following graduation from the Georgetown McDonough School of Business? (Text box, 1-2 sentences).
  2. What is your long-term goal following graduation from the Georgetown McDonough School of Business? (Text box, 1-2 sentences).

MIT Sloan 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s MIT Sloan application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Cover Letter

300 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and can be addressed to:

Admissions Committee
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142

(Upload file, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Resume

One page | Other | All Applicants

Please submit a one-page resume. This will help us easily track your academic and career path. Try to focus on your work results, not just your title or job description.

Provide the following information in reverse chronological order:

  • Education: Please include relevant awards, scholarships and professional societies
  • Work Experience: Please include company name, title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skill set, and dates
  • Additional information: Please include extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests, and languages spoken (if applicable)

(Upload file, one page)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Statement (Prepared)

1-minute video | Personal Story | All Applicants

Video Question 1. Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • Speaking directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles

Note: While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared beyond the admissions committee and is for use in the application process only.

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Question (Impromptu)

Other | All Applicants

Note: This prompt only appears in the MIT Sloan application portal once about 80% of the information in the application has been completed. It will not be present beforehand.


Video Question 2. All applicants must submit a brief video statement responding to a personalized question posed by the Admissions Committee. You will need to use an internet-connected computer, with a webcam and microphone. As part of the application review, the Admission Committee will evaluate your response to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. The simple, open-ended question is designed to help us get to know you better and will not require prior preparation.

(Previous year’s prompt) Organizational Chart

2 pages | Other | All Applicants

Our goal is to learn about you and your professional background. Your current employer’s organizational chart will help us better understand the role you play within your organization, who you report to, and the impact you might have on your department or company.
Some important details:

  • Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.
  • Please circle your role in red so that your position is easily identifiable.
  • Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.
  • If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.
  • If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our FAQs for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.
Please upload an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your place of employment. Limit to two pages.

(Upload file, two pages maximum)

Click here to view a sample organizational chart.

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional References

Other | All Applicants

We want to make sure we give you the best chance to show us your strengths. If we still have questions after reading your application, we might reach out to your additional references. Similar to your recommender, these additional reference contacts should be able to speak to your professional and/or academic background.


Some important details:

  • All MBA applicants must provide contact information for two additional references.
  • References should be different from your recommender.
  • Please enter the names and contact information (phone and email) for each additional reference as well as where they work and their relationship to you.
  • If the Admissions Committee wishes to contact any of your references, we will reach out directly to the reference to set up a mutually convenient time to talk.


(Text boxes to fill in:

*Prefix

*First Name

*Last Name

*Organization

*Position/Title

*Relationship

*Telephone

*Email

*Is this reference proficient with speaking English? Y/N)

(Previous year’s prompt) Background (Short Answer Question)

Personal Story | All Applicants

The Admissions Committee is excited to learn more about you and your background. Please respond to the following short answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background.

(Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Please let us know what’s changed since you last applied. (Text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

Video Question 1

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!


Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • Speaking directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles


Note: While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared beyond the admissions committee and is for use in the application process only.


Video Question 2

All MBA applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question. The question is designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess fit with the MIT Sloan culture. It does not require prior preparation.


Video Essay 2 is part of your required application materials and will appear as a page within the application, once the other parts of your application are completed. Applicants are given 10 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response.


The following are examples of questions that may be asked in the Video Question 2:

  • What achievement are you most proud of and why?
  • Tell us about a time a classmate or colleague wasn’t contributing to a group project. What did you do?


https://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/admissions/how-to-apply

Ross 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Ross application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Action-Based Learning

300 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Part 1: Ross Action-Based Learning

At Michigan Ross, we believe the best way to learn is by doing. In our Full-Time MBA Program, you will put your skills and knowledge to the test in real-world situations with real stakes.


How will this learning environment benefit you, and how do you plan to contribute to the action-based learning experience? (Upload file, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Impact

Personal Story | All Applicants

Part 2: How will you make an impact at Michigan Ross?


Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Please choose 1 of the following prompts to tell us more about what makes you stand out beyond your academic and work experience. List the prompt you are answering at the top of your response. (Upload file, 200 words maximum)

  • What makes you unique?
  • Can you provide a specific example of how you’ve overcome a personal challenge?
  • What makes you excited to get up each morning?
  • Describe a time when you made a difference in your community or with an individual.

(Previous year’s prompt) Short-term Career Goal

150 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Part 3: Career Aspirations


What is your short-term career goal, and how will Ross help you achieve it? (Upload file, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? Appropriate uses of this essay would be the explanation of an employment gap, academic outliers, choice of recommender, completion of supplemental coursework, etc. You may use bullet points where appropriate. (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

200 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

Please share any updates or changes since you last submitted your application you would like us to consider. (Upload file, 200 words maximum)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

Part 1: Career Aspirations

What is your short-term career goal, and how will Ross’ philosophy in Action-Based Learning help you achieve it? Please be specific. Please answer both parts of this question. (300 words)


Part 2: How will you make an impact at Michigan Ross?

Michigan Ross is proud to support a community of leaders and impact makers. As a future member of this community, we want to know more about who you are and what drives you. Please choose 1 of the following prompts to tell us more about what makes you stand out beyond your academic and work experience. List the prompt you are answering at the top of your response. (200 words)

  • What makes you unique?
  • Can you provide a specific example of how you’ve overcome a personal challenge?
  • What makes you excited to get up each morning?
  • Describe a time when you made a difference in your community or with an individual.


Optional Essay

Is there something in your resume or application that needs a brief explanation? Appropriate uses of this essay would be the explanation of an employment gap, academic outliers, choice of recommender, completion of supplemental coursework, etc. You may use bullet points where appropriate. (250 words)


https://michiganross.umich.edu/graduate/full-time-…

Saïd 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Saïd application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in August 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Statement

Other | All Applicants

Personal Statement (please provide a personal statement that outlines anything additional that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider)

(Upload file, Maximum 250 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Re-applicants only: What improvements have you made in your candidacy since you last applied to the Oxford MBA? (Upload file, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Online Assessment

Other | All Applicants

You will need to complete four questions via our online assessment platform.

  • To virtually meet you, get a sense of your personality and see how you think on your feet, you will need to complete an online assessment as part of your application. You will be asked to answer three competency-based questions – this will be randomised
  • The competency-based question lets you demonstrate certain leadership the skills and qualities we look for, such as integrity, vision, self-awareness, decisiveness and collaboration.
  • Once you have submitted your application for either the Oxford MBA or Oxford 1+1 MBA you will see a link in your application status portal. This will enable you to register with Kira Talent, our online assessment platform, and complete your assessment. This link will appear up to 24 hours after submitting your application, therefore we strongly encourage you to leave yourself enough time to practice and complete the online assessment by the deadline in which you are applying.
  • You will be provided with preparation time and practice sessions before going live with your real responses. The whole online assessment should only take up to 30 minutes for you to complete. All you need is a desktop or laptop computer with a functioning webcam, microphone and internet connection.

(Previous year’s prompt) Current Role

Other | All Applicants

Employment History. If you are in full-time employment, define your current role.

Please list your main responsibilities, your most significant challenges and greatest achievement. (text box, 5000 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-MBA Plans: Option 1 “Employment”

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-MBA Plans – Option 1 “Employment”.

i.e. working as an employee of a company or partnership, for which you will be paid a salary and other benefits, but in which you would not hold any significant shareholding. This could include returning to your current employer.

  • Describe below your immediate plan after graduating from the MBA: (text box, 1250 characters)
  • How does your preferred sector in your preferred location recruit MBA talent and what do they look for in a candidate? Describe the research you have done so far. (text box, 1250 characters)
  • Reflecting on your answers above, how do you meet these requirements and what obstacles stand as barriers? (text box, 1250 characters)
  • What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success? (text box, 1250 characters)
  • Should you not be successful in securing your first choice of role, what is your alternative? (text box, 1250 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-MBA Plans: Option 2 “Entrepreneurship”

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-MBA Plans – Option 2 “Entrepreneurship”.

  • Describe your business idea including details of your business plan and the steps you have taken so far to develop or launch your business idea.
  • (text box, 1250 characters)
  • How will the MBA help you start, or further develop, your own business? (text box, 1250 characters)
  • What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success? (text box, 1250 characters)
  • Should you not be successful in developing or launching your own business, what is your alternative? (text box, 1250 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-MBA Plans: Option 3 “Family Business”

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-MBA Plans – Option 3 “Family Business”.

  • Describe the scale and scope of your family business. (text box, 1250 characters)
  • What role do you currently play in the business. (text box, 1250 characters)
  • Describe the main differences between the role that you hold now and the role that you’ll be occupying once you return. (text box, 1250 characters)
  • What are your immediate future plans for developing the family business? Describe how the MBA will help you achieve them. (text box, 1250 characters)
  • What do you plan to do between now and starting your MBA to prepare and maximise your chances of success. (text box, 1250 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-MBA Plans: Option 5 “Returning to current employer”

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-MBA Plans – Option 5 “Returning to current employer”.

Describe the role you will be returning to and provide any other pertinent information. (text box, 1250 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-MBA Plans: Option 4 “Other”

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-MBA Plans – Option 4 “Other”.

  • Describe your plan after graduating from the MBA. (text box, 1250 characters)
  • How does the MBA fit in your plans and how will it enhance your short-term direction? (text box, 1250 characters)
  • How will you develop your career goals before starting your MBA? (text box, 1250 characters)
  • What research have you already conducted? What further research will you do?(text box, 1250 characters)
  • How will the MBA help equip you for the future? (text box, 1250 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) CV

Other | All Applicants

You should have at least two years of previous full-time work experience, detailed on a 1 page CV. Please use the following template as a guideline to provide a comprehensive 1 page CV.

Saïd Executive MBA Jan 2026 Enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Oxford Saïd EMBA application for January 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on June 24, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.sbs.ox.ac.uk/apply/

Professional Qualifications (Short answer)

Other | All Applicants

Please provide information regarding any relevant professional qualifications that you hold including the professional firm or educational institution attended, qualification, subject, year achieved and result. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

AND

Please upload any certificates relevant to your professional qualifications. (Upload file, no word limit)

Current role (Short answer)

1250 characters | Other | All Applicants

Define your current role. Please list your main responsibilities, your most significant challenges and greatest achievement. (Text box, 1250 characters maximum)

CV

Other | All Applicants

Please provide an up-to-date copy of your CV. You may find this optional CV template useful to help you set out the relevant information. (Upload file, no word limit)

Career objectives

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. Please outline your career objectives and explain how the Executive MBA would help you achieve them. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Who you are

500 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2. If we asked your closest associates to describe you, what would they say? Which adjectives would they use and why? What would they say are your strengths and weaknesses? (Upload file, 500 words suggested)

Organisational action plans

2000 | Other | All Applicants

Describe an aspect of your organisation which could be viewed as ‘problematic’. Briefly outline three different action plans which could be implemented to deal with the issues involved, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each. (Upload file, 2000 words suggested)

Video essay

2 minutes | Other | All Applicants

As part of your application, you must submit a video essay that complements your written essay 3. Before recording your video essay you will need to submit the following essay on the Essays page:

Essay 3: Describe an aspect of your organisation which could be viewed as ‘problematic’. Briefly outline three different action plans which could be implemented to deal with the issues involved, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each. * Suggested 2,000 words

In your video essay you will present and pitch for up to two minutes on the three action plans you have outlined and explain which action plan is the best solution for the problem you have addressed, as though you are presenting this to senior leaders within the organisation.

To submit the video essay follow these steps:

1) Write essay three and upload to the Essays page. The essay question is:

Essay 3: Describe an aspect of your organisation which could be viewed as ‘problematic’. Briefly outline three different action plans which could be implemented to deal with the issues involved, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each. * Suggested 2,000 words

2) Select below to begin your video recording. You will first be required to test your camera and microphone to confirm both are working. Once you confirm you will have 20 seconds preparation time before recording your video essay.

3) Once you start recording your pitch you will have up to two minutes to describe the issue, present the three action plans and conclude which action plan is the most effective solution.


(Live recording in the application portal)

Saïd Executive MBA Sep 2026 Enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Oxford Saïd EMBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely during the summer 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Professional Qualifications (Short answer)

Other | All Applicants

Please provide information regarding any relevant professional qualifications that you hold including the professional firm or educational institution attended, qualification, subject, year achieved and result. (Text box, 500 characters maximum)

AND

Please upload any certificates relevant to your professional qualifications. (Upload file, no word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Current role (Short answer)

1250 characters | Other | All Applicants

Define your current role. Please list your main responsibilities, your most significant challenges and greatest achievement. (Text box, 1250 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) CV

Other | All Applicants

Please provide an up-to-date copy of your CV. You may find this optional CV template useful to help you set out the relevant information. (Upload file, no word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career objectives

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. Please outline your career objectives and explain how the Executive MBA would help you achieve them. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Who you are

500 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2. If we asked your closest associates to describe you, what would they say? Which adjectives would they use and why? What would they say are your strengths and weaknesses? (Upload file, 500 words suggested)

(Previous year’s prompt) Organisational action plans

2000 | Other | All Applicants

Describe an aspect of your organisation which could be viewed as ‘problematic’. Briefly outline three different action plans which could be implemented to deal with the issues involved, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each. (Upload file, 2000 words suggested)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video essay

2 minutes | Other | All Applicants

As part of your application, you must submit a video essay that complements your written essay 3. Before recording your video essay you will need to submit the following essay on the Essays page:

Essay 3: Describe an aspect of your organisation which could be viewed as ‘problematic’. Briefly outline three different action plans which could be implemented to deal with the issues involved, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each. * Suggested 2,000 words

In your video essay you will present and pitch for up to two minutes on the three action plans you have outlined and explain which action plan is the best solution for the problem you have addressed, as though you are presenting this to senior leaders within the organisation.

To submit the video essay follow these steps:

1) Write essay three and upload to the Essays page. The essay question is:

Essay 3: Describe an aspect of your organisation which could be viewed as ‘problematic’. Briefly outline three different action plans which could be implemented to deal with the issues involved, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each. * Suggested 2,000 words

2) Select below to begin your video recording. You will first be required to test your camera and microphone to confirm both are working. Once you confirm you will have 20 seconds preparation time before recording your video essay.

3) Once you start recording your pitch you will have up to two minutes to describe the issue, present the three action plans and conclude which action plan is the most effective solution.


(Live recording in the application portal)

SDA Bocconi 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s SDA Bocconi application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely during the summer of 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) ​Professional data

Other | All Applicants

Previous professional experience (starting with the most recent) (dropdown and fields)

AND

Curriculum vitae (upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Free time

Personal Story | All Applicants

What interests and occupations do you pursue in your free time? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) University Studies

Other | All Applicants

What do you think you gained from your university studies? Conversely, what important things do you think your studies lacked? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Goals

Personal Story | All Applicants

Explain the most significant goals you think you have achieved so far and the reasons for their importance in your personal growth (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Strengths

Behavioral | All Applicants

Describe your strong points, personal and professional, explaining why you see them as such (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Weaknesses

Behavioral | All Applicants

Describe your weak points, personal and professional, explaining why you see them as such (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Why now?

Other | All Applicants

What are the reasons that lead you to apply to the Program at this point in your life? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Other Possible Goals

Other | All Applicants

What other possibilities have you seriously considered, apart from the Program, for reaching your goals of personal and professional growth? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-MBA location?

Career Goal | All Applicants

Where do you wish to pursue your profession after receiving the MBA?


Where? (dropdown, “Italy”, “My home country” or “Abroad”)

Why? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Short-term Professional Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your short-term professional goals (within the next 3-5 years)? What other options are you considering/have you considered? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Long-term Professional Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your long-term professional goals? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) How will you finance your studies?

Other | All Applicants

How do you expect to finance your Program studies? (text box, 280 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video

Other | All Applicants

Video pre-interview:

https://admissions-help-files.unibocconi.it/eng_2025_MBA_preinterview.pdf

Sloan (MIT) EMBA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s MIT Sloan EMBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Professional Summary

Other | All Applicants

To assist your classmates, professors, and the MIT Executive MBA staff in getting to know you, please provide a paragraph of up to five sentences summarizing your background and work experience. You may include information about your current company and position, previous experience, education, personal interests, and/or family. (Text box, 100 words maximum)

Tips:

  • Write in third person perspective.
  • Write in complete sentences.
  • See our Student Profiles for examples.

(Previous year’s prompt) Organizational Chart

Other | All Applicants

Please upload a current organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your department and company. Please limit submissions to two pages or less. (upload file)

Note: We should be able to see your line of reporting to the top of your organization, and easily find you, your peers, your direct supervisor, their peers, and your direct reports, as well as any other recommenders from your current organization. You may choose to create your own document or redact individuals’ names. However, please provide as much information as possible.

Example Organizational Chart
Example Organizational Chart 2

(Previous year’s prompt) Resume

Other | All Applicants

Please submit a resume, between one and two pages in length. This will help us easily track your academic and career paths. Focus on your work results, not just your title or job description.


Here are some pointers on formatting:

  • Two-page limit
  • No smaller than size 10 font
  • Word or PDF formats only


Provide the following information in reverse chronological order:

  • Education: Please include relevant dates, awards, scholarships and professional societies
  • Work Experience: Please include company name, your title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skill set, and dates
  • Additional Information: Please include activities, community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests, and languages spoken (if applicable)


(Upload file, 2 pages)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Employment Information (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

Employment History. Additional Information (Optional).

You may use this space to explain anything that may be unclear to us about the information on this page (e.g., extenuating circumstances, gaps in employment, complex organizational structure, etc.). (text box, 100 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Academic Information (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

You may use this space to briefly explain or expand upon your academic history and transcripts (e.g., low grades, lack of degree or quantitative courses, etc.). (text box, 100 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) General Management Experience

Other | All Applicants

General Managers are individuals responsible for strategy, budget, and work output from both individuals and teams for at least one function of an organization, with the ability to see the big picture across functions. They participate making in short-term and long-term strategy decisions and work cross-functionally to achieve specific goals or strategies.


Please describe your General Management experience. Cite a recent example that demonstrates your general managerial perspective. (Text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Principled Leadership

Behavioral | All Applicants

The educational mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management, “to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice,” has never been more important.


Describe a principle that motivates you in your life and career. How have you put this principle into practice? (Text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your immediate and long-term professional objectives and what do you need to achieve them? (text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Why Now?

Other | All Applicants

Why is this the right time to pursue the MIT Executive MBA? (text box, 100 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Leading Others Through Adversity

Behavioral | All Applicants

Tell us what you learned about your strengths and weaknesses as a leader during a recent challenging period for your team. (text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Leading Within a Diverse Environment

Behavioral | All Applicants

The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practices. Graduates are expected to lead in a global and diverse environment, with the ability to navigate and manage diversity across roles, industries, identities, and perspectives. Our selection process is designed to identify individuals equipped to lead in these complex and dynamic contexts.

Please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse. (text box, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Innovation and Impact

Behavioral | All Applicants

Please tell us about a time when you introduced a new idea that changed the way in which your organization approached a business challenge or opportunity. What factors did you consider, what barriers or obstacles did you face, and how did you measure success? (text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Information (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

Here you may provide any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to know that may be helpful in evaluating your candidacy. For example:

  • How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.
  • Would additional context help the committee to understand the significance of an honor or award from your resume?
  • What would you like to tell us about your hobbies or non-profit work?
  • Is there anything else you want to share?

(Text box, 200 words maximum)


Here you may share additional information in a more visual format by uploading a PDF (e.g., pictures of something you made, a magazine article, etc.).

  • Please limit the number of pages.
  • We are not able to follow links to other websites.

(File upload, 4 pages maximum)

Stanford GSB 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Stanford’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on June 16, 2025.

Start your application here: https://applymbamsx.stanford.edu/apply/

Background Mini-Essay

800 characters | Behavioral | All Applicants

Additional Context. We know that each person is more than a list of facts or predefined categories. With this space, we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (Text box, 800 characters maximum)

Career Goal (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Post-GSB Aspirations. Briefly share your short- and long-term professional aspirations after graduating from Stanford GSB. (Text box, 100 characters maximum)

What matters most?

650 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?


For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives? (Text box, 650 words maximum)

Why Stanford?

350 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay B: Why Stanford?


Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. (Text box, 350 words maximum)

Impact Mini-Essays

1200 characters | Behavioral | All Applicants

Think about a time in the last five years when you’ve created a significant positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, civic, or academic settings. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the impact? (Text box, 1200 characters maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information. We are deliberate in the questions we ask. We believe that we get to know you well through all of the elements of your application. Complete this section only if you have critical information you could not convey elsewhere on your application (e.g., extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance). This section should not be used as an additional essay. (Text box, 1200 characters maximum)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Stanford GSB Deferred 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Stanford GSB Deferred application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Background Mini Essay

Behavioral | All Applicants

Personal Information: Additional Context. We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. With this question we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (text box, max 1200 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goal (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your plans between graduation and enrollment at Stanford GSB? (text box, 255 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Coursework

Other | All Applicants

If you have completed or are in the process of completing any additional coursework not shown on your transcripts (e.g., professional certifications, MBA prep classes, English enrichment classes, etc.), provide relevant information here. (text box, 320 characters remaining)

(Previous year’s prompt) Post-GSB Aspirations

Career Goal | All Applicants

Briefly share your short- and long-term professional aspirations after graduating from Stanford GSB. (text box, 255 characters)

(Previous year’s prompt) What matters most?

Personal Story | All Applicants

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives? (upload file, 650 words)


(Previous year’s prompt) Why Stanford?

Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. (upload file, 350 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Impact Mini Essays (Optional)

Behavioral | All Applicants

Optional Short-answer question: Think about a time in the last few years when you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

*If you would like to discuss your contributions more fully, this section is the place to do so. Perhaps you would like to expand upon a bullet item from your resume and tell us more about the “how” or “why” behind the “what.” Or maybe you have had an impact in a way that doesn’t fit neatly in another part of the application. You are welcome to share up to three examples (text box, up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).

  • Check here to add another example
    (text box, 1200 characters remaining)
  • Check here to add another example
    (text box, 1200 characters remaining)

(Previous year’s prompt) Additional Information

Other | All Applicants

Additional Information. We are deliberate in the questions we ask. We believe that we get to know you well through all of the elements of your application. Complete this section only if you have critical information you could not convey elsewhere on your application (e.g., extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance). This section is not meant to be used as an additional essay. (upload file, 1200 characters remaining)

(Previous year’s prompt) Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Stanford JD/MBA 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Stanford JD application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle.


You may apply in any round for this joint degree program. If you wish to pursue a joint or dual degree, you must specify your interest in the “Application Information” section of the application by selecting the desired joint or dual degree program from a drop-down menu.

You must apply separately, and be admitted, to both the Stanford Law School (SLS) and Stanford GSB. For your Stanford GSB application, use Essay B to support your rationale for pursuing this joint degree.

If you are currently a JD student, you only need to submit your application to Stanford GSB for the MBA program. Conversely, if you are currently an MBA student, you only need to submit your application to SLS for the JD program.

If you are admitted to both programs, you may start your studies at either the SLS or Stanford GSB. Most JD/MBA students start at the SLS.

https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/programs/mba/academic-experience/joint-dual-degrees/jd


(Previous year’s prompt) Résumé

Other | All Applicants

Please attach a résumé describing your academic, extracurricular, and professional activities. The résumé must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Please do not include a photo. (Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Statement

Personal Story | All Applicants

Please describe what aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Law School. The personal statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application. Your statement should be approximately two pages in length. (Upload file, 1-2 pages)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

At Stanford Law School, we value the ability to communicate constructively across differences – even when the stakes are high or the differences significant. Please discuss a time when you encountered a viewpoint that contrasted with your own and explain how you responded. Would you do anything different if the same thing happened today? Your essay should be approximately one-to-two pages in length. (Upload file, 1-2 pages)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Short Essays

Optional | All Applicants

If you think these optional short essays could help us get a better sense of who you are, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to no more than two of the following questions. Note that there is a 100 to 250-word limit for each question.


  • If you could sit and chat with anyone, living or from any time in history, who would you chat with? What’s one question you’d ask? Why?
  • You’re given the opportunity to teach a one-day class to your fellow students at Stanford Law School. Based on your particular skills and talents, what would you teach?
  • The library in the town where you grew up has been destroyed. Choose three books to contribute to rebuilding the library’s collection.
  • Music has a way of setting tone and mood for any occasion. With this in mind, pick three songs or musical works to be playing in the background as the Admissions Committee reviews your materials.
(Upload file, 100-250 words per question)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Addenda

Optional | All Applicants
If you wish to provide additional and relevant information that is not explained in the required application materials, please attach a brief statement. (Upload file)

(Previous year’s prompt) Character & Fitness

Behavioral | All Applicants

If your answer to any of these questions below is “Yes,” please attach an explanatory statement with your electronic application. Prior to matriculation, you will be required to submit documentation from each school attended attesting to your good standing.

Character and Fitness questions

  1. Have you ever at any college or university been in other than good standing because of academic deficiencies, been sanctioned for misconduct, or been the subject of disciplinary proceedings?
  2. Have you ever been convicted of, or is any charge now pending against you for any crime other than a traffic violation?
  3. Have you ever been subject to discipline by a professional organization?
(Upload file)

Stern 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

NYU Stern’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 8, 2025.

Start your application here: https://admissions.stern.nyu.edu/apply/

Professional Aspirations

150 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your short-term career goals? (Upload file, 150 words maximum)

Change: _____ it.

350 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Change: Dare It. Dream It. Drive It. In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____ it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern? Examples:

  • Change: Dare it.
  • Change: Dream it.
  • Change: Drive it.
  • Change: Empower it.
  • Change: Manifest it.
  • Change: [Any word of your choice.]

(Upload file, 350 words maximum)

Personal Expression: “Pick Six”

Personal Story | All Applicants

Introduce yourself to the Admissions Committee and to your future classmates using six images and corresponding captions. The Pick Six is a way to share more about the qualities you will bring to the Stern community, beyond your professional and academic achievements. Your uploaded PDF should contain all of the following elements:

  • A brief introduction or overview of your “Pick Six” (no more than 3 sentences).
  • Six images that help illustrate your interests, values, motivations, perspective and/or personality.
  • A one-sentence caption for each of the six images that helps explain why they were selected and are significant to you.
Note: Your visuals may include photos, infographics, drawings, or any other images that best describe you. Your document must be uploaded as a single PDF. The essay cannot be sent in physical form or be linked to a website.


(Upload file)

Additional Information (optional)

Optional | First-time Applicants Only

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake a standardized test or English proficiency test, or any other relevant information.

If you are a reapplicant, please utilize this optional essay to highlight any changes since your last application.

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Additional Information – Reapplicant Essay

500 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

Additional Information (optional)

Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee and/or give context to your application. This may include important aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, including but not limited to: hardships you have encountered, current or past gaps in employment, further explanation of your undergraduate record or self-reported academic transcript(s), plans to retake a standardized test or English proficiency test, or any other relevant information.


If you are a reapplicant, please utilize this optional essay to highlight any changes since your last application.


(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Resume/CV

Other | All Applicants

Provide a current resume, including professional and educational information.

The file must be in Word or PDF format. (Upload file)

Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Tepper 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s CMU Tepper application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Essay: Career Goals (Impromptu)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Now, let’s hear directly from you! We know that your career goals are an important part of your decision to attend business school, and we are excited to hear them. Please describe your Post-MBA career goals. You have up to 2 minutes to respond to this question.

Please consider the following information in your response:
  • Please be as specific as possible. If you have not yet identified specific companies, that is okay. Just tell us what interests you for your next role or company. What about the industry, company, or functional role is appealing to you?
  • If you have any criteria you are using to evaluate career opportunities, please share those as well. We may have great opportunities to add to your list.
  • How does this post-MBA career goal relate to your long-term career plan?
Pro Tip: While we have titled this a video essay, we prefer you to answer this prompt like a live question. We do want you to think about your response and likely write down some of the points you would like to communicate. However, the best responses are not reading your essay on camera.

(Previous year’s prompt) Philosophy on Helping Others

500 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

The Tepper School community is committed to helping students reach their full potential. Explain your philosophy on helping others achieve their full potential. How have you implemented this philosophy in your professional life, and what impact has it had on those around you? How will this philosophy influence your approach to leadership in the Tepper MBA program and beyond?

(Upload file, 500 words maximum. Double spaced, 12-point font.)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Is there anything else that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you should not feel obligated to answer this question. This essay is intended to provide a place for you to add information that you think is important but is not covered elsewhere in the application. This could include clarification of your employment or academic record, choice of recommenders or helpful context for the admissions committee in reviewing your application. (Upload file, No word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Factoid

Other | All Applicants

One more question from the Admission Committee – just for fun! List an interesting fact about yourself that you’d like to share with your future Tepper classmates. (Text box, 1 or 2 sentences)

UCLA Anderson 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s UCLA Anderson application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Transformative Leader

250 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

At Anderson, our mission is to prepare transformative leaders by developing students to think innovatively, problem-solve, and adapt to others – all with a driven and purposeful mindset. How do you plan to achieve your goals and develop into a transformative leader during your time at UCLA Anderson? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware? (Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (Text box, 150 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Why MBA? (Short Answer)

Career Goal | All Applicants

Why are you pursuing an MBA? (Text box, 150 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Additional Info

Other | All Applicants

If you wish to provide additional information about academic or personal circumstances not included in your Optional Essay or elsewhere in this application, please do so here. (Text box, 1000 characters maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Reapplicants are those who applied to the MBA program within the last two application years, so those who applied three or more years ago are considered new applicants.

Reapplicants may answer one or both of the essay questions below as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

UNC Kenan-Flagler 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Kenan-Flagler application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

  • What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
  • As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Project with Impact

500 words | Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay 2 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:

Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Essay 3 is optional. We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application.

Optional topics:

  • Personal or professional accomplishments
  • Interests and passions
  • Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
  • Context for recommender selection
  • A fun fact about yourself

(Upload file, 200 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

100 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy. (Upload file, 100 words maximum)

USC Marshall 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s USC Marshall application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay #1 (Required) – What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from USC Marshall help you achieve those goals? Short-term career goals should be those you want to achieve within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (Upload file, 400 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Teamwork

Behavioral | All Applicants

Essay #2 (Required) – In the USC Marshall MBA Program, teamwork is essential to success. Please share an example of a time when you collaborated effectively with others to achieve a personal or professional goal. (Upload file, 400 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Essay #3 (Optional) – We realize that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories, and we’d like to recognize each individual’s unique qualities and experiences. Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider when reviewing your candidacy for the MBA program. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

UW Foster 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

UW Foster’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on July 1, 2025.

Start your application here: https://apply.grad.uw.edu/portal/gr_app

Statement of Purpose

750 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Tell us your ideas about what lies ahead for you in your career. What are the gaps or deficiencies currently preventing you from pursuing these potential career paths? How do you plan to use your time in the Foster Full-time MBA Program to fill these gaps and advance your career? (Upload file, 750 words maximum)

Personal Statement

500 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Foster Mission Statement. TOGETHER – WE FOSTER LEADERS, WE FOSTER INSIGHTS, WE FOSTER PROGRESS – TO BETTER HUMANITY. This is the Foster School’s mission statement, and it serves as the north star for how we do business here. Please select one part of our mission statement and describe how it resonates with you in your personal or professional life. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

1-3 pages | Other | All Applicants
Title your resume with your full name and email address. Be sure to include all current and prior work experience since high school graduation, your education, and any extracurricular activities, community involvement, awards, honors, certificates, or other forms of recognition (academic, community, military, etc.) you have received. Resumes can be anywhere from 1-3 pages in length at the applicants discretion. (Upload file, 1-3 pages)

Optional Nurturing Our Community Essay

Optional | All Applicants
At the Foster School of Business, we embrace inclusion and belonging as two of the foundations of both successful business strategy and a world-class educational experience. We share the University’s dedication to promoting the understanding and appreciation of human differences, and the constructive expression of ideas. We welcome you to share some of the ways you have practiced inclusion and promoted belonging. (Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants
Please include this essay if you have additional information that you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee in considering your application. (Upload file, maximum 500 words)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

Two essays are required and must be uploaded to your online application. The first optional essay allows you to tell us more about yourself, or to explain any areas of concern. The second optional essay allows you to share ways you have been involved with diversity, equity and inclusion in your professional or personal life, or within your community.


Essay 1: Post-MBA Plans (750 words maximum)

Tell us your ideas about what lies ahead in your career. What are the gaps or deficiencies currently preventing you from pursuing these potential career paths? How do you plan to use your time in the Foster MBA program to fill these gaps and advance your career?


Essay 2: Foster Mission Statement (500 words maximum)

TOGETHER – WE FOSTER LEADERS, WE FOSTER INSIGHTS, WE FOSTER PROGRESS – TO BETTER HUMANITY. This is the Foster School’s mission statement, and it serves as the north star for how we do business here. Please select one part of our mission statement and describe how it resonates with you in your personal or professional life.


Essay 3: Optional Essay (500 words maximum)

Include this essay if you have additional information you believe would be helpful to the admissions committee in considering your application.


Essay 4: Optional Nurturing Our Community Essay* (500 words maximum)

At the Foster School of Business, we embrace inclusion and belonging as two of the foundations of both successful business strategy and a world-class educational experience. We share the University’s dedication to promoting the understanding and appreciation of human differences, and the constructive expression of ideas. We welcome you to share some of the ways you have practiced inclusion and promoted belonging.

*No separate scholarship application is required to be considered for Full-time MBA merit scholarships. However, we recommend that if you would like to be considered for the ROMBA Fellowship or Forté Fellowship, you may indicate your qualifications and interest in these scholarships through the Optional Nurturing Our Community essay question.


Admissions

(Previous year’s prompt) Personal Statement

Behavioral | All Applicants

Personal Statement: Personal Resilience Essay. Resilience is one of the most important values of a successful Foster student. Tell us about what resilience means to you and share some of the ways that you have demonstrated resilience in overcoming personal or professional challenges. How do you anticipate showing resilience during your time as an MBA candidate? (Upload file, 500 words maximum)


Wharton 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Wharton application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in July 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

500 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (Text box, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Contributing to Wharton

400 words | Other | All Applicants

Essay 2. Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (Text box, 400 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

250 words | Other | Reapplicants Only

Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information (Optional). Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (Text box, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Short Answer Questions

Other | All Applicants

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

There are two essays that are required for all applicants. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid, succinct, and most importantly… be yourself!


Essay 1: How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)


Essay 2: Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)


Optional Essay: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)


Reapplicant Essay (required for all reapplicants) Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)


Tips from the Admissions Committee:

Essay 1: We recommend approaching this essay by addressing these three points: (1) The Setup: This is who I am, what I’m doing, and what I’ve learned. (2) The Pivotal Moment: I realized I don’t know enough about X and need to gain skills in X to succeed. (3) The Future: These are my short-term and long-term goals, and why I need an MBA from Wharton to achieve them.


Essay 2: This essay provides you with a space to share how you can add value to our student-led community. When approaching this essay, it’s helpful to mention some of the extracurricular and/or co-curricular involvements you hope to participate in at Wharton and how your previous experiences might allow you to positively influence those spaces.


Optional Essay: You can format this as a paragraph or in bullet points. This essay is a good place to address information that you believe warrants any additional context. Acknowledging any part of your application that you might feel is “weaker” will not disadvantage you in any way.


https://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/application-guide/

Wharton Advance Access 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Wharton Advance Access application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Pre-MBA Plans

Career Goal | All Applicants

Professional and Pre-Professional Experience. Please use this space to list your current post-graduate employment plans in the immediate term. You can include any information about your current recruitment process whether you have accepted a full-time job, are balancing different offers, are currently applying or interviewing as well as potential ventures of your own you plan to explore. (Note: this is not an evaluative essay.) (text box, no word limit)

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

How will the Wharton MBA program help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (text box, max 500 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Contributions

Other | All Applicants

Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (text box, max 400 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information. Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps or inconsistent performance in academic career, choice of recommenders, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (text box, max 500 words)


Wharton EMBA 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Wharton EMBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

What are your career objectives and aspirations and how will the Wharton MBA Program for Executives contribute to your attainment of these goals? (Upload file, 500 words maximum)


(Previous year’s prompt) Contribution

Other | All Applicants

Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (Upload file, 400 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Optional Essay. Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (Upload file, 300 words maxium)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

What have you been doing since you previously applied for admission and what impact have your activities had on the clarification of your goals? Include any steps you have taken to enhance your preparation for admission to Wharton.

(Upload file, 300 words maximum)


Wharton Lauder 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Wharton’s Lauder application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

Essay 1. How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (Text box, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Contributing to Wharton

Other | All Applicants

Essay 2. Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (Text box, 400 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only

Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (Text box, 250 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants

Additional Information (Optional). Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (Text box, 500 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Lauder Program Essays: Why Lauder

Other | All Applicants

Discuss why you are applying to the Lauder Institute, detailing specific reasons, experiences, and background for choosing your Program of Concentration, as well as your interest in further study in that Program. Applicants to Programs of Concentration involving language study (Africa-French; East and Southeast Asia; Europe; Latin America; South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa) should also discuss what they hope to gain from advanced language and cultural education, as well as describe how they have learned the language they will study (e.g. undergraduate courses, undergraduate major, etc.). Finally, please describe how you see yourself benefiting from, and contributing to, the Lauder community. (Upload file, 800 words)

(Previous year’s prompt) Lauder Program Essays: Challenging Situation

Behavioral | All Applicants

Describe a challenging intercultural or politically sensitive situation where you had to navigate a difference in perspective or opinion. Explain how you handled it and any lessons learned. (Upload file, 200 words)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

UPDATED! Lauder Essay:


Discuss why you are applying to the Lauder Institute, detailing specific reasons, experiences, and background for choosing your Program of Concentration, as well as your interest in further study in that Program. Applicants to Programs of Concentration involving language study (Africa-French; East and Southeast Asia; Europe; Latin America; South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa) should also discuss what they hope to gain from advanced language and cultural education, as well as describe how they have learned the language they will study (e.g. undergraduate courses, undergraduate major, etc.). Finally, please describe how you see yourself benefiting from, and contributing to, the Lauder community.   (800 words)


Describe a challenging intercultural or politically sensitive situation where you had to navigate a difference in perspective or opinion. Explain how you handled it and any lessons learned. (200 words)

Yale 2026 enrollment

Click to expand

Important Note: Application Open

Other | All Applicants

Yale SOM’s application for 2026 enrollment is officially open. The essay prompts in this to-do list were updated on June 30, 2025.

Start your application here: https://admissions.som.yale.edu/apply/

Career Interests

200 words | Career Goal | All Applicants

Briefly describe your career interests and how you arrived at them. What have you already done to pursue these interests? What do you need to do going forward? (Text box, 200 words maximum)

Select a Prompt

500 words | Personal Story | All Applicants

Please respond to one (1) of the three essay prompts below. The word limit (though not necessarily the goal!) is 500 words.

1) Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?

2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

(Upload file, 500 words maximum)

Optional Essay

Optional | All Applicants
If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation, please provide a brief description here. (Upload file, 200 words maximum)

Optional Background Info

Optional | All Applicants

Supplemental Detail. If you would like to elaborate on any of your responses within this section, or any other aspect of your background, we encourage you to do so here. (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Behavioral Assessment

Other | All Applicants

Yale SOM is committed to continuous innovation in the ways we identify future members of our community. The Behavioral Assessment might be the most unique of these innovations.

The Behavioral Assessment is an online exercise administered by ETS, the testing service behind the GRE. But unlike the GMAT and the GRE, which are tests of certain cognitive abilities, the Behavioral Assessment is a non-cognitive instrument that measures a set of inter- and intrapersonal competencies that are associated with academic success in business school. We look at it alongside, and sometimes as a counterpoint to, traditional academic metrics. And much like any other piece of the application, the Behavioral Assessment will never be the deciding factor for admission but will instead be used in combination with the rest of a candidate’s profile.

The exercise itself should take about 25 minutes to complete. You will receive 130 pairs of statements, one pair at a time, from which you’re asked to select the statement that best aligns with your own behaviors. The assessment is adaptive, so no two candidates will receive the exact same set of statements. No preparation is necessary to take the assessment, and no special knowledge is required.

Know that our use of this assessment is meant to be additive–it’s geared towards allowing the Admissions Committee to take more chances on candidates whose traditional metrics may not be the best predictors of success. To truly fulfill Yale SOM’s mission of educating leaders for business and society, we need a community of students whose backgrounds, experiences, and interests are diverse and expansive. If we limit ourselves only to applicants who perform best on traditional academic measures like the GMAT, the GRE, or undergraduate GPA, we may miss out on candidates with extraordinary professional experience or personal backgrounds that would add vital perspectives to the classroom. At the same time, it’s our responsibility to ensure we bring students into the program who will succeed in the classroom—we don’t want to set up students for failure. The Behavioral Assessment gives us an additional piece of information to use in assessing who will perform effectively in the curriculum, specifically by helping us predict who will perform better than their academic history would suggest.


https://som.yale.edu/programs/mba/admissions/appli…

Video Essay (Impromptu)

1 minute | Other | All Applicants

Like the Behavioral Assessment, you’ll complete the video questions after you submit your application and pay the application fee. The video questions are not a substitute for the interview. Instead, they provide a unique way for us to assess your communication and English language skills, and enable us to create a more dynamic, multi-dimensional portrait of your candidacy.

To complete the video questions, you will receive a set of two previously recorded questions asked by admissions team members. The questions are similar to typical interview questions. There are no “trick questions;” we’re not trying to stump you. For each question, you will have 60 seconds to deliver your response. The responses do not require any specific knowledge or preparation beyond the practice tool you can use before answering the questions, and your responses will be used with a “light touch,” as we say–they won’t make or break your application.

To prepare for the video questions, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the 60-second time frame for delivering your response. You don’t want to feel rushed, and you don’t want to run out of time getting to the heart of your answer. Also, be sure you have a good internet connection and are in a quiet, private space. While it is fun for the Admissions Committee when the unexpected colleague, partner, or pet joins your session, you will undoubtedly feel better about the exercise if you eliminate any potential for surprises!

If you require accessibility accommodations, please contact [email protected].

https://som.yale.edu/programs/mba/admissions/application-information/application-guide

Reapplicant Essay

Other | Reapplicants Only
Since your last application, please discuss any significant updates to your candidacy, including changes in your personal or professional life, additional coursework, or extracurricular/volunteer activities. (Upload file, 200 words maximum)

Resume

1 page | Other | All Applicants

Please upload a copy of your current resume. You may use any resume format of your choosing. If you are looking for a place to start, we offer this version of the official Yale SOM resume template, which all students use once they begin the program. We strongly recommend that you limit your resume to one page.

This resume should reflect your academic and professional background and achievements, as well as activities and interests, and should highlight any leadership and team roles you have undertaken. (Upload file, 1 page)

Unofficial Prompts

Other | All Applicants

Please respond to one (1) of the three essay prompts below. The word limit (though not necessarily the goal!) is 500 words.:


1) Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made.

Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?


2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you.

What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?


3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced.

How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Gaps in Work Experience

Other | All Applicants

Have you had any post-undergraduate employment gaps in full-time employment of greater than three months (other than for graduate study), or are you currently unemployed?

If yes, please use the space below to provide more information. (Text box, 250 words maximum)

Activities

Other | All Applicants

List any undergraduate activities. (Text boxes and dropdown menus)

Description of Involvement (Text box, 50 words maximum)

Yale EMBA 2026 enrollment

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Important Note

Other | All Applicants

Please note: The essay prompts in this to-do list are from last year’s Yale EMBA application, and thus tagged with “(Previous year)”. Though the prompts tend to remain the same or similar from year to year, there could be some changes. Work on these essays at your discretion. We will update the prompts and notify you here as soon as the school officially releases the actual essays for the applications in the 2026-enrollment cycle, likely in June 2025.

(Previous year’s prompt) Career Goals

Career Goal | All Applicants

Short Essay 1: Why are you interested in pursuing an Executive MBA at this point in your life and career, and how does it align with your goals? (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Why Yale?

Career Goal | All Applicants

Short Essay 2: Why Yale? (Text box, 300 words maximum)

(Previous year’s prompt) Video Questions (Optional)

Optional | All Applicants

Video Questions (Optional)

The mission of SOM is to educate leaders for business and society. Yale EMBA students are experienced leaders who seek to have a broad impact on the world around them and are determined to expand their leadership and their legacy.

To give us a better sense of your candidacy, we will ask you several questions that require short verbal responses. These questions are for you to tell us more about your background, your experiences, and yourself in your own voice. There are no wrong answers.

The system allows for unlimited practice sessions but once you start the formal interview questions it is intended to be completed in one sitting. We do not expect extensive preparation or special knowledge to answer these questions. For your responses, you are not required to use the entire time and can stop the recording when finished by clicking on the “stop” button on your screen.

Please note that imperfectly worded but genuinely delivered responses won’t harm your candidacy. It gives the admissions committee a more multi-dimensional view of the individual that we hope to welcome into our community. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your video question responses, please reach out to us at [email protected].

If you select yes below, you will receive an email within 24 hours with a link to the video questions. You can complete them at any time prior to the application deadline for the round to which you are applying. If you have not received the email within 24 hours, please make sure to check your spam folder and let us know if you are unable to locate it. Once you complete the video questions, it may take a few hours for your checklist to reflect their submission.

Will you complete the optional video questions?

  • Yes
  • No

(Previous year’s prompt) Optional Information

Optional | All Applicants

If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, etc.), please provide a brief description here. Please note that this section is truly optional – if no aspect of your application requires further explanation, you do not need to include an essay. (Text box, 200 words maximum)

Official
Unofficial
Previous Year