“This question is all about fit,” she wrote. “Reading this essay gives our Admissions Committee a unique opportunity to learn more about you, beyond your resume and written application.”
MIT Sloan wants to find out how the values and goals of the candidates it has chosen to interview fit with the school’s own. “We are curious to find out how you articulate your individuality and best characteristics,” she wrote. “We love seeing how you have impacted the community and culture of organizations you have been a part of, and we look forward to using our interview time to dive deeper into your responses.”
Hitting a Home Run with the MIT Sloan Pre-Interview Essay
So how do you write a stand-out MIT Sloan pre-interview essay? Levenson recommends learning as much about the school and what it stands for using all the resources available to you—from the school’s website, to its presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, to its plentiful student blogs.
“Think about what matters to you in communities you have been a part of and how you have chosen to make an impact on people,” advised Levenson. “Show us how you’re already living out the MIT Sloan mission.”
So for anyone tempted to grumble about having to write yet another essay, think of it in another way. This is a gift MIT Sloan has given you—and you are within a select group if you’ve received it. Make the most of it.
Instructions on when and how to submit your additional essay will be sent to you when you are invited to interview or soon after, if you haven’t already received them.
As you approach your pre-interview essay, you might also want to read this article from the Clear Admit archives: Why Mission Matters at MIT Sloan School of Management.
And as you prepare for the interview itself, don’t forget to check out Clear Admit’s MIT Sloan Interview Guide. Best of luck!
