Episode 16: Essays V: Open-ended, Creative, Change, Ethical Dilemmas

We continue to discuss additional popular questions that appear in admissions essays, including open-ended questions, ethical dilemma questions, emerging topics, and creative questions. This lesson offers up specific tips on word count for open-ended exercises and on the origins of ‘creative’ questions, and what schools are seeking to measure by using them.

Bonus note: For the questions regarding emerging topics, like climate change, or diversity equity and inclusion, you should also consider your own personal experiences as they are relevant to the particular topic.

The stories from which you can draw should have been identified when developing your personal inventory (See Lesson 3).

Addendum: Since the recording of this lesson, Harvard Business School has introduced a word-limit of 900 words to their main essay question, which was previously without a limit.  Our advice in the video still remains with respect to content, and if anything, the HBS has now made tackling this essay a bit easier by providing a word count.

See also Becoming a Clear Admit: The Definitive Guide to MBA Admissions Chapter 4, “How to Apply.”