MBA essays come in all shapes and sizes, and the questions, format, lengths, and deadlines for essay submission vary between business schools. Knowing the common themes can help you prepare for all types of MBA essays and help you tailor your responses to each school.
MBA essay formats vary between schools
The number of questions asked will depend on individual business schools. However, most schools ask between two and four questions, so prepare for various questions and topics.
Instead of listing questions, schools such as Imperial College Business School as for a personal statement, but this is often accompanied by some prompts such as: “What is your proudest non-academic achievement?” or “how would you use your degree to make a positive impact?”
These kinds of questions are common in MBA essays. Columbia University’s format looks more like an exam than Imperial’s, and it asks students to answer one short answer question, followed by four essay questions.
If you’re aiming high and looking to apply to Harvard. In that case, there are now three essay prompts, including: “What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become?"
These prompts are looking for candidates to showcase their authentic, personal brand and what has led them to apply for an MBA at that particular program.
Most importantly, answer the question that’s being asked.
“There’s a reason we ask the questions we do and limit the word count. Ignoring the prompt makes you stand out for the wrong reasons,” says Rebecca Loades, director of career accelerator programs at ESMT Berlin.
Some schools, such as Tepper School of Business, require students to provide a video essay on a question such as: "Please describe your post-MBA career goals". Meanwhile, NYU Stern is one business school that includes a visual essay component where students are asked to provide visual images that describe themselves and their experiences.
Click here to download the free BusinessBecause MBA Essay Guide 2025 
What conditions will you be writing your MBA essay under?
You’ll be happy to know that most MBA essays are not under timed conditions. They are often part of the overall application and submitted alongside supporting documents such as transcripts, recommendation letters, standardized test scores, and resumes.
However, there are some exceptions. HKUST’s MBA essay, for example, has a slightly different set-up. Candidates submit their applications first, and those shortlisted are given a week to submit their essays.
These slight differences mean you need to research your chosen MBA application process within plenty of time, so you don’t find yourself faced with a looming deadline.
What stage of the application process will the MBA essay be?
Make sure you know when in the application process the MBA essay comes, so you are prepared and don’t miss the opportunity to stand out. Generally, schools include the MBA essay in the application delivered on the final deadline.
But some schools, such as HKUST, choose to shortlist candidates from their application form prior to providing the MBA essay questions.
Writing about your achievements and how they led to your decision to apply is not easy, and it takes a lot of writing and rewriting. On average, students applying for top MBA programs write around 10-20 drafts for submitting a winning essay, according to Vantage Point MBA Admissions Consulting. So make sure you give yourself plenty of time.
“A winning essay requires research, reflection, crafting, and recrafting until the essay contains enough details, leverages every word effectively, and ensures clarity to capture an adequate response,” says Susan Berishaj, founder of Sia Admissions.
Pay attention to the word count
On average, each MBA question will have a word count limit between 250 to 500. That may seem short, but it is essential to show that you can be succinct in your responses and answer the question directly.
Be sure to read and reread the instructions because some could trip you up. Look out for characters versus words–EMLyon requests a personal statement of 2000 characters, which is about 350-400 words.
Other business schools might ask for one long answer, and GBSB Global Business School asks for a motivation letter of about 1,500 words.
This less structured format may seem daunting but is likely to include several prompts determined by the individual schools.
Remember to be yourself…
While business schools’ MBA essays vary in format, they are all looking for authenticity and an honest account of your goals and what led you to their MBA.
“Do not write what you think admissions committee members want to read. There is no one perfect candidate profile. Instead, your uniqueness will be one of your greatest selling points,” Scott Edinburgh, founder of Personal MBA Coach says.
To find out how to create an authentic and tailored MBA essay, download our BusinessBecause MBA Essay Guide 2025, which provides top tips and insights from business school experts, MBA alumni, and students.
