How To Approach An Optional MBA Essay

1. Complete your entire application before approaching the optional essay. Don’t worry about that part of the application yet.
2. Once complete, review your application and ask yourself whether there is some extra part you would like to write about to the admissions committee.
3. If there is anything missing, use the optional essay as an opportunity to add what you would like.
4. If you cannot think of anything additional you would like to add, do not write the optional essay.

I have seen a number of topics for optional essays for the first scenario where the information included could have been added elsewhere. When the optional essay is approached in this way, the applicant will take what could have been a few sentences and expand it into a full essay. This is a waste of time. Do not forget that the person reviewing your application has a lot of reading to do. When brainstorming thoughts for that optional essay, make sure that you cannot address the material elsewhere in the application.

1. Explaining gaps in career experience.
2. Explaining choice of recommender.
3. Explaining circumstances affecting academic record, GMAT, or other aspects of your profile. This does not mean that you need to explain why you received a 3.4 GPA one semester as opposed to your normal 3.9. Extenuating circumstances implies something that significantly impacted your application. As example, perhaps there was a family crisis, or you were experiencing serious problems.