How to Write a Personal Statement for MBA
If you are applying for an MBA or, indeed, any Master's level qualification, you have already proved that you have what it takes to get a degree. However, with every step up the educational ladder, the competition becomes more vigorous, with fewer places. So, to reach the interview stage and showcase yourself, your personal statement for MBA courses needs to be first-rate; otherwise, you will just land on the rejection pile. So what can you do to ensure that your personal statement impresses the selection committee and helps you progress to the next stage?
1. Good Research is Crucial
Don't assume you know everything about an MBA program until you have chosen the institution you will apply to. You need to go over every little detail of the information they provide about both of the courses and themselves as an educational establishment.
Within the personal statement, you can demonstrate that you have done your homework and reference how the program and life in the community of the school will work for you.
Take into account the way they have written their course descriptions, including the tone of voice they have used. You should match the tone of voice in your application. Some institutions will publish examples of public statements, and you can also connect with alumni, students and teachers to find out more.
If you still don't feel that you have enough information, you demonstrate good skills by contacting the tutors and chatting with them about what they are looking for in a successful applicant.
2. Find Inspiration
Your preparation should start early and you should be looking online for other MBA personal statements. It will give you an idea of the good, the bad and the downright ugly. You can use these as inspiration, a source of ideas, and to see what works well.
Do not be tempted to plagiarise anyone else's work. You will find plenty of advice in social media forums. If you have any friends that have previously been MBA students feel free to ask them for the best words of advice when it comes to the ‘do and do not’ of personal statement writing.
Look for personal statements demonstrating a good understanding of the course they were applying for and note how they approached each institution, making sure to direct everything they said specifically to the MBA program on offer. By all means, be creative but don't try and be too clever and come over as pompous.
3. Tailor Your Personal Statement for MBA Courses
They don't want to read page after page of generic answers.
Successful applicants are those who ensure they demonstrate they know about the specific institution.
You should demonstrate that you are driven and dynamic and are genuinely passionate about obtaining a place on the course. Tailor each response to the specific institution, as well as demonstrate that you have a personal ethos that lines up with the values and vision of the institution.
It is not just a case of selling yourself and showing off your achievements. The selection committee will be looking for you to demonstrate how you fit their MBA course.
You should also explain why you have chosen them as the institution to study with. Try and create a balance between ensuring it's a personal application and isn't just about trying to flatter the tutors. You need to build a personal statement that stands on its own merit with a personal application to the specific institution and is free from waffle.
Think about who reads your personal statement, and be imaginative and creative so that they want to digest everything you have said. Make sure you take the opportunity to let them know about anything not already covered by your CV or previous results. Share with them how you think you can contribute to the cohort, the things that motivate you, and your experiences so far that have helped shape your future plans.
4. Get Someone to Proofread
Never assume your first version is the one you will send. Give yourself enough time to pick it up and put it down several times. Changes will strike you every time you read through it, and it's essential that you fine-tune your personal statement before sending it in. Make sure you have considered grammar, punctuation and spelling as well as the excellent content you are going to write. It needs a second pair of eyes as we become blind to our own mistakes. Ask a family member or pay a professional to go over your work and make sure there are no glaring errors.
What you have written is likely to form the basis of the questions the interview committee ask you. So make sure you are able to expand on anything you have said and quantify any claims you have made. Check in advance whether they have a maximum length; some schools will insist on only a single side of A4. Others do not have a maximum, but realistically, there is no point in writing more than two sides of A4 as it will become tedious for the reader and likely go against you in the selection process.
5. Showcase Yourself Without Sounding Smug
As we said earlier, it's not just about showcasing yourself, but at the same time, you do need to make sure you stand out from the rest. It is okay to say what you are good at but ensure that anything you claim is genuinely true and relevant to the course they are offering.
You can also talk about how you see the MBA fitting into your future plans. Where do you hope this course will take you? You may be looking to specialise in a specific field; this is very valid information that you should be including. You need to take a flat piece of text and turn it into a 3-D version of yourself so that they can easily see why you would be a good fit for their course.