美国商学院申请一直竞争都非常激烈,尤其是美国顶尖商学院申请更是难上加难,很多学生在文书准备上都要花费很多的精力,来讨得美顶尖商学院的喜欢。
其实,文书是一个方面,另一方面是你对你职业生涯的规划:Is it now or later为什么现在要去学MBA为什么选择这所学校这都是最最关键的问题。
注意,商学院要的是三种人:第一,职业经理人,高级打工的人;第二,高级技术人才,如咨询师,分析师和规划师;第三,创业者,自己创造企业的人;第四,王公贵族,参议员的儿子和阿拉伯的王子。最后一种人不是一般的申请人能说得,所以不算。你是哪一种
对于不同种类的人,在写作的时候,性格,气质和语气都不一样。是经理人,就要有大局观,有决断和方略;是高级人才,就要有眼光,有专业素养,独特而犀利;是创业人才,就要嗜血如命,像鲨鱼一般,冒险,进取和不满足。
然后,看看出了这些题目的学校,了解一下学校的强项和课程偏重,感觉一下在读学生的背景profile,最好列个表格,然后就可以一天写一个题目,放开来写就可以。
以下是对美国几所顶尖商学院的特点和文书题目的简单讲解:
DUKE 杜克大学
DARTMOUTH达特茅斯学院
NYU STERN纽约大学斯特恩商学院
CORNELL 康奈尔大学
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DUKE杜克大学
杜克的申请有三个关键点需要注意:
(1)强调global business sense,即国际化的背景多元和多种思维;
(2)强调teamwork,你和你的classmate必须有共通和呼吸;
(3)对课程的兴趣和选择DUKE的坚定,你一般可以选两个concentration。
1. Describe your vision for your career, your inspiration for pursuing this career path, and the role of The Duke MBA in achieving your goals. If you are interested in a specific concentration or joint degree program, please discuss in this essay. (1.5 spacing, no smaller than point 10)
(先讲讲自己人生到了这一步要MBA,然后规划下面3-5年发展。然后说为什么你的需求现在只有DUKE可以满足,注意上面三点,DUKE的项目有什么特点)
2. Discuss a person, event, or experience that has significantly shaped your life and explain why. (1.5 spacing, no smaller than point 10)
(某人,家庭和过往历史对你有什么影响和启发?这里要强调自己的团队合作精神,学习能力,克服困难等)
3. Individuals choose a business school for many different reasons. Through your research, what attributes or characteristics of The Duke MBA program have most resonated with you and why? How do you plan to contribute to the strengthening and enhancement of those attributes and characteristics during your time at Duke and beyond? (1.5 spacing, no smaller than point 10)
(还是上面三点,自己的需求是什么,有那一些地方需要提高,你准备如何利用DUKE的项目来提高自己,如leadership等)
Optional Essay (not required)
4. If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Admissions Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weakness in your application). (1.5 spacing, no smaller than point 10)
(有什么要特别解释的一般来说,我建议写自己的多元化背景的一个故事)
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DARTMOUTH达特茅斯学院
这个学校和DUKE很相似,所以在写的时候,要把握好,而且想想DUKE的思路。注意以下三点:
1、DARTMOUTH的MBA主要的方向是培养第二种人,职业经理人,general management,所以领导团队,打造团队是你要学的,也是你可以展示的;
2、由于学校特别强调team play,这应该是申请文书的主线和重点强调地方;
3、学校很关注你为什么不选择在大城市的学校而选择了TUCK?这也是你要仔细讲清楚的,不要回避这个问题。
1.Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals。) (at best 500 words)
(这个回答和DUKE的第一道题是一样的)
2.Tuck defines leadership as “inspiring others to strive and enabling them to accomplish great things。” We believe great things and great leadership can be accomplished in pursuit of business and societal goals. Describe a time when you exercised such leadership. Discuss the challenges you faced and the results you achieved. What characteristics helped you to be effective, and what areas do you feel you need to develop in order to be a better leader? (at best 500 words)
(和DUKE的leadership一样,这里很多人忽略teamwork,即使是领导人也要TEAMWORK,所以几个要点,举个实例来讲:困难是什么;如何目光独到;如何鼓舞士气;如何坚持到底。总结一下自己在这件事成功的因素)
3.Discuss the most difficult constructive criticism or feedback you have received. How did you address it? What have you learned from it? (at best 500 words)
(这个必须是工作环境中的,要强调harsh。然后你是如何应对和学习的)
4.Tuck seeks candidates of various backgrounds who can bring new perspectives to our community. How will your unique personal history, values, and/or life experiences contribute to the culture at Tuck? (at best 500 words)
(这个又和DUKE一样,多元化背景。但是,注意写写你的国际经历 global business mindset)
5.(Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of uators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc。). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (at best 500 words)
(和DUKE的最后一篇一样)
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NYU STERN纽约大学斯特恩商学院
这个学校竞争非常激烈,申请这所大学有以下三个点非常重要:
1、告诉学校为什么NYU适合你,而不是哥大和沃顿?这就需要你看看课程设置,感受一下NYU的地理位置和教师队伍中庞大的兼职CEO和CFO。
2、NYU貌似培养INVESTMENT和FINANCE的人,但是具体培养的还是职业经理人,所以写得时候,不要忘记管理的学习,也要强调多种方向的学习(你可以选3-4个方向)
3、再次强调TEAMWORK,NYU不喜欢太过自我成功的人,所以,强调参与,共事,团结和拼搏,才是文书的重点。
1. Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Answer the following (maximum of 750 words,double-spaced, 12-point font):
What choices have you made that led you to your current position?
Why pursue an MBA at this point in your life?
What is your career goal upon graduation from NYU Stern? What is your long-term career goal?
(这个题目也是倒装的。先写职业规划,三五年内你要干什么,然后描述你是如何到得这个认识,是职业发展的必然,还是人生道路的前进,还是个人计划的实施。每一步都是一个决定,就这么串起来,发觉MBA是现实的一个必然选择)
2. The NYU Stern community is one of our strongest assets. Please answer the following questions about our community (500 word maximum,double-spaced, 12-point font):
What is your personal experience with the Stern community?
What actions have you taken to learn more about us?
How would you contribute to our community as a student?
How will you benefit personally and professionally from the Stern community?
(这个就要做做功课了。一般来说,有两种方法,认识一个MBA校友,访问过学校;另外就是认识一个老师,接触过和被推荐过。引出你对学校课程和优势的认识,才是关键。)
3. Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative. (See notes on the content parameters) 500 word maximum,double-spaced, 12-point font):
(以前有同学在这里写诗和用CD,YOUTUBE。但是现在不行。但是文字上还是要写写,强调个人经历的多元背景,家庭,文化和旅行等,都可以。)
4.Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. This may include current or past gaps in employment, your undergraduate record, plans to retake the GMAT and/or TOEFL, or any other relevant information. If you are unable to submit a recommendation from a current supervisor, you must explain your reason in this essay. If you are applying to a dual degree program, please explain your decision to pursue a dual degree。
(这个也是DUKE的最后一个问题)
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CORNELL 康奈尔大学
康奈尔大学学校很大,但MBA项目很小,申请的时候要注意以下三点:
1、也是培养高级经理人,但是同时第三种人,高级金融和咨询人士也是培养对象,特别是数量分析和衍生品投资方向;
2、CORNELL喜欢亲自上阵的人,所以,强调的是你的眼光,分析,和动手能力。结合一个LEADERSHIP例子一讲,效果就很好。动手能力,在动手解决实际问题中学习,是CORNELL MBA申请时最为关键的一环;
3、学校很在意它的教授学生比例,这也是我们可以强调的。accessibility意味这living和studying是同步的。
1. Required - (400 words) Describe your greatest professional achievement and how you were able to add value to your organization。
(注意,是职业成功,成功是一步一步来的,怎么一步一步走出来,挑战要写清楚。不要写单打独斗,要写INSPIRING THE TEAM去共同努力)
2. Required - (400 words) What career do you plan to pursue upon completion of an MBA degree and why? How will the Johnson School help you achieve this goal?
(这也是一个同样的题目,写写职业计划,然后写自己读MBA是为什,然后写CORNELL是你的如何适合你的)
3. Optional Essay - (400 words) Complete this essay if there is other information you would like to add regarding your candidacy. For instance, if you believe one or more aspects of your application (e.g., undergraduate GPA or test scores) does not accurately reflect your potential for success at the Johnson School。
(这个ESSAY的题目和前面一样)
留学e网美国留学温馨提醒:从这几所顶尖商学院的招生特点和文书题目可以看出,不同的学校的侧重点是不同的,所培养的学生类型也是不一样的,那么,青睐的学生也是不同的。因此,学生在申请的时候,要根据自己的特点,选择合适的大学。在文书准备过程中,要仔细揣摩每所学校出的题目的意图,找到切入点,完成文书写作,进而完成商学院的申请。