When thinking about applying for an MBA, many applicants think only about the major aspects of the process, including taking the GMAT, asking for letters of recommendation, writing essays, and completing interviews.
But guess what? One of the most important aspects of your MBA application is defining and sharing clear, well-thought-out career goals. Though sharing personal stories and showing your wins at work are essential to standing out from the crowd, you will still fall short of earning a spot at your top program if you fail to express your goals correctly throughout your application.
As someone who has helped countless candidates around the world with their MBA applications, I can confidently say that without well-defined goals you are unlikely to even make it to the interview phase of the MBA application process.
By encouraging our clients to focus on defining clear goals and sharing them in a dynamic way throughout their applications, we have helped 98.9% of our clients gain admission to at least one of their target schools.
To ensure you expertly tackle this aspect of your MBA application, we have created this guide to walk you through everything you need to know about MBA goals.
Why are goals so crucial to MBA applications?
First and foremost, goals demonstrate your commitment to your future career path. By articulating your short- and long-term goals, you show the admissions committee that you have a clear vision of where you want to go and how an MBA fits into that plan. This is important because elite business schools want to admit candidates who are serious about their goals and who have a concrete plan for achieving them.
Furthermore, your goals reveal your “career risk” to the admissions committee. In other words, they show the admissions officers how likely you are to succeed in the future and how well their program can set you up for success. If your goals are vague, they will not be able to determine your career risk, and your application will likely be rejected.
On the other hand, if you have specific and well-argued goals, you demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have done your research and that you have a realistic understanding of what it takes to achieve your goals. This not only makes your application more compelling but also increases your chances of being admitted to your dream program.
What do “good” goals look like?
The key to presenting “good” goals in your MBA application is clarity and detail. Failing to provide this can leave the admissions committee feeling like they do not fully understand your goals – and that you don’t, either.
To avoid this, be sure not to use vague goals, as they don’t say anything concrete about your future career path. Instead, do your research and choose a specific area you’d like to work in, and name a few companies within that area that you might want to target for a post-MBA job. If you’re sponsored or plan to return to your company, you can simply mention their name (as in the example below).
For example, instead of stating, “I aim to contribute to a more sustainable global society through the financial industry and particularly leverage the power that investors have to drive change,” write much more specific goals, like “My short-term goal is to return to BANK as a senior equity research analyst focused on ESG strategy to delineate the challenges and opportunities of sustainability transitions. In the long term, I will become the chief investment officer of a large investment fund and become a reference for ESG-linked investments.”
Furthermore, your goals should be realistic and achievable. While it’s great to have big dreams and aspirations, it’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve in the short and long term. This means taking into account your current skill set, your work experience, and whether or not an MBA is the right degree to help you advance in this field. By demonstrating that you have a realistic understanding of what it takes to achieve your goals, you show the admissions committee that you are grounded in reality and have carefully considered how the business school will serve as an essential step forward in your career progression.
Finally, you also want to reflect on why you are pursuing the goals you have set out for yourself. The best goals show your passions and the impact you want to make in the world, so make sure you consider this factor when defining your goals.
By providing clear, well-argued goals in your MBA essay, you increase your chances of being admitted to your dream program and set yourself up for success. So, take the time to think deeply about your goals, do your research, and be specific and realistic in your application.
How to translate your goals into strong goals essays
After defining your goals, your next task is tackling one of the most important components of your application: your goals essay. The essay should be viewed as a story that connects your past, present, and future clearly and compellingly. Specifically, your experience, your future goals, and your plans for the MBA should all be woven together to present a clear picture of your career. In order to achieve this, you should organize your essay in a "past, future, present" format.
With this in mind, your essay should begin by discussing your experience. Even if the school’s specific essay prompt does not ask for it, you should provide context for your goals by discussing your work history. This will help to demonstrate that you have relevant experience and motivations related to your goals, and it will also set up the argument for why you are applying for a particular MBA program.
When discussing your experience, you should focus on strong examples of your accomplishments that relate to your future goals. The idea is not to list every single achievement, but rather to emphasize that you have the track record needed to succeed in the goals you are about to present. Furthermore, by formatting your experiences into stories, you can connect more easily with your reader and help them more deeply engage with your profile.
Next, you want to add your goals, which will serve as the focal point of your essay. You should include both short-term and long-term goals and the relationship between them.
When discussing your future goals, you should include your desired role, company/organization (or at least what kind), key actions and achievements, and ideal impact.
Make sure the WHY behind your goals is clear, as seeing what moves you to pursue these plans is critical to connecting with your application.
Of course, effectively writing about your goals can be tricky. If you are looking for help to determine if your essays are structured in a way that stands out to the adcom, don’t hesitate to check out our MBA Resource Center!
There, you can find dozens of past successful essays and detailed brainstorming worksheets to help you plan out a winning essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join!
After discussing your past and future, you should turn your attention to the present – the MBA program that you are applying to. This is your chance to explain why this particular program is the best fit for you. You should be specific about how their MBA can help you achieve your goals, connecting different aspects of the program to areas you need to improve upon.
For example, if you’re planning to switch to impact investing, taking advantage of the school’s wide range of impact investing-focused courses would be great to mention. When showing “why X MBA,” you might also want to discuss non-academic offerings that interest you or the school's culture.
In order to make a strong argument for why this program is the best fit for you, you should research the program thoroughly. Look at the curriculum, the faculty, and the culture of the school. Think about how these factors align with your goals and aspirations.
By following this "past, future, present" format and emphasizing storytelling, you can create a cohesive and persuasive essay that will help you stand out from other applicants.
Need guidance on selecting your goals?
The work involved in uncovering and defining your goals may seem time-consuming and difficult, but it will really make a difference when you start to write your essays and (hopefully!) attend your interviews. Communicating your goals can show that you are a good fit and can help give your application an edge.
That’s why sometimes, having an expert weigh-in makes all the difference.
In general, skilled MBA consultants can be a great resource in helping you clarify your plans for the future and discuss how to present them in a way that shows “fit” with elite business schools.
That’s why here at Ellin Lolis Consulting, we are so focused on offering a personal touch that ensures each of our clients is happy with their MBA decisions and outcomes for years to come.
Because we know an MBA is not simply a gamble, it’s an investment in your future. Our commitment is to get you the best possible results and help you take your career and life to the next level.
So whether you’re struggling to put the finishing touches on your goals essay or are just starting the MBA process, apply to work with us and put our hands-on approach to work for your maximum success.
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