Our Early Thoughts on Stanford GSBs 2016-2017 Application Essay Questions

Application season at Stanford GSB is officially underway with the release of the school’s 2016-2017 essay questions. Stanford comes back with the same slate of essays from last year. Let’s discuss, from a high level, some early thoughts on how best to approach the essay prompts: Essay 1: What matters most to you, and why? (750 words) For years, Stanfords infamous open-ended essay prompt has been one of the most dreaded  aspects of its  application process. Stanford is one of the MBA programs that has ushered in the movement  of using more â€Å"open† essay prompts in evaluating applicants a trend that  has taken hold among many other top programs. Stanford, as much as any other program, seeks  out candidates who can be introspective, self-reflective, and authentic when responding to their essays. The school provides clear guidance on how best to approach these,  and it’s not meant to trick you or confuse you, but instead to do the opposite. As communicated by the school, the â€Å"why† of your essay is much more important than the what. Stanford truly wants to know who you are, so keep your narrative personal and focus on the experiences that have truly shaped your reasons for  applying. Avoid the temptation to resort to common business school stories  around work accomplishments, and instead focus on the things that have had the most impact on your life. Breakthrough candidates will utilize structured storytelling to craft a compelling narrative that brings the Stanford Admissions Committee  deep into their world. Essay 2: Why Stanford? (400 words) Essay 2 is the more traditional essay of the bunch, but even so, with Stanford you will want to avoid the typical boilerplate response and dive a bit deeper. You will want to think about  this prompt as really answering two questions: â€Å"Why an MBA?† and more specifically, â€Å"Why a Stanford MBA?† Be specific here connect both your personal and professional development goals to the unique programs Stanford has  and explain why they  are crucial  to your success. Breakthrough candidates will not only showcase their  clear, well-aligned goals, but will also connect these goals with their  personal passions  to make  their candidacy feel bigger than just business. Stanford has historically clung to candidates that hold  a more mission-based approach to their careers, so if there is some underlying passion inherent in your goals, do not be afraid to leverage that within this  essay. Now, this does mean you should stretch the truth   keep your response as authentic as possible, but also  keep in mind that  Stanford has traditionally held a  track record of looking for something  special  in their candidates. Just a few thoughts on the new essay from Stanford  Ã‚  hopefully this will help you get started. For more thoughts on Stanford and its essays,  check out our Essential Guide to Top Business Schools for free,  here. Applying to Stanford or other business schools? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+  and Twitter. Dozie A.  is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him  here.