The goals essay is an
integral part of business school applications. Most schools in some form have a goals
essay as part of their application. While majority of schools might have
a direct question on your short or longer term schools, others might
seek an answer through questions like Why MBA or Why you are applying
to the particular school. The focus of the goal essays might range from your post MBA
plans to a 5 year short term goal to a 10 year long term intention. The
goals essay predominantly requires details of your professional choices
and objectives. Like
every other essay, here too, the most important aspect is to answer the
question credibly, convincingly and completely.
Every goals essay has two
main parts - 1) the aim itself 2) the way to achieve it. Hence
supporting the realization of the goal with relevant details is as
important as the specifics of the goal itself. Aiming to establish a
township in Mars is fine as long as you have the roadmap to accomplish it. The
school is an important part of the goals essay. While some schools might
explicitly ask for the role of the school in achieving your goal or your
interest in the school, others might have questions as simple and short
as "what are your career goals". Asked directly or not, when the main
reason for applying to the school is to take you closer to your goal,
how can the school not be mentioned in a goals essay.
Write your goals
clearly... Include as much
detail as possible about your goal. Though it is comprehendible that the
program and other factors during the course of the coming years could
influence your career decisions, it is required to provide specific details as
regards to function, industry, geography and the kind of role you would
want to take up. The goal can be a continuation of your career and might
advance in the same field. May be you intend to pursue your career in a
new sphere; state your reasons for the choice and how you intend to
achieve it. Be it career enhancement or career transition, state it
clearly and credibly.
Try to cover the motivation
part: How did you
arrive at this goal? What is the motivation behind it? What in the past
led you to this decision? What incident or personalities influenced you
to make this choice? What are your reasons for following this choice?
Include as much details and specifics as possible. Answer them credibly and convincingly.
State reasons for your
choice of university/school credibly... Program: Why MBA and not something else? How will this
MBA help you achieve your goals. How is this MBA an extension of
your past and a connection to the future? What is the significance of
this program in your career/life?
are you applying to this college? What features of this program have
attracted your application? The institution knows enough and more about
itself than you can tell them, so why this question. This is is to
enable them to understand your genuine interest in them. Extensive
research of the institution through internet and interactions with
alumni/current students/faculty would give you all the required
information; though difficult, it is not impossible. Try to find about
the program structure, specific subjects that could benefit you, details
of distinguished faculty and others who are currently or previously been
engaged in research or publications on field of your interest, the
college's contribution in your chosen area, student activities and clubs
with which you share interest and advantages of the geography of the
A tall goal
does not make a great essay, but a clear roadmap combined with specifics
can make one. The above goals essay tips
would be useful in tackling the following goals questions from these
AGSM MBA 2011-2012 Goals Essay
1. What are your professional goals? How will an MBA/GDM/GCCM from AGSM
MBA Programs help you? (approx. 250 words)
Babson MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay 2.
Please describe in detail your short-term (immediately after graduation
from Babson) and long-term career plans, detailing in which industry you
would like to work, which function or role would you ideally hold, and
how do you intend to secure that position? If your plans entail a career
transition, what challenges do you anticipate facing in securing your
ideal position, and how will you address those challenges? Your answer
should show how your past professional experiences, background, and
interests combined with a Babson graduate degree will position you for
success in attaining these goals.
Berkeley Haas MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
are your post-MBA short-term and long-term career goals? How have your
professional experiences prepared you to achieve these goals? b. How
will an MBA from Haas help you achieve these goals? (750 word maximum
for 5a. and 5b.)
Berkeley Haas Evening & Weekend MBA
2012-2013 Goals Essay
a. What are your short term (3 to 5 years) and long term (10 + years)
career goals? b. How have your professional and personal experiences
prepared you to achieve these goals? c. Describe your plan to meet these
goals. (250-500 words)
Boston Carroll MBA 2011-2012 Goals
Essay 1. Please discuss how you plan to achieve your short and long
term career goals. What challenges might you face in achieving these
goals and how will you address those challenges? Your answer should cite
the pertinent aspects of your professional and academic experience,
personal interests, and how the Carroll School MBA will assist you in
reaching your professional goals. (1-2 pages)
Cambridge Judge MBA 2012-2013 Goals
2. What are your short and long term career objectives? What
skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve
them? What do you hope to gain from the degree and how do you feel it
will help you achieve the career objectives you have? (please do not
exceed 500 words)
CEIBS MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay 1.
Why are you seeking to pursue your MBA programme now in relation to your
short and long-term career goals? Explain how an MBA from CEIBS will
contribute to these goals. (500 words)
Chicago Booth MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
What are your short- and long-term goals, and how will an MBA from
Chicago Booth help you reach them? (500 words)
Chicago Booth Executive MBA 2012-2013
2. Chicago Booth Career
Services delivers innovative educational programming, offers one-on-one
coaching, provides numerous networking opportunities, and provides
access to job search tools in order to support your own career
management. We would like to learn more about your career strategy and
objectives. Please outline your career objectives, how you hope to
achieve them, and what you hope to gain from the MBA to help you achieve
them? (maximum 1 page, 12 pt. Times New Roman)
Chicago Booth Evening MBA 2012-2013
2: What are
your short and long-term goals, and how will a Chicago Booth MBA help
you reach them? (600 word maximum)
Chinese University HK MBA 2012-2013
Please describe your
objectives and motives for seeking an MBA degree.
CMU Tepper MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
A. What are your short-term and long-term goals? How will a Tepper
MBA help you to achieve these goals. (Please include any information
regarding what steps you have taken to learn more about Tepper.)
Columbia MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays.
Short Answer Question
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (200 characters
1 A. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do
you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional
goals? (Maximum 500 words)
Columbia Executive MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay.1.
A. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do
you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional
goals? (Maximum 500 words)
view this video, entitled Community at
Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning
teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business
School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless
events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive
and devoted lifelong community. Describe why you are interested in
becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)
Cornell Johnson MBA 2012-2013 Goals
(400 word maximum) Tell us about your short and long term career goals.
Please show you have a clear direction for your goal post-MBA. Good
essays will emphasize what an applicant wants to do while at Johnson and
how you will use this experience to accomplish your goal.
Cranfield MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Please outline your career objectives and how the MBA will help you
to achieve them. The recommended length for each answer is 200 - 400
Duke Fuqua MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays
Required Short Answer Questions: Answer all 3 questions. Respond in
250 characters only (the equivalent of about 50 words).
1. What are your short-term goals, post-MBA?
2. What are your long-term goals?
3. Life is full of uncertainties, and plans and circumstances can
change. As a result, navigating a career requires you to be adaptable.
Should the short-term goals that you provided above not materialize what
alternative directions have you considered?
Duke Fuqua Executive MBA 2012-2013
We find that our students apply to our programs for a variety of personal
and professional reasons. What do you hope to gain from The Duke MBA and
how will it support you in your personal and professional goals? If you
are interested in a specific concentration or the HSM certificate,
please discuss in this essay.
Emory Goizueta MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay 1. Complete each of the following questions. Please limit your
response to 150 words each.
Why have you
decided to pursue an MBA at this time?
What are your
short term post MBA goals?
What are your
long term professional aspirations?
Erasmus RSM MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. How do you see your career developing and how will this programme help you
achieve your goals?
ESADE Spain MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
3. What are your motivations in pursuing a full-time MBA at this
point in your life? Describe your mid-term and long-term visions for
your post-MBA career path. What is it about ESADE you think will help
you reach your goals?
Georgetown McDonough MBA
2012-2013 Goals Essays
1. answer both part A and part B
Part A: What is your short-term goal following graduation from the
Georgetown McDonough Full-time MBA Program? What skills are you seeking
to develop or improve upon in order to reach your goals? (500 words or
Part B: What is your long-term career goal? (100 words or fewer)
HEC Paris MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Why are you applying to the HEC MBA Program now? What is the
professional objective that will guide your career choice after your
MBA, and how will the HEC MBA contribute to the achievement of this
objective? (500 words)
HKUST MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays
Essay 1. Please tell us the motivations to pursue an MBA program, and
why is now the best timing to do one. (~200 words)
Essay 2. Please elaborate on your career goals. How will your academic
training, professional experience coupled with an MBA education at HKUST
achieve your goals? (~200 words)
IESE Navarra Spain MBA 2012-2013 Goals
1. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals (Post
MBA) (300 words)
2012-2013 Goals Essay
Statement): Consider this statement an opportunity to introduce
yourself to the Admissions Committee. You are encouraged to discuss your
personal and professional achievements and goals and to include
information about your background, education, community involvement, and
specific interest in this Program. Also, please specify your field(s) of
2012-2013 Goals Essay
2: Where do you see
yourself three years after you graduate from the ISB? (300 words max)
IIMA PGPX 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. What do you expect to gain from PGPX course at IIMA?
IIML IPMX 2012-2013 Goals Essay
Describe your career goals and your
reasons for wishing to undertake this course at Indian Institute of
Management Lucknow Noida Campus (Max
Imperial MBA 2011-2012 Goals Essays.
1. Please outline your current thoughts on your future career goals. How
have you arrived at these goals? How does your previous education and
experience equip you to achieve them? (700 words)
2. How will the Imperial MBA contribute to the achievement of
these goals? (200 words)
3. In what way, other than the content of the Programme
itself, will the Imperial MBA be of value? (200 words)
Indiana Kelley MBA 2012-2013 Goals
1. Please discuss your post-MBA short- and long-term
professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined
with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals?
INSEAD MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay 4: a) Discuss your
short and long term career goals. (300 words maximum) and b) How will
studying at INSEAD help you achieve your vision? (250 words maximum)
ISB PGP 2012-2013 Goals Essay 2:
Where do you see yourself three years after you graduate from the ISB?
(300 words max)
LBS MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays
1: (500 words): In what
role or sector do you see yourself working immediately after graduation?
Why? How will your past and present experiences help you achieve this?
How will the London Business School MBA Programme contribute to this
2: (300 words)
Where do you see your career progressing five years after graduation and
what is your longer term career vision?
LBS Executive MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
2. (500 words max) Our
students participate in the Executive MBA for many valid reasons. Please
outline your career objectives and explain how London Business School’s
Executive MBA would help you achieve them.
Manchester MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
4. What will your post MBA career look like, in 5 years, in 10
years? Which aspects of your previous roles will form the building
blocks of your new career and how you will develop the additional skills
to shape your ideal role? (250-400 words)
Melbourne MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. What are your long term career goals?
Please give careful thought to your personal statements. As a guide,
your response to each question should be between 100 and 300 words long
Michigan Ross MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
2. Describe your career goals. How will an MBA from Ross help you to
achieve those goals? (300 word maximum)
Executive MBA 2012-2013
2. What are your long-term professional goals? How will a Ross Executive
MBA help you achieve your goals? (500 word maximum)
Minnesota Carlson MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay. Personal Statement. Briefly describe your short-term and
long-term career goals. Why are you choosing to pursue an MBA at this
time in your career, and what are you hoping to accomplish by doing so?
Why are you interested in pursuing an MBA at the Carlson School of
MIT Sloan Executive MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay A statement
of purpose, indicating your qualifications and why you are pursuing the
MIT Executive MBA. In particular, tell us about your distinctive
characteristics and how you will contribute to the learning community at
MIT Sloan. Specifically identify your current professional and career
objectives. (500 words or less, limited to one page)
1. Tell us a moment in your life that has influenced you and why do you
think that is important to your future. (500 word limit)
Northwestern Kellogg MBA 2012-2013
3: Imagine yourself at
your Kellogg graduation. What career will you be preparing to enter, and
how have the MBA and Kellogg helped you get there? (Please answer in
terms of your program choice: One-Year, Two-Year, MMM, JD-MBA) (500 word
Northwestern Kellogg Executive MBA 2012-2013
2. Your Goals and Objectives:
What are your goals and objectives and how will a Kellogg Executive MBA
help you achieve these? Please feel free to discuss both personal and
Northwestern Kellogg Part Time MBA 2012-2013
Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future
career plans and your motivation for pursuing an MBA at the Kellogg
School of Management (500 to 750 words)
Notre-Dame Mendoza MBA 2012-2013 Goals
1. What are your career plans immediately after graduation?
Explain how your past experiences have prepared you for your desired
position. What are your long-term career aspirations?
2. We would like you to tell us about your post-MBA immediate
career goals and how your professional experiences have prepared you to
achieve these goals. You may do so by a 300 words written essay or a
two-minute video. If you wish to submit a video, you can upload it on
YouTube, change the privacy settings to “Unlisted” and email us the URL.
Alternatively, you can send in your video to us in a thumbdrive or CD.
NYU Stern MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays
1: Professional Aspirations: (750 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point
a. Why pursue an MBA (or dual degree) at this point in your life?
b. What actions have you taken to determine that Stern is the best fit for
your MBA experience?
c. What do you see
yourself doing professionally upon graduation?
Your Two Paths (500 word
maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font)
The mission of the Stern
School of Business is to develop people and ideas that transform the
challenges of the 21st century into opportunities to create value for
business and society. Given today’s ever-changing global landscape,
Stern seeks and develops leaders who thrive in ambiguity, embrace a
broad perspective and think creatively about the range of ways they can
a. Describe two different and distinct paths you could see your career
taking long term. How do you see your two paths unfolding?
b. How do your paths tie to the mission of NYU Stern?
c. What factors will most determine which path you will take?
NYU Stern Langone Part Time MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
Aspirations (250 word maximum, double-spaced, 12-point font): What are
your short and long-term career goals?
Ohio Fisher MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Shaping Your Vision.
Every year Fisher College’s Full-Time MBA program admits a select group of
talented professionals with demonstrated potential to become successful
business leaders in an increasingly competitive, global environment. Why
do you want to earn an MBA degree in general and a Fisher College MBA in
particular? How will Fisher specifically assist you in achieving your
individual potential? As part of your response, include a brief summary
of your professional accomplishments to date. If you have not held a
full-time job or are still in college, let us know about your leadership
accomplishments in a school, internship, or extracurricular context.
Maximum words: 750
Ontario Ivey MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay.
Required Essay (1 of 3). Career Goals: How will the Ivey MBA Program
help you to achieve your short-term career goals? (250 words)
Oxford Said MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Explain why you
chose your current job. How do you hope to see your career developing
over the next five years? How will an MBA assist you in the development
of these ambitions? (750 words)
2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Describe your career strategy and how a Krannert Master's degree, at
this time, will assist you in achieving your career goals. Limit your
response to no more than 300 words.
Queens MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays
1: We would like to understand your short and long-term career goals.
Please describe where you see yourself in 5 years and 10 years time and
identify how you see the Queen's MBA program assisting in these goals.
(Not to exceed 500 words)
Rice Jones MBA 2011-2012 Goals
Describe your short-term and long-term career goals, and how the MBA
will help you achieve those goals. Include in your discussion: Why is
now the appropriate time to pursue an MBA, and why are you interested in
obtaining a Rice MBA? (Maximum 750 words)
Rochester Simon MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay (Required). Describe your post-MBA or post-MS career plans.
How does your past education and experience support your career
objectives? What aspects of the Simon School program make it a good
choice for your graduate study? (500 word maximum)
SMU Cox Executive MBA
1. What are your personal/professional reasons for wanting an MBA? (1-2
Stanford GSB MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
2: What do you want to do—REALLY—and why Stanford?
Guidelines: Use this essay to explain your view of your future, not to
repeat accomplishments from your past. You should address three distinct
topics: your career aspirations, the role of an MBA education in
achieving those aspirations and your rationale for earning that MBA at
Stanford, in particular. The best examples of Essay 2 express your
passions or focused interests; explain why you have decided to pursue
graduate education in management; and demonstrate your desire to take
advantage of the opportunities that are distinctive to the Stanford MBA
Toronto Rotman MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay 1. Discuss your personal and professional development over the
past five years and describe how these changes have led you to choose to
do your MBA at this time. What are your career goals and how will a
Rotman MBA help you to achieve them? (Please limit your answer to 500
Tuck Dartmouth MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay 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.)
UCLA Anderson MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
2. What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an
MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals? (700
UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay 2: Please describe your short and long term goals post-MBA.
Explain how: your professional experience has shaped these goals; why
this career option appeals to you; and how you arrived at the decision
that now is the time and the MBA is the appropriate degree. (500 words
UNC Kenan-Flagler Executive MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Summarize your current level of responsibility and decision-making
ability in your company. What role do you play in your organization's
strategy? What are your career goals for the next five years? What steps
do you see yourself taking to achieve these goals? How will a UNC Kenan-Flagler
MBA help you reach your goals?
USC Marshall MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will
USC Marshall help you achieve these goals? (750 words) If interested in
a dual-degree program, please address in this essay.
USC Marshall Executive MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Describe in a brief
essay (do not exceed 250 words per section – 500 words maximum):
a) What are your current
role/responsibilities in your company?
b) What are your
post-MBA objectives? At this point in your career, how will an MBA
assist you in achieving these objectives?
UT McCombs MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Describe how your
professional and personal experiences have led you to pursue an MBA at
this time. Please share with us your short and long term goals and why
the Texas MBA at McCombs is the program best positioned to help you
achieve them. Limit: 800 words
UT McCombs Executive MBA
2012-2013 Goals Essay
Please submit an essay discussing your goals in pursuing a graduate
business education. Limit one (1) page
Villanova MBA 2011-2012 Goals Essay
Please discuss how this degree will impact your short and long-term
Warwick MBA 2011-2012 Goals Essay
2. Please explain your principal reasons for wishing to join the Warwick
MBA. Describe your career aspirations, the contribution you will make to
the programme and, if you will be sponsored, the value you will add to
your sponsoring organisation. (Please limit your answer to 500 words.)
Washington Olin MBA 2012-2013 Goals
Essay. Statement of Purpose (required): (500 – 1,000 words)
Essay Please provide a statement of purpose that describes your decision
to pursue the Olin MBA or specialized master's degree for which you are
Your response should include a thoughtful presentation of the personal
and professional experiences that have led to your decision to pursue
graduate management education. It should also provide an identification
of your specific short- and long-term career objectives, an explanation
of your decision to pursue this degree at this point in your life, a
description of your specific interest in the Olin Business School, and
any other information that would help inform the Admissions Committee of
your qualifications for our program.
Wharton MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay.
How will the
Wharton MBA help you achieve your professional objectives? (400 words)
Wharton Executive MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay 1 (Required: 1000 word limit). What is your career objective and how
will the Wharton MBA Program for Executives contribute to your
attainment of these objectives?
Yale SOM MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essays 1.
What prompted your decision to get an MBA? When did you realize that
this was a step you wanted – or needed – to take? (150 words maximum)
York Schulich MBA 2012-2013 Goals Essay
1. Why is the master’s program a critical next step toward your
short-and long-term career goals? (500 words)