IESE Business School

IESE’s rise in B-school rankings has been nothing short of phenomenal. IESE MBA program is one of the few 2 years program in the EU. The school’s MBA program consistently ranks among the best in the world, and graduates have high praise for the school’s small and intimate MBA experience.

Classes at IESE employ the Harvard-originated case study method, which bases learning on actual management situations and Entrepreneurship is a key element within the MBA program. A hallmark of the program is the second-year entrepreneurship course, in which students develop business plans and are eligible to present them to actual investors in order to receive seed money.

Essay 1

Please answer ONE (and only one) of the following two questions. (300 words)

• If you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? Please give examples of both your strengths & weaknesses.

• Describe a recent situation (1-2 years ago maximum) that demonstrates your fit with IESE’s mission and values.

“Education is the most powerful tool to change the world”, said Nelson Mandela. In my life, I endeavour to equip as many underprivileged children with this empowering tool and aspire to have a deep positive lasting impact on their lives.

2 years ago, I joined Literacy India,  an NGO dedicated to educating and empowering underprivileged children. There, I observed that all classes had very irregular attendance and poor grades. I gathered a team of volunteers and reached out to these children’s families. We discovered that many of our students had pulled out of school and accompanied their parents to work due to financial constraints and sadder still, their hardships had made them lose interest in studies.

Seeing these children’s hardships strengthened my resolve to bring a positive change in their lives. My team and I decided to launch a fundraising drive to support their education and an experiential learning programs to ignite the learning desire among students.

Through our drive we raised €1.6K to sponsor 40 students. I personally took a pledge to sponsor and mentor 3 girls. With time, I developed a special bond with my 3 students and I could notice their growing confidence and interest in their studies because of my encouragement. Hence, I continued to support them and the proudest moment of my life came last year, when all 3 of them graduated high school and went to college in pursuit of their dreams.

I believe my ethos and commitment to educate underprivileged kids and create a long lasting impact in the community are in perfect sync with IESE’s mission and values. At IESE, I look forward to learning more and developing myself as a leader with a sense of humility, teamwork and commitment to common good of companies and society.

Essay 2

I wish that the application had asked me…

This essay can be submitted either written (200 words) or as a video (max 2:00 minutes total in length). We are aware that you are not a media professional.

I wish the application had asked me about my inspiration and love for writing poems.

I wrote my first poem on a beautiful flower at the age of 10, which was published in the national daily Hindustan Times. Since then, my mother always encouraged me to pursue and develop writing as a hobby.

As I grew up, writing became an integral part of my life because it liberated my thoughts and gave a constructive vent to my feelings and observations. My poems and stories occasionally got published in reputed magazines and national dailies. I have written for school and college magazines as chief editor and won multiple awards for my writing with a few notable publications in national newspapers. Last year, I finally managed to get my own book “Light in the Creek” published by a reputed publication in India. It is one of my life’s most satisfying achievements.

I try to use my writing as a medium to spread awareness on matters close to my heart such as child abuse and education for underprivileged. It is my silent activism to inspire action on these chronic issues. Books shaped my life and I wish to do the same for others.

Essay 1:

How do you expect to be changed by your experience at IESE and what impact you would like to make after your MBA? (word limit 300 max)

When we researched why MBA candidates are successful, we noticed that strong stories get attention. You don’t have to be perfect, but you should be genuine and personal. Make sure the reader understands your true character. Read more insights from our team to help your MBA application.

This essay is asking you to get personal and talk about impact. It doesn’t need to be a long track record of volunteering, but it should be something that is meaningful to you. When you think about your MBA experience, what do you hope to gain personally from it? What will you take from IESE and share with your community and the world?

Perhaps you are looking to broaden your network and gain a global outlook, and you plan to bring that perspective back to your US based business and help to expand internationally. Or your impact will be in volunteerism or extracurriculars. Think about your community and what your experiences at IESE will teach you.

Looking at the attributes of a successful applicant, this essay can demonstrate that you have personal drive, international outlook and strong values.

Essay 2:

What are your short and medium term post MBA career goals and how will IESE help you achieve them? (word limit 300 max)

Essay two focuses specifically on your career goals and why MBA. The admissions committee can see your resume within the application, so this essay should give the background of who you are and why you have made the choices you did. Think about one or two pivotal career moments you may want to explore.

Ideally, your experiences have led to a career goal that you can describe clearly. Be specific. If you want to go into venture capital after graduation, talk about the industry you would like to focus on. Maybe describe the products you like within that industry or any other details.

Then you will want explain why an MBA is your next step. What will you learn at IESE to complement your work experiences? What do you hope to gain from your classmates and the environment? Specific classes and professors are always useful detail to add.

Essay 3

I wish the admissions committee had asked me… (word limit 300 max)

This optional essay is entirely open ended and gives you an opportunity to explain any of the attributes you have not yet shown. Think about the stories you could tell about your background and questions that would be appropriate.

For example, you could say: “I wish the admissions committee had asked me about my most meaningful accomplishment” and describe a time when you achieved a goal. Or, for a more personal response, consider a question that asks you to introduce yourself to your classmates or describe a significant relationship in your life.

When you answer your own question make sure to include specific details to strengthen your story. Examples are always welcome. Describing lessons learned is also helpful background for your application.