Word limit of application essays can become a real nightmare for MBA candidates, because their background and experience (which is traditionally more than 2 years and expresses a lot of examples on achievements and results to show and prove to AdComs) are really hard to squeeze to a few sentences!

The challenging task however, can be beaten with the help of 2 simple tips. Let’s exemplify them with Ross Business School MBA application essays, which are perfect samples of shortcut stories:

Select one prompt from each group. Respond to your selected prompts using 100 words or fewer (<100 words each; 300 words total).

Group 1

• I want people to know that I:
• I turned an idea into action when I:
• I made a difference when I:

Group 2

• I showed my resilience when I:
• I was humbled when:
• I am out of my comfort zone when:

Group 3

• I was aware that I am different when:
• I find it challenging when people:
• A valuable thing I have taught someone is:

TIP 1

Select the topics, which are made up with definite and very specific cases (examples). What does it mean by “definite and very specific”? It means your cases do not require long and deep explanations of their roots and origins, as well as their emotional/moral/culture-specific prerequisites. Escape making AdComs search special terms, conditions or backgrounds to understand the reasons of the case you have faced. For example, if answers to the questions ##2,3 in the Group 1 require preliminary introduction/search of specific terms, skip them and focus on answering question #1.

TIP 2

Break down your 100-word story into 3 main parts:

• Introduction – the main idea of your story.  Say here what you want to demonstrate and help AdComs understand your main idea by clear statement with your target goal.
• Main body – tell your story in brief by including your role in it in each and every sentence.
• Conclusion – show the result or outcome, which concerns your personal feelings/achievements/expectations/lessons learnt.

Limit each part with a strict number of words and re-word/re-phrase until you reach your target limit. Ask a proofreader’s assistance, if you seem to not be able to do this rigorous task yourself.

Ask your friend or relative or an expert to give their feedback on your version with the main objective to tell you how they perceive your story and what they have understood.  Return for the second feedback in a couple of days and ask your readers to state a main idea and what they have remembered about you from your story. Do you like their answers? If no - be patient, do not worry and keep working on your stories by reviewing and editing your previous versions! Enjoy composing and writing practice, because it could be really inspiring (according to our clients’ feedbacksJ)