In this blog post we will discuss Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business MBA admissions essays for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle. The admissions committee is so specific in what they are looking for, they have even given you a preamble:
We want to hear your story. When responding to our required essays, be authentic and take time to reflect on your goals and past experiences. Craft a response that explains how these experiences led you to pursue an MBA.
Our goal at Georgetown McDonough is to craft a diverse class with people who have had varying personal and professional life experiences. As such, we want to give our applicants the opportunity to select one essay (from a list of [four]) that allows them the ability to best highlight their experiences, characteristics, and values that showcase the value proposition that they can bring to the McDonough community. Please select one of the following three essays to complete in 300-350 words (approximately one page, double spaced) and include the essay prompt and your first/last name at the top of your submission.
Essay Option One
Principled Leadership: Georgetown McDonough places a strong emphasis on principled leadership, providing both curricular and co-curricular opportunities to strengthen your leadership skills. Describe a time when you have led a team in a professional environment to implement a new idea or process. What leadership characteristics did you utilize? What could you have done to be more effective? And most importantly, what skills will you be able to bring to the teams you lead at McDonough? (300-350 words)
McDonough believes that their program is getting you ready for the international stage. And you would be smart to think of your answer to this question as a reflection of how your strengths and potential would fit into the tough MBA program in DC. The admissions committee wants to know not only how you overcame leadership challenges, but also how you did well in spite of them and grew as a person and as a leader as a result.
The main purpose of this essay is to describe a professional leadership experience that involved a new idea or method of doing things. The admissions committee will also look at what you learned during the process. Could you have done a better job? What did your experience teach you? When choosing a topic, you should pay close attention to the preamble and how it emphasizes principled leadership that includes both social and shareholder responsibility. We strongly suggest you try to choose an example that fits with at least one of the two touch points.
We recommend a simple STAR structure for this answer once you've chosen an example. Describe what's going on. In your role as a leader, what was the task you needed to get done? Did you encounter trouble? Then give a chronological account of how you took action. And finally, what was the end result? In conclusion, tell us how these qualities and lessons have helped you and how they make you a good fit for the Georgetown MBA community.
Essay Option Two
Hoyas for the Common Good: Georgetown McDonough embodies the ethos that people and organizations can and should contribute to the greater good. The admissions committee would like to better understand how you have demonstrated these values during uniquely challenging times. Describe a time where you’ve put the needs of others ahead of your own, or ahead of the bottom line. We look forward to learning more about the challenge you faced, what unique characteristics you brought to that scenario, and what you learned from it. (300-350 words)
In this essay, it would make sense to talk about a time when you directly helped someone. You might want to think about relationships with managers or mentors that helped you grow. You might want to talk about a time when you worked with a peer. No matter what kind of relationship you choose, it will be important to talk about what you did, how you interacted, and what happened as a result. What did you have to deal with? How did you respond? How did success show itself? What did you learn from doing it? You may have taken time out of your day to help a new intern, who went on to get a part-time job at your company. Or, a team member may have had trouble managing their time, so you stayed late to help them meet a deadline. Maybe you did something to help your local community, like joining a group and working with kids. After going through the specifics, tie your discussion back to how your time at McDonough may be affected by this experience.
Essay Option Three
The Georgetown Community: Georgetown McDonough is a diverse, global community. We look to understand the contribution that your personal background would make to our community. As appropriate, you may wish to address any obstacles or challenges you have overcome; any educational, familial, cultural, economic, and social experiences that have helped to shape your educational and professional goals; or how your background (e.g. first-generation student, resident outside the U.S.) or activities (e.g. community service and leadership) will contribute to our community. (300-350 words)
This is your chance to show the admissions committee who you are, where you come from, and what you care about. It is also a good place to show how resourceful and persistent you have been, as well as how mature you are personally and professionally and how well you work with others. A good way to do this might be to describe the initial problem or experience and its broad effects in a few sentences. Then, talk about how you dealt with it and give a short example. Finally, talk about the lessons you've learned and how those lessons have made you who you are today.
The committee that decides who gets in wants to know that you will be helpful and work well with others on campus. They want to know if you'll fit in well with the other students. You should try to make a link between your past and what you could do for McDonough in the future. You can talk about your work, your personal life, or your academics. It's important to set the scene before talking about how you would contribute. As you think about the contributions, think about how you can use your experience and the lessons you've learned from it to get involved on the Georgetown campus. Make a connection between your past and what you hope to do in the program. This will help you show a consistent and clear picture of your candidacy as well as your professional and personal interests. The admissions committee will have more reasons to let you in if you give them more information about how you would help, such as by organizing an annual event.
Video Essay
Building a cohort of diverse and unique individuals is important to the admissions team. We want you to bring your whole self to Georgetown McDonough. Throughout the application, we’ve learned about what you would add as a professional and leader. Just as important is learning about your interests outside of work. In one minute, please describe a hobby, passion, or what you do for fun in your free time- and why. For more instructions, view our Video Essay Guide.
You may use your phone, computer, or other means to record the video, but please ensure all audio and visual components are clear. We recommend a well-lit room and minimal noise distraction.
The admissions committee would like for you to appear in person during part of your video.
We recommend unscripted, conversational videos – help us get to know the real you!
Upload your video to an accessible website (such as YouTube, Vimeo, Youku, or Tudou), and submit the direct video URL into your online application.
Please note that all videos must remain active and accessible to the admissions committee online for a minimum of five years for record retention purposes.
For your privacy: Do not include your name in the title of your video. You may submit “unlisted” videos via YouTube or password protected videos through Vimeo. If using a password, please include immediately after your link in the text box below. [Ex: www.youtube.com/123, password: Hoyas]
We encourage you to use the Georgetown McDonough video question to show off parts of your personality and your candidacy that you weren't able to talk about in your other application materials. The McDonough team even encourages you to explore a hobby, passion, or what you do in your free time. You could talk about something interesting you did outside of school or something you're especially proud of as a personal achievement.
Practice your answers ahead of time to make sure they will fit within the time limit. You should also record yourself and watch it to see where you can improve. The key is to not let the practicing make you sound too practiced in the final video. Just be yourself.
Since this is a visual presentation, make sure you look and sound professional and that there is enough light and sound. Have a good and steady background. You might be tempted to put things like props or memorabilia in your video, but try to avoid doing that. A one-minute, heartfelt explanation while looking straight into the camera is very effective.
Optional Essay
Please provide any information you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included. (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced)
Explain any liabilities you may have in your candidacy to all prospective critics. Describe unique recommenders, employment gaps, or make comments about exceptional situations that had an impact on past performance. It's preferable to keep this essay as succinct and direct as you can.
Re-Applicant Essay (Required for Re-Applicants)
How have you strengthened your candidacy since your last application? We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have grown professionally and personally. (300-350 words, approximately one page, double spaced)
This question seeks to find out what proactive improvements you have accomplished since your previous application. This response ought to be primarily action-oriented, emphasizing the efforts you have made to improve your application this time around. The request for professional progress should include taking into account an increase in your workload (perhaps more direct management experience) or the completion of a project that has been a success since your previous application. On a personal level, this can involve significant devotion. There should also be space to elaborate on your professional aspirations and the reasons you are drawn to the McDonough program. Additionally, since the admissions committee wants to know that you've approached your application with new knowledge and fresh eyes, it's crucial to avoid copying and pasting any text from a previous application.
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