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2024-2025 UNC Kenan Flagler MBA Essay Tips and Analysis

Admit expert.

• August 24, 2024

The UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program is known for developing future business leaders with a strong commitment to making a positive impact. For the 2025 admissions, the essay prompts are designed to help applicants showcase their career goals, leadership potential, and unique qualities. This article offers an in-depth analysis, actionable tips, and a winning framework for approaching the required and optional essay prompts. Whether you’re outlining your career ambitions or reflecting on a meaningful project, these essays offer a powerful opportunity to present your best self to the admissions committee.

Essay Prompts

Essay 1 is required.  Your response should be no longer than  500 words  and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
• As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

Essay 2 is required.  Your response should be no longer than  500 words  and should address the following question:

Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Essay 3 is optional.  We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than  200 words .

Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

Essay 4 is required only for previous applicants to any UNC MBA program format.  Your response should be no longer than  100 words  and should address the following prompt:

If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.

Essay 1: Career Goals and MBA Benefits

What the admissions committee seeks.

In this essay, the committee is looking for clarity and specificity regarding your  immediate career goals  post-MBA. They want to understand how your professional background, combined with a Kelley MBA, will facilitate your career aspirations. Additionally, the second part of the prompt addresses adaptability; the committee is interested in your ability to pivot and explore alternative opportunities should your initial goals not materialize. This reflects a broader concern for resilience and strategic thinking in candidates.The admissions committee values:

• Specificity : Clearly articulated goals demonstrate that you have thought carefully about your career trajectory.
• Alignment with Kelley : They want to see how the Kelley MBA will uniquely support your goals, indicating that you have researched the program and understand its offerings.
• Flexibility : Acknowledging alternative paths shows that you are open-minded and capable of navigating the uncertainties of the business world.

How to Write This Essay

To effectively respond to this prompt, follow these steps:

• Outline Your Goals : Begin by clearly stating your immediate post-MBA career goals. Be specific about the industry, role, and any companies you aspire to work for.
• Connect Your Background : Discuss your professional experiences that have prepared you for these goals. Highlight relevant skills, achievements, and learnings.
• Link to Kelley : Identify specific resources, courses, or faculty at Kelley that will help you achieve your goals. This shows that you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in what the program offers.
• Discuss Alternative Paths : Reflect on potential alternative career opportunities. Explain how your skills and experiences could be applied in different contexts, showcasing your adaptability and strategic mindset.
• Draft and Revise : Write a draft that flows logically, ensuring you stay within the 500-word limit. Edit for clarity, conciseness, and grammatical accuracy.

Essay 2: Impactful Project or Initiative

This essay prompt seeks to uncover your leadership qualities and sense of social responsibility. The admissions committee wants to see how your past experiences have shaped your perspective as a future leader. They are particularly interested in projects or initiatives that have had a  significant positive impact  on a community, organization, or individual, as this reflects your potential to contribute positively to society.Key aspects the committee values include:

• Leadership and Initiative : They want to see examples of how you have taken charge and made a difference.
• Reflection : The committee is interested in your insights gained from the experience and how it has influenced your approach to leadership.
• Commitment to Making a Difference : Your narrative should reflect a genuine desire to impact the world positively.

To craft a compelling response, consider the following steps:

• Choose a Relevant Experience : Select a project or initiative that had a meaningful impact. Ensure it aligns with your values and future aspirations.
• Describe Your Role : Clearly outline your involvement in the project. What was your role? What actions did you take? Use specific examples to illustrate your contributions.
• Highlight the Impact : Discuss the positive outcomes of the initiative. Quantify the impact where possible (e.g., number of people helped, improvements made).
• Reflect on Your Growth : Explain how this experience shaped your understanding of leadership and responsibility. What lessons did you learn, and how will they influence your actions as a future leader?
• Conclude with Future Aspirations : Tie your experience back to your future goals, illustrating how it has prepared you to make a difference in the world.

Optional Essay: Personal Insights

The optional essay provides an opportunity for applicants to share additional information that may not be covered elsewhere in the application. The committee seeks to understand you better as a person and potential member of the Kelley community. This could include personal achievements, interests, or explanations for any gaps in your experience.

• Choose a Topic Wisely : Select a topic that genuinely reflects who you are. This could be an accomplishment, a passion, or an interesting personal anecdote.
• Be Authentic : Write in your voice and share something meaningful. This is your chance to showcase your personality beyond your professional achievements.
• Stay Concise : Given the 200-word limit, be succinct while still conveying your message clearly.

Essay 4: Re-application

For previous applicants, this essay serves to highlight improvements in your candidacy since your last application. The committee is interested in understanding how you have strengthened your profile and what new elements you bring to the table.

• Be Specific : Clearly outline the differences between your current application and the previous one. Mention any new achievements, promotions, or experiences.
• Reflect on Growth : Discuss what you have learned from the previous application process and how you have grown since then.
• Stay Within the Word Limit : Keep your response concise, focusing on the most significant updates.

Final Thoughts

The UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays offer a platform to highlight both your professional ambitions and your personal values. By articulating clear career goals, reflecting on impactful leadership experiences, and sharing your unique personality, you can build a compelling narrative that aligns with the school’s mission. Thoughtful and authentic responses to these prompts will showcase your readiness for business leadership and your fit for the Kenan-Flagler community. With careful preparation and a strategic approach, you can confidently craft essays that strengthen your MBA application.

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UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024-2025], Class Profile

Are you a team leader? Are you committed to sustainable enterprise? Are you seeking the resources and intellectual capital needed to shape both business and government? Are you a motivated, goal-oriented, innovative individual? If you answered yes to these questions, the UNC Kenan-Flagler adcom is interested in learning more about your multidimensional personality and capabilities. 

Ready to get to work on your Kenan-Flagler application? Read on.

Kenan-Flagler application essay tips

Kenan-flagler application deadlines, kenan-flagler class profile.

The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina has two required essays and one optional essay again this year.

Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
•  As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

What do you see yourself doing immediately upon graduation, and why? What is your motivation to go down this path? And finally, why do you need an MBA from Kenan-Flagler specifically to realize your dream?

The adcom also wants to know what your Plan B is. If you are aiming for a position with Goldman Sachs and a career in investment banking, would your backup plan be obtaining a similar role with, let’s say, Bank of America? Or would you instead pursue a position in corporate finance or with a start-up? If you are aiming for McKinsey & Company, Bain, or BCG, what would your Plan B be? Perhaps a position in a leadership rotation program? Or maybe you’d like to work for a firm such as Deloitte or Kearney?

Your Plan B needs to be at least as achievable as your Plan A – if not more so. It should also be an alternative to your Plan A that the MBA education you’ll receive at Kenan-Flagler will help you attain.

Check out our free guide The Winning Ingredients of a Dynamic MBA Goals Essay for more tips on writing about your post-MBA professional aspirations.

Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:

• Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Kenan-Flagler’s adcom is interested in learning about a meaningful experience you’ve had and how it shaped you. The outcome of the situation you share must have been positive for the people involved. The prompt does not require you to have held a particular role in the situation. Still, whether you were part of a group or in a leadership position, you need to reflect on your actions, considerations, decisions, contributions, and outcomes that benefitted others. To begin your essay, share context and details that paint a picture of the situation. As you lead the reader through the situation, it’s crucial to go beyond merely stating what you did; you must explain why and/or how you did what you did to illustrate your commitment to driving positive change. Finish the essay by reflecting on what you learned and your inspiration for continuing to be a leader who inspires hope.

Essay #3 (Optional)

We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than 200 words. Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

Here are the key elements of the instructions for this optional essay: 

• “Tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person.” This essay should not be about the widgets or apps you’ve created or the three-letter acronyms that define your work. It needs to be about you as a human being and a potential member of the MBA program’s community. Why should your fellow students want to hang out with you?
• “Convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application.” Don’t repeat material that can be found elsewhere in your application. And do not treat this essay as some kind of grand finale. 

Although you could use this essay to provide context for a weakness in your application, you can also use it to discuss your “interests and passions” or to present a “fun fact about yourself.” Let the adcom see this other side of you, which might not come through in the required portions of the application. This is one optional essay you should not skip!

Again, the school is genuinely trying to learn about you and assess whether you will add value to the Kenan-Flagler community. Give the adcom reasons to conclude that you will.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the application date.

*Round 3 is the final deadline for international applicants.

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Kenan-Flagler directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the Kenan-Flagler MBA Class of 2026 (data taken from the Kenan-Flagler website ):

Class size: 249

Average GMAT score: 707

Average GPA: 3.42

Average age: 28

Average years of work experience: 5

International: 43%

Military: 12%

Female: 31%

You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are in life. Now that you’re ready for your next achievement, make sure you know how to present yourself to maximum advantage in your Kenan-Flagler application. In a hotly competitive season, you’ll want a member of Team Accepted in your corner, guiding you with expertise tailored specifically for you. Schedule a free consultation today.

As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management. Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• How to Get Accepted to UNC Kenan-Flagler Full-Time MBA Program , podcast Episode 496
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants
• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your MBA Application Essays , a free guide

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UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Get ready to ace your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application with this comprehensive essay guide.

Posted March 1, 2024

Featuring Matt P.

Planning Your MBA Application

Starting friday, september 6.

12:00 AM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

Are you interested in pursuing an MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School? One vital aspect of your application will be the essays you need to submit. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide an overview of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays, along with useful tips and examples to help you craft compelling responses .

UNC Kenan-Flagler Application and the Role of Essays

When applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler, you will be required to submit a set of essays that allow the admissions committee to understand your background, goals, and fit with the program. These essays are an opportunity for you to showcase your personality, motivations, and achievements , providing a holistic view of who you are as a candidate.

Your essays serve as a critical complement to your resume and other application materials. They allow the admissions team to gauge your potential for success in the program and contribute to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Therefore, it is essential to approach these essays with careful thought and effort.

One of the key aspects that the admissions committee looks for in your essays is your ability to articulate your goals and aspirations. This is your chance to demonstrate your clarity of purpose and how the UNC Kenan-Flagler program aligns with your career objectives. You should highlight the specific skills, knowledge, and experiences you hope to gain from the program and explain how they will contribute to your long-term professional growth.

In addition to showcasing your goals, the essays also provide an opportunity for you to highlight your unique background and experiences . The admissions committee is interested in understanding the diverse perspectives and experiences that each candidate brings to the table. You can discuss any challenges you have faced, how you have overcome them, and the lessons you have learned along the way. By sharing your personal journey, you can demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic and competitive environment.

Furthermore, the essays allow you to showcase your leadership potential and your ability to work effectively in teams. UNC Kenan-Flagler places a strong emphasis on collaborative learning and values candidates who can contribute to a collaborative and inclusive community. You can discuss any leadership roles you have held, the impact you have made, and how you have effectively worked with others to achieve common goals. Additionally, you can highlight any experiences where you have demonstrated strong interpersonal skills, such as resolving conflicts or fostering a positive team dynamic.

Lastly, the essays provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the UNC Kenan-Flagler program and how you envision yourself contributing to the community. Conduct thorough research on the program, its curriculum, faculty, and extracurricular activities. Show your enthusiasm for specific aspects of the program and explain how you plan to leverage those opportunities to make a meaningful impact. This will not only showcase your genuine interest in the program but also demonstrate that you have taken the time to understand what makes UNC Kenan-Flagler unique.

In conclusion, the essays play a crucial role in the UNC Kenan-Flagler application process. They allow you to go beyond your resume and provide a deeper understanding of who you are as a candidate. By carefully crafting your essays, showcasing your goals, experiences, leadership potential, and knowledge of the program, you can increase your chances of standing out and securing a spot in the UNC Kenan-Flagler community.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

For the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, UNC Kenan-Flagler has released the following essay prompts:

• Prompt 1: Discuss your short-term and long-term career goals. How will the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program help you achieve these goals? (500 words maximum)
• Prompt 2: At UNC Kenan-Flagler, we believe that collaboration and teamwork create the best results. How have you demonstrated these characteristics in your personal and professional life? (300 words maximum)
• Prompt 3: Optional Prompt: Is there any additional information that you would like to share with the admissions committee? (300 words maximum)

These prompts offer you the opportunity to present a well-rounded picture of your experiences, aspirations, and potential contributions to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Let's dive into expert tips for each essay prompt to help you craft impactful responses:

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List of Expert Tips for Each Kenan-Flagler Essay Prompt

1. Prompt 1: Start by clearly defining your career goals, both short-term and long-term. Be specific and realistic, showcasing an understanding of the industry or role you aspire to.

2. Discuss how the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program aligns with your career goals. Research the curriculum, faculty, and resources unique to UNC Kenan-Flagler to demonstrate your genuine interest in the program.

3. Prompt 2: Identify significant instances where you collaborated or worked effectively in a team setting. Provide specific examples that highlight your ability to contribute and cooperate with others.

4. Showcase your interpersonal and leadership skills in your response. Share experiences that demonstrate your ability to navigate diverse perspectives, manage conflicts, and achieve common goals.

5. Prompt 3: Use the optional prompt strategically. If you have any compelling information that couldn't be included in other essays, address it here. This is an opportunity to highlight unique aspects of your background.

6. Avoid repetition across your essays. Each response should provide new insights into your candidacy and offer a holistic view of your personal and professional journey.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Aside from specific tips for the Kenan-Flagler essays, here are some general MBA essay writing tips to help you create compelling and memorable responses:

• 1. Start early: Give yourself ample time to brainstorm, outline, write, and revise your essays. Procrastination can hinder the quality of your responses.
• 2. Reflect on your experiences: Take the time to reflect on your personal and professional journey, identifying key turning points, challenges, and achievements that have shaped your character and aspirations.
• 3. Be authentic: Your essays should reflect your unique voice, experiences, and aspirations. Avoid using buzzwords or portraying an image that doesn't align with who you truly are.
• 4. Structure your essays effectively: Use paragraphs and headings to create a clear and organized structure. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or idea.
• 5. Provide concrete examples: Support your statements with specific examples and anecdotes that demonstrate your skills, qualities, and achievements. This will make your essays more convincing and memorable.
• 6. Edit and proofread: Ensure that your essays are free of grammatical errors, typos, and awkward phrasings. Edit and proofread multiple times, or consider asking someone else to review your essays.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

To further guide you in your essay writing process, we have compiled a collection of successful UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay examples, along with an analysis of what makes them effective. These examples will provide valuable insights into the execution and presentation of strong essay responses.

By studying these examples, you can gain a better understanding of how to structure your essays and effectively convey your unique story and key messages.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Essay FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays:

• Q: How long should my essays be?

A: For the first prompt, the maximum word count is 500 words. For the second and third prompts, the maximum is 300 words.

• Q: Should I answer all three prompts?

A: It is recommended to respond to all three prompts. However, the third prompt is optional, and you should only use it if you have significant additional information to share.

• Q: Can I exceed the word limits?

A: It is generally advisable to adhere to the given word limits. Admissions committees appreciate concise and well-articulated responses.

Now armed with a comprehensive understanding of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays, along with expert tips and examples, you can begin crafting compelling and persuasive responses that showcase your unique candidacy. Good luck with your application!

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Tips for Your UNC Kenan-Flagler Application Essays

August 30, 2024

Donna Bauman

UNC Kenan-Flagler Application Essay Tips, 2024-2025

UNC Kenan-Flagler is bucking tradition this year by not changing its essay prompts. The school’s first essay question has stayed remarkably consistent over many years and asks you to outline your short-term professional goal, explain how a Kenan-Flagler MBA will help you, and offer a “backup” plan in the event that your initial goals prove unattainable for some reason. The second essay question asks you to provide evidence of having delivered results in either your professional or your personal environment. The optional essay — beyond providing a place to address the usual optional essay topics related to employment gaps, academic or testing issues, and recommender choices — allows you to share something fun about yourself and give the admissions team a chance to learn more about you beyond your professional accomplishments.

The school’s prime offerings — including real-life learning, concentrations tailored to your professional goals, a career team behind you, a STEM-focused curriculum, an engaged MBA community, and a small class size with robust faculty resources — will help you amplify your career impact and prepare you to excel in a global business environment. 

Essay 1 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

– what are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an mba at kenan-flagler business school, – as the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore.

Before you jump in and present your immediate post-MBA career goal, consider sharing a brief story that provides some context for why your goal is important to you. There are only so many immediate career goals you can have: consulting, real estate, technology, finance. It is difficult to stand out when you state a goal without any context. Your goals will be so much more interesting and differentiated in the minds of the admissions team if you also offer a unique and meaningful story about why your chosen goal makes sense in relation to your aspirations and experience.

In addressing how you will benefit from a UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA, note any gaps you have in your knowledge, skills, or experience that could prevent you from reaching your career goal, and explain how specific classes, clubs, and resources at the school could help you fill in these gaps. Don’t overlook Kenan-Flagler’s robust  institutes and centers  when considering the offerings that might be of use to you. Every business school wants to know that applicants are excited to attend its MBA program in particular, and UNC Kenan-Flagler is of course no different. The school provides a user-friendly MBA Student Ambassador link that you can use to find a student with your intended concentration or industry goals. Have conversations with student ambassadors to understand how you can not only gain from the program but also give back to it. Taking the time to do this research is one of the best ways you can demonstrate your strong interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. 

In asking about your alternative goals, the admissions committee wants to know that you have done some career reflection to understand other ways of attaining your professional objectives. The job market can be unpredictable, and Kenan-Flagler wants evidence that you have given some thought to other paths, if needed. Your alternative goal should be related to your immediate goal, not a completely different career path.

Essay 2 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:

Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. how did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world .

UNC Kenan-Flagler continues for a second year asking this question specifically about applicants’ abilities to make an impact, but the school has always valued this trait. The program wants net givers — people who will move initiatives forward as opposed to passive students who would not add value. You have the opportunity to showcase either a professional or a community accomplishment. The most important aspect is that you provide evidence of your ability to drive results, because this is valued not just by Kenan-Flagler but also by employers. For the latter part of this question — regarding how the experience has shaped your responsibility as a leader — reflect on UNC Kenan-Flagler’s core values of integrity, inclusion, innovation, and impact. The school views these as concentric circles, with the foundation being integrity , then moving outward to think about how to create inclusive environments that foster innovation and ultimately drive impact . As you reflect on your leadership journey, consider how you have approached any of these core values.

Essay 3 is optional. We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than 200 words.

Optional topics:, –personal or professional accomplishments –interests and passions –gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance –context for recommender selection –a fun fact about yourself.

While not everyone will need to address gaps in employment, academic performance issues, or recommender selection, everyone should take this opportunity to share a personal or professional accomplishment and any particular interests as well as a fun fact about themselves. This prompt lets you help the UNC Kenan-Flagler admissions team get to know you more fully and differentiate yourself from other applicants with a similar professional background. In particular, the “fun fact” option gives you a way to share something interesting about you that could compel the admissions team to want to know more about you! For example, If you’ve built a tiny house, this fact might stick in the mind of someone on the admissions team who is also interested in this topic, and they might even ask you more about your experience building the house when they meet you! You now have a connection with them, and this might make your overall profile more memorable.

If you do not need to address any problematic topics, you might not need to use all 200 words, but don’t miss the opportunity to let the admissions team learn something interesting about you through your response to this question!

Re-applicants

Essay 4 is required only for previous applicants to any unc mba program format. your response should be no longer than 100 words and should address the following prompt:, if you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in unc kenan-flagler. we require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy..

If you are taking the time to reapply, refresh your essays! When I reviewed applications for UNC Kenan-Flagler, one of the first things I looked to see was whether a candidate had provided new material in the essays compared to the previous year. Taking a fresh look at your application speaks volumes about your interest in the program. Enhance your resume to reflect an extra year of professional growth. Ideally, you have grown in your leadership outside of work as well. If your test scores were not a strength in your previous application, address how you have attempted to improve your skills or knowledge either through additional coursework or an improved score, or both. Your ability to highlight your most impressive improvements will signal self-awareness to the admissions team and help you make your case for admission.

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2024-2025 essay Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA Application Essays Optional Essay Reapplicant

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Consistently ranked one of the world's best business schools, UNC Kenan-Flagler is known for renowned faculty, extraordinary learning experiences, innovative research and our core values of integrity, inclusion, innovation and impact.

Business for life

At UNC Kenan-Flagler, we build and inspire leaders who make the world a better place. We foster learning as a lifelong journey by creating and delivering rigorous, relevant thought leadership, and building a community committed to our shared values. As we strive for excellence in our teaching, research and service, we use our core values to guide our initiatives, make decisions, strengthen our culture and contribute to North Carolina and the world beyond.

Program Offerings

• Undergraduate Business Program
• MBA Programs
• Master of Accounting Program
• Ph.D. Program
• UNC Executive Development
• Kenan-Flagler Business School 300 Kenan Center Drive Chapel Hill 27599
• Rizzo Center (Executive Development Program) 150 Dubose Lane Chapel Hill 27517

Facts & Figures

• 51,000 alumni in 50 states and 97countries
• 143 full-time faculty from 20 countries
• 105+ years years in business
• 1,200 undergraduate students
• 1,500 MBA students
• 360 Master of Accounting students
• 62 Ph.D. students

Around Campus

Carolina Across 100 begins focus on housing

The initiative will work with communities across the state to improve affordable housing access and availability.

Goings, Harris receive faculty, staff awards

Trenette Clark Goings of the School of Social Work and Shauna Harris of the Carolina Women’s Center will be honored at the University Day celebration Oct. 11.

How Carolina is complying with UNC System’s DEI policy

Support for faculty, staff and student success and well-being will continue across the University.

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UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays for 2024-2025

Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School ? Then, let the brainstorming begin! Here are the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays and deadlines for the 2024-2025 admissions season.

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays

From the AdCom: You’ll respond to two required essay questions and one optional question. Your responses should be concise, clear, and introspective as we’ll use them to learn more about you, your motivations, and your aspirations.

Essay 1 is required.  Your response should be no longer than  500 words  and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
• As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

Essay 2 is required.  Your response should be no longer than  500 words  and should address the following question:

Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Essay 3 is optional.  We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than  200 words .

Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

Essay 4 is required only for previous applicants to any UNC MBA program format.  Your response should be no longer than  100 words  and should address the following prompt:

If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.

For more application information, please visit the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA admissions website . If you need guidance on your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis  of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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• Undergraduate
• Master of Accounting
• Full Time MBA
• Evening Executive MBA
• Weekend Executive MBA
• Charlotte Executive MBA

Clinical Associate Professor of Finance

CB 3490 Chapel Hill , NC 27599

[email protected]

Art Baker teaches courses on private equity, mergers and acquisitions and entrepreneurship through acquisition.

He brings more than 15 years of professional finance experience to UNC Kenan-Flagler. He worked as an investment banker and finance executive in Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies.

Dr. Baker served as chief strategy officer for Smart Start, a portfolio company of a major private equity firm. He led strategy, business development and M&A activities. He was a member of the senior executive committee reporting to the CEO.

He also was manager of strategic initiatives for AAA; manager of corporate development for General Motors; and vice president of investment banking and M&A for RBC Capital Markets in Toronto.

Dr. Baker previously taught at Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and the Investment Banking Institute.

He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.

He received his PhD in economics from Moscow State University, his MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and his BS in business from Oklahoma City University.

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Our new faculty work in the fields of accounting, finance, management communication, marketing, operations and organizational behavior.

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