stanford gsb essay word limit

Stanford GSB Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2024-2025

Stanford GSB Essays and Application Deadlines

Stanford GSB ‘s 2024-2025 MBA application is now live. It appears that this year Stanford lowered the word count for essay B. It is suggested to allocate up to 650 words on Essay A and up to 350 words on Essay B.

Stanford had already shortened the combined word limit a few years ago, a sign that the school encourages applicants to remain focused and concise in their answers. Below, please find Personal MBA Coach’s advice on how to approach the two Stanford GSB essay questions.

The Upcoming Stanford GSB Application Deadlines 2024-2025 Are:

Round 1: September 10, 2024

Round 2: January 8, 2025

Round 3: April 8, 2025

2024-2025 Stanford GSB Essays:

Stanford gsb essay a: what matters most to you, and why (650 words suggested).

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

This first Stanford MBA essay is arguably one of the hardest MBA application questions across all schools. This challenging question requires candidates to speak from the heart.

As Stanford advises, think more about your values here and WHY you made the choices you have made than WHAT you have done. Personal MBA Coach recommends you do some serious soul searching before starting. Think about what you are most passionate about. What drives you to get out of bed each morning? If you could spend your time as you wish, what would you do? Ideally, you have acted on this passion, and it extends throughout multiple aspects of your life.

Then, think carefully about why this matters to you. Did you have an experience as a child? Are you following a passion held by others in your family?

Finally, once you have established the why, you should include some WHAT here. After all, a passion or cause that you have done nothing with will not be very believable. Remember though, this is only PART of this personal essay.

Man at a Coffee Shop Looks at Stanford Graduate School of Business Application Deadlines

Stanford GSB Essay B: Why Stanford? (350 words suggested)

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

In this short Stanford MBA essay, candidates have a lot to cover. First, you should set up why you want an MBA. Naturally, this would include what your goals are and what skills you need to develop to achieve these goals.

Then, establish how Stanford will help you to fill these skill gaps. Once again, be specific! Name classes, clubs, programs, etc. and how they will help. Finally, be sure to articulate what attracts you to Stanford’s culture. We realize this is a tall order with a suggested word count of only 350 words, so be succinct.

Unlike other schools, Stanford gives the candidate discretion on how to divide the 1000 words across the two essays. The breakdown above is a suggestion and, in general, this is an ideal breakdown for most candidates.

In addition, there is one optional question in the Stanford GSB application.

Stanford Graduate School of Business Campus

Stanford GSB Optional Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

For many other top MBA programs, Personal MBA Coach advises clients to answer optional essays only to discuss unique circumstances. Take a look at our blog on optional essay questions to learn more.

However, the requirements for addressing one or more of the optional Stanford MBA essays are not quite as stringent. You can use these optional essays to share other aspects of your candidacy not included in your essays.

That said, use these Stanford MBA essays sparingly. Less continues to be more here.

Answer these questions only if you have something very powerful to add that is not already included elsewhere in your Stanford GSB application.

Looking help developing your Stanford GSB essays? Find out how we can help with our comprehensive packages . Plus, for more information on the full-time Stanford MBA program, check out Personal MBA Coach’s Stanford guide .

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Stanford Class of 2027 essay analysis

Updated: 1 day ago

Stanford GSB has confirmed their application questions for the 2024/25 application cycle. You can find more details on their questions here .

As in prior years, Stanford is looking to learn a number of things about you through the application process:

1. What matters to you – what motivates you to your core?

2. What you aspire to do – how do you aspire to drive change in the world?

3. What impact you have had on your communities?

4. How your experiences and background impact your perspectives?

Essay questions

Stanford’s iconic essays remain the same for another year, albeit with slightly shorter word limit. The first question “What Matters Most?” suggests a 650-word limit and “Why Stanford?” has a suggested 350-word limit (1,000 words total). The school also offers applications the opportunity to submit up to three essays highlighting positive impacts you have had, as well as information on how your background has influenced you.

What matters most to you, and why?

Instructions from the GSB: For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Each year, Stanford’s question #1 is one of the most challenging questions for many applicants across any school. It is also where our clients often learn the most about themselves.

The essay should focus on motivation , not achievement. The essay requires thoughtful self-reflection and serves a dual purpose of introducing you to the committee while also sharing clear insight about how you think. The key here is that no answer is better than another; explaining why your topic matters most to you is more important than what topic you choose in the first place.

In our experience, some successful applicants have chosen fairly common topics, such as family, faith, heritage, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. Those topics can work if you have strong examples to differentiate from what other applicants might write. However, what we recommend to clients is to choose a topic that allows you to highlight what makes you truly unique and exceptional. And stories that allow you to showcase your authenticity to the GSB.

One of our favorite topics remains an article of clothing, as it reminded our client of various important life events, and lessons learned from those events. Not only are these essays more fun to read, they have a higher success rate for our clients. What makes a good topic for you? It should be intensely personal, allowing the reader to learn your past and how that will drive your future. These stories should reflect characteristics that will make you a better Stanford student and alum. In fact, this is an essay we highly recommend you don't read what others wrote - doing so tends to cement in peoples' minds a "template" that they will then look to follow, rather than showcasing their true authenticity. Finally, the essay should begin to lay the groundwork for the next essay… why Stanford?

Why Stanford?

Instructions from the GSB: Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

You are applying to Stanford GSB – your aspirations should reflect the power of what the school can bring to your ability to drive impact in the world. Successful applications do not only have big dreams, they have a track record that shows that those dreams are well-explored and will drive lasting impact. Successful applications show very thoughtful reflection on how, specifically, the program will allow you to take ownership of your own success. Some will highlight short-term goals, almost all will outline long-term goals. It needs to be clear through the essay that an MBA is a necessary step in the process, and allow the reader to understand how the GSB is the place to achieve those goals in a differential way.

Short answer questions

The application includes the same three optional 1200-character short answer questions from last year “Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?”. While some applicants are successful without submitting all three optional essays (some submitted none), we recommend using these essays to highlight important achievements and impact you are proud of.

Given the tight word limit, structuring these answers is critical. Avoid spending more than 25% of the essay discussing what you did. And when you do, focus on the key decisions you made, and why you made those decisions. For the remainder of each essay, discuss the impact your decisions had on the outcome. Did you provide a critical insight that convinced key decision-makers to pursue a different path, with a different outcome? Did you ask for help at a critical time? The closer the link between your decisions and the positive impact created, the more effective the example will be in convincing the reader that you belong at Stanford.

"Background" Question

Instructions from the GSB: We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. With this question we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (1200 characters)

Similar to last year, they want you to focus more on your actions and choices, and how your background shaped them.

2024/25 deadlines

Deadline time: 4pm PT on below dates

Round 1: Application deadline: Sep 10, 2024, Decision date: Dec 5, 2024

Round 2: Application deadline: Jan 8, 2025, Decision date: Apr 3, 2025

Round 3: Application deadline: Apr 8, 2025, Decision date: May 29, 2025

Other application details

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, stanford gsb essays: tips & strategy on writing what matters most.

By Matt Symonds

Stanford GSB’s essays continue to present a formidable exercise in self-awareness.

The Stanford GSB application includes two required essays and two optional short-answer questions. The GSB wants to understand why we do the things we do, why we make certain choices in life, and the opportunities and challenges we face. Take this on as a personal feat, not just a series of MBA essay questions.

Rather than provide a hard word limit, Stanford states that combined, your two required essays may not exceed 1,050 words. Stanford recommends up to 650 words for the iconic “What matters most to you and why” Essay A, and up to 400 words for Essay B, “Why Stanford?” They say that they often find effective essays written in far fewer words.

By offering not just one but two optional short answer essays, the GSB is inviting you to get more personal in the main essay A, providing another space for you to detail your professional accomplishments and contributions. The second optional question, under Personal Information, invites you to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices

Essay A. “What Matters Most to You and Why” (approx. 650 words)

This notorious question has become emblematic of the Stanford GSB essays, and typically ties applicants in knots as they try to come up with an answer that they hope is clever, striking or profound. The school is looking not just for extremely bright and successful individuals, but also people who have strong values and want to have a positive impact in the world. Taking the time to really think about this question provides invaluable insight about your life purpose and values, and the true you that emerges from this introspection helps the GSB to evaluate fit and diversity of contribution to the class.

Stanford suggests aiming to write 650 words, allowing no more than 1,050 words to cover this essay and a second essay question, “Why Stanford?” Maybe you feel that you can answer the first part of the question in one word, with things like love, family or chocolate. But the heart of the question, the part that reveals your life’s calling and uniquely personal journey for getting there, requires deeper introspection. Why does that one thing matter more than any other?

If you’re staring in terror at the blank page, Fortuna’s Tatiana Nemo , a Stanford GSB alum & former MBA admissions interviewer, advises: “Invest some effort in building a timeline of the influences, instances and moments that have shaped you. Dig deep, connecting the dots between what has shaped you and who you’ve become. Devote essay A to talk about past and present,; talk about the future in essay B. Both essays need to be coherent and connected, so they could read as a single story.”

To best tackle the structure of this essay, start with identifying a person, event or experience that greatly impacted you, and think about the morals, values and lessons you gained from this experience or interaction. How do you use these lessons today, and how do they impact your drive, your motivation, and your vision of the world? The best Stanford GSB essays that worked in the past delivered a narrative that’s both personal and courageous in answering this question.

Even though you might have to spend hours on this essay through brainstorming, research, talking with others, writing a draft, then another (and then another), just remember that it’s all inside you… it’s your story, and you just have to find it and pull it out.

Kirsten Moss, Stanford GSB’s Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid, put a fine point on why the GSB has stuck with this question for so long: “One of the things that has been proven over and over in research is that highly inspirational leaders who get the highest level of performance from their organizations really know what drives them, and they are thinking beyond themselves to the problems they can make change and have an impact on,” said Moss to Fortuna’s Matt Symonds at the 2017 CentreCourt MBA Festival in San Francisco. “Taking the time to understand what matters to you will be your true north as a leader, no matter what school you go to, in the rest of your life… You will be one step ahead of the game in terms of being able to motivate others.”

For more guidance on this question, view my analysis in Forbes .

Essay B. “Why Stanford” Essay (approx. 400 words)

If the first essay is about your past and present, the second “Why Stanford” essay is about your future. In this essay, Stanford asks you to explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management and the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford. If you hope to create one of the best Stanford MBA essay examples , then your school research really needs to shine. What classes, clubs, events or other elements of the program and community will catalyze the impact you are aiming to make in the short, medium and long term? Dig deep and get specific, show Stanford that you’ve done more than just read about the different programs on the GSB website.

This is also where you should lay out career vision, in a highly focused and concise way. Beyond connecting the dots for your interviewer, you also really need to be specific to you. Fortuna’s Heidi Hillis , Stanford GSB alum and former alumni interviewer, advises her clients: “Look at every sentence and make sure no one else could have said it. Why do YOU need to be a better leader in what way? How is the Stanford MBA and its offerings uniquely positioned to help? Consider specific aspects of your career vision when making the case to Stanford. If you have the room, potentially cite what kind of internship or post-MBA job you’re seeking.”

(Optional) Essay 1. “Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? You are welcome to share up to three examples.” (200 words for each example)

Introduced for the first time in 2019, this short answer question is a valuable invitation to reveal where you’ve been most impactful with both substance and specificity (you’ll do well not to consider it optional). Behind this question is Stanford GSB’s belief that past behavior is the best predictor of future potential. It’s very likely your examples will appear in other parts of the application: a bullet on the resume, a story used to support the recommendation – even on the application itself, which asks you to talk about your “most significant accomplishment” for each job. The best Stanford GSB essay examples all went DEEPER with this question, and didn’t repeat something that may be found elsewhere. Your responses need to add value to your overall application. They should support the essays and the rest of the application, in highlighting WHY you find each circumstance to be impactful.

Optional essay 2. Tell us about a time within the last three years when your background influenced your participation in a situation, interaction, or project. (200 words)

This is a slight revision of last year’s question, which posed the question in the context of “in work or school,” and the new wording invites you to draw upon a wider spectrum of situational examples or experiences. In this question, the GSB seeks to uncover the less visible forces that shape candidates’ lives, opportunities, decisions, and achievements. This optional essay is a way for the admissions committee to recognize the challenges – or privileges – certain applicants face to get to where they are, even when students themselves may not see them as distinctive or noteworthy. Like the required essays, answering this question in an authentic and compelling way requires a both substantial introspection and self-awareness. It’s a recognition that up and beyond your test scores, college transcripts, and career achievements, prospective students come from different backgrounds that shape both their decisions and actions in invisible ways. Similar to the Berkeley Haas optional essay , which made its debut in 2018, it’s a signal that the GSB wants to support the admissions committee’s decision-making by supplying a full and rich understanding of who each applicant truly is.

This question has always been part of the GSB app, but has been elevated from a field in the app to an optional essay. Think of it as a place to talk about an aspect of your life that hasn’t been addressed anywhere else. The good news is that it can also take a more lighthearted turn, touching on a sport you’re involved in, your side gig in improv comedy, your training as a concert pianist – and how this has shaped how you show up in the workplace.

When you understand and articulate what matters most to you, along with the forces that shape you, you’re claiming a self-awareness and clarity of purpose that set you up for success not just at business school, but also with relationships and career. Stanford wants to know what matters most to you, and so should you.

Let’s Get You In.

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA Admissions Directors and Officers from 18 of the top 20 business schools, including Stanford GSB. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we are able to coach you to develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.

Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to Wharton and other top programs, request a free consultation .

Want more free advice?

View related articles by Fortuna’s expert coaches on Stanford GSB:

Deep Dive Analysis Comparing the HBS & GSB Classes of 2020
MBA Interview Prep for Stanford GSB + Example Behavioral Questions
MBA Letters of Recommendation: Strategy for Stanford GSB & HBS

You can also view one of our top resources , the MBA Admissions Essay Masterclass featuring Stanford GSB, below.

All MBA Admissions Essay Masterclasses in our series, featuring insider advice from former gatekeepers of the world’s top business schools, are available on Fortuna’s YouTube channel .

Updated Sept. 27, 2023

Fortuna Admissions Co-Founder and Director Matt Symonds is Business education industry expert and columnist for Forbes, The Economist, BusinessWeek, the BBC, among other publications. For more free advice and a personal, candid assessment of your chances, you can sign up now for a free consultation .

Posted on September 27, 2023

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May 30, 2023

Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023 – 2024], Class Profile

In terms of its application, Stanford is once again re-using its essay questions. And there’s good reason for the recycling: Stanford has excellent questions that succinctly get to the heart of what Stanford wants to know about you. They are not easy questions to answer, but they are thoughtful, probing ones.

You should write the optional essays if you have experiences not presented in the required essays, that address the optional questions and that will reinforce the portrayal of you as a change agent and consequential member of your community , however you define that community. And most of us are members of multiple communities.

If you have nothing to add, write nothing. However, I suspect most applicants will benefit by responding to the optional questions. Give GSB more reasons to admit you.

Stanford gives a lot of advice and guidance on its website as to what it’s looking for in the essays. You should access that advice in addition to reviewing my suggestions below.

In this post:

Stanford GSB 2023-2024 MBA application essay questions
Stanford GSB 2023-2024 deadlines
Stanford MBA Class of 2024 profile
More resources for Stanford GSB applicants

Stanford GSB 2023-24 MBA application essay questions

Essays help us learn about who you are rather than solely what you have done.

Other parts of the application give insight to your academic and professional accomplishments; the essays reveal the person behind those achievements.

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions—the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

Stanford MBA Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

The Stanford GSB’s tried and true essay question “What matters most to you and why?” is one of the most challenging MBA application prompts to respond to (so start early). Unlike most MBA essays, Stanford’s is not about describing your accomplishments, even if “achievement” is what you value most. It is not about highlighting your career, even if “ambition” matters most to you. It is not about revealing your “humble beginnings,” even if your childhood is the stuff about which memoirs are written. The school’s primary essay is about what you value most and, more importantly, why it matters most to you. It requires a level of maturity and introspection that only such a question can demand. It gives Stanford insights into who you are and what you can bring to the GSB beyond your academic background, professional accomplishments, and personal attributes.

So where do you start? Start with the “what.” Ask yourself, “For what would I walk over hot coals?” Still stuck? Review lists of values that resonate with you. Is it peace, relationships, health, creativity, compassion, expression? The lists go on and on, and you should not worry about being cliché with your “what” because your why will be unique to you and how you have lived your life.

Moreover, you can choose something symbolic to help you tell your story. I often talk about a ring my mother gave me. The ring is precious to me because of what it represents and how it motivated me to make the choices that I have made. It is a symbol of an unbreakable mother-daughter bond.

Where do you go after identifying your “what matters most”? Remember that your “why” is more important than your “what.” You need to explain why the values you highlight are essential to you. The best way to illustrate your “why” is by providing specific examples of how the values have shaped your life. Refrain from offering career examples because you can state your achievements in the optional “impact” essays, your resume, and the application form. You recommenders should be writing about your career achievements as well. If your values only motivate you for work, then these values are likely ones that don’t truly matter most to you, despite your spending 60-100 hours per week working.

State the value that matters most to you.
Explain why this value is essential to you.
Provide specific examples (anecdotes) that illustrate how the value has shaped your life.
Discuss how your value has influenced your decisions and actions.
Explain why you are better off by having this value drive you.

The essay requires a level of honesty and authenticity that few others demand. Be specific and concise. The admissions committee wants to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your personal stories and experiences.

Stanford MBA Essay B: Why Stanford?

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Why Stanford?

Two words pack quite a punch: why Stanford, indeed? As you approach this essay, consider the following.

Stanford values intellectually curious individuals who can solve problems, see beyond the obvious, and connect the dots. Therefore, I suggest you begin your essay with what you hope to achieve after you graduate from the Stanford GSB. Don’t think about a role as you might with other post-MBA goals essays. Instead, consider the problems you want to solve at the organizations for which you hope to work in the future. It does not matter if you are considering an MBB consultancy, a giant Fortune 100 behemoth, a small start-up, a large private equity firm, a midsize family business, or a nonprofit organization. Focus on identifying the problems you can solve with your current skill set and the knowledge you will gain at Stanford.

Next, address the crux of the essay: Why Stanford? Note that the question is not “Why the GSB?” It is “Why Stanford?” While you want most of your essay to be about how the GSB can help you achieve your aspirations, consider how other parts of Stanford can add value to your education. And please don’t state the obvious. Resist the temptation to lift your information directly from the program’s website. The admissions committee already knows that the school’s location is perfect for entrepreneurship, tech, and venture capital. They already know they are highly selective and, therefore, highly ranked. They already know the Stanford brand resonates worldwide – they communicated all this to you in their marketing materials. Instead, think about the resources, opportunities, and community Stanford can offer you that will enable you to reach your unique goals. Why does this program make sense for you?

Finally, you will want to discuss how you will contribute to the Stanford GSB community. How will you make a difference at Stanford? What unique skills and experiences do you bring to the table? Why will your peers benefit from having you as a member of their class?

With only 1,050 words to use for Essay A (What matters most?) and B (Why Stanford?) together, you need to understand yourself, your goals, what Stanford offers, and your unique value proposition to the Stanford community before tackling this essay.

Additional information

If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the “Additional Information” section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

Additional information “essays” exist so that you don’t have to make the admissions committee guess what happened if you have something unusual or confusing in your profile, such as the following:

You had terrible grades your first year of university when your parent became ill, and you flew back and forth to care for your parent, or you worked 30 hours a week to make ends meet.
You received a subpar GMAT or GRE score because you are not a great test-taker and can prove it with your inadequate ACT or SAT score and a 4.0 GPA or because you were initially premed and realized after volunteering at a hospital that medicine was not your thing.
You did not ask an immediate supervisor to recommend you because you have only been with the company for a short time, and they do not know you well, or because doing so could lead to losing your job.

Stanford also suggests that you use this section to discuss any academic research because they do not want to see it on your one-page resume.

Additional information does not mean you should add an essay you wrote for another school. Feel free to bullet your reasons, making the section easier to read. If you have many bullets, you might have too many excuses, and many schools, including Stanford, could be a long shot for you.

Stanford MBA optional short-answer questions

In this section, we provide an optional opportunity for you to discuss some of your contributions more fully. What do we mean by “optional”? We truly mean you have the opportunity to choose. If you feel that you’ve already described your contributions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more.

Optional short-answer question

In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. If you would like to go beyond your resume to discuss some of your contributions more fully, you are welcome to share up to three examples. (Up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example) Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

Why does Stanford have optional essays? The school offers these impact essays because too many applicants tried to squeeze their accomplishments into their “what matters most” essay. If you are tempted to write about your achievements in your “what matters most” essay, stop. Then, cut and paste that information here instead. Now you have a space where you can highlight activities and describe your impact on work, extracurriculars, community service, family, or anything else.

The best approach to writing an impact essay is to use CAR or STAR with an added Sig (significance) framework. Select each impact to show some variety in your life (in other words, don’t draw all three examples from your daily work).

C = Challenge (What challenge did you face?)

A = Action (How did you address the challenge? What specific steps did you take?)

R = Result (What was the outcome? Quantify the outcome, if possible. Did you increase revenues? Did you decrease costs? Did you increase membership? Did you minimize the danger? If so, by how much?)

Sig = Significance (Why was this important to you? What did it mean for others in your life?)

S = Situation (What background must you describe for the reader to understand your example?)

T = Task (What was your goal?)

A = Action (What steps did you take to achieve your goal?)

R = Result (What was the outcome? Did you achieve the goal? Did you surpass the goal. If so, by how much?)

These frameworks will work for any behavioral question that an admissions committee or interviewer will ask you. They will help you stay on point, so use them. Finally, be succinct because the 1,200-character allotment includes spaces.

Personal Information, Activities and Awards: Optional question

In this section, we provide an optional opportunity for you to discuss your background more fully and how it has shaped your perspective. We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. Please feel free to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices- (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words).

Some applicants miss this question because Stanford tucks it under the personal information section. Reflect on all those drop-downs you clicked on, and consider this the bookend to Essay A. In essay A, you discussed what matters most and why your values are what they are. For this essay, you need to consider how your identity, diversity, and uniqueness motivate your actions. Consider cultural upbringing, education, abilities, and life experiences. How have these factors influenced how you view the world? This question is about your identity. How has that identity – that core of who you are, that core of most significant influences and experiences – expressed itself in your recent actions? It’s about helping the admissions committee get to know you and what motivates you.

Given the meager 1,200-character limit, select one factor that drives your decisions. Then describe the subsequent action. Your action is the evidence to support how and why that factor motivates you. For example, my own life was heavily influenced by being the daughter of immigrants and a first-generation college student. It drove the overachiever in me. That background influences every action I take, from preparing clients for their GSB interview to advocating for the rights of disabled and infirm people. That identity is how I tell my story. Now, how will you tell yours?

Stanford GSB at a glance

Stanford GSB average GMAT score: 738
Stanford GSB average GPA: 3.78
Stanford GSB acceptance rate: 6.2%
U.S. News ranked the Stanford GSB #3 in 2023

For expert guidance with your Stanford GSB MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Stanford’s MBA program and look forward to helping you too!

Stanford GSB 2022-23 MBA application timeline


1	September 12, 2023	December 7, 2023
2	January 4, 2024	March 28, 2024
3	April 9, 2024	May 23, 2024

Your completed application, including your and application fee payment , is due at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the deadline date for the round in which you apply.

Source: Stanford GSB website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with the Stanford GSB to verify the essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Stanford MBA Class of 2024 Profile

Here’s a look at the Stanford Class of 2024, taken from the Stanford Graduate School of Business website :

Applicants : 6,152

New students : 424

Women : 44%

US students of color: 51%

International students : 37%

Countries represented : 56

Languages spoken : 71

U.S. students and permanent residents

	Federal Guidelines	Multi-Identity Reporting
American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Other Pacific Islander	0%	2%
Asian (including Indian subcontinent and Philippines)	23%	30%
Black/African-American (including Africa and Caribbean)	5%	10%
Hispanic/Latino	12%	12%
Multi-Race	7%
White (including Middle Eastern)	49%	61%
Declined to identify race and ethnic background	2%	2%

Undergraduate field of study

Engineering	24%
Economics	21%
Business & Commerce	19%
Social Sciences	20%
Math & Sciences	9%
Arts & Humanities	6%

Average GPA : 3.76

First generation in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university : 12%

Hold advanced degrees : 13%

US institutions : 83

Non-US institutions : 79

Average years work experience: 4.9

Investment Management, PE & VC	20%
Consulting	20%
Technology	15%
Government, Education & Nonprofit	8%
Consumer Products & Services	7%
Health Care	5%
Arts, Media & Entertainment	5%
Military	4%
Manufacturing	3%
Clean Tech, Energy & Environmental	3%
Financial Services	4%
Other	5%

Organizations represented : 285

Test scores

Average score: 737
GMAT score range: 630-790
Average Verbal score: 164
Verbal score range: 149-170
Average Quantitative score: 163
Quantitative score range: 150-170

TOEFL

Average score: 113
Score range: 106-119

*Some students submitted both GMAT and GRE scores.

More resources for GSB applicants

Not sure that Stanford is the place for you? If you are in the research stage, these resources can help guide you:

How to Demonstrate Impact in Your Application to Harvard, Stanford, or Wharton
M7 MBA Programs: Everything You Need to Know
Which MBA Program is Right for Me? The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an MBA Program

To hear about life at Stanford GSB from the mouths of real students, listen to these podcast interviews:

Transitioning from the Military to an MBA at Stanford GSB – podcast Episode 471
Stanford MBA Discusses Coffee Chats – podcast Episode 437
What These Seasoned Startup Founders Have Done Since Earning Their Stanford MBAs – podcast Episode 382
A Stanford MBA with a Passion for Both Business and Humanities – podcast Episode 377
Stanford MBA Grows His Amazing Tech Startup – podcast Episode 369

Have you decided that Stanford GSB is your top choice? The road to acceptance isn’t easy, but check out the following links for pro tips on crafting your stand-out GSB application:

What Does It Take to Get Into Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton? , a YouTube video
Why MBA? , a free guide to writing about your MBA goals
What Stanford GSB is Looking For: Intellectual Vitality
Stanford GSB’s Take on Demonstrated Leadership Potential
Understanding Stanford GSB’s Interest in Personal Qualities and Contributions

Our team of MBA admissions experts includes former admissions directors, published authors, and highly experienced business school admissions consultants. And we are all primed and ready to help you secure a seat at your dream school, just as we have done for thousands of clients for the past 25 years. Schedule your free consultation and speak to an expert admissions consultant.

By Natalie Grinblatt, the former admissions dean/director at three top business schools. Natalie has reviewed more than 70,000 applications, interviewed more than 2,500 candidates, and trained nearly 700 admissions directors and alumni volunteers to select outstanding candidates for admission. Her clients gain admission to top programs, including those at Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Berkeley, Chicago, Northwestern, and NYU. Natalie holds an MBA from Michigan Ross. Want Natalie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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May 26, 2023

Stanford GSB MBA Essays & Analysis 2024 - 2025

Updated: 12 hours ago

Stanford GSB’s MBA application essay questions for the 2024-2025 cycle have been updated with a new word limit, but the prompts remain unchanged. There are 2 core essays with a combined word limit of 1000, and Stanford recommends using 650 words for Essay A and 350 for Essay B. Stanford also asks two optional questions: a short-answer essay and an additional information essay.

Let’s explore each in turn.

Stanford GSB MBA Essay 1

What matters most to you, and why? (Suggested Word Count: 650 words)

The question may look simple enough, but it isn’t easy to think of what matters most to you. This is a deeply personal essay, and Stanford’s advice to “reflect deeply and write from the heart” is sound, but vague. Identifying what matters most to you may lead you to answers like “helping people” or “success”, but these are ultimately banal goals that the Admissions Committee will roll their eyes at.

Simply being told to self-reflect and find a value or purpose that matters most to you may work for some. But if you’re struggling to reach into past experiences and come up with an impactful story, here’s some tips you can use:

Start with a story:

Instead of starting with a strong statement about what matters most to you, work backwards. Choose an impactful story that will serve to tackle the second part of the question “ why does this matter”. This story could be from any period in your life - your upbringing, undergrad, professional life, or personal commitments. Ensure that your story is sincere and unique to you, even if it’s uncomfortable to write about.

For example: “ My generation was the first to use social media as we know it. In the early days of Myspace, YouTube, and Facebook, we were also the first to experience anonymity on the internet. Then came the bullying. In college, I had my private information leaked and started receiving threats. Eventually, people moved on, but I never forgot. Over the years, I saw cases of stalking, self-harm, and suicide due to a lack of digital security. It was easy to access anyone’s information if you knew where to look .”

What matters most:

This story should naturally lead into “ what matters most to you”. This may be linked to your professional purpose. Remember to get into the specifics - this makes your statement look more realistic and distinctive.

For example: ” What matters most to me is ensuring that children and teenagers growing up in a rapidly digitizing India are able to navigate cyber spaces safely. I want to work with the Indian government to design effective, home-grown digital security and crisis management solutions .”

Connect it to the choices you’ve made:

A good essay will clearly portray your core values and priorities in life. To do this, connect your story to your career trajectory and personal commitments. Explain how your purpose led you to make important personal and professional choices, but don’t just focus on your accomplishments. Talk about the risks you took, the trade-offs you made, and even your failures/challenges.

Bring in your goals:

Next, align what matters most to you with your short and long term goals. Be specific and outline the role, industry, and geography you plan to work in. Your goals should be ambitious but realistic, and should also briefly touch upon how a Stanford MBA will help you achieve them.

Stanford GSB MBA Essay 2

Why Stanford? (Suggested Word Count: 350 words)

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

This question is more direct and clear. In this essay, you’ll explain in depth how the Stanford GSB MBA fits into your goals.

We recommend using the following structure:

Describe your aspirations:

Begin by recapping your professional purpose and goals. Highlight key responsibilities and objectives you plan to work on as part of these goals.

Skills you need:

What skills do you already have, and which ones will you need for your target roles? Explain the gaps that you need to fill (for which you will need an MBA).

How Stanford will help:

Now, describe how Stanford GSB specifically will help you fill those skill gaps. It’s not just any other MBA program - what is it about Stanford that makes you want to study there? Discuss unique aspects of the curriculum, opportunities like internships or international programs, interesting faculty, extracurriculars and student-led clubs, school culture, and network. Don’t just stick to your online research; reach out to alumni and current students to get an insider’s perspective on the school, particularly those who are in your target post-MBA industry.

Stanford GSB MBA Optional Short Answer Question

Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others? (Up to 3 examples; 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example)

This question may be marked optional, but we strongly recommend that you complete it. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your impact and achievements, especially if you weren’t able to fully explore this topic in your previous essays.

Stanford wants applicants to “go beyond the resume” to discuss their contributions. We like to say that past achievements are a strong indicator of future impact, and this is exactly what the school hopes to see.

Choose 1-3 examples that speak to your abilities and potential as an effective leader. We recommend a mix of professional, extracurricular, and personal stories. Ensure that these are relatively recent and quantify your impact to make it clearer to readers outside your industry. Use the SCAR (Situation, Action, Challenge, Result) structure to provide details about your story, and analyze the lessons you learned.

Keep in mind Stanford’s mission statement - “Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world”. This will help you better align your examples with the school’s values.

Stanford GSB MBA Optional Additional Information

We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. With this question we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (1,200 characters, maximum)

Most business schools provide applicants with some extra space to write about crucial aspects of their profile that haven’t been appropriately explored in the essays. This includes any discrepancies in your background, like low grades, gaps or overlaps in employment, a low GMAT/GRE score, or choice of recommenders.

If you have any such extenuating circumstances you’d like to discuss, add them here briefly. Focus on addressing the concern and how you grew from it. Unlike other essays that allow for storytelling, this essay should be concise, ideally using up only 100-150 words.

You might also want to check out our Stanford MBA Interview Guide for in-depth insights into Stanford's interview process, what they're looking for in prospective candidates, interview schedule and questions for 2024, and tips to ace your interview.

For the full Stanford GSB MBA application course with example essays based on real essays by previous applicants, check out the Stanford GSB application program on MBAconsultant.com .

We help determined applicants get admitted to top business schools. Get in touch if you think we can help you with your MBA application. Book a free 20 mins chat now.

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How to Write the Stanford GSB Essays

Introduction ‍.

Now that you’ve decided you want to apply for an MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Stanford GSB), you need to craft an application that will demonstrate your professional skills, experience, and academic record. You will also need to showcase your skills as a writer, your aspirations, and your individuality.

The Stanford GSB essays are a crucial component of your Stanford application; they will illuminate your voice and authentic self to the admissions committee. Although writing the Stanford GSB essays can seem like a daunting task, this guide will help you understand, execute, and perfect your essays.

What are the Stanford GSB Essays? ‍

The Stanford GSB essays are two personal essays you'll complete as part of your application to Stanford. The infamous ‘ essay A ’ asks applicants, “What matters most to you, and why?”

Stanford’s website encourages applicants to “ write from the heart ” and be genuine about what matters most to you and to make an argument for why it is so important.

Essay B , on the other hand, asks applicants, “Why Stanford?”

This essay provides the opportunity to describe your personal aspirations and how Stanford fits around them.

Stanford also allows you to submit several optional short answer essay questions . These questions are completely optional and provide you with more words to discuss topics you may not have been able to address elsewhere in your application. The first prompt reads:

“Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?”

This prompt allows you to provide up to three examples to discuss your resume further.

The other optional short-answer Stanford GSB essay question asks you to:

“Tell us about a time within the last three years when your background influenced your participation in a situation, interaction, or project.”

This essay facilitates discussion about your background, like education, work, skills, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or gender identity.

Stanford GSB Essay Length

Both Essay A and B together should not exceed 1,050 words.

Stanford recommends writing no more than 650 words for essay A and no more than 400 words for essay B. Stanford asks that all essays are double-spaced and submitted in one document with numbered pages.

For Stanford’s optional question A, you can provide up to three 200-word responses. You should write around 200 words for Stanford’s optional question B essay.

This length constraint may seem restrictive, but being concise and adopting the “less is more” approach can make for a particularly effective essay. As Stanford notes, “We often find effective essays that are written in fewer words.”

What Is the Purpose of the Stanford GSB Essays?

The rest of your application includes everything you need to make a good impression: adequate work experience , high grades, a lengthy list of extracurriculars, and a stellar resume .

Stanford understands that you are more than the sum of your total experiences and credentials laid out on these pages. The Stanford GSB essays humanize your application and demonstrate to the admissions committee what makes you unique.

Stanford GSB Essay A

Essay A is a deeply personal and subjective essay. There is no such thing as a perfect topic to write about here.

The question, “What matters to you most, and why?” is purposefully tricky to answer as it forces you to delve deep into yourself and choose something that is most important to you. That is easier said than done, especially when so many of us have many great things in our lives that are important to us, like our families, friends, and jobs.

Some may take the route of writing about big-picture ideas like eliminating poverty, ending world hunger, or halting climate change. But essay A is not the space to write what you think Stanford wants to hear, and doing so would be doing yourself a disservice.

Derrick Bolton, the former Stanford admissions director , said that your essay should “... be so personal that if you were working on it at 2 AM and accidentally printed a copy to your office printer, you would break out in a cold sweat, grab the keys, floor it and drive as fast as you could to the office to snatch the essay before anyone could read it.”

Some applicants write about controversial or uncomfortable topics, whereas others write about how they want to impact the world, or how their weaknesses have helped cultivate their strengths.

Ultimately, how you want to portray your individuality and what you choose to write about is entirely up to you.

Stanford GSB Essay B

Essay B reflects your personal reasons for applying to Stanford. This writing demonstrates why Stanford is the best fit for you and how completing your Stanford MBA will help you achieve your goals.

Although you have a tight word limit to explain why Stanford is the school for you, you want to be specific to show that you researched the school and program. You also need to explain how Stanford’s program is a significant stepping stone to achieving your career and personal goals.

You should have an understanding of your industry and what your working life could look like post-MBA. The other purpose of this essay is to demonstrate how your admittance will enrich Stanford’s class.

Stanford Optional Short Answer Question A

The optional question A is focused on uncovering more about you beyond your resume.

Specifically, Stanford is “... interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you.” While you can write about your most impactful experiences in the Stanford GSB Essay A, this prompt allows you to go beyond your resume.

Perhaps you didn’t have enough words to discuss your love of photography in Essay A. In that case, this optional essay allows you to discuss your contributions more fully.

Of course, you shouldn’t use this essay to ramble on about why you love Stanford. Write about that in your “why Stanford essay.” Instead, answer the question’s main focus — what positive impact did you create, and what made it significant?

Write about your impact on a situation and emphasize your skills and abilities that will help you achieve academic and professional success. If you can point to your stellar leadership skills, you will show you are ready for an MBA.

Stanford Optional Short Answer Question B

Stanford’s optional short answer question B asks you to discuss your background. “Background” is purposefully defined broadly. So, you can write about almost anything, ranging from your socioeconomic status to gender identity.

Perhaps you chose to pursue a part-time job in college because of your gender identity. In that case, explain how and why your background influenced your decision. Self-reflection is key here.

What Is Stanford GSB Looking for in the Essays?

Stanford’s admissions team uses your Stanford GSB application essays to get to know you beyond your academic achievements.

Specifically, they want to read about your experiences and hear your “genuine voice.” Each Stanford MBA essay is designed to allow you to open up to the admissions committee. Being authentic is vital here; Stanford’s admissions officers can tell if you are not genuine in your responses.

There is no “right” or “perfect” answer to Stanford’s prompts. As Stanford says, “... the best answer is the one that is truest for you.”

Looking at Stanford example essays is helpful, as they show you how other applicants have written about their lives. But they are written by other applicants with different experiences.

Reflect on your own experiences in your Stanford business school essay, and you’ll increase your chances of admission.

Step-by-step Guide to Writing the Stanford GSB Essays

Writing the Stanford GSB essays can be a daunting task; you may be asking yourself, “How can I effectively convey all that I want to in so few words?”

Writing an effective essay about yourself can feel challenging, especially with such a low word limit. These essays are quite different from essays you may have done as an undergrad, where long essays are part of the curriculum.

Remember that these essays are designed to be challenging, and it’s OK to find them difficult. This step-by-step guide will help get you started and provide tips to write a great essay.

1. Pick Your Topic

The first step to any essay is to pick your topic.

For the Stanford GSB essay A, the best course is to brainstorm; think about all the things that are important to you and why you consider them important. Also, think about your achievements and why you set out to achieve them.

2. Create an Outline

After you’ve compiled a list, you can narrow down your topic and begin writing. A bullet-pointed list outlining your Stanford MBA essay’s rough structure will help you develop an overall framework.

3. Start Writing

You can build upon the points you want to touch on and use supporting points as the foundation of your essay. Your essay should be easily separated into three parts:

Introduction
Body paragraphs
Conclusion

Your introduction will introduce the topic, the body paragraphs will provide evidence to support your writing, and your conclusion will wrap up your essay neatly.

4. Create Your Introduction

Your introduction should captivate the reader immediately. The introduction is often where candidates introduce a relevant anecdote.

Many people find it helpful to complete their introduction after the main essay is complete. It’s suitable to begin with your introduction or dive right into the body of your essay.

5. Write the Body

The body of your essay should provide specific examples related to your anecdote. You should discuss what you’ve learned or gained from your experience.

6. Write Your Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your main points and reference the future you want. It should also leave the reader feeling satisfied that Stanford will help you toward that future.

1. Brainstorm Why You Want to Attend Stanford

With the “why Stanford” MBA essay, because you already have your topic, you will want to work out your specific reasons for why Stanford is the school for you.

Again, brainstorming reasons will help you develop the framework of your essay. Does the school culture excite you? Are you looking to make connections within Silicon Valley?

Jot down every reason you can think of to narrow down your argument. Similar to essay A, your essay should have an identifiable introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

3. Create Your Introduction

Your “why Stanford” essay introduction should immediately explain your interest in Stanford. Why is Stanford the school you want to go to? Alternatively, you can start writing the body of your essay first and return to the introduction after.

4. Write the Body

The body of your essay should highlight some of your achievements and what you have learned from your experiences. You can also relate your background to classes offered in the program and how they would help you grow.

5. Write Your Conclusion

Your conclusion should leave the reader satisfied that Stanford is the only school for you. Be passionate, and be specific.

For both essays, remember to revise, revise, revise. Your essays should be free of all grammar and spelling mistakes and should flow well. Be sure to read your writing aloud to see how it reads as this can help identify possible errors or substantive issues.

Stanford GSB Essay Examples and What Made Them Successful

Reviewing Stanford essay examples is a great way to understand how your writing should generally look, feel, and flow. Below are two compelling essay examples of Stanford GSB essays that worked.

These are paragraphs taken from full examples of Stanford essays that worked and are not complete essays alone. To better understand the essays’ makeup, the introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs are labeled.

Stanford What Matters Most to You and Why Essay Example

What matters most to you, and why?

Sample Introduction:

One evening during a winter break in college, I was driving home and saw my disabled neighbor on our street, slumped over in his driveway, sobbing. I jumped out of my car and ran.

The ramp to his house was obstructed by a few recently dropped off packages, and he badly needed to use the restroom, having been stuck there for almost an hour. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and former breadwinner, dehumanized by his disability and utterly helpless in this moment.

Sample Body Paragraph:

I’m driven by finding answers to the most complex, most challenging problems faced by humanity; the ones that are too daunting, or those that go unrecognized. I had to do something.

So, I rallied a friend, and together we built a low-cost, AI-driven speech-recognition platform that enabled voice-activated control over electronic systems in a household, thus affording increased independence to individuals suffering from ALS and multiple sclerosis.

It was an exercise in creativity and persistence, and quite daunting at the outset. But, in the end, our solution worked, and cost a fraction of a now commercially available solution like Alexa.

Sample Conclusion:

In the long run, by proving the benefits of AI-driven healthcare to the world, I want to build an enterprise that not only develops sophisticated technology that improves quality of life but also molds the underlying fabric of healthcare policy.

Like Uber or Airbnb, I dream of leading an organization that fundamentally shifts the contemporary regulatory paradigm in healthcare to one that appropriately reflects both the medical and psychological needs of the modern patient.

We’re all companions on a journey through life; the same random forces that imbue me with good health compel countless others to live in a state of constant suffering. Humanity is a gift, and I have a social and moral responsibility to empower others to live life with passion, dignity, and hope. It is a mission I am dedicated to for the rest of my life.

What Made This Essay Effective?

The beginning of this Stanford MBA essay sample immerses the reader immediately into the story the student is telling. The rich anecdote is an excellent starting point to lead the rest of their writing, and we instantly want to know more about their journey.
The student’s motivations and passions are illuminated and supported throughout the essay.
The student demonstrated how they have worked with their passions and motivations creatively to develop a tool to increase independence for individuals living with disabilities.
The student’s conclusion articulates their long-term goal and restates their passion. The student explained how they plan to dedicate themselves to their cause and improve others’ quality of life.
The essay leaves the reader satisfied due to its genuineness.

Why Stanford Essay Example

Why Stanford?

Example Introduction:

Silicon Valley is the cradle of global innovation, a melting pot of creators and visionaries. Its one-of-a-kind community paces the world in invention, creativity, and impact. Stanford is at the nucleus of this ecosystem.

I dream of building a company that pushes the frontiers of AI to fundamentally reshape the global health paradigm, and the GSB MBA offers unparalleled opportunities to explore myself and my passions on that journey.

Example Body Paragraph:

One important lesson I have learned through my experiences as an inventor is the importance of creativity in navigating constraints and creating lasting impact. I once spent months in rural [Country], with limited materials and guidance, building a [medical device]. Only much later, following conversation with a colleague, did I realize I was intuitively applying design thinking and frugal innovation principles in solving challenges.

I now want a structured education in accessible, cost-effective, and human-centric design through courses such as Design for Health, which will be invaluable in realizing my mission of improving the quality of life for the disabled.

Example Conclusion:

Steve Jobs once famously said that you can only connect the dots in hindsight. I plan to spend my future creating impactful, long-term change in healthcare. When I reflect on life down the road, I am confident I will see my time at Stanford GSB as the brightest dot along the journey.

What Made This Essay Effective?

The student immediately states why they’re interested in attending Stanford and discusses how they will fit into the school.
They discuss what they’ve learned in their experiences. This shows that they are mature, reflective, and self-aware.
They link their experiences to a specific course at Stanford. This shows that the student has researched the program and is excited about Stanford’s course offerings.
This is an exciting and confident conclusion. The student summarizes where they expect to be in the future and how Stanford will help propel them to that goal.

Top Tips for Crafting Memorable Essays

You want to make sure that your essays stand out for their exceptional quality; it’s not enough to develop pieces that get your point across but come off as formulaic and uncreative.

Below we have compiled a few top tips for Essay A and B to ensure your essays help you stand out in the best way possible. You can also use these tips if you are struggling to understand how to write the Stanford short essays.

Be a Storyteller

Stanford GSB admissions readers are looking for rich anecdotes and well-crafted stories in essay A .

Your unique experience is important — and a story worth telling. These elements will entice the reader to want to know more about you and your passions. These stories can be emotional and humanize you and your aspirations to the admissions committee.

Think about the central theme for your essay, and relay a supporting anecdote. Be sure to give context to help the reader understand why this topic is so important to you. Don’t be afraid to get personal .

Watch the Length and Keep It Fairly Simple

When you’re writing about yourself, it can be tempting to write pages and pages to make sure you’re getting your point across. After all, you’re the only expert on the subject! But keep things concise, easily digestible, and confident.

This assignment is not the space to show off your long-winded creative writing skills and detailed description. It’s also not the space to impress the admissions committee by writing what you think they want to hear.

Your writing shouldn’t have any frills that can dilute or muddle your answer. Remember to keep things simple, be genuine, and be confident — these are the best ways to set yourself up for success.

Do Not Focus on Your Accomplishments

Your essays are not meant to be an opportunity to expand or regurgitate your previous work experience. Your essays can highlight things that you haven’t already discussed. Your resume and letters of recommendation already summarize your professional experiences — this an assignment to show your vulnerability and thoughtfulness.

If there is an accomplishment that encompasses your passions that you haven’t previously discussed, that is OK. Talk about a person, event, or place that has shaped you. Your essay should give the admissions committee a glimpse at the real person behind the accolades.

Do Your School Research

Stanford GSB essay B calls for you to do adequate school research. Think about why Stanford is the perfect school for you, and let your research support you. Are there classes, clubs, events, or program elements that will help you realize your goals?

Be as specific as you can to demonstrate that you have done more than casually surf the school’s website. Your research will help you craft a stellar essay.

There are No ‘Right’ Answers

There are no right or wrong ways to write both of your Stanford GSB essays. Your story is yours to tell in whatever way you see fit. If your writing honestly reflects your passions, motivations, and dreams, you are on the right track.

If you feel yourself agonizing and poring over every line, your essays may not be your brand of “right” quite yet. It sounds a little scary to rely on your intuition and to open up, but you will reap the rewards.

Stanford GSB Essay FAQs

Writing the Stanford GSB essays isn't easy. However, we’ve put together several questions and answers to help you write killer MBA essays.

1. How do I submit my Stanford GSB essays?

You should upload essays electronically in one document. Preview the document to make sure that the formatting of your writing does not change.

2. What’s the best way to go about editing my essays?

Beyond checking your essays for plagiarism issues and spelling and grammar mistakes, you should also reflect on your essays’ flow and voice.

Read your essays aloud and see if they sound and feel right. An unbiased professional opinion is the best way to polish your essays. The experience of a professional review of your essays would be priceless.

3. What if I want to exceed the word limit on my essays to fit in everything I want to say?

Exceeding the word limit is not recommended. Stanford is looking for MBA candidates who can write concise and compelling essays about themselves and their aspirations. Try to stay within the recommended 650 words for essay A and 400 words for essay B.

4. Am I allowed to receive feedback on my essays from consulting services?

Yes. You are allowed to have your essays reviewed after completion — appropriate feedback is when omissions or errors are addressed and you correct them after. Your thoughts and voice should remain the same.

Inappropriate coaching occurs when someone else has crafted any part of your essay for you. If this happens, your essays are no longer an accurate representation of you and violate terms. Your application will then either be denied or revoked.

5. What are the optional essays?

There are two additional optional essays that candidates can complete as part of their application. The first is, “Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?” This essay gives you the chance to discuss your resume further. You can provide up to three examples for a total of 600 words, or 200 words per example.

The second optional essay asks, “Tell us about a time within the last three years when your background influenced your participation at work or school.” This essay facilitates discussion about your background, like education, work, skills, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or gender identity. The word limit for this essay is approximately 200 words.

6. Will it hurt my chances if I do not write the optional essays?

The optional essays are just that — optional. If you feel that you’ve already addressed these topics in your application, there is no need.

But if you want to expand on something that you may not have discussed already, feel free to complete these optional essays. Stanford has accepted applicants who have not completed these additional essays and has not accepted applicants who have completed them.

Excel on the Stanford GSB Essays, Ace the Application

Writing the Stanford GSB essays can be an intimidating task, but this guide should help you polish your essays to perfection. Remember to keep the purpose of both essays in mind as you write. Make sure that your writing is answering the questions that Stanford is asking.

The step-by-step guide above can help you to complete your essay. The sample Stanford essays that worked illustrated above will help give you an idea of what makes a great Stanford GSB essay. The tips shared in the article will assist you in the memorability of your essay.

Remember to tell your stories authentically and be genuine in your Stanford GSB essays, and you will be on the path to success.

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The GSB essays sound like they should be the easiest thing in the world, but I’ve found applicants often lose focus in writing their responses to seemingly straightforward questions. Here’s my advice for getting through the turbulence of “I don’t know if I have enough to write about?”, “What do they want to hear?”, and “Why do I actually want to go to Stanford?” to land the plane on these essays.

Already interested in working with me on essays, MBA applications, or anything else? That didn’t take long (see my profile here ). Now for the actual advice…

The Prompts

GSB asks for two main essays, the combined length of which cannot exceed 1,050 words. The main objective of the essays is to see who you are beyond the pale of academic and professional work. Stanford emphasizes there is no “right answer”; but, the best essays consistently portray an applicant’s values, passions, and dreams in an honest, forthright way.

The prompts for the two essays are as follows:

1. What matters most to you and why?

With a recommended length of up to 650 words, GSB asks applicants to self-reflect and write from the heart. Consider what different people and experiences have shaped your perspectives.

2. Why Stanford?

This essay has a recommended length of up to 400 words. Applicants should describe their dreams and goals and what role GSB will play in helping fulfill them.

Top 5 Tips for the GSB Essays

As a former GSB MBA candidate with years of writing experience and a coach here on Leland, here are the top five tips I’ve curated to help you with your essays:

1. Answer the Question

Though it may sound obvious, many applicants struggle with this. Both prompts are open-ended, so it’s easy to go off on tangents and include irrelevant information. As you’re writing, continue to ground yourself by asking, “What is the exact question I’m trying to answer?” To use the first essay as an example, every paragraph should help the reader under what matters most to you, why it matters, and how you arrived at this understanding. If it’s not doing that, it’s probably not worth getting too attached to – and you should probably delete it.

2. Differentiate

Glenn Kramon, a mentor, longtime editor at The New York Times, and renowned teacher of GSB’s Winning Writing class never fails to ask, “What makes you go from one of a million applicants to one in a million applicants?” Almost everyone who applies to GSB will have a great resume, test scores, and GPA. But part of your job with the essay is to make clear (implicitly at least) why and how your perspective can uniquely contribute to the incoming class.

Typical avenues for showing why you stand out are through explanation of your work and life experience, but another way to differentiate is through self-reflection and the specific lessons extracted you’ve extracted as a result. I’ve seen dozens of essays on very similar topics (your admissions readers have seen thousands), but those that focus on what’s been learned and how that learning has shaped a future vision find a way to stand out through their psychology as well. GSB doesn’t just want another resident smart person walking around; they want someone with a combination of emotional maturity, professional acumen, and a sense of humility who’s going to take full advantage of everything Stanford has to offer.

3. Create a Vision

Especially relevant to the second essay, laying out a clear vision for the admissions committee is key. Why do you want an MBA? Actually though. If you don’t have a good reason, don’t go! And why do you want to go to Stanford specifically? How will your Stanford degree help you reach your professional and personal goals? If you can’t answer these questions, again, an MBA probably isn’t the best move for you. But if you can come up with a few sound reasons right off the bat (an industry pivot, targeted entrepreneurial ambitions, etc.), try to stretch your imagination a bit to think about your 3-year, 10-year, and 30-year goals. You don’t need a Gantt chart for your life, but if you take a couple of hours to sit and think about what a Stanford MBA would mean for your future, your case to admissions will be much stronger – and help give you added personal clarity beyond the application.

4. Build and Flow

Both of your essays should have a structure that flows and builds momentum. Essays can be written well and have all that beautiful GMAT syntax you definitely need for the real world, but if what you’ve written doesn’t coalesce into a larger narrative about who you are, the reader will end up distracted and confused. The GSB admissions committee wants you to present a story. They don’t want disjointed paragraphs that portray an inconsistent picture (e.g. a paragraph on each of your three most “impressive” resume elements that aren’t thematically tied). Every detail should contribute to the reader’s understanding of what matters to you, why it matters, and why you see GSB as the next step in your career.

5. Give Yourself Enough Time

For many people, writing the essay is the most difficult part of the application. It can be hard to organize your thoughts and put them down on paper in a clear, succinct manner. Start the essays early, ideally three months or more before submission.

So what’s step one? Write a terrible first draft. Like bad. Then put it down for a few days to avoid the deserved shame that will inevitably come from reviewing it. At the end of the week, pick it up and ask yourself if what you’ve written answers the questions you’re supposed to answer, differentiates you, and so on. It also doesn’t hurt to ask yourself the simple questions of, “Do I even like this essay?” and, “Would I want to read this?” The magic number is around four to six drafts, comprehensively reviewed.

When it comes to how and with whom you should review your essays, ideally you should choose someone with experience writing and familiarity with the application process. An alum of your top-choice school is probably the best choice, given they’ll know the ins and outs of the place and have successfully navigated the application process themselves.

By giving yourself at least a few months, you’ll be able to put the right pieces in place to ensure that you get the help you need and can do the self-inventory required to put together a top-notch set of essays.

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Final Thoughts

Though they can be intimidating, the application essays give you a chance to show who you are beyond your resume and a few numbers. Crafting a compelling narrative that best exudes who you are has evolved into the most important part of your application – and it’s the one part of your application you can still completely control. Even if you feel held back by a low GPA or GMAT, going from A to Z on this dimension of your app is well worth the time – and can genuinely set you apart.

If you’re interested in working 1:1 with me, you can view my profile here . I’ve worked with more than 250 individuals on essays and resumes for top MBA programs, consulting firms, and the broader job market. During my time at Stanford, I was the Lead Editor for Stanford GSB’s Nondisclosure magazine and a Managing Editor for the Stanford International Policy Review.

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2023-2024 Stanford MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jun 15, 2023

Who is Stanford GSB looking for?
How should I answer the Stanford essay questions?
Essay Length
Make sure you get into Stanford GSB

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 20, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With a mission to “ to create ideas that deepen and advance our understanding of management and with those ideas to develop innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change the world ,” Stanford Graduate School of Business is at the top of many applicants’ list of dream schools.

However, with increasing competition over the small number of spots at this haven for innovative thinkers, securing a place at Stanford is more challenging than ever.

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Stanford GSB admissions essays to stand out . We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Stanford MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Stanford application your best shot.

Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Stanford GSB MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Stanford essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join !

1. Who is Stanford GSB looking for?

“At Stanford, we strive to ensure that a diversity of cultures, races and ethnicities, genders, political and religious beliefs, physical and learning differences, sexual orientations and identities is thriving on campus. Such diversity will inspire new angles of inquiry, new modes of analysis, new discoveries and new solutions … Our diversity ensures our strength as an intellectual community. In today’s world, diversity represents the key to excellence and achievement.” – Persis Drell, Provost, Stanford University

Every year, Stanford GSB’s admissions team selects around 400 students from over 6,000 applications for the honor of joining their prestigious MBA program. Though what “fits” at Stanford is constantly evolving, they do tend to admit slightly younger applicants (with an average of 4.9 years of work experience). Stanford also works hard to admit a highly diverse group of students.

Applicants offered admission also tend to have outstanding GMAT scores (the average for the Class of 2024 was 737) or exceptional GRE scores (the average for the Class of 2024 was 163Q and 164V) .

Nonetheless, that does not mean that Stanford looks simply for good test-takers. Instead, they want a talented, principled group of leaders who will use business to positively impact the world.

According to Stanford’s Admissions team:

Though there is great diversity in the class, some of the key characteristics GSB looks for in applicants are:

Intellectual vitality
Demonstrated leadership potential
Personal qualities and contributions

Stanford also states:

“We always remember that there is neither an ‘ideal’ candidate nor a ‘typical’ Stanford MBA student. You should remember this, too. While the Stanford GSB community does include students who have pursued incomparable opportunities, most Stanford MBA students have excelled by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. What you make of an experience matters to us, not simply the experience itself.”

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Stanford’s open-ended admissions essay questions.

2. How should I answer the Stanford essay questions?

Writing any admissions essay is a tough task , however, Stanford raises the bar when it comes to presenting a highly challenging yet open-ended prompt.

According to Stanford, here’s what they want to see in your admissions essays.

Keep reading for a more in-depth look at how to turn this rather open-ended task into a standout essay!

2.1. Essay A

Essay a: what matters most to you, and why.

Like most excellent admissions essays, this essay begins with in-depth brainstorming.

Questions like “What matters most to you” are not questions we commonly ask ourselves on a daily basis, so the answer might not be readily apparent to you.

During this brainstorming period, you should focus on retroactively connecting the dots and thinking about the future. What moments in your life did you feel most engaged or fulfilled? Have you overcome any challenges that marked your identity? What are your values ?

Regardless of which topic you choose, make sure it is genuine and that you can point to specific moments in your life during which you have acted on this value. This is not a purely philosophical essay in which you examine a core value. Instead, it is a picture of your motivations, intentions, and lessons as you have navigated your life’s many ups and downs. As I always tell clients, if you argue that what matters most to you is sustainability but you can’t provide a single example of acting to make your company or community more sustainable, perhaps you should go back to the drawing board or consider how to tweak your examples to tell a clearer, more compelling story. .

If you’re having trouble getting started, or aren’t sure you’ve really identified the right path forward, family members and close friends can be an excellent resource to help you zero in on the best topic.

After you choose your theme, you must go about supporting it . This does not mean you should simply copy/paste examples from other essays. This simply won’t work for Stanford.

Instead, carefully consider times when you clearly acted upon the core value you’ve presented. For example, if you state that being an independent thinker is what matters most, describe a time in your life when you went against the grain — and it paid off.

In writing your examples, be sure not to lose your theme, as this essay must be a coherent exploration of how your life has centered around what matters most to you.

TOP TIP : Striking upon a core value that GSB has never heard of before is almost impossible. The admissions committee has read thousands upon thousands of essays. Instead of standing out by choosing a unique (but perhaps under-supported) theme, choose the theme that genuinely demonstrates what you’re all about .

Lastly, be sure to make sure the essay includes you and your personality . The key to this is what we call voice . To help you demonstrate your voice, we suggest you keep the following tips in mind:

While writing, imagine you were explaining what matters most to you to a good friend or family member. How would you explain it to them? Which words would you use?
Explain the feelings and emotions you experienced during the events you are describing.
Think about the tone you want to write in and how it reflects how you feel or felt about the experience you describe.
Use sensory descriptors like how specific environments, events, people, or objects looked, smelled, tasted, felt, or sounded.
It’s okay to use informal language (e.g. contractions, slang, exclamations, etc.) in this essay to reinforce your voice! While this is a formal essay, these elements are often a welcome addition.

2.2. Essay B

Essay b: why stanford.

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

This question is essentially a goals essay , a common type of essay required of applicants at many elite business schools.

In this essay, you have a big task. In around 400 words, you need to discuss:

Any context from your past experience that helps underline your motivation for your goals
Your specific-post MBA goals
Why you believe an MBA is necessary to reach these goals
How a Stanford MBA will help you reach these goals

Each of these elements must be included and must build off of each other.

We suggest beginning your essay with a hook or experience from your past that demonstrates your motivation or past experience with your target industry. For example, if you are looking to go into developing green technologies, you could write about your country’s current green energy capacity; your first experience with sustainability as a teenager; a past work project focused on applying technology effectively; or your experience with sustainable business practices. As long as the story underlines why you care about your goals, it can work as an effective introduction to your essay.

Second of all, many candidates think they do not need to specifically state their goals, or that it’s better to leave “their options open.” If you are applying to elite business schools, however, you must have and present absolutely clarity about your goals.

Second, you should clearly demonstrate why you need an MBA .

An MBA is not a catch-all degree that serves a purpose for all career paths. As such, you need to demonstrate that the goals you have set for yourself require the additional training an MBA can provide.

Be thoughtful about this particular section. If you don’t need to improve in any meaningful way, you might be presenting the argument the admissions committee needs for why you can’t actually benefit from an MBA.

Furthermore, if you show fluffy or unsupported reasons you need to hone your skills, you’ll also likely see your application tossed aside in favor of an applicant who was able to clearly demonstrate how they plan to leverage their time at business school.

Third, show how Stanford can specifically help you grow in the areas you’ve identified. Mentioning that you want to go to Stanford because of its ranking or sunny California location will not cut it here.

Instead, show that you understand the flexibility of Stanford’s curriculum and have done significant, thoughtful research into how the opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom can help you grow. You should also definitely mention how you can contribute to the community.

Unlike other goals essays, however, you should also keep the theme you’ve presented in your first essay in mind. If you write a goals essay that is completely at odds with what you’ve shown is most important to you in life in your first essay, this inconsistency will likely end your Stanford application journey. However, it is okay if they are not explicitly related.

Finally, if you are applying for the Stanford MSx program , you are given an additional 50 words to also discuss your interest in this particular program.

2.3. Optional Essays

In addition to the two main essays, Stanford also has four optional short essays. These essays give you additional space to show off different elements of your profile and highlight areas you might not have been able to include in your What Matters Most and Why Stanford essays.

Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

Though these responses are technically optional, we highly suggest using this space to highlight professional or extracurricular achievements that you may not have been able to address in your What Matters Most essay. In particular, try to show a variety of achievements that complement your stories in other parts of your application and work to include stories with clear outcomes.

Optional background question: We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. With this question we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (1200 characters, including spaces)

Stanford GSB values applicants who can contribute to its greater community and the educational experience for all. This question tests how prepared, willing, and capable you are to draw on what you’ve experienced thus far in life to contribute to a project, class discussion, or community or interpersonal challenge. For that reason, it’s important to keep in mind that they are not asking you to show a time when you offered input — instead, they want to see when something about your personal or professional background proved to be the key to winning the day.

For example, one of our clients, Fabrizio, had a brother who had been unemployed for a long period of time, and he personally witnessed how demoralizing the lack of support he received during this period was. Then, when tasked with working on a workforce transition project at his consulting firm, he made sure to design initiatives that took into consideration how layoffs affect real people. In your essay, similarly look for a time when your previous experience or core values inspired you to take action.

Keep in mind you must limit yourself to 1,200 characters including spaces .

Stanford, like most top business schools, gives you space to explain any gaps or weaknesses in your profile. This should not be a place to discuss why Stanford should admit you, who you know from Stanford, or who you know from Stanford. It most certainly should not be a continuation of your Why Stanford essay.

Furthermore, just because there is no stated word limit does not mean you should write more than is absolutely necessary here. In my opinion, if you’re writing more than 200 words you might want to revisit your essay to ensure every part is needed.

If you’d like to learn more about what topics justify an optional essay – and how to write these essays – check out our post on the topic here .

3. Essay Length (Essays A and B)

Your answers for both essays A and B combined may not exceed 1,050 words.

3.2. Formatting:

Double-spaced
Indicate the question you are answering at the beginning of each essay (does not count toward the word limit)
Number all pages
Upload one document that includes both essays

Looking for Stanford GSB MBA essay examples? Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

4. Make sure you get into Stanford GSB

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.

That’s the approach we took with Giulia, who was admitted to Stanford. In her words, “I will never forget when I told Ellin I wasn’t applying for my dream school because I was sure I wouldn’t be accepted. She encouraged me to apply, and in the end, I was accepted.

The team is so well prepared to help the applicants with their specific needs. Above all, I felt I invested in mentoring and coaching, more than just help with the MBA process. Ellin and her team balanced perfectly dreaming with having my feet on the ground!”

Not only can you take advantage of our editing expertise through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

5. Deadlines

Here are the 2023-2024 deadlines. You can access the online application here .

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Stanford GSB MBA essay analysis for 2024 admissions

Admit expert.

July 8, 2023

The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the world’s leading business schools. Located in Silicon Valley, the school is known for its highly selective admissions process, strong academic programs, and close ties to the tech industry. The school offers a variety of MBA and Ph.D. programs, as well as executive education courses. In recent years, the school has been ranked highly by Businessweek and the Financial Times. With its strong reputation and close connection to the tech industry, the Stanford Graduate School of Business is an excellent choice for any business student.

Since Stanford GSB is one of the most selective Business Schools in the US it becomes really important that you should be able to impress the MBA admissions committee with your essay.

Stanford GSB MBA essay tips and analysis

In this article, we’ll share helpful tips for the Stanford GSB MBA essay for the 2024 admissions:

Why are essays important for Stanford GSB admissions?

Essay prompts for stanford gsb mba 2024 intake, stanford gsb mba application deadlines, let us help you get into stanford gsb.

Essays convey more about you as a person than just what you have accomplished.

Your academic and professional accomplishments are covered in other sections of the application, but the essays show who you are as a person.

The Stanford Graduate School of Business, as in previous years, requires MBA applicants to submit the same two required essay questions .

For 2024 admissions, the word limit has been set to 1,050 words, with the recommendation of 650 words for Essay A and 400 words for Essay B.

You will write two essays for the Stanford GSB as part of your application.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, Stanford GSB asks you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help them understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

Essay B: Why Stanford?

Essay B poses the question, “Why Stanford?” to applicants.

You have the chance to discuss your post-MBA goals and how Stanford can support them in this essay. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

Optional essays

You can also submit an optional short response essay question to Stanford GSB. This question is entirely optional and provides you more space to talk about subjects that you might not have been able to in other parts of your application.

The essay prompt is as follows:

Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

You can share up to three examples – up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example.

Stanford GSB Round 1 deadlines in


	12 Sep 2023	07 Dec 2023
	04 Jan 2024	28 Mar 2024
	09 Apr 2024	23 May 2024

Stanford MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

This infamous question, which has come to represent the Stanford GSB essays, is known for tying up applicants as they attempt to come up with an answer they feel is smart, eye-catching, or even meaningful.

Stanford GSB seeks students who are not only exceptionally bright and accomplished but also who have strong moral principles and a desire to make a meaningful contribution to society. The ‘true you’ that emerges from this introspection helps the GSB assess your fit for the class. Taking the time to thoroughly consider this question will provide you with significant insight into your life’s purpose and beliefs.

In short, This essay is an opportunity to demonstrate who you are, what motivates you, and why.

Essay tips from Stanford MBA adcom

If you’re starting from scratch, perhaps we can start with some of the advice provided by Stanford GSB. They advise you to consider who you are, the lessons and insights that have shaped your perspectives, and the events that have influenced you. They also encourage you to write from your heart.

The admissions committee at Stanford looks for authenticity. While you may not be able to completely control your uniqueness because another candidate’s profile may be similar to yours, you can control your authenticity by telling your true story.

This is also voiced by Lisa Giannangeli, Stanford MBA admissions director who advises

“Don’t sweat too much trying to find things about yourself that no one before has done. Instead, focus on telling the MBA admissions committee who you are and differentiation will occur naturally”

Stanford’s Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions, Derrick Bolton has been quoted to say, ‘please think of the Stanford essays as conversations on paper ‒ when we read files, we feel that we meet people, also known as our “flat friends” ‒ and tell us your story in a natural, genuine way.” If you look up ‘story’ in the dictionary, you will find a definition along the lines of “an account of imaginary or real people and events told in an entertaining way.” The best essays are told in a compelling ‘story-like’ way that may involve emotion, humor, inspiration, wit, insight, honesty, and simply – being yourself. A Stanford GSB admissions officer may be reading 20 applications today, 30 tomorrow, and hundreds more in the following weeks. So how can you make an impact, sound intelligent, be original, and engage your reader? This is no easy task but it’s time to put on your thinking hat and reach inwards to tell the story that you are the best qualified to write.

Think about all the important events of your life and try to find an underlying theme among all these events.

Things to do before writing your essay

According to Jayce Hafner , (Stanford class of 2019), “Before you sit down to write your personal statement, spend some good time thinking about the moments in your life that have been meaningful and transformative. Write down these scenes individually and consider them in the larger trajectory of your past and your intended future.” She goes on to say, “Own up to your sense of self: your quirks, your decisions, your beliefs. In this way, you are not only creating an authentic essay but you’re also giving yourself permission to show up completely in the later stages of your application process: during your interview, your school visits, and your chats with students, faculty, and alumni.”

Here are a few questions that will help you get started.

How was growing up like? How did your parents or guardians, as well as your environment, mold you?
How did school feel? Did you pay attention? What impact did your buddies have on you? What sort of individuals did you associate with? What emotions did you experience as a teenager?
How has your professional life been? Are you satisfied with your decisions? Any remorse? What aspects of your employment do you like or dislike, and why?
What extracurricular activities do you participate in and what hobbies do you have, and why?
What about life do you love or hate? What makes you joyful or depressed, angry or frustrated?
What causes you to wake up in the morning? What do you actually care about in this life?
If you knew that you’d die in the next 1 week, what would you do?

How to approach essay A?

Here’s how you should approach this essay:

Find a person, occasion, or experience that had a significant impact on you to start.
What lessons, principles, and values have you learned from this experience?
How do these principles, values, and lessons affect your drive, motivation, and worldview today? How do you employ them? (Keep in mind that the aim of Stanford is to “transform lives, change organizations, and change the world.”)
How has the progression of your career been related to the aforementioned?
Reiterate the connection between your values and your career goals and explain why these objectives are significant to you.

Remember that this essay is one of the most personalized essays asked by any business school. Therefore, focus on your life stories and weave them to convey ‘what matters to you the most and why?’

Focus on the “why” rather than the “what.”

Derrick Bolton, the former Stanford admissions director, has been quoted saying that your essay should “… be so personal that if you were working on it at 2 AM and accidentally printed a copy to your office printer, you would break out in a cold sweat, grab the keys, floor it and drive as fast as you could to the office to snatch the essay before anyone could read it.”

To learn more about what Stanford GSB is looking for and how to make your application stand out, get in touch with us at [email protected]

How to write Essay A?

Pick a theme

Selecting a theme is the first stage in writing any essay.

The ideal strategy for the Stanford GSB essay A is to brainstorm; consider all the things that are significant to you and why you think they are significant. Consider your accomplishments as well as the motivation behind your goals. Find a common theme among those experiences.

Create a layout

Once you’ve made a list, you can focus on one aspect of your subject and start writing. You can create a general framework for your Stanford MBA essay by creating a list of relevant bullet points that you would expand in your essay.

Start writing

Start expanding on the bullet points based on the accomplishments that you have chosen. Use specific examples to make your case.

Revise, Redraft, Revise

Create multiple drafts and revise each draft and make sure there are no spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Do you want to impress the Stanford GSB Adcom?

At Admit Expert, we have helped hundreds of students get into top MBA programs around the world. We would be happy to help you too. Schedule a free call with us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals.

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Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

If the first essay focuses on your past and present, the second “Why Stanford” essay focuses on your future.

There are just two words. That’s all. This question is succinct and expresses exactly what the Stanford GSB adcom wants to know.

To properly answer this question, two pieces of information are required: A well-defined MBA goal and a thorough understanding of the Stanford GSB curriculum, clubs, competitions, placements, professors, location, etc.

In essence, Stanford asks you to explain your decision to pursue an MBA and the unique opportunities you will pursue at Stanford in this essay.

If you want to excel at writing this essay then your school research must be excellent. What classes, clubs, events, or other programme and community elements will catalyze the impact you want to make in the short, medium, and long term?

Show Stanford that you’ve done more than just read about the various programmes on the GSB website by digging deep and getting specific.

If you don’t know what makes the Stanford MBA programme unique, you won’t be able to respond to the question. Understand how Stanford’s curriculum flexibility, integrated approach to management education, entrepreneurial culture, and other features will help you gain the skills you need to achieve your goals. Recognize that the curriculum can be customized based on your objectives and prior experiences, particularly any business education you may have had.

We will help you write essays that portray your unique strengths and experiences in the most favorable light so that your application shines above the rest. We have helped hundreds of students get into top US business schools. Let us help you too.

Do you want to get into your dream business school?

Take the first step towards your MBA dream and schedule a free 1 on 1 application strategy call with us.

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Expert MBA Essay Tips and How to Write a Great MBA Essay

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Homepage > MBA Admissions > Business Schools > Stanford MBA Essay | Analysis and tips for 2023 intake

Stanford MBA Essay | Analysis and tips for 2023 intake

Posted by Suheb Hussain | Jan 24, 2023 | Business Schools , GMAT Focus Edition , MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

Like previous years, the Stanford Graduate School of Business asks MBA applicants to submit the same two required essay questions. For 2023 admissions, it has reduced the word limit from 1,150 words to 1,050 words, with the recommendation of using 650 words for Essay A and 400 for Essay B.

In this article, Poonam Tandon from myEssayReview, who has been helping students with their MBA applications since 2011, shares her tips on the Stanford MBA essay for the 2023 intake.

Before we proceed to discuss the details of specific essay questions, you must be thorough with the official guidelines for the Stanford MBA essays:

Stanford MBA Essays standard guidelines

Length of the essays : Try not to exceed the word limit of 1,050 words for both essays combined. The recommended word limit for essay A is 650 words, and for essay B is 400 words.
Format of the essays: Stanford has strict guidelines for the format of the essays. Your essays must be double-spaced, and all the pages of the document must be numbered.
Uploading the essays: Both essays must be uploaded in a single document.

Let’s take a look at Poonam’s analysis of the Stanford GSB MBA essay topics for the 2023 intake.

Stanford MBA Essay A

Topic – what matters the most to you, and why.

This is one of the most challenging essays asked by the business schools, and Stanford has asked applicants this essay question for a long time now. This essay requires you to introspect and reflect on your experiences and lessons learned along the journey.

The answer to this question will reveal the undisclosed profound side of the applicant that cannot be found anywhere in the application. This essay is an opportunity to demonstrate who you are, what motivates you, and why.

We would like you to do some deep self-reflection, so you can genuinely illustrate who you are and how you became the person you are. Instead of focusing merely on what you have done or accomplished, share insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspective. Write from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you. Focus on the ‘why’ rather than the ‘what.’

We are who we are because of the experiences and events that we have gone through in our life.

To brainstorm ideas for this essay, you will need to look back and reflect on your past experiences – growing up years, schooling, college, professional life, volunteer activities, general interests, etc., and look for some common thread that runs through some or all of them.

Since there is no direct answer to this essay, do not try to write a response right away. Prewriting your experiences to identify a unifying theme would be of great help.

Try to focus on life experiences that have shaped your values and priorities all these years. Don’t shy away from sharing the challenging experiences– often tough experiences make us stronger and instill a zeal in us to fight. Whatever stories you choose, focus on their impact on your life and your values.

As you recount your experiences, make sure to share your thought process- how you felt, thought, and reacted at that time and what lessons you eventually learned.

I suggest providing a chronological account of events that have influenced your thoughts, values, and beliefs and have shaped you into a person you are now with your firm belief system and priorities.

Please remember this essay is not directly about your accomplishments; it is about your values and perspectives that you have developed over the years. So, your focus has to be on the events, people, and anecdotes that made you the unique person you are today.

Also, elucidate here how you have translated your values into actions. This way, your accomplishments will naturally stem from your values and priorities.

Stanford MBA Essay B

Topic – why stanford.

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford GSB experience will help you realize them. If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs.

The second essay concentrates on the candidates’ career goals and reasons for pursuing a management degree at Stanford. After you have explained in the first essay what matters most to you in life, you need to tell why your next step is a Stanford MBA.

Explain why you are interested in pursuing an MBA, and why you specifically want to attend Stanford GSB. You need to have clarity regarding your goals and the additional training you require, which a Stanford MBA can provide.

Thorough research of the school’s resources and curriculum will help you determine how the Stanford MBA program aligns with your aspirations. Instead of mapping out a specific career path in this essay, applicants should focus on defining the broad impact they aim to make on a service, a sector, or society.

While Essay A is your opportunity to explain what matters most to you, Essay B allows you to show how you would use your time at Stanford to further your career and what matters most to you.

In a way, Essay B picks up from where Essay A ends .

Be as specific as possible in your response to provide evidence that you have done your research. You should know everything about the aspects of the program that interest you the most.

Talk about specific classes, programs, collaboration with other parts of the school, clubs, conferences, or other offerings that distinguish Stanford from other top business schools.

Are there any particular courses that appeal to you most? Have you met current students and alumni? Have you attended any admission events that offered you additional insights about the programs and confirmed your decision to apply to Stanford? Are there any professors whose classes you are most excited about?

Stanford likes to see applicants who have big dreams and have the potential to realize those dreams. Be bold with your aspirations, but at the same time, be realistic in showing that you have the ability to fulfill your dreams.

Aspire to get into Stanford MBA program? A 740+ GMAT score can improve your chances of an admit. Kickstart your GMAT preparation by Singing up for our free Trial! For any queries, write to us at [email protected]. We are the most reviewed GMAT prep company on GmatClub with more than 2500 reviews.

Additional Information

If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the “Additional Information” section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

Extenuating circumstances affecting academic or work performance
Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere

As directed in the essay prompt, you may use this essay question to address a weakness in your profile, such as employment gap, low GPA/low GMAT, completion of supplemental work, or unusual choice of the recommender, academic experience not noted elsewhere. Your weakness may also bring out a positive aspect of your personality

Do you want to know about the typical candidate profile at Stanford? Read this article to learn about the class profile, employment reports, and notable alumni from Wharton.

Common myths about Stanford MBA admissions

Finally, please go through the video by Kristen Moss , Assistant Dean of admissions at Stanford wherein she talks about common myths that some students have about admission to Stanford and what is most important in the application process.

Free Resources:

10 Key Essay Tips with Examples
Interviews of Successful MER Students
E-book of 30 Essays that Worked
Case Studies

Since 2011, MER ( myEssayReview ) has helped many applicants get accepted into the top 20 MBA programs, including Stanford. (Poonam is one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club .)

Do you have questions about your application for the 2022-23 admission cycle? E-mail Poonam at [email protected] or sign up here for a free consultation.

About the author

Poonam, one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club , is a master storyteller with more than three decades of experience in successfully helping students craft compelling stories for undergraduate and graduate school programs.

A Ph.D. in English, with three decades of teaching experience in India and the US, Poonam launched myEssayReview (MER) in 2011 to provide highly personalized and dedicated consulting services to Business School applicants. Since then, she has helped hundreds of students around the world get into top MBA, EMBA, part-time MBA, and specialized graduate programs. A full-time consultant, Poonam is passionate about her work and is highly committed to each of her students’ success.

Here a few more articles you may find helpful:

5 Different Types of MBA Essays Explained
Common MBA Application Mistakes to Avoid
How to improve your MBA profile and boost your application
MBA Application Process – Weightage of Different Components
2019-2020 MBA Application Deadlines

About The Author

Suheb Hussain

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Stanford GSB 2024: Comprehensive MBA Guide with In-Depth Essay Analysis

The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) stands as a beacon of academic excellence in the world of business education, boasting an admission rate that hovers around a competitive 6.1%. This esteemed institution is synonymous with academic prestige and is renowned globally for its exceptional degrees.

The cornerstone of their offerings is the immersive two-year Stanford MBA Program. This comprehensive, full-time, residential course not only awards a general management degree but also nurtures students’ entrepreneurial visions and equips them with a dynamic set of skills to turn those visions into reality.

The Stanford Advantage

Nestled in the heart of Stanford, California, Stanford University offers a unique platform that merges the academic world with the real-world. The institution opens doors to a world of opportunities, including state-of-the-art facilities, an influential alumni network, and remarkable placement prospects. This environment attracts the finest talents from around the world, creating a vibrant and diverse campus, conducive to enriching learning experiences.

The full-time two-year MBA program at Stanford typically enrolls approximately 400 students annually, fostering a close-knit community of aspiring business leaders.

Silicon Valley’s Innovation Hub

Located within the innovation hub of Silicon Valley, Stanford GSB provides unparalleled access to major technology firms and some of the world’s most promising startups. The past few years have witnessed a remarkable surge in the creation of MBA startups at Stanford, cementing the school’s reputation as the ideal place to transform business ideas into reality. It offers an environment to incubate startups from scratch, secure capital from angel investors and venture capitalists, and successfully launch entrepreneurial ventures.

The Two-Year MBA Program in Detail

The Stanford GSB’s two-year MBA program, based in Stanford, California, ranks prominently on the world stage, securing the 6th spot in the prestigious Financial Times Global Business School rankings. What truly sets the program apart is the caliber of its faculty members. They are not only distinguished in their respective fields but are also known for influencing and shaping contemporary business practices.

Joining Stanford GSB means joining a network that you can always count on. The institution connects you to over 500 speakers from various industries annually and links you with an expansive alumni network comprising more than 47,000 influential leaders across the globe.

In terms of affordability, tuition fees for one year amount to $76,950, with the total first-year budget totaling $124,389, including various expenses such as boarding.

Stanford takes pride in offering generous scholarships to outstanding international candidates, primarily on a merit basis. These scholarships include Stanford GSB Need-Based Fellowships, the Stanford GSB BOLD Fellows Fund, and the prestigious Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. Additionally, students can explore various avenues for career support, summer stipends, external scholarships, employer sponsorships, and military-related Yellow Ribbon programs.

Diverse Class Profile

One of Stanford GSB’s standout features is its diverse MBA cohort, representing a wide array of industries and professional backgrounds. This diversity translates into a truly global learning experience, where students gain insights from diverse perspectives.

Students joining the program bring a wealth of industry experience, spanning diverse sectors such as consulting, banking, financial services, fashion, and the performing arts. What’s particularly remarkable is that around 47% of the student body comprises international or non-US students, fostering a rich global learning environment.

With an average work experience of 4.8 years for full-time MBA students, Stanford ensures that its classrooms are enriched by the varied industry experience that students bring. This peer-to-peer learning extends beyond the classroom, creating a holistic educational experience.

Stanford GSB proudly maintains one of the best gender diversity ratios among business schools worldwide, with women making up 44% of the student body. This commitment to inclusivity adds to the school’s appeal.

In terms of academic prowess, the incoming class exhibits an impressive mean GMAT score of 734, and an average GRE score of 330. Furthermore, the students boast an average GPA of 3.78, reflecting their academic excellence.

Comprehensive Overview of the Stanford MBA Program Curriculum

At the Stanford MBA Program, the primary goal is to help you nurture your vision and arm you with the knowledge and skills needed to bring that vision to life. The program is structured into two years, each designed to provide you with a unique blend of core and elective courses, ensuring you are well-prepared to excel in the dynamic world of business management.

First-Year Curriculum: Building Strong Foundations

In your first year, the curriculum focuses on building a robust foundation in general management. It’s a transformative journey that begins with the following components:

Core Courses: Immersive Learning

This is where you dive deep into intricate managerial challenges. These core courses offer invaluable insights into the mindset of senior managers and leaders, enabling you to grasp the broader context of management. Through a combination of hands-on experience and constructive feedback from both peers and dedicated leadership coaches, your leadership style will evolve, and your managerial skills will flourish. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes global management, helping you thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. The core courses are thoughtfully designed, with options tailored to your unique skills, experiences, and future aspirations. Although the initial year primarily comprises core courses, there’s room for flexibility with one to two elective courses available during the winter and spring quarters.

Global Experience Requirement: Expanding Horizons

Our Global Experience Requirement is a hallmark of the Stanford GSB experience. It offers a spectrum of exciting opportunities to immerse yourself in global issues and appreciate the complexities of global management. MBA students are mandated to partake in and successfully complete at least one global experience. These experiences are transformative, broadening your perspective and enhancing your leadership capabilities, which will serve you well, regardless of your future career path.

Second-Year Curriculum: Tailoring Your Journey

In the second year, you have the flexibility to customize your educational journey to align with your personal and professional interests. This is accomplished through a wide array of elective courses, seminars, joint or dual degree programs, and the opportunity to explore courses offered by other Stanford schools.

Electives: Specializing Your Knowledge

During the second year of the MBA program, the focus primarily shifts to elective courses. These courses are designed to enrich your experience and broaden your perspective. They allow you to deepen your expertise in specific areas of interest, bolster areas of development, explore new subjects, and ensure a well-rounded education in general management. Our curriculum is dynamic, with new electives continually added or existing ones revised to stay in tune with changes in the business environment, the social sector, and students’ evolving interests. Elective topics span a wide range, encompassing disciplines such as Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Leadership, Managerial Economics, Marketing, Operations, Organizational Behavior, Political Economics, Public Management, and Strategic Management.

Compressed Courses: Enhanced Learning Opportunities

Additionally, we offer compressed courses that provide intensive, focused learning experiences in specific areas of business management.

Placement Statistics

Stanford consistently delivers exceptional results, with over 91% of MBA graduates securing employment opportunities each year. The return on your investment is substantial, with alumni reporting an average post-graduation salary of $160,000, complemented by a generous variable compensation of $78,000 . Many of our graduates choose to embark on entrepreneurial ventures, while others opt to join innovative startups and emerging ventures. These statistics serve as a testament to the remarkable success achieved by our MBA graduates.

By providing a more in-depth overview, we aim to give you a comprehensive understanding of the enriching and transformative journey that awaits you at the Stanford MBA Program.

Let’s also do the MBA essay analysis for Stanford GSB for the 2024 admit.

Essay A: What matters most to you, and why? (in 600 words)

“What matters most to you, and why?” This essay is a fundamental part of your application, as it offers you the opportunity to reveal your values, beliefs, and what drives you. To craft a compelling essay, follow these steps:

Self-Reflection: Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on what truly matters to you. It might be a life experience, a personal value, a passion, or a commitment. What deeply motivates and guides your actions and decisions? Make sure to choose something authentic, meaningful, and unique to you.
Storytelling: Your essay should tell a story or illustrate your point rather than merely listing your values. Share a specific and personal anecdote that demonstrates how this value or belief has impacted your life. Use vivid details to paint a clear picture.
The “Why”: Remember that this essay is not just about what matters most to you but also why it matters. Explain the significance and the impact it has had on your life and the lives of others. Go beyond surface-level explanations and delve into the emotional and intellectual reasons behind your choice.
Authenticity: Be genuine and honest in your writing. Admissions committees are looking for individuals who are sincere and self-aware. Avoid trying to guess what the committee wants to hear or using cliches.
Connection to Stanford GSB: Connect your values or what matters most to you with your aspiration to attend Stanford GSB. How will your values align with the Stanford GSB community and its mission? What unique contributions will you make based on your values?
Conciseness: While you have up to 600 words, it’s essential to be concise and focused. Every word should contribute to your narrative. Avoid unnecessary tangents or fluff.
Revise and Edit: After writing your initial draft, revise it thoroughly. Consider seeking feedback from mentors, peers, or professional essay editors. Ensure your essay is clear, well-structured, and free from grammatical errors.

Here’s a sample structure for your essay:

Introduction : Begin with a captivating opening that introduces the central theme of your essay and what matters most to you.

Body : Use the body of the essay to narrate your story and explain why this value or belief is significant. Provide examples, experiences, or events that have shaped your perspective.

Reflection : Reflect on how this value or belief has influenced your decisions, relationships, and overall life.

Connection to Stanford GSB : Conclude by explaining how your values align with the Stanford GSB community and its goals. Emphasize what you hope to contribute to the Stanford GSB community.

Conclusion : End with a strong conclusion that reinforces the importance of your chosen value and leaves a lasting impression.

Remember, this essay is your opportunity to stand out and demonstrate your uniqueness. Be authentic, introspective, and passionate about what matters most to you. Good luck with your essay!

Essay B: Why Stanford (in 450 words)

“Why Stanford?” which has a word limit of 450 words. The purpose of this essay is to understand why you are interested in pursuing an MBA at Stanford specifically. Here are some key points to consider:

Reflect on Your Values : Start by reflecting on your personal and professional values. What is it about Stanford GSB’s culture, values, and mission that resonates with your own beliefs and aspirations? Be specific in how your values align with the school’s ethos.
Research the School : Show that you’ve done your homework about Stanford GSB. Mention specific programs, professors, resources, or extracurricular activities that are unique to Stanford and relevant to your goals. This demonstrates your genuine interest.
Personal Growth and Development : Explain how you believe a Stanford MBA will help you grow as an individual. Highlight areas where you see the biggest potential for personal and professional development, and how Stanford GSB’s approach will support that growth.
Contribution to the Community : Discuss how you plan to contribute to the Stanford GSB community. This could be through your unique experiences, skills, or perspectives. Stanford values diversity and the sharing of different viewpoints, so explain how you can enrich the school’s culture.
Long-term Goals : Connect your aspirations and long-term career goals to what you hope to achieve at Stanford. How will this MBA program help you on your path? Discuss how the school’s resources and network will be instrumental in realizing your ambitions.
Evidence of Fit : Share examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your fit with Stanford’s culture and values. This could be related to leadership, innovation, or making a positive impact.
Avoid Generic Statements : Be specific and avoid generic statements like “Stanford is a top-tier institution.” Instead, delve into what makes Stanford unique for you and your goals.
Reflect on Your Unique Story : Bring in your personal experiences and anecdotes that showcase your journey and the reasons behind your choice. Make it personal and authentic.
Tone and Style : Maintain a professional and sincere tone throughout the essay. Your enthusiasm should shine through, but avoid being overly effusive.
Edit and Proofread : Once you’ve written your essay, review and edit it for clarity, grammar, and coherence. Ensure that every word contributes to your narrative.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, pursuing an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business is a transformative journey that can open doors to countless opportunities. Stanford’s commitment to innovation, diversity, and social impact creates a unique environment that fosters personal and professional growth. The school’s renowned faculty, global network, and exceptional resources make it a top choice for those who aspire to lead, innovate, and make a difference in the world. Whether you’re looking to accelerate your career, launch a startup, or enhance your leadership skills, Stanford GSB offers an exceptional platform for achieving your goals. With its rich history, forward-thinking curriculum, and vibrant community, Stanford MBA is a path to greatness and a chance to join a network of alumni who are changing the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What is the application process for Stanford GSB MBA?

Answer: The application process typically includes essays, letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, standardized test scores, and an interview. It’s important to visit Stanford’s official website for the most up-to-date information.

What is the ideal candidate profile for Stanford GSB?

Answer: Stanford values diversity, leadership, and innovation. Ideal candidates are typically accomplished professionals with a strong track record of leadership and a passion for creating positive change.

What makes Stanford GSB unique among other business schools?

Answer: Stanford is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, focus on innovation, and emphasis on social impact. Its location in Silicon Valley provides unparalleled access to resources and opportunities.

How long does the Stanford MBA program take to complete?

Answer: The standard Stanford MBA program is a two-year, full-time program.

What is the cost of tuition for the Stanford MBA program?

Answer: Tuition and fees for the Stanford MBA program vary annually. It’s advisable to check Stanford’s official website for the most current information on costs and financial aid.

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Knight-Hennessy Scholars for Stanford GSB Applicants: Facts and Tips

Knight-Hennessy Scholars is an international graduate-level scholarship program for study among a 90-student cohort at Stanford University. Established in 2016, the program prepares students to take leadership roles in finding creative solutions to complex world issues. This encompasses the environment, healthcare, education, inequality, and social justice. A hallmark of the program is innovation through multidisciplinary and multicultural understanding.

What makes me eligible to be a Knight-Hennessy Scholar?

As described on the program’s website, Knight-Hennessy Scholars should demonstrate:

Independence of Thought
Purposeful Leadership
Civic Mindset

You may apply to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program if you are applying to enroll in a full-time graduate program(s) at Stanford. This includes, but is not limited to, the JD, MA, MBA, MD, and MPP programs. Priority goes to those who are spending at least two years in graduate education at Stanford.

To be eligible for consideration, the applicant must have graduated with a first/bachelor’s degree less than six years before applying (in 2014 or earlier, for the autumn 2022 intake).

Knight-Hennessy Scholars for MBA applicants

The most attractive aspect of the program for our clients is that Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive funding to pursue their MBA at Stanford. Other program benefits include rich leadership development programming and a community hub to unite scholars for dialogue and collaboration.

At SBC, our clients applying to Stanford GSB for their MBA often add the Knight-Hennessy Scholars application concurrently. The timing of the application is such that an MBA applicant submits for the MBA program in either Round 1 (early September) or Round 2 (early January), and then submits to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars.

For the 2020-21 admissions season, the application timeline for Knight-Hennessy Scholars was:

Application Due: October 14, 2020, at 1:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time)
Finalist notification: February 3, 2021
Immersion Weekend: March 6, 2021
Decision notification: April 2021

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Application Essays:

In addition to submitting to the GSB MBA program, Knight-Hennessy Scholars need to fulfill specific requirements and answer the essays below.

After graduating from Stanford, what are your immediate and long-term intentions? (150-word limit)
How will your Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience prepare you to realize your intentions? (150-word limit)
Please tell us eight improbable facts (things that are unlikely but true) about you. (150-word limit)
Please tell us when you: a) made someone proud of you, b) were most challenged, and c) did not meet expectations. (150-word limit combined)
Connect the dots. How have the influences in your life shaped you? (600-word limit)

What can help improve my odds of selection at the finalist stage?

At SBC, we have several Stanford experts who have successfully guided Knight-Hennessy Scholars applicants. Here is advice from one of our experts:

Try to imagine the other students who will be your classmates. We recommend that you look at past recipients’ profiles. Think about: What do you want to learn from them? What can you contribute to the community?

Paint a picture of how you’ll be involved at school.
If asked about random facts about you, not everything has to be intentional – feel free to include a few quirky facts
Highlight any cultural and international themes and experiences, as these are always valued.

We asked SBC consultant Dione, one of our Stanford GSB experts, about her perspective on this program. Dione says, “Knight-Hennessy Scholars gain a unique opportunity to belong to a close-knit community of people from different disciplines and cultures who share their goal of becoming impactful, global leaders.

I would encourage anyone for whom the GSB’s mission to ‘Change Lives. Change Organizations. Change the World.’ resonates to learn more about this program.

The reflection and preparation required to apply to be a Knight-Hennessy Scholar are very much in line with what it takes to be a compelling candidate for the GSB’s MBA and MSx programs.”

You can request a free analysis of your candidacy here . SBC is the only MBA admissions firm with a complete panel of former Admissions Officers, several of whom specialize in Knight-Hennessy Scholars candidates.

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Harvard HBS, Stanford GSB and every elite business program in the US and Europe. These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Erin , who was Assistant Director of MBA Admissions at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) and Director of MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Meet Andrea , who served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.

Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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Learn about our all-in service, meet the sbc consulting team.

(323) 934-3936 info@StacyBlackman.com

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Mit sloan deadlines for 2024-2025.

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Stanford MSx Essay Questions 2024-2025 (the Monster Application!)

Question banks.

Word count overview. The first section below gives you an overview of the word counts associated with the MSx’s main essays, mini-essays, and descriptive parts.
Specific prompts. The next section below provides the specific prompts for the various MSx essays, mini-essays, and descriptive parts.
Briefly share your short- and long-term professional aspirations after graduating from Stanford GSB. (255 characters, or approximately 40 words
Because the Stanford MSx program is for mid-career managers, we want you to have clear career goals in mind when you begin. Briefly tell us about your specific career goals and how you believe the Stanford MSx Program, combined with your experience, education or background, will help you achieve them. Be as specific as you can. You are welcome to elaborate on these goals further in Essay B if desired. (500 characters, or approximately 80 words)

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The Global Hub is the flagship building of The Kellogg School of Management Evanston campus. The completion of the innovative Global Hub caps off the school’s seven-year plan for transformation and continues its legacy as a pioneer in business education.

Tips for Kellogg’s 2024-2025 Essays

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management recently released the 2024-2025 deadlines for its two-year full-time MBA program. The Round 1 application deadline is set for September 11 with Round 2 slated for January 8, and Round 3 on April 2.

The business school requires two essays: the first about applicants’ motivations for pursuing a Kellogg MBA and career goals, and the second about a challenging professional decision and the values that guided it.

The first Kellogg essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words)

Jeremy Shinewald, an admissions consultant at mbaMission , says this essay is essentially asking you to provide a standard personal statement: explain your goals, motivations, timing, and why Kellogg is the right fit for you. The most challenging part for most applicants, Shinewald says, is the tight 450-word limit—which allows for two or three paragraphs.

“You will need to be concise, direct, and clear,” Shinewald says. “This is, we believe, where the ‘intentionality’ factor really comes in. If you are truly focused on your goals and your vision of your future—in other words, if your intentions are strong and set—you should be able to articulate the different elements of your path pretty easily.”

The second Kellogg essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

This essay, Shinewald says, is all about how you approach and navigate situations where things are not as clear-cut as you’d like. Shinewald recommends sharing an anecdote where something was at stake. Your essay should walk readers through your decision-making process while noting the potential outcomes of your various choices.

“How do you reason through options and reach conclusions, especially when doing so is complicated?” Shinewald says. “The prompt very clearly states that the experience you discuss in this essay must be one from your professional past, but the scale or scope of the situation in an objective sense is not as important as how affecting it was for you personally and how revelatory it is of who you are and how you think and operate. This is really what the admissions committee is looking to learn.”

Sources: mbaMission , P&Q , Clear Admit , Stacy Blackman Consulting

Next Page: 3 Key Metrics for MBA Readiness

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COMMENTS

Essays
Both essays combined may not exceed 1,000 words. We recommend up to 650 words for Essay A and up to 350 words for Essay B. We often read effective essays that are written in fewer words. Editing Your Essays. Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.
Stanford GSB Essay Advice & Deadlines: 2024-2025
Stanford GSB Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2024-2025. Last year, there were two Stanford GSB essays, which have a combined word limit of 1050 words. It appears that this year Stanford lowered the word count for essay B. It is suggested to allocate up to 650 words on Essay A and up to 350 words on Essay B.
Stanford GSB Essays
Stanford has asked applicants to respond to the same two questions it has asked the past several years, maintaining the 1,050 word limit from last year, with the recommendation of using 650 words for Essay A and 400 for Essay B. Two optional essays regarding candidate's impact and background are also included in the application and Clear ...
Stanford GSB Essay Examples & Tips, 2024-2025
June 17, 2024. Jeremy Shinewald. The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) requires only two essays of its candidates, though its long-standing first essay question—about "what matters most" to applicants—is one we have seen many people struggle with over the years. The largely open-ended nature of the prompt often stymies ...
Stanford GSB Essay Analysis
Essay questions. Stanford's iconic essays remain the same for another year, albeit with slightly shorter word limit. The first question "What Matters Most?" suggests a 650-word limit and "Why Stanford?" has a suggested 350-word limit (1,000 words total). The school also offers applications the opportunity to submit up to three essays ...
Stanford GSB Essays: Strategy on Writing What Matters Most
Rather than provide a hard word limit, Stanford states that combined, your two required essays may not exceed 1,050 words. Stanford recommends up to 650 words for the iconic "What matters most to you and why" Essay A, and up to 400 words for Essay B, "Why Stanford?". They say that they often find effective essays written in far fewer words.
Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023
April 9, 2024. May 23, 2024. Your completed application, including your and application fee payment, is due at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the deadline date for the round in which you apply. Source: Stanford GSB website. ***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change.
Stanford GSB MBA Essay Analysis 2023
Stanford GSB's MBA application essay questions for the 2023-2024 cycle remain unchanged from previous years. There are 2 core essays with a combined word limit of 1050, and Stanford recommends using 650 words for Essay A and 400 for Essay B. Stanford also asks two optional questions: a short-answer essay and an additional information essay.
How to Write the Stanford GSB Essays: Tips and Examples
Pick Your Topic. The first step to any essay is to pick your topic. For the Stanford GSB essay A, the best course is to brainstorm; think about all the things that are important to you and why you consider them important. Also, think about your achievements and why you set out to achieve them. 2.
Stanford GSB Essay Tips and Deadlines: 2023-24
For additional information on applying, please visit the Stanford GSB admissions website. Essays. As in previous years, the Stanford Graduate School of Business asks MBA applicants to respond to two required essay questions. The total word limit for both essays is 1,050 words, with a suggested limit of 650 words for Essay A and 400 words for ...
Craft a Powerful Essay for Stanford GSB: What Matters Most & Why?
The 5 Best Classes at Stanford's Graduate School of Business. An overview of the top 5 classes at GSB, from an expert coach and Stanford MBA. January 26, 2024. ... This article by an expert Leland MBA coach will give you 8 tips to help you keep your essays under the limit while still maintaining a compelling story. March 12, 2024.
Stanford GSB Essay Advice: 2022-2023
The Stanford MBA Essay questions, as expected, did not change this year. Once again, there are two Stanford GSB essays, which have a combined word limit of 1050 words. Stanford suggests applicants allocate up to 650 words on Essay A and up to 400 words on Essay B.
Stanford GSB Essays and Application Deadlines: 2021-2022
Stanford GSB, as expected, did not change the essay questions this year. Once again, Stanford's essays have a combined word limit of 1050 words, suggesting clients allocate up to 650 words on Essay A and up to 400 words on Essay B. This encourages applicants to remain focused and concise in their answers. Below, please
2023/24 Stanford GSB Essay Analysis [Sample Essays Included]
Every year, Stanford GSB's admissions team selects around 400 students from over 6,000 applications for the honor of joining their prestigious MBA program. Though what "fits" at Stanford is constantly evolving, they do tend to admit slightly younger applicants (with an average of 4.9 years of work experience).
Stanford GSB MBA essay analysis for 2024 admissions
The Stanford Graduate School of Business, as in previous years, requires MBA applicants to submit the same two required essay questions . For 2024 admissions, the word limit has been set to 1,050 words, with the recommendation of 650 words for Essay A and 400 words for Essay B.
Stanford MBA Essay
A 7 min read . Like previous years, the Stanford Graduate School of Business asks MBA applicants to submit the same two required essay questions. For 2023 admissions, it has reduced the word limit from 1,150 words to 1,050 words, with the recommendation of using 650 words for Essay A and 400 for Essay B.
Stanford GSB 2024: Comprehensive MBA Guide with In-Depth Essay Analysis
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) stands as a beacon of academic excellence in the world of business education, boasting an admission rate that hovers around a competitive 6.1%. ... "Why Stanford?" which has a word limit of 450 words. The purpose of this essay is to understand why you are interested in pursuing an MBA at ...
All Your HBS and Stanford GSB Essay Questions Answered
The GSB admissions committee suggests writing no more than 650 words for Essay A ("What matters most to you, and why?") and no more than 400 words for Essay B ("Why Stanford?"). The total word count of both essays combined cannot be more than 1,050 words. Although you might be tempted to write more than 650 words for Essay A, doing so ...
Stanford GSB Essay Questions And Strategic Guidance, 2023-2024
The Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) holds the title of being the world's most discriminating MBA program. ... Stanford GSB's first essay question—WMM, for short—is very straightforward yet can still be difficult to answer. ... (Limit: 1,200 characters) This question provides an opportunity for you to tell the admissions ...
Stanford Essay Breakdown and Tips 2022/2023
This essay topic analysis looks at MBA admissions essays for Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) for the 2022-2023 admissions season. Stanford is asking applicants to answer the same two questions it has been asking for a few years. The word limit of 1,050 words from last year was kept, and
Knight-Hennessy Scholars for Stanford GSB Applicants: Facts and Tips
In addition to submitting to the GSB MBA program, Knight-Hennessy Scholars need to fulfill specific requirements and answer the essays below. After graduating from Stanford, what are your immediate and long-term intentions? (150-word limit) How will your Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience prepare you to realize your intentions? (150-word limit ...
Stanford MSx Essay Questions 2024-2025 (the Monster Application!)
The MSx application includes: Two required main essays: together, 1000 words "Additional Context" mini-essay approximately 200 words "Post-GSB Aspirations" mini-essay: 750 characters, or approximately 130 words "Additional Information" (for extenuating circumstances): 1200 characters each, or approximately 200 words Three separate sections for honors and awards: Academic ...
MBA Admissions Tip: Word Limits and Character Counts
While some of these essays include word count limits, brevity is typically the rule when choosing to include additional information; the word limit should not be the target. ... Stanford GSB, UPenn / Wharton . Intake Year: 2025. Pre-MBA Career: MBB. Post-MBA Target Industry: Consulting . GMAT: 740. GPA: 3.7. Years of Work Experience: 3 ...
Optional Short Answer Question
Or maybe you have had an impact in a way that doesn't fit neatly in another part of the application. You are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example). Question: Think about times you've created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other ...
The Books Harvard Business School Faculty Are Reading
Tips for Kellogg's 2024-2025 Essays. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management recently released the 2024-2025 deadlines for its two-year full-time MBA program. The Round 1 application deadline is set for September 11 with Round 2 slated for January 8, and Round 3 on April 2.

Stanford GSB Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2024-2025

The Upcoming Stanford GSB Application Deadlines 2024-2025 Are:

2024-2025 Stanford GSB Essays:

Stanford GSB Essay B: Why Stanford? (350 words suggested)

Stanford GSB Optional Question: Think about times you’ve created a positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, academic, or other settings. What was your impact? What made it significant to you or to others?

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Stanford GSB MBA Application Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023 – 2024], Class Profile

Stanford GSB 2023-24 MBA application essay questions

Stanford MBA Essay A: What matters most to you, and why?

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Stanford GSB MBA Essays & Analysis 2024 - 2025

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Stanford GSB Essay A

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What Is Stanford GSB Looking for in the Essays?

Step-by-step Guide to Writing the Stanford GSB Essays

1. Pick Your Topic

2. Create an Outline

3. Start Writing

4. Create Your Introduction

5. Write the Body

6. Write Your Conclusion

1. Brainstorm Why You Want to Attend Stanford

3. Create Your Introduction

4. Write the Body

5. Write Your Conclusion

Stanford GSB Essay Examples and What Made Them Successful

Stanford What Matters Most to You and Why Essay Example

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Why Stanford Essay Example

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