How To Choose A Topic For Your MBA Personal Statement

By Valeria Vegas

It has become increasingly more competitive to gain entry into a good business school masters program. Between the recent college graduates and the mid-career business people trying to upgrade their resume and mid life career changers, competition is stiff. Therefore, it’s essential that you write the strongest MBA personal statement possible to make sure that your application stands out from the rest. Considering the fierce competition, anything less than your best efforts is a disservice to your potential in their program. They read so many of these, they will see a low level attempt from the first sentence.

The first step to writing your MBA personal statement is to pick a topic. Perhaps because there are so many options, this is often the most difficult part.

PREPARE

Do no wait until the last minute to begin your MBA personal statement. The more time you give yourself to think about and actually write the statement the easier time you’ll have. There will be less pressure to come up with the perfect personal statement on your first try. Start early with the intention of writing multiple versions. If you end up with a great finished product, on your third or fourth try, then great. You’ll have extra time to sharpen your pencils for your first day.

BRAINSTORM

Brainstorming for a topic is the best way to begin. You may hit upon the perfect subject, an idea, or a funny anecdote that might not have occurred to you otherwise. When you brainstorm, you don’t have to write down complete ideas, sentences, or paragraphs. This exercise is intended to get your creative juices flowing and you don’t want to waste time being any more specific than you have to. Go over the list of questions below taking a few moments between each to jot down whatever comes to mind.

• What are your major accomplishments? Keep in mind that an accomplishment doesn’t have to be something that was widely recognized. In fact, a major accomplishment in your life may have occurred when you were all alone and perhaps only later did you realize the magnitude and impact of the event.
  
  
• Do you possess any quality or skill that separates you from everyone else? How were you able to develop and hone this trait? Do you want to call attention to this trait in your MBA personal statement?
  
  
• Is the any work of literature, piece of art, or music that has made a tremendous impact on your life? Why?
  
  
• Did you suffer through a particularly difficult time in your life? Why was it so tough and how did your outlook change once the difficulty passed?
  
  
• What are most favorite things in the world (consider people, places, and objects)? Could one of these things be the subject of your MBA personal statement?
  
  
• Have you ever had a moment of true surprise or an epiphany? How did it change you?
  
  
• What is your most dominant personality trait? Would your family and friends agree?
  
  
• Of all your extracurricular activities, which ones are the most important to you and why?
  
  
• Where do you see yourself in ten years? In twenty years? How about fifty years from now?
  
  
• How does this school fit into your visions of the future? Specifically, what do they have to offer you that is necessary and essential to you achieving your goals?

From these questions you should have generated an interesting list of notes that will help you to decide on the subject of your MBA personal statement. In addition, you should also have a pretty good sense of the image you want to portray through your MBA personal statement. When choosing the subject of your essay, make sure that it will allow you to discuss the characteristics that underscore not only your desire to attend the particular school but prove your value and overall worth to the academic community.

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