The document outlines 10 common mistakes that applicants make when writing MBA application essays. These mistakes include: 1) trying to include too many achievements or events without providing clear context or details, 2) focusing on operational details rather than strategy, 3) using unnecessarily long or complicated sentences, 4) failing to highlight results or impacts, 5) not quantifying benefits or results, 6) omitting key lessons learned, and 7) using jargon or abbreviations without explanation. The document also notes mistakes like 8) lacking clarity about post-MBA goals, 9) not connecting current experience to future goals, and 10) not explaining why a particular business school is relevant to one's career plans.

1. 1 T H I N K I N G “ M O R E ” I S G O O D
Trying to squeeze in multiple achievements or events into a single
essay
Rambling on without giving a clear sense of either the situation or the
specific actions taken
2 N E G L E C T I N G T O S E T P R O P E R C O N T E X T
3 F O C U S I N G O N ‘ H O W ’ R A T H E R T H A N ‘ W H Y ’
Delving into operational details rather than highlighting the
overarching strategy
4 C R E A T I N G C L U N K Y S E N T E N C E S T H A T R U N I N T O
S E V E R A L L I N E S
Constructing unnecessarily long and complicated sentences that
are more than 20-25 words
5 F A I L I N G T O C A P T U R E T H E I M P A C T
Providing detailed description of an experience but omitting to
highlight the results achieved.
Mistakes 90% applicants make when writing their essays
by Deepthi Rajan
N O T Q U A N T I F Y I N G T H E R E S U L T S
Talking about product development or stakeholder management but
not quantifying the benefits achieved in terms of cost savings or
revenue generation
O M I T T I N G T O M E N T I O N K E Y T A K E A W A Y S F R O M
A N E X P E R I E N C E
Narrating the outcomes of an experience without emphasizing the
lessons learned
U S I N G J A R G O N , A B B R E V I A T I O N S A N D
A C R O N Y M S
Employing technical language, acronyms and abbreviations without
explaining the meaning or expanding the words
6
7
8
10 COMMON MISTAKES TO
AVOID WHEN WRITING
MBA APPLICATION ESSAYS
9
10
L A C K I N G C L A R I T Y A B O U T P O S T M B A G O A L S
O V E R L O O K I N G B U S I N E S S S C H O O L S ’ R O L E
W I T H R E S P E C T T O C A R E E R G O A L S
Stating short and long term goals without demonstrating logical
connection between current work experience and future career
aspirations
Describing post mba career plans without elaborating on the reasons
for applying to a particular business school
“It’s not how we make mistakes, but how we correct them that defines us.” –
Rachel Wolchin
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