How to write an exceptional MBA essay

As an MBA admissions consultant, I help top candidates get in to top business schools. The hardest part of the application is always the essay. Tell us about yourself. Why do you want an MBA? What are your career goals? Tell us about a challenge you've overcome. What are your strengths and weaknesses? etc.

Each MBA program may have different essay questions, but at the end of the day, your application should answer three core questions, and the essays are key to getting your answers across.

The Three Core Questions to answer in every MBA application

1. What makes you special?
2. Why do you need an MBA?
3. Why do you want to attend our school?

It doesn't matter what the essay question is! Admissions officers want to know why they should accept you over the thousands of other qualified applicants, why you're applying for an MBA in the first place, and why their school is better than all the other ones. Plus, they want your answers to these questions to be unique and memorable.

So how can you make yourself unique and memorable? Especially if you're the umpteenth strategy consultant application they've read that day?

Always share stories, not facts.

I'll show you what I mean. Which of the following paragraphs, #1 or #2, is more unique and memorable?

1. I love to volunteer and help those less fortunate than me. In the last year, I have volunteered weekly at a local homeless shelter. I enjoy finding ways to use my skills and resources to help improve their lives. This is why I want to start my own nonprofit.
2. I love to volunteer and help those less fortunate than me. Every week, I go to the Grace Church homeless shelter to chat with the community and see how I can help improve their lives. For example, Steven used to be a contractor, but lost his job after becoming addicted to drugs. Even though he's now sober, he wasn't sure how to get back into the workforce. I created a website and business cards for Steven, and quizzed him on topics he might be asked in a job interview. I also solicited clothing donations from colleagues, and bought him a prepaid cellphone with church donation money. After three months of working together, Steven was hired by a local contracting company; last month, he was promoted to site supervisor. Volunteering at Grace Church has inspired me to start my own nonprofit, so I can connect people like Steven, who just need a little help, with people like me, who want to help and aren't sure where to start.

Both examples have the same facts. The major difference is that #1 tells me what happened, while #2 shows me what happened. #1 is boring and could have been written by anyone, while #2 is unique to this applicant, and memorable for its feel-good impact. Humans are naturally wired to remember stories, not facts. It's better to say less and show more. That is to say, instead of telling the admissions committee 8 great things about you, tell them 3 things and illustrate each with a story.

When it's time to sit down and write your MBA application essays, remember to answer the core three questions, and share stories, not facts.

Jyll Saskin Gales is an elite MBA admissions consultant. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and currently works at Google in Toronto.