MBA Admissions Lessons from Super Bowl Champion Jalen Hurts

When you compete at the highest levels, everyone on the field is already a proven winner.? It takes a track record of accomplishments and success just to get in the game. In last night’s postgame interview, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts gave us a glimpse of what else it takes to be a champion: ?

“I’ve embraced every step.? I took great pride in never backing down from a challenge.? Always turning my negatives into positives. Turning my weaknesses and making them my strengths.? It’s taken a great effort to evolve my game over time and just continue to grow and improve.”

Winning a Super Bowl is an amazing accomplishment, but in his moment of triumph it wasn’t just about the win.? He chose to reflect on the personal journey that led to the win.?This tells you a lot more about the man than the Lombardi Trophy he proudly hoisted in the air after the victory.

About 7.3% of draft-eligible Division I college football players get drafted by an NFL team.?In other words, a GOOD college football player with top-notch credentials has about the same chance of getting drafted by an NFL team as a GOOD college graduate with some solid work experience has of getting accepted by a top graduate business school.

When they evaluate potential draft choices, alongside a player’s measurable skills NFL teams also consider intangible traits like character, work ethic, mental toughness, and the ability to overcome obstacles. Top business schools also consider these intangibles because they’re among the strongest indicators of future success.?

Business school essays that convey only accomplishments will get lost in a sea of highly accomplished applicants.? Instead, be sure to give evaluators a sense of who you are.?Share what obstacles you overcame and what prepared you to become the successful person you are today.?Show that you can learn from your mistakes, continue to become stronger, and never stop improving yourself.?In short, find a way to tell your unique story.?Business schools are making a decision about YOU, not your trophies.?

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