Chicago Booth Admissions Deadlines

Round 1: October 2, 2012
Round 2: January 8, 2013
Round 3: April 4, 2013

Like most B-Schools , Chicago Booth has also gone on a diet this year.  While last year’s two required essay questions (excluding  PPT presentation and re-applicant essay) allowed applicants to use 1350 words, this year they are allowed just 900 words. Apart from the standard ‘Goals’ essay, Booth asks its applicants to write two short -answer essays about their biggest challenge and about something that has changed their thinking or perception. Also, Booth’s unique PPT slide presentation question comes with a choice this year. You may either prepare a 4-slide presentation or write an essay of 600 words about other unique aspects of your personality that have not been revealed in other parts of the application.

Let’s look at the questions one by one.

1. What are your short- and long-term goals, and how will a Chicago Booth MBA help you reach them? (500 words)

This question remains unchanged from last year except that you are allowed to use 500 words instead of 600 words. A Goals Essay connects past, present and future i.e. your past work- experience (past), your goals,(future), and the need of an MBA from a particular school to achieve your goals (present).  The Schools want to see that you have a clear plan/ vision for future and you have the ability to convince them of the same by telling your story  in an engaging manner.

Past:  Begin your essay with a story/ event/ life experience that reflects passion for your chosen field ( eg. marketing or finance) leading to your Bachelors degree .Continue your story  about your past experience and provide details about how you have pursued  your interest/passion  and progressed along your career path all these years. Make sure your story showcases your personal and professional attributes.  (approximately 100 words )

Future: Then relate your short term and long term goals to real life experiences that have helped you shape your goals. Explain why you believe that  an MBA is the next logical step in your career path? How an MBA will bring you closer to the fulfillment of  your goals? . Also, discuss why it makes sense  to do MBA  NOW and not after 1-2 years?

Short term goals: Be clear and quite decisive for short term goals (even if you are not 100% sure.) Show that you have put some thought into it.

Long Term Goals: It’s ok to be more broad and idealistic for long term goals, but explain steps (A to B to C) Show sincerity and passion in  talking about your dreams. When discussing your long term goals, please make sure there is a logical connection between short term and long term goals. (approximately 200-words)

Present:  Once you have justified the need to do an MBA , explain  how an MBA from  Chicago is your best bet at this time? How it will help you achieve your goals? Discuss how you will use their resources to achieve your goals? Be specific in answering the second part of the question -’Why Chicago Booth’? Go online, visit campus, classes, talk to professors, students, and alumni. Discuss experiences you have had visiting classes, programs, professors, if you can. Make sure there is a connection between your goals and the offerings of Chicago (approximately 200 words)

Lastly, even though the essay prompt doesn’t ask you about your contribution to Chicago, include a brief statement about how you  are a good match for Chicago Booth’s program?

2 – Short Answer Essays:                     

a. What has been your biggest challenge, and what have you learned from it? (200 words maximum)

The Challenge question seems to be a favorite of B-Schools this year. While some schools have specifically asked ‘personal challenge or obstacle’(Ross),and  some have been specific about ‘a challenging work situation’ (Darden), Booth offers you freedom to choose your challenging experience from your personal as well as professional life. However, the term’ biggest’ indicates that it has to be a huge challenge.

Now narrating all parts of your biggest challenge in only 200 words is nothing short of a challenge in itself . So you need to follow the principle of ‘less is more.’ That is, be as precise and concise as possible and make sure all parts of your story come through clearly

You biggest challenge story can be personal (eg. overcoming family expectations, or family sickness or any other family emergency) or professional (  crucial project with limited resources, a need to take an important decision with insufficient information or pressure from the superiors or lack of cooperation from team members etc.)

Remember, whatever your story is, it should present you in a positive light, revealing your strengths in the areas of diplomacy, honesty, maturity, ethics, creativity and integrity. Be honest in providing details of your story, how you felt, what you did, what you said etc. These vivid details of your story would reveal your character traits.

The Structure:  Make sure your challenge story has the following four components:

• Ø the situation/the challenge  ( what challenge it posed for you?) 40-50 words
• Ø the action, (how you dealt with the situation?) 50-60 words
• Ø the outcome/result, ( what happened in the end ?) 20-25 words
• Ø the significance. (what lessons you learned?) 80-100 words

Since the second part of the essay question asks you to share what you learned from the experience, it is imperative that you explain at length why that experience is meaningful to you, both in terms of the challenges you overcame, the results you produced, and the leanings you gleaned from it .You may also describe how you are now applying or trying to apply those lessons in similar situations at work. The key here is your essay should eventually demonstrate your growth.

In the following example, the applicant wraps up his challenge story by outlining its significance for him.

Example:

“Today I recall XXX as one of my most memorable projects. From revenue perspective, it was not the biggest project I handled. However, it was the most challenging project in terms of saving my company and above all, my own reputation in front of the unforeseen challenges. The experience taught me valuable decision making and team-working skills that I am now practicing successfully.”

b. Tell us about something that has fundamentally transformed the way you think. (200 words maximum)

This short answer question, like the previous one, is replacing last year’s question “How has your family, culture, and/or environment influenced you as a leader?” Again, the purpose of this question is also to get to know the real you.

When choosing an experience/ story for this essay keep in mind the word  “transformed” in the essay prompt which means ‘ to change somebody or something completely’ , so you need to introspect deeply to look for that experience which not only brought about transformation in your perception, but also resulted in altering your way of doing certain things.

You may choose your story from your personal or professional life. However, if you have already discussed a personal story in your ‘challenge’ essay , it makes more sense to choose a story from your professional life or vice versa. This will provide the Ad Com a well- rounded picture of your personality. The story could be about a person (a professor, or a great boss or any other person) or an event ( a family affair or an external occurrence)  that impacted you so deeply that it completely transformed your way of thinking.

For organizing ideas for this essay, I would recommend the same 4-part structure :

• the situation  ( what was your way of thinking at the time of that experience ) 40-50 words
• Ø the action, ( what exactly happened ?What was your role in that situation) 50-60 words
• Ø the outcome/result, ( what happened in the end ?) 20-25 words
• Ø the significance. ( how it transformed your thinking?) 80-100 words

Please explain the situation, the action, and the result part briefly and focus more on  what you learned and then applied those lessons   in a similar situation later.

In both the short answer questions, the idea is to show growth. So your story should effectively show the contrast between your current mind-set and your previous one, so  the Ad Com  get a clear sense of your “before and after” self .

Example:

“This event completely changed my way of thinking, and I realized that an honest person  will ultimately emerge  a winner no matter what trials and tribulations he/she  has to face. Since then, I have never compromised on the principal of honesty in my life.”

3 – Presentation/Essay: The Chicago experience will take you deeper into issues, force you to challenge assumptions, and broaden your perspective. In a four-slide presentation or an essay of no more than 600 words, broaden our perspective about who you are. Understanding what we currently know about you from the application, what else would you like us to know?

We have set forth the following guidelines:

* The content is completely up to you. There is no right, or even preferred, approach to this presentation.
* There is a strict maximum of four pages (presentation) or 600 words (essay), though you can provide fewer if you choose.
* Acceptable formats for upload in the online application system are PowerPoint or * The document will be viewed electronically, but we cannot support embedded videos, music, or motion images. Additionally, all content MUST be included in the four pages; hyperlinks will not be
* The file will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.

Power Point Presentation: Chicago Booth’s “PowerPoint question” is still here, but it has been reworded again this year . Last year, Booth wanted you to talk about those aspects of yourself that you have not “already included in your application”. This year they are asking you to broaden their “perspective about who you are”. This might make you wonder , “Aren’t they asking the same thing?” Yes, they are asking the same thing in a different way.

With PPT presentation, creativity is the key – creativity not in terms of technicalities, but in terms of ideas. So here is an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself  by presenting an entirely distinct   image of your yourself through pictures. This PPT slide presentation may   be looked upon as an ‘optional essay ‘asked by other schools- an opportunity to tell the Ad Com what you could not tell in other parts of your application. In Question 1, you have already discussed your goals and why you want an MBA from Chicago ,and in  Question 2 ,you have discussed your ‘biggest challenge’ and ‘something  that transformed your way of thinking’. Your resume and the application form provides information regarding your past experience, so you need to make sure not  to repeat these subjects  here.

So how to get ideas for these four slides? Well, be creative and imaginative and use this PPT presentation to portray your unique values, passion, and hobbies .For example, if you passionately pursue a hobby e.g. painting, photography, reading, or singing etc. you may use 1-2  slides to present details of your hobbies through vivid images . Make sure to use images to help them understand you better.  Remember, it is not a test of your power point presentation skills; it is a platform to present to the AD Com those aspects of your personality that will support your candidacy. If you are able to convey your ideas effectively through minimal images, that is fine.

Also, you may  use one of the slides to elaborate /re-emphasize  your most unique personality trait. For example, if you have   an amazing example of your ability to take initiative or to think outside the box , but could not describe it in detail in other essays because of  limited space, it is a good idea to tell  that particular story through images here. Another option can be to show case your international experience or cultural adaptability, for almost all B-schools look for international experience as one of the desired assets in their potential candidates. So if you have one, your best bet is to use one of the slides for your most impressive story that showcases your international exposure, global outlook, and cultural adaptability. Also, you may use one of the slides to tell an impressive story of your leadership experience.  You may also use this platform to address areas of concern in your application e.g. low gpa or low GMAT score or gap in job.

Essay: In case you don’t feel comfortable with PPT presentation and are an essay lover, Booth   has given you an option of writing a600 words essay instead  so you can  effectively use words to paint  a well -rounded interesting picture of yourself.                            

1. Re-applicants only) Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words)Through this question,  Booth wants its reapplicants to enlighten them on three areas: their  future, Chicago Booth and earning their MBA. Let’s take them one by one. Your future is your goals, so in this one year you may likely have realized that your previous goal was not realistic , so  you might have changed your short- and/or long-term goals from last year. Don’t worry about that, just be sure to show that your new goals are realistic, doable and match your skills. Next, you should explain   how and what you have learned about Chicago Booth since your previous application. Through this part of the question, the school only wants to know that your need of Booth is as strong as it was last time, so you should demonstrate your continued interest in Booth by mentioning  any meetings you have had with alumni or professors , any campus visits you made , or any classes you attended , or any other discoveries you have made about Booth. Lastly, Booth wants its applicants  to tell them if their thinking about MBA has changed. You may answer this by   focusing on the areas you have improved upon since you applied last. Whether you have improved your academic record by taking extra classes, received a promotion, led  a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement or taken on a personal challenge , the key here is to demonstrate that you are now  a better and stronger candidate . Your conscious efforts to strengthen your profile and to work on your weak areas in the previous year will prove how determined you are about your MBA.

Tuck has dropped one full essay from last year and is now down to three required essays. Tuck no longer requires you to write’ Background’ essay  but has retained the other three required essays with the same essay prompt  and the same expected  average word limit of 500 words like last year.. The first one is  about career goals and Tuck, the second one is  about leadership, and the third one is  about failure. Please  take the time to brainstorm ideas / stories for each of these essays in order to showcase different aspects of your unique personality.

From Tuck Website:

Please respond fully but concisely to the following essay questions. Compose each of your answers offline in separate document files and upload them individually in the appropriate spaces. We encourage applicants to limit the length of their responses to 500 words for each essay. There are no right or wrong answers.

Essay # 1. Why is an MBA a critical next step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you? (If you are applying for a joint or dual degree, please explain how the additional degree will contribute to those goals.)

This is a typical ‘goals’ question which requires you to make realistic connection between your past (past experience and skills), present (your need of an MBA), and future (your future plans leading to your goals). In other words, you need to demonstrate how your professional accomplishments have enabled you to set your goals and how an MBA is the logical next step towards realization of those goals/ objectives. Remember, earning an MBA is just one piece of your career puzzle, and you want to prove it to the admissions committee that you understand where it fits in the grand scheme of things. Be specific about why you feel now is the time for you to learn the required skills with an MBA in order to move ahead on your career path. Also, please make sure that there is a convincing connection between your short term and long term goals.

Example:

“In my work experiences, I never had the opportunity to look into acquisitions, which is one of the most interesting aspects of my current job.(Why MBA?) After gaining insight into the area and getting first-hand experience from start to finish, becoming the Finance leader within Corporate Strategy and Development is where I see myself in the next few years ( Long term and short term goals). To reach these goals, I believe, I must supplement my current education and work experience with a top-notch graduate business education”.

After answering the first part of the question ( Why MBA?) it is important to answer the second part of the question i.e. ‘Why Tuck’?  Please research thoroughly Tucks resources ( academic programs,  classes, professors, statistics, social life, and clubs etc.) in order for you to  explain effectively    which offerings of Tuck  would  match your specific needs and help you achieve your goals.

Essay # 2. Discuss your most meaningful leadership experience. What did you learn about your own individual strengths and weaknesses through this experience?

Like many other MBA programs, Tuck also places great importance on leadership. When brainstorming ideas/ experiences for this essay, keep in mind the key words “meaningful leadership experience’ . This means your story may not have yielded amazing quantifiable results, but it should have challenged you enough to put in your best efforts. You should choose an experience  that was an enormous learning experience for you –an  experience  that   made you identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Don’t hesitate in sharing your weakness that came out of that experience. Make  sure  the details of your experience/ story  reflect  the positive as well as  negative facets of your character or abilities . However, be careful not to  dwell too much on the weaknesses. The key here is to prove  that you have learned useful lessons from that experience which you applied later in your life and career.

Your story should have four part structure- the challenge, the action, the outcome, and the significance.  Remember ,  Tuck expects you to emphasize more on the last part, that is, why that experience is  meaningful to you. The following example indicates how the candidate recognized his mistakes and learned from them and why he thinks that his leadership experience is meaningful to him.

Example:

“This experience is meaningful to me because it revealed to me my strength in communicating my vision to the team and keeping them focused on our objective. Indeed, a shared vision is essential to motivate a volunteer team to take risk and perform beyond expectations……… I, however, recognize that I need to develop a confident and assertive leadership style.”

For more details on ‘leadership essay ’ please refer to my article “How to show leadership when you don’t have reporting responsibilities?”

https://myessayreview.com/blogs/?cat=3

Essay # 3. Describe a circumstance in your life in which you faced adversity, failure, or setback. What actions did you take as a result and what did you learn from this experience?

Like  many business schools this year (Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, Michigan Ross, UC-Berkeley Haas, Cornell, etc.)Tuck also wants to know about a time when you experienced adversity, failure or a setback.  Why?  The schools want their prospective candidates to be real people , with both weaknesses  and strengths who have the ability to deal with the challenges of life and grow from them.

When choosing your setbacks/ failure story, please keep in mind that you should discuss challenges that were not necessarily of your doing. For example, getting laid off from your company because of crumbling economy is your setback, not your fault. You may also choose an experience when the success seemed to be guaranteed, but suddenly things started getting worse, and you had to face failure despite sincerest efforts on your part. Still, the experience taught you important lessons which you later used in your professional/ personal life. The most important part of your story should be to explain how the experience impacted you, what you learned from it, and how you applied that lesson later to improve yourself

 Example:

“This experience was a huge blow to my self-confidence but it taught me two great lessons: being assertive when required and allocating responsibilities to all. Later, when I faced a similar situation, I did not hesitate to escalate it, and this time overall result was much positive. Thus, this setback taught me valuable team-working skills that I am now practicing successfully.”

Like leadership story, your setback story should also have four part structure- the challenge, the action, the outcome, and the significance, significance being the most important component.

Essay # 4 (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere that may be helpful in reviewing your application (e.g., unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.

The phrasing of most schools’ optional essay question goes like this :“Is there anything that you have not mentioned in the above essays that you would like the Admissions Committee to know?” However, Tuck’s optional essay question  provides you specific guidelines on how you can address certain weak areas in your profile (e.g. unusual choice of evaluators, weaknesses in academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes, etc.).

Whatever your problem area is, make sure you provide a genuine reason to convince them that this weakness (low grades, job gaps etc.) occurred due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. Also, keep in mind that your story should not only explain that particular weakness in your profile, but also showcase your other strong personality traits that came through during that period. In other words, your response should be positive and should not sound like you are making excuses for a weakness in your profile.

The second part of the essay prompt says, “Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application.” This implies that you may also use this question as an opportunity to cover those important themes that you did not get a chance to do in other essays .For example, if you have significant extracurricular accomplishments (sports, music, writing, painting etc.) or a community welfare activity that you initiated or led, you should share those stories.

Secondly, if you feel you have covered all aspects of your personality in other essays, but would like to elaborate /re-emphasize the most significant of them in detail, here is your opportunity to do that . For example, if you have   an amazing example of your ability to take initiative or to think outside the box or exceptional work ethic, but could not describe it in detail in other essays because you had lot of other ground to cover in a limited space, it is a good idea to provide details of that particular story here.

Lastly, make sure that your response to this question should tie back to your overall story, so it doesn’t look like a patchwork. For example, if you are telling a story of your passion/ interest in sports and there is absolutely no clue to this passion of your in your other essays, it may not be a convincing and persuasive read for the Ad Com.

 For my article  on Optional Essay : https://myessayreview.com/blogs/?m=201201

For sample Optional Essay  http://myessayreview.com/sample4.html

Most importantly, please make sure that all the four essays should read like  four different chapters of your unique story  rather than solitary pieces.

Essay #5. (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.

Re-applicants need to focus  on the areas they have improved upon since they applied last. Whether you have improved your academic record by taking extra classes , received a promotion, led  a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement or taken on a personal challenge , the key here is to demonstrate that you are now  a better and stronger candidate . Tuck wants to know that you have been actively making efforts to strengthen your profile, and that you have rigorously   worked on your weak areas during the previous year, because you believe that an MBA from Tuck is important for your  success. You need to introspect why you were rejected last time. For example, if you think your goals were unrealistic, you may want to change to more realistic but ambitious goals.

Round 1 Deadline: October 24, 2012   Notification: January 23, 2013

Round 2  Deadline: January 9, 2013   Notification: April 3, 2013

Round 3  Deadline: April 17, 2013  Notification: June 5, 2013

Essay Question # 1

What is your proudest achievement outside the workplace, and how has it impacted you? (700 words)

This question replaces last year’s question that asked, “What events or people have had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why?”. One thing is common between the two questions – that is, the emphasis  is on your personal attributes.

 The purpose of this essay is to do two things:

1. To showcase your unique values  that motivated you to accomplish something that makes you proud of yourself
2.  To demonstrate the impact your achievement has made on your personality and on the people around  you

To choose content for this essay, you need to do self-introspection for instances when you had accomplished things that not only benefited other people, but also helped you grow as a human being. To begin your story, you may also want to briefly discuss the factors that contributed to your personal values and beliefs eventually leading you on to your achievement. For example, you may have learned it from your parents to voluntarily tutor your domestic help’s kids, and your proudest achievement might be to see those kids graduate high school or college.

Then, after detailing out your accomplishment story, you need to explain what impact this accomplishment had on you? How did you grow as a result? How did the experience impact you? Did it change your perspective of life in some way? Did it motivate you to continue with your volunteering endeavors in other areas? The key here is that your achievement story should   reflect your beliefs or interests resulting in your personal growth. Also, it should demonstrate impact on other people around you .

Essay Question # 2:

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals? (750 words maximum)

This is a typical ‘goals’ question in two parts. The first part expects you to clearly define your short term and long term goals/objectives while the second part requires you to articulate why you need UCLA to fulfill your goals? Since you are allowed to use 750 words, I would recommend devoting roughly 400 words to the ” goals/Why MBA?” part and about 350 words  to “Why UCLA” part.

A Goals essay requires you to make realistic connection between your past (past experience and skills), present (your need of an MBA), and future (your future plans leading to your goals). In other words, you need to demonstrate how your professional accomplishments have enabled you to set your goals and how an MBA is the logical next step towards realization of those goals/ objectives. Please do not go into details of your professional accomplishments; just provide a general reference to them to show why you need an MBA to attain your goals. Remember, earning an MBA is just one piece of your career puzzle, and you want to prove it to the admissions committee that you understand where it fits in the grand scheme of things. Be specific about why you feel now is the right time for you to learn the required skills with an MBA to move ahead on your career path. Also, make sure there is convincing connection between your short term and long term goals.

2. The second part of the question focuses on the ways  UCLA’s MBA program will help you achieve your objectives. In order to tailor your response to Anderson’s offerings, you will need to identify certain programs and courses that match your goals and interests.  For this you should take time to do some research so you can identify ties between the school’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities and your goals and study style. If possible, make a visit to the campus, talk to students, professors and alumni and attend a class.

Example:

“Beyond Anderson’s broad academic offerings, Management Consulting Association, Strategic and Management Operations Association and High Tech Business Association will help me strengthen my network and align me with the professionals with similar career interests. Thus with its academic resources, emphasis on team-work and practical approach to learning, UCLA Anderson will provide me the critical tools and network that I need to realize my career aspirations.”

Lastly, even though they have not asked, it is always advisable to throw in one last sentence about your contribution to UCLA.

Example:

“I am confident that with my academic potential, team-working abilities, innovative spirit, and leadership skills, I will add significant value to UCLA community.”

Note:

The two required essays reflect two aspects of your personality- personal and professional. Therefore, you need to ensure that they should complement each other in such a way that your personality that comes through in your first essay should correspond to your’ goals’ essay.

Optional Essay

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

Since most B-schools ask their candidates to write optional essay, you may be tempted to copy paste the optional essay you had composed for another school. Please DO NOT do  that because all schools word their optional essays differently, so you need to approach them differently. Most schools ask their candidates to provide  information that they  could not give in other essays or other parts of the application. Therefore, in addition to addressing a weakness in their profile this also gives them an opportunity to shine a spotlight on an experience or side of their personality that they could not reveal in the other parts of  application: essays, recommendation letters and resume

Since UCLA is specifically asking you to share “ any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware?,  you should use this essay  to address a weakness in your profile, like low GPA or GMAT , a gap in your job history, or your inability to get a recommendation from your current supervisor. Instead of making excuses, clearly explain the situation, and. provide  evidence how it has brought about a positive change in you.

Example:

“The private tutoring job required me to spend 30 hours/ week.  Continuing this strenuous routine for four years, I ended up pulling down my grades to 70%. The tutoring experience, however,   reinforced my passion for teaching , and I still find  10 hours/ week to teach my home maid’s children.”

Last week, Darden released its essay question   (yes, it is just one question) for 2012-2013.

From Darden website:

 Next week Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions Sara Neher will be filming a video blog with advice about how to approach the Darden application, including advice about the essay question. Be sure to check back!

Let us take a look at the question:

Essay Question:

 Share your thought process as you encountered a challenging work situation or complex problem. How did this experience change your perspective? (500 words maximum)

1.     What is the Purpose of this question?

Through this essay question Darden not only expects you to share a experience a challenging and complex work situation, but also wants you to narrate  your thought process during that time , and the learning you gleaned through that experience.

2.   How to brains storm ideas for this question?

You need to look for instances when things did not work the way they should have or the way you had expected them to be, or when you were facing problems keeping  your team members aligned with each other or to get the  desired input  from them on a project. You may also reflect on times when you encountered a situation that demanded you to take immediate charge and handle it in your way, or time when you had to go over and beyond what was defined, expected or popular, or a time when you had to make an important decision without having all the information you needed.

Remember, whatever your story is, it should present you in a positive light, revealing your strengths in the areas of diplomacy, honesty, maturity, ethics, creativity and integrity. Be honest in providing details of your story, how you felt, what you did, what you said etc. These vivid details of your story would reveal your character traits.

3.   How to structure this essay?

Make sure your challenge story has the following four components:

• Ø  the situation/the challenge,
• Ø the action, (how you dealt with the situation?)
• Ø the outcome/result, ( what happened in the end ?)
• the significance. (what lessons you learned?)

Since the second part of the essay question asks you to share how that experience changed your perspective, it is imperative that you explain at length why that experience is meaningful to you, both in terms of the challenges you overcame, the results you produced, and the lessons you learned .You may also describe how you are now applying or trying to apply those lessons in similar situations at work. The key here is your essay should eventually demonstrate your growth.

In the following example, the applicant wraps up his challenge story by outlining its significance for him.

Example:

“Today I recall CIT as one of the most memorable projects. From revenue perspective it was not the biggest project I handled. However, it was the most challenging project in terms of saving my company and above all, my own reputation in front of the mounting unforeseen challenges. The experience taught me valuable decision making and team-working skills that I am now practicing successfully.”

1. Introduce yourself to your future Ross classmates in 100 words or less.

Undoubtedly, introducing yourself in 100 words is a daunting task. It is a test of your thinking and writing skills, a test of how concisely you can describe yourself. To brainstorm ideas, you may reflect on who you are and come up with 4-5 adjectives or phrases that broadly define your personality (i.e. your interests, background and perspective of life.) Then you can use those themes to build a picture about yourself illustrating them with anecdotes. This question offers you an opportunity to be creative and humorous which you may later use as an introduction to your actual class mates.

Note: The above paragraph above is exactly 100 words.

2. Describe your career goals. How will an MBA from Ross help you to achieve those goals? (300 words maximum)

This is a typical ‘goals’ question in two parts. The first part expects you to clearly define your short term and long term goals/objectives, and the second part requires you to articulate why you need Ross to fulfill your goals. Since you are allowed only 300 words for this question, you should give approximately 150 words to ‘Goals’ part, and approximately 150 words  ‘Why MBA from Ross’ part. As stated earlier, a Goals essay requires you to make realistic connection between your past (past experience and skills), present (your need of an MBA), and future (your future goals). In other words, you need to demonstrate how your professional accomplishments have enabled you to set your goals and how an MBA is the logical next step towards realization of those goals/ objectives. Please do not go into details of your professional accomplishments; just provide a general reference to them to show why you need an MBA to fulfill your aspirations.

Please remember that  earning an MBA is just one piece of your career puzzle, and you want to prove it to the admissions committee that you understand where it fits in the grand scheme of things. Be specific about why you feel now is the right time for you to learn the required skills with an MBA to move ahead on your career path. Also, make sure there is a convincing connection between your short term and long term goals.

The second part of the question focuses on the ways Ross’s MBA program will help you achieve your objectives. In order to tailor your response to Ross’s offerings, you will need to identify certain programs and courses that match your goals and interests.  For this you should take time to do some research so you can identify ties between the school’s curriculum, special programs and extracurricular activities and your goals and study style. If possible, make a visit to the campus, talk to students, professors and alumni and attend a class.

3. Describe a time in your career when you were frustrated or disappointed. What advice you would give to a colleague who was dealing with a similar situation? (500 words maximum)

Through this essay question the AD Com expects you to share a frustrating or disappointing experience from your professional life. So you need to look for instances when you were disappointed because things did not work the way they should have or the way you had expected them to be. This may be your inability to handle a project in a desired manner or your inability to keep your team members aligned with each other or to get the expected results from them etc.

Please remember this question is different from a mistake or a setback question. Ross is not expecting you to admit or explain your mistake; instead, they are asking you to explain a situation that frustrated you. So you need to be honest in explaining your part, your team members or your superiors’ role in that situation.

In spite of the frustration you experienced, your story can still present you in a positive light, revealing your strengths in the areas of diplomacy, honesty, maturity, creativity and integrity. Make sure to be honest in narrating your story rather than indulging in blame game.

Since the second part of the question asks you to share what advice you would give to your colleague who was dealing with the same situation, you should think carefully about the thought process you went through during that difficult time, and the lessons you learned from that experience .Also, make sure to mention  how you are now applying those lessons successfully in your work life. Your advice to your colleague should reflect your maturity, perseverance   and overall growth in the face of challenges and setbacks. .

4. What are you most passionate about and why? How will this passion positively impact Ross? (300 words maximum)

This question has two parts and you only have 300 words to answer them .So make sure you discuss not only your passion but also the purpose behind your passion (in approximately 150 words )and then  go on to explain   your contribution to Ross ( in approximately 150 words). Since you have already discussed a part of your personality and interests/passion when introducing yourself in Essay 1, be careful in choosing content for this essay. Make sure not to repeat those aspects of your personality here that you have already revealed in Essay # 1. Consider these two questions as opportunities to show your uniqueness that sets you apart from other Ross candidates in terms of your values and interests

Also, when discussing your skills, interests, hobbies that fascinate you, make sure to substantiate them by providing real life examples. For example, simply stating that you are passionate about particular sports is not enough ; you should also reflect on ways you have evidenced that passion in your life e.g. by playing it on a regular basis, and by watching live matches. To answer the ‘why’ part of the question, you should talk about your passion in such a way that gives the reader an insight into the purpose of your pursuit.

Then describe how your passion will make a valuable contribution to Ross?  For this, the first step is to do a thorough research of Ross MBA program and then connect your topic to its specific offerings. The key to answering this question is explaining how and when you will contribute. The more specific you are about your contribution, the better it is for you, for it demonstrates your thorough knowledge of Ross.

5. Optional question: Is there anything else you think the Admissions Committee should know about you to evaluate your candidacy? (500 words maximum)

An optional essay is an opportunity for you to give the Ad Com relevant information that you could not give in other essays or other parts of your application. This question is also meant to shine a spotlight on an experience or side of your personality that has not been revealed in the other parts of your application: essays, recommendation letters and resume.

You may still use this essay in a variety of ways to further strengthen your candidacy. First, you may use this question to reveal your non-professional side. For example, if you have significant extracurricular accomplishments (sports, music, writing, painting etc.) or a community welfare activity that you initiated or led, you should share those stories. You can also use optional essay  to address a weakness in your profile, like low GPA or GMAT , a gap in your job history, or your inability to get a recommendation from your current supervisor.

  Note:

For my article on optional essay https://myessayreview.com/blogs/?m=201201

For sample optional essay http://myessayreview.com/sample4.html

 Round 1

Deadline: October 24, 2012

Notification: January 29, 2013

Round 2

Deadline: December 27, 2012

Notification: April 2, 2013

From three questions last year, MIT has come down to two questions. The word limit for the two questions remains the same.

From MIT Website: We are interested in learning more about how you work, think, and act. For each essay, please provide a brief overview of the situation followed by a detailed description of your response. Please limit the experiences you discuss to those which have occurred in the past three years.

In each of the essays, please describe in detail what you thought, felt, said, and did.

To sum up, they  want you to do two things: first, recount experiences that are only three years old, and second, describe  your response to a particular situation in detail, that is,  what you thought, felt, said and did.

Let’s look at the two essay questions one by one.

1. Please describe a time when you had to convince a person or a group to accept your idea. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)

This question remains unchanged from last year except for minor twist in words that is- instead of ‘convinced’ from last year, it is ‘had to convince ‘ which makes the challenge  more intense for the applicants.

That Sloan is looking for real  leaders in its applicant pool  is evidenced by the fact that their first question is  meant to evaluate one of their leadership qualities – their  ability to influence others. So you need to look for examples when you dealt with resistance or opposition to an idea and succeeded in persuading a person or a group in accepting your ideas. Make sure your story should  not only highlight your ability to convince others in a non-aggressive manner, but should also reflect your sensitivity and receptiveness to other peoples’ suggestions and ideas. Thus, your story will tell   the ad com that you possess the abilities to succeed through challenges at MIT Sloan and in your future career.

Your answer should have the following four components:

1. The Challenge

2. The Action/

3. The Outcome of the action or initiative

4. The Significance/the Impact

Let’s take look at the examples of the four components

1. The Challenge

Example:

“You cannot rewrite the Bible! It is fated to fail” exclaimed all my seniors and colleagues after I showed them the new model I had designed.)

2. The Action:

Example:

One month after initial rejection to my proposal, I gain requested my manager for a meeting to which he reluctantly agreed. After walking through the case-studies to him, I explained how the new model could help us to cut down 20% of the effort (and thus cost!) per promotion, simplify the super-complex analysis process and even some seemingly-independent defects in the mainframe system. Also, I addressed  his concerns about the safety of the model Impressed with the analysis, he agreed to  present the new model to our client, and convinced them to adopt it.

.3. The outcome:

Example:

In the next one-and-half years, this model was established as standard for building credit card promotions in most of the business units of my company. The following year,  I received one of the most prestigious awards in X company for devising this methodology.

4. The Significance:

Example: 

Instead of getting dejected at the refusal I faced, I acted decisively to remove all the doubts my manager had. In the end, my effort and persistence matched my passion, allowing me to implement the idea successfully.

Essay 2: Please describe a time when you overcame a personal setback. (500 words or fewer, limited to one page)

This is a new question for MIT this year. Now MIT wants to you to share with them your personal setback story. The term ‘personal’ makes it mandatory for you to choose your story/ experience from your personal life only, and not from your professional life. So you need to dig deeper and reflect on times when you faced a failure / set back / adversity in your personal life. Remember, your setback may be due to reasons beyond your control or it may have been caused because of your own inability to handle things. In either case, the key here is how you were impacted by the situation, how you navigated through it , and how you eventually learned your lessons and  emerged  a more mature and intelligent individual.

The Structure of Failure/ Setback essay: Your setback/ failure essay should have the following four components:

1. The challenge: (explain the challenge/ the situation)

Example:

“I was taken to a hospital, where an MRI revealed that I was suffering from Discoid meniscus- a rare congenital abnormality of the knee-cartilage”.

1. The action: ( explain how you handled it?)

Example:

“Two years later, I reluctantly joined the project volleyball team, as a replacement of an injured player. Though we crashed out in the first round, the experience reignited the  passion for sports in me. Filled with a desire to resume sports, I joined a gym and resumed physiotherapies for my knees.”

1. The outcome/result: (explain what happened in the end ?)

Example:

“ Next year, I coached the team and pulled our first-round-exit team to the quarter-final.

Thus, turning a first-round-exit team to a strong contender for the trophy, and making a comeback to the sports makes me feel great about my personal courage.”

        4. The significance/ effect: (explain how that setback taught you important lessons that you later  used for self-improvement).

Example:

“Since then, I have not looked back and have been regular with my sports activities. The experience taught me that a person can accomplish anything with his resilience, drive, and courage.”

Note:

For more details on Setback essay, read my blog – Failure/ Setback Mistake Essay-http://myessayreview.com/blogs/?cat=10

Like last year, the ISB PGP application essays package includes two standard essays on accomplishments and career goals and a third that offers you an opportunity to provide additional information that would serve to strengthen your candidacy. These three essays offer ample scope for presenting a strong and convincing case to the ISB admissions committee. With an early start and careful planning, you can present an impressive and convincing picture of your future plans and career in  900 words.

Yes, exactly 900 words for three essays. Unlike other B-Schools that allow applicants to exceed their word limits by up to 10% without penalty, the ISB is a strict disciplinarian and will not allow even one additional word, So, following  the principal of “less is more”, you need to make your every word count to present your case.

This year’s addition:  With a view to get a sense of  who you are beyond the printed word, ISB has added this year a video response question about your perception of life.

Let us take a look at the essay questions:

Essay 1: Please make a strong case to differentiate yourself from an exceptional set of applicants applying for PGP 2013-14. You could cite personal/professional achievements to present your case. (300 words max)

This is a pretty straightforward question. Last year’s essay prompt was to detail your two most significant accomplishments. This year they are being more specific in directing you to share only those accomplishments that would distinguish you from the applicant pool. At ISB, you will be competing with the traditional IT applicant pool, so your best bet will be not to select an accomplishment that demonstrates your role as team leader in an IT project.Try to select your achievements that showcase your ability to face challenges in other roles e.g. your adaptability to changes in the global world, your talent to convince others of executing your innovative ideas, your courage to take calculated risks that yielded results and so on.

You may choose one accomplishment from your professional life and one from your personal life to present your well- rounded personality.

Please do not begin your story with. “My greatest accomplishment is”  or “one thing I did well was… “Let your story/ experience speak for you.

The ‘how’ part of your accomplishment is as important as the ‘what’ part. So, never tell the whole story in the first sentence itself. It is like telling the climax of the story in the first sentence itself.

Make sure your accomplishment story has the following four components:

• Ø the challenge,
• Ø the achievement,
• Ø the outcome/result,
• Ø the significance.

Do not forget to explain why this accomplishment is meaningful to you both in terms of the challenges you overcame, the results you produced, and the lessons you learned. In the following example, the applicant wraps up his story by outlining its significance for him.

Example:

“Today I recall CIT as one of the most memorable projects. From revenue perspective it was not the biggest project I handled, nor was it the most complex project. However, it was the most challenging project: in terms of saving my company and my own reputation in front of the mounting unforeseen challenges.”

Lastly, and most importantly, be as precise as you can in presenting your stories. With 300 words maximum words allowed, you only have approximately 150 words each for detailing two of your most significant accomplishments.

Note:

For my article on   ’Accomplishment ‘ Essay‘ click here.

For sample ‘Accomplishment’ essay, click here.

Essay 2: Where do you see yourself three years after you graduate from the ISB? (300 words max)

A slight variation of the standard goals question, this essay prompt expects applicants to focus only on their post MBA goals. Although your focus should primarily be on the short term goals, you can always provide some insight on your long term goals as well to demonstrate your clarity of thought about your objectives.

Goals essay requires you to make a logical connection between your past, present, and future. This means you need to tell a story that connects your past (past work-experience, skills), present (your need of an MBA from your target school to achieve your goals), and your future (goals and objectives). That is, if you aim for a technology or consulting role, you’ll need to demonstrate that  you already possess some skills/experience in that area and are now aiming to enhance those skills.

Example:

“With seven years of experiences now, I have already gained expertise in technology consultancy and leadership…….. After MBA, I wish to join a reputed Technology and Strategic solution organization, such as  X and X. My time analyzing and implementing IT strategies for clients will provide me the opportunity to understand a range of strategic business issues and their resolutions, as well as substantial insight into the art of business development.”

After elaborating your post MBA goals and briefly stating your long term goals, you should make sure to explain how ISB’s program will bring you closer to your goals. If you are a career changer, you should provide evidence as to how your present skills would facilitate this transition and how some specific offerings of ISB would help you through this transition.

Note:

For my article on ‘Goals Essay’ click here

For sample ‘Goals’ essay , click here.

Essay 3: Please provide additional information that will significantly affect the consideration of your application to the ISB. (300 words max)

This “additional information’ question reads like an optional essay, but it is not. It is one of the required essays which provides you an opportunity to explore an important aspect of your candidacy, or other significant achievements / strengths not mentioned in other essay responses, resume and recommendation letters.  You can choose examples from your work, community service, education, travels, or any other hobbies. You may also share a life experience that has greatly influenced your personality and life. The idea is to bring to light that aspect of your personality that truly makes you unique. Then you should try to demonstrate how you can leverage this skill or quality to enhance your MBA experience or your future career.

Lastly, since ISB doesn’t provide an optional essay, you may use this essay question to address a weakness in your profile, such as a gap in work or low GPA or GMAT.

Example:

“The private tutoring job that I had to take up to support mine and my sister’s education required me to spend 30 hours/ week and left me with hardly any time to focus on my studies. This eventually ended up pulling down my grades to 70%.”

A video on “Life to me is…………………….( Please complete the following statement in your own words on Video) 90 Secs/15 MB

The addition of this video about your perspective of life may be daunting for some applicants but with thorough introspection and preparation, you can breeze through this challenge. The purpose of this video is to evaluate you on your personality, appearance, conversational skills, confidence, and ability to hold the listener’s attention etc. So take this as a platform to reveal your personality to the Ad Com before the interview.

Be honest in presenting your perspective of life in a precise manner citing examples. Begin the video by completing the given sentence “Life to me is…………………….. Then go on to explain your thoughts illustrating them with examples from your own life. For example, if life for you is all about hard work, and perseverance, you should substantiate how your life experiences have shaped this view of life.

Make sure to use this video for presenting those aspects of your personality and experiences which are not covered in other parts of your application.
Please give yourself ample time in formulating your response on life and the rationale behind it. Revise and edit until you are completely satisfied with your response. Rehearse in front of the mirror how you will voice your thoughts, get someone to video record, watch it again, get your friends’ feedback, re-record to improve on shortcomings. Don’t worry no one will know how many times you have practiced before coming out with this perfect presentation of your perception of life. You have to put your best foot forward. Right!!!!!

INSEAD’s essay questions cover a good deal of ground, giving candidates ample opportunity to discuss a variety of topics related to  their interests and experiences. The first two “job essays” ask for a factual account of one’s current position (or lack thereof) and career progression, while the remaining five call for  short reflections and discussion of topics that MBA appliance are used to. With careful thought and planning, you can  use these  seven essays to present your  well rounded personality.

INSEAD’s  Website: “We evaluate each applicant against four central criteria:: leadership potential and work experience;  academic capacity;  international motivation; and ability to contribute to the INSEAD experience.” Therefore,when narrating your stories, make sure they bring out these traits along with other qualities.

Job Description Essays

Essay 1: Briefly summarize your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/ products and results achieved. (250 words maximum)

INSEAD’s first question requests a snapshot of the applicant’s career at present. Keeping in mind that this will be the Ad Com’s introduction to your materials, you might also provide the context necessary for the reader to understand your place within the organizational structure and the work that occupies your days. Please stay focused  on the details of your present job and avoid drifting  away to your greatest  achievements. You will get opportunity to do that in  other questions.

 Essay 2: Please give us a full description of your career since graduating from university.If you were to remain with your present employer, what would be your next step in terms of position? (250 words)

This question can be challenging and makes you wonder how can I give ” full description” of my professional career in just 250 words. Not only that, you are also required to be specific about your next step if you were to remain in your present job. Hence brevity is the key here. Your best bet is to  focus on  each full-time position you’ve held ,explain the reasons behind each move , increases and/or changes in responsibility , and  the lessons/ skills  learned. Remember to use your words as precisely as you can.

Essay 3: If you are currently not working, what are you doing and what do you plan to do until you start the MBA programme? (250 words maximum)

This question shows that  INSEAD is not excluding unemployed candidates from admission, if they are utilizing their time productively. So INSEAD provides them  an opportunity to advocate their case  and discuss the new skills they are learning , the  volunteer work they are involved in,  any conferences and professional development workshops they are attending , and other efforts they are making to secure short-term employment before MBA. This would validate their growth even during the  time they are unemployed..

Personal Essays

 Personal Essay 1: Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors, which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (600 words maximum)

This question requires you to do lot of introspection. It is important to address all parts of the prompt:  strengths, weaknesses , and main factors responsible for your personal development. However, it’s also in your best interest to focus as much as possible on the positive. So you may want to begin  with two or three positive qualities and then comment on one or two weaknesses . Do not forget to substantiate your personal traits with real- life examples .This question gives applicants freedom  to select examples from your personal, professional or extracurricular life , so try to select your examples with a view  to presenting a balanced picture of your personality.

You may select either of the following  two methods for discussing strengths or weaknesses:

a)      Make statements about your character and back them up with  example as ‘evidences’ of your statements.

b)      Find a single story ( a work project , for example) that will illustrate all of your strengths, and, if possible, weaknesses .

When discussing your weaknesses, make sure to explain how they have  affected you and what you are doing now to rectify them. If relevant, mention which B-school resources can help you get over these weaknesses

Note that for each personal characteristic introduced, you should reflect on the factors that have influenced  your personality.

Example:

“The stories of hardships faced by my father during his childhood and later his success ingrained in me the importance of hard-work and sustaining through challenges.”

 Personal Essay 2: Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date (if possible specify one personal and one professional), explaining why you view them as such. (400 words maximum)

This is a  straightforward question that clearly stipulates INSEAD’s requirement of one personal and one professional accomplishment. Instead of providing a laundry list of accomplishments weave one  story around your accomplishment in personal life and another one around your professional life. Let your life experience tell the story of your accomplishments.

Also, these accomplishments should tie in to your “strengths” essay.  That is, they should  illustrate the “strengths” you have already discussed in your first essay.

Your accomplishment story should have the four components: the challenge, the achievement, the outcome/result, and  the significance. That is, you should explain why this accomplishment is meaningful to you both in terms of the challenges you overcame ,the results you produced, , and the lessons you learned.

Example:( An example of Personal Accomplishment)

“Inter-caste marriages are considered taboo in the conservative Indian society. Therefore  my decision to marry my girl friend Priya, , a girl belonging to higher caste, met with severe opposition.”

 Personal Essay 3: Describe a situation taken from your personal or professional life where you failed. Discuss what you learned. (400 words maximum)

To fully address this question, you’ll need to reflect on a life experience when you could not live up to your expectations .You should describe the situation in detail what went wrong and why. Make sure to clearly address the second part of this question and discuss the personal growth that resulted from your  failure/setback. You might also consider closing this essay with a brief comment about how this lesson has benefited you since the time of the initial failure.

Also, while selecting your failure story, make sure you select a situation when  you  faced a setback  despite your sincere efforts . Dot not confuse between a failure and a mistake story because there is a  difference between the two: You are responsible for your mistake, so you need to take ownership for it, whereas external factors are responsible for your failure which means you did you best, but things didn’t work out the way you had planned. However, the experience still taught you life lessons.

Lastly, tell  your  failure story  in such a way that it  presents you in a positive light, revealing your strengths.

Example:

“Last year, a similar situation developed, and  despite clear briefing of motives, many teams again showed reluctance to follow the required  measures.  This time , I did not hesitate to warn the management who took proactive steps to steer the errant teams into place. Thus, the single setback that I faced in my professional life taught me valuable team- working skills that I am now practicing successfully.” 

Personal Essay 4: a) Discuss your short and long term career goals. (300 words maximum) and b) How will studying at INSEAD help you achieve your vision? (250 words maximum)

This is the standard ‘goals’ essay expecting you to specify your short term and long term goals and INSEAD’s role in helping you achieving them. This question has two parts with specific word count. Therefore, you need to be extra careful in adhering to the prescribed  word limit. INSEAD expects you to not only have a clear sense of your goals but also of their connection to INSEAD’s offerings. So you should have a thorough knowledge of the school’s curriculum, faculty, special programs and extracurricular activities, and explain how you will use them to achieve your goals.

Additionally, even though the prompt doesn’t ask you about your contribution, you may throw in a sentence about the value you will add to the school (if space permits).

Example:

“I am confident that with my academic potential, team-working abilities, innovative spirit,  leadership skills , and global outlook I will  add significant value to the INSEAD community.”

 Personal Essay 5: Please choose one of the following two essay topics:

a) Have you ever experienced culture shock? What insights did you gain? (250 words maximum) or
b) Describe the ways in which a foreigner in your country might experience culture shock. (250 words maximum)

This question is designed to gauge an applicant’s cultural sensitivity and ability to conduct business in an international setting, because INSEAD,  is a highly international program.

a) The first option asks you to recount a trying experience in another country that demanded significant amount of adjustment  resulting in personal growth .

b) The second option asks you to reflect on the unique characteristics of your own culture that might not be acceptable to a visitor.

In both responses, you need to demonstrate cultural flexibility, offering examples/ evidence of your ability to operate well with teams of diverse cultures. Remember to outline the struggles you went through in the process of cultural adjustment, and the lessons you learned in the process.

Example:

(An example of culture shock an Indian applicant employed in a Middle East country received )

“I vividly  remember that morning when as usual I went to office canteen for  breakfast and  found  it closed. I was  told that the canteen remains closed in the month of  Ramadan.  I was shocked to learn that even   restaurants don’t serve meals in daytime during Ramadan.”

 Optional Essay: Is there anything that you have not mentioned in the above essays that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? (200 words approx.) This essay is optional.

An optional essay is an opportunity for you to give the Ad Com  relevant information that you  could not give  in other essays or other parts of your application. This question is also meant to shine a spotlight on an experience or side of your personality that has  not been revealed in the other parts of your application: essays, recommendation letters and resume.

Even though INSEAD has provided you enough ground to cover about your candidacy, you may still use this essay in a variety of ways to further strengthen your candidacy. First, you may  use this question to reveal your non-professional side. For example, if you have significant extracurricular accomplishments (sports, music, writing, painting etc.) or a community welfare activity that you initiated or led, you should  share those stories. You can also use optional essay  to address a weakness in your profile, like low GPA or GMAT , a gap in your job history, or your inability to get a recommendation from your current supervisor.

Example:

“The private tutoring job that I had to take up to support mine and my sister’s education required me to spend 30 hours/ week and left me with hardly any time to focus on my studies. This  eventually ended up  pulling  down my grades to 70%.”

.