Use this short answer question to succinctly share your short and long term goals. If invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate further and should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.
Prompt: A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):
Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].
Targeted Job Role:
Target Job Company:
Industry:
In 5 - 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].
Targeted Job Role:
Target Job Company:
Industry:
Here is an example of the format:
Immediately post-MBA my goal is to work as a
- Targeted Job Role: Consultant
- Target Job Company: Accenture
- Industry: Media and Technology
In 5-10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a
- Targeted Job Role: Founder and President
- Target Job Company: Nonprofit
- Industry: Media and Technology
How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?
Here is an example of the format:
Short Term Goal: Immediately post-MBA my goal is to work as a(n) Consultant at Accenture within Media and Technology.
Long Term Goal: In 5-10 years post-MBA my goal is to work as a(n) Founder and President within Nonprofit.
Like last year, candidates are expected to elaborate a bit on how their past has informed their planned future. This invites applicants to share their career history and how factors, such as industry exposure, client projects and more have influenced their decisions. This is an opportunity to establish one’s skills and set up the need for an MBA. You do not necessarily need to touch on each role you’ve held since graduation, but rather the most influential ones in preparing you for your future. If you are a career changer, you may touch on transferrable skills or delve deeper into what really sparked your interest in and passion for your new direction. The key for the short answer is to make clear and concise connections to your vision and motivation.
In the past, Cornell has included this explanation: "This essay is designed to explore the intersection of engagement and community culture. Our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. To help you explore your potential for impact, we encourage you to engage with our students, alumni, faculty, and professional staff before submitting your application. You may choose to connect with them via email or phone or in person during one of our on-campus or off-campus events. As you seek their input and insight, please be respectful of their time and prepare a few discussion points or questions in advance."
Prompt: At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words maximum)
Given the admission team's encouragement to engage the school community, you are likely expected to incorporate how you've had contact with Johnson alumni, faculty, staff or current students, and, in turn, how this informs your potential to positively impact the Johnson community.
Based on these interactions, begin by thinking about an element or two of the Johnson community with which you find the greatest resonance, also considering which are already evident in your activities and accomplishments to date. In fact, one to two examples (100-150 words total) that illustrate your skills and potential to make a positive impact should be woven in to selected means of contributing. Consider this in light of the idea that your past behavior supports future success.
Of course, the majority of this response should center on the your planned activities and impact as a Johnson MBA student. Discuss your potential activities outside of the classroom, identifying specific student organizations in which you might take a leadership role. Speaking convincingly about your ability to make a positive difference will likely require some informed sense of the areas of opportunity and need on campus. Conversations with students and alumni will be very important in producing the most effective essay possible.
The sense of community through Johnson does not end on graduation day, and the Admissions Committee may wish to understand the long-term impact a candidate envisions. With room permitting, it would be nice to end on a note of your post-MBA plans to have an impact on the community.
Prompt: You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum).
By "items needing clarification," they mean, "something that might be unclear to the Admissions Committee," something that might need further explanation. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. Use to address:
Use this essay to turn a potential weakness into a strength. Tell the Admissions Committee what happened and why it happened. Be honest in your self-evaluation. Most importantly, tell them what you have learned from a negative experience, and how this learning has influenced future actions.
The Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program is a two-year, full-tuition fellowship award for Two-Year MBA candidates in Ithaca who have demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and who are committed to making an impact within their communities. Each year, fellowships are awarded to up to 25 incoming students with the expectation that they will participate in additional leadership and personal development activities outside of our regular curriculum, serve in leadership roles within the school, and complete a public service project by the time they graduate. The Park Fellowship is only available to U.S. citizens applying for the Two-Year MBA program.
Candidates being considered for the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellowship will be notified after their admissions interview with an invitation to join us for one of our virtual Leadership Exploration and Assessment Days (L.E.A.D.) events. Candidates invited to attend a LEAD event will be required to submit a response to the Park Fellows Essay.
Prompt: Describe a past formal or informal leadership experience and how it informs your goals for growth as a leader. How would the Park Leadership Fellowship assist with these goals? (500 words maximum)