The Consortium

October 15, 2023

January 5, 2024

Core Essay 1: Goals

Include your full name and date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy) on each page
Limit Core Essay #1 to 2,000 CHARACTERS (not 2,000 words)
12-point font
Microsoft Word document

Prompt, 1st Part: Please describe your short- and long-term goals post-MBA.

Begin by breaking down the essay question:

What is your immediate career goal, the one that would be the logical outcome of pursuing the MBA? In other words, what is your vision of your role, industry, and/or employer after you complete the MBA?

What is your longer term vision for your career (meaning 5-10 years after your graduation)? How does the immediate career goal lead to the longer term goals? Please remember that The Consortium has a mission of enhancing "diversity and inclusion in global business education and leadership," outside of the simple "I will go up the career ladder." Your goals should reflect The Consortium mission.

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Prompt, 2nd Part: How has your professional experience shaped these goals and influenced your decision to pursue an MBA degree? Tell them briefly how your professional experience has motivated your MBA goals. You might answer 1-2 of the following questions:

How did your MBA career goals develop from your life and experiences as a professional?
What kind of professional exposure have you had to the role, industry, and/or employer(s) that you are interested in pursuing?
What steps have you already taken to explore your career interests?
What skills, knowledge, talents, and exposure enables you to pursue your goals successfully?

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Core Essay 1 is seen by all of the schools, so it should be specific to none.

2,000 characters = between 200 words to 500 (very short) words

Core Essay 2: Optional Essay

Prompt: Is there any other information you would like to share with us that is not presented elsewhere in your application? (1,000 characters)

Include your full name and date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy) on each page
Limit Core Essay #2 to 1,000 characters
12-point font
Microsoft Word document

‍This is a space where you can address any questions you think the admissions committee may have about your application.

By address any questions, 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:

why your current direct supervisor is not writing your recommendation
gaps in work experience
low GPA or inconsistent or questionable academic performance
interruptions in academic career
difficult issues (e.g., Driving Under the Influence or other types of arrests)
areas of weakness (e.g., less than five years work experience - why you are not waiting to apply)

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.

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Core Essay 2 is seen by all of the schools, so it should be specific to none.

1,000 characters = between 140 words and 250 words

Mission Essay

The Consortium Mission Essay is the one aimed at winning you a Consortium Fellowship. As explained by DJ (the very first person I knew who was awarded a fellowship), the essay is basically, "Consortium, Consortium, Consortium."

The mission of The Consortium is to enhance diversity in business education and leadership by helping reduce the serious underrepresentation of African American, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both our member schools’ enrollments and the ranks of management.

What have you done pre-MBA in your business, academic or personal life to demonstrate commitment to this mission? 2,000 characters
What will you do while enrolled in your MBA program to demonstrate your commitment to the mission? 2,000 characters
What will you do post-MBA with respect to community service and leadership involvement to demonstrate your continued commitment to The Consortium’s mission of diversity and inclusion? 1,000 characters

When writing your Consortium Mission Essay, be sure to include the following:

I. What you've personally done that has helped a local minority community

II. Any organizations that you've joined that are involved with helping minority members gain education or professional experience

III. Anything that you've done at work to help recruit minority employees, and/or advise your company on recruiting minorities

IV. What you'll do as an MBA

Recruit for your MBA program and The Consortium - and why
Continue your current involvement in organizations

V. What you'll do as an alumnus

Attend Consortium recruiting events
Be aware of which companies are Consortium-affiliated as employers friendly to diversity; if you join a non-Consortium company, encourage that company to join the Consortium
Act as a mentor to minority students and encourage to pursue professional paths

The Mission essay is only seen by the fellowship decision-makers, so it is possible to repeat information in the school-specific essays. The schools do not see the Mission essay.