Prompt: Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinctive Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words maximum)
"This essay maps to our "Aware" criterion, so before you start reflecting and writing, review what being aware, ambitious, and purposeful means at Tuck." - Patricia Harrison, Director of Admissions
Read "A Closer Look at Admissions Criteria: Aware."
First, explain why you’ve chosen to pursue the MBA degree and why you seek it at this stage of your professional development.
In answering "Why are you pursuing an MBA" and what are your goals and aspirations, focus more on the impact the you want to make in an industry, perhaps a mission that you want to pursue, rather than the cut-and-dried self-driven "I'm changing industries," or "I want to advance in my profession." Remember, this is Tuck, and you'll be surrounded by bright, driven MBA students and have access to great professors. How would you use that MBA experience to make a difference in the world?
Secondly, answer "Why Tuck."
"There is a distinction here between loving Tuck and knowing Tuck. Show clarity and awareness about how Tuck uniquely advances you towards your goals. That requires aligning what Tuck offers with what you want." - Director Harrison
Go over the aspects of the program that will benefit you most, and also consider that Tuck is a small school in a remote location, a school that focuses on admitting "encouraging" students. Professors are fully available to the MBA students. Be sure to explain why that type of atmosphere will benefit you the most.
Please note that the Admissions Committee will read your short- and long-term goals in the application before reading this essay.
Prompt: Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words maximum)
How do you decide how to introduce yourself in only 300 words? Start by identifying what about you demonstrates your fit with Tuck:
Read about Tuck's admissions criteria.
First part of the essay:
Second part of the essay:
Overall, your goal is to provide color and context for your application.
"Some of you have asked us whether your response should show that you “fit in” with Tuck or whether it should highlight that you are different and distinct. They’re not mutually exclusive." - Director Harrison
Pro tip: DO NOT REPEAT YOUR RESUME. Enhance your resume with something new, and add something that they wouldn't get from your resume.
Prompt: Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words maximum)
"This essay maps directly to our “Encouraging” criterion, so we suggest that you review what it means at Tuck to be encouraging, collaborative, and empathetic." - Director Harrison
Read "A Closer Look at Admissions Criteria: Encouraging."
In this essay, describe a meaningful experience in which you made someone feel included, possibly by being encouraging, collaborative and/or empathetic, even when it was not convenient or easy. In addition, how did you take action to help someone else actually succeed?
If you are having difficulty with thinking about a time when you helped include another person, here are some potential frameworks:
Prompt: Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words maximum)
Explain anything that Admissions Committee might question. Don't make them guess. 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.
You may have to respond to some questions in the online application:
Share your short-term professional goals. (50 words maximum)
Share your long-term professional goals. (50 words maximum)
Often schools want very short descriptions of the goals, even though they are contained in the essays. It is so that they can refer to them quickly, and not search for them in the essay. Tuck is allowing people to fully explain their goals.
If you have not scheduled or completed an admissions interview, please explain why.
RE: Why not student-initiated interview...
About half of the Tuck invitations go to people who went to self-invited interviews. This might simply be because it is so difficult to get to Tuck, and maybe by going you show that you are very committed to the school. That said, Admissions does NOT say how many people went to a self-invited interview and did NOT get into Tuck. Because that does happen. Tuck is a very, very, very small school. It is hard to calculate the odds.
If you were invited to an interview, you would definitely go to campus to interview (if given that option).