Virginia Darden MBA Essays

Essay Writing Tips and Application Deadlines

Essay 1: Tell us what you would want your learning team to know about you that is not on your resume. (150 words)

EssayLever Suggestions:

What qualities do you bring to a team to help it achieve its objectives?

Essay 2: Please respond to one of the following two prompts (200 words)

Q1: Tell us about a time when you acted with a team to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. What role did you play? What did you learn from this experience?

Q2: Tell us about a time you acted to solve a problem for the greater good. What drew you to this issue? What did you learn from this experience?

EssayLever Suggestions:

Choose an option to answer through which can bring out your traits of leadership, initiative and problem solving.

Essay 3: Please respond to one of the following two prompts (200 words)

Q1: Share a time when you learned something related to diversity, equity or inclusion that was previously unknown to you? How did this experience impact your perspective?

Q2: Share a time when you advocated for a perspective, identity, or community different from your own. How did this experience impact your worldview?

EssayLever Suggestions:

Recall and write about an experience when you had to work with people that were culturally different from you. What challenges did you face and how did you bridge the differences?

Essay 4: What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (150 words)

EssayLever Suggestions:

What would be your ideal first job after graduating? How would your past experience and assessed abilities help you excel in the post-MBA job?

Essay 5: Each year, Darden connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to go with Darden? And why? (50 words)

EssayLever Suggestions:

Choose a location that conveys something about your aspirations or brings out a strong interest or quality.