Early Thoughts on Yale SOMs 2016-2017 Application Essay Question

Application season at the Yale School of Management  is officially underway with the release of the school’s 2016-2017 application essay question. Let’s discuss from a high level some early thoughts on how best to approach this new essay prompt. This year, Yale has made some changes from last years prompt, so let’s explore how to best approach this essay: Essay 1: Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words maximum) Yale returns this year with a new essay prompt that is one of the shortest among the top MBA programs. Yale only has one essay again this year, so candidates must make sure to really focus  on this aspect of their application. With other similar, open-ended questions like this, your choice of topic will provide the Admissions Committee with a good deal of insight into your character, personality and values, so it is important to choose what you will write about wisely. In addition, understanding that this essay prompt was created in concert with  a Yale  Professor of Organizational Behavior should signal the layered thinking that will be expected from you in your  answer to this seemingly-innocuous question. The school also references â€Å"leadership† and integrated† curriculum as it describes this professor, which might illuminate the type of interpersonal elements that Yale is looking to learn more about in your essay response. A successful applicant will examine  the values that Yale SOM has made the hallmarks of their program and connect these values to a personal and introspective response to the essay prompt. To dive deeper here, youll want to use your  commitment story  to share your own personal values in the same way Yale has done. The first step to completing this essay will be to really sift through anecdotes within your personal, professional and academic career to discuss in this essay. It’s not enough to just select any old commitment, but instead, you should choose one where the full breadth of your interpersonal skills are on display   the ideal skills to highlight are the ones that jive with the Yale SOM mission. Also, it would be wise to leverage some of the clues within the prompt itself. Use the aforementioned signals as elements of the story you will lean on to make your case. Make sure the example you have selected has a bit of  staying power, too Yale is looking for sustainable commitment, here. Introspection will be a key element to any successful Yale SOM essay, so remember to relate why this specific anecdote is significant to YOU. Finally, consider if and then how your  experience will allow you to make a similar impact on the greater Yale community as a whole. Just a few thoughts on this year’s essay from Yale hopefully this will help you get started.  For more thoughts on Yale SOM and its application essays,  check out our free  Essential Guide to Top Business Schools. Applying to Yale or other business schools? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on  Facebook,  YouTube,  Google+  and Twitter. Dozie A.  is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him  here.