UPDATE: This article was originally posted on August 24, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
With its focus on diversity and ethical leadership, IESE is at the top of the list for an increasing number of applicants who seek to pursue (or continue pursuing) a high-impact, global career.
However, with impressive recruiting statistics and a 15-month format for the MBA, competition to join IESE’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your IESE admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to IESE MBA sample essays to ensure you give your IESE application your best shot.
1. Who is IESE looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @iesebschool on Instagram)
“Every student is different – but everyone in your cohort will have something in common: a desire to make a deep and positive impact on the world.” IESE Admissions
Every year, IESE literally searches the globe (85% of the class is international in origin) for the outstanding professionals given the honor of joining its annual class of around 350 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” IESE student, yet admitted students had GMAT scores ranging from 580 to 750 and 5.4 years of work experience.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, IESE is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT and university grades), IESE seeks candidates who demonstrate the following qualities:
If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering IESE’s admissions essay questions.
2. How should I answer the IESE essay questions?
2.1. Essay 1 Tips
Why is IESE the right MBA program for you?
What aspects of IESE’s program, values, and community resonate most with your personal and professional goals? Please provide specific examples that illustrate why you believe IESE is the best fit for you. (Word limit 300 max)
As one of the most important essays you’ll write, IESE’s only required essay this year is a classic goals essay.
First, we suggest that you watch this podcast, where Admissions Director Paula Amorim talks about what IESE is looking for when they review applications. https://youtu.be/wbESMhiOdkE
Second, though not stated, we do suggest that you clearly state your short- and long-term goals in this essay.
For your short-term goal, consider the job you hope to have immediately upon graduating from IESE. For your long-term goal, this can be the job you hope to have in 10-15 years or your ultimate career ambition (like founding a global startup).
When discussing your goals, clarity is king, so make sure you include a job title and industry in your description of your post-MBA aspiration.
However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For example, a client last year initially started his essay by saying:
“I want to become a Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”
While interesting, it’s better to give a little bit of context to help these goals come to life. Check out the final version of the same essay’s introduction:
“In the 1970s, the phrase “think global, act local” came into use, suggesting that for the world to change, one must be active locally. With this mindset, I focused my career on Brazilian multinational companies to start creating global change at home. I now seek to take the next step to become a “glocal” leader by becoming Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”
After clearly stating your goal (and your motivations for having this goal), meaningfully touch on how IESE can help you achieve these goals.
This should not be a “laundry list” of 10 classes you found on the IESE site, nor a section in which you repeat clichés about the school. Instead, you should thoughtfully consider how you must grow personally and professionally to reach your stated short-term goal and what elements of IESE (classes, faculty, clubs, etc.) will help you reach them.
Ending your essay with a killer conclusion sentence to leave your reader with a strong image of your profile is the perfect wrap-up.
TOP TIP: It can be difficult to find IESE’s clubs online. Check out this list to see which clubs IESE offers.
Write Essays That Make Admissions Say Yes
Generic essays get generic results. Your story drowns in thousands of others the adcom is going through, and you get dinged. Ouch!
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2.2. Optional Essay Tips
What would you like to highlight about yourself or your journey which may have not been captured in your application? (word limit 300 max)
The goal of the question has remained the same as last year, though the wording has changed. Unlike most MBAs, whose optional essays limit you to problems with your application, this essay allows you to explore an important element of your profile that was not otherwise expressed.
The possibilities here are endless, but your choice should be aligned with your overall application strategy. One of our candidates last year spoke about why he left everything to take a job halfway across the world in Asia. Another candidate shared his passion for video games and his later launch of an eSports platform. In essence, choose a story that adds new, relevant information about your profile.
Finally, try to think of a way to meaningfully connect your essay to the IESE experience, as this can be a great way to end your essay.
2.3. Scholarship Essay Tips
Why do you think you deserve a scholarship? (450 words)
Before you input this essay in the online form, you will be required to fill out a few text boxes that ask how you plan to fund your MBA (i.e. loans, personal savings, etc.). IESE wants to make sure you have a clear plan for how to pay for your MBA, so there is no right answer here. If you plan to obtain loans for 80% of the cost of the program, for example, that’s ok. What’s important is to demonstrate that you have a plan.
For the essay itself, we have seen clients be most successful when they are crystal clear about their financial need and when they discuss how they can contribute to the IESE class.
When writing, consider including information about any relevant financial limitations that may influence your need for a scholarship, as well as information and examples of how you can contribute to the IESE community.
We have dozens of scholarship essays available in our MBA Resource Center, which you can join instantly by clicking here.
Looking for IESE MBA essay examples?
Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here.
3. Everyone’s talking. We help you get heard
Imagine walking into a noisy room. Everyone’s trying to make their case. That’s what the MBA application landscape feels like. Thousands of qualified applicants. Countless stories. A blur of achievements. And yet, the ones who break through are those with clarity, confidence, and a compelling voice.
That’s where we come in.
At Ellin Lolis Consulting, we don’t just edit essays. We help you find your voice, the one that cuts through the noise and resonates with admissions committees. With a 98.9% success rate and years of experience helping applicants get into top programs like HBS, Wharton, and INSEAD, we know exactly how to make your story stand out.
Whether you’re just getting started or stuck in the middle of your application process, our team of expert consultants offers personalized, one-on-one guidance that transforms your raw ideas into a compelling, cohesive application.
Just ask Adriano, who felt overwhelmed by the process but ended up at IESE.
The room might be noisy, but your voice doesn’t have to be.
Learn more about working with us here. Let’s make your story the one that gets remembered.
4. IESE MBA Deadlines
Here are the deadlines for the 2025-2026 season. You can access the IESE application by clicking here.
IESE Round 1 Deadlines
Application Deadline: September 25, 2025
Interview Notification: October 10, 2025
Decisions Released: November 24, 2025
IESE Round 2 Deadlines
Application Deadline: January 9, 2026
Interview Notification: January 23, 2026
Decisions Released: March 16, 2026
IESE Round 3 Deadlines
Application Deadline: March 12, 2026
Interview Notification: March 23, 2026
Decisions Released: April 30, 2026
IESE Round 4 Deadlines
Application Deadline: May 8, 2026
Interview Notification: May 15, 2026
Decisions Released: June 12, 2026
Applications are due by 11:59 PM Central European Time on the deadline date. Any applications received after this date will be considered for the next round or will not be considered (if you’re applying for the last deadline).
