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
Career Goals Essay: What are your short-term and mid-term post-MBA goals? How will the IESE MBA program help you achieve them? (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.
It is important, however, to keep in mind that IESE has deliberately been very clear about what they want here: short-term and medium-term goals only.
For your short-term goal, consider the job you hope to have immediately upon graduating from IESE. For your medium-term goal, we would suggest 3-5 years after you finish your MBA as a guide.
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.
Need more guidance?
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of IESE MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning IESE essay.
Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides.
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
Tell us how you plan to finance your MBA (E.g., 40% savings, 60% loans OR 45K via savings and the rest via loan.) (50 words)
Why do you think you deserve a scholarship? (450 words)
For the first answer, make sure you are crystal clear about how you plan to finance your degree. 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 second part of this essay, 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. We Help You Get Into IESE
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories. This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.
Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.
This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.
That’s the approach we took with Henrique, who was admitted to IESE. In his words, “Ellin helped me in the application process from the beginning. I truly believe that my interactions with her not only provided a foundation for the application creation but also, more importantly, structured my life at business school. I had a 100% acceptance rate and earned a scholarship at my top choice school, IESE. She provided the most important insight into which school I fit and how to market myself. I really recommend her since she is really committed, hard-working, and made me feel comfortable and confident during the entire process. Thanks for the phenomenal service, Ellin!”
Not only can you take advantage of our editing expertise through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!
No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine. Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.
4. IESE MBA Deadlines
Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. You can access the IESE application by clicking here.
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
