Indiana (Kelley) MBA Essays

Indiana MBA Essays                                   (Last Year's Essays)

Your essays will give us an idea of your personality, perspectives, and opinions and will let us know how closely your professional objectives match the objectives of the MBA program.

Below you’ll find five essay areas.  All applicants must answer number 1.  You must also choose two of the next three essay questions (2 through 4).  Number 5 is optional.  Please limit each essay to no more than two double-spaced pages.  Finally, please include the essay number and your name at the top of each sheet.

We encourage you to be informative, creative, and concise.

Required Essay
1.  Please discuss your post-MBA short- and long-term professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals?

Choose two of the next three:
2.   Describe an ethical dilemma that you faced in your professional career.  How was it resolved and what did you learn from the experience?

3.  Suppose you had to choose three people—people alive now or people from another era—to travel with you on a cross-country automobile trip. Who would you choose and why?  What would you hope to learn from them?  (Think carefully about the company you want on those long stretches through Nebraska or Kansas.)

4.  Describe what there is about your background and your experiences that will contribute to the diversity of the entering class and enhance the educational experience of other students.

Optional Essay
5.  Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application?  If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question.