Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper) MBA Essay Questions And Writing Tips

**2011-2012 MBA Essay Questions**
Q1.	Goals (1000 words)
	What are your short-term and long-term goals? How will a Tepper MBA help you to achieve these goals? (Please include any information regarding what steps you have taken to learn more about the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University.)
R)	Clearly state your immediate post MBA goals as well as the general direction in which you see your career evolving over the long term. Mention specific industry and function if you can. Summarizing your experience so far, what skills/knowledge have you picked up which can assist you in achieving these goals and what more do you need? How will the Tepper MBA help you to bridge this gap ? be precise in answering this. For e.g. if you wish to become an Investment Banker, what in the Tepper MBA program will be useful towards your goal. And include steps you have taken to know about Tepper such as talking to alumni, researching the website, attending school?s information sessions, demo classes etc.
Q2.	Impact (1000 words)
	*The Tepper School is looking for individuals who will make an impact. Give an example of a time where you made an impact in your professional or academic life.*
R)	Did you ever take up an initiative that changed the way things are done/helped to achieve a significant result, benefiting a larger group or organization? Explain this initiative, your role, what problems you might have faced and how you overcame these. What was the net result of this.
Q3.	Obstacle (450 words)
	*Option1:Describe an obstacle you have faced in your professional or academic life. How did you overcome this obstacle and how did it foster your development?*
R)	When faced with a tough situation, what is your response? Explain a situation where you had difficulties in meeting a certain goal ? briefly state the nature of these difficulties and how they were preventing you from reaching your goal. What did you then do? When you eventually surmounted the obstacle, how did you feel and what did you learn through the process?
Q4.	Ethics (450 words)
	*Option2:Describe a time in which your ethics were challenged. How did you deal with the situation and what did you learn from it?*
R)	What was the conflict before you ? by going in for a certain decision how would you have compromised on principles that were important to you? Therefore what did you do and how did that affect the different people involved as well as the goal before you? What did you learn in terms of managing people/ upholding ethics through this?
Q5.	Surprise (450 words)
	*Option1:One thing people would be surprised to know about me is?*
R)	Use this opportunity to reflect some interesting facet of yourself ? maybe outside your professional life. Don?t pick up professional achievements ?instead you can choose to write about one of your special interests e.g. you are an avid runner or you formed a music band at college. Also make sure you focus on just one point and not get tempted to write several interesting things about yourself.
Q6.	Proud of (450 words)
	*Option2: Outside of my professional and/or academic life, I am especially proud of?*
R)	This will be an opportunity to talk about something that you have not been able to show via other essays. They tell you specifically to stick to non-academic and professional stories; take a lead and talk about personal revelations. Are you proud of overcoming a fear of water and reach national level swimming championship? Or it was saving a flood victim that made you proud of yourself? Example can be any but make sure that you address the ?why? part well.

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