MIT Sloan Application Deadlines
Round 1: October 27, 2009
Round 2: January 13, 2010
(As is normally the case, MIT Sloan has just two application rounds this year. MIT Sloan has bucked the trend of top business schools moving their Round 1 deadline to the beginning of October. These deadlines are virtually identical to last year's.)
MIT Sloan Admissions Essays
- Prepare a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Describe your accomplishments and include an example of how you had an impact on a group or organization. Your letter should conform to standard business correspondence and be addressed to Mr. Rod Garcia, Director of MBA Admissions. (500 words)
(While this isn't traditional MBA essay, MIT Sloan's cover letter is a consistent part of its application. Last year the question changed to place more emphasis on your "impact on an organization." This year the question remains the same, so the Sloan admissions office must think that this phrasing helps them more effectively get at what they're looking for in MBA applicants.) - Please describe a time when you went beyond what was defined, expected, established, or popular. (500 words)
(This is a new question for Sloan this year, and the change suggests that Sloan is really looking closely for evidence of how you have gone beyond your regular job description to make a positive impact on those around you. We consider this as one of the key ingredients of leadership, and we expect that Sloan wants to see more of it in its applicants.) - Please describe a time when you coached, trained, or mentored a person or group. (500 words)
(This questions is new, and it also gets at another trait of leadership -- putting aside one's own problems and tasks to help someone else better themselves or overcome an obstacle. As is the case with similar questions, you should use the "Situation-Action-Result" format for your essay. Don't just say what happened, but rather put a good deal of emphasis on what YOU specifically did to help the person who needed your mentorship.) - Please describe a time when you took responsibility for achieving an objective. (500 words)
(Again, this is a question that gets at signs of leadership. In this case, it's a willingness to take on the burden of achieving a goal. Once again, the "SAR" technique will be critical to demonstrating not just what you accomplished, but also HOW you accomplished it, which is what the admissions committee really wants to see. While this is not a "failure" question, the right story here can show how you maybe stumbled a few times in achieving your goal.)
LGO applicants only: - Why do you wish to pursue the LGO program? What are the goals that you hope to accomplish both as a student and as a graduate of the program? Be sure to include a description of your post-LGO career plans. (250 words or less, limited to one page) You are welcome to copy and paste text directly from your cover letter.
- Why do you wish to pursue the engineering field and specialty area you have selected? (250 words or less, limited to one page) You are welcome to copy and paste text directly from your cover letter.
(While MIT Sloan's LFM program has evolved into the new Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program, the essays for the program remain pretty much the same. Here the admissions office is looking for signs that you really understand what the LGO program is about, and that you have what it takes to get more out of the LGO program than from the traditional two-year MBA program.)
