Essays:

The Admissions Committee uses the essays to evaluate several aspects of the candidacy. First, your essays tell them a great deal about your career aspirations and what has shaped your life to this point. Second, your essays often reveal your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

Finally, your essays demonstrate your written communication skills. Be sure to take time to think about and carefully craft your essay responses.

The first required essay topic should give a clear idea of why you are looking to pursue an MBA, what your short-term (immediately after MBA graduation) and longer-term goals are, and why specifically you are interested in the Cox MBA program. The second and third required essays are designed to give us insight into specific professional situations in which you have excelled or learned from obstacles faced.

As always, be sure to proofread your work for both spelling and grammar. If you are applying to more than one school, be sure to double-check places where you mention a specific school. Every year, we receive at least one application that discusses the merits of another MBA program! Essays with these mistakes reflect a lack of attention to detail.

Candidates often ask if they should utilize the supplemental essay. If you have a unique experience to share with us that is not reflected elsewhere in your application, or if you have work gaps, academic problems or other issues that you would like to address, you should take advantage of submitting an optional essay. We strongly suggest you identify any issues upfront and address them here rather than wait and disclose them in person. Otherwise, please do not feel pressured to submit the fourth essay simply to fill space.

Essay 1: How did you come to the decision to pursue a graduate business degree? Are there specific skills you wish to develop or enhance? What are your post-graduate career goals? How will a graduate degree from the Cox School of Business help you in your professional development? (2 pages maximum; double spaced; minimum 10 point font)

Essay 2: Please describe a challenge faced in the workplace and the steps you took to resolve it. Would you make the same decision again? If not, what would you do differently? (2 pages maximum; double spaced; minimum 10 point font)

Candidates for the MA/MBA program must answer question 3B. All other candidates must answer question 3A. Please ensure you submit the question which applies to your program of interest.

Essay 3A - The Cox School of Business seeks students who desire to become leaders with purpose - those who will positively influence the global business community, whether in a small way or on a large scale. What have you done thus far in your career to make a difference? (2 pages maximum; double spaced; minimum 10 point font)

Essay 3B - How do you plan to make an impact on the arts/non-profit community and how specifically would your graduate education help you do so? (2 pages maximum; double spaced; minimum 10 point font)

Essay of your choice

SUPPLEMENTAL - If you answered yes to the questions related to academic/disciplinary issues or criminal history you MUST submit this essay. Otherwise, please only use this space to address essential issues not covered in the rest of your application package. (2 pages maximum; double spaced; minimum 10 point font)