Stanford GSB Entrance

Stanford GSB Application Essays Advice

With a 1,000-total word count, the application essays for the Stanford Graduate School of Business are among the longest for business schools.

Stanford GSB’s essays offer applicants an opportunity to paint a complete picture of their candidacy beyond grades and test scores. Melisa Prevost, an admissions consultant at Stratus Admissions Counseling, recently broke down each of Stanford GSB’s essays offering insight into what exactly the admissions committee is looking for.

ESSAY 1

The first essay prompt asks applicants the following:

What matters most to you, and why? (650 words recommended)

There truly is no “right” way to answer this question. Rather, Prevost says, Stanford GSB’s admission committee is looking for authenticity and values.

“What matters here is that you share whatever has truly been the driving force, or will be the driving force, within your life — both anecdotally and through clear personal experience,” Prevost says. “The ‘why’ part of this question is key; dig deep and demonstrate the reasons behind your passion for whatever you say matters most to you.”

ESSAY 2

The second essay prompt asks applicants the following:

Why Stanford? (350 words recommended)

Most applicants approach the “why” essay by highlighting a specific program or course that aligns with their goals. But, Prevost says, you can take this essay a step further by really digging into why Stanford is the right business school for you.

“Beyond just sharing a list of programs and classes, be specific about how you might take advantage of nonacademic features of the GSB and perhaps of some broader Stanford University resources and how you would contribute to those experiences,” Prevost says. “Show that you really, fundamentally understand the culture and spirit of the program.”

Don’t be afraid to think “big picture” in this essay. Really convey that Stanford GSB is the right place for you.

“The GSB likes to think of itself as a place where people go to embrace world-changing ideas (check out the school’s motto), and you can paint yourself as such a person as long as you do so with sincerity,” Prevost says.

Sources: Stratus Admissions Counseling, P&Q

Next Page: Tips for the London Business School Essay