MIT Sloan Cover Letter: Overview & Expert Tips

Crafting a standout cover letter for MIT Sloan? Get expert tips and a comprehensive overview to help you create a compelling and effective cover letter that will impress the admissions committee.

Posted January 10, 2024

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MIT Sloan is renowned for its rigorous and selective admissions process . As part of the application, candidates are required to submit a cover letter that highlights their personal and professional achievements, as well as their fit with MIT Sloan's values and mission. In this article, we will provide an overview of the MIT Sloan cover letter and offer expert tips to help you craft a compelling and impactful letter.

MIT Sloan Application and the Role of the Cover Letter

The MIT Sloan application is designed to assess candidates on various dimensions, such as academic excellence, leadership potential, and ability to contribute to the MIT Sloan community. This comprehensive evaluation process ensures that the individuals admitted to MIT Sloan possess the qualities necessary to thrive in the program and make a meaningful impact in their future careers.

One crucial component of the application process is the cover letter. While some applicants may underestimate its importance, the cover letter provides a unique opportunity to showcase one's unique experiences , motivations, and aspirations. It serves as a platform for applicants to present a comprehensive picture of who they are as individuals and professionals.

However, it is important to note that the cover letter should not be viewed as a generic document. Rather, it should be tailored specifically to MIT Sloan and demonstrate a deep understanding of the school's values, culture, and resources. This level of personalization not only shows genuine interest in the program but also highlights the applicant's ability to research and analyze information effectively.

When crafting the cover letter, it is essential to consider the specific aspects of MIT Sloan that resonate with you. This could include the school's emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship, its collaborative and supportive community, or its commitment to global impact . By addressing these key points, applicants can demonstrate their alignment with MIT Sloan's mission and values.

Furthermore, the cover letter should go beyond simply restating information already provided in the application. It should delve deeper into the applicant's motivations, passions, and future goals. This allows the admissions committee to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the applicant's potential contributions to the MIT Sloan community .

Additionally, the cover letter provides an opportunity to address any potential weaknesses or gaps in the application. If there are aspects of your academic or professional background that may not be immediately apparent, the cover letter is the perfect place to provide context and explain how these experiences have shaped you and prepared you for success at MIT Sloan.

Lastly, the cover letter should be written in a clear, concise, and professional manner. It should be free of grammatical errors and typos, as these can detract from the overall impression of the applicant. Taking the time to proofread and edit the cover letter demonstrates attention to detail and a commitment to excellence.

MIT Sloan Cover Letter Instructions (2023-2024)

It is crucial to adhere to the specific instructions provided by MIT Sloan for the cover letter. Here is the description of the requirement, as outlined on the MIT Sloan website:

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion. Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Let's break this down more simply:

  • Write a cover letter for a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program.
  • Demonstrate how you'll make the most of MIT's opportunities and positively impact other students.
  • Include examples of your leadership, intellectual abilities, creativity, and innovative problem-solving.
  • Show your authenticity, independence, integrity, and passion.
  • Follow standard business letter format.
  • Address the letter to the Admissions Committee.
  • Limit the letter to 300 words or fewer, not including the address and salutation.

By carefully adhering to these instructions, you demonstrate your ability to follow guidelines and attention to detail, both of which are highly valued by the admissions committee.

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Expert Tips for the MIT Sloan Cover Letter

Crafting an exceptional MIT Sloan cover letter requires careful thought and planning. Here are some expert tips to help you stand out:

  • Thoroughly research MIT Sloan: Familiarize yourself with the programs, initiatives, and values that define MIT Sloan. This will enable you to tailor your cover letter to highlight your alignment with the school.
  • Showcase your unique experiences: Use the cover letter to weave a compelling narrative that showcases your experiences, achievements, and personal growth. Be sure to demonstrate how these experiences have prepared you for success at MIT Sloan and beyond.
  • Highlight your potential contributions: Articulate how your skills, perspectives, and aspirations align with the MIT Sloan community. Emphasize how you will contribute to the school's collaborative and innovative environment.
  • Be authentic and sincere: Admissions committees appreciate genuine and honest reflections. Your cover letter should reflect your true self, highlighting your motivations and passions.
  • Proofread and edit: Avoid careless errors by thoroughly proofreading and editing your cover letter. Ask a trusted friend or mentor to provide feedback to ensure the document is polished and error-free.

By following these expert tips, you can create a cover letter that effectively communicates your unique story and positions you as an ideal candidate for MIT Sloan.

cover letter mit mba

MBA Cover Letter Tips

While the MIT Sloan cover letter is a specific requirement for the application, many of the strategies and tips mentioned can be applied to other MBA cover letters and essays. The key is to tailor your writing to the specific school or program you are applying to, demonstrating your fit and enthusiasm.

This includes conducting thorough research, showcasing your unique experiences, highlighting your potential contributions, and maintaining authenticity throughout the writing process. Additionally, careful proofreading and editing are crucial for all MBA application essays to ensure your message is clear and error-free.

MIT Sloan Cover Letter FAQs

As you embark on the process of crafting your MIT Sloan cover letter, you may have some common questions. Here are answers to frequently asked questions.

1. What is the purpose of the MIT Sloan MBA cover letter?

The MIT Sloan cover letter is an opportunity for applicants to personally address the Admissions Committee, showcasing their suitability for the program, their leadership potential, intellectual abilities, and how they can contribute to the Sloan community.

2. How long should the MIT Sloan cover letter be?

The cover letter should be 300 words or fewer, excluding the address and salutation. It’s crucial to be concise and direct while covering all essential points.

3. What format should the MIT Sloan cover letter follow?

The cover letter should follow a standard business correspondence format. This includes a formal address, salutation to the Admissions Committee, body of the letter, and a formal closing.

4. What key elements should be included in the cover letter?

Include specific examples of your leadership, intellectual abilities, creativity, problem-solving skills, and how you plan to contribute to the Sloan community. Also, showcase your authenticity and passion.

5. Should I focus more on professional or personal experiences in the cover letter?

While the focus should primarily be on professional experiences, personal anecdotes can be included if they strongly demonstrate the qualities sought by Sloan and are relevant to your MBA journey.

6. How can I demonstrate my fit for MIT Sloan in the cover letter?

Research Sloan's values and culture and articulate how your experiences, goals, and personality align with them. Show how Sloan is integral to your career trajectory.

7. Can I reuse content from other MBA application essays in my cover letter?

While some themes may overlap, avoid directly reusing content. Tailor your cover letter specifically to MIT Sloan, ensuring it reflects a clear understanding of the program and how it fits your goals.

8. How important is the cover letter in the overall application?

The cover letter is a critical component of your Sloan application. It offers the Admissions Committee a lens into your personality, ambitions, and potential fit with Sloan.

9. What tone should I use in the cover letter?

Maintain a professional yet personal tone. While it’s a formal business letter, it should also reflect your individuality and enthusiasm for the program.

10. Should I get feedback on my cover letter before submitting?

Yes, it’s advisable to get feedback from mentors, colleagues, or professionals experienced in MBA admissions. They can provide valuable insights on content, tone, and structure.

The MIT Sloan cover letter presents an invaluable opportunity to showcase your achievements, experiences, and aspirations to the admissions committee. By following the expert tips provided in this article, conducting diligent research, and crafting an authentic and compelling narrative, you can maximize your chances of being admitted to MIT Sloan's prestigious MBA program.

Remember, the cover letter is your chance to present a comprehensive picture of who you are as a person and a professional. Make the most of this opportunity and create a compelling letter that reflects your unique qualities and aligns with MIT Sloan's values and mission.

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, mit sloan mba strategy: how to tackle the application.

  • By Tsahala David

MIT Sloan just released deadlines for its 2023–24 admissions cycle, with the same application components used in the past. 

MIT’s round one deadline is set for Sept. 27, 2023, round two for Jan. 17, 2024, and round three on April 8, 2024.

Its MBA application typifies the institution’s ethos of boundary-breaking innovation, forgoing several of the typical elements of an M7 application. The school doesn’t require you to write a “Why MIT” essay, nor will it let you get by with repurposing your standard MBA resume. Instead, prospective students are asked to capture and create several materials that no other school is asking for. Unique to MIT Sloan, the application requires:  

  • A cover letter
  • A one-minute video introduction
  • A uniquely formatted resume
  • One letter of recommendation, with contacts for two supporting recommenders
  • An organizational chart showing your position in your company
  • A  short optional essay on the candidate’s background
  • Pre-interview questions, for those invited to interview

The goal is to try and avoid a copy-paste from another school’s application and get to the true authentic you.

In addition, for the 2023 application cycle, MIT Sloan significantly expanded the list of questions that recommenders must respond to. Sloan only requires one recommender, but candidates must supply the names and contact information of two others who may be contacted if the admissions committee needs a broader perspective.

All in all, It’s a beast of an application, and tackling it successfully requires a different strategy than any other program. Within these highly structured components, you must find a way to accomplish three things: 

  • Articulate your fit for the MBA program (situational- and self-awareness) along with a deep understanding of MIT’s guiding values.
  • Convey your distinctive value add, in a way that’s both resume-specific and personal (your values, personal characteristics, traits and a dash of more self-awareness).
  • Use the finite real estate you’re given to craft a coherent narrative for your candidacy while avoiding duplication. This balancing act across the assorted pieces of the application is a challenge for many candidates. You must do a shrewd job of spreading key facts and details across components in ways that best fit the medium.)

Step-By-Step Strategy Tips For Tackling The MIT Sloan Application

First, begin by breaking down the more standardized, less flexible portions of the application:

Review the high-level data you will provide in the online application, the organizational chart, and the resume tailored to Sloan’s requirements. Make note of the skills, traits and accomplishments you convey in those components. 

For instance, Sloan’s unique request for an organizational chart lets you show at a glance where you and your department fit in your organizational hierarchy, quickly providing some context for your title and role. (See insights on handling the org chart requirement from Fortuna’s Heidi Hillis.) This piece,  plus your resume, means you can focus the rest of your application on more personal and persuasive points.

Once you have assessed the basic information you’ll share in these elements, strategically determine additional points you need to convey to fully tell your story and make your best case for admission.

Next, decide how to incorporate those points in the other components of the Sloan application, which demand more imagination and considered attention. 

The flow I have outlined below may not feel intuitive, but it’s exceptionally effective from a strategic perspective.

1) Video Introduction

This isn’t where most people begin but hear me out: Certain stories can’t be conveyed in 200 written words and are best told live. Some stories work here and won’t come across in your cover letter. With the strengths of video in mind, brainstorm ideas best suited to the medium. Veer away from the resume by sharing a personal story that invites real resonance in the viewer.

Although Sloan describes the video as a chance to introduce yourself to your future classmates, it is not shared with them. Only the admissions committee sees it, so it’s really a way for them to get to know you. However, describing it as an introduction to your peers is a signal that they want the video to be casual and friendly (but dress professionally).

In alignment with its culture and values, MIT Sloan is looking for: “brilliant builders” and “unconventional thinkers who are independent, authentic, fearlessly creative, and determined to put their stamp on the world.” At the same time, they want students who will immerse themselves in the opportunities at Sloan and contribute to the experience of other students. 

The video is a great opportunity to introduce yourself in ways that align with that profile. Talk about a personal passion or shoot your video in a location that is meaningful to you and explain why (but make sure the sound is clear and audible.) 

As discussed in my colleague Brittany’s previous post, Ace the Video Statement for MIT Sloan , take a risk and be vulnerable. The goal is to provide a genuine glimpse into who you are. You only have a minute to deliver a response that’s memorable, profound and articulate. A compelling tactic is to elaborate on a single, specific experience that reveals an important dimension of who you are. We all have stories to tell. Are you the only member of your family who can get a grandparent to have a meaningful conversation around health? Is your smile so infectious that you’re legendary around for brightening people’s days in your neighborhood? Don’t shy away from talking about those things.

You only have one minute and must deliver your message in a single take, so revise, refine, and rehearse until you can deliver a memorable story concisely.

2) The cover letter

mit sloan cover letter prompt

MIT values individuals who act to make a difference. The best MIT Sloan cover letter examples often highlight examples of professional or extracurricular achievements from the last two to three years that demonstrate these values. After revealing how you’ve already started to live your values, clarify why the MBA is essential to get where you want to go next (career and professional goals). The admissions team doesn’t want to read anything regurgitated from their website – they know their own program – but if it’s fitting, weave in a brief statement about why attending MIT Sloan will help you achieve those goals.

The admissions committee doesn’t seem to be so interested in the classic “why MIT?” response about what the school can do for you, but rather what you as a student can contribute to the greater experience of your classmates. They want you to prove that you’re a doer who would leverage the MIT experience (labs, events, competitions and more) to do something great that will impact the world with other MIT students.

Of course, you only have 300 words or less to do all this. The best examples of cover letters we’ve seen are direct and to the point. They quite literally introduce the candidate and offer examples that explain how they align with Sloan’s desired student profile and how they will use their MBA to make an impact in the world. Think of your cover letter as an elevator pitch that can cover some areas you don’t get to in your 60-second video.  

3) Optional short-answer essay

This is the final portion of your application you should consider. Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250-word short answer question: The prompt reads: 

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity, please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

This open-ended question is a golden opportunity to fill in anything you’d like to discuss that does not fit neatly into the confines of the other required components. It also lets you share information about your identity in ways that help the admissions committee select a diverse and inclusive class with broad backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. No matter what your background, it’s a space you can use to share your awareness of how your background shaped you and, similarly, shapes others in different and powerful ways.

Pre-interview reflection

Applicants invited to interview are also required to submit brief responses to MIT Sloan’s two pre-interview questions. In the past, one question has centered on diversity and inclusion and the second related to how you make data-driven decisions. 

Both are behavioral style “tell us about a time” questions designed to elicit information about not just your values or skills but also how you put them into action. (In the past, the data question has also included an option that is more focused on values and goals). For more information on how to address these questions, see our tips from previous years available here . 

A final note

A central theme across the entire Sloan application: MIT values individuality, so in your responses, don’t be afraid to be authentically you.  Your deployment of illustrative examples across the cover letter, video, short essay, and pre-interview reflection is vital.  Muster your authenticity and courage to show them you already have developed this capacity – and then make it clear where you hope to let it shine at MIT. And this bears repeating: save the “why MIT” for the actual interview or post-interview email follow-up, which is the best place to fill in these types of gaps.

As exemplified by the application components themselves, MIT is significantly more interested in understanding how you think and act – how you navigated a difficult decision, came up with an innovative solution and what makes you memorable. While they definitely respect quantitative abilities, Sloan also values the uniquely human parts of your personality, and the integrity, passion and principles that guide you. Sidestep the temptation to mold yourself into the ‘perfect applicant’ you think Sloan is looking for. Instead, embrace the idiosyncratic application prompts and allow them to fuel your creativity.

Want More Advice? View our recent MBA Admissions Masterclass featuring MIT Sloan & Columbia Business School.

You can also view all M7 MBA Admissions Masterclasses, and other invaluable strategy sessions, on  Fortuna’s YouTube channel .

Fortuna Admissions expert coach Brittany Maschal is a former member of admissions teams at Wharton, Princeton & Johns Hopkins. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for  a free consultation .

  • Posted on August 24, 2023

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MIT Sloan Cover Letter, Application Requirements for 2023-2024

MIT MBA essay

The MIT Sloan School of Management has published the application requirements and deadlines for the  2023-2024 season. Once again, candidates must submit a cover letter rather than a traditional MBA essay.

MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Application Requirements

Here’s how each component is explained on the MIT Sloan admissions site:

Cover Letter

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Please submit a  one-page  resume. This will help us easily track your academic and career path. Try to focus on your work results, not just your title or job description. Here are some pointers on formatting:

  • One page limit
  • Times New Roman font
  • Size 10 font
  • Word or PDF formats only

Provide the following information in reverse chronological order:

  • Education: Please include relevant awards, scholarships and professional societies
  • Work Experience: Please include company name, title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skill set, and dates
  • Additional information: Please include extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests, and languages spoken (if applicable)

Video Statement

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • Speaking directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles

Note : While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared and is for use in the application process only.

Additional requirements beyond the MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Video

Applicants must submit one letter of recommendation and two additional references.  Similar to your recommender, these additional references should be able to speak to your professional and/or academic background. These two individuals should be different from your recommender. Also, candidates need to upload an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of their department and company. This will help the AdCom better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department.

For more information on applying, please visit the MIT Sloan admissions website . If you need guidance on your MIT Sloan cover letter and application or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the expertise on our team:

cover letter mit mba

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

July 3, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

cover letter mit mba

Rather than framing its required application essay as a traditional “essay,” the MIT Sloan School of Management instead requests that applicants submit a “cover letter,” including even the standard formal correspondence elements of an address and opening salutation. Writing cover letters will undoubtedly be a large part of students’ career development efforts at Sloan, after all, so why not start now? Candidates must also submit a one-minute self-introduction video in which they are expected to convey their personality and basically “be themselves.” Some MBA programs use video essays to evaluate candidates’ communication skills, grace under pressure, and potential to contribute to classroom discussions, and even though Sloan’s admissions committee will likely be able to glean hints about these qualities through its video, its primary purpose appears to be to reveal who the school’s applicants are as living, breathing people , rather than one-dimensional aggregates of words and numbers in a folder. As we have noted in the past, while somewhat unorthodox, the school’s “essays” allow applicants to deliver a balanced view of their professional and personal profiles, with a good amount of leeway for creativity. Read on for our full analysis of MIT Sloan’s application prompts for 2023–2024. 

MIT Sloan 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Cover Letter: MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative—true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the mit sloan mba program. your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the admissions committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation)..

To start, we strongly advise that you avoid beginning your letter with a rote opening like “My name is , and I am seeking a place in the MIT Sloan Class of 2026.” Your admissions reader will likely be asleep before they even finish the sentence! Such information is obvious—we can assure you that the admissions reader is well aware of your desire to be admitted to the MIT Sloan program—and is therefore a waste of precious word count, not to mention that it is hardly the kind of gripping opening that will grab and hold someone’s attention.

The broad scope of this essay prompt allows you a great amount of freedom to choose and share the information you believe is most important for your candidacy. The 300-word maximum is equal to roughly three short paragraphs. Including specific examples of impact and leadership that clearly illustrate that you possess the qualities discussed in the prompt is crucial (we would encourage you to share at least two). Informal guidance provided by MIT Sloan’s admissions committee after the initial release of this essay question in 2017 indicated that applicants should focus on sharing their personal experiences, accomplishments, values, viewpoints, and/or skills to demonstrate (1) what they can contribute to the school’s greater community as a result and (2) why Sloan’s MBA program in particular is the best one for them. The school does not ask you to outline your post-MBA goals, but if doing so allows you to better substantiate your need or desire for a Sloan MBA specifically, a (very) brief explanation of your aspirations could be appropriate and useful.

After discussing your accomplishments—being careful not to brag!—along with any other elements of your profile that you feel make you a strong candidate for the MIT Sloan MBA program, strive to relate these achievements and qualities to the school’s offerings and community. Citing specific courses, experiential opportunities, or other relevant resources can help you make a compelling case for your spot in the next incoming class. For a thorough exploration of the MIT Sloan academic program, unique offerings, social life, and other key characteristics, be sure to download a free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the MIT Sloan School of Management .

VIDEO: Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you! Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

– no more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length, – single take (no editing), – speaking directly to the camera, – do not include background music or subtitles.

Before you do anything else, stop and take a deep, cleansing breath. We know video essays can be scary, but MIT Sloan is not trying to stress you out. The admissions committee just wants a more dynamic representation of your personality than a written essay can provide, so your primary goal is simply to be as authentic and natural as possible. This is not a job interview, and you are instructed to consider your fellow students your intended audience, which certainly implies that a less rigid and traditionally “professional” demeanor is okay, though you should obviously never be inappropriate or offensive. Do not concern yourself with trying to say the “right” things in your video. The topic here is one you know very well—you! A good brainstorming tactic is to imagine meeting someone for the first time at a party or other event and to think about the kinds of questions you might ask one another in the process of getting acquainted. What kind of information would you want to know about this person, and what facts about yourself would you be most eager to share, as a way of conveying who you are and making a connection? (You can even Google “icebreaker questions” to find examples of these sorts of questions.) Take some time to delve into your personality in this way.

The admissions committee’s enthusiasm comes through very clearly in this prompt, and we encourage you to make sure your own enthusiasm comes through just as clearly in your video. In a video on Sloan’s YouTube channel, Sloan’s associate director of admissions noted that this submission is “one of [their] favorite components in the application,” and we are pretty confident that is not because these videos tend to be stiff, boring recitations of applicants’ resumes and cloying compliments of the school. Spend some time really delving into what makes you you , what you are proud of, what you get excited about, what you like about yourself and feel you can offer to those around you—all the elements that make you the individual you are today. This is the content that will breathe life into your application. For further inspiration, consider asking your family members and friends how they would describe you to someone who had never met you and what they believe are your standout qualities, abilities, and/or accomplishments. Such outside perspectives can be inspiring and can alert you to compelling points you might have otherwise disregarded or forgotten. 

Even though in the scenario the school presents, you are supposed to be addressing your fellow students, your  actual  audience will be the admissions committee, so keep in mind what they will already have learned about you from your cover letter essay and other portions of your application. If you have a particularly significant story or relevant aspect of your candidacy that you have not been able to convey elsewhere in your materials, this could be a great opportunity to share it (though this would not be the time or place to explain any problematic issues). Also, avoid pandering to the school or expressing your generic admiration for the program. You have only one minute in which to make an impression, and even without knowing you personally, we are confident that you have more to your character than can be conveyed in a mere 60 seconds—so do not waste any of them!

Given that this is a video, you will want to pay some extra attention to the clothing you will wear, your tone of voice, your language style, and other such details. In the end, your message is what is most important, so no fancy bells or whistles are needed, but if you are a more creative type, you might consider ways of nonverbally communicating some of your strongest attributes and key aspects of your life to help permeate your submission with as much information as possible. For example, if you are an avid cook, consider filming your video while standing in a kitchen, perhaps wearing an apron (if you typically do so) and surrounded by the ingredients and tools you need to create one of your favorite recipes. If you are a dedicated guitar player, perhaps hold your guitar as you speak. If you are especially confident, you could even sing about yourself! In short, think about what makes you who you are today, decide what you most want to share with your future classmates, and then let your creativity flow.

On a practical note, be sure to speak clearly. You naturally do not want any part of your message to be lost or misunderstood, and the admissions committee could view your communication skills and style as indicators of how you might interact with your classmates and/or speak in the classroom. Although we recommend spending some time practicing in front of a mirror or a friend, do not over-rehearse, and avoid simply reading from a prepared script. You want to come across as genuine as possible so the admissions committee can “meet” the real you.

Optional Short Answer Question: How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background. (250 words)

This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. this is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the admissions committee, should you choose to do so..

Although the Sloan admissions committee is very explicit in spelling out that this indeed is an optional portion of the application and that candidates will not gain (or lose) in any way if they choose to respond to this prompt (or not), we have little doubt that quite a few applicants will panic at the thought of not submitting something. Believe us when we say that you can trust the admissions committee and be confident that the school is not trying to trick or test you in any way. (If this were a test of any kind—and again, it is not —it would be of your ability to assess and respond to such opportunities appropriately, meaning knowing when to provide more information and when to leave well enough alone.) The obvious truth is that everyone is shaped by their background, but not everyone will have a worthwhile story to share for this mini essay. If you do, the admissions committee simply wants to leave the door open for you to do so. But do not force the issue.

If an aspect of your background has pushed you to develop a certain appreciation, value, or skill that is not otherwise conveyed in your application but is central to who you are and how you conduct yourself in the world, that might be worth discussing here. If you have something in your character that is perhaps more lighthearted but stems from an aspect of your upbringing or environment and would help demonstrate that you are a multifaceted individual who can add an interesting new element to the next incoming class, that, too, could be a fitting topic for this mini essay. The bottom line is to ensure that if you choose to respond to this prompt, you offer the admissions committee something that is truly additive to your profile and will help them better understand who you are and what you have to offer for the Sloan community and perhaps even the broader world post-MBA.

Reapplicants: We strongly encourage you to submit new application materials and emphasize what has changed since you last applied. Re-applicants may submit their applications in any round, and will have an opportunity to highlight changes since their previous application in a short-answer question.

Whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or taken on some sort of personal challenge, the key to success this time around is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. MIT Sloan wants to know that you have been continuing to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the time since you last applied to do so, because earning an MIT Sloan MBA is important to you. Make sure the admissions committee is fully aware of any significant work you have done and progress you have made since your previous application.

The Next Step: Mastering Your MIT Sloan Interview

  Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free Interview Guides to spur you along! Download your  free  copy of the  MIT Sloan School of Management Interview Guide  today.

Candidates who are fortunate enough to be invited to interview at MIT Sloan (congratulations!) must respond to two additional essay questions.

Required Question #1 The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and generate ideas that advance management practice. We believe that a commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and well-being is a key component of both principled leadership and sound management practice. In 250 words or less, please describe a time when you contributed toward making a work environment or organization more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse.

The key with this submission is showing initiative and input on behalf of others and making sure your actions and motivations are readily understood. In business school—as in life in general—you will encounter people who think differently from you, operate according to different values, and react differently to the same stimuli. And success in an endeavor often involves evaluating and even incorporating the views of others. With this pre-interview essay, MIT Sloan is hoping to learn how you view and respond to such differences, using the principle that past behavior is a fairly reliable predictor of future behavior. In the MIT Sloan MBA program, you will be surrounded every day by people who are unlike you in a multitude of ways, and you will need to work in tandem with and alongside these individuals when analyzing case studies, completing group projects, and taking part in other activities both inside and outside the classroom. Note, however, that the essay prompt is not about simply participating in a diverse and inclusive culture but actually helping to cultivate one. The admissions committee wants to know that you are comfortable within such a dynamic, of course, but seems especially interested in hearing about a time when you stepped up to actively bring various people together in a harmonious and productive way. 

MIT Sloan does not specify that you must have led the effort you are describing, though an example in which you have played a leadership role would be ideal if you have one. What you do have to do, in any case, is be sure that both the extent and the nature of your particular contribution to the project or event is front and center. The school expressly stipulates that the incident you share involve “a work environment or organization,” so your selected story should not be about a time you did something of this nature completely independently. Perhaps, for example, you organized (or helped organize) a welcome-our-new-hires potluck for your department after a number of new employees joined the team. Or maybe you instituted (or participated significantly in) a mentorship program at your company, in which employees with different tasks and personal backgrounds were matched to learn from and support one another. Whatever your story, we recommend using a narrative approach to present it, while also conveying the thought process and motivation(s) behind your actions. This way, the admissions committee will take away both a clear picture of what you accomplished and the aspects of your character that inspired you and enabled your success.

Required Question #2 We are interested in learning more about how you make data-driven decisions and communicate results. Please select one of the following prompts to respond to:

  • Please select an existing data visualization and in 250 words or less explain why it matters to you. The data visualization should be uploaded as a PDF. Examples may come from current events, a business analysis, or personal research (e.g. climate change, COVID maps, etc.).
  • In 250 words or less, please describe a recent data-driven decision you had to make, and include one slide presenting your analysis. The slide may include a data visualization example and should present data used in a professional context. Your slide must be uploaded as a PDF.

The important thing to understand here is that with these prompts, MIT Sloan is testing not your ability to present data but rather your ability to use data to make decisions and to explain the data in a way that is understandable to the non-quantitatively minded. To craft an effective response, you need to create a data visualization that is clean, clear, and easy to digest. The admissions committee wants evidence that you can communicate complex ideas in simple ways—or even simple ideas in compelling ways.

We suggest you start by identifying a difficult problem you recently solved or considered at length. What were the factors involved in helping you reach your final solution or conclusion? Some were undoubtedly qualitative (what your instincts told you with respect to the situation), but many, if not most, were based on the facts, numbers, and other data involved. How was your decision-making process driven by these numbers or data? And which numbers and data? Once you have determined the answers to these questions, you will have the foundation for your submission. Your next challenge is determining the best way of presenting the data so that anyone can understand it, and this part is key. If you opt for an overly complicated or sophisticated visualization, perhaps thinking you might impress the admissions committee with your advanced analytic capabilities, you will end up with a slide that is opaque and confusing—and that will not likely bring you the response you want. Instead, imagine that you were drawing a diagram for a ten-year-old (or at least someone with absolutely no knowledge of your area of expertise) to understand; what would it look like? A regression scatter plot? Probably not. Two bar charts? That sounds about right.

Similarly, crafting and presenting your chosen situation using a narrative format will make your essay both more compelling and more accessible. Consider starting with the 250-word essay, and strive to clearly describe the problem you addressed, the factors you considered in reaching your ultimate solution/resolution, and why these factors were central to your decision(s). Then, create a diagram that uses data points to illustrate how you came to that conclusion. Remember, the enemy here is being overly sophisticated in your diagram. Presenting a straightforward argument supported by a clean, accessible diagram is your goal.

To learn more about the essays for other top business schools, visit our MBA Essay Tips and Examples Resources Page .

2023-2024 Business School Essays Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) MBA Essay Tips

Tags: cover letter MBA application essays MIT Sloan pre-interview essay reapplicants video essay

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MIT Sloan Cover Letter Advice: Maximizing 300 Words

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If you’re working towards submitting a Round 2 application to MIT Sloan’s MBA Program, you’ve likely given thought to what you want to express in the required 300-word Cover Letter (or, ideally, have already started working on it). Perhaps the trickiest thing about this unique application component is the word limit, which is incredibly short and forces you to have a laser focus on the elements of your personality / experience that demonstrate your fit with Sloan’s culture. 

For reference, here is the prompt they provide:

“MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).”

Pay close attention to the language of this prompt because it helpfully describes the qualities Sloan seeks in a successful applicant. Many of these are similar to those sought by all of the top MBA programs – intellectual strength, track record of accomplishments, and ability to bring dimension to the cohort. However, the critical things to note here are those that make Sloan different – its orientation towards an independent mindset and creative problem-solving. They don’t just want someone who ‘got the job done’, they want the person who redefined the problem and came up with a solution no one had thought of before. 

With only 300 words at your disposal, you simply don’t have space to separately demonstrate you possess each of the more basic traits. For these, utilize the other components of the application – your GMAT/GPA can help prove your intellect, your resume showcases your history of accomplishments, and your video essay should highlight what makes you unique. In the cover letter, make a solid case – supported by one or maybe two stories – that you are an innovative thinker who isn’t afraid of rocking the boat to enable progress. The ideal story to use is career-focused (given the tone of the prompt), fairly recent, and has a connecting thread with how you will contribute at Sloan if admitted.

That said, you do need to use this vehicle to provide a higher-level ‘pitch’ of yourself to the adcom. A structure I’ve seen be consistently successful is one that is three paragraphs, maybe four. In the first paragraph, without simply restating your resume, you can lay out the differentiating or notable experience you bring to the table. In the second paragraph (or perhaps two paragraphs if needed), dive into a story that supports this ‘brand’ and hits on the Sloan-specific qualities mentioned above. In the last paragraph, drive the argument home by asserting why these qualities will make you an asset to the Sloan community.  

To demonstrate this structure in practice, here is an example from a past client (privatized, of course):

“Dear Mr. Garcia,

Through my role at [consulting firm], and my experience driving positive change in my community first as a student mentor and now as a founder of a [mentoring program], I know that I will be able to make a significant contribution to Sloan. This is rooted in my experiences learning to manage increasingly larger teams, leading projects in eight countries and enhancing both the product offerings of my company and traditional mentoring frameworks.

As a self-described quantitative person who went from a trading career out of college to working in consulting and rising to manage my firm’s [industry-focused] practice, I’ve had the opportunity to learn not only how to leverage data to drive business strategy but also how to manage and collaborate with people with different backgrounds. For example, after seeing a need to extend our product offering to include capabilities in emerging technologies, I proactively led a three-person team to create a research product that provided clients with capability maturity assessments in three areas: digital, data analytics, and cloud. To action this, I worked with [firm] experts and our existing clients to build a framework, scope and go-to-market strategy for the new products. To date, we have delivered research to over 30 clients, supported four […] cases with data and hosted two roundtables that brought together heads of technology from over 20 firms to discuss the findings.

I am confident that the breadth of my experience will allow me to succeed at Sloan while also bringing a unique perspective to the school. The opportunity to be involved in innovation periods and the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Track will provide the skills needed to transition into a bank’s innovation team and ultimately create a FinTech firm.

Respectfully,

[name redacted]”

We hope that these tips help you get your Sloan application across the finish line!

The post MIT Sloan Cover Letter Advice: Maximizing 300 Words appeared first on Vantage Point MBA .

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MIT Sloan: MBA Application Essays

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We are back with our List of Top B-school essay questions and prompts! Today, we will specifically discuss the MIT Sloan Application Essays for the 2022-23 admission cycle. Additionally, MIT is a well-renowned B-school that aims to create a vibrant learning environment, rich in diverse ideas and life experiences, for aspiring MBA candidates. That’s why MIT again encourages applicants from all areas of study, including non-conventional backgrounds like humanities and the social/physical sciences, in addition to traditional experiences like business and engineering. In addition, the B-school is searching for curious, passionate candidates with good analytical skills who will enhance the collaborative community at MIT. 

So, What’s your story? What experiences and decisions have shaped who you are today? To understand this better, MIT once again has its unique application process to evaluate all the relevant aspects of a candidate’s profile through their B-school essays. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get moving!

Above all, let us first take a glance at all the relevant dates regarding different rolling application rounds!

MIT SLOAN: APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR AUGUST 2023 ENTRY

  **3:00 p.m. EST must receive all applications on the deadline.**

Great! Now that we are well-versed with all the important dates, let’s get started on the application essays!

MIT SLOAN: COVER LETTER 

Rather than a traditional essay, MIT seeks a cover letter from their students whose individual characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of all the incredible opportunities available at MIT, both academic and non-academic. The School looks out for aspiring candidates whose presence will enhance the experience of other students hailing from diverse backgrounds.

Moreover, the School seeks thoughtful leaders with stellar leadership examples , exceptional intellectual abilities, drive & determination to put their mark on this dynamic business world.

Suggested Reading

How to build your MBA Application 101?

How to Frame Practical MBA Goals Essays

How to bring collinearity to your post-MBA goals?

What MIT Sloan Seeks in MBA Candidates

MIT welcomes people who are ‘independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative’ — true doers. The renowned B-school, moreover, again seeks candidates who can redefine solutions to conventional world problems and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. The School also demands integrity, respect, and unmatched passion for working toward your post-MBA goals.

Considering the above, every aspiring candidate must submit a cover letter seeking a place in the esteemed MIT Sloan MBA program!

We follow a unique framework to help applicants dig deep into their work experience, leadership potential, strengths, weaknesses, etc., and structure the stories in a way that can bring the most impact.

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Moreover, your letter should conform to standard business correspondence by including one or more professional examples that could illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

Besides the cover letter, there’s an optional 250-word short answer question for expanding on your background.

Optional Short Answer Question – How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? 

For example, your family, culture, and community all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

Although MIT mentions the question as truly optional, applicants won’t be evaluated more positively or negatively based on whether they choose to respond to the prompt or not. However, we think this is a great opportunity for candidates. It allows them to share more about their driving force, inspiration, determination, and how their decisions throughout their journey shaped their career. Additionally, be honest! Don’t overstate or exaggerate. Your world need not be perfect; instead, focus on your journey and the different routes you took to make it all worthwhile in front of the Admissions Committee.

MIT SLOAN: APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

A complete application for 2023 entry consists of the following:

  • Cover Letter
  • One-page Resume
  • 1-minute Video Statement
  • One Letter of Recommendation
  • Additional References – *contact information for two additional professional references.*
  • Organizational Chart
  • Transcripts
  • Test Scores- *You can request a test waiver once the application is open. For more information about GMAT Waivers, you could refer to our article on- GMAT Waivers 2023  
  • Relevant Coursework & Professional Certifications
  • Optional Short Answer Question.

That’s all about the MIT essay & application requirements! We hope this has helped you. However, if you are looking for a bit of more personal and precise advice, feel free to hop on a 1:1 profile evaluation call with our experts, where we’ll dive deep into your profile and help you understand your chances to top B-schools with absolutely honest feedback.

To understand how our process helps aspiring MBA candidates see a glimpse of how our Profile evaluations and consulting assistance works! 

For more on B-School essays, you can check the links for our articles below!

Suggested Reading 

  • MIT Sloan Essays
  • Wharton MBA Essays
  • HBS MBA Essays

At MBA and Beyond, once again, we are determined to help you develop a unique structure for each essay question, providing step-by-step procedures to build a specific answer that would help you stand out among the crowd. Moreover, we are a team of expert consultants who follow a unique process to achieve maximum efficiency, quality, and interaction, ensuring a 100% unique and authentic application!

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2023-2024 MBA Admissions: MIT Sloan Essays

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, and behavioral essays etc. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for MIT Sloan. 

Organizational Chart

  • Our goal is to learn about you and your professional background. Your employer’s organizational chart will help us better understand the role you play within your organization, who you report to, and the impact you might have on your department or company.

Some important details:

-Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.

-Please circle your role in red so that your position is easily identifiable.

-Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.

-If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.

-If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our  FAQs  for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

-Please upload an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your place of employment. Limit to two pages.

Click here to view a sample organizational chart.

Behavioral Essay (Cover Letter)

  • MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and can be addressed to:

Admissions Committee 50 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142

Your cover letter should be 300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation. If you have any additional questions, please visit our FAQ page.

Upload a Word or PDF document.

Personal (Video) Essay

  • Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

-No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length

-Single take (no editing)

-Speaking directly to the camera

-Do not include background music or subtitles

Note: While we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared beyond the admissions committee and is for use in the application process only.

Optional Essay

  • We’d like to give you the opportunity to expand on your background. This question is completely optional.

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

Please do not include any links in your response. (250 words or fewer)

Reapplicant Essay

  • Please let us know what’s changed since you last applied. (200 words)

Looking for Last-Minute Essay Help?

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Did you know that Menlo Coaching can help you with your MBA essays on an hourly basis?

Our five-hour package starts at $2,500, and you can work with our MBA admissions consultants on anything you like, including:

✓ Essay and Resume Edits

✓ Recommender Support

✓ Application Form Reviews

✓ Interview Preparation

MIT Sloan Organizational Chart

Another of Sloan’s unusual admissions requirements is its organizational chart. From this chart, the AdCom wants to understand visually what your current role is in your organization or company, as well as where you sit in the hierarchy and chain of command. The admissions committee also wants to understand the role and position of your recommenders, so it’s important to be detailed, thorough, and accurate in your organizational chart.

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The Behavioral Essay

To make it simple: the behavioral essay is meant to show MIT Sloan that you have developed some sort of leadership skills, what your values are as a leader, and how you are going to most benefit from their development programs. 

The admissions committee is looking for applicants that are self-reflective. Whether it’s through a setback you’ve experienced, or how you dealt with situations that have gone awry, the school is looking for students who are resilient and able to learn from their mistakes. 

Do not overexaggerate (or underexaggerate!) the situations you decide to write about. Be honest about what happened; MIT Sloan is looking for genuine people to join their campus community, and they are less likely to admit an applicant who has overinflated their prior experiences.

Last but not least, make sure to describe what you learned and how you implemented this in a subsequent situation. This is an expected element of the behavioral essay, even if it’s not directly written in the prompt. The Admissions Team is looking for MBA essays that show you are a considerate leader who will make the best of their time in the program. The school “demand[s] integrity and respect[s] passion.” Prompts that deal with these topics can be daunting, especially when they require you to write about a weakness you have or a failure you’ve experienced. 

The Personal Essay

Like we touched on earlier, schools are looking for the right fit for their campus community, just as you are searching for the school that aligns best with your goals. In the personal essay, this is your chance to show MIT Sloan the values that drive you both as a person and as a student. These values tell the admissions council what you prioritize, the moral code you live by, and, most importantly, who you are as a person. 

In these essays, you can talk about almost anything; typically, applicants will write about relationships in their lives, or times when there was a hardship they had to overcome. Be warned, though: there are some topics to avoid, and we have outlined a few things to watch out for  in this article . 

When it comes to  video essays specifically, we have some advice:

  • Practice—but don’t memorize:  it’s always clear if someone has memorized what they intend to say in a video essay verbatim, and this can make your content seem staged and inauthentic. If you find that you’re repeating the same speech over and over again, change the first sentence. You’ll be surprised at how this will throw you off!
  • Make sure that your setting is appropriate:  you want to make sure that your lighting is good and that there are no empty tequila bottles in the background.
  • Speak slowly and clearly:  clear diction can make a big difference when it comes to reviewing your video essay.

Once you’ve completed your application, Sloan’s optional essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

For reapplicants, Sloan requires a specific essay in which you can address how your application has improved since your last application.

In this essay, you can address any improvements to your test scores, promotions at work, additional volunteer or community work, or any significant professional development that you have undertaken since you last applied to the program.

Timing is key for reapplicants, and when you’re applying for an MBA program a second time around, you want to be sure that you are a more qualified and desirable client than you were in the past—even if your application was stellar the first time.

Writing strong, coherent, genuine stories is an essential part of your MBA application. These essays are meant to help you stand out among many other applicants, so it is worth your time to do the work and write about situations unique to your life and that you truly learned from.

Elevate your Sloan MBA application with strategic MBA coaching and insider insights from experienced consultants.

Related Articles

  • MIT Sloan MBA Program Overview
  • How to Get Into MIT Sloan School of Management
  • The MIT Sloan Interview: Questions + Preparation Strategies
  • MBA Essay Tips From 3 Top Admissions Consultants
  • How to Get Into MBA Programs at Top Business Schools

Tips for Your MIT Sloan Application Essays

July 15, 2023

Lisa Cummings

MIT Sloan Application Essay Tips, 2023–2024 

MIT Sloan wants you to make your pitch for admission in a somewhat unique application essay format: a business cover letter. Although the information the admissions committee wants is not that different from what most programs seek, the presentation might be a bit daunting for some candidates. Sloan also asks for a short video introduction, which is probably also intimidating. So, how do you craft winning application essays for MIT Sloan? Here are our tips. 

Free : Download Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into MIT Sloan School of Management

Cover letter: mit sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at mit, both academic and non-academic. we are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. we seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. we welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. we want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. we demand integrity and respect passion., taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the mit sloan mba program. your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the admissions committee (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation)..

Sloan’s “cover letter” essay bedevils many an applicant because it is so unconventional, relative to other schools’ more traditional essays. Just keep it simple! Whether framed as a letter or an essay, the spirit is the same: you need to write 300 words that convey your identity as an applicant and can distinguish you from thousands of others. In this case, Sloan’s very lengthy prompt lists the types of people the program seeks: “thoughtful leaders,” “true doers,” “people who can redefine solutions,” and so on. Odds are, with so much breadth in these characteristics, you have an anecdote that demonstrates that you, too, exemplify some of them. So, while “conform[ing] to a standard business correspondence,” quickly introduce an example of how you have exhibited one or more of the qualities the prompt highlights. At the end of your example story, relate the experience and traits not to your goals (the school regards your goals as too hypothetical to matter) but to MIT Sloan itself. Using approximately 75−100 words, discuss your fit with MIT Sloan and your need to experience or learn from specific aspects of its program. Three hundred words is a tight fit; in some ways, it might be harder to write this essay than one with a much larger or even unlimited word count (such as Harvard Business School’s). Still, the brevity of this essay allows the thoughtful ones to really “pop.” 

Video: Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here’s your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:, – no more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length – single take (no editing) – speaking directly to the camera – do not include background music or subtitles, note: while we ask you to introduce yourself to your future classmates in this video, the video will not be shared and is for use in the application process only..

Sixty seconds! One take! This is another daunting prompt that requires a step back. MIT Sloan will not be viewing your video for Academy Award consideration; the admissions committee just wants to get to know you better as a person and gain some insight into what makes you tick. The prompt specifically requests that you “let your personality shine through,” so before you start worrying about the medium, ask yourself what you would tell others about yourself if you were asked to introduce yourself. This is not a place to reiterate your resume or highlight your work accomplishments. Think about experiences and examples that represent who you are today. What are some bits of information that will help you express who you are and where your values lie? 

The admissions committee does not want any background music or subtitles, so be thoughtful about your backdrop and scenery; a setting that is too busy and crammed with props could distract from you and your story. However, a clear and subtle background could be additive. For example, if your future lies in sustainable agriculture, consider shooting your video from a quiet farm or the produce section of a local (not noisy!) market. Remember that you are applying to business school, not film school. Context might help convey your story, but the story itself is what counts! Be yourself.

Optional Short Answer Question: Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250 word short answer question: How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. this is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the admissions committee, should you choose to do so..

Sloan has an optional short-answer question with a limit of 250 words. The committee indicates that this is truly optional; there is no need to feel obligated to answer this prompt. However, if there is some aspect of your family, culture, and/or community that has had a meaningful impact on you, this is your opportunity to delve into it to give the committee more insight into who you are as a person. There is no right or wrong answer or focus. Be honest. Do not feel pressured to write something here unless it will be additive.

Reapplicants: For applicants who applied for entry in a previous year, we require that you complete and submit a new and complete application. We strongly encourage you to submit new application materials and emphasize what has changed since you last applied. Reapplicants may submit their applications in any round, and will have an opportunity to highlight changes since their previous application in a short-answer question. 

In your new essays, be sure to clarify and highlight how you have grown and strengthened your candidacy since you last applied. Ideally, you have improved on some aspect(s) of your profile—whether that is a higher test score, more work experience, a promotion, or something similar. Be sure to note what it is about the school that has motivated you to apply again, and present the specific and sincere reasons you value an MBA from MIT Sloan.

While not an essay, the org chart is required and gives many applicants pause.

To help us better understand your current role and the impact that you have on your team and department, please submit an organizational chart. We should be able to clearly understand the internal structure of your organization, where you sit in your organization, and your line of reporting.

Organizational charts should not be more than two pages and keep the following in mind:

  • Give us as much detail as possible (names, titles, etc.) but it’s ok to redact names if you need to.
  • Please circle your role in red so that your position is easily identifiable
  • Make sure we can easily identify where you are, to whom you report, and if applicable, who reports to you.
  • If your recommender or references are on your organizational chart (they may not be, and that’s ok!), please highlight them for us.
  • If you are a consultant, entrepreneur, or affiliated with the military review our  FAQs  for suggestions on how to approach the organizational chart.

Through your chart, MIT wants to see where you sit in your organization overall and in relation to your recommenders.  Additionally, they want to see whether you have any direct or indirect reports.  Don’t read too much into this.

In  Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into MIT Sloan School of Management , you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings such as the Sloan Innovation Period, Action Learning Labs, the MIT 100K Competition, and the Sloan Sustainability Initiative. Download our brand-new guide to learn more about MIT Sloan!

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Homepage > MBA Admissions > Business Schools > MIT Sloan MBA Essays 2022-2023: Analysis and Tips from an MIT Fellow

MIT Sloan MBA Essays 2022-2023: Analysis and Tips from an MIT Fellow

Posted by Suheb Hussain | Jan 24, 2023 | Business Schools , GMAT Focus Edition , MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

MIT Sloan MBA Essays 2022-2023: Analysis and Tips from an MIT Fellow

The MBA application for MIT Sloan School of Management is quite different from other business schools. The application does not have an MBA essay per se, but has an extensive application with the following requirements:

  • Cover Letter (300 words or fewer)
  • Resume (one page)
  • Video Statement (1 minute)
  • Letter of Recommendation (one)
  • Additional References (two)
  • Organizational Chart
  • Optional 250-word short answer question

In this article, Prashant Tibrewal from Admitsquare, who has mentored 1,000+ students get into their dream business schools and who is currently enrolled at MIT Sloan himself, shares his expert tips on the MIT Sloan MBA essay and other application components.

MIT Sloan MBA essays analysis and tips

As you start working on your MIT Sloan MBA application, ask yourself if you are cut out for MIT . Securing an admit to one of the M7 business schools is not just about a high GMAT score or a unique profile or a strong application.

While all of these are just “prerequisites”, what remains the most important is a strong personality match – between the applicant and the school. You should, therefore, spend as much time understanding your dream schools, as you would, working on your application.

What makes MIT so unique and desirable to applicants?

Getting a seat at MIT Sloan does not just give you access to the business school, but also to the larger MIT university, which is among the most future-focused education ecosystems one can dream of as a student.

MIT Sloan

Not surprising, therefore, that an MIT team comprising of students from aeronautics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and business management beat out teams from 115 other universities and 20 countries to earn the Best Overall Design Award at the SpaceX Hyperloop competition.

MIT Sloan offers an exciting range of master’s programs, designed for a wide range of students and career outcomes. It may be wise, therefore, to research well and apply to the program that you would benefit the most from:

  • Sloan Fellows MBA (1-year)
  • Leaders in Global Operations (LGO)
  • Master of Finance
  • Master of Business Analytics
Do you aspire to get into the MIT Sloan MBA Program? A 740+ GMAT score can significantly improve your chances of admission. Kickstart your GMAT preparation by  Signing up for our Free Trial ! For any queries, write to us at  [email protected] . We are the  most reviewed GMAT prep company on gmatclub with more than 2500 reviews.

MIT Sloan MBA Application Deadlines

Take a look at this article to know the MBA application deadlines of other business schools.

MIT Sloan MBA Essays and Application Requirements

While getting an admit at MIT Sloan can be difficult, applying to the program doesn’t come easy either. The MIT Sloan MBA has an extensive application with the following requirements:

MIT Sloan Cover Letter Analysis and Sample Essay Structure

MIT SLoan MBA application cover letter

“MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion.”

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia, and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).

The MIT admissions team, including Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson, has been the most consistent admissions team among the top business schools, ensuring the highest quality of student recruitment over the years.

The team, having retained the Cover Letter requirement for the fifth year now, clearly loves the format and how it has helped assess applicants. An open-ended question such as this comes with a high risk of submitting an essay that may not be aligned with the expectations of the admissions team.

Why such a short (300 word) cover letter, in contrast to other schools that allow much more space and scope to present yourself?

Well, for an MIT applicant with rich professional experience, applying to a business school is pretty similar to applying for a job. This is your opportunity to convince the team why they should consider your application over thousands of other well-qualified applicants.

Candidates often end up presenting a verbose, high level, broad-based career summary, which is exactly what the adcom doesn’t want to read. With access to your resume, one can pretty much trace your career path and gain a broad level of understanding.

The MIT Cover Letter lays down focused guidelines and seeks to understand specific aspects of your personal and/or professional life. “We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers.”

While the school encourages these qualities among its students, to be able to establish through your cover letter that you have already demonstrated these qualities, will be the key to a strong cover letter.

Further, understanding the MIT Style of Leadership or the Problem-led Leadership will be an interesting exercise to help you develop a stronger application. The question specifically asks to substantiate your claim with example(s).

As you recollect your best achievements and think of the examples to present in the cover letter, do not forget that it is a 300-word essay.

You do not want to touch upon too many things and spread yourself too thin. Ask yourself what key qualities you would want to establish through the cover letter and find the best example that demonstrates the quality.

If space permits, back it with another short example. While it goes without saying that you use the STAR format, but go deep with “how” you did what you did. Talk about the extrinsic as well as the intrinsic motivations behind your actions.

And while you do all this, do not lose track of the primary purpose behind writing this cover letter – “to seek a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program”.

A good part of your essay should touch upon why you are seeking a place in the program (your short term and long term career plans) and how the MIT MBA will equip you to achieve your plans. How well you know yourself and how well you know the school is both critical to presenting a strong match.

MIT Sloan Resume Format

The resume you submit to a business school holds extremely high significance, given that it helps the adcom get a detailed perspective about your professional experience and is often the only document that the interviewer has access to (once you receive an interview invite).

Not all business schools prescribe a resume format, but MIT Sloan does. In addition to suggesting the order of the different components of the resume, you are specifically asked to redact your personal information. Further, the following are the instructions to be followed.

Please submit a one-page resume that includes the following information and formatting:

  • One page limit
  • Times New Roman font
  • Size 10 font
  • Word or PDF formats only
  • Redact (remove or blackout) your name, address, and contact information

 For formatting purposes, please list the information in the following order in reverse chronological order:

  • Education – please feel free to include relevant awards, scholarships, and professional societies.
  • Company name
  • Results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skillset, and
  • Additional information – languages, extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests (if appropriate).

MIT Sloan MBA application video statement

MIT Sloan MBA essays video prompt

Applicants are required to upload a 1-minute video as part of their application. In your video, you should introduce yourself to your future classmates, tell us about your past experiences, and touch on why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your degree.

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No more than 1 minute in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • You should be speaking directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles

When most other schools are using the Kira video format where you must answer the video questions live, MIT allows you enough time to plan and record your video.

Is this supposed to be your Elevator Pitch? Probably yes, albeit a more personal one. Having presented most of your information through your resume and the cover letter, this should be your space to “connect” with your future classmates as well as the admissions committee.

You may talk about your personal background, unique life experiences, interests, and passions, and how specific opportunities at MIT connect with your plans and interest areas.

Sloan doesn’t want you to hire a video expert – an unedited video makes it a level playing field for all applicants.

While the video will allow the admissions committee to see you and hear you, it is your passion and your story that will invite them to feel your presence and personality. Prepare a story that is authentic, exciting, and enchanting. Above all, sound fluent, but not rehearsed!

The following article discusses the analysis and tips related to MIT Sloan video statement in detail. Have a look! 4 tips to ace MIT Sloan video statement . You can also refer to the following article for insights on how to make an impressive MBA application video essay: Make an impactful MBA Application Video Essay .

MIT Sloan Letter of Recommendation and Additional References

Several schools are now moving to a single recommendation, thus making the application less demanding for the candidate.

While the MIT LOR format isn’t very different, what’s unique is the requirement for two Additional References. These references do not need to submit any document upfront, but they may be called if required.

Choose your references like you would choose your recommenders – people you have worked closely with, who may be in a good position to talk about your strengths with specific instances.

Most of our candidates did not report their references being called, but you may want to pick the best possible options, nevertheless.

MIT Sloan MBA application – Organizational Chart

Please upload an organizational chart that outlines the internal structure of your department and company. Limit to two pages.

Note: You may choose to create your own document or redact individuals’ names. However, please provide as much information as possible.

We should be able to see your line of reporting to the top of your organization, and to easily find you, your peers, your supervisor, their peers, and your direct reports (should you have any), as well as any recommender or references from your current organization. For those in consulting, please submit an organizational chart of a current or previous project you were staffed on. 

This is again a unique requirement for the MIT Sloan application. This isn’t really a new addition to the application, which means that MIT has found it useful to evaluate the applicant’s relative position in the organizational hierarchy.

The key is to make it informational, with good details about your own position as well as those who may be in levels higher and lower than you.

MIT Sloan sample mba application

You may not need to invest a lot of time making the organizational chart super fancy, but a simple chart presenting the different levels should work pretty well. Refer to the sample organizational chart suggested by the school.

MIT Sloan MBA application- Optional 250-word short answer question

For the 2022-23 applications, the applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following  optional  250-word short-answer question:

“How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, and community, all help to shape aspects of your identity. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.”

According to the MIT website , This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. This is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the Admissions Committee, should you choose to do so.

Suggested Reading: “Problem-led Leadership” – Are you cut out for the MIT Sloan MBA? Applying to Kellogg? Read our detailed Kellogg Essay Analysis

About the Author

Prashant_Tibrewal_US_News_Business_School_Rankings_2020_Analysis

Prashant Tibrewal is the founder of Admit Square Consulting and has mentored 1000+ MBA aspirants to get into top global universities such as Harvard, Stanford, INSEAD, Oxford, HEC, ISB, etc. Prashant has also served on the Board of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) and led the AIGAC Conference 2020, attended by admissions officers from 25+ top-ranked MBA programs.

Admit Square Consulting has mentored applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply to top MBA programs. With a proven track record of 10+ years, and admits to universities such as Stanford, MIT, Kellogg, Cambridge, INSEAD, etc., Admit Square was awarded the Most Successful International MBA Consulting Company in India at the India Education Awards, 2019. With a team of Consultants from top business schools such as MIT, Yale, LBS and Oxford, Admit Square offers 100% Money-back Assurance on its services. You may send your details to  [email protected]  for a free profile evaluation.

That was all about MIT Sloan MBA essays. Here are a few other that can help you with your MBA application essays:

  • 5 Different Types of MBA Essays Explained
  • MBA Application Process – Weightage of Different Components
  • 2020-2021 MBA Application Deadlines
Do you aspire to get into the MIT Sloan MBA Program? A 740+ GMAT score can significantly improve your chances of admission. Kickstart your GMAT preparation by  Signing up for our Free Trial ! For any queries, write to us at  [email protected] . We are the  most reviewed GMAT prep company on gmatclub with more than 1940 reviews.

About The Author

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An MBA applicant writing a cover letter

How To Write An MBA Cover Letter

Introduction.

One of the most daunting parts of the MBA application is writing an effective cover letter. An MBA cover letter is an important supporting document in your MBA application. Along with being a required component of your application, the cover letter for MBA programs provides valuable insight to admissions committees.

It is your opportunity to make your case as to why they should admit you to the program. The cover letter and your resume are often the first parts of your application to be read by the admissions committee, and a strong cover letter is key to making a great first impression. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to write a cover letter for MBA programs and outline the dos and don’ts for creating a top-notch MBA cover letter.

What is an MBA Cover Letter?

An MBA cover letter is a short letter — generally one page in length — that accompanies your MBA applications. This letter should provide a short summary of what you will bring to the MBA program in terms of your academic background, qualifications, and experiences.

The MBA cover letter should elaborate on some of the skills and experiences listed on your resume as opposed to simply repeating them. The MBA cover letter is also your chance to showcase your personality.

Resumes are very straightforward and fact-based, and don’t really show much personality. Your cover letter has much more space for writing and, therefore, can better display your writing style and thought processes, which can help admissions committee members gain some insights into your personality.

Purpose of the MBA Cover Letter

The purpose of the MBA cover letter is to give the admissions committee an idea of who you are. Similar to the cover letter you would write when applying for a job, the MBA cover letter is your opportunity to demonstrate why you would be a good fit based on your skills, goals, and personal traits. MIT Sloan recommends highlighting how you’ve made an impact in your recent professional roles when describing your professional experiences in your cover letter. However, you are limited in how much space you have to convey this information.

The exact word or page length of the cover letter will vary by school, so it’s crucial you check the cover letter requirements for each school before you start writing. Typically, you can expect your cover letter to be one page in length, and this limited space requires your writing to be concise.

The cover letter is also your chance to demonstrate your knowledge about the MBA program and the business school itself, which is also similar to what you would do if you were applying for a job. Showing what you have learned about the program and how it has informed your decision to apply will demonstrate to the admissions committee you have done your research and are serious about attending the school.

It can also be a helpful way to tie in how your skills, experiences, and characteristics suit the program’s mission and values, along with the types of candidates they are seeking.

Step-by-Step Guide on Writing a Cover Letter for MBA Programs

Step 1: format your letter..

Laying out the framework for your letter allows you to see how much space you’ll have to work with once you’ve included basic information. First, start by setting up your header. Your cover letter should have the same header and font as your resume.

You want them to look like a set and not like completely separate documents. If your resume header is aligned with the right-hand side of the page, your cover letter should mirror this. Your header should contain your full first and last name, your phone number, and your email address.

Business schools will have their own criteria for the font size and spacing for MBA cover letters. You can generally expect to write your letter using a 10 to 12 point font size and single spacing, but it is vital to check each business school you are applying to for their specific guidelines and make note of these requirements.

Step 2: Include the date your letter will be sent and the name of the recipient.

The first line following your header should be the date on which you will send your letter. This should be written out in full (April 14, 20XX) and not as a short form (04/14/XX nor Apr. 14, 20XX). Leave a space between this line and the next line, which will contain the name of the person to whom your letter is being sent.

Since your letter is going to an admissions committee and it would take up far too much space to include the name of every committee member, your letter should be addressed to the head of the admissions committee. Both the dateline and the address line should be aligned with the left-hand side of your page.

Classically, prefixes have been used when addressing your letter recipient, such as Mr., Ms., Mrs., or Dr. However, it is no longer easy to assume which of these prefixes — or one of many others — a person uses. It does not make for a good first impression to address the head of the admissions committee incorrectly, so it is best not to put a prefix in front of someone’s name unless you know with absolute certainty the specific prefix they use. Simply use their first and last name.

Step 3: Include a salutation.

The salutation is the greeting that signals the start of your letter. The most commonly used salutation by native English speakers is “dear”, but “greetings” is also a suitable choice. Following your salutation, you will put in the name of the person to whom your letter is addressed. This should be the same person indicated in the previous section. 

Step 4: Demonstrate the research you have done about the program.

The first paragraph of your cover letter should demonstrate the research you’ve done about the school’s MBA program. This will show the admissions committee you are a serious applicant because you have taken the time to learn about the program and its community.

You can refer to materials you’ve read, alumni you may have spoken to about the program, or a campus tour or class visit. While you demonstrate your research, you should also indicate how this research influenced your decision to apply to this particular program. This can include how your goals, current skills and areas for improvement, and career aspirations align with the program.

Step 5: Pitch yourself.

The second and third sections of your cover letter should discuss how your profile of skills, experiences, achievements, and leadership potential make you a good fit for the program. This can be done in either a narrative or bullet format. A narrative format is likely the way you have written cover letters in the past. In this format, you write in full sentences to tell the story of how you’ve gotten to where you are, where you want to go, and how the MBA program will help you get there.

With the bullet format, you'll still include an introduction and conclusion paragraph written in the narrative style. The middle section is where the bullet format differs from the narrative format. Instead of using full sentences to communicate information about your skills, you will use a list of bullet points. Each bullet point will speak to a specific skill you’ve used in the workplace.

Depending on your industry, this could range from developing financial strategies for your organization to crafting creative briefs for clients and anything in between. These bullet points will look similar to the structure of bullet points you may have used in your resume to provide details on your responsibilities and accomplishments at the jobs you listed.

You will have to balance the information needs of the admissions committee and the space constraints, regardless of the format you choose to use in the middle section of your cover letter. Using the STAR method will help you to write in a way that both conveys relevant information to the admissions committee while keeping it short and sweet.

  • Situation - This is the who, what, where, and when of it and sets the scene for your reader (a.k.a., the admissions committee). For instance, this might start a sentence and look something like “While working as a financial analyst at XYZ Company.”
  • Task - What were you responsible for doing? This should be a very specific aspect of your job responsibilities and should also be something you excelled at in your role. Following the situation outlined above, it may add on like this: “While working as a financial analyst at XYZ Company, I was responsible for compiling data for quarterly reports.”
  • Action - How did you complete the task? Adding this to the situation and task already mentioned, it may look like this: “While working as a financial analyst at XYZ Company, I was responsible for compiling data for quarterly reports. I created a new reporting system which increased the efficiency of data collection.”
  • Result - What was the outcome of the action(s) you took? This will show the importance of your actions and what you accomplished. Your final statement may look something like this: “While working as a financial analyst at XYZ Company, I was responsible for compiling data for quarterly reports. I created a new reporting system which increased the efficiency of data collection. This drastically increased the visibility of our clients’ revenue and expenses, and its adoption throughout the department resulted in a 14% increase in our own revenue one year after implementation.”

Since the cover letter is only one page long, it is a good idea to only discuss a small portion of your skills and experiences. You could describe two or three key elements from your resume if you follow the narrative format in your letter, but in the bullet format, you would be able to describe three or four elements.

The skills and experiences you choose should be the best examples of your knowledge and abilities, as these will be your best opportunity to set yourself apart from the competition. It’s not necessary to restate everything on your resume in your cover letter. The cover letter should provide some additional insight into a couple of items on your resume with the goal of standing out.

Step 6: Summarize your letter.

In your concluding paragraph, it is important that you summarize the contents of your letter. This is your last chance in your cover letter to establish yourself as a strong applicant, so restating how your educational background and professional experience make you the right fit for the program is crucial.

Thanking the person for reading and considering your application is a common courtesy in both professional and academic cover letters. This is critical for you to do at the end of your letter since its absence will be noticed by the admissions committee and will reflect poorly on you. Your final sentence should include a call-to-action for the next steps you want to take. This is usually a request for an interview or conversation about your fit for the program.

Step 7: Sign off.

The final part of writing your cover letter is to sign off. You should include a complimentary close, which is a polite way to close a letter. This is usually done by using “sincerely” or “yours truly,” and there is a line space separating it from your final paragraph.

Although phrases like “best wishes” or “kind regards” are other commonly used complimentary closes, they are better suited for situations where you are on a first-name basis with the recipient. You likely will not be on a first-name basis with the head of the admissions committee, so it is best that you use a more formal option such as “sincerely” or “yours truly” in your cover letter.

Following your complimentary close, you will include your first and last name. The way you write your name here should be the same as it appears on your resume and in the header of your cover letter. Your name will also be separated from your complimentary close by one line space.

You may also want to insert your signature above your name. This can be done by handwriting it, taking a picture of it, and scanning it onto your computer to insert into your letter, or by including an e-signature. Including your signature adds a professional touch to your letter and will be noticed by admissions committee members.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

As has been covered so far in this article, there are a lot of things you should do when writing your MBA cover letter. There are also a number of pitfalls you will want to avoid in your cover letter, as these can cause admissions committees to not move forward with your application. Some of the common mistakes to avoid include:

1. Writing one general cover letter and only changing the names.

Admissions committee members will be able to tell the letter wasn’t tailor-made for their program, and a generic letter will come across as lazy.

2. Stuffing your cover letter with everything on your resume and not giving yourself enough space to detail the experiences that matter the most.

Your resume already shows all your work experiences and skills. Do not waste valuable cover letter space by putting your whole resume into it.

3. Forgetting to change the name of the school or admissions committee member to whom the letter is addressed.

Reviewers will notice this immediately. They will see it as a lack of attention to detail and this mistake could result in your application being rejected.

4. Not following the basic format requirements set out by the business school.

The admissions committee won’t be keen to admit you if you demonstrate that you cannot follow instructions.

5. Neglecting the principle of “show us, don’t tell us.”

You want to show the admissions committees the impact you had as a result of your combined skills and experiences, not just that you possess certain skills or had particular experiences. 

6. Using the wrong prefix to address the recipients of your letters.

As stated earlier, it is best not to assume your recipient’s prefix and instead omit it altogether. Your recipients will not appreciate being addressed incorrectly, and it could negatively impact your chance of being admitted.

7. Sending in a cover letter with grammar, punctuation, or syntactical errors .

A letter containing errors shows you didn’t take the time to proofread and shows poor attention to detail. Make sure you take the time to make sure your letter is perfected before you send it, or have someone else review it to catch any errors you may have missed.

MBA Cover Letter Example

Here is an example of a cover letter written by a successful applicant to the MIT Sloan MBA program. As you will see, this applicant used the narrative format to describe how they started a blockchain currency transfer in response to seeing first-hand the amount lost due to transfer fees.

The narrative format allowed this applicant to tell a story about a relevant experience that demonstrated to the admissions committee their strengths and accomplishments, and to a lesser extent, what they would bring to the program.

The introduction sets the scene and explains why the applicant chose to apply to MIT Sloan by relating what they’ve learned about the school and the way their skills meet the program’s goals.

They do this in a way that’s not pushy or boastful but rather have found a way to weave these facts into their narrative. The conclusion summarizes what was discussed in the cover letter, including restating the applicant’s interest in Sloan. Finally, the applicant ends the letter with their name and signature.

cover letter example

1. What should I put in my cover letter? Do I write about everything that’s on my resume?

Your cover letter should focus on key items from your resume that are the best representation of what your skills and abilities have enabled you to accomplish at this point in your career. It’s important to keep in mind that your letters of recommendation will provide far greater insight into your performance in specific roles, so you don’t need to describe those same roles at length in your cover letter since your recommenders will already be providing those details.

2. How do I know whether I should use a narrative format or bullet point format?

This decision will ultimately come down to which one will best help you tell your story. If you have two main things you want to discuss in your cover letter, the narrative format will enable you to provide more details about these items. It will also be the best way to use the available space since you don’t want to leave a noticeable amount of blank space in your letter. 

If you have three or four items you want to discuss in your letter, using the bullet format may be the more suitable choice for you. This will allow you to make shorter notes without having to worry about transitioning between sentences, which can eat up valuable space. The choice between formats is based on your preference and which one you believe will help you produce a convincing cover letter.

3. How do I know if my cover letter is tailored to the program enough?

The easiest way to tell whether your cover letter is tailored to a specific program enough is to ask yourself: “Could I send this letter to another school and get into their MBA program?” If the answer is yes, you will need to make some revisions to make the letter relevant to only that program.

Although you may wish to discuss similar aspects of your profile in many of your letters, you will need to make adjustments depending on the school’s mission, values, and the focus of the program.

For instance, if a program values innovation, such as MIT Sloan, your cover letter should emphasize your ability to think critically and creatively solve problems. If a program values ongoing learning, such as Berkeley Haas, you should highlight your curiosity and times when you’ve challenged yourself to learn a new skill.

4. What skills and experiences should I write about in my cover letter?

The aspects of your profile you choose to emphasize in your MBA cover letter will vary depending on the school. Paying close attention to the mission and values of each school you’re interested in will give you insight into who the school is looking to admit, and how to show that your skills and experiences align with their mission and values, demonstrating that you’re a good fit for the program.

The curriculum and learning outcomes established by the business school will show you more specifically what’s important to the school. Knowing details about these aspects will further help you to customize your cover letter.

5. How do I format my MBA cover letter?

Formatting varies by program, but typically you can expect to use a 10 to 12 point font size in a common font (Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri). Page margins should be set to one inch on all sides. Your header should contain your contact information and be consistent with the style of your resume.

6. How can I be sure my MBA cover letter is error-free?

There are a lot of different programs out there that will check for spelling and grammar errors. Most word processors have spelling and grammar check functions built into them, and running these a few times will help to catch basic errors. Reading your cover letter out loud will also allow you to pick up on errors as well as identify any spots where the sentence flow isn’t natural or where the meaning of what you wrote isn’t clear.

It is best to consult an expert to get a more holistic review of your cover letter to ensure it is error-free and that you have pitched yourself in the best way possible.

Writing a cover letter can be an intimidating process, but it doesn’t have to be. Doing research about the programs that interest you will help you understand the types of students who are admitted and which of your personal qualities you should emphasize in your letter. Each school has a unique mission, so it’s essential that every cover letter you send is customized to each specific program.

When writing your letter, be mindful of your format and show the committee the outcome of your experiences and how they prepared you for your future as an MBA student and graduate. Now that you know how to write a cover letter for MBA programs, you’re ready to begin writing your winning cover letter.

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This 20-month MBA program equips experienced executives to enhance their impact on their organizations and the world.

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A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

How to Apply: MBA Deferred Admission

Embark on your MBA journey with MIT Sloan through our Early Application process—an opportunity designed for ambitious and forward-thinking students around the globe eager to secure a seat in an upcoming MBA class. The Early Application allows for a deferral period. Apply now, kickstart your career for two-to-five years, and then delve into the transformative MIT MBA experience.

Register your Interest

Application Deadlines for 2024 Entry

The Admissions Committee reviews all applications and will notify applicants of their decision on or before the deadline. Please note that in the interest of confidentiality, we will only deliver official decisions via your online application.

All applications are due by 3:00 p.m. EST on the deadline date. The deadline is for both application materials and recommendation letters. All decisions will be released by the end of the day on the decision release day.

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A complete application entry requires:

Cover letter.

MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative— true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion. For additional information please visit  Early Admission Common Questions .

Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above and can be addressed to:

Admissions Committee 50 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142

Your cover letter should be 300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation.

Please submit a one-page resume. This will help us easily track your academic and career path. Space is limited, so it's okay if you can't fit everything. Just make sure to focus on your work results, not just your title or job description. Here are some pointers on formatting: 

  • One page limit
  • Times New Roman font
  • Size 10 font
  • Word or PDF formats only
  • Education – Please include relevant awards, scholarships and professional societies
  • Work Experience – Please include company name, title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate your skill set, and dates
  • Additional information – Please include languages spoken, extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests (if appropriate)

Video Question 1

Introduce yourself to your future classmates. Here's your chance to put a face with a name, let your personality shine through, be conversational, be yourself. We can't wait to meet you! 

Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:

  • No more than 1 minute (60 seconds) in length
  • Single take (no editing) 
  • Speak directly to the camera
  • Do not include background music or subtitles

Video Question 2

All MBA Early applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question.

Video Question 2 is a part of your required application materials and will appear as a page within the application, once the other parts of your application are completed. The question is designed to help us get to know you better; to see how you express yourself and to assess your communication style. It does not require prior preparation.

Applicants are given one minute to prepare a 60 second response.

Letters of Recommendation

A detailed recommendation can tell us a lot about you. Make sure you select individuals qualified to speak about your results as a professional and your potential as a leader. Some important details:

  • MBA Early applicants must submit two letters of recommendation .
  • One recommendation from a professional contact, e.g., a work supervisor or manager
  • One recommendation from an academic contact, e.g., a faculty member who can speak to your academic ability. If you are currently an MIT student, please use an MIT faculty member for your academic recommendation.
  • We do not accept recommendations from family members.
  • Your letters of recommendation must be received by the deadline date. It is your responsibility to remind your recommenders to make sure it is submitted on time.

Please choose recommenders who are able to provide specific answers to the following questions :

  • How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
  • How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
  • Please give an example of the applicant's impact on a person, group, or organization.
  • Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts and communicates with others, including peers and superiors.
  • Please give an example of how the applicant has synthesized and executed on an assigned task and/or mastered new material.
  • Which of the applicant's personal or professional characteristics would you change?
  • Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.

Academic Transcripts

We know you've worked hard to get to where you are today. Tell us about your academic journey, so we can understand what experience and skills you might bring to the classroom as an MIT Sloan student. Please include every undergraduate and graduate institution you've attended, or are currently attending. List your degree-granting undergraduate institution first.

Transcript(s): Please scan and upload your transcript(s) from all colleges and universities you attended or are currently attending. If you are currently earning a degree, please upload your most up-to-date transcript. We review transcripts carefully; please double check that what you have uploaded is legible.

Some important details:

  • All applicants to the program must hold a four-year undergraduate degree or three-year equivalent undergraduate degree from outside of the U.S., by time of matriculation.
  • Do not mail any hard copies of official academic records or transcripts.
  • If you received an undergraduate degree as part of a master's program, please include an undergraduate entry in addition to your master's degree.
  • If your transcripts are not in English, please scan and upload both the original and the certified translation in English.
  • We cannot accept "digitally signed" or encrypted transcripts. If you're having difficulty uploading your document, this may be the reason. Print out your transcript, scan it, and upload the PDF.

Once admitted to the program you will be required to provide an official signed and sealed transcript from all schools attended. Any discrepancies between the scanned transcripts and official transcripts may result in a candidate's rejection or a withdrawal of our offer of admission.

Test Scores

Standardized tests, specifically the GMAT and GRE are a critical component of the application and play an important role in our holistic evaluation process. The MIT Sloan Admissions Committee expects that you will submit a GMAT or GRE score to be reviewed as part of your application. Both the remote and in-person versions of these exams are accepted with no preference. If your current situation prevents you from submitting a test score, you may request a test waiver explaining the situation; the Admissions Committee will take your request under advisement and let you know if the waiver has been approved. If the waiver is approved, and you are admitted, the Admissions Committee reserves the right to offer conditional admission such as but not limited to receiving a certain score on the GMAT or GRE or taking a supplemental class

MIT seniors with a 4.2 GPA or higher do not need to submit a test score to apply .

To request a test waiver, please start your application and navigate to the Test Scores section; you can submit your request there. Once submitted, you will receive a response by email as soon as possible.

We will accept self-reported test scores by the application deadline and welcome either traditional or online versions of exams. Test scores must be valid by the application deadline. Official scores should also be sent using the following school codes:

  • 'To share your GMAT score, please enter Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - MIT Sloan School of Management'
  • GRE School Code: 3791

For the 2023-24 admission cycle, we will accept all versions of the GMAT or GRE, including remote or in-person.

Relevant Coursework & Professional Certifications

Please list courses that you are currently taking or that you have completed in the following areas:

  • Communications
  • Microeconomics
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Probability
  • Statistics 

Additionally, applicants are welcome to submit other pieces of academic evidence such as: professional certifications CFA, CPA, among others; non-degree coursework such as CORe, edX, or any other non-degree coursework completed; all of which may assist the Admissions Committee in its evaluation process.

Optional Short Answer Question

Applicants are invited to expand on their background by responding to the following optional 250 word short answer question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background.

This question is truly optional; applicants will not be evaluated more positively or negatively should they choose to respond. This is an opportunity for you to share more about yourself with the Admissions Committee, should you choose to do so.

Application Fee: Waived

No application fee is required for the MIT Sloan MBA Early Admission process.

The Interview

The interview is a required step in the process and will be scheduled by invitation only, after an initial evaluation of a complete application. All interviews will be conducted virtually.

MBA-Early-FAQs-Thumbnail

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Using art and science to depict the MIT family from 1861 to the present

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Ten people clad in white protective clothing covering all but their eyes, which are behind safety glasses, pose as a group inside a nanotechnology cleanroom.

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In MIT.nano’s laboratories, researchers use silicon wafers as the platform to shape transformative technologies such as quantum circuitry, microfluidic devices, or energy-harvesting structures. But these substrates can also serve as a canvas for an artist, as MIT Professor W. Craig Carter demonstrates in the latest One.MIT mosaic.

The One.MIT project celebrates the people of MIT by using the tools of MIT.nano to etch their collective names, arranged as a mosaic by Carter, into a silicon wafer just 8 inches in diameter. The latest edition of One.MIT — including 339,537 names of students, faculty, staff, and alumni associated with MIT from 1861 to September 2023 — is now on display in the ground-floor galleries at MIT.nano in the Lisa T. Su Building ( Building 12 ).

“A spirit of innovation and a relentless drive to solve big problems have permeated the campus in every decade of our history. This passion for discovery, learning, and invention is the thread connecting MIT’s 21st-century family to our 19th-century beginnings and all the years in between,” says Vladimir Bulović, director of MIT.nano and the Fariborz Maseeh Chair in Emerging Technology. “One.MIT celebrates the MIT ethos and reminds us that no matter when we came to MIT, whatever our roles, we all leave a mark on this remarkable community.”

A team of students, faculty, staff, and alumni inscribed the design on the wafer inside the MIT.nano cleanrooms. Because the names are too small to be seen with the naked eye — they measure only microns high on the wafer — the  One.MIT website allows anyone to look up a name and find its location in the mosaic.

Finding inspiration in the archives

The first two One.MIT art pieces, created in 2018 and 2020, were inscribed in silicon wafers 6 inches in diameter, slightly smaller than the latest art piece, which benefited from the newest MIT.nano tools that can fabricate 8-inch wafers. The first designs form well-known, historic MIT images: the Great Dome (2018) and the MIT seal (2020).

Carter, who is the Toyota Professor of Materials Processing and professor of materials science and engineering, created the designs and algorithms for each version of One.MIT. He started a search last summer for inspiration for the 2024 design. “The image needed to be iconic of MIT,” says Carter, “and also work within the constraints of a large-scale mosaic.”

Carter ultimately found the solution within the Institute Archives, in the form of a lithograph used on the cover of a  program for the 1916 MIT rededication ceremony that celebrated the Institute’s move from Boston to Cambridge on its 50th anniversary.

Incorporating MIT nerdiness

Carter began by creating a black-and-white image, redrawing the lithograph’s architectural features and character elements. He recreated the kerns (spaces) and the fonts of the letters as algorithmic geometric objects.

The color gradient of the sky behind the dome presented a challenge because only two shades were available. To tackle this issue and impart texture, Carter created a Hilbert curve — a hierarchical, continuous curve made by replacing an element with a combination of four elements. Each of these four elements are replaced by another four elements, and so on. The resulting object is like a fractal — the curve changes shape as it goes from top to bottom, with 90-degree turns throughout.

“This was an opportunity to add a fun and ‘nerdy’ element — fitting for MIT,” says Carter.

To achieve both the gradient and the round wafer shape, Carter morphed the square Hilbert curve (consisting of 90-degree angles) into a disk shape using Schwarz-Christoffel mapping, a type of conformal mapping that can be used to solve problems in many different domains.

“Conformal maps are lovely convergences of physics and engineering with mathematics and geometry,” says Carter.

Because the conformal mapping is smooth and also preserves the angles, the square’s corners produce four singular points on the circle where the Hilbert curve’s line segments shrink to a point. The location of the four points in the upper part of the circle “squeezes” the curve and creates the gradient (and the texture of the illustration) — dense-to-sparse from top-to-bottom.

The final mosaic is made up of 6,476,403 characters, and Carter needed to use font and kern types that would fill as much of the wafer’s surface as possible without having names break up and wrap around to the next line. Carter’s algorithm alleviated this problem, at least somewhat, by searching for names that slotted into remaining spaces at the end of each row. The algorithm also performed an optimization over many different choices for the random order of the names. 

Finding — and wrangling — hundreds of thousands of names

In addition to the art and algorithms, the foundation of One.MIT is the extensive collection of names spanning more than 160 years of MIT. The names reflect students, alumni, faculty, and staff — the wide variety of individuals who have always formed the MIT community.

Annie Wang, research scientist and special projects coordinator for MIT.nano, again played an instrumental role in collecting the names for the project, just as she had for the 2018 and 2020 versions. Despite her experience, collating the names to construct the newest edition still presented several challenges, given the variety of input sources to the dataset and the need to format names in a consistent manner.

“Both databases and OCR-scanned text can be messy,” says Wang, referring to the electronic databases and old paper directories from which names were sourced. “And cleaning them up is a lot of work.”

Many names were listed in multiple places, sometimes spelled or formatted differently across sources. There were very short first and last names, very long first and last names — and also a portion of names in which more than one person had nearly identical names. And some groups are simply hard to find in the records. “One thing I wish we had,” comments Wang, “is a list of long-term volunteers at MIT who contribute so much but aren’t reflected in the main directories.”

Once the design was completed, Carter and Wang handed off a CAD file to Jorg Scholvin, associate director of fabrication at MIT.nano. Scholvin assembled a team that reflected One.MIT — students, faculty, staff, and alumni — and worked with them to fabricate the wafer inside MIT.nano’s cleanroom. The fab team included Carter; undergraduate students Akorfa Dagadu, Sean Luk, Emilia K. Szczepaniak, Amber Velez, and twin brothers Juan Antonio Luera and Juan Angel Luera; MIT Sloan School of Management EMBA student Patricia LaBorda; staff member Kevin Verrier of MIT Facilities; and alumnae Madeline Hickman '11 and Eboney Hearn '01, who is also the executive director of MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science (MITES).

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Capital One’s Summer “Tech Mini Mester” Interest Form is Now Open!

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Interested in joining Capital One’s Summer Tech Immersive Program? “Tech Mini Mester” is a 5-day journey into the heart of innovation and technology! This immersive program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the tech industry. Over the course of five action-packed days, you’ll engage in hands-on technical workshops, engage in interview and case workshop prep, collaborate with undergraduates from all over, and learn from industry experts.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced tech enthusiast, this program offers a unique opportunity to enhance your expertise, network with professionals, and ignite your passion for technology. Don’t miss out on this transformative experience—if you are interested fill out this interest form before the deadline and we will contact you if you are selected to participate or not.

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  1. How To Write An MBA Cover Letter

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  2. Mit Mba Cover Letter Example

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  3. MBA Cover Letter Sample

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  4. MBA Cover Letter Examples

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  5. Cover Letter For Mba Freshers In Finance

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  6. Cover Letter For Mba Application Sample

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  3. A hidden U.S scholarship database by the U.S government

  4. How To Write A Motivational Letter for MBA Program Step by Step Guide

  5. Let's talk about the #MITSloan Cover Letter

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Apply to the MBA Program

    Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer ...

  2. MIT Sloan MBA Essay Examples

    Also, the cover letter is a way to describe your key accomplishments and use them to prove that you embody the outlined criteria for admission. Those criteria are: independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. Successful Examples of MIT MBA Cover Letters. SBC has a former MIT Sloan Admissions Officer and several additional MIT ...

  3. MIT Sloan Cover Letter: Overview & Expert Tips

    MBA Cover Letter Tips. While the MIT Sloan cover letter is a specific requirement for the application, many of the strategies and tips mentioned can be applied to other MBA cover letters and essays. The key is to tailor your writing to the specific school or program you are applying to, demonstrating your fit and enthusiasm.

  4. PDF CREATING A POWERFUL COVER LETTER

    Your cover letter is a key aspect of your marketing materials. At the MBA level, many companies will require a cover letter and will give it significant weight in their decision-making process. The goal of your cover letter is to help tell your story in a compelling way that makes the company want to select you for an interview.

  5. Tuesday Tips: MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Video Advice for 2023-2024

    Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer ...

  6. MIT Sloan MBA Strategy: How to Tackle the Application

    The best MIT Sloan cover letter examples often highlight examples of professional or extracurricular achievements from the last two to three years that demonstrate these values. After revealing how you've already started to live your values, clarify why the MBA is essential to get where you want to go next (career and professional goals).

  7. MIT Sloan MBA Cover Letter Example and Tips

    MIT Sloan has one of the most unusual essay prompts out there - its famed cover letter. Are you ready to tackle it? In this video, mbaMission Founder and Pre...

  8. MIT Sloan Cover Letter, Application Requirements for 2023-2024

    The MIT Sloan School of Management has published the application requirements and deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. Once again, candidates must submit a cover letter rather than a traditional MBA essay. MIT Sloan Cover Letter and Application Requirements. Here's how each component is explained on the MIT Sloan admissions site: Cover Letter

  9. MBA Cover Letter: Examples for MIT, Harvard & More

    Here are our tips on writing a fantastic MBA cover letter: 1. Format Your MBA Cover Letter Correctly. Whether it's MIT or Harvard, applying for an MBA program will require convincing the admissions committee that you're a true doer and a fearlessly creative individual. The opportunities offered aren't just those of your typical business ...

  10. MIT Sloan Essay Examples & Tips, 2023-2024

    MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples. July 3, 2023. Jeremy Shinewald. Rather than framing its required application essay as a traditional "essay," the MIT Sloan School of Management instead requests that applicants submit a "cover letter," including even the standard formal correspondence elements of an address and ...

  11. How to Apply to the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA Program

    Taking the above into consideration please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan Fellows MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or less).

  12. MIT Sloan Cover Letter Advice: Maximizing 300 Words

    The post MIT Sloan Cover Letter Advice: Maximizing 300 Words appeared first on Vantage Point MBA. Published in MBA, Vantage Point MBA, Admission Consultants and Blog. If you're working towards submitting a Round 2 application to MIT Sloan's MBA Program, you've likely given thought to what you want to express in the required 300-word Cover ...

  13. Resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and CVs

    A strong resume, cover letter, portfolio, and/or CV have the power to get you in the door to the interview stage. These documents are essential to making the case for why you have the skills and experience to excel at the job and within the organization and team. Resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and CVs should be tailored to the job at hand ...

  14. MIT Sloan MBA Application Tips: Resume and Cover Letter

    Tommaso Canetta of MIT Sloan Admissions describes how the MBA admissions evaluation committee evaluates resumes and cover letters. "We believe the past is th...

  15. MIT Sloan: MBA Application Essays

    We are back with our List of Top B-school essay questions and prompts! Today, we will specifically discuss the MIT Sloan Application Essays for the 2022-23 admission cycle. Additionally, MIT is a well-renowned B-school that aims to create a vibrant learning environment, rich in diverse ideas and life experiences, for aspiring MBA candidates.

  16. 2023-2024 MBA Admissions: MIT Sloan Essays

    Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and can be addressed to: Admissions Committee 50 Memorial Drive

  17. Tips for Your MIT Sloan Application Essays

    Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more professional examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Admissions Committee (300 words or fewer ...

  18. How to write an effective cover letter (with samples)

    Cover letter structure and format. A cover letter should be no longer than one page with a font size between 10-12 points. Be sure to include your contact information and address it directly to the hiring manager, using their name. If you are not sure who to address the letter to, write "Dear Hiring Manager."

  19. Frequently Asked Questions

    MIT Sloan students accepted full-time and internship opportunities with 300 companies. In 2022, our top industries were Consulting (31.2%), Tech (22.6%), Finance (22.6%), and Healthcare/Pharma/Biotech (6.8%). The average base salary was $159,391, the median base salary was $165,000, and the range of base salary was $62,000-$270,000.

  20. MIT Sloan MBA Essays 2022-2023: Analysis and Tips from an MIT Fellow

    MIT Sloan MBA Essays and Application Requirements. While getting an admit at MIT Sloan can be difficult, applying to the program doesn't come easy either. The MIT Sloan MBA has an extensive application with the following requirements: Cover Letter (300 words or fewer) Resume (one page) Video Statement (1 minute) Letter of Recommendation (one)

  21. How To Write An MBA Cover Letter

    MBA Cover Letter Example. Here is an example of a cover letter written by a successful applicant to the MIT Sloan MBA program. As you will see, this applicant used the narrative format to describe how they started a blockchain currency transfer in response to seeing first-hand the amount lost due to transfer fees.

  22. How to Apply: MBA Deferred Admission

    Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above and can be addressed to: Admissions Committee 50 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142 ...

  23. Real MIT Sloan MBA essay examples by ARINGO clients

    Free MIT Sloan MBA Essay SamplesThe Sloan School of Management belongs to one of the most prestigious universities in the world - the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The following MBA essays were written by ARINGO MBA candidates who got accepted to MIT Sloan MBA program over ...

  24. Using art and science to depict the MIT family from 1861 to ...

    The latest edition of One.MIT — including 339,537 names of students, faculty, staff, and alumni associated with MIT from 1861 to September 2023 — is a tribute to the cover of a program for the 1916 MIT rededication ceremony that celebrated the Institute's move from Boston to Cambridge on its 50th anniversary.

  25. Capital One's Summer "Tech Mini Mester" Interest Form is Now Open!

    Resumes, cover letters, portfolios, & CVs; Career Fairs; Finding a Job or Internship; Post-Graduate and Summer Outcomes; Professional Development Competencies; Distinguished Fellowships; Preparing for Graduate & Professional Schools; Preparing for Medical / Health Profession Schools; Interviewing; Job offers; New jobs & career transitions