yale mba essay 2022

Essay • Video Interview • Yale SOM

Yale School of Management MBA 2022-2023 Essay and Video Question Tips

June 29, 2022

For this admissions season, Yale SOM has chosen to keep its MBA essay topic, video questions and Behavioral Assessment , which is a 30-minute exam integrated into its online application.

Also, be sure to keep an eye on Yale SOM’s MBA deadlines if you’re planning to submit an app.

Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words)

While only having to answer one essay question for an application can feel like a relief, it also means you only have 500 words in which to make the largest part of your pitch to SOM.

It’s best to start by evaluating what Yale is really asking for in this question. The topic came from a discussion with Yale’s Professor of Organizational Behavior Amy Wrzesniewski. Amy rationalized the question in the following manner: “Reading about future plans is helpful, but actions speak louder than words. What big commitments have applicants already made in their lives to date, how did they follow through on them, and what does this tell us about who they are? That is what is at the heart of this question.” Now, in terms of commitments, it doesn’t matter whether you choose one from your personal or professional life, as long as what you’ve chosen has had an impact on you and/or on others.

Given the wide spectrum of examples that can fit this criteria, it may be helpful to narrow down your topic choice based on what aspects are otherwise missing from your application. Is there an important part of your personality, values or history that is not present in, say, your resume or recommendation letters? If you’re unsure what might be missing, take some time to learn more about what makes Yale SOM a unique program. Highlighting a commitment that mirrors Yale SOM’s values would help lift the quality of your essay, notably if you mention your capacity for leadership, teamwork or, if it happens to be the case, your ability to handle a global commitment.

Video Questions

After submitting your written application, you’ll be asked to answer a series of video questions that will require 60 to 90 second responses. Moreover, before you start, you’ll have the option to complete one practice question, so you’ll have the chance to familiarize yourself with the platform.

Initially conceived as an English language proficiency replacement test, SOM’s video questions have grown to serve as basic behavioral interview questions to help the admissions team better assess your potential for leadership and your communication skills. So, they’re not expecting the same highly-polished, thoughtful answers someone would present in a written format. Rather, they want to gauge how well you can express yourself and your ideas in a natural, ‘face-to-face’ fashion. The best way to prepare is to practice, practice, practice. Get comfortable speaking out loud and delivering 60 to 90-second responses, while remaining careful not to seem scripted; though not as damaging as during an in-person interview, robotic responses are still strongly frowned upon to the video questions.

To develop a truly stellar application, reach out to our Yale SOM Experts today. Otherwise, for technical points, you can visit Yale’s official site .

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Tuesday Tips: Yale MBA Essay Tips for 2022-2023

The Yale School of Management has published its required MBA essay for the 2022-2023 admissions season. Today, we’re sharing our Yale MBA essay tips to help you create a positive impression through your application materials.  Consider the essay question carefully and research the Yale MBA admissions criteria. One excellent resource is Yale MBA ambassadors . You can find a current Yale MBA student ambassador to help you understand the school on a personal level, which will enhance your essay question responses.

With only one Yale MBA application essay, it should clearly highlight your personal qualities and leadership qualities. In addition, you will need to make sure your resume and recommendations can answer any questions about your career and accomplishments.

Read through our Yale MBA essay tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about designing the best Yale application possible with Stacy Blackman Consulting.

Yale MBA Essay Tips for 2022-2022

Required prompt: describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words maximum).

Behavioral questions like this one (tip-off word: “describe”) require you to describe how you act in specific situations. Choose an example from your past experiences, and think about what a commitment meant to you. Was it a job or an organization that you were involved in? Or, maybe your commitment relates to a value or a person.

Provide detailed specifics about your commitment and why it qualifies as the biggest one you have ever made. What did you think or say? Describe the actions you took. How did you feel about the result? The commitment should be large enough to show the admissions committee at Yale SOM who you are and what motivates you.

Solo commitments might be appropriate since many MBA applicants are individual contributors. However, ideally, you will demonstrate how you work with others as a leader and team member. Leadership and commitment often go hand-in-hand because the best leaders commit to making the team and organization better.

Remember, Yale SOM students focus on making a difference in the world. The topic of this question demonstrates your values. Therefore, those values ideally include actions that impact the greater community. Regardless of whether you choose an individual or team commitment, make sure you show how it made a significant positive impact. Also, keep in mind the Yale SOM’s mission while writing this essay.

As former dean Edward A. Snyder once explained: “Yale SOM is persistent and disciplined in our efforts to connect to big issues, to integrate with Yale, to be distinctively global, and to work across all sectors. All of our efforts are guided by a strategy that accounts for how the world has changed over the last several decades and the implications for leadership. The success of our efforts depends entirely on extraordinary alignment and superior teamwork—internally and externally.”

A note on word counts

The 500-word limit can be daunting. Don’t censor yourself on the first draft and limit what you write. Instead, start by describing each step of your accomplishment in detail. Describe what you did, the reaction of others, and your feelings. From there, cut out anything too detailed or superfluous to the story.

Once you have done that, you’ll find you can work within that 500-word maximum. Another great tactic is to use an outside reader because a new set of eyes can see what is most important to the story and streamline your essay.

If you still find it challenging after reading these Yale MBA essay tips, then don’t hesitate to contact Stacy Blackman Consulting  for guidance through the process.

The post Tuesday Tips: Yale MBA Essay Tips for 2022-2023 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting .

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Homepage > MBA Admissions > Business Schools > Yale SoM MBA Essay Analysis and Tips for 2023 intake

Yale SoM MBA Essay Analysis and Tips for 2023 intake

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

Yale School of Management (SOM) stands out among even the most favored B-Schools for finance and non-profit professionals and is famous in the business community as the highest-ranked school on ethics and values (higher than Harvard, Wharton, Kellogg, Stanford, MIT, Duke…). As for the leaders that Yale University nurtures, for 20 years from 1989 through 2009, all US Presidents had earned at least one degree from Yale University; even Hillary Clinton is a Yale graduate.

  Needless to say, Yale SOM has always been very selective, and with rankings climbing up, they are on an upswing. Their average GMAT score has been more than 720 in the last 5 years.

Yale SoM MBA Application Deadlines

Following are the application deadlines for the Yale School of Management MBA program’s 2023 intake.

Read more about Yale SoM MBA Program Class Profile | Employment Reports | Notable Alumni

Yale MBA Essay Questions 2023

Before we go into the Yale MBA Sample Essay Structure, and how applicants should attempt answering the essay, considering certain important points would help:

Yale SOM MBA Essay 1 (Required)

Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words maximum).

The single essay question, as retained for the fourth year running, gives you very limited space to make an impact. This is diametrically opposite to schools which ask you tons of questions and thus give you lots of space and many opportunities to make an impact. D emonstrating strong passion and commitment, therefore, and packing your 500 (or less) words with the right substance is key. Let’s get into some specifics.

• What does SOM say?

Quoting the SOM website, “…the mission of the Yale SOM is to Educate leaders for business and society . (Pursuing the positive and ambitious change by these leaders) may take the form of launching a business that can refashion its market, advancing far-reaching and rigorously considered policy initiatives, or steering a multinational corporation with a keen awareness of and respect for its impact on workers, communities, and the environment”.

Important? Yes, Very! Actually, these few lines pack invaluable suggestions on the scope of WHAT you can focus on for your essays. Have you, for example, helped launch a business that refashioned its market to provide inclusion to the underprivileged or the marginalized? Or have you supported advancing far-reaching and rigorously considered policy initiatives that have brought about lasting impact? Or have you taken initiatives to steer a project or a team in a large corporation to bring in overall awareness of and respect for its impact on workers, communities, and the environment?

If your answer to any of these is a yes, you are the perfect candidate Yale is looking for. This thought-provoking essay, says Assistant Dean Bruce DelMonico, tries to delve deep into what the applicants care about in the world. And as we have demonstrated from Yale’s own website, caring for impact does NOT necessarily come from working with a Non-profit. As long as you are able to show the impact that came from deep thought to improve the overall society, you can answer this question well.

• Do only Past actions qualify? What about my plans for the future?

Just as your resume does, here too, your past actions speak louder than future plans. Your past action, therefore, should provide a good indication of your approach to follow your passions in your future plans and follow-throughs. In other words, what you have made your biggest commitment earlier, will also define who you are and whether you will fit the Yale definition of leaders.

• I get the basic idea, but can I talk about my commitment to a personal cause?

The actual content or theme for this essay can be professional OR personal (remember “ business and society ”?).

Think very carefully about WHAT you would quantify as your biggest commitment. Your first thoughts may start with talking about a commitment to a person, or to the development of a skill or towards living according to certain values.

Depending upon the culture and context, such a commitment may even seem to be a legitimate answer; yet, it is very important to remember this is a B-school application.

While your commitment to your parents/ spouse/partner and how you have taken care of them may show your good values, it does not show the leadership example that SOM would love to read about.

(In the past we have worked on compelling stories even with these factors, but those have been exceptions, and it is better to understand the right spirit of the question first).

On the other hand, your commitment to a certain cause with a larger impact, for example, to ensure education for the underprivileged may go better on the WHAT. Other valuable examples can be in the domain of energy conservation or preventing cruelty to animals. Yet others may offer their career plans and connect their aspirations to the larger commitment already demonstrated in life.

• How about a larger commitment that is partly professional, partly social?

Choosing larger commitments, with 2-3 connected professional and personal fallouts is technically ok, but remember you would really need a miracle to fit the entire answer within the word limit of 500 words. We also advise prudence and judgement when dealing with sensitive topics or criticizing ideologies in the answer.

• It’s complex, but I got it; How to proceed?

The most important piece in this answer and the differentiating factor would really lie in the HOW. In thinking about the how deliberate the situation/factors that led you to make this commitment, any group/s you involved to help you fulfill the commitment, the adversities that truly tested your resolve, how the final results panned out in the face of those obstacles and any future plans to pursue the passion further (different geography, larger-scale, etc.)

If you have been able to work on these aspects well, you should have a powerful answer to the biggest commitment, but not before you have written and rewritten at least tens of drafts. Make sure therefore to start early, and give yourself tons of time. In the end, whether or not you actually apply to SOM, rest assured that the self-introspection this answer brings is an immensely satisfying and fulfilling process.

Best of Luck!

P.S. Know a Yale alum well? You may get an application fee waiver when applying to Yale.

P.P.S. Yale University pays the study loans for students who follow careers in non-profit (Including UN, World Bank, and such).

Also, read our detailed Essay Analysis for Wharton and Kellogg

Here are some tips on how to write an essay by Kris Mercuri, Director of Admissions at Yale SOM

About the author

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.

Here are a few other articles you may like to read:

• What is a good GMAT score for Yale SoM
• Yale SoM is ranked #8 in our Best Business School for Finance Rankings
• Yale SoM Ranks #3 in our best Business School for Consulting Rankings
• Yale SoM MBA Program Class Profile | Employment Reports | Notable Alumni
• MBA essay: 5 types of essays explained with examples
• Importance of MBA Essays in Business School applications
• Top Deferred MBA Programs: MBA without work experience

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Suheb Hussain

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Tuesday Tips: Yale MBA Essay Tips for 2024-2025

The Yale School of Management has published its required MBA essay question for the 2024-2025 admissions season. Today, we’re sharing our Yale MBA essay tips to help you create a positive impression through your application materials.  Consider the essay question carefully and research the Yale MBA admissions criteria. Yale’s MBA admissions blog is an excellent resource.

In the past, Yale SOM’s assistant deans for admission, Bruce DelMonico and Laurel Grodman , have said, “Don’t try and predict what we’re looking for because we’re looking for so many different things, and it’s not any one thing. Don’t try and game it by thinking to yourself that you will stand a better chance if you present this profile or this background. Stick to who you are.”

Therefore, the required Yale MBA essay should clearly highlight your personal and leadership qualities. In addition, you will need to make sure your resume and recommendations can answer any questions about your career and accomplishments. The optional essay is a place to add any additional context that would help to evaluate your application.

Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school?  Contact us  to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.

Yale MBA Essay Tips for 2024-2025

Essay: sharing what matters to you, we want to know what matters to you, and our essay question is designed to help us gain insight into your background, passions, motivations, responsibilities, ideals, identities, challenges, or aspirations, depending on where you take your response. to ensure that you’re able to write about something important to you, we offer you three essay prompts from which to choose:.

Once again, Yale offers three choices for the one required essay question. Each of the options is a behavioral essay question (tip-off word: “describe”). These essays require you to describe how you act in specific situations to predict your future behavior. One way to approach a behavioral essay question (or interview question) is to use the STAR framework . In short, you can set up your answer by first describing the Situation, explaining the Task that you needed to accomplish, describing the Action you took, and finally, the Result.

When choosing a topic for this essay, keep in mind Yale’s advice: “We find that the most compelling essays are the ones that are truly most important to you, so make sure that’s your guide in choosing what to write about; don’t try to guess what we’re looking for or what you think we want to hear.”

If what is most important to you does not come immediately to mind, ask your friends and family. Another tip is to keep a notebook with you and jot down ideas as you go about your day. Sometimes an idea will strike at unlikely times.

1) Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?

When you have determined what is most important to you, and it includes a commitment to a cause, organization, or person, this could be the right essay prompt.

Think about your past experiences, and think about what a commitment meant to you. Was it a job or an organization that you were involved in? Or, maybe your commitment relates to a value or a person. Using the STAR framework, what was your situation, and what did you need to accomplish?

Provide detailed specifics about your commitment and why it qualifies as the biggest one you have ever made. What did you think or say? Describe the actions you took. How did you feel about the result? The commitment should be large enough to show the admissions committee at Yale SOM who you are and what motivates you.

Solo commitments might be appropriate since many MBA applicants are individual contributors. However, ideally, you will demonstrate how you work with others as a leader and team member. Leadership and commitment often go hand in hand because the best leaders commit to improving the team and organization.

Remember, Yale SOM students focus on making a difference in the world. The topic of this question demonstrates your values. Therefore, those values ideally include actions that impact the greater community. Regardless of whether you choose an individual or team commitment, make sure you show how it made a significant positive impact. Also, keep in mind the Yale SOM’s mission while writing this essay.

2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

Contribution and personal growth are a theme of this essay prompt. If you have decided that a group or community means the most to you, choose this option. Your community could be where you grew up and formed your character. Or, you have found a community through shared interests or identities. A community could be centered at school or work.

Again, remember that making a difference is important to the Yale community. How did you do that for your community? And what did you learn in turn? Ideally, you can describe a transformative moment or key character development.

Stacy Blackman’s consulting team consists of consultants from every top school, including Yale SOM. Meet Kevin , who has served on the admissions committee at Yale School of Management.

3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Challenges are leadership crucibles and often shape your character going forward. Think about a time when you truly rose to the challenge and took on a leadership role. Of course, there is vast uncertainty in any challenge, and you were likely confused, discouraged, or frustrated. While that is perfectly normal, it is important to discuss how you turned those negative emotions into positive actions.

As with the other essay prompts, consider the STAR method. What was the Situation? And what Tasks were you expected to accomplish? What Action did you actually take, and how was the Result? Use concrete examples in each case to illustrate for the reader what you thought, felt, and did.

The challenge used in this essay should be significant, and the story should show growth for you. If the result was not entirely what you wanted, that’s completely fine. In that case, perhaps you learned something that was applied in a more successful result later. Remember that being yourself and sincerely describing who you are and what matters to you is the goal of this essay.

As former dean Edward A. Snyder once explained: “Yale SOM is persistent and disciplined in our efforts to connect to big issues, to integrate with Yale, to be distinctively global, and to work across all sectors. All of our efforts are guided by a strategy that accounts for how the world has changed over the last several decades and the implications for leadership. The success of our efforts depends entirely on extraordinary alignment and superior teamwork—internally and externally.”

Optional Information: It truly is optional

The optional information section is truly optional. it’s not an additional required essay – if no aspect of your application requires further explanation, you should leave this section blank. in most cases, we get all the information we need from the various components of your application and there is no need to complete this section., however, if you think the admissions committee would benefit from a brief explanation regarding any aspect of your application, you may provide it in the optional information section. your general approach should be that if there is something you feel is material to your candidacy that you are not able to include in another section of the application, put it here., here are some examples: consider providing additional context if it will allow us to better understand your academic performance, promotions or recognitions, or other information that is not apparent from the rest of your application. if you’ve taken concrete steps to mitigate a weaker element of your application or have an accomplishment that does not fit anywhere else in the application, you might include that here., note that you should use the specific prompts provided in the work experience section to address gaps in work experience or choice of recommender. and if you would like to provide additional details to expand on any information provided in the background information section, you’re encouraged to do so in the “supplemental detail” area within that section..

The Yale MBA optional essay can help round out your profile if necessary. Note that Yale is not limiting the optional essay to only the typical issues that MBA programs are concerned about. Along with academics, and overall profile questions, you can highlight an accomplishment or recognition that did not appear elsewhere.

If you do answer this essay question, keep it factual and focused. Make sure you are not making excuses for any perceived weaknesses. Rather, proactively address them with concrete examples of action you have taken to mitigate them.

A note on word counts

The 500-word limit can be daunting. Don’t censor yourself on the first draft and limit what you write. Instead, start by describing each step of your accomplishment in detail. Describe what you did, the reaction of others, and your feelings. From there, cut out anything too detailed or superfluous to the story.

Once you have done that, you’ll find you can work within that 500-word maximum. Another great tactic is to use an outside reader because a new set of eyes can see what is most important to the story and streamline your essay.

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our  All-In Partnership  to test prep to hourly help with targeted tasks. Contact us today for a  free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. 

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

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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Tuesday tips: kelley school of business essays, tips for 2024-2025.

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University is a top-tier business school with an innovative program that cultivates strong recruiting relationships with companies. These Kelley School of Business essays focus on understanding you. ... →

The Yale SOM Video Essay Questions – And How to Successfully Answer Them

Sep 18, 2023

Why does Yale require a video essay?

How does the yale video essay work, technical requirements, which types of questions are asked.

• Get expert help

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on September 18, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

With curricular flexibility that allows students to take classes across Yale’s many faculties (not just the business school!), Yale SOM is a top choice for engaged, globally-minded leaders who seek to make a meaningful difference in the world, all while benefiting from an Ivy League education. 

Despite this fact, many applicants dedicate countless hours to writing Yale’s admissions essays and then rush through the video essay component. 

This is a huge mistake. 

In addition to giving the admissions committee the chance to “put a face with a name,” the Yale SOM video essay is an essential part of the Yale application, as it allows committee members to determine if your communication style and values are a good fit with the Yale community. 

In fact, in our experience helping our Yale applicants secure a place at the school, we have noticed that the video essay can be as influential in an applicant’s admissions decision as the admissions interview . 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you understand how the Yale video essay works and have shared a list of Yale video essay questions to ensure you put your best foot forward! 

When we first started working with Yale applicants many years ago, the video essay component had not yet been introduced. However, after being one of the first business schools to incorporate the video essay into their admissions process, this component has quickly become a critical part of the application. 

That’s because it gives the admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the Yale community. 

Here is what they say about it: 

The way the video essay works is very simple. 

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from a company called Kira Talent. This email will contain a link that allows you to access the video essay platform. 

After signing in and starting the session, you will get three Yale video essay questions in total, one at a time. All will be random, but each question falls into a certain category (more on that below!). 

• For questions 1 and 3 , you will have 20 seconds to think and 60 seconds to answer. 
• For question 2 , you will have 30 seconds to think and up to 90 seconds to answer. 
• You will be able to stop the question and move on if you finish before the time runs out.

If you’ve taken the TOEFL exam , you’ve already practiced for the type of format you can expect in the Yale video essay! 

After signing in and “starting” the session, a video will appear on the screen. This video will show a member of the Yale community, who will read the question you are tasked with answering. The question will also appear in written form under the video. 

After the time runs out, the screen video will disappear, and your image will be visible on the screen. At this point, your 20 or 30 seconds to think will automatically appear. 

After the preparation time runs out, the clock to answer (60 or 90 seconds!) will start, and you will need to give your answer during this period of time. Remember: you cannot redo any of the Yale video essay questions . 

After you answer the question, the system will upload your answer to the server (depending on your connection this can take a while) and will present you with the next question. 

DO NOT leave your computer during the upload time, even if it’s taking a while. You cannot pause the process, and you may end up missing questions!

The Behavioral Assessment

Yale also has a unique separate video essay requirement: the behavioral assessment . 

Unlike the video essay, the behavioral assessment is a fixed-choice assessment conducted by ETS that does not require any previous preparation. It is designed to measure a set of “interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies associated with business school success,” according to the Yale SOM site. 

The behavioral assessment should be completed in a single sitting and should take you about 20 minutes to complete. 

Given past applicants’ issues with iPad and mobile versions of the application, we strongly suggest you record your answer on a computer . 

If you do end up experiencing technical issues, access the support page here . 

Regardless of when you submit your application, you need to submit your responses to the Yale video essay questions no more than 48 hours after the round’s deadline . Find Yale’s most current application deadlines here. 

If you submit your application early, you can submit the Yale video essay questions at any time, as long as you make the final deadline.  

The Yale video essay questions are grouped into three different categories, each with a different focus. 

Group 1: MBA Motivations

The first question in the Yale SOM video essay will focus on your interest in Yale or the reason you are pursuing an MBA.

(Photo courtesy of @yalesom on Instagram)

This might take the form of “Why Yale?”, or “What are you expecting to learn at Yale?”. Conversely, they may also ask why you think now is a good moment in your career to stop and go to business school. They obviously want to be sure that you have researched Yale and have good reasons for applying for an MBA.

For this section, refer back to your goals essay , reflect, and be honest with yourself about why you’re applying to Yale. Maybe you like the program’s focus on diversity, maybe the raw case method, or perhaps you have colleagues who attended and spoke highly of Yale. 

The curriculum should also be a selling point for you, as well as the clubs and campus life, the diversity of the students, the experience of the teachers, and the internships and alumni network.

Now, please don’t reel off that list! It won’t be personal enough to you. 

Instead, clearly articulate your top three or four reasons for applying to Yale , and speak about them.

You don’t need to spend much time introducing this topic, saying “There are three main reasons why I want to attend Yale” and then giving us the reasons is more than enough.

It’s always good to include something that shows you’ve researched the program, so mentioning something specific, be it the academic modules or a specific club you want to join is a must for a winning video essay. 

Group 2: Behavioral questions

Yale is a community that values purpose-driven, adaptable people who work well in teams and are strong communicators. 

For that reason, Yale often asks questions aimed at determining if you work well with others and will be a positive addition to the Yale community. 

These questions won’t specifically ask, “Do you like working in a team,” but if you can keep in mind that this is a chance to show how you interact with others, you’ll have a good starting point for this question.

Typically questions range from how you help someone who needs advice, to your management style to how you handle conflict.

To do well in this question, it’s great to draw on examples , and to be clear and to the point.  Furthermore, make sure to show your human side and demonstrate that you genuinely care for others and want the teams you join to succeed. It can be easy to answer in a very conversational way, but doing so can often lead to an answer without a point, so make sure you use your planning time to structure the key elements of your answer. 

For this question, you want to make sure you’re showing what you do and use active language.

Your answer will want to show that you’re mature, that you’re emotionally intelligent, that you can see the bigger picture, that you’re empathetic, and that you make a positive contribution to those around you.

If the question is about helping someone with a problem, tell us what you do. Perhaps you first like to listen, then help them get clear on what they really want, and then decide together on some next steps.

If the question is about your management style, be precise. Tell them how you manage people and why. Maybe you’re very hands-off, and like to give everyone the opportunity to take responsibility within their role, as you think this empowers them the most to learn and develop. Maybe you’re more hands-on and like to make sure your team knows they can come to you with problems, as giving people too much freedom too soon can actually be overwhelming to them.

Regardless, make sure to show your reasons for your actions and demonstrate that you’re a person who embraces collaboration and who sees setbacks as opportunities for learning.

Group 3: The thinking question

In addition to the traditional interview questions, you will also be required to answer a thinking question (similar to a case study) during the Yale video essay. 

The key to the thinking question is to see how you think on your feet (and, as a result, test how well you’ll do with Yale’s raw case method ). 

The point of this task is to see if you can present a clear idea and demonstrate good critical thinking abilities, not to get the “right” answer. As such, focus on using your answer to walk through a clear, well-reasoned answer to the prompt. 

Sample Questions

To help your preparation, here are a few sample Yale video essay questions that our clients received when completing their own Yale video essays. 

Group 1 Questions

• Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your life?
• Why are you doing an MBA now?

Group 2 Questions

• You are starting a new project with team members coming from different cultures and educational backgrounds. How would you help them get to know each other?
• What do you do when someone comes to you with a problem?
• A colleague is asking you to help them assess their future career options. How do you help them grow?

Group 3 Questions

• Please respond to the following statement: “It is better for a leader to have a superficial knowledge of many topics than to be an expert in one topic.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Providing health insurance for employees is the most pressing issue for business leaders at the moment. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? 
• Please respond to the following statement: “It is more important to judge people by their actions than by their intentions.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The difference between a good and great Yale SOM video essay

Given the importance of the video essay in your Yale SOM application, it’s crucial to make sure you don’t just have a good video essay but that you have a great video essay. 

Now that you’ve learned how the video essay will work, we’ve gathered our top 5 tips here to ensure your video essay performance brings you one step closer to reaching your goal of attending Yale. 

Make sure you get into Yale SOM

You have stressed about every aspect of your Yale application, and now you are ready to record your video essay! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at Yale. 

However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. Maybe you’ve even downloaded the sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.

Our video essay prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself to Yale while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.

Regardless of where you’re from or what type of experience you have, we are focused on helping you do your best. 

Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you? Schedule your preparation session with our team of video essay experts today!

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Yale School of Management Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2022 – 2023]

Yale School of Management’s Executive MBA fully reflects the character of the SOM and more broadly of Yale University: strong, vibrant community; intellectual vigor (and rigor!); and real-world engagement and impact. Yale EMBA’s unique “areas of focus” approach is central to its identity, and while it may not be for everyone, for the right people, it will be perfect. Make sure you are in the latter category before applying – and, if you are, allow this approach to organically drive your application. Thoroughly review the website, read the blog, and, if possible, interact with the adcom by visiting the school and/or attending an info session. I strongly recommend obtaining the offered pre-assessment. These efforts should inform your essays and will help you convey fit.

Yale School of Management Executive MBA application essays

Yale som emba essay #1.

What is your motivation for applying for an Executive MBA at this point in your career? Please discuss your interest in the Yale SOM MBA for Executives program, your area of focus, and your professional and personal goals. (500 words maximum)

Starting off the question with why-now indicates that timing is so important to the adcom—this program should help you at a pivotal career moment, to make some significant advancement or transition—launch or leap. It also requires you to evaluate and interpret your career trajectory. Of course, fundamentally, your whole application in aggregate should answer this “why now” question. In this essay, address it explicitly.

Yale’s EMBA program is unusual in its emphasis on “areas of focus.” In the essay, integrate your reason for selecting your area of focus with your discussion of goals and how the Yale EMBA will help you achieve them.

With only 500 words to answer this multi-part question, keep the structure simple. A straightforward, effective way to structure it is to start with your professional goals, including both “what” (industry, function, positions, perhaps geographies) and “why” (what motivates these goals, what footprint do you hope to have)—including “why now” in this part of the discussion.

The question has an interesting twist in asking about your personal goals. These can be personal growth areas and/or explorations you wish to make for personal interest. They may or may not be directly connected to your professional goals. Most people will, understandably and appropriately, devote more space to the professional goals. But DO discuss personal goals as well. This part of the question aligns with Yale’s holistic perspective and is important for fit.

In discussing how the program will benefit you, be specific: describe what skills and knowledge you seek, and how the program will provide it. Yale’s “areas of focus” approach is unique; convey how and why this approach is ideal for your needs.

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Yale SOM EMBA essay #2

Cite a statistic that you find shocking. As a leader for business and society, what actions could you take to address this challenge, and what would be your guiding principles and values? (500 words maximum)

You might reasonably think that you should choose a statistic strategically linked to your career goals in some way. Or that will show some distinctive area of knowledge or experience you possess. Well, maybe. Or maybe not.

Just picking some random statistic that you really did find shocking when you heard it might be a bit unnerving for an MBA essay. I’ve seen it work. Why? Yale SOM’s intellectual dimension:  They appreciate people who are open to intellectual exploration and find interest in the world around them. In this question, the Yale SOM adcom is truly interested in the quality of your thinking and your curious nature, not just how advantageously you can portray your existing interests.

Use and write from the perspective of “leader for business and society” when you discuss prospective actions to take in addressing the challenge that arises from (or leads to) the shocking statistic. (And in citing “leader for business and society” the adcom clearly indicates an important aspect of “fit” they are looking for.) With that framework, you clearly must identify actions that involve mobilizing people beyond yourself and friends/family. While your actions, if described with meaningful specificity, will naturally reflect your “guiding principles and values,” still address this part of the question explicitly, with at least one sentence describing how they do.

Intended area of focus

Why have you selected this area of focus? Please describe how your current professional role relates to your chosen area of focus. (Word count: 150-250 words)

While you’ll discuss the Area of Focus in essay 1 vis-à-vis your goals, here you must link it to your existing work. For some people, that will mean emphasizing how it builds on their current role; for others it will mean emphasizing how it represents a turn or transition from the current role. The former situation is frankly easier and simpler; for the latter, which is more complicated, identify some aspects of your current work that will be valuable and relevant in the new direction. 

Optional information

If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, etc.), please provide a brief description here. (200 words maximum)

Use this space if you have an extenuating issue to address or a point that needs clarification. It is not an invitation to write a whole new essay that goes beyond providing context.

For expert guidance with your Yale SOM EMBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Yale SOM’s EMBA program and look forward to helping you too!

Yale SOM Executive MBA application deadlines for 2022-2023

Source:  Yale SOM EMBA website

Related Resources:

• Ace the EMBA: Expert Advice for Rising Executives , a free guide
• EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants
• School-Specific EMBA Application Essay Tips

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Essay topics.

All first-year applicants will complete a few Yale-specific short answer questions. These required questions are slightly different based on the application platform an applicant chooses. The 2024-2025 Yale-specific questions for the Coalition Application, Common Application, and QuestBridge Application are detailed below.

Short Answer Questions

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application , Common Application , or QuestBridge Application  will respond to the following short answer questions:

• Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the  list provided.
• Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it? (200 words or fewer)
• What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)

Applicants applying with the QuestBridge Application will complete the questions above via the Yale QuestBridge Questionnaire, available on the Yale Admissions Status Portal after an application has been received.

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application  will also respond to the following short answer questions, in no more than 200 characters (approximately 35 words):

• What inspires you?
• If you could teach any college course, write a book, or create an original piece of art of any kind, what would it be?
• Other than a family member, who is someone who has had a significant influence on you? What has been the impact of their influence? 
• What is something about you that is not included anywhere else in your application?

Applicants submitting the Coalition Application or Common Application will respond to one of the following prompts in 400 words or fewer. 

1. Reflect on a time you discussed an issue important to you with someone holding an opposing view. Why did you find the experience meaningful?

2. Reflect on your membership in a community to which you feel connected. Why is this community meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.

3. Reflect on an element of your personal experience that you feel will enrich your college. How has it shaped you?

Yale University Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Yale supplemental essays are an important part of your Yale University application. Not sure how to approach the Yale essay prompts? With tips from Ivy League graduate Laura Frustaci, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the Yale supplemental essays will show you exactly how to write engaging Yale essays and maximize your chances of admission.

For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Yale,  click here . Want help crafting your Yale supplemental essays? Create your  free account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 505-4682.

Yale  Supplemental Essays Guide Quick Facts:

• Yale has an acceptance rate of 6%— U.S. News  ranks Yale as a  highly competitive  school.
• We recommend answering all Yale supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully.

Does Yale require supplemental essays?

Yes. In addition to the  Common App  personal essay, there are several Yale supplemental essay questions. Some of these Yale essay prompts are longer than others, while the shortest Yale essays only require 35 words!

Need tips on writing your Common App essay? Check out our  blog article .

How many supplemental essays does Yale have?

There are a total of eight Yale supplementals: two Yale essays of 250 words maximum, two Yale supplements of 125 words maximum, and four Yale essay prompts called “Short Takes,” which are just 200 characters maximum (about 35 words). That’s around the length of a tweet!

What are Yale’s supplemental essays?

The  Yale supplemental essays 2021-2022  are on the Common App site, but you can also visit  the main Yale website  for a full list of application requirements.

Let’s start with the first type of Yale supplemental essay— the short essay.

Short Essays:

Yale supplemental essays—short essay question 1 (required):.

Yale’s extensive course offerings and vibrant conversations beyond the classroom encourage students to follow their developing intellectual interests wherever they lead. Tell us about your engagement with a topic or idea that excites you. Why are you drawn to it? (250 words max.)

How do I approach a Yale supplemental essay?

At 250 words, the “short” Yale essays are the longest you’ll write for the Yale supplements. Due to the limited space on Yale essay prompts, you should brainstorm specifically what to cover beforehand.

With Yale supplemental essays like this, try listing out 3-5 topics that really excite you, and then think about specific anecdotes for each topic. What got you interested in this activity? How do you pursue it? Whom do you talk about it with or engage in it with? Once you have topics and detailed anecdotes written down, choose the one which you feel you can discuss the most comprehensively and passionately for this Yale supplemental essay.

This Yale supplemental essay specifically references Yale’s “extensive course offerings” and Yale’s “vibrant conversations beyond the classroom.” Rather than just writing about how much you like to read, for example, try offering a specific aspect of reading that you love. Maybe it’s absurdist modern fiction, maybe it’s the novella, maybe it’s the translation of a text from one language to another. Whatever topic you decide to write about for this essay, try to get very specific about what  exactly  you like about it.

Unlike the longer Yale supplemental essays, shorter Yale essay prompts require you to pay strict attention to your descriptive language. Don’t use more words than necessary to describe the topic. Rather, you want to focus on how much the topic means to you, and especially  why.

Yale Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Does your draft clearly communicate the topic which excites you?
• Do you articulate why your chosen activity matters to you, and how it has influenced your growth and identity?
• Does your supplement provide information not present in the rest of your application?

Yale Supplemental Essays—Short Essay Question 2 (Required):

Respond to one of the following prompts:

2A. Reflect on a community to which you feel connected. Why is it meaningful to you? You may define community however you like.

2B. Reflect on something that has given you great satisfaction. Why has it been important to you? (250 words max.)

This is the only of the Yale essay prompts where you have options. If you’re struggling to decide which of these Yale supplements to answer, try  this writing exercise . Set a timer for 10 minutes and write as much as you can about the first prompt. Then do the same for the other. Which answer came more naturally to you? Go with that one!

For 2A, this Yale supplemental essay specifies that you can define community in any way. You could write about your family, a club at school that has been meaningful to you, or perhaps your coworkers at a part-time job. Anywhere you feel bonded with those surrounding you is a community.

Once you’ve defined your community, you’ll want to spend the majority of this Yale supplemental essay talking about why this community is important and how it has contributed to your understanding of the world around you. Perhaps this community changed your mind about a personal belief you once had. Describe specifically  how  you have been impacted by this community if you respond to this Yale supplemental essay.

For 2B, you should first define  what  satisfaction means to you. Then, describe why your chosen event, relationship, action, or accomplishment was so impactful to you. Maybe it’s a relationship with someone who is very important to you or a possession that represents something you value about yourself. Maybe you organized a bake sale that raised money for a charity that was important to you.

Like most universities, Yale is looking to build a creative, diverse community on its campus. Yale supplemental essays, and particularly this one, should reflect an individual who understands the meaning of community and how to function successfully in one. Success can look like many different things; just make sure you don’t spend too much time with descriptive language. Describe the  why  instead of just the  what.

• Do you focus on the  why  and not just the  what ?
• In 2A, do you clearly define the community you are writing about?
• Are your details concrete in 2B about what satisfied you and how?
• Does your response teach the reader something new about you?

Yale Supplemental Essays—Short Answer Question 1: Two Parts (Required):

Students at Yale have time to explore their academic interests before committing to one or more major fields of study. Many students either modify their original academic direction or change their minds entirely. As of this moment, what academic areas seem to fit your interests or goals most comfortably? Please indicate up to three from the  list  provided.

Why do these areas appeal to you? (125 words max.)

These Yale essay prompts comprise a joint question. First, you’ll want to read the list linked in Part One of this Yale supplemental essay question thoroughly and write down any academic areas that interest you. Then, eliminate until you have three areas remaining.

It would be best to not choose just one, since Yale essays place a specific emphasis on the school’s interdisciplinary nature. Instead, choose two or three areas and discuss them together. Explore their similarities and differences and consider what about each of them interests you.

This is an opportunity to discuss your academic goals at Yale. This Yale supplemental essay gives you space to indicate why Yale is the best option for you and how you will contribute to Yale student academic life. Try not to regurgitate the question back to the Admissions Officers. They already know that Yale encourages students to explore multiple intellectual pursuits, so try to avoid sentences like “Yale’s academic flexibility is so beneficial because it allows students to explore many different subjects; the three subjects I would be most interested in are…” Instead, cut the first half of the sentence and dive right into your chosen subjects.

• Is equal time dedicated to each subject you selected?
• Do you explain why each subject sparks your interest?
• Do you address the potential overlap between subjects?
• Does your response supplement and/or complicate the other aspects of your application, with special regard to academic preferences?

Does Yale have a “Why Yale” essay?

Yes. This is the classic supplemental essay question, and Yale supplements are no exception—all colleges want to know what makes them special to you. Yale supplemental essays are your chance to showcase any research you have done about Yale. This Yale essay prompt in particular is the perfect space to lay out your motivations for wanting to attend Yale.

Check out the following section for more details on the “Why Yale” supplemental essay.

Yale Supplemental Essays—Short Answer Question 2 (Required):

What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words max.)

Your responses to the Yale supplemental essays should both introduce you to the admissions officer, AND create a strong case for why you should attend Yale. For this question, avoid over-generalizing with statements like “Yale’s campus is beautiful” or “I just feel like I belong there.” Instead, offer concrete examples of  why  you belong there. Maybe you’re a literature fiend and you’re dying to perform research in Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Maybe there’s a specific Professor you really want to learn from.

This is the space to name-drop courses, clubs, professors, and research opportunities only available at Yale. Colleges can tell when you swap out their name for another University and submit the same “Why here?” answer. Your application will be stronger if your answer to this Yale supplemental essay could  not  be swapped interchangeably with any other schools.

Yale Essay Draft Tips:

• Do you prove that you’ve done research on the school?
• Do you explain what unique opportunities Yale would provide you that you could not get anywhere else?
• Does your draft provide specific details about what you hope to do while on Yale’s campus?

Short Takes:

Yale supplemental essays—short takes question 1 (required):.

What inspires you? (200 characters or fewer; approximately 35 words)

These Yale essays are called “Short Takes” for a reason—the college is pushing you to distill your thinking into just a few short sentences.

For this question, you’ll want to give a quick description of what it is that inspires you and then move quickly into why it inspires you or how. That information will tell Admissions Officers a lot more about you than a detailed depiction of just the “what” of this question.

With these Yale supplements, be a ruthless editor. Save your flowery, descriptive language for the other Yale supplemental essays. Any time you see words that could be condensed, edit them down. This might take longer than expected, and it will be especially helpful to have another set of eyes on these shorter Yale supplements. When you’re tweeting, for example, you only say the most important part of your idea because of the character limit. That doesn’t mean your Tweet won’t go viral! It’s the same idea here. Sometimes shorter is better!

Yale Supplemental Essays—Short Takes Question 2 (Required):

Yale’s residential colleges regularly host conversations with guests representing a wide range of experiences and accomplishments. What person, past or present, would you invite to speak? What would you ask them to discuss? (200 characters max; approximately 35 words)

Here is an opportunity for you to talk about someone you really look up to, who has perhaps influenced your academic and career path or inspired you to pursue an extracurricular you really love. Again, you’ll want to mention the name of the person in the first short sentence and then move immediately into what you would have them talk about. This can be a query you’ve long pondered, or perhaps you could ask for an expansion on previous research they’ve done or elaboration on a speech they’ve made. This is another good opportunity to show off your expert research skills.

Yale Supplemental Essays—Short Takes Question 3 (Required):

You are teaching a new Yale course. What is it called? (200 characters max.; approximately 35 words)

This is a chance to mention a subject (or two) that you really care about, ideally something not already offered by the Yale syllabus. Remember, Yale supplemental essays are your chance to showcase the research that you’ve done on the school. Pitching a Yale course that is identical or too similar to a current course is a glaring error. It might be helpful to look at some of their  course offerings  to get an idea of what types of classes Yale already offers. Or, you could combine two of your passions into one niche subject.

Yale Supplemental Essays—Short Takes Question 4 (Required):

Yale students embrace the concept of “and” rather than “or,” pursuing arts and sciences, tradition and innovation, defined goals and surprising detours. What is an example of an “and” that you embrace? (200 characters max.; approximately 35 words)

Here is where Yale emphasizes their desire for interdisciplinary academia. To answer this question, you might think about two disparate pieces of your identity or two subjects you love that are at odds with each other. You can also consider a contradiction you face in an extracurricular club or at an after-school job. This question is a chance to be more creative and abstract—while some of the Yale essays are concrete in what they ask of you, this one is more open-ended. Something to remember for this essay—Yale supplemental essays should tell a story about you as a candidate. Be careful about introducing completely new information that isn’t explored or explained elsewhere in the application.

Yale Supplemental Essays—Concluding Thoughts

Completing the Yale essay prompts can seem daunting, but don’t let that discourage you from applying. The Yale supplements are a great opportunity to demonstrate who you are to Admissions Officers. These Yale essays can boost your application if you have a lower than average GPA or  SAT score .

Use this guide as a step-by-step aid when approaching the Yale supplemental essays 2021-2022, and start earlier than you think you should. Especially with the shortest Yale essay prompts; you might think it will be easy to write 35 words in 35 minutes, but sometimes the shortest prompts can be the most challenging. Don’t be afraid to ask for revisions from someone; it’s helpful to have another set of eyes checking your Yale essay prompts for grammatical errors, tone, and clarity. Good luck!

This 2021-2022 essay guide for Yale University was written by  Laura Frustaci , Harvard  ‘21.  For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Yale,  click here . Want help crafting your Yale supplemental essays?  Create your free account  or  schedule a free consultation  by calling (844) 505-4682.

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From the Assistant Dean of Admissions: My Top Insights into the Application Process

Bruce DelMonico shares the greatest hits from his Inbox Application Insights email series.

Some of you are already familiar with Inbox Application Insights (“IAI”), an email series where I share application tips and advice with candidates in the month leading up to our application deadline. But with less than a month to go before our January 5 Round 2 application deadline, I thought I'd share a “greatest hits” summary of my IAI advice for those who don’t receive the emails or would like a refresher.

The insights below focus on the application elements you will be working on before you submit your application. But the IAI series continues past the application deadline to address post-submission aspects of the process; to make sure you don’t miss any tips,  complete your profile here .

You may also want to check out some of our additional applications resources, including our Application Guide and our recently recorded events, Our Best Application Advice and  Inside the Application, Literally .

 I hope you’ll find these resources helpful. We look forward to reading your application!

We have one required essay question: Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made.

• The Admissions Committee is not making value judgements about what commitment you choose. The key is not which commitment you think we’ll think is the best, but which is the most significant to you. And the commitment can be either personal or professional in nature.
• Regardless of what commitment you choose, the most important aspect of the essay is to describe in detail the behaviors that demonstrate that commitment. Point to the specific actions that you have taken over time in support of your commitment.
• You don’t need to explain how the commitment connects with why you want to get an MBA, either in general or at Yale; there are other places to do that.
• Don’t forget to proofread!

Letters of Recommendation

If you haven’t already done so, now is a good time to speak to your recommenders about writing a recommendation on your behalf.

• We care more about the quality of the relationship you have with your recommender than the title they hold. A supervisor who knows you well will provide us with the most meaningful perspective on your accomplishments, experiences, and professional background. (Note that we allow recommenders to submit their recommendations in Spanish or Mandarin.)
• It's usually a good idea to have a conversation with your chosen recommenders to prepare them and to reflect on some of the experiences you have had while working with them.
• We encourage applicants to have at least one recommendation from a current supervisor. However, there are several reasons why you might not be able to secure a current supervisor recommender. In this case, you should mention this fact in the optional essay, and we would suggest you look to your most recent former supervisor as the next best option.
• Entrepreneurs and employees of family businesses may want to consider getting recommendations from clients, vendors, suppliers, board members, or VC funders.

Your Academic Profile

One of the main things the Admissions Committee is assessing in your MBA application is your preparation for the Yale SOM classroom. We make this assessment by looking at a combination of application elements, most notably your undergraduate (and, if applicable, graduate school) transcripts and your standardized test scores, as well as to a lesser extent our Behavioral Assessment.

• Your undergraduate record and standardized test scores are both strong predictors of your performance in the MBA classroom, but those are just two data points. We look at your entire application in combination and don’t assign a fixed weight to any element.
• We encourage applicants to focus less on our median GMAT or GRE score and look instead at the range of scores represented across each class. By definition, half the class is below the median, so using it as a benchmark can be misleading.
• We don’t have a preference between the GMAT and GRE.
• When evaluating academics, how well you performed in college is much more predictive than where you went to school. We also look at far more than just your overall GPA, and will spend a good deal of time going semester by semester, looking at each of the courses you’ve taken and your performance in them.
• After submitting your application, all applicants complete our Behavioral Assessment, a non-cognitive instrument that measures a set of intra- and interpersonal competencies related to success in business school. We introduced this assessment to better predict academic success for applicants who may not demonstrate academic preparation based on traditional metrics such as grades and scores but who would make strong contributions to the classroom. It's meant to give the Admissions Committee a fuller picture of each applicant and helps us broaden the scope of our evaluation and expand the range of candidates whom we can admit.

Career Interests

We don’t need a detailed roadmap of your future professional life, but we do hope that you’ve thought directionally about how your graduate management studies will launch you into your desired post-MBA career.

• The Admissions Committee is well aware that many (in fact, most) MBA students pursue something different than what they expressed in their application. We don’t base admissions decisions on what you say you want to do after your MBA: those goals are highly variable and very fluid.
• A good Career Interests response will focus not just on what your post-MBA goals are, but on where they came from, how you’ve developed them, and how you’re positioning yourself to achieve them. The key is reflection and strong self-awareness.
• Your career interests will likely come up again in your interview. Your interviewer will ask you more about your interests in an MBA and what you hope to accomplish post-MBA. So you will have another chance to expand on some details that you might not have been able to include in the written parts of the application.

Bruce DelMonico Assistant Dean for Admissions

Admissions Office Yale School of Management 165 Whitney Avenue Box 208200 New Haven, CT 06520-8200 203.432.5635, Admissions Office 203.432.6380, Visitor Center fax 203.432.7004 [email protected]

Stephanie Kim ’24

Jessica Gallegos ’16

Internship spotlight: sara paredes echeverri ’25, bloodworks northwest, internship spotlight: jason liu ’25, united nations capital development fund.