dartmouth tuck essay

• Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Essay Tips and Examples

July 18, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

Applicants to Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business are expected to provide three 300-word essays and have the option to submit a fourth, if anything more about their candidacy needs to be offered or explained. The school’s first prompt broadly covers applicants’ need for an MBA, and specifically a Tuck MBA, as well as why they are pursuing one now. Essay 2 deals with candidates’ individuality, and the third essay is about a time when applicants demonstrated or acted on their instincts to encourage or create inclusivity for others. Tuck clearly seeks individuals who will be ambitious, cooperative, and supportive members of its community. Our more detailed essay analysis for Tuck’s 2023–2024 essay questions follows.

Dartmouth College (Tuck) Essay Analysis, 2023–2024

Essay 1: Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words) 

By not specifically requesting short- and long-term goals in this essay prompt, Tuck leaves the decision of how to frame your career aspirations up to you. The natural assumption is that if you have reached a point in your professional journey where you believe an MBA is necessary to move forward, you must have a goal in mind that you are working toward—even if that goal is still fairly nebulous or malleable at this point. Note that the admissions committee is also interested in hearing why now is the best time for you to pursue the degree, so you must show that you have reached a kind of inflection point in your professional trajectory where the skills and experiences you will gain at and from business school are necessary for you to keep moving forward (or to pivot in a new direction), rather than stagnating or stalling in your current role.

To address the “how will Tuck help you?” element of this prompt, you will need to indicate which of the school’s resources and/or what aspect(s) of its program as a whole will be most helpful to you in your pursuits, and this requires more than a pandering summarization or a stark list of offerings. This means you must move beyond the Tuck website, viewbook, and related marketing materials and make direct contact with students, alumni, and other school representatives. In-person admissions events, campus visits, and online options allow candidates to familiarize themselves with Tuck’s environment and resources. Tuck’s YouTube channel is another resource for learning about what is happening at the school and what its community members are like. Understanding what and who the school’s program truly entails, as well as how it works, is key in identifying and then articulating your need for a Tuck MBA in particular. By thoroughly doing your research on the school and drawing a clear picture for your admissions reader of how the particular offerings you have identified relate directly to your needs and how you intend to apply them, chances are high that you will submit a truly effective essay.

In a recent blog post , the program’s director of admissions, evaluation, and yield, Patricia Harrison, states that this essay prompt aligns directly with one of the school’s core admissions criteria—“aware”—and advises Tuck hopefuls to really understand this criterion as it is defined and viewed by the school. We hope this is already obvious, but when a member of the admissions office encourages you to do, read, watch, or listen to something in preparation for writing your application essays, do it . You might be able to write a compelling, effective essay response without doing so, but why take the chance?   

Because this prompt encompasses some of the most elemental components of a traditional personal statement essay, we encourage you to download a free copy of the  mbaMission Personal Statement Guide . This document provides in-depth guidance on how to consider and respond to these sorts of questions, along with numerous illustrative examples. 

And for a thorough exploration of Tuck’s academic program, unique resources, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, standout professors, and other key features, download your free copy of the  mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the Tuck School of Business .

Essay 2: Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words) 

This essay question tasks applicants with sharing what they feel are the most important aspects of their character and personality, and the admissions committee expects candidates to understand and be able to articulate how they fit with (and be additive to) the school’s community. Given the rather tight word count, though, you do not need to be overly specific and detailed in conveying this information. In the aforementioned admissions blog post, Harrison states, “Finally, we are interested in hearing about the person who will show up at Tuck rather than the things you will do here ” (emphasis hers). Keep this in mind as you brainstorm and write. Many students can and do participate in events, clubs, and other offerings at the school, so saying you will be a member of this or that group or hope to help organize this or that conference is not as revelatory of your personality and uniqueness as the admissions committee wants you to be here. Focus on conveying your core character and values, and the admissions readers can connect the dots themselves from there.

We suggest you start by grabbing some paper and making an old-fashioned list of your key attributes, values, and interests. Do not concern yourself with trying to identify the “right” ones but focus instead on the ones that would be most representative of who you are. A good brainstorming tactic is to imagine meeting someone for the first time at a party or other event and how you would go about 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? Take some time to delve into your personality in this way. At the same time, keep in mind what the admissions committee will already know about you from the other portions of your application, to avoid wasting an opportunity to share something new, and pinpoint stories that provide context and color to your claims, versus just stating them outright. For example, rather than a declaration like “I tend to be a very altruistic person and enjoy giving back to my community by being a reading tutor,” you might say something more like “Tuesday nights have become my favorite night of the week, because that is when I tutor local elementary students in reading, and the way their eyes light up when they learn a new word or finish another book never fails to inspire and gratify me.” Giving your claims sufficient context and a bit of “life” in this way allows the admissions committee to more fully understand and appreciate them.

This essay prompt actually allows you a great deal of freedom to choose and share the information you believe is key for the admissions committee to know about you. In addition to focusing on the elements of your personality that you feel are most distinct and revelatory of who you are as an individual, pay special attention to which ones mesh best with the Dartmouth Tuck experience. (Be sure to read through the school’s admissions criteria in detail, if you have not already done so.) Avoid simply trying to fit in as much information as possible about yourself in hopes of stumbling on the “correct” answers and instead clearly present and illustrate your most fitting qualities. Authenticity and enthusiasm are the keys to your success with this essay.

Essay 3: Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words) 

Harrison notes in her blog post that this essay ties to the school’s “encouraging” factor, so keep that in mind as you prepare to write. The prompt aligns perfectly with Tuck’s long-held belief in teamwork and community spirit, and its introduction this season echoes decisions by several other top MBA programs to include questions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their applications. By illustrating via this essay that you have a natural interest in helping, working with, and/or caring about others and have a history of doing so, you will demonstrate for the admissions committee that you possess the qualities it seeks in its next class of students. In addition, stepping up to be there for someone in a way that is important to them also shows an instinct for leadership, which is valued by all MBA programs.

Via this essay, Tuck hopes to learn how you view, approach, and engage with people who think differently from you, operate according to different values, and react differently to the same stimuli. Once enrolled in the school’s MBA program, you will be surrounded every day by people who are unlike you in a multitude of ways, and the admissions committee wants to know that you are genuinely interested in people from outside your usual frame of reference and are driven to engage with and embrace them. By asking you to share a time when you “meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion,” Tuck is requesting actual evidence of this open-mindedness in action. 

The prompt asks you to focus on a specific time when you acted in a way that encouraged inclusiveness, so you need to pinpoint and discuss a specific incident or situation, rather than describing your inclusive mind-set in a broader, more theoretical way. Essays that request examples invite the use of a narrative structure, and we believe such essays tend to be not only more revealing but also more interesting to read (always good when trying to make an impression on someone who reads literally thousands of essays each year!). To illustrate, you might start by launching directly into your story and immediately highlighting the actions you took to enhance inclusivity in a given situation: “When I realized that some of our new hires were reluctant to take part in our company’s weekly ‘wine wind down,’ I committed myself to finding out why and what could be done to ….” 

Tuck will understandably want to know the outcome of the incident you describe, so you will need to relate the results of your actions, but the admissions committee is more interested in knowing what your motivations were, what decisions you made, and what steps you took to effect change. In other words, you must illustrate the values and thought process behind your efforts, in addition to clearly conveying your actions and their outcome.

With only 300 words with which to respond, you will need to clearly but succinctly convey the situation as you originally encountered it, your inspiration to become involved, the actions you took, and the outcome. The description of Tuck’s “encouraging” criterion includes the qualifier “even when it is not convenient or easy,” so stories in which the decision to engage might have been fraught in some way or the path to the desired outcome was not entirely direct or smooth could resonate slightly better with the admissions committee. If you are deciding between two or more instances you could discuss for this essay, consider going with one in which your intervention was perhaps not requested or immediately accepted—one in which you perhaps needed to diplomatically negotiate your participation in it.

Note that Tuck does not specify from which realm of your life—professional, personal, or community related—the story you choose to share here must come. This means you can plumb the entirety of your experiences for the one you believe best fulfills what the school wants to see and about which you feel most strongly. Also consider that the prompt does not indicate that the recipient must be an individual, so it could potentially involve a pair or small group. Perhaps, for example, you helped a duo of small business owners with a marketing issue or supported a small musical group or athletic team in some capacity. In any case, absolutely avoid bragging about your role or suggesting that the party you aided could never have succeeded without you. The school is looking for evidence that you have not only a natural inclination to invest in and bolster others but also the capacity and skills to do so effectively. 

Optional Essay: Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of evaluators, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

You might be tempted to take advantage of this optional essay as an opportunity to share an additional compelling story or to highlight a part of your profile that you fear might be overlooked or undervalued, but we strongly encourage you to resist this temptation. Submit an optional essay here only if your candidacy truly needs it. A past Tuck 360 blog post noted that receiving an unnecessarily long essay would cause the admissions committee to “question your judgment or your ability to express yourself succinctly elsewhere.” You really cannot get much clearer than that! So again, only if your profile has a noticeable gap of some kind or an issue that would might raise a red flag or elicit questions on the part of an admissions officer—such as a poor grade or overall GPA, a low GMAT/GRE score, a gap in your work experience, an arrest, etc.—should you take this opportunity to provide additional information. Download a free copy of our  mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on deciding whether to take advantage of the optional essay as well as on how to do so effectively (with multiple sample essays) to help you mitigate any problem areas in your profile.

Reapplicant Essay: (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)  

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 with this essay is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. Tuck wants to know that you have been actively striving to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the previous year to do so, because a Tuck MBA is vital to you. The responses to this essay question will vary greatly from one candidate to the next, because each person’s needs and experiences differ. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one assistance with this highly personal essay to ensure that your efforts over the past year are presented in the best light possible.

The Next Step—Mastering Your Dartmouth Tuck 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. And to help you develop this high level of preparation, we offer our  free Interview Guides ! Download your free copy of the  Dartmouth Tuck Interview Guide  today.

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

2023-2024 Business School Dartmouth College (Tuck) Essays MBA Essay Tips

Tags: business school essay Dartmouth Tuck free guides MBA application essays optional essay reapplicants

Upcoming Events

• Apr 25, 2024 Assessing Your MBA Profile (Online)
• May 19, 2024 Admissions Q&A with Booth, Fuqua, Sloan, Tuck & Yale (Online)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Apr 12, 2024 UCLA Anderson (Round 3)
• Apr 15, 2024 USC Marshall (Round 3)
• Apr 29, 2024 Toronto Rotman (Round 4)
• Apr 29, 2024 UNC Kenan-Flagler (Round 4)
• Apr 30, 2024 Georgetown McDonough (Round 4)

Click here to see the complete deadlines

2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

• Berkeley Haas School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• BU Questrom School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Cambridge Judge Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Chicago Booth School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Columbia Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples
• Duke Fuqua School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Emory Goizueta Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Esade Essay Tips and Examples
• Georgetown McDonough School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Harvard Business School 2+2 Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis 2024
• Harvard Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• HEC Paris Essay Tips and Examples
• HKUST Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IESE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• INSEAD Essay Tips and Examples
• International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Essay Tips and Examples
• Ivey Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• London Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Ohio Fisher College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Oxford Saïd Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• SMU Cox School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Stanford Graduate School of Business Application Essay Tips and Examples
• Texas McCombs School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Essay Tips and Examples
• The Wharton School Essay Tips and Examples
• Toronto Rotman School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UCLA Anderson School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• USC Marshall School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UVA Darden School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UW Foster School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management Essay Analysis, 2023–2024
• Villanova School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Yale School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

Stay on top of the latest insights.

Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, dartmouth tuck essays: tips & strategy.

• By Jonathan Masland

Dartmouth Tuck released its MBA essays for the 2023–24, with small but significant changes designed to let candidates explore their identity and experience with inclusion.

Tuck continues to rely on three essays, plus an optional prompt, but with a hard cut-off at 300 words each, this offers scant real estate to convey your story. It’s important to know that the Tuck Admissions Committee uses a set of four criteria to assess an applicant’s fit with the Tuck community, and they will judge each piece of your application.

Essay 1 ties the classic “Why an MBA and why Tuck?” question directly to your career aspirations. Question 2 and Question 3 explore how your background contributes to the diverse Tuck culture and community and probes your commitment to and experience with inclusion.

Read on for the Fortuna team’s best advice on how to use this year’s essays build a laser-focused narrative for Dartmouth Tuck that inspires the admissions committee to want to learn more.

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Essay Tips

Required essay 1: why are you pursuing an mba and why now how will the distinct tuck mba contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations (300 words).

We suggest structuring the essay into the three components of the question:

• Anchor the essay with your career goals and aspirations;
• Answer why an MBA fits into the career goals and why now, and then
• Answer Why the Tuck MBA specifically will help you achieve these goals and aspirations.

Your career goals and aspirations

The essence of an MBA is career transformation – the learning, experience, credentials, access to job opportunities, and the professional network (students and alumni) weave together to help realize your career goals. Briefly and clearly introduce this essay by describing what these career goals and aspirations are. You should capture both your immediate goals post-MBA and your mid to long term goals too. Make sure that your answers here reinforce but do not exactly repeat information you supply about your short- and long-term career goals in short-answer questions on the application.

Why an MBA & why now

Describe the reason (or reasons, but not more than three) for “Why an MBA.” Tie your professional, educational, and even personal experiences together with your career goals as you shape your answer. The reasons should make sense to Tuck Admissions, to yourself and to future employers.

Also include in your answer to “Why now?”. With tight word limits in mind, be direct: “ I am pursuing an MBA now because…” ).

The MBA is a tremendous commitment and sacrifice that brings even greater potential rewards, Tuck wants to be sure you are ready for this commitment and that you have a compelling motivation to make it now. Also, you will be asked these questions in admissions interviews and in job interviews as you complete your degree. Being able to craft a compelling answer in your application will benefit you throughout your MBA journey.

The “Why Tuck?” part of your answer is what will make or break this essay, because Tuck is truly a unique MBA experience. Tuck’s admissions team seeks applicants that both understand its uniqueness and can also explain why and how your background, career goals and aspirations fit within their ecosystem..

We strongly encourage that you speak to multiple current students and alumni and ask them why they chose Tuck and why they think you should. From their answers, identify that resonate with yourself and then include them in your own response.

Below are some insights that will help you craft your answer to this question:

• Tuck’s mission, vision and strategy . Tuck takes its mission very seriously and it is therefore part of how the admissions team evaluates applicants: “Tuck develops wise, decisive leaders who better the world through business.” Your answer should connect with the Tuck mission. This shows that you understand Tuck, a signal that can help with your admissions evaluation.
• General management focus and strong core. The first year of the program is very intense. It is a mix of case and traditional teaching methods structured around its core curriculum.
• Tight-knit community. Tuck is a small, rural school that only offers an MBA degree. You get to know all your classmates, faculty, administration, and alumni.
• Passionate alumni network. Each year more than 65 percent of alumni donate to the school (the highest share of any MBA program in the world, according to Tuck). These alumni support you as students by answering networking calls and visiting campus to teach and recruit. They will help you in your summer internship to get the full-time offer and will support your post-Tuck career. Supporting students and fellow Tuck alumni is both the expectation and the norm.
• Access to top recruiters. The MBBs, Wall Street, top tech firms in the Bay and East Coast, leadership development firms recruit and hire Tuck students.
• Unique programs and offerings. Before applying, research and understand the First Year Project (FYP) and the Bakala TuckGO international requirement, and get to know the research centers (Energy, PE, Health Care, etc.). See which resonate with you and reference them in your essay.
• Clubs, student activities and special events. Incorporating references to student activities and Tuck-specific experiences (i.e., Tripod Hockey, conferences, etc.). can also help show that you understand and appreciate the unique Tuck experience.

Finally, as for the level of detail, it’s always tough to balance the need to be practical, concrete, and achievable with an overall career vision that is inspiring, impactful, and imaginative. Tuck wants students who are focused and realistic, but they also like applicants with ambition and vision. Aiming for a particular industry or function is a legitimate goal; the key will be to make sure the dots connect coherently with your previous experience and current motivations.

Required Essay 2. Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community?  ( 300 words)

Tuck — as with so many top schools — values diversity and uniqueness. In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling that ended Affirmative Action in admissions, this question has been revised slightly from last year’s to allow you to highlight facets of your identity and experiences that have shaped you as a person

Every student adds something different and valuable, and Tuck, like many schools, is trying to admit candidates who will contribute broad perspectives to the class. Here, it’s important to try and get your true character across. The school is genuinely interested in who you are and what makes you unique. It will be better to focus on a couple of aspects and illustrate these in some depth. Given the tight word limit, trying to cover too much ground may lead to a superficial essay that fails to offer much insight into who you are as a person.

Three important points to consider when answering this question are the following:

• Be authentic. Show who you are; do not share what you think they may want to hear that is not true to yourself.
• Be memorable, different and interesting; you do this by showing and sharing details and stories of your life so that when the admissions team evaluates you, there are anecdotes and stories that stick in reviewers’ minds and help admissions remember and choose you.
• Tuck asks who you are in relation to your values, experiences and character. Keeping the greater purpose of your application in mind, it’s useful to show how these facets relate to your career goal, and what your experience will bring to discussions in business classes.

To answer this question in a structured way, consider answering each section in sequence and then refine your response into a coherent and compelling essay. Here are the components with some context:

• Tell us who you are. Don’t let this broad, wide-open lead you into the weeds of self-description. Just be direct. Starting with a strong simple statement such as, “I am an entrepreneur who thrives in solving problems” or “I am a leader who is passionate about solving environmental problems,” gives your essay focus and clarity.
• How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? Describe relevant and important values and experiences that define you and direct your path through life.
• How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? Be specific; mapping your traits to ways you will contribute to Tuck’s culture and ecosystem, both within and beyond the classroom. This is a place where underrepresented minorities can share how their background and experience will benefit their peers.

Required Essay 3: Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community.  (hard cut-off at 300 words)

This is a “tell me about a time” question — one where you are asked to tell a story that helps admissions to better understand you, your priorities and experiences as a good fit in the Tuck community. This essay is a proxy for how you might behave within the Tuck community. It will help admissions reviewers imagine you as part of the MBA class. The question also reflects Tuck’s commitment to inclusiveness; they are looking for evidence that you share that value and have put it into action.

It’s important to choose the right story to tell. We suggest considering multiple stories before selecting one to develop and submit. To choose the best story, consider the language of this question to understand what the admissions committee is trying to learn and evaluate:

• Inclusion : This is the key to the essay. They are looking for a story where you helped others feel and be included, as evidence of how you relate to others.
• Meaningfully : The story you choose should have impact and substance, rather than a minor event that makes a small impact.
• Community : Here, they are looking for scale. The experience should be one where you cultivated inclusion in a community — a group or a team, not just one or two people or an interaction with an individual.

After choosing the right story to share, it is critical to deliver it in a clear and structured manner. A structure you might consider when delivering the story is using the STAR method — a useful approach to answering “Tell me about a time” questions during admissions and recruiting interviews. In the STAR method you outline:

• Situation : Provide context on the situation you were in and describe the community.
• Task : Explain what needed to be done. What was the problem that you faced where inclusion was required?
• Action : What did you do? What action did you take that led to the inclusion of the individual?
• Result : What happened? What was the outcome or impact? this is the punchline of the story.

Final Considerations for your Tuck Essays

A few concluding pieces of advice and considerations for your Tuck essays:

• Self-awareness is important . Understanding yourself, your priorities and what motivates you is the most important trait you can bring to your MBA application and your career journey.
• Speak to students and alumni before you write the essays . These conversations will save you time and significantly help your essays. Listen to their responses, learn about the Tuck MBA and then use what you learn in your responses.
• Be structured when answering the questions . Admissions readers have many applications to read, so help them out by doing all you can to answer the entire question clearly and in a structured way.
• Speak in your distinctive voice . Make sure that admissions can hear you and your voice in your responses. Have someone who knows you and your background review and confirm that they hear you.
• Show that you have done your research. Readers can tell if this is a ‘copy and paste’ job, where you took essays from another MBA program and reworked them. Regardless of how great of applicant you are, Tuck admissions will penalize you if you have not taken the time to consider the uniqueness of the Tuck MBA and then reflect that in your essays.
• Be interesting (in a good and relevant way). In your responses, you are marketing yourself to admissions, with the goal of getting them to seriously consider you for the Tuck MBA program. Do what you can to promote your true, authentic self, so that you are considered.
• Essays complement each other. Make sure the answers work together to collectively present the best picture of yourself.

For more expert essay advice for the other schools on your target list, view Fortuna’s Essay Tips .

Fortuna Expert Coach Jonathan Masland is a former executive director of Career Services at the Tuck of Business and an alumna of the dual degree Wharton MBA and Lauder Institute program   For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation .

• Posted on August 13, 2023

Share this article on social media

Sign up now for a free 30-minute discovery session to get personalized feedback on your profile and learn how Fortuna can help you secure admission to your dream school!

Sign up for a free consultation

Sign up for our free bi-weekly newsletter and get the best MBA admissions advice straight to your inbox.

First Name *

Last Name *

Dartmouth Tuck Application Deadlines and Essay Advice: 2023-2024

Dartmouth Tuck has officially announced its essay questions for the 2023-2024 application cycle!

Located in New England’s Upper Valley,  Dartmouth Tuck  offers small-town charm while providing the resources of a larger area. If you are looking to attend a smaller MBA program but still want access to a cosmopolitan mix of cultures and global connections, Dartmouth Tuck may be a great choice for you.

In the most recent reported class profile data, Dartmouth Tuck admitted applicants with an average GMAT score of 726 and an average undergrad GPA of 3.52. Information on the  class of 2024  also notes that 45% of students identify as female and 43% of students are international (including dual citizens and permanent residents).

This year, Tuck has announced two deadlines for each application round. Those who apply before the first deadline are guaranteed an interview. Personal MBA Coach welcomes this change as it encourages applicants not to submit at the last minute (which is something we advise for all of our clients). We recommend that those who have Tuck high on their list take advantage of the interview guarantee.

The upcoming Tuck application deadlines are:

Round 1 with Interview Guaranteed/Regular Deadline:  September 1, 2023/September 25, 2023

Round 2 with Interview Guaranteed/Regular Deadline:  December 1, 2023/January 4, 2024

Round 3 with Interview Guaranteed/Regular Deadline:  March 1, 2024/March 25, 2024

The 2023-2024 Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Summary

Before sharing its essays, Tuck shares the following statement:

Tuck classes are diverse by design, but our students share four common characteristics that form the basis of our admissions criteria.  Tuck students are smart, accomplished, aware and encouraging; no two candidates are equally strong across all criteria, and you may demonstrate different strengths in different ways. 

Once again, Tuck asks applicants to answer three required essay questions. This year, Dartmouth Tuck changed the wording of all three essays.

Please see below for Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to answer the Dartmouth Tuck MBA essays.

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay 1:

Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words)

There is a lot to fit into this short 300-word essay. While candidates will share their goals in the short answer questions, they may want to use this space to elaborate on these goals. If you need help thinking through your goals, we have published a blog with our general tips.

Next, candidates should reflect upon the skills they will need to succeed in this desired career and SPECIFICALLY how Tuck will help them. Be sure to do your research into everything Tuck has to offer and discuss what you will take advantage of on campus and how. Tuck has a unique program, and it is more than just being close-knit. As always, avoid vague statements here.

Finally, be sure to explain to the Tuck admissions committee why NOW is the right time for you to pursue an MBA. Perhaps you have reached a plateau that you need an MBA to overcome. Or, maybe you recently had an experience that confirmed you are ready to change careers. Regardless of your personal circumstances, be sure to at least briefly discuss that here.

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay 2:

Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words)

For this question, candidates should reflect upon what makes them unique. For some candidates, this uniqueness may be obvious and directly tied to their demographic or socioeconomic background. If this applies to you, be sure not only to share this background but also talk about how it has shaped your values.

For other candidates, this uniqueness may be less obvious, and candidates are urged to reflect upon their personal story when determining what to share. In prior years, Personal MBA Coach has suggested that applicants consider hobbies, passions, skills and aspirations for Tuck’s second essay. While these topics are all still fair game, we urge applicants to dig deeper this year. Take the time to reflect on how these experiences have shaped you.

Finally, notice the call to discuss your contributions to Tuck. This means you should discuss the role you will play within the class of 2026 and how you will specifically improve life at Tuck.

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay 3:

Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words)

Recognizing that actions speak louder than words, Tuck has previously asked for an example of how applicants have demonstrated the school’s values (telling applicants that Tuck students are encouraging, collaborative and empathic).

While Tuck is again asking for an example of how applicants have supported someone else, the focus this year has been narrowed, asking only about inclusion. Columbia Business School also added a DEI focused question this year, so this change is not surprising.

With only 300 words, select a story that is easy to set up. You do not want to use many words explaining the situation; instead, you want to SHOW your actions. This question is yet another opportunity for candidates to allow the Tuck admissions directors to assess what studying and living with them would be like.

If you do not have an obvious example here, it is ok to think of inclusion broadly. Personal, professional, volunteer, or other extracurricular examples would all work well.

Dartmouth Tuck Optional Essay:

Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

Tuck also has an optional question that should be answered only by those candidates with unique circumstances. Read our advice on how to address optional essays here .

Dartmouth Tuck Reapplicant Essay:

How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally.  (300 words maximum)

Are you tackling Dartmouth’s essay as a reapplicant? Check out our top tips for getting started with the reapplication essay .

Ready to apply to Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program? Schedule a consultation today to find out how our Comprehensive Packages can help you maximize your chances of success at Tuck!

You also may like these other blog articles:

Find out why we are consistently ranked #1. Sign up for a 30-minute consultation today!

We have over 200 5 Star Reviews. Find out WHY!

schedule consultation

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Learn how to craft compelling essays for your Dartmouth Tuck MBA application with this comprehensive guide.

Posted March 1, 2024

Featuring Andy P. and Geri T.

Applying to Top MBA Programs as a Consultant

Wednesday, april 24.

11:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

Table of Contents

Dartmouth Tuck School of Business is known for its rigorous MBA program and its unique approach to admissions. As part of the application process, candidates are required to submit several essays that allow them to showcase their experiences, goals, and fit with the Tuck community . In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with an overview of the Dartmouth Tuck MBA essays, offer tips on how to craft compelling responses, and provide examples from successful applicants for inspiration.

Dartmouth Tuck Application and the Role of Essays

Before diving into the specifics of the essays, it's important to understand the overall purpose of the Dartmouth Tuck application and the role that the essays play. The Tuck MBA admissions committee is seeking individuals who not only possess strong academic credentials but also demonstrate leadership potential, a collaborative spirit, and a desire to make a positive impact in the world.

When applying to Dartmouth Tuck, it is crucial to recognize that the admissions committee is not solely interested in your academic achievements. While your resume, test scores, and recommendations provide valuable insights into your qualifications, the essays offer a unique opportunity to go beyond the numbers and share your story in your own words.

The essays serve as a platform for you to showcase your personality, values, and aspirations. Through these essays, you have the chance to provide context to your experiences, explain your motivations, and convey your future goals. This is your opportunity to paint a vivid picture of who you are as an individual and what you can bring to the Tuck community.

As you embark on the essay writing process, it is important to remember that the admissions committee is looking for authenticity and a genuine connection to your story. They want to understand your journey, the challenges you have faced, and how you have grown as a result. This is your chance to demonstrate your self-awareness , resilience, and ability to learn from your experiences.

Furthermore, the essays allow you to showcase your ability to think critically and communicate effectively. Dartmouth Tuck values individuals who can articulate their thoughts clearly and concisely, as effective communication is essential in the business world. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to craft a compelling narrative and make a persuasive argument.

Moreover, the essays provide an avenue for you to highlight your fit with the Tuck community. By researching the school thoroughly and understanding its values, culture, and resources, you can tailor your essays to align with what Tuck stands for. This will show the admissions committee that you have taken the time to understand the unique opportunities that Tuck offers and how you can contribute to the community.

Lastly, it is important to approach the essay writing process with a growth mindset . Use this opportunity to reflect on your experiences, learnings, and aspirations. Consider how you have evolved as a person and how you plan to continue growing throughout your MBA journey. The essays are not just a means to an end; they are an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth.

In conclusion, the essays play a crucial role in the Dartmouth Tuck application process. They allow you to go beyond the numbers and provide a holistic view of who you are as an individual. Through the essays, you can showcase your personality, values, aspirations, and fit with the Tuck community. Approach the essay writing process with authenticity, self-reflection, and a growth mindset, and use this opportunity to craft a compelling narrative that highlights your unique qualities and potential.

Dartmouth Tuck Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

The Dartmouth Tuck MBA essay prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle have been carefully crafted to assess your fit with the Tuck community and your potential for success in the program. Let's take a closer look at each essay prompt:

Essay Prompt 1: Why are you pursuing an MBA and why Tuck? (250 words)

This essay prompt is designed to assess your understanding of your own motivations for pursuing an MBA and your specific reasons for choosing Tuck as your business school. Take this opportunity to reflect on your career goals, the skills and knowledge gaps you hope to fill through an MBA, and why Tuck is uniquely positioned to help you achieve those goals.

Essay Prompt 2: Tuck students are nice, and invest generously in one another’s success. Share an example of how you helped someone else succeed. (250 words)

Tuck's emphasis on teamwork and collaboration is well-known in the business school community. This essay prompt allows you to demonstrate your ability to work well with others and support their success. Think about a time when you went above and beyond to help a colleague or team member achieve their goals. Share the details of the situation, the actions you took, and the outcomes that resulted from your support.

Essay Prompt 3: Tuck students are encouraged to share their individuality, background, and experiences. Please provide us with an overview of your background and the role it has played in shaping who you are today. (250 words)

In this essay, you have the opportunity to showcase the unique aspects of your background and experiences that have shaped your identity and perspective. Consider discussing important milestones, cultural influences, or personal challenges that have contributed to your personal and professional growth. Be authentic and provide specific examples to illustrate the impact of your background on your values, beliefs, and goals.

Free trial!

From 92 top coaches

Access a library of videos, templates, and examples curated by Leland's top coaches.

Example essays.

Example Resumes

Application Prep

Video Courses

List of Expert Tips for Each Tuck Essay Prompt

Now that we've reviewed the essay prompts, let's explore some expert tips to help you craft compelling responses:

Essay Prompt 1

• Clearly articulate your career goals and how an MBA from Tuck will contribute to your success.
• Research Tuck's resources, programs, and community to highlight specific aspects that resonate with your goals.
• Show a genuine passion for Tuck by demonstrating knowledge of the school's culture, values, and initiatives.

Essay Prompt 2

• Select an example that showcases your ability to collaborate, motivate, and support others.
• Highlight the impact of your actions on the individual you helped and the overall team or organization.
• Emphasize the values and qualities that Tuck values, such as empathy, selflessness, and leadership.

Essay Prompt 3

• Focus on key moments or experiences that have had a significant influence on your personal and professional development.
• Weave a narrative that connects your background to your current aspirations and future goals.
• Avoid generic statements and provide specific anecdotes that illustrate the impact of your background.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Writing compelling MBA essays requires careful thought and preparation. Consider the following tips to ensure your essays make a lasting impact:

• Take the time to self-reflect and understand your motivations, goals, and values before starting to write.
• Follow the instructions and word limits provided by the admissions committee.
• Ensure your writing is clear, concise, and free from grammatical and typographical errors.
• Use a storytelling approach to engage the reader and make your essays memorable.
• Ensure a logical flow between paragraphs and ideas by using transitional phrases.
• Seek feedback from trusted advisors, mentors, or friends to gain different perspectives and improve your essays.

Dartmouth Tuck Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

Looking for inspiration? We have compiled a selection of real Dartmouth Tuck MBA essay examples submitted by successful applicants. Each example is accompanied by an analysis that highlights its strengths and provides insights into why it was effective. These examples can serve as valuable references as you craft your own essays.

Dartmouth Tuck Essay FAQs

Still have questions about the Dartmouth Tuck MBA essays? We have anticipated some common queries and provided answers to help guide you through the application process. Here are a few frequently asked questions:

Q: How should I approach the word limit for each essay?

A: The word limits provided are there to challenge you to be concise and impactful. Use your words wisely and focus on the most relevant information.

Q: Can I reuse parts of my essays from other business school applications?

A: While there may be some overlapping themes or experiences, it is important to tailor your essays specifically to Tuck. Make sure your responses directly address the prompts and demonstrate your fit with the Tuck community.

Q: Is it necessary to visit the Tuck campus before writing the essays?

A: Visiting the Tuck campus can provide valuable insights into the school's culture and community. However, it is not a requirement. You can still write impactful essays by conducting thorough research and engaging with current students, alumni, and online resources.

In conclusion, the Dartmouth Tuck MBA essays are an essential component of the application process. Through the essays, you have the opportunity to showcase your unique qualities , motivations, and fit with the Tuck community. By following the tips provided and drawing inspiration from successful examples, you can craft compelling essays that capture the attention of the admissions committee and increase your chances of gaining admission to this prestigious program.

Browse hundreds of expert coaches

Leland coaches have helped thousands of people achieve their goals. A dedicated mentor can make all the difference.

Browse Related Articles

March 1, 2024

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Get ready to ace your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application with this comprehensive essay guide.

March 2, 2024

Georgetown McDonough MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your Georgetown McDonough MBA essays? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling and impactful essays that will set you apart from the competition.

UW Foster MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Learn everything you need to know about writing impactful UW Foster MBA essays with our comprehensive guide.

Berkeley Haas MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your Berkeley Haas MBA application essays? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview of the essay prompts, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling and impactful responses.

UVA Darden MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Crafting compelling UVA Darden MBA essays can be a game-changer for your application.

Duke Fuqua MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Discover everything you need to know about crafting standout MBA essays for Duke Fuqua.

Michigan Ross MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Uncover the essential insights and expert tips for crafting compelling Michigan Ross MBA essays with this comprehensive guide.

Yale SOM MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your Yale SOM MBA essays? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview of the application process, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling and standout essays that can secure your spot at Yale School of Management..

CMU Tepper MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your CMU Tepper MBA application essays? Our comprehensive guide offers an overview, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling and impactful responses.

USC Marshall MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Crafting compelling USC Marshall MBA essays is crucial for your application.

UT Austin McCombs MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your UT Austin McCombs MBA application? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling essays that stand out.

Indiana University Kelley MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Crafting compelling essays for your Indiana University Kelley MBA application? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview, valuable tips, and real essay examples to help you stand out and secure your spot in this prestigious program.

Tips for Your Dartmouth Tuck Application Essays

July 19, 2023

Melisa Prevost

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Application Essay Tips, 2023-2024

Known for its extremely close-knit, down-to-earth community, Dartmouth Tuck wants to learn about you and how you will embody and add to its culture. Through its application essays, Tuck asks you three questions intended to highlight a side of you that is not conveyed in the other parts of your application. Take the time to assess what is included in your resume and the short answers of the application, as well as what your recommenders might say, to identify your best stories for the school’s essays.

Free : Download Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Dartmouth Tuck School of Business

Essay 1: why are you pursuing an mba and why now how will the distinct tuck mba contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations (300 words).

Tuck has added some context to this year’s “Why MBA,” “Why Now,” and “Why Tuck” essay. Approach this essay as you might other goals essays. Think about roughly splitting your allotted word count between outlining why you need an MBA to achieve your goals, including why now is the right time for you, and explaining why Tuck is the right school to help you achieve those goals. 

The “why MBA” element of your essay should include what you want to do after Tuck (your short-term goal) and where that will aspirationally lead you (your long-term goal). For your short-term goal, be specific—include an ideal role and company, and provide a reason you want to do this work. For example, “I want to transition within the energy sector from a corporate finance role into investment banking at a firm like Goldman Sachs so I can influence future energy investments into renewables.” From here, you might go on to explain what you need from an MBA and why now is the right time to do so. Consider what skills you might need and how you want to grow as a leader.

Consider starting the “why Tuck” portion of your essay by identifying which Tuck resources will help you gain the skills you identified. Showcase your knowledge of Tuck by pinpointing specific offerings that will help you fill those skill gaps. Think about which classes, clubs, events, and conferences you can both learn from and give back to during your time at Tuck that will help you be successful throughout your career. A significant part of your learning at Tuck will be experiential, outside of the classroom, so make sure to include how you will be involved at the school apart from your coursework. 

Essay 2: Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words)

With this essay, Tuck wants to understand what unique perspective you will bring to classroom discussions and the Tuck community. This is an opportunity to reveal your values and discuss how you will leverage those values at Tuck. Consider splitting this essay across your value/experiences and then how you will leverage those to contribute to the school. Reflect on what is unique about you that can add to the class. 

Consider starting this essay with a story that illustrates your values and then explain to the admissions committee how and why this story illustrates who you are. Then be thoughtful about how you will leverage your values through your involvement at Tuck. How will your values influence the perspective you bring to class discussions? How will you contribute through your involvement in the clubs and experiences at Tuck. Don’t be redundant from the first essay—this is an additional opportunity to showcase how you want to be involved as a Tuck student. 

Essay 3: Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words)

Consider using the SCAR method (situation, challenge, action, and result) to present your story in this essay. Relate the actions you took to showcase how you created an inclusive environment for someone specific. Highlight the steps you took, and explain how you worked with others to create a sense of inclusion. Tuck values collaboration and working together to solve problems, so this is a great opportunity to highlight your ability to support others empathetically. It is more impactful to “show” how you built a sense of inclusion through your experience and include what you learned from the situation than merely talking about inclusion at a high level.

Optional Essay: Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

The optional essay is one that should be used judiciously. If you feel your application conveys a complete, accurate picture of who you are as a deserving Tuck candidate, then you are best off not submitting an optional essay. There is little to be gained from adding to the admissions committee’s workload by asking them to read another essay that doesn’t answer something new. But if you have something that warrants explanation, this is your chance to clarify it for the admissions committee.

Reapplicant Essay: (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)

Ideally, in the time between your previous application and now, you have assessed areas of your candidacy and career that could be improved in this application—and have taken steps to fill those gaps. Tuck wants to know not only that you bring new experiences to the table this year but also that you are not easily deterred by setbacks and continue to strive toward your goals. Outline for the admissions committee what you have done, gained, and learned since you last applied. Highlight what new skills or experiences you bring to Tuck and how you will use them to contribute to your classmates’ experiences. For more tips on writing a reapplicant essay, see  Six Tips for Business School Reapplicants .

In  Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Dartmouth Tuck School of Business , you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings such as the OnSite Global Consulting program, First-Year Project, Tuck Winter Carnival, and small group dinners. This free guide also includes class profile statistics.  Download our guide to learn more about Dartmouth Tuck !

MBA School Specific

2023-2024 essay Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Optional Essay Reapplicant

Start Today with a FREE Consultation

Learn how Stratus’ team approach gets you into one of your top choice schools. Start with a FREE consultation with an Admissions Specialist.

Free Consultation

Previous Entry Tips for Your UVA Darden Application Essay

Next Entry Tips for Your Cambridge Judge Application Essays

Search Our Blog Articles

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

June 7, 2022

Dartmouth Tuck MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023-2024], Class Profile

The environment at Dartmouth Tuck is unique, and the school’s admissions committee has developed what it calls “a personal, connected, and transformative application experience that mirrors the distinct MBA experience you can expect to have at Tuck.” Yes, academics, test scores, and work experience count, but you really have to understand what Tuck offers and what the Tuck community is like to present a solid application. The school seeks to admit candidates who meet four basic criteria: smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging. This can cover many facets, so let’s examine things more in depth.

Ready to work on your Dartmouth Tuck application? Read on.

Dartmouth Tuck application essay tips

Dartmouth tuck application deadlines, dartmouth tuck class profile.

Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinct Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your career goals and aspirations? (300 words)

First, why do you think you need an MBA? What is it that you cannot do without an MBA? You should be able to answer this question easily. If not, you shouldn’t be applying yet.

Reflect on your current skills and then look at job descriptions for the post-MBA position you are targeting. Note what new skills you need to acquire. Do you have a longer-term goal that motivates your short-term one? Briefly discuss that, too. You really need to know something about the industry or functional area you wish to enter to be able to answer this question succinctly and clearly. This gives the admissions committee the assurance that you have done adequate research on your intended career path.

Next, what distinctive aspects of the Tuck MBA experience will help you realize your post-MBA goals? What do you see at Tuck that you do not see at other schools? Look at the resource centers, the faculty research, the student clubs, and the conferences held at Tuck. You will need to associate those elements of the program with your aspirations in this essay.

Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your background contribute to the diverse Tuck culture and community? (300 words)

This is a very direct and personal question. Think about what makes you you . What are the values you have developed, and how have you exhibited those values in your work or community? Give one or two specific examples that aren’t reflected in other parts of your application or in your other essays. Your answer in this essay will give them a good idea of your fit for their program. Tuck has a very tight-knit, collaborative, and intensely loyal community, so based on your hobbies and interests, how will you be involved in the community, and what would you share with your classmates that might be special? 

Describe a time you meaningfully contributed to someone else’s sense of inclusion in your professional or personal community. (300 words)

This question asks you to discuss one experience that shows how you contributed to making someone feel valued, respected, and heard. Your example could come from a work or a social context. Keep it specific and concrete, or you will blend in with others who write in generalities. Your empathetic, helpful response to the other party’s situation is key.

A CAR (challenge, actions, result) approach will work well here:

• What was the challenge you and the other person faced?
• What specific action(s) did you take to make that person feel welcomed?
• What was the result of this experience for you and others? What did you learn about yourself and the other person? 

Essay #4 (Optional)

Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of evaluators, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (300 words)

If you have any of the elements mentioned in Tuck’s question, by all means, address them here. You do not want the admissions committee guessing or assuming wrongly when they come across something anomalous.

If you feel your application represents your candidacy well, don’t feel compelled to submit an optional essay. If you believe, however, that your application is  missing key elements of your story , then briefly include them here. Whether it’s a challenge that you’ve faced or a hardship overcome or other context for what you’ve achieved that will help the admissions committee appreciate your candidacy, share it in this essay.

However, you don’t want to waste the adcom’s time with unnecessary text or material that’s already covered elsewhere in your application. Doing so would reveal a definite lack of judgment – or in Tuck terms, awareness.

Reapplicant Essay 

How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Please reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally. (300 words)

This is the question for reapplicants. Why should the school admit you this time around? How are you better than you were the previous time you applied? Have you reassessed your goals so that they are more feasible? Have you retaken the GMAT/GRE? Did you receive a promotion or award for work you’ve done, or did you change jobs?

For expert guidance on how to optimize your Dartmouth Tuck MBA 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 Dartmouth Tuck’s MBA program and look forward to helping you, too!

Applications are due by 5:00 pm ET

Source: Dartmouth Tuck website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Dartmouth Tuck directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the Dartmouth Tuck Class of 2025 (data taken from the Dartmouth Tuck website ):

Students: 297

U.S. minorities: 32%

International: 33%

Students with partners: 31%

Students with children: 5%

LGBTQ+: 10%

First-generation college graduate: 19%

U.S. race/ethnicity (federal guidelines reporting)

• American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander: 0%
• Black or African American 5%
• Hispanic or Latinx: 6%
• Multi-race/ethnic: 6%
• Did not report: 3%

Countries represented:

• By citizenship: 40
• By birth: 22
• By professional experience: 35

Citizenship (counts dual citizens in both countries)

• U.S.A. and Canada: 68%
• Latin America: 8%
• Middle East and Africa: 4%
• Oceania: <1%
• Arts, humanities, social sciences: 40%
• Business: 28%
• Science, technology, engineering, math: 25%
• Domestic: 112
• International: 69
• Previous advanced degrees: 13%

GMAT average: 726 

GMAT range: 630-800

GMAT Verbal average: 42

GMAT Verbal range: 31-51

GMAT Quant average: 48

GMAT Quant range: 39-51

GMAT IR average: 7

GRE Verbal average: 161 

GRE Verbal range: 152-170

GRE Quant average: 161

GRE Quant range: 149-170

Percentage of applicants submitting GRE: 42%

GPA average (from U.S. schools, based on 4.0 scale): 3.49

GPA range: 2.7-4.0 

Industry experience:

• Financial services: 22%
• Consulting: 17%
• Nonprofit, government: 16%
• Technology: 15%
• Consumer goods, retail: 7%
• Health care, pharma, biotech: 6%
• Manufacturing: 3%
• Media, entertainment: 2%

Average months of work experience: 69

Dr. Christie St-John has more than 25 years of higher ed and admissions experience, including ten years in admissions at Dartmouth Tuck. She was formerly the director of MBA recruiting and admissions, director of international relations, and an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University. Having also served on the board of directors of the MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance and the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Christie has a deep knowledge of MBA and other graduate admissions. Want Christie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• What Is the Difference Between Round 1 and Round 2?
• Four Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553 © 2022 Accepted

• E-mail & Password
• Notification Settings
• Global Settings
• Applicant profile
• Update status
• My GMAT info
• --> My Education -->