Why is an MBA a critical step toward your short- and long-term career goals? Why is Tuck the best MBA program for you?

Sample One

My short-term and long-term career goal is to work for a sovereign wealth fund. I am accustomed to interacting with foreigners from my study abroad experiences and from the international student body at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown. While I have learned a great deal about finance from work experience, I lack the general management skills necessary to lead the multi-national teams of sovereign wealth funds. Also, I need to build an understanding of various industries and lines of business since these funds are pursuing increasingly diverse investments. An MBA is a critical step in helping me achieve this goal since the structured environment of an MBA will enable me to amass the necessary knowledge and skills more quickly than I could otherwise.

A Tuck MBA will expose me to different ways of thinking and doing business. In this regard, the breadth and depth of experience among professors and fellow students will be invaluable. The first year core curriculum will provide me the background I desire in general management. I would then build upon the principles learned my first year with electives like Countries and Companies in the International Economy, International Corporate Governance: Institutional Investor Activism and Performance, and the Tuck Global Consultancy. My classroom experience would be enhanced by my participation in the many events organized by the Center for International Business. I would also apply for a CIB Fellowship my second year, which would enable me to expand other Tuck students’ and my own understanding of globalization in the business world.

At Tuck, I would hope to gain the knowledge and analytical skills to answer some of the key questions that I will face throughout my career. What forces drive the global economy and business? How are businesses different across borders? How are they the same? Can any assumptions or generalizations be made? If so, to what extent are they valid? How do I gain credibility as a foreigner in business situations? Or in certain circumstances, how do I gain credibility as a female in business situations? Tuck is the ideal place for me to pursue an MBA because of its commitment to the global experience and the community ideal. I will be joining a community of globally minded peers that mirrors the professional environment I will seek. Also, I will be learning alongside the future leaders of global businesses that I would be interacting with after graduation. My greatest reason for wanting to attend Tuck is that it defines itself as a community and attracts people who are committed to the community ideal. Based upon my visit to the school and conversations with current students, it is clear that teamwork and collaboration are promoted in every aspect of school life. Being in such an environment is of the utmost importance to me in my pursuit of an MBA. I would consider it an honor to contribute to and be a part of the Tuck community.

Sample Two

Creating the next generation of game-changing online services requires a solid grasp of marketing, strategy and computer science, coupled with an entrepreneurial ethic. My goal is to develop an online and mobile travel services platform that provides technology-savvy urban travelers with tools to create off-beat itineraries. My engineering training, technology experience in large financial institutions and at an expanding online-media startup, combined with an MBA at Tuck, will allow me to build this market-disrupting company.

My early work at Intel’s India office, and subsequent two years as a consultant at Acme’s California Technology Center honed my technical and analytical skills. I partnered with change managers and software architects on many high-priority projects, like redesigning Acme’s customer relationship management tools to automatically assess customer needs and identify opportunities for cross-selling. Executing such projects that impact millions of people taught me to anticipate consumer needs and preferences, helping me develop a keen user-centric mindset. Two years ago, I joined Gamecast, an online-media startup, to have a more direct impact on corporate strategy. As employee #24 of a now 70-person company, I have participated in every aspect of the company’s growth—from inventing new products, to marketing and promoting them, to recruiting talent. My work experience has built a strong technical foundation to help me attain my ambition of transforming the online-travel business. Building a technology startup requires fusing innovative ideas with a vision and strong technical, operational and leadership skills; my need to develop sound management skills motivates my pursuit of an MBA.

The Tuck MBA, with its collaborative community and rigorous academics, is ideally suited to help me develop the skills necessary to build a successful career—including starting my own company. The integrated core curriculum offers me structured coursework in economics, finance and marketing, while the Cohen Leadership Program, my diverse classmates and access to world-class research will help me hone my leadership abilities. I am particularly interested in pursuing the entrepreneurship coursework through the Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship; the Barris Incubator program, for instance, is the perfect environment in which to experiment, build prototypes and transform my business idea into an actionable plan. My participation in the Entrepreneurship and Technology Clubs, as well as an internship through the Maynard Internship program, will help me learn from successful entrepreneurs. Moreover, the mentoring and strategic advice from the Dartmouth Entrepreneurship Network will be invaluable as I begin to implement my business plan. Technology startups are inherently interdisciplinary, and I intend to design a custom MBA/MS in Computer Science dual-degree course with the Thayer school to deepen my technical skills, making the flexibility of the Tuck MBA program especially important.

My visit in 2009 was my third time at Tuck. Sitting on Professor Kopalle’s statistics class reinforced the value of Tuck’s intimate academic setting. I continue to be impressed with the collegial and collaborative nature of the MBA program, and my fit with the program was confirmed by talking to alumni at a recent San Francisco Tuck reception. My work in a small, energetic company has contributed to my enthusiasm for Tuck’s small class and accessible faculty. The many successful ventures launched through the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network have convinced me that Tuck is particularly conducive to developing innovative ideas and will provide the ideal stepping stone for my startup. I am eager be a part of this dynamic community.

Sample Three


I have had three very different job experiences: a branding role at Christiania Spirits, an entrepreneurial, ultra-premium company; a more traditional CPG consulting role at Cannondale Associates; and a digital marketing, planning and analytics role at Digitas. The diverse marketing skills and knowledge I have gained through these jobs have led to a passion for marketing and my career goal of working in luxury brand management – first as an assistant brand manager and longer term as a vice president, responsible for numerous brands across multiple platforms. Given the current economic slowdown, I believe there is a tremendous opportunity in luxury mass marketing. Several brands today have created lower-end lines to sell at stores such as Target and it is likely that this type of business will continue to expand.

To reach these goals, it requires expanding not only my marketing skills, but also gaining a holistic picture of how to manage a brand. To be a successful VP I must understand the context in which decisions and recommendations are being made and the impact of those strategies on the business as a whole—an end achieved by acquiring greater depth in a range of management functions and principles. An MBA from Tuck will enable me to develop the skills necessary to mature from a functional specialist to a general manager, someone who can tackle the diverse problems a company might face. What particularly draws me to Tuck is its focus on creating general managers and business leaders, while still being able to gain expertise on a particular discipline. After meeting with Professor Keller, I am particularly impressed with the marketing program at Tuck and his specific expertise on branding. In addition to his class, Strategic Brand Management, I plan to take advantage of other marketing electives, such as Marketing Focused Strategy, Consumer Behavior and Marketing Communications where I will gain a foundation of knowledge about current best practices and trends in areas essential to my career success. I can also benefit from involvement in the Marketing and Retail Clubs. The brand management interview workshops and networking opportunities provided by the Marketing Club will position me well for a marketing career after Tuck and the Retail Club will more specifically cater to my interest in luxury goods brand management. I plan to take advantage of the annual trip to top retail brands’ headquarters gaining firsthand knowledge into the retail space.

In addition, I am interested in the Center for Digital Strategies at Tuck. My experience in digital marketing and analytics at Digitas has sparked my interest in how a company’s digital strategy can fit into their broader marketing strategy – especially for luxury brands marketed to the masses. I also hope to join the MBA Fellows program to become involved with research projects and help organize events to bring digital strategy experts to campus.

During my visit to the school I was able to experience the environment at Tuck first-hand and was very impressed. I clearly saw the benefits of immersion in the Tuck culture, both academically and socially. The students are motivated to participate in many aspects of the community, and I appreciated their dedication to academics as well as the opportunity to participate in career-focused clubs and various social activities. The Tuck Student Consulting Services will allow me to not only apply what I have learned in the classroom, but also give back to the community and help a local business. In addition, I hope to join more social and athletic clubs, including the Golf and Tennis Clubs.

Whether working together in study groups, collaborating in class, or enjoying life at Dartmouth, it is clear that Tuck students want to help, share ideas, and get to know each other. My education and work experience has been within team-focused communities and I strongly believe in the value and benefits of this approach. Tuck’s faculty, student body, course offerings, and education philosophy provide the recipe for an outstanding educational experience. All of this, combined with the school’s outstanding reputation, network of alumni, and idyllic environment make Tuck the perfect school for me.  

Sample Four

I aspire to create and manage a for-profit development company that builds and operates multi-unit independent living facilities for developmentally disabled adults throughout the United States.

My younger brother Joe was born with Down syndrome in 1995. Currently, over 300,000 families across the United States share my family’s dilemma regarding the residential options for their disabled family members. Having volunteered with the developmentally disabled community for thirteen years, I have seen parents struggle with whether to keep their disabled children at home or place them in a group-home once they reach adulthood.

Parents need an option that eliminates their child’s parental dependence while still maintaining the nurturing environment of home. I foresee my venture differentiating from current offerings in three key ways. First, residents will live in individual apartments with scaleable need-based assistance. Second, specialized on-site physicians will provide residents with the expert care that the disabled community has lacked since the deinstitutionalization of the 1970’s. Finally, quality of life will be greatly enhanced as residents develop occupational and domestic skills, participate in organized activities, and live within a loving environment that promotes independence and personal development.

To realize my vision, it is essential that I complement my existing skills and experiences by developing a well rounded business and leadership skill-set at business school and gaining practical real estate experience during an internship and upon graduation. Only Tuck offers the academic flexibility, intimate and collaborative community, expertise in entrepreneurship, and access to real estate experts necessary to make my vision a reality. To this point, my short-term goal is to leverage the Tuck resources and tight-knit network to obtain a position as a development manager for a national Real Estate Investment Trust, specializing in the development of multi-unit residential properties.

For my long-term goal of founding and managing a company, I will benefit from the extensive training in entrepreneurship available at Tuck. For example, in Entrepreneurship, I can team up with classmates and leverage their ideas and experiences to develop an actionable business plan. Because of the significant social facets of my vision, I also look forward to collaborating with students in Entrepreneurship in the Social Sector to devise a double bottom line management strategy. Additionally, I plan to further develop my idea through the Global Social Venture Competition.

Further, in Real Estate, I plan to involve my classmates in a project to scout locations for the initial facility. I have heard from Tuck alumnus, fellow Oregon State alumnus, and friend, John Smith, that professor John Vogel is an amazing teacher and a great resource. In fact, I hope to take advantage of Tuck’s academic flexibility and Professor Vogel’s expertise in both real estate and social entrepreneurship to create an independent study course that will give me the specialized knowledge and experience I will need to jump-start my career vision.

Outside the classroom, I hope to assume a leadership position in the Real Estate Club. Through my conversations with alumnus, Frank Carter, I was pleased to learn that Tuck has a very tight-knit group of alumni and faculty who are both actively involved in real estate ventures and very willing to help. I look forward to expanding the program’s focus to connect these alumni with students.

On a special note, I look forward to creating a club to support special needs charities. Because of the positive impact my brother has had on my life, I hope to rally a group of classmates to experience similar benefits by working with these inspiring individuals. I am also excited to take advantage of Tuck’s opportunities to apply my knowledge globally. I have not had the benefit of significant international travel because of my extenuating family circumstances.

On a personal note, I am eager to spend time abroad during my time at Tuck, through the Tuck Global Consultancy course, and to gain the perspective of my international classmates. I believe that this will help me to develop on many levels and I look forward to growing my knowledge and in turn, my career vision through these exposures. Most importantly, Tuck’s intimate academic and social environment will allow me to develop and learn from the expertise of my future classmates while offering the same by sharing my experiences. This will allow me to grow professionally as I develop my business plan with classmates and faculty and perhaps find potential partners or board members.

Socially, I plan to take a lead with Tuck Partners since my new wife Sarah will also be a great contributor to Tuck. We both look forward to creating life-long friendships at Tuck. Personally and professionally, I intend to emerge from Tuck supportive of and supported by my fellow students, fully prepared to realize my career vision and all the other dreams I build along the way.

Sample Five

My career vision is to start my own hedge fund focusing on emerging markets, specifically in Southeast Asia. I have spent the last four years working in finance and am now convinced that emerging markets offer the best returns. On a personal level, my family is from Singapore and I welcome the opportunity to spend my career in a business that invests in my cultural home.

For the last three years I have been working at Magnus Capital, steadily increasing my responsibilities and projects for senior management. I am a trusted member of the team, and have recently started managing an analyst and teaching her how to evaluate investment opportunities for the firm. While I have focused on investing in US companies for most of my career, I had the recent opportunity to go to Singapore for three months to research opportunities in that emerging market. I was able to see the potential a hedge fund could have in the high growth regions in Southeast Asia that are poised for growth.

Now is the right time for me to pursue an MBA at Tuck. With five years of work experience in investment banking and hedge fund investing I am ready to gain the broader perspective across industries and functions that a Tuck MBA will provide. The community and global focus of Tuck will help me develop my plans to invest in Southeast Asia. Classes like International Corporate Governance and Advanced Competitive Strategy will prepare me to run my own business. I look forward to involvement in the Tuck Global Consultancy to gain on-the-ground experience internationally.

When I visited Tuck I was impressed at the caliber of the discussion in Professor Winslow’s Comparative Models of Leadership class. Having lunch with students Phil Ross and Tricia Liu illuminated the supportive nature of the community. Phil told me about his plans to start a business with several Tuck classmates after graduation, and Tricia described how her friends had helped her practice for her consulting interviews by running her through standard cases. I look forward to being part of the close-knit Tuck community, and I will look to my Tuck classmates to be my teachers. I look forward to interacting with the diverse class and learning from the professional experiences of my classmates. I am excited to share my own experiences at Magnus and around the world with my peers. At the same time, I look forward to being part of the community informally as a member of the Hockey team and hosting dinner parties.

Sample Six

My long-term career goal is to start my own business in the sports industry. I have been an amateur athlete my whole life, and the involvement in teams and competition has developed my character and honed my leadership skills. As a female athlete I believe succeeding in sports at an early age has led me to greater professional success as an adult. My vision is to create a sports media company that will create positive role models for aspiring female athletes by tapping into the celebrity of high-profile women like the Williams Sisters, Mia Hamm, and Lindsay Vonn.

My experience as a sports agent and marketing manager for Nike is the ideal background for an entrepreneur in the competitive sports industry. I am at the point in my career when I need an MBA to take that next step. I have a viable concept, experience executing upon strategic plans, and the necessary network. What I need now is the formal business education that an MBA from Tuck can provide. My liberal arts education was a strong basis in critical thinking, now I need the skills of accounting, finance, and strategy to be a well-rounded business leader.

Tuck is the right place for me to pursue my MBA because the academics are unparalleled, the community is supportive at school and beyond, and the professors nurture new ideas. Specifically, I plan to participate fully in core classes like Managerial Economics and Competitive and Corporate Strategy, which will build my technical skills. From there I look forward to being part of elective classes, especially a Research-to-Practice seminar. I a meager to learn from Tuck professors like Kevin Keller and Richard D’Aveni who bring their cutting-edge research into the marketing and strategy classrooms. The community at Tuck is supportive, not competitive. I am looking forward to building my personal board of directors by attending events with the Tuck Women in Business, the Entertainment, Sports & Media Club and the Marketing Club.