Answer a question you wish we'd asked.

Sample One

During my junior year at Culver University I was encouraged to take a graduate seminar class in technology and business. We read case studies of the innovative companies and entrepreneurs of the time and debated the future of industries like chip manufacturing and networking. I was exhilarated by the opportunity to discuss these topics with a small passionate group of students, and the class quickly became my favorite. I prepared diligently for each class with the full awareness that I was less experienced than my classmates.

I was especially grateful to the professor and my fellow students – all MBA and PhD students – for treating me like an equal. I also strongly believe that my preparation at Culver had led me to take full advantage of the opportunity. By studying at a women’s college I had become self-confident and learned to recognize my value outside of any ideas about gender and equality. After a co-ed high school experience it was a welcome change to leave many complex social dynamics behind.

At the same time, it was clear through my reading in my technology class that women were sadly underrepresented in the business of cutting edge innovative technologies. While women have an achievement gap in many businesses, the fast paced world of Silicon Valley is especially inhospitable. This formative class solidified my career vision for me, and also led me to my current role as an alumni trustee of Culver. As a trustee I have made it my mission to mentor current students at Culver and help them achieve their dreams, as well as advocating for fundraising at the college. I am dedicated to serving the women of this great institution that has led me to a career and life I am proud of.

Sample Two

When I enrolled at the University of Michigan with a baseball scholarship, I expected to focus mainly on performing for the team. School was a distant second priority, until a knee injury flared up again, and I had to make the difficult decision to leave the baseball team.

I was lost without my focus on sports, but I rededicated myself to academics. The upside was that the harder I worked and the more I participated in classroom discussions, the more I enjoyed my studies. I took the lead on difficult group assignments and enrolled in courses outside of the business school. One course, The Philosophy of Dissent, was particularly intriguing. My classmates gathered in the campus coffee shop and engaged in thought provoking discussions about the pros and cons of political activism. A paper I wrote about Che Guevara, inspired me to follow the path he took via motorcycle through Latin America and to learn more about Latin American society and politics.

My trip culminated in a study abroad semester in Mexico City, where I studied foreign politics and Spanish humanities in the classroom. My studies came to life during social interactions with my Mexican friends. Staying up until 3:00 AM debating the value of the NAFTA agreement opened my eyes to new perspectives on politics and economics. Every moment was a learning experience, from ordering meals in Spanish to navigating the transit system. On more than a few occasions I hopped on the wrong bus or train and ended up an hour from my actual destination, but as I learned in my first semester in college, getting lost is part of the journey. My experiences in Latin America that semester made me a more confident and worldly person.

My experience during freshman year taught me the value of pushing myself to succeed. College opened the door to new places and new ways of thinking. I learned that I can prevail under the pressure of competing priorities and in unfamiliar environments.

Sample Three

My Columbia experience placed me at the precise center of global business – physically, intellectually, and culturally. New York City and its vast resources were constantly integrated into my educational experience, resulting in a fine-tuned balance between theory and practice. Viewing college as an exploration, I chose to double major in finance and marketing to acquire a versatile skill set. After all, every organization requires finance people, while marketing provides the basis for identifying needs to deliver value. This broad background led me to pursue diverse internships each summer at Wall Street’s major powerhouses to explore my desired place in the business world.

As part of this discovery process, I spent my junior spring studying abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland. Although most students chose not to go abroad because it required missing the summer recruiting period, I was eager to broaden my education with an international perspective. One of my most rewarding assignments occurred in my retail marketing class. My team and I were responsible for improving the profitability of The Arms, our campus’ student-run café. Upon analyzing its operations, we discovered that the cafe was losing money on its ice cream business due to the rising health-conscious era. Recalling the popularity of the smoothies that I often enjoyed at Columbia, I suggested replacing the fattening dessert with this healthy alternative. My team and I spent weeks concocting recipes, handing out free samples, and promoting the smoothie’s nutritional and “meal-on-the-go” qualities. As a result, the smoothie became a “fruitful” success and is still selling well today. We won university-wide recognition for our efforts. While in Scotland, I also traveled to thirteen other countries and developed an appreciation for diverse cultures as a source of creative ideas.

In hindsight, I’m often amazed by how much I learned at Columbia about both business and myself. Classes such as business communication honed my public speaking abilities, while various group projects taught me about teamwork. Finding fulfillment in helping others, I also spent many hours at Columbia tutoring, mentoring, and comforting fellow students, employees, and local New Yorkers. Upon witnessing the shattering events of September 11th, I organized a housing initiative to assist those in need and earned a reputation for being the go-to person in my dorm for support and advice. As an individual who thrives on making major contributions to my environment, I’m certain that I will be an active participant in HBS’s highly-interactive, learn-by-doing environment.

Sample Four

My background is something that has shaped me, and that I look forward to sharing with my classmates. As the son of American expatriates, I was raised abroad in a sea of diversity. To foster our development, my parents immersed my brother and me in local culture. We attended bullfights and visited flea markets tucked into the hillsides of the Andes Mountains. Living and interacting with residents of these distant lands taught us to respect those different than us. Through active involvement with the local heritage and customs, we learned that people are people everywhere and that all initially deserve my consideration and respect.

As I matured, this worldview guided my social interactions and ultimately shaped my diverse group of friends. The lessons of respect, taught from my experiences abroad, have given me an open and accepting personality. This dogma has helped me forge a diverse band of brothers that serves as a foundation in my life. I met one of my adopted brothers in high school. He was a Russian immigrant whose parents had forsaken him at age 16. He worked the night shift at McDonald’s to support himself, but was kind enough to buy me, a stranger, dinner.

As a direct result of these experiences in my life, I am curious about new experiences and people and welcoming to all forms of diversity.