I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me...

Sample One

I wish the admissions committee had asked me about my love for embracing new challenges. Over the years I have worked with the Tuerra Foundation to help raise funds for preschool education for disadvantaged children. The First Basics Learning is a small house set amidst shacks on the outskirts of Jeppestown. Thousands of kids here are raised by impoverished parents, where money for a loaf of bread is a daily struggle and payment for school fees is a distant dream. Recently, the learning center needed funding to build an annex to their modest classroom and, given the poverty in this area, securing these funds was not an easy task.

Prior to 2007 I was not a big runner, I had run casually for fun and had done a half marathon but never a full one. Most of our usual funding sources had been exhausted and I came up with the ‘bright’ idea to run a marathon to help raise the money. It was early August and the New York City marathon was a mere three months away. I began to solicit funds locally in southern Africa and also in the United States. To incentivize donors, I developed a tiered scale with one level for general donations and another tier for a ‘bonus’ if I finished the marathon in under four hours.

Having never attempted a full marathon, I downloaded a training program and given the limited time, started this program in week 8 of an 18-week regimen. I was in Ghana at the time, where my first ‘long run’ called for a 13 mile stretch which was painful beyond belief in the tropical smog-filled heat of Accra! After the first few weeks, I settled into my stride, going further each day and with my legs feeling stronger. When race day finally came it was time for the test. Because of my dedication and determination, I crossed the finish line in 3 hours 57 minutes. Despite this time I still finished in 10,000th place, though out of 42,000 runners. I was overwhelmed and ecstatic that I completed the marathon within my goal, but moreover because my accomplishments paved the way for the expansion of the education center for the children in Jeppiestown.

Sample Two

I wish the admissions committee had asked me about my experiences with culture shock.

I first experienced culture shock when I left Mississippi at the age of 14 to attend Phillips Andover in Massachusetts. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people whose geographic, political, religious, and social backgrounds were very different from my own. The transition into this new environment was further complicated by the negative stereotypes I faced about my own cultural background. Since I was the first Southerner that many of my classmates had ever met, they were bursting with questions: “Are your parents cousins?” “Do you live on a plantation?” and “Do people wear shoes down there?” People were fascinated when I did not live up to their pre-conceived notions of what Southerners were like. As I faced other people’s views of my cultural background, I realized that many of my own pre-conceived notions were just as far-fetched and amusing.

I immersed myself in two foreign cultures through my study abroad experiences in Rome and London. When I first arrived in Rome, I was fascinated by the cultural differences I observed but was limited in my ability to understand them due to the language barrier. As I mastered Italian, I was finally able to discover not just how the culture was different from my own, but why it was different. Through my coursework, independent travels, and daily conversations, I unlocked the patterns that permeated every aspect of Italian life. The sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that I felt when I finally “got it” was unparalleled. Living in foreign cultures also introduced me to interests and passions that would have otherwise gone undiscovered, such as opera, fish and chips and modernist architecture.

Discovering how and why cultures differ stimulates and satisfies my intellectual curiosity more than anything else. By navigating through culture shock, I have learned a great deal about other cultures, and just as much about myself and my own culture. In this age of increasing globalization, it is inevitable that I will come into contact with peoples and ways of life that are unfamiliar to me. However, experience has taught me that an open mind, respect, humility, and southern manners can break down any cultural barrier that I may encounter.

Sample Three

I wish the admissions committee had asked me about my favorite dessert.

Three hours and twenty flawed pears later, I had perfectly poached a pear and assembled a classic Italian dessert, the Poire Belle Hélène. Attentive to every detail to mimic the Italian ideals of perfection and presentation in this elegant version of an ice cream sundae, I stumbled upon my passion for Italian culture while preparing this dessert for my sixth grade Italian class. I continued my study of Italian throughout school, culminating with a double major in Italian Literature and Finance. I created synergies in these seemingly unrelated disciplines; my creative thinking and writing skills gained from Italian guided me to complete a research project for Forecasting class on baseball, one of my passions. My analytical skills from Finance helped me structure my arguments and papers for Italian History. Interest in Italian culture enabled me to realize I should wholeheartedly pursue and integrate my passions in all aspects of life.

A culture whose authors and philosophers pushed me to delve deeper into self-analysis, whose cuisine taught me to strive for excellence in all facets of life, and whose films sparked my creative energy, the Italian way of life is ingrained in my daily existence. In my travels to my place of birth, Montreal, and to Italy, I integrated into these foreign lifestyles with ease while assimilating my companions and subduing their misconceptions of the Italian. My endless obsession with a culture inherently different from American traditions has fostered in me a deep appreciation, respect, and curiosity for foreign cultures. I have traveled to countries such as Japan, India, Netherlands and Mexico, immersing myself in the customs of these civilizations.

My study and experiences of Italian culture have positioned me well to pursue an MBA at Kellogg. Armed with the ability to speak a language spoken in over 50 countries and sensitivity to cultural differences, I can easily connect with fellow classmates from different backgrounds, especially since roughly a third are international students. I aspire to start a Italian Culture club that will furnish students with the opportunity to practice Italian, involve them in cultural activities, and uphold the Kellogg tenet of teamwork by partnering with clubs such as Cork & Screw to host events.

And this is the tale of how a little known Italian dessert led me to a journey of self-discovery and a zest for life through the appreciation of different cultures.

Sample Four

I wish the admissions committee had asked me…about a defining moment in my childhood. At the age of 11, my father lost his job as President of a textile company, which he had spent nearly a decade growing. My father has always been hard-working. He grew up in a modest, single-parent home and paid his way through college. He is a man of bulletproof integrity and has tremendous work ethic, both traits that I recognized even as a child.

Despite not having an ownership stake, my father had been working six to seven days per week trying to restructure the company’s operations, increase its sales, and position it for growth in new markets. Early one Friday morning, he discovered that the locks on the office door had been changed. The owner had sold the company without consulting or even notifying my father. My father was devastated.

At 11, I was just old enough to understand the situation and recognize the ramifications it had on my family. My parents were forced to use what little savings they had, along with the modest income from my mother’s job, to pay the bills. The stress and uncertainty that my parents experienced was palpable, hanging around our home like a storm cloud. At times, I questioned if our situation would ever improve. As a result, I have resolved to direct my professional destiny and not allow others to dictate my personal circumstances and career goals. At LMU, this determination fueled my desire to learn and succeed in order to best position myself for a finance career and any of its unforeseen circumstances. Professionally, I have pursued more intimate and less hierarchical environments, which have not only permitted me to learn quickly but also to have a voice in the team or organization. Further, I have realized that by being an economic partner and having ownership in a business one can have greater influence in management, strategy, and decision-making. I believe this is why I feel at home in private equity, which balances both my interest in finance and my admiration for the entrepreneurial spirit.

Sample Five

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me about my proudest personal accomplishment.

In high school, I became passionate about computers and decided to pursue a degree in computer engineering. Instead of support, I received discouraging remarks from almost every member of my family: “Engineering is for guys. You won’t be able to handle the rigorous curriculum. ” “Study something that will prepare you to be a better mother and a wife.” My domineering Uncle XX forced my elder sister into an arranged marriage, and I knew if given the chance he would make me his next victim. My family’s closed-minded view of women’s roles caused my sister to sacrifice her aspirations. Her sacrifice fueled my determination and I followed my dreams.

Two years ago in India, I enticed the little princesses, daughters of my siblings and cousins, with chocolate and sat them down in a circle. Instead of fairy tales, I told them about Global Positioning System and future colonization plans for the moon and Mars that I was working on. Uncle Lajpat, the same man who had forced my sister to marry, wandered in looking for his granddaughter. I continued my story, nervous about his reaction to my message. He cleared his throat and I stopped talking. “Girls, listen carefully to this aunty and make something of your life,” he said to my surprise.

My proudest personal accomplishment is to be the first girl to enter the corporate world on my dad’s side of the family, changing the expectation for the women in the family forever. On the day of her arranged marriage, my sister embraced me in tears and told me to never let go of my dreams. Now, with a smile instead of tears I can tell the little princesses of the family: “Follow your dreams.”

Sample Six

I wish the admissions committee had asked me about a personal tragedy that I have overcome and how it impacted me.

The image is burned in my memory. One morning, I was woken by the shrieks and cries of my parents. Amidst the chaos and my early morning sleepiness, I could barely make out that my sister, ‘Marnie’, had attempted to commit suicide and was currently hospitalized. I remember feeling numb. What followed was a whirlwind of flashes; ‘arranging transportation to travel to Marnie’s hospital’, ‘turning back to pick up father’s heart medicine’, ‘driving carefully to avert another tragedy.’ When we reached the hospital, Marnie was in the Intensive Care Unit and it would be another eight hours before we would know whether she would survive. In the meantime, we reflected and supported each other as a family.

Being an authoritative figure, my father has had a very ‘official’ relationship with me switching between the two ends of the spectrum of: “You are grounded” or “You did a good job,” nothing in between. That day, for the first time, he seemed to open up to me, and what came out were words of a tired man pounded by age, work, family and circumstances. I reminded him what he had always taught me as a child: ‘No surrender, No retreat’ and reassured him that no matter how grave the times, we could overcome anything together. I knew that was the darkest hour before the dawn. Three days later we took Marnie back home and started a two year recovery process. I first had to fight both my parents and Marnie too, because I wanted to get psychiatric help for Marnie, a social taboo in India. Together, with the best help available and our family’s love, we showed Marnie the simple joys of life and most importantly our continued faith in her. Today Marnie is happily married and will be a mother in January.

In retrospect, that day I had a strange sense of calmness, driven by the conviction that the best could be made out of any situation; a conviction that has today made me even more optimistic than before. The experience made me shirk away the frivolities of childhood and take on the responsibilities of adulthood. The incident though tragic, reinvigorated not only my relationship with my family but also my zest for life. It left me with a burning desire to accomplish and succeed. A character-defining moment, it made me think whether I was going to be another defeated victim who succumbs to the negative circumstances he is dealt, or a survivor who is going to uplift everybody’s spirit and prevail to achieve the desired goals. The event has shaped me to aim high, work hard and fight for what I want, while always being ready to face and overcome the inevitable challenges of life.

Sample Seven

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me to elaborate on my community service involvement. During my undergraduate years, I was heavily involved in many volunteer and fundraising efforts. As a member of my fraternity’s executive committee I participated in and led many philanthropic events that donated over $25,000 to various charities. In addition, I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity over the summer as a volunteer builder. During my time with Habitat, I came to truly enjoy the process of seeing my hard work come to fruition. Witnessing the deserving family accept the home brought me a great deal of pride. For some time, my demands at my current employer, especially as a Project Manager, have not allowed much time to devote to community service. Missing the gratification community service brought me, I have recently learned how to be disciplined, prioritize and get creative in finding ways to participate in the community.

Within the last six months, I have greatly increased my community involvement through several worthy causes in coordination with my company. I recently was able to research potential supporters for a local Rally for the Cure golf event benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Through my efforts, I identified six promising companies to donate prizes. I took advantage of another opportunity and assumed a leadership role in an upcoming fundraiser, the Monopoly Tournament. The event supports the American Cancer Society and raised $600,000 in 2007. South Carolina did not participate last year so I am organizing the division and leading it as the Team Coordinator. Currently, we are creating our donor list and soliciting individuals to participate in the event. Another area where I have become involved is the local events of the Lowcountry Young Professionals (LYP). LYP is a dynamic organization interested in connecting individuals within the community and shaping its future. It is through community service like this that I have rediscovered myself outside of my professional life. One of my personal goals at Kellogg is to continue my participation with community service and increase my involvement in the city of Chicago.

Sample Eight

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me to describe the greatest personal hurdle I’ve had to overcome and how I have grown from the experience. To elaborate, my father has been an alcoholic as long as I can remember. My junior year of college I was devastated when the police called to say he had been involved in a drunk-driving accident. Shortly afterward, he was unwillingly placed in a rehabilitation facility from which he twice attempted to escape. When I contacted the District Attorney, he explained that one more attempt and my father would be returned to jail. I had no choice but to grow up and take on the responsibility of caring for him. During the last two months of school, I juggled classes and finals preparation while spending hours each day speaking to counselors, lawyers, relatives, and of course my father. I organized AA meetings, counseling sessions, and contacted friends of his who had recovered from similar incidents to help provide support. On Saturday nights while my friends were at a party, I was learning about the 12 steps of Al-Anon and methods of intervention.

Today, my father refrains from drinking, a fact to which I am proud to say that I contributed, and our relationship is stronger than ever. My courage and maturity were tested to the limit, but the lessons learned about doing the right thing and facing problems head-on have been invaluable to my personal development.

Sample Nine

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me to describe a time when I had to follow someone else's lead and how I reacted.

I spent two weeks last summer in Morocco visiting my brother, who was studying Arabic in the teeming city of Fez. Beginning with my flight out of JFK, where I was one of three western women on a plane of three hundred, to mistakenly ordering lamb’s head from an all Arabic menu in Marrakech, everything was foreign to me, and I was forced to sit back, cede control, and let others take the reins. I did not anticipate that I would be spending my vacation wearing a virtual muzzle, barely able to communicate, and when trying to get a word in, being shushed by my confident, Arabic speaking brother. I had been warned about the traditions and customs in Morocco, where the man is king, and women are largely hidden, many staying behind the walls of their homes—I thought I knew what I was facing.

But for me, a brazen, conspicuous American, my time in Morocco was disorienting to the extreme, as my embrace of modernity clashed with the conservative society in which I found myself an outsider. Ambling down the alleys of the ancient, sweaty, glorious medina of Fez, I had to cover myself, in what I wore—cloaked from head to toe—and in what I said—nothing. After a day of wasted attempts at talking to shop-owners, trying to buy a simple bottle of water, wholly disheartened as my shukrans and hand motions were rebuffed, feeling like the only conversations I was having were happening in my head, I gave in and stopped trying so hard. In short order, the trip crystallized one of the most difficult things for me to adjust to: following someone else’s lead. When all the effort in the world did not work, I took a seat, a deep breath and shut my mouth, deferring to someone else for a change.

While my persistent nature has served me well, moments of pause such as the ones I had in Morocco are invaluable in the long run. I observed how others lead in different situations, and I withheld judgment until I could better evaluate the conditions around me. These newfound practices will play a crucial role for me as an MBA student at Kellogg, where I will be honing my leadership skills even further. Collaboration, largely through group projects, will encourage me to garner insight from my talented classmates while sharing my strengths and fortifying the gaps in my own knowledge base. My North African “vacation” endures as a seminal reference point of heightened awareness—allowing someone else to take the lead—and enabling me to forge a new perspective in unfamiliar surroundings.

Sample Ten

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me about my experience during the technology bubble burst.

My experience during the technology bubble burst of 2001 was like being caught in the riptide of a furious ocean. The waves of despair and bad news kept coming, thrashing my already fatigued body, albeit strong will, with more surprises. I moved to San Francisco in a spirit of optimism and entrepreneurial excitement a few months before the dot-com bubble burst. Wavepoint Systems, my first company, filed for Chapter 11 within a year of my start date. The owners sold the bankrupt company to Endwave Corporation. A year after the acquisition, Endwave Corporation began a round of layoffs, of which I was a victim.

To make the pressure to remain employed more severe, in early 2000 I had promised my sister, Sara, that I would financially support her if she pursued her undergraduate education in an American university. I realized early in life that one way for Muslim women to achieve independence in a male-dominated culture was through a liberating educational experience. Having received my education from the USA, I wanted Sara to have similar career and personal growth opportunities. Sara was a sophomore at North Dakota State University when I lost my job. I was determined to fulfill my commitment to her and allow her to remain in school. Luckily, I was offered a job outside San Francisco within a week of the layoffs, with a significant pay cut. I reluctantly accepted the offer. Working at Render Inc., I eagerly longed for the entrepreneurial spirit of San Francisco. After fifteen months at Render, I decided to move back to San Francisco to meet my long-term goals and establish my network here. In 2003, I accepted a job at LINKA Communications, a San Francisco company, and have thrived in my career there since. The improved economy has stabilized my personal job situation and my commitment to Sara finally came to an end when she graduated in 2005.

Embarking on this journey through a tumultuous career of startups has been one of my most significant learning experiences. Though I initially panicked, I accepted my journey as a learning opportunity, and traversed my path with passion and optimism. Although it was difficult to survive a tough market, following my dreams helped me grow in ways that would have been impossible otherwise. Because of the unfavorable business conditions, I am now aware of macroeconomics, business cycles, Fed policies, and the interdependencies between these factors. I had the opportunity to work under different management styles, diversifying my knowledge of business management and strategies. Through this experience, I learned that I am resilient in my thoughts, patient with my experience, and persistent in my actions. I now seek new challenges and see them as growth experiences. Pursuing my dreams among challenges is what makes me thrive, and attending Kellogg is my next opportunity to seek new growth experiences.