Imperial College Business School’s essays are a chance to showcase your individual attributes and motivations, and your fit for Imperial’s globally-renowned MBA program. As you work on your essays, it’s crucial to align your responses with the school’s expectations but also to let your personality shine through.
The essays ask not just about your professional achievements, but also about your values, your goals, and how you envision contributing to the Imperial community. Here’s a strategic approach to tackling the Imperial MBA personal statement, drawing on Fortuna Admissions’ insights.
Imperial’s Personal Statement
The first thing of note is that Imperial’s personal statement is split into two separate essay prompts.
Prompt 1:
Why do you want to study at Imperial College Business School and how will you contribute to our community? (500 words)**
The first prompt of the Imperial MBA personal statement is a two-fold question that asks you to articulate your motivations for choosing Imperial College Business School, and to demonstrate how you’ll add value to the wider school community. Here’s how to ace your answer.
Do Your Homework
Research and specificity matter. This is a prime opportunity to showcase your understanding of what makes Imperial stand out and to highlight your potential contributions. Once you’ve outlined your short- and long-term career goals – your ‘why’ – it’s essential to go beyond surface-level knowledge of the program. Dive deep into what makes Imperial distinct, exploring the school’s academic offerings, values, and community ethos. It’s not enough to just read the website; you should aim to attend virtual events, connect with current students or alumni (Imperial has a good number of student ambassadors you can chat with) and engage with the school’s thought leadership.
Align Your Goals with Imperial’s Strengths
Use the knowledge you gain to pinpoint specific aspects of the program that resonate with your own career goals. For instance, if you’re passionate about the intersection of technology and business, highlight how Imperial’s strong emphasis on data analytics, AI, or entrepreneurship fits perfectly with your ambitions. You might want to mention specific courses like “Decision Analytics” or initiatives such as the Imperial Enterprise Lab, which align with your professional path.
Be careful to avoid a laundry list of classes or initiatives – the best applications will explain why specific program offerings resonate with the career goals you’ve already outlined. Link your career goals directly to the resources and opportunities on offer at Imperial. Whether you are looking to pivot industries, advance in your current field, or launch your own business, show how Imperial’s unique offerings will help you achieve these objectives. This level of detail will show not simply that you are well-informed, but also genuinely invested in what Imperial has to offer.
Define Your Contribution to the Imperial Community
Your Imperial College Business School personal statement should clearly outline how you plan to engage with the school’s community. Reflect on your past experiences—whether in professional, academic, or personal settings—where you have actively contributed to a community. Draw parallels to how you will bring these skills and insights to Imperial.
Perhaps you have a history of mentoring peers, leading a successful diversity initiative, or spearheading a project that required strong collaboration. Highlight these experiences and connect them to your potential involvement at Imperial, such as joining student clubs, leading initiatives, or participating in networking events. The admissions team is looking for proactive individuals who will enrich the school’s community through active engagement.
By positioning yourself as someone who will leverage the opportunities Imperial has to offer and give back, you’ll create a compelling narrative that aligns with Imperial’s expectations.
Prompt 2: Imperial’s Values
Imperial’s values are Respect, Collaboration, Integrity, Innovation, and Excellence. Describe a time where you embodied one, or more, of these values and explain the impact it had. (500 words)
This prompt is your chance to demonstrate how your values align with those of Imperial College Business School. When selecting your story for this essay, be sure to choose an experience where you can show concrete impact as a result of the actions you took when you were expressing these values. I’d also recommend using a fairly simple structure to keep this one on track – focus on the situation you were in, the action you took, and the result or impact you achieved.
Select a Story with Depth and Relevance
Choose a professional challenge, a personal triumph, a community initiative or a similar experience that reflects your alignment with Imperial’s values. The most effective Imperial College MBA essays often involve moments of adversity or decision-making that reveal your character. For instance, you might share a story about leading a diverse team through a complex project, demonstrating collaboration and respect, or navigating an ethical dilemma that highlights your commitment to integrity.
Detail Your Actions and Decisions
Once you’ve selected your story, delve into the specifics of what you did. This is where your essay should shine with concrete details. Describe the challenges you faced, the decisions you made, and the actions you took that embody Imperial’s values. Avoid vague statements; instead, use vivid descriptions to paint a picture of the scenario and your role within it.
Highlight the Outcome and Reflect on Learnings
To make your essay stand out, showcase the impact of your actions. Whether it’s a measurable outcome like increased revenue, improved team dynamics, or a cultural shift, be sure to convey the significance of your efforts. How did your actions – and the Imperial values you embodied – make a difference? How did they change things for those around you?
Conclude with a reflection on what this experience taught you about leadership, collaboration or innovation, and how it has shaped you as a person. Admissions committees are interested not only in the outcome but also in your personal growth and learning.
Final Thoughts on Your Imperial MBA Essays
The Imperial College Business School essays are more than just application requirements—they are your platform to tell your story and demonstrate why you are the right fit for Imperial.
Approach your essays with a focus on authenticity, alignment, and specificity. Use your Imperial MBA personal statement to connect your goals with the school’s strengths and clearly illustrate how you will contribute to the community. For the values essay, choose impactful stories that highlight your character and reflect the core values of Imperial. By weaving your personal and professional journey into these essays, you’ll present a compelling case for your admission to one of the world’s most innovative business schools.
Fortuna Director Emma Bond is a top-ranked admissions coach and former LBS Senior Manager of MBA Admissions. For a personal, candid assessment of your chances, you can sign up now for a free consultation.