The UVA Darden essays include three short prompts, each capping responses at 200 words. Together, they cover who you are beyond the resume, how you build and contribute to community, and the purpose driving your career path. The structure is straightforward, but with so few words you’ll need to be selective and intentional.

To succeed, focus on depth over breadth. For the first two essays, choose a single story or experience and explain why it matters, what impact it had, and how it shapes the way you’ll contribute at Darden. For the career goals essay, be concrete about your short-term target role and show how it connects to your long-term vision. Across all three, avoid generic statements – be specific, personal, and authentic. The best responses communicate values, character, and clarity of purpose – qualities that align with Darden’s collaborative, close-knit culture.

How to Answer UVA Darden’s ‘Relationships Matter Here’ Essay? 

Prompt: Relationships matter here. What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (200 words)

This first essay is an invitation to go beyond the bullet points. Darden makes it clear: relationships matter here. In the classroom, your peers are not just classmates – they’re central to the learning process through the case method, learning teams, and informal exchanges. This essay is your chance to give them a glimpse of who you are as a person, not just as a professional.

With only 200 words, you’ll need to be selective. Choose one or two passions, experiences, or values that are central to you but not obvious from your resume. Maybe it’s a formative life experience, a hidden talent, or a personal journey that has shaped your perspective. The key is to go deeper than a label – don’t just say “I love to swim,” share the moment you swam across a lake with your father every summer and how it taught you resilience, joy, or connection.

As Dawna Clarke, Darden’s Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, emphasizes: be authentic. Let your personality shine through – whether with humor, creativity, or heartfelt storytelling. The most successful responses reveal what makes you tick and how you’ll contribute to Darden’s collaborative, close-knit culture.

Key Takeaways

• Go beyond your resume. This is not the place to restate professional achievements – focus on who you are outside of work.
• Choose one or two themes. With just 200 words, depth beats breadth. Highlight a story, value, or passion that defines you.
• Show impact and connection. Share why it matters to you and how it shapes the way you’ll engage with peers at Darden.
• Be authentic. Let your voice come through in a way that feels natural to you.
• Think relationships. Darden is a community-driven school; frame your answer around what classmates will learn from and experience with you.

How to Answer UVA Darden’s ‘Community’ Essay?

Prompt: Community – Please describe an example of building community within your personal or professional life. What impact did this have on you and those around you? How will this experience contribute to the way you will build community at Darden? (200 words)

This essay gets at the heart of Darden’s culture. As a school that thrives on the case method and learning teams, Darden is looking for candidates who actively create inclusive, supportive communities. The Admissions Committee knows that past behavior is the best predictor of future action – so this is your chance to demonstrate how you’ve already built bridges, fostered belonging, or united people around a shared purpose.

Start by choosing one powerful example of community building. This could come from your workplace, volunteer work, university experience, or personal life. Perhaps you launched a mentoring initiative, rallied people around a social cause, or simply found ways to help a diverse team work better together. The scale of the story matters less than showing genuine initiative and impact.

Next, highlight the ripple effects: how your actions influenced others, shifted group dynamics, or created a stronger sense of belonging. Equally important is what you learned – did you discover the value of listening first, develop empathy across cultures, or grow as a leader?

Finally, make a clear link to Darden. Show how this experience will shape the way you engage in Charlottesville, whether by supporting classmates through clubs, championing global perspectives, or fostering inclusivity in learning teams. Specificity here helps the committee picture you in the Darden community.

Key Takeaways

• Anchor in one story. A focused example is more memorable than a list of activities.
• Show the ripple effect. Demonstrate the difference you made for others and what you took away from the experience.
• Make it personal. Go beyond generic claims about leadership or inclusivity – let your values and personality show.
• Link to Darden. Spell out how the skills and insights from your story will shape your contribution to the MBA community.

How to Answer UVA Darden’s ‘Careers with Purpose’ Essay? 

Prompt: Careers with Purpose. At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

This is Darden’s version of the classic MBA goals essay – but with a distinctive emphasis on purpose. The Admissions Committee wants to know not just where you plan to go, but why it matters and how it connects to your bigger vision.

Start with clarity on your short-term goal. Be as specific as possible: the industry, function, geography, and type of company you hope to join right after your MBA. For example, instead of saying you want to work in consulting, identify whether you’re targeting strategy consulting at a global firm in the US, or boutique consulting in emerging markets. These details show you’ve done the research and understand what’s realistic. Ideally, your short-term ambitions should also be aligned with the types of roles which Darden grads land – this makes your plan both aspirational and feasible.

From there, connect your short-term goal to your long-term vision. This longer arc does not need to be tied to a specific company or role, but it should convey the kind of impact you want to make – whether that’s shaping sustainable business practices, driving innovation in healthcare, or creating opportunities in underserved markets.

Finally, bring the two together with a sense of purpose. Show how the skills and networks you’ll gain at Darden, plus your short-term path, will position you to realize that larger vision. The best answers show ambition grounded in authenticity.

Key Takeaways

• Be specific about the short term. Define industry, function, geography, and company type with precision.
• Show alignment and ambition. Link your short-term steps to a coherent long-term vision.
• Highlight purpose. Frame your career goals in terms of impact, not just job titles.

Let’s Get You Into UVA Darden

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA admissions decision-makers from top schools. We know what it takes to stand out because we’ve made the admit decisions ourselves. Whether you need help refining your story, strengthening your essays, or navigating interviews, we’ve got you covered.

Our free consultations are consistently rated the best in the industry – and they’re a great way to get personalized advice and honest feedback on your profile. Book your free session with us today.