How many times have you thought about what truly matters most to you? Or what fuels your drive, or what guides your decisions above all else? There is a good chance that you have never thought deeply about your response to any of these questions. That makes the Stanford GSB\u2019s main essay prompt\u2014What matters most to you, and why?\u2014surprisingly vexing. Answering it well requires a considerable amount of introspection and honesty, something we do not always give ourselves the time to do.<\/p>\n
The following essay response to \u201cWhat matters most to you, and why?\u201d, along with its associated commentary, is one of fifty essays featured in\u00a0\u201cWhat Matters?\u201d and \u201cWhat More?\u201d: 50 Successful Essays for the Stanford GSB and HBS (and Why They Worked)<\/strong><\/em><\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>a book co-authored by our firm\u2019s founder,\u00a0Liza Weale<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n We have selected Jules\u2019 essay to share here because it captures the reflection and authenticity that can make for a successful GSB essay, at least according to the Stanford GSB admissions committee! We also like the essay because of the absence of any single incredible story. Too often, people assume that the only people accepted by into GSB\u2019s MBA program are those who are running a unicorn start-up or are, as the saying goes, \u201csaving the world.\u201d Yet, even more relatable stories can reveal a tremendously inspiring person worthy of attending the GSB!<\/p>\n Jules is a reapplicant to the Stanford GSB. Reapplicants have different strategies they can choose from for their new essay submission, and we reached out to Jules to learn how similar this essay was to the first one she submitted. She shared that in her first GSB application, she had focused on relaying what she wanted the GSB to know about her. Afterward, she realized that she had never actually answered the school\u2019s question (for herself or for the admissions committee), and although she had presented a robust, multidimensional picture of who she was, her essay lacked the singular thrust the prompt demands. This time, rather than trying to control how the school might perceive her, she simply answered the question truthfully and sincerely. Kudos to Jules for recognizing the importance of being authentic in her essay!<\/p>\n In the essay, Jules makes no mention of her earlier application. Instead, she discusses three disparate situations\u2014a classmate\u2019s suicide, a difficult sibling relationship, and a company reorganization\u2014and links them via what matters most to her: relationships. Her essay also conveys a strong sense of discovery and reflection, and each challenge better equips her for the next. Another thing Jules does well is openly admit her shortcomings (notably, her impatience with her brother). As we have said before and will undoubtedly say again, business schools are not expecting, or even seeking, perfection. Jules references her impatience matter-of-factly, with no sense of defensiveness or dramatization, thereby earning the reader\u2019s compassion.<\/p>\n Some applicants might think Jules had the \u201cgood fortune\u201d of finding herself in what was surely a very difficult work situation, rife with opportunities to demonstrate commitment, integrity, and empathy. Yet BigBoxCo would not likely have put Jules in the middle of this reorganization had she not already displayed these traits. Throughout her essay, Jules\u2019s actions clearly underscore who she is, ultimately giving the GSB admissions committee compelling and sufficient evidence of its desired Demonstrated Leadership Potential.<\/p>\n Stand by Me, Stand by You<\/em> (written by Jules, GSB MBA)<\/p>\n My cell rings. Victoria. One of my co-mentors to a group of high school underclassmen. \u201cHi… I think you should sit down for this.\u201d Victoria pauses, \u201cAmit killed himself tonight.\u201d [1]<\/strong><\/p>\n Amit was one of our 40 freshmen mentees. A few times a week, we\u2019d bring the mentees together, as one or in smaller groups, to provide a \u201csafe space\u201d in the school\u2019s high-pressure environment. I\u2019d only been involved in the program 9 months, but it had become integral to my high school experience.<\/p>\n The news of Amit\u2019s suicide rocked me, and my grieving was intense. The school\u2019s guidance counselors reached out, as did friends and family, but I didn\u2019t know how to accept their help. The only people who I felt understood were other members of our group. With them, I could share my feelings of disbelief and guilt and listen to theirs. We used each other to figure out how to grieve and accept what happened. But we also channeled our pain towards action, organizing a Suicide Prevention gathering, visiting Amit\u2019s family, and creating a field day to inspire some happiness.<\/p>\n These relationships saved me, and saved us, and while it took time, I ultimately got through the worst of this period. I was left with a profound appreciation for the power of relationships. I also gained resolve to fix an important one that I\u2019d let languish.<\/p>\n My twin brother Johnny struggled with depression for much of my childhood. Anything set him off, resulting in hours of hysteria and cries for attention. I tried not to upset him, which essentially meant not interacting at all. In fact, Johnny was why I\u2019d begun mentoring: I felt disconnected from him and ill-equipped to help, so I latched onto mentoring in school to build relationships and have an impact.<\/p>\n But after I\u2019d processed much of my grieving for Amit, I started reevaluating my approach with Johnny. I realized I was angry at Johnny for the state of our relationship without taking any responsibility myself. I\u2019d never tried to understand the reasons behind his outbursts and instead assumed ill-intent. I also realized I had never been upfront with him about how his actions impacted me.<\/p>\n Slowly, I got more comfortable dealing with Johnny when I felt he was irrational. I also tried harder to understand his feelings, and I asked him to be honest right back. This hasn\u2019t been easy, and even now that Johnny is in a good place, we still have to intentionally work on our interactions. [2]<\/strong> But it has gotten us to what I gratefully have today\u2014a relationship that is truly one of the most meaningful in my life.<\/p>\n More recently, the importance of relationships again showed itself. I joined BigBoxCo shortly before the company decided to dismantle a 30-person Product Development team. The tasks would be absorbed by folks in other groups, while the 30 people would be reallocated to different areas across BigBoxCo.<\/p>\n Over the next 18 months, I had to maintain absolute secrecy as I documented everything I could about the processes. Without letting on the reason behind my attendance at meetings or my line of questioning, I spent significant time with people who would be impacted by the reorg. I struggled internally, wondering if I could do my job with integrity, without feeling like I was betraying these people, many of whom I called \u201cfriend.\u201d [3]<\/strong> I focused on my belief that the reorg was better for the company and those affected, and I hoped my involvement in the project would help me support them once they began their new roles.<\/p>\n After the changes were announced and we moved into implementation, I prioritized connecting with colleagues whom I couldn\u2019t tell about the reorg. I reached out initially to clear the air about my involvement in the project but continued reaching out when I picked up on their eagerness to ask me for advice on navigating the new structure. Throughout this period, I\u2019ve found no one holds anything against me. Instead, many of my relationships have actually gotten stronger\u2014my colleagues seem to trust me and appreciate how committed I am to their success.<\/p>\n To this day I grieve for Amit and mourn the fact that I couldn\u2019t help him more. But, I take solace in the fact that, since his death, I have realized what matters most to me: that I have and form strong relationships. They fulfill me and give meaning to my actions, and in turn, my actions give meaning back to them. [4]<\/strong><\/p>\n [1]<\/strong> Dealing with heavy topics such as suicide in a business school essay can be challenging. Stating the situation clearly and simply, with one or two salient details, will provide enough context for the admissions reader to be able to empathize without thinking you are \u201cplaying the sympathy card\u201d (to quote candidates who worry the admissions committee might perceive such topics negatively).<\/p>\n [2]<\/strong> Sometimes, candidates are tempted to shout from the hilltops, \u201cLook! I fixed the issue! Just like that!\u201d The truth, of course, is that change takes time, and because Jules admits that the relationship can sometimes still be challenging, the reader is more likely to appreciate her efforts to improve it.<\/p>\n [3]<\/strong> Jules again reveals her struggles, reassuring the reader that she is like the rest of us\u2014human!<\/p>\n [4]<\/strong> Jules chooses to clearly state what matters most to her at the very end of her essay, but by this point, her answer is a foregone conclusion. By laying out the evidence from the start, she has more than convinced us that relationships matter most to her, and as result, she needs very few words for her conclusion.<\/p>\n If you would like to see more examples of successful HBS and GSB essays, you can purchase the entire guide\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\nStand by Me, Stand by You \u2013 Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) Application Essay Written by Jules, GSB MBA<\/h3>\n
Pre-Reading Commentary from Liza Weale, Founder of Gatehouse Admissions:<\/h4>\n
What matters most to you, and why?<\/h4>\n
Additional Commentary from Liza:<\/h4>\n