Abhyank Srinet
| Essay Prompt | Word Limit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Essay 1: Tell us about yourself | 500 words | Highlight defining experiences and what they taught you. Keep it personal. |
| Essay 2: Why MBA? Why ESSEC? | 500 words | Show clear goals and specific reasons for choosing ESSEC. |
| Essay 3: What are your post-MBA career goals? | 300 words | Keep your goals focused, realistic, and connected to your past. |
| Essay 4: Leadership experience and biggest achievement | 300 words | Use one strong story with impact, numbers, and learning. |
| Optional Essay: | 300 words | Use only for weaknesses, gaps, or special situations. |
How to Write the Perfect ESSEC Global MBA Essays
ESSEC looks for clarity, real experiences, self-awareness, teamwork, and leadership potential. Each essay is designed to test a different part of your personality and decision-making.
Below is the exact, simple step-by-step method for each ESSEC essay prompt.
Essay 1: Tell Us Your Story
What ESSEC Wants
- Authenticity and honesty
- Key turning points in your life
- What shaped your values, behaviour, and leadership style
- Real experiences, not a list of achievements
How to Write a Strong Answer
- Step 1: Start with a defining moment
A personal experience from childhood, college, or early work life that shaped you. - Step 2: Share 2–3 meaningful experiences
These can include:- A challenge
- A leadership moment
- A transition
- A value shaped by events
- Step 3: Show what you learned
ESSEC values reflection and growth. - Step 4: Connect it to your goals and ESSEC
Show how your story influences what you want next.
Avoid
- Generic family values (unless tied to a real story)
- Long explanations
- Listing positions instead of sharing impact
Essay 2: Why MBA? Why ESSEC?
What ESSEC Wants
- Clarity on why you need an MBA now
- Logical career goals
- Specific reasons for choosing ESSEC
- Real understanding of the curriculum, tracks, and culture
How to Write It
- Step 1: Explain why you need an MBA now
Show your current skill gaps. - Step 2: Explain why ESSEC is the right fit
Mention 3–4 specific resources like:- Digital Leadership Track
- Strategy & Management courses
- ESSEC Career Booster
- Paris/Singapore campus network
- Consulting and tech recruiting
Understanding the program structure and the overall ESSEC Global MBA fees also helps you explain why ESSEC aligns with both your academic goals and your financial planning.
- Step 3: Connect ESSEC to your goals
Show how the program helps you reach your career plan.
Avoid
- Listing too many ESSEC features
- Vague goals
- Copy-paste reasons from other MBA schools
Essay 3: Career Goals and Long-Term Vision
What ESSEC Wants
- Clear short-term and long-term goals
- Understanding of your industry
- A practical and achievable path
- How ESSEC fits into the plan
How to Structure It
- Introduction: State short-term + long-term goals
Simple, specific, realistic. - Middle: How ESSEC will help
Mention courses, tracks, and career support. - Conclusion: Long-term impact
Explain what kind of leader you want to become.
Avoid
- Writing “I want to make an impact” without details
- Unrealistic job transitions
- Overly dramatic tone
Essay 4: Leadership Experience / Achievement
What ESSEC Wants
- Leadership without authority
- Impact through actions
- Clear decisions, teamwork, and measurable results
- Reflection and learning
How to Write It
- Step 1: Pick one strong story
Choose the example where YOU made the difference. - Step 2: Explain the situation
What was the problem? Who was involved? - Step 3: Show your actions
Focus on decisions, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. - Step 4: Explain measurable results
Use numbers, %, growth, revenue, or people impacted. - Step 5: Share what you learned
ESSEC loves reflection.
Accepted Themes
- Leading a project
- Managing cross-team conflict
- Fixing a failing situation
- Creating something new
- Ownership beyond your role
4. Optional Essay (Use Only If Needed)
When You Should Use It
- Employment gaps
- Low GPA
- Low test score
- No LOR from direct manager
- Personal or medical challenges
- Industry change without experience
How to Write It
Keep it short, factual, and honest.
Structure:
- State the issue clearly
- Explain what you did to fix or improve it
- Show why it won’t affect your performance at ESSEC
Avoid
- Emotional storytelling
- Blame
- Excuses
5. Video Essay (Post-Application Round)
What ESSEC Looks For
- Communication skills
- Confidence
- Structured thinking
- Presence and personality
How to Prepare
- Practice 1-minute answers
- Keep your responses natural
- Avoid memorised scripts
- Use clear structure: Situation → Action → Result
- Speak slowly and smile
Sample ESSEC Global MBA Essay Answers
Prompt 1: Tell Us Your Story (~320 Words)
What This Essay Is Really About
This essay helps ESSEC understand who you are beyond your resume. It highlights the experiences, values, and turning points that shaped your personality, decisions, and leadership style.
What ESSEC Looks For
- Key personal moments that shaped your thinking
- Early leadership experiences
- Self-awareness and personal growth
- Real, honest stories
- Reflection — not a list of achievements
Perfect Structure to Follow
- Introduction – Quick background
Where you grew up, your family context, or what shaped your early identity. - Middle – 2–3 meaningful experiences
Examples include:- A challenge that changed how you think
- A leadership incident
- A transition in your life or work
- A value shaped by a real experience
- Conclusion – Connect it to your goals & ESSEC
While exploring the program, many applicants also review the available financial support through the ESSEC Global MBA scholarships, which can make the degree more accessible and help them plan their MBA journey realistically.
Show how your story influences the leader you want to become, and why ESSEC is the right fit.
How to Write “Tell Us Your Story”
- Start with one defining moment
- Explain why it mattered
- Show transformation and growth
- Use simple and clear language
- Avoid resume-style descriptions
⭐ Sample Answer (~320 Words)
I grew up in a small town in Jaipur, where my parents ran a modest stationery shop. Watching them manage customers, solve daily problems, and build trust with people shaped my early understanding of responsibility and hard work. These experiences made me curious about business and taught me the value of patience and communication.
In school, I naturally took up organising roles because I enjoyed bringing people together. One of my earliest leadership moments was when I coordinated a cultural event after our teacher fell sick. Managing the schedules, handling conflicts between teams, and ensuring everything ran smoothly taught me how to stay calm under pressure and listen before acting.
A major turning point came during college when my team lost half our funding for a social project. To continue, we had to redesign the plan, talk to sponsors, and convince volunteers to stay motivated. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me adaptability, teamwork, and resourcefulness.
Professionally, I began my career as an operations analyst at a logistics start-up. During my second year, I was asked to lead a small project aimed at improving delivery efficiency across two cities. It was my first time influencing people older and more experienced than me. By running data experiments, listening to team concerns, and making quick decisions during daily stand-ups, I learned how to balance empathy with accountability.
These moments — my childhood environment, my college experiences, and my early professional challenges — shaped my interest in leadership and problem-solving. They also showed me where I need to grow, especially in global strategy, digital transformation, and people leadership.
This is why the ESSEC Global MBA feels like the right next step for me. I want to strengthen my leadership foundation, learn in an international environment, and prepare myself for roles where I can drive meaningful change in organisations.
As I look ahead, I am excited by the idea of learning alongside peers from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, and reviewing the Essec Global MBA class profile gives me a clear sense of how well my experiences and values align with the kind of community I hope to grow with.
Prompt 2: WHY MBA, WHY ESSEC? (~300 Words)
What This Essay Is Really About
This essay explains why you need an MBA right now and why the ESSEC Global MBA is the right fit. ESSEC wants to see clarity, purpose, and a real understanding of what the program offers.
What ESSEC Looks For
- Why you need an MBA at this stage
- Clear short-term and long-term goals
- Specific reasons for choosing ESSEC
- Understanding of ESSEC’s strengths
- Confidence and purpose
Perfect Structure to Follow
- Introduction – Why MBA now?
Show your current limitations, career ceiling, or why this is the right time. - Middle – Why ESSEC?
Mention 3–4 specific elements:- Digital Leadership Track
- Specialised courses in Strategy & Management
- ESSEC Career Booster & industry connections
- Paris/Singapore campus global exposure
- Consulting & tech recruitment strength
- Conclusion – How ESSEC fits your goals
Show long-term clarity and why ESSEC supports your full career path.
How to Write It (Step-by-Step)
- Identify your skill or experience gaps
- Explain how ESSEC fills those gaps
- Mention only relevant ESSEC resources
- Keep your goals realistic
- Use simple, crisp language
⭐ Sample Answer (~300 Words)
Over the last three years, my role has expanded from an analyst position to managing small cross-functional initiatives. While this helped me strengthen my execution and teamwork skills, I now see a clear gap in strategic thinking, leadership, and global business understanding. To move into a strategy-focused role and eventually lead larger teams, I need structured exposure to business fundamentals, leadership development, and international markets. This is why an MBA is the right step for me now.
The ESSEC Global MBA is the best fit for my goals because of its strong focus on leadership, digital transformation, and practical learning. The “Digital Leadership Track” aligns perfectly with my interest in working at the intersection of strategy and technology. Courses such as “Strategic Management,” “Business Analytics,” and “Leading Change” match the skills I want to develop. ESSEC’s close connection with consulting and tech firms, combined with its Paris and Singapore exposure, will give me the international outlook I need to transition into strategy roles after the program.
Another reason I am drawn to ESSEC is its collaborative culture and diverse student community. Working with peers from different industries and nationalities will help me broaden my thinking and learn how leaders operate in different environments. ESSEC’s strong alumni network will also support me as I navigate my next career steps.
An MBA from ESSEC will help me close my skill gaps, gain global exposure, and prepare for a career in strategy. It is the right environment for my personal and professional growth and the ideal match for my long-term goals.
SAMPLE ESSAY 3: CAREER GOALS & LONG-TERM VISION (~290 Words)
What This Essay Is Really About
This essay explains your short-term goal, your long-term vision, and how the ESSEC Global MBA helps you achieve both. It highlights your planning, clarity, and ambition.
What ESSEC Looks For
- Realistic short-term goals
- Ambitious but logical long-term vision
- A clear path from past → MBA → future
- Understanding of your industry and global trends
- How ESSEC’s resources support your journey
Perfect Structure to Follow
- Introduction – Short-term and long-term goals
Keep it simple, clear, and specific. - Middle – How ESSEC will help you
Mention curriculum, tracks, network, and placement strengths. - Conclusion – Long-term impact
Explain the contribution you want to make in your industry or society.
How to Write It (Step-by-Step)
- Connect past experience to your future goals
- Show strong understanding of your chosen industry
- Be specific about the roles you want — not vague titles
- Mention ESSEC specialisations or tracks relevant to your goals
- Keep the tone practical, not overly idealistic
⭐ Sample Answer (~290 Words)
In the short term, my goal is to move into a strategy consulting role at a firm like BCG, Bain, or Roland Berger. This will give me structured exposure to large-scale business challenges, client communication, and decision-making under pressure. A consulting role will help me build a strong foundation in strategic thinking, analytical problem-solving, and leadership.
In the long term, I want to work in the technology sector as a strategy leader focused on digital transformation. I want to help companies use technology to improve operations, scale faster, and enter new markets. My vision is to become a leader who can bridge technology, business, and people while guiding organisations through change.
The ESSEC Global MBA is the ideal place to achieve these goals. The curriculum offers exactly what I need — strategy, digital transformation, analytics, and leadership development. The “Digital Leadership Track” and courses such as “Strategic Management” and “Business Analytics” directly support my learning goals. ESSEC’s strong connections with consulting and tech firms, along with its Career Booster workshops, will help me prepare for interviews and find the right roles.
ESSEC’s international diversity is another reason I see it as the right fit. Working with peers from different countries and professional backgrounds will help me understand global markets and build the cross-cultural mindset required for strategy roles.
By combining practical learning, industry exposure, and strong leadership development, ESSEC will equip me with everything I need to reach both my short-term and long-term goals.
SAMPLE ESSAY 4: OPTIONAL ESSAY (~180 Words)
What This Essay Is Really About
A short, honest explanation for a gap, weakness, or unusual situation in your profile. ESSEC wants clarity, maturity, and accountability — not excuses.
What ESSEC Looks For
- Self-awareness
- Accountability
- Clarity, not excuses
- Evidence of improvement
- Confidence in future performance
Perfect Structure to Follow
- Introduction – State the issue simply
Example: gap, low GPA, recommender change, test score, industry shift, etc. - Middle – What you did to fix or improve it
Courses, certifications, added responsibilities, achievements, or skill-building. - Conclusion – Why it will not affect your success
Show readiness, resilience, and confidence.
How to Write It (Step-by-Step)
- Keep it short
- Keep it factual
- Avoid emotional storytelling
- Focus on solutions and actions
- Show maturity and growth
⭐ Sample Answer (~180 Words)
During the second year of my career, I had a three-month employment gap. This gap occurred when the startup I was working for shut down due to financial constraints. Instead of waiting passively for a new opportunity, I used this period to improve my skills. I completed an online certification in Data Analytics, worked on a personal project analysing customer behaviour, and assisted a local business in improving its sales reporting.
What initially felt like a setback became an important learning phase. It helped me understand the value of adaptability and continuous learning. The skills I gained during this time allowed me to take on data-focused responsibilities in my next role, where I contributed to improving internal reporting accuracy.
I now have stronger technical skills, clearer professional direction, and the confidence to handle uncertain situations. This experience will not affect my performance at ESSEC; instead, it has built the resilience and discipline I will bring to the program.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in ESSEC Global MBA Essays
Writing strong ESSEC Global MBA essays is not only about what you include — it is equally about what you avoid. Many rejected applications fail because of common and preventable errors. Avoiding these mistakes will make your essays clearer, sharper, and far more impactful.
Being too general
Many applicants write broad statements like “I am a good leader” or “I want to advance my career.” These lines add no value. ESSEC wants specific stories, real examples, clear decisions, and measurable impact — not vague claims.
Repeating your CV
Your essays should NOT be a repetition of your resume. Instead of listing your achievements, explain the story behind one or two meaningful experiences:
- What happened
- What you did
- What you learned
- How it changed your thinking or leadership
Trying to cover too many topics
Applicants often try to mention everything they have done. This makes the essay scattered and hard to follow. ESSEC prefers depth over breadth — one strong story is more powerful than five weak ones.
Writing what you think the school wants to hear
Admissions officers can quickly detect generic answers. Authenticity is always stronger than a forced “perfect-sounding” essay. Your real story — even if simple — will always be more memorable.
Not showing self-reflection
ESSEC values personal growth. When you mention an achievement, also explain:
- What you learned
- What changed in you
- How it shaped your leadership style
Ignoring “fit” with ESSEC
You must show why ESSEC specifically — not why an MBA in general. Mention relevant elements such as:
- ESSEC tracks and specialisations
- Digital leadership focus
- Global campuses and diversity
- Industry connections and placements
Using overly complex language
Simple English is more impactful. Clear writing reflects clear thinking — and ESSEC values precision and clarity.
