MIT Sloan MBA Application Guide

The MIT MBA Program requires the following:

MIT Sloan MBA is seeking students who are:

• Interested in getting involved and enriching the experiences of their peers
• Insightful leaders with outstanding intellectual prowess and the ambition to make a significant impact on the world
• Independent, genuine, and boldly innovative—true achievers who take action
• Brave enough to challenge traditional solutions and proactively address unconventional challenges with groundbreaking ideas, all while upholding integrity and a passion for their pursuits

Considering the points mentioned, candidates are required to provide a cover letter expressing their interest in the MIT MBA program. This cover letter should follow the format of standard business correspondence and include one or more professional examples that demonstrate how the applicant fulfills the specified criteria.

The letter should be 300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation. It can be addressed to:
Admissions Committee
50 Memorial Drive
Cambridge, MA 02142

MBA candidates, much like job seekers, must demonstrate their ability to effectively present themselves to the Admissions Committee. With a strict limit of 300 words, the letter should be both succinct and informative. Applicants should highlight their identity, achievements, and how these experiences align with what they can contribute to the MIT MBA community. It’s essential to convey how they would integrate and flourish within the program, as well as articulate why MIT is the ideal environment for their growth. A gracious thank you should wrap up the letter.

Before crafting this cover letter, it’s crucial for applicants to invest time in understanding MIT and its MBA program in depth. This includes examining the curriculum, extracurricular activities, and distinctive offerings. Engaging with the resources on the MIT website or reaching out to alumni and current students can provide valuable insights.

The Admissions Committee recommends a one-page resume focusing on work results, not just titles and job descriptions.

Here are some pointers on formatting a resume for MIT MBA program application:

• One page limit
• Times New Roman font
• Size 10 font
• Word or PDF formats only

Information should be included in reverse chronological order:

• Education: Include relevant awards, scholarships and professional societies
• Work Experience: Include company name, title, results-oriented bullets that demonstrate the applicant’s skill set, and dates
• Additional information: Include extracurricular activities/community service, technical skills/certifications, and special skills/interests, and languages spoken (if applicable)

The org chart (sample) provides the Admissions Committee with a clear visual overview of the applicant’s current or most recent professional position. This chart illustrates how the applicant’s contributions and impact are situated within the larger framework of their organisation, project, or team. It should effectively convey the hierarchy, relationships, and dynamics of the applicant’s work environment, making it accessible and comprehensible for those unfamiliar with the applicant’s background.

What to include in the org chart? Prep Zone recommends the following:

1. Key individuals or teams you work closely with. These could be:
   • Direct reports (if applicable).
   • Supervisors or managers.
   • Peers or colleagues in cross-functional teams.
   • External partners, clients, or stakeholders.
   • Recommenders
     It’s important to consider all the colleagues you interact with in your work environment. This includes those you report to, those who report to you, and your peers with whom you collaborate. You might also want to categorise teams or individuals who aren’t directly related to your specific role. Details like names and titles are important though names can be redacted if needed.
2. Illustrate the connections between individuals by outlining the formal reporting relationships that extend to the highest levels of the organisation, along with the structure of the teams involved.
3. Formatting:
   To make your role stand out, please highlight it in red for easy identification. If your recommender or references appear on the org chart, please mark them as well, using a different colour like blue. Additionally, be sure to include the size of the company and the number of both direct and indirect reports in the chart. Keep the org chart to a maximum of two pages.

If you have an unconventional internal structure, MIT MBA provides further guidance for special cases as follows:

• If you work in consulting: Provide a chart that outlines the structure of a recent project you participated in, focusing specifically on your contributions within that team, rather than the entire consulting firm
• If you’re a solo entrepreneur or external contractor: Begin by positioning yourself at the centre of the chart, and then create branches that symbolise the different constituents and stakeholders you engage with (for example, clients, suppliers, investors, board of directors)
• If you don’t have any direct reports: Managing people is not a prerequisite for applying to the MBA program. MIT Sloan is more interested in understanding your role within the organisation and the nature of your interactions, rather than focusing on the number of individuals who report to you
• If your company’s internal structure is confidential: Provide a chart that can help the Admissions Committee visualise your place within the organisation without giving away classified details. You can redact names, titles, or display only a certain level of your organisation
• If you are serving in the military but previously held a civilian job: Military applicants who are actively serving have the option to provide two org charts: one that details their former civilian position and another that illustrates their current role within the military

Instead of writing essays, the MIT Sloan MBA program requires candidates to film two video essays:

Video Question 1:

Introduce yourself to your future classmates.

• While the prompt asks candidates to introduce themselves to future classmates, the video answer is used for the application process only
• The video answer should adhere to the following guidelines:
  • No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length
  • Single take (no editing)
  • Speaking directly to the camera
  • No background music or subtitles
• It’s important to keep in mind that the audience for this video is the applicant’s classmates. Aim for a casual, friendly, and engaging tone. While it’s okay to share a bit about the applicant’s professional background and career aspirations, the focus should really be on letting their personality shine through and highlighting aspects of themselves that might not come across in the application. Share about the activities, courses, or clubs at MIT Sloan that excite them and explain why they hold special significance for themselves
• Candidates might find it helpful to create a script and practice in front of a camera to build their confidence. However, it’s important that the final video comes across as genuine and not overly polished or stiff
• It’s crucial that candidates wear suitable professional clothing. They should also choose a recording space that is both well-lit and free from distractions. If a candidate has a unique aspect of their current job, such as working near a notable landmark or in a factory, they are welcome to use that as the backdrop for their video response. However, they should make sure that both the audio and video quality are clear and of high standard

Video Question 2:

All MBA applicants will be prompted to respond to a randomly generated, open-ended question. Some examples include, “What achievement are you most proud of and why?”, or “What’s the biggest misperception co-workers might have about you?”

• This 2nd video question pops up when the rest of the application is completed
• Applicants have 10 seconds to prepare for a 60-second response. The response will be recorded live and they only have one chance to answer to this question
• This type of interview focuses on behaviour and is frequently used in job assessments. Candidates can effectively use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to provide clear and concise responses. It’s important to emphasise personal contributions without coming across as boastful
• Candidates are encouraged to share a variety of experiences, selecting examples that haven’t been included in their application materials. Reflect on the aspects that were already mentioned in the application—consider what strengths, traits, skills, and values might still need to be highlighted
• As this part of the interview doesn’t allow for retakes, it’s crucial for applicants to thoroughly check their camera and microphone before starting. Using a computer rather than a tablet is advisable to ensure everything functions properly
• Practicing by recording themselves can be beneficial for applicants, helping them stay within the time constraints, project confidence through their tone and body language, and maintain eye contact with the camera while delivering their responses

Short Answer Question:

How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, community, all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity to share more about your background.

• This question aims to provide the Admissions Committee with insight into the background and experiences that have influenced the candidate’s development. It offers an opportunity for reflection on how their surroundings have contributed to their character, including their motivations, values, and sources of passion. Applicants are encouraged to share lessons gained from unique situations, personal or family challenges, or interactions with the community they engage with

MBA candidates are required to provide a single letter of recommendation, preferably from a manager or supervisor. It’s important to ensure that this letter is submitted by the deadline for the application round in which the candidate is applying.

Applicants should choose a recommender who can answer the following questions:

• How long and in what capacity have you known the applicant?
• How does the applicant stand out from others in a similar capacity?
• Please give an example of the applicant’s impact on a person, group, or organization.
• Please give a representative example of how the applicant interacts with other people.
• Please tell us anything else you think we should know about this applicant.
• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

In addition to one letter of recommendation, applicants also need to provide contact information for two additional professional references. If the Admissions Committee has any further inquiries after reviewing the application, they may contact these references. Like the recommender, these individuals should be able to discuss the applicant’s professional and/or academic experiences, and it’s important that they are different from the primary recommender.