Jordan Smith
Senior GMAT Instructor
Most MBA applications include a space labeled optional essay, and most applicants aren't sure whether to touch it. For many business schools, that space exists so you can explain extenuating circumstances, get ahead of a weakness, or answer a question you expect the admissions committee to have after reading the rest of your file.
The prompts tend to sound like this: "If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances, unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc." Some schools add that you may use it "if you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application." Read closely and you'll notice the committee doesn't expect everyone to use it. It's for applicants who have something critical to explain.
In my experience, the most frequent topic MBA applicants cover in the optional essay is academic performance. If your transcript isn't doing you any favors, addressing it proactively can help. You might be explaining a low overall or semester GPA, a specific failing grade, academic probation, or aberrations like dropped or incomplete classes or a change of major mid-degree.
Why point out a weakness the committee will see anyway? Because they will see it. They look closely at academics to judge whether you can handle their program. If you leave the explanation blank, the reader guesses. If you write it, you guide them toward the details that put your challenge in the most positive light possible. You can't hide a weakness, but you can control the narrative around it.
How should you address academic issues?
Another common use of the optional essay is explaining time off from work or school. Admissions committees will pick up on notable gaps in your resume or transcripts. Many MBA applications even ask directly whether you have gaps of a certain length, such as three months or more.
If the application's own space lets you cover the explanation sufficiently, you may not need the optional essay. Otherwise, use it to explain why you took that time off. That could include something you feel uneasy about, like being laid off or fired from a prior role, or personal health or family issues you were dealing with. The reader won't know what your situation was unless you briefly share it.
The optional essay is also the place to address any disciplinary or criminal history. You can't hide these issues, especially since schools run background checks. If you leave the details out, admissions readers may wonder about them or invent their own theories. The best you can do is clarify the situation.
Use the essay to help them understand what you dealt with and, more importantly, how you've changed since. Explain the occurrence succinctly, take responsibility for your actions, and demonstrate growth. We've seen numerous clients overcome these situations and get into business school.
Applicants also use the optional space to address a test score that's lower than average and doesn't reflect their potential. Mentioning it won't make schools overlook it. Your score is still below the program's average, and it remains a weakness in your application.
But if you truly feel the score isn't representative of your academic ability, say so and share other evidence of quantitative, analytical, data interpretation, and verbal or communication skills. Business school is inherently quantitative, so schools want to see quantitative ability somewhere in your past. If your GMAT or GRE quant score is low, they'll look for quant skills elsewhere, perhaps in professional work where you regularly perform quantitative analysis, create financial models, or do extensive analytical problem solving. Point that out. Certifications with a quantitative bent, such as the CFA or CPA, can also serve as evidence that you can handle business school.
One more common use of the optional essay is explaining why you didn't ask a current supervisor for a recommendation, especially when the school's instructions say a current supervisor is preferred. You might not want to disclose your business school plans yet, for fear it could affect promotions or bonuses, or you may not have worked under the supervisor for long. Explain the situation briefly and clearly. This should be the shortest explanation of the five scenarios covered here. Many applications actually include a short answer question that asks you to comment if you haven't asked your supervisor to recommend you, so review your application thoroughly to see whether your target programs offer that option. If they do, use that space instead.
For any optional essay explanation, explain the situation briefly, take responsibility if needed, and demonstrate growth when it applies. Don't waste an admissions reader's time with long-winded storytelling. And remember that this section is optional. If you don't have anything urgent to address, don't use it at all. It isn't the place to add random extra essays or reuse essays from other schools' applications.
If you're not sure whether your situation merits an optional essay, feel free to reach out to our experienced MBA admissions consultants for advice. We offer complimentary 30-minute consultation calls across many time zones on a weekly basis, and we'd be happy to discuss your personal situation and plan of attack for your applications and optional essays. And while you're at it, consider using GMAT Sprint to track your GMAT progress and ensure you're on the right path to achieving your goals.
Our next video covers another aspect of the applications that we mentioned quite a bit in this video: Short Answers. Don't miss it!
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