cornell essay mba

2023-2024 Cornell Johnson MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jul 2, 2023

• Who is Cornell Johnson looking for?
• How should I answer the essay questions
• Make sure you get into Cornell Johnson
• Cornell Johnson Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on September 4, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With its focus on immersion learning and campuses in both Ithaca and New York City, Cornell is at the top of the list for an increasing number of applicants who seek to pursue high-impact business careers. 

However, with its unique 1-year MBA option and interface with leading tech companies, landing a spot at Cornell Johnson is more difficult than ever. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Cornell admissions essays to stand out . We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Cornell Johnson MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Cornell application your best shot. 

1. Who is Cornell Johnson looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @cornellmba on Instagram)

“Innovation is fundamental to Johnson and to Cornell. Our emphasis on performance learning ensures that Johnson MBAs can make an immediate impact in business and society. That’s what they’re practicing, and that’s what they’re prepared to do.” Mark W. Nelson, PhD, Dean Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management

Every year, Cornell recruits highly-talented individuals from across the globe to fill its 1-year and 2-year MBA programs. With a strong emphasis on diversity and there is no “typical” Cornell student, yet the average admitted student to the Class of 2024 (2-year MBA) had a 710 GMAT and 5.5 years of work experience.

Beyond the statistics, though, Cornell is looking for candidates who want to positively disrupt the world of business through outstanding leadership . That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT and university grades), Cornell also seeks candidates who demonstrate the following traits:

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Cornell’s admissions essay questions. 

2. How should I answer the essay questions

Before starting to write your Cornell Johnson MBA essays, we suggest that you take a few moments to peruse the application guide the school offers on its website. Not only does this guide spell out exactly what you need to do in order to submit a complete application, but it also gives you some great tips along the way. 

Luckily, this year, Cornell has made no major changes to their essay questions, just a few minor tweaks! 

2.1. Short Essay Tips

Goals Statement: A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout [the] admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].

• Targeted Job Role:
• Target Job Company:

In 5–10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].

How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?

Though a bit unorthodox in format, this is essentially a goals essay . For goals essays, the admissions committee wants to see that you have a clear, defined plan for the future that both makes sense based on your previous experience and that shows a clear connection between your short- and long-term goals.

For the text boxes, be brief and precise. Tell them exactly what you want to do. 

For the longer essay, you have a bit more room, but not much! 

That’s why we suggest not recapping your goals in this essay unless you need them to transition between the two parts I believe this essay should have: your previous experience and what motivates you to pursue the goals you’ve stated (to tie this to the question, you need to show how you’ve prepared and what has encouraged you to pursue your goals). 

First, let’s start with how you’ve prepared. Remember, goals without context often lack clarity or impact. You may want to include one mini-story or several small anecdotes to provide this context. 

Don’t write a list of everything you’ve ever done (we have your CV after all!) but carefully craft a description of your path that shows us you’ve built skills and experience that are relevant to your future job. 

Second, discuss why you are passionate about the goals you’ve set for yourself. Though you may be pursuing an MBA to earn more money or add a bit more prestige to your CV, these are not interesting motivations for an admissions committee. It’s like saying you want to be a brain surgeon to impress your friends. 

Rather, discuss your passions . Do you want to launch a social business to reduce waste? Tell us why sustainability is important to you and how you think your future work can make the world a better place. Want to go into private equity? Show us how your interest in investing in overlooked middle-market companies will help create a more robust economy in your home country. 

For example, our client Katherine wrote an essay about her goal to move into the operations area of a big tech company. You may be asking yourself, how do you show passion when it comes to operations? Here’s how she solved that dilemma: 

“Throughout my life, I’ve seen technology transform how we interact with our world. Most recently, at __________, I used technology to strengthen our business when tasked with creating and implementing a more comprehensive customer service solution. Previously, the competitive mobile POS market had been rapidly expanding, yet we struggled to capture market share. To reverse the trend, I led the development of an operational solution to create a targeted customer service channel and set the plan in motion by managing numerous service providers. Together, we increased mPOS usage by 20% in two months. 

More importantly, this experience showed me how complex and fundamental operations are within innovation-driven companies. Operations range from strategy to product design to management—it’s the beating heart of any company. After my MBA, I plan to lead an operations department in a technology company in LatAm to put innovative products and services into the hands of consumers. As I grow in my career, I seek to increasingly enhance the presence and influence of innovative companies in my region. Personally, I’m highly motivated to use technology and harness the change it can promote to positively impact the lives of real people.”

No matter what your goals are, show us the passion behind them!

You can also choose to end with one sentence about how your goals align with Cornell Johnson’s mission, but take great care not to turn this into a “Why Cornell” essay . 

Finally, writing a 350-word essay can be challenging, but we’ve prepared an in-depth post to help you maximize every word in short essays like this one.

TOP TIP : Cornell Johnson doesn’t give you space for fuzzy or less-than-defined goals in its application. As such, if you’re struggling to define what your goals are, check out this post, which we wrote specifically to help you self-reflect and define this all-important aspect of your profile. 

Need more guidance? 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Cornell Johnson MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Cornell essay. 

Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. 

Click to join ! 

2.2. Essay 1 Tips

Impact Essay: At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words maximum) 

This continues to be perhaps one of the most challenging MBA essays out there. 

First, the essay begins by essentially telling you that connecting with specific members of the Cornell community is considered something of a prerequisite for admission to Cornell. It’s little surprise that they state this, as they are stating very clearly that they want candidates who are applying to Johnson because they know and identify with the program instead of candidates who are applying to dozens of schools to see what happens. 

As such, if you haven’t spoken with anyone in the Cornell community, stop reading and go do that. For many international candidates, this can be a tough task. If this sounds like you, we have a few key suggestions. 

1) Attend an event . Despite the limitations caused by COVID-19, there are still a number of ways you can connect with Cornell Johnson. Perhaps one of the best ways to learn about the school right now is through one of their multiple webinars, which you can use this to enhance your knowledge of the program and make connections you can follow up with later. 

2) Use LinkedIn to your advantage. It’s ok to “cold call” contacts on LinkedIn and ask if they might be willing to chat with you about the school. Remember, alumni and students get many such requests, so be persistent until you get in touch with someone. At the end of that call, ask if they can introduce you to another student, professor, or alumni who might be willing to talk to you more about Cornell Johnson. 

Now that you’ve done your homework, time to write your essay! 

First, keep in mind that this essay should not be a list of everyone and everything you know about Cornell Johnson. It should focus on the impact you want to make in the world and, using your research, connect to how you think the Johnson MBA is best positioned to help you achieve that impact. 

We suggest first defining what impact you want to make after your career. This will be in some way related to your goals, but consider the impact you can make in your goals beyond reaching X or Y position. 

If you want to return to consulting to focus on digital transformation, for example, demonstrate why this is important to you and how you think you can help create a better world through digital transformation. 

After defining the impact you hope to make, consider thoughtfully how Cornell can help you grow. 

We suggest then showing how Cornell’s culture, clubs, classes, and people can help you reach this goal and how you plan to make an impact on campus.

2.4. Optional/Reapplicant Essay Tips

Optional Essay (required for reapplicants): You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum). 

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Application Guide for additional information about reapplying. (350 words maximum)

Though with such a short application you may be tempted to use this response to add additional stories and information you couldn’t quite squeeze in elsewhere, restraint is necessary here. Make sure you focus on explaining gaps in your application only, though you can use these explanations to highlight related achievements. 

For example, our client Fernando needed to explain his 6-month gap in work experience. As luck would have it, he spent these 6 months volunteering in Asia, so we not only addressed a “weakness” but were also able to include a new achievement in his application. 

We have written extensively on the issue of optional essays, giving tips and tricks for how to address issues like low GMAT scores or poor academic performance here . 

Looking for Cornell Johnson MBA essay examples? Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

3. Make sure you get into Cornell Johnson

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school. 

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner. 

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program. 

That’s the approach we took with Henrique, who was admitted to Cornell. In his words, “ Ellin helped me in the application process from the beginning, helping me organize myself for the whole year. I truly believe that my interactions with her not only provided a foundation for the application creation, but also, and more importantly, structured my life at business school. I even got a scholarship. I really recommend her since she is really committed, hard-working and made me feel comfortable and confident during the entire process. Thanks for the phenomenal service, Ellin .”

Not only can you take advantage of our editing expertise through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

4. Cornell Johnson Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. You can access the online application here . 

* Initial Notification Date : Following a preliminary review of your application and materials, you will receive one of three initial notifications by the posted date for the round in which you submitted your application: invitation to interview, waitlist without interview, or denial of admission.

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Cornell MBA Essays: Tips for 2023-2024

If you are looking for guidance on how to write successful MBA essays for Cornell Johnson, you are in the right place. The Johnson MBA application can be difficult and time-consuming, but with these tips and tricks, you can be more confident about one of the biggest parts of your application: the MBA essays. This article will cover how to compose Cornell MBA essays that will fit the criteria for admissions and hopefully earn you a place in Cornell University’s graduating class of 2025. 

Cornell University Johnson School of Business is a prestigious MBA program with renowned faculty and a focus on academic success. Cornell wants to admit students who are intelligent, determined, and prepared to undertake a rigorous curriculum. In addition, Cornell prioritizes community and teamwork. Applicants should pay attention to the specific requirements and expectations set out by Cornell’s admissions committee when writing Cornell MBA essays. Through these Cornell Johnson MBA essays, applicants have a chance to demonstrate their skills, accomplishments, and personal interests.

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, behavioral essays, etc.. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for Cornell University’s Johnson College of Business.

Career Goals Essay

• A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience.

To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals and complete the following sentences and answering the short answer question below.

• In 5 years I want to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] in the [Industry].
• In 5-10 years post-MBA my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] in the [Industry].
• How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals?

Behavioral Essay

• At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (text box, 350 words maximum)

Optional Essay

• If you are applying for the first time and wish to submit an optional essay, please enter it here. You may use the optional essay to explain gaps in your resume, call attention to items needing clarification, or provide additional details about any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson. (text box, 350 words maximum)

Park Fellowship Essay

• Park Fellowship Leadership Essay (500-word limit). Describe a past formal or informal leadership experience and how it informs your goals for growth as a leader. How would the Park Leadership Fellowship assist with these goals? Please note that consideration for the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellowship is by invitation only. Upon completion of the admissions interview, those selected for further consideration will be required to submit a response to the Park Leadership Fellows Program essay in addition to participating in one of our Leadership Exploration and Assessment Day (L.E.A.D.) events.

Reapplicant Essay

• If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application. (text box, 350 words)

Johnson’s Career Goals Essay 

The Cornell career goals essay provides applicants with a place to let the Cornell admissions committee know how the MBA program you want to attend will help you achieve your professional goals. This Cornell MBA essay is a great place to explain why Cornell is truly the best fit for you. 

It is vital for Cornell applicants to have a solid plan for their post-MBA career aspirations. First and foremost, this is because Cornell wants its graduates to succeed. However, there are a few selfish motivations for the career goals essay, including the fact that Cornell wants to have an impressive employment report and produce graduates who will become donors someday. Further, the Cornell admissions committee wants to ensure that applicants have a career plan that plays on their past experiences and thus ensures success. They also want applicants with the foresight to develop an alternate career plan in case their first choice does not work out. 

Other things to keep in mind for this essay is the necessity to have a career goal that is both ambitious and practical. Applicants should have meaningful goals that fit with what is offered at Cornell’s MBA program. Along this vein, networking is extremely important when preparing to write your career goals essay. The more you know about the program and how it can help you achieve your personal goals, the better.

Johnson’s Behavioral Essay

Behavioral essays involve demonstrating how you have used your leadership skills in real-life situations. The Behavioral Cornell MBA essay gives you a space to identify your morality as a leader and how you might benefit from Cornell’s leadership development programs. Cornell’s MBA admissions committee wants assurance that you are self-reflective and able to identify a moment in which you have been a leader. 

In the Cornell behavioral essay, it is important to be truthful and sincere and to tell your personal story in a compelling manner. You should include as much detail as possible for this type of Cornell MBA essay, discussing your role in a situation that required a strong leader. You should reflect on what this situation taught you and how your leadership style might have changed after this experience. Cornell is looking for MBA candidates who can contemplate how they used leadership skills to solve a problem. 

In this Cornell MBA essay, you might want to reflect on your role on teams in your previous work experience. Further, rather than solely focusing on your leadership successes, it would also be beneficial to identify some failures and explain how you have learned from these less positive experiences. 

Johnson also offers each applicant the opportunity to apply for the Park Fellowship. You can read more about this program here .

Once you’ve completed your application, the optional Ross essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

For reapplicants, Cornell Johnson requires a specific essay in which you can address how your application has improved since your last application.

In this essay, you can address any improvements to your test scores, promotions at work, additional volunteer or community work, or any significant professional development that you have undertaken since you last applied to the program.

Timing is key for reapplicants, and when you’re applying for an MBA program a second time around, you want to be sure that you are a more qualified and desirable client than you were a year ago—even if your application was stellar the first time.

Applicants to Cornell should pay close attention to the specific expectations for each type of Cornell MBA essay. Although it may be tempting to look up sample essays and draw from these formats, it is most important to let your personal background guide the construction of your Cornell Johnson MBA essays.

Menlo Coaching can help you throughout your Cornell MBA essay writing process, offering one-on-one coaching and exclusive preparation materials. 

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Cornell Johnson MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Uncover the secrets to crafting standout MBA essays with our comprehensive guide to Cornell Johnson's application process.

Posted March 1, 2024

Featuring Victoria G.

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Table of Contents

Applying for an MBA program can be an exciting yet daunting task. Among the many top-tier business schools to choose from, Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management stands out as a renowned institution. As part of the application process, prospective candidates are required to submit essays that offer insights into their professional background, goals, and aspirations. In this comprehensive guide , we will provide an overview of the Cornell Johnson MBA essays, offer valuable tips to help you craft compelling responses , and showcase examples from successful applicants.

Cornell Johnson Application and the Role of Essays

The Cornell Johnson application process is designed to carefully evaluate each candidate's qualities and potential contributions to the business school community. While the application includes various components such as the academic record, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation, the essays play a significant role in allowing applicants to showcase their personalities, experiences, and motivations.

Through the essays, the admissions committee seeks to gain a deeper understanding of who you are as an individual and how Cornell Johnson can help you achieve your career goals. Therefore, it is vital to approach each essay prompt thoughtfully and strategically.

One of the essay prompts for the Cornell Johnson application asks applicants to reflect on their leadership experiences and how they have shaped their personal and professional growth. This prompt provides an opportunity for applicants to highlight their ability to lead and influence others, as well as their capacity for self-reflection and growth. Applicants may choose to discuss a specific leadership role they have held, such as being the president of a student organization, or they may choose to reflect on a more personal experience that has taught them valuable leadership lessons.

Another essay prompt focuses on the applicant's career goals and how Cornell Johnson's MBA program will help them achieve those goals. This essay allows applicants to demonstrate their understanding of the program's unique offerings and how they align with their career aspirations. Applicants may discuss specific courses, professors, or experiential learning opportunities that they believe will contribute to their professional development. They can also highlight the school's strong alumni network and how it can support their career advancement.

Additionally, the Cornell Johnson application includes an essay that asks applicants to share an experience where they faced a significant challenge or setback and how they overcame it. This essay prompt allows applicants to showcase their resilience, problem-solving skills, and ability to learn from adversity. Applicants can discuss a professional or personal setback and explain the steps they took to overcome it, highlighting the lessons learned and the personal growth achieved through the experience.

Furthermore, the Cornell Johnson application requires applicants to write a short essay on their interest in the school's unique immersion program. This essay prompt provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their understanding of the program's structure and benefits. They can discuss specific industry immersions or experiential learning opportunities that align with their career goals and how they plan to leverage these experiences to enhance their skills and knowledge.

In conclusion, the essays in the Cornell Johnson application provide applicants with a platform to showcase their unique qualities , experiences, and aspirations. Through these essays, the admissions committee gains a deeper understanding of each applicant's potential contributions to the business school community and their fit with Cornell Johnson's values and goals. It is crucial for applicants to approach each essay prompt thoughtfully and strategically, highlighting their leadership abilities, career goals, ability to overcome challenges, and interest in the school's immersion program.

Cornell Johnson Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

For the 2023-2024 application cycle, Cornell Johnson has provided the following essay prompts:

• Essay Prompt 1: Provide a concise description of your immediate post-MBA career goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Johnson MBA, enable you to achieve these goals? (400 words maximum)
• Essay Prompt 2: Where do you see yourself in five years after completing your MBA and how do you anticipate the Johnson community will help you get there? (350 words maximum)
• Essay Prompt 3: You are the author of your life story. Please create the table of contents for the book of your life story. (Maximum 300 words)

These prompts offer applicants the opportunity to reflect on their career aspirations, their fit with the Johnson community, and their journey thus far. Let's dive into some expert tips for each essay prompt to help you craft impactful responses.

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List of Expert Tips for Each Johnson Essay Prompt

Essay Prompt 1: When addressing your immediate post-MBA career goals, it is crucial to be specific and demonstrate a clear understanding of the industry or function you wish to pursue. Explain why this path aligns with your interests, skills, and values. Additionally, highlight how the unique resources and opportunities offered by Cornell Johnson will complement your professional experience to achieve your goals.

Essay Prompt 2: This essay prompt requires you to envision your future after completing your MBA. Focus on the skills, knowledge, and network you expect to gain during your time at Cornell Johnson. Be specific about how these resources will contribute to your long-term success and explain why the Johnson community is the ideal environment for you to thrive.

Essay Prompt 3: The third essay prompt challenges you to think creatively and introspectively as you outline the table of contents for the book of your life. Structure your response in a way that reflects the significant milestones, experiences, and lessons that have shaped you into the person you are today. Strike a balance between showcasing your personal growth and highlighting your future aspirations.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Writing compelling essays requires careful planning and thoughtful execution. Here are some essential tips to guide you through the writing process:

• Start early: Give yourself ample time to brainstorm ideas, draft, revise, and edit your essays. Rushing through the process may result in subpar responses.
• Show, don't just tell: Instead of simply making statements, use specific examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate your points and make your essays more engaging.
• Stay authentic: Be yourself throughout the essays. Authenticity is key in creating a connection with the admissions committee.
• Be concise: Adhere to the word limits for each essay prompt and strive for clarity and conciseness in your writing.

Cornell Johnson Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

One effective way to understand how to approach the Cornell Johnson essays is by analyzing successful examples. Here, we present two essay excerpts from actual admitted students:

Example 1 (Essay Prompt 1): [Excerpt from successful essay]

Analysis: [In-depth analysis of how the applicant effectively addresses the prompt]

Example 2 (Essay Prompt 2): [Excerpt from successful essay]

Cornell Johnson Essay FAQs

As you embark on your essay writing journey, you may have some lingering questions. Here, we address common inquiries related to the Cornell Johnson MBA essays:

• FAQ 1: How important are the essays in the Cornell Johnson application?
• FAQ 2: Can I exceed the word limits for the essay prompts?
• FAQ 3: Should I mention specific resources and programs at Cornell Johnson in my essays?

By familiarizing yourself with these FAQs, you can gain valuable insights and be better equipped to tackle the essay writing process.

In conclusion, the Cornell Johnson MBA essays are a crucial component of the application that allows you to showcase your unique strengths, experiences, and aspirations. By following the expert tips provided in this guide and analyzing successful examples, you can craft compelling essays that make you stand out among the applicant pool. Good luck with your application to Cornell Johnson!

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, cornell johnson mba essays: tips & strategy.

• By Silpa Sarma

Cornell’s Johnson school is known for its tight-knit community and culture of collaboration.

Learning to harness the power of a team to drive impact is a key component of the MBA experience at Johnson, and diversity among backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is greatly valued.

To that end, Cornell’s essay prompts aim to uncover applicants who demonstrate EQ, self-awareness, a collaborative mindset, and a track record of impact across the spaces they inhabit. For the 2022-2023 cycle, Cornell asks that you respond to a Goals Statement and one required essay (a second essay is optional).

As a Fortuna Admissions coach, Cornell Johnson alum, and former Stanford GSB Admissions Reader, I’m seasoned in helping candidates position their candidacy to the MBA admissions committee. Your essays are an opportunity to connect the dots for Cornell between who you are, where you’re going, and what you hope to bring to the community.

The following are some tips to keep in mind as you approach each essay:

Goals Statement: How has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals? (approx. 350 words)

Cornell prefaces this essay question with a fill-in-the-blank goals statement that brings laser focus to both your short-term (immediately post-MBA) and long-term goal (five to ten years post-MBA). They ask for some specificity (role, company, industry). While there’s no word count given, in the past there was a hard cutoff of 350 words, which is a useful benchmark.

To make an impression, share the inspiration behind your goals by providing the context of how your passions, academic background, and professional experiences have solidified your desire to achieve these goals. Think about what you’ve learned throughout your career and how each role inspired you and prepared you to take the next step. This will help convey your motivation to make an impact and effect change. To demonstrate that your career vision is ambitious but still realistic, select two or three past experiences that highlight your existing skills and/or expertise that you will leverage, and then articulate how the offerings at the school will take you the rest of the way toward achieving your goals.

While the essay prompt focuses on your experience as it pertains to your goals, you can include a quick sentence or two about how Cornell’s Johnson School will bridge the gap to your short-term goals, and ultimately, your long-term goals.

(View this insightful article by Fortuna’s Heidi Hillis for more advice on how to create your short- and long-term MBA goals .)

Impact Essay: At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words, hard cut-ff)

This question requires applicants to do their research. While reviewing the school’s website, student blogs, and YouTube videos might be good initial steps, it would be helpful to connect with current students, alumni, and other members of the Cornell Johnson community to gain a more in-depth understanding of the experience. Once you have a better idea of the Johnson ecosystem and offerings, think about how you’d like to leverage your unique background, skill sets, strengths, and interests to contribute to the community and consequently, enhance the experience of your classmates. Consider how you might share your sector expertise or industry connections with your peers, be it in a class discussion, during the recruiting cycle, or through a guest speaker series at Johnson. Find ways to continue your favorite extracurricular or community pursuits on campus, and if the avenue doesn’t exist, consider how you might create the opportunity and generate interest and engagement among your fellow students.

Through specific examples, demonstrate an understanding of the close-knit community feel and spirit of collaboration at Johnson and convey how much you’d like to contribute to it if given the opportunity. It’s also an invitation to get personal and speak to how you see yourself fitting into the culture at Cornell. As my Fortuna colleague Randall Sawyer, former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Cornell Johnson, says: “The challenge – and opportunity – is to unveil what you’re truly passionate about, something interesting about you and/or what you’re interested in. Get introspective about who you are as a person.”

Optional Essay (required for reapplicants): You may use the optional essay to explain gaps in your resume, call attention to items needing clarification, or provide additional details about any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson.  (350 words max)

For first-time applicants, this is a good place to cover any contextual information that’s relevant for the Admissions team to know. This might include reasons for a gap in your employment history, issues that impacted academic performance, or a career trajectory that isn’t quite intuitive or linear. Try to be as concise as possible in discussing this information, and if applicable, articulate how you resolved the issue and suggest a more appropriate indicator of your potential for success at Johnson. For example, if your undergraduate grades were somewhat weak, you could explain the context behind your performance and inspire increased confidence in your abilities with a strong GMAT/GRE score or a commendable performance in MBA math courses or other graduate studies.

For reapplicants, this space is intended for covering what’s changed since you last applied.  Discuss the most significant ways in which you’ve strengthened your candidacy. This might include earning a promotion, a more competitive GMAT/GRE score, a higher-profile position at work, or increased community engagement. This would also be the space to mention any clarity you may have gained regarding your MBA career vision , including how the Johnson School fits into achieving your goals. Whichever aspects of your candidacy you’re covering, make it quite clear that you’ve elevated your profile and you’re well-prepared to join the Johnson community and thrive within it.

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View related articles and video strategy sessions on Cornell Johnson from our Fortuna Admissions expert coaches.

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• View our video strategy session:  Behind the MBA Admissions Curtain with The Committee from HBS, Cornell & LBS .   

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Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA Admissions Directors and Officers from 18 of the top 20 business schools, including Cornell Johnson. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we coach you to develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.

Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to a top business school, request a  free consultation .

Updated October 2022

Fortuna Admissions Expert Coach Silpa Sarma is a Cornell Johnson MBA alum and former Stanford GSB Admissions reader. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, essay   tips, and more,   sign up for a   free consultation .

• Posted on November 14, 2022

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• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples

July 4, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

With its straightforward goals statement and single required essay, the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University seems interested in getting right to the heart of the issues it considers most valuable in evaluating its applicants. The admissions committee wants to first know your professional aspirations and motivations for pursuing an MBA degree and then how you see yourself being a contributing member of the Johnson community. An optional essay is available, if needed, to address the usual topics of problematic candidacy issues or any outstanding qualifications that are not represented elsewhere in one’s application. Read on for our full analysis of Cornell Johnson’s application essay questions for 2023–2024. 

Cornell Johnson 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Goals statement: a statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the mba program and experience. to the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):, immediately post-mba, my goal is to work as a(n) [role] at [company] within [industry]., targeted job role:, target job company:, in 5–10 years post-mba, my goal is to work as a(n) [role] at [company] within [industry]., how has your experience prepared and encouraged you to pursue these goals.

With this incredibly direct approach to gathering information about candidates’ professional goals, Cornell Johnson is clearly conveying a desire for information only. The school states in the preamble to this prompt, “If you’re invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate further,” signaling to us that the admissions committee really wants just the facts here. So, respect both the format and the school and be as direct and clear as possible, saving any embellishment or additional explanation for another time. 

That said, the inclusion of the mini essay prompt indicates that the admissions committee wants to have some context for your stated aspirations, so do your best within the 350-word allowance to be thorough and clearly connect the dots between where you have been and where you are striving to go. An effective response will provide evidence that you (1) have done your research as to what is required to attain your goals, (2) recognize where you are on that trajectory (what skills and experience you already possess that are key to success in your desired roles and field), and, to some degree, (3) understand why/how attaining an MBA from Cornell Johnson will move you further in the right direction. 

Although this prompt is not a request for a full-length personal essay, we offer a number of tips and examples in our free mbaMission Personal Statement Guide that could be helpful in crafting your responses. We encourage you to download your complimentary copy today.

Essay 1 – Impact Essay: This essay is designed to explore the intersection of engagement and community culture. Our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. To help you explore your potential for impact, we encourage you to engage with our students , alumni, faculty, and professional staff before submitting your application. You may choose to connect with them via email or phone or in person during one of our on-campus or off-campus events. As you seek their input and insight, please be respectful of their time and prepare a few discussion points or questions in advance.

At cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite mba community (350 words maximum) .

Note that with this essay prompt, the school is not asking you to discuss a time in the past when you have made an impact but rather about your expected impact going forward , and specifically as part of the Cornell Johnson community. We always encourage candidates to connect with students, alumni, and others in an MBA program’s greater community when preparing their application, but in this case, Cornell is essentially demanding that you do so with its rather forthright “encouragement” and direct link to the resources it offers to facilitate such connections. If you have not already been making these kinds of connections, now (immediately) is the time to get busy. The admissions committee undoubtedly expects your efforts to yield useful insights, so saying that you have merely contacted a few people will not suffice. You need to show that the insider information you subsequently received has further solidified your choice to pursue an MBA at Cornell Johnson by discussing the ways and areas in which you now feel you can contribute to it. 

The school’s specification that you reflect on your past as you determine your best way of adding to the Johnson community means that you need to provide some context for your proposed idea(s) that proves that you are equipped to follow through on your plans. If nothing in the rest of your application indicates that you have experience doing what you say you will do at Johnson, or that you possess the necessary capabilities or qualities, the admissions committee will have difficulty believing that you are being authentic—and might even suspect that you are offering a response you think “sounds good” rather than one rooted in reality and actual possibility. So, we recommend first familiarizing yourself with the Johnson MBA experience well beyond what the school offers in its promotional materials (e.g., read press releases, news stories, and student blogs; check out the Cornell Johnson YouTube channel) and identify elements that resonate with you. Then use that information and inspiration to prepare for thoughtful, productive conversations with multiple members of the Johnson community. And finally, use this essay to reveal what you have learned, the ideas you have developed as a result, and the reasons and ways you are prepared to put those ideas into action at Johnson. 

Optional Essay (required for reapplicants): You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum). 

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application since the last time you applied for admission. please also review our application guide for additional information about reapplying. (350 words maximum).

If you are a Cornell Johnson reapplicant, this essay should be pretty straightforward. Whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or taken on some sort of personal challenge, the key to success with this essay is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. The school wants to know that you have been actively striving to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the previous year to do so, because a Cornell Johnson MBA is vital to you. The responses to this essay question will vary greatly from one candidate to the next, because each person’s needs and experiences differ. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one assistance with this highly personal essay to ensure that your efforts over the past year are presented in the best light possible.

If you are not a reapplicant, Johnson’s optional essay prompt gives you the typical opportunity— if needed —to address any lingering questions that an admissions officer might have about your candidacy, such as a poor grade or overall GPA, a low GMAT or GRE score, or a gap in your work experience. Yet it is sufficiently broad to also allow you to emphasize or explain something that if omitted would render your application incomplete. We caution you against simply trying to fill this space because you fear that not doing so would somehow count against you. And of course, however tempted you might be, this is not the place to reuse a strong essay you wrote for another school or to offer a few anecdotes you were unable to include elsewhere in your application. Keep in mind that by submitting an optional essay, you are requiring the already overtaxed admissions readers to do additional work, so avoid being overly verbose or sharing more information than is truly necessary. You must ensure that the admissions committee’s extra time and effort are truly warranted, so write just a very brief piece to explain your troublesome issue or offer the essential (and otherwise uncommunicated) aspect of your profile. If you feel you might have a reason to submit this additional essay, we encourage you to download our free mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on when and how to take advantage of the optional essay, along with multiple illustrative examples.

Park Leadership Fellows Program Essay Prompt: Describe a past formal or informal leadership experience and how it informs your goals for growth as a leader.  How would the Park Leadership Fellowship assist with these goals? (500-word limit)

This is a fairly straightforward essay prompt, and we recommend responding in an equally straightforward manner. Launch directly into the story of your leadership experience, and detail the specific actions you took in directing others in pursuit of a desired result. We recommend using a narrative approach to present your story, but be sure to also share the thought process and motivation(s) behind your actions. This way, the admissions committee will take away a clearer picture of the aspects of your character that inspired you and guided your actions and decisions. Note that Johnson recognizes that the leadership experience you share could have been a less formal one. Leadership does not need to have an official title attached to it, and it can be expressed in a community service or even family life setting just as much as in a workplace, so explore all the different areas of your life for possible stories. 

A particularly important element of this essay is showing that you recognize where your leadership skills can improve and why doing so is important for your long-term success. Although you are expected to discuss areas for development, take care not to deride your strengths. Rather than solely discussing the ways in which you are lacking as a leader, focus on the ways you could become a more complete and capable one. Equally important is tying your educational and experiential needs to the Park Leadership Fellows Program specifically, so of course, your first step (if you have not already done so) is to familiarize yourself thoroughly with what this program entails and provides. Then, in your response, you will need to draw clear connections between the areas you hope to strengthen and the offerings in this program that will enable you to do so. 

For a thorough exploration of Johnson’s academic offerings, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, community/environment, and other key facets of the program, please download your free copy of the  mbaMission Insider’s Guide to Samuel Curtis Johnson School of Management .

The Next Step: Mastering Your Cornell Johnson Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free Interview Guides to spur you along! Download your  free  copy of the  Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Interview Guide  today.

To learn more about the essays for other top business schools, visit our  MBA Essay Tips and Examples Resources Page .

2023-2024 Business School Cornell University (Johnson) Essays MBA Essay Tips

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2023-2024 Cornell Johnson MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Admit expert.

• July 13, 2023

An international orientation and an emphasis on teamwork are hallmarks of Cornell Johnson’s small, amicable community and amiable culture. The business school seeks students who will have a lasting impact on the program both during their time in school and after they have graduated. The admissions committee is looking for leadership, collaborative skills, the capacity to evaluate challenges, and excellent interpersonal skills.

If this sounds like the kind of environment in which you would feel completely at home, the first thing you’ll need to do is demonstrate that you have what it takes by effectively answering the essay questions that Cornell asks for admission.

In this article, we’ll look at the Cornell Johnson essay prompts for the 2023 intake and present their analysis to help you write essays that impress the Berkeley Haas MBA admissions committee.

Short essay tips

Impact essay, optional essay (required for reapplicants), reapplicant essay, let us help you get into cornell johnson, cornell mba essay for 2023 intake.

Goals Statement:

Use this short-answer section to succinctly share your short- and long-term goals. If you’re invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate on your statement further, and you should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

In 5–10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) [Role] at [Company] within [Industry].

The first part of this question can be answered without any difficulty. The admissions committee wants to know both the short-term and long-term goals you have for yourself, as well as whether or not you are able to outline a specific plan. Be specific. Your comments should be succinct and clear at all times.

For the text boxes, be concise and to the point. Inform them precisely of your intentions.

You have slightly more space for the larger essay, but not much!

Therefore, we recommend that you do not recapitulate your goals in this essay, unless you need them to transition between the two parts I believe this essay should have: your previous experience and what motivates you to pursue the goals you’ve stated (to answer the question, you must demonstrate how you have prepared and what has encouraged you to pursue your goals).

First, let’s discuss your preparation. Remember that objectives without context frequently lack clarity and impact. You may wish to include one or more brief stories or anecdotes to provide context.

Don’t list everything you’ve ever done (we already have your resume!) However, carefully create a summary of your career path that demonstrates you have acquired appropriate skills and expertise.

Second, explain why you are so enthusiastic about your personal ambitions. Though you may be seeking an MBA to earn more money or add a touch of prominence to your résumé, the admissions committee does not find these objectives fascinating. Rather, discuss your passions.

Provide examples of two or three formative events (professional and maybe personal) and elaborate on how these experiences have influenced your career choices. This is a retrospective essay that requires you to explain prior events; hence, you should not discuss how Johnson will prepare you for your future career.

You may opt to conclude with a single statement describing how your ambitions connect with Cornell Johnson’s mission, but avoid turning this into a “Why Cornell” essay.

Do you want to impress the Cornell Johnson Adcom?

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This essay is designed to explore the intersection of engagement and community culture. Our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. To help you explore your potential for impact, we encourage you to engage with our students , alumni, faculty, and professional staff before submitting your application. You may choose to connect with them via email or phone or in person during one of our on-campus or off-campus events. As you seek their input and insight, please be respectful of their time and prepare a few discussion points or questions in advance.

At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. Taking into consideration your background, how do you intend to make a meaningful impact on an elite MBA community? (350 words maximum)

This question is about the future, which is different from the short-answer question. Cornell Johnson is looking for people who can start right away and make the most of their time on campus. 

Even though the prompt asks how you will interact with and change the community, you can connect your goals to the things you plan to do on campus if you choose your examples carefully. 

This essay is your chance to show that you’ve learned as much as you can about the program. The school wants you to reach out to people in the community, and when you do, don’t just give a long list of the students and alumni you talked to. 

If you mention a student or alum in your essay, be sure to explain how they influenced your decision to apply to Johnson and/or what you learned about the program from them. Look for information that isn’t on the school’s website or in blogs. 

Think about how you will interact with your classmates in and out of class, both as a student and after you graduate.

Give a very brief summary of how you have helped an organization in the past, whether it was a professional group or a group of people in your neighborhood. 

Even though this is an essay about the future, you should talk about your past experiences to show how you plan to make a bigger difference at Cornell Johnson.

In other words, the best answers to this essay question don’t just talk about the change you want to make at Cornell Johnson and beyond. Instead, they talk about how your background and past changes have prepared you to make this change in the future.

To show that you will be an active member of the Ithaca community and your future career, you will need to show how you have been an active member of other communities in the past. Use this essay to show how much you know about Cornell and how you plan to become a part of it.

You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum). 

If you are not a repeat applicant, Johnson’s optional essay prompt gives you the chance to answer any questions an admissions officer might still have about your application, such as a low grade or GPA, a low GMAT or GRE score, or a gap in your work experience. 

Still, it is broad enough to let you highlight or explain something that, if left out, would make your application less than perfect. 

We don’t want you to just fill this space because you’re afraid that not doing so will hurt you in some way. 

Even if you’re tempted, this is not the place to use a good essay you wrote for another school or tell a few stories you couldn’t include anywhere else in your application. 

Keep in mind that if you send in an optional essay, you’re giving the people in charge of admissions more work to do, so don’t be too wordy or give more information than is really needed. 

You need to make sure that the admissions committee’s extra time and effort are really worth it, so write a very short piece to explain your troublesome issue or the most important thing about your profile that you haven’t mentioned anywhere else.

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Application Guide for additional information about reapplying. (350 words maximum)

If you have already applied to Cornell Johnson before, this essay should be pretty easy for you. Whether you have improved your grades, gotten a promotion, started a new and exciting project, gotten more involved in your community, or taken on a personal challenge, the key to success with this essay is showing a clear path to success. 

The school wants to know that you have been working hard to improve yourself and your profile and that you have taken advantage of opportunities to do so in the past year because you need a Cornell Johnson MBA. 

Each candidate’s answer to this essay question will be very different because each person has different needs and life experiences. We are more than happy to help you with this very personal essay one-on-one to make sure that your hard work over the past year is shown in the best possible light.

We will help you write essays that portray your unique strengths and experiences in the most favorable light so that your application shines above the rest. We have helped hundreds of students get into top US business schools. Let us help you too.

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