How do I write good Stanford MBA essays?

Question

Divakshi Arora · Accepted Answer

Good Stanford MBA essays are less about structure and more about honesty. This isn&rsquo;t the place for big buzzwords or polished stories&mdash;it&rsquo;s where the admissions team looks for depth, not perfection.
Here&rsquo;s how to approach them:

For the first essay (&ldquo;What matters most to you, and why?&rdquo;), start with something personal. Not a value like &ldquo;integrity,&rdquo; but a story&mdash;like standing up to family pressure to pursue a non-traditional career path. The &ldquo;why&rdquo; matters more than the event.
Avoid generic lessons. Instead of saying &ldquo;I learned to lead,&rdquo; explain how a small, specific moment&mdash;like mentoring a junior who was ready to quit&mdash;shaped how you see responsibility.
The second essay (&ldquo;Why Stanford?&rdquo;) should link your future goals to actual Stanford resources: the Arbuckle Leadership Fellows program, specific electives, or a center like CES.

The best essays feel uncomfortable to write. That&rsquo;s usually a sign they&rsquo;re real. Stanford reads for self-awareness more than polish.

Sudheer R · Answer

Just finished researching this myself. Here's what helped:
For Essay A, talk about what truly matters to you. Not what sounds good but what&rsquo;s real. Think of a story or moment that changed how you see things. Be clear about the &ldquo;why.&rdquo;
For Essay B, make sure it&rsquo;s all about you + Stanford. What do you want to do, and how can Stanford help? Mention actual classes, professors, or experiences there. Keep it focused.
Common mistakes you should avoid include turning your essay into a list of achievements&mdash;they&rsquo;ve already seen your resume. Avoid vague answers or using fancy words to sound smart. And most importantly, don&rsquo;t write something just because it sounds like what they&rsquo;d want to read. Keep it real.
You can read more about  How to write good Stanford MBA essays here.

Hema A · Answer

The Stanford MBA essays ask two things:

What matters most to you, and why?
Why Stanford?

For the first one, don&rsquo;t try to impress&mdash;just be honest. Pick something personal and explain how it shaped you. It could be family, a lesson, a failure&mdash;anything that shows what drives you.
The second one should connect your goals with Stanford&rsquo;s offerings. Mention real things&mdash;like a course, a club, or a program&mdash;that match your plan.
Common mistakes to avoid: Many applicants make the essay sound like a resume, but Stanford already has that. Another issue is being too vague or using big words to sound impressive. Also, avoid writing what you think they want to hear&mdash;it ends up sounding fake.
Want to get into Stanford? Read the blog to craft standout  Stanford MBA essays!

Jayant M · Answer

Writing a strong Stanford MBA essay means going deeper than just listing goals or achievements. For the &ldquo;What matters most to you and why?&rdquo; prompt, focus on personal stories that reflect your core values and turning points in life. The tone should be honest and introspective&mdash;Stanford wants to understand what drives you, not just what you&rsquo;ve done.
In the second essay (&ldquo;Why Stanford?&rdquo;), Connect your goals with specific resources like the Arbuckle Leadership Fellows program, Startup Garage, or LeadLabs. Show how Stanford&rsquo;s unique environment fits who you are and where you want to go. The most effective essays feel personal, clear, and grounded in real self-reflection.

B.K Sharma · Answer

Stanford looks for authenticity, reflection, and purpose&mdash;here&rsquo;s what strong essays typically include:

Be brutally honest &ndash; Stanford&rsquo;s &ldquo;What matters most to you and why?&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t about sounding impressive. It&rsquo;s about being real.
Show self-awareness &ndash; Talk about how key experiences shaped your values and choices.
Connect values to goals &ndash; Make sure there's a link between what matters to you and how you plan to create impact through the MBA.
Avoid generic goals &ndash; &ldquo;I want to be a leader&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t enough. Be specific and personal.
Keep the tone reflective, not promotional &ndash; It&rsquo;s not a pitch&mdash;it&rsquo;s a window into how you think and what drives you.

📌 Stanford values purpose-driven people. The best essays reveal character, not just achievements.