darden mba essay prompts

Darden MBA 2023-2024: A Detailed Guide with Essay Analysis and Program Insights

The University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business, much like Harvard Business School (HBS), employs a case method teaching approach and consistently receives top ratings for its professors and teaching quality in publications such as The Princeton Review and Bloomberg. Due to its rigorous academic curriculum, the MBA program is affectionately dubbed a “bootcamp” by both current and former students. This moniker is a testament to the program’s ability to effectively place graduates in demanding fields like management consulting and investment banking.

With a relatively small class size of slightly over 330 students and a picturesque campus located in Charlottesville, Virginia, Darden fosters a close-knit community. Traditions like “First Coffee,” where the entire school gathers each morning, create opportunities to get to know nearly every fellow classmate within the program.

Darden is also deeply committed to providing international educational opportunities for its entire student body. Thanks to a generous donation, the Darden Worldwide Scholarship Program offers funding to every full-time MBA student, enabling them to partake in international experiences as an integral component of their Darden business school journey.

MBA Curriculum

UVA Darden’s MBA curriculum focuses on equipping their students with practical problem-solving abilities throughout the two years of the program. Year one has a strong emphasis on the case method, and in year two, you will continue to gain a hands-on academic experience by taking a range of elective courses. Students complete 10 courses over the first three quarters of their MBA as part of the core curriculum. Some of the topics covered in these courses are Decision Analytics, Strategic Thinking and Action, and Leadership Communication. Students complete these courses together with the “learning team” they are assigned to in their first year. At Darden, you can choose from over a 100 electives in a wide range of subjects to shape their academic experience. These electives fall under areas of study such as Communication, Ethics, and Sustainability.

The Darden MBA class of 2023 reported an average salary of 192,800 USD. 

Darden MBA Details

MBA Curriculum:  At UVA Darden, our MBA curriculum is carefully designed to cultivate practical problem-solving skills over the course of two transformative years. Year one places a strong emphasis on the case method, and in year two, you’ll continue to gain hands-on academic experience through a diverse array of elective courses. As an integral part of the core curriculum, students complete 10 courses during the initial three quarters of their MBA journey. These courses encompass subjects like Decision Analytics, Strategic Thinking and Action, and Leadership Communication. Importantly, students navigate this academic voyage together with their dedicated “learning teams” formed in the first year. At Darden, you have the privilege of selecting from an extensive catalog of over 100 electives, spanning diverse fields such as Communication, Ethics, and Sustainability.

For a comprehensive list of our courses, please explore the [Darden MBA Course Catalog](insert link).

Majors:  While Darden does not formally offer majors within the MBA program, we do provide the opportunity to pursue career track concentrations and specializations. Among these, the Management Science Specialization is designated as a STEM specialization, sharpening analytical skills. Additionally, students have the freedom to choose from an array of concentrations, including:

• Asset Management / Sales and Trading
• Business Analytics
• Business Development and Growth
• Corporate Finance / Investment Banking
• Corporate Innovation
• Entrepreneurship
• Global Business
• Innovation for Sustainability
• Strategy Consulting
• Supply Chain Management

Experiential Learning Programs:  Experiential learning is seamlessly integrated into the fabric of our MBA curriculum at Darden. Beyond the case method, students engage in consulting projects and live action cases as an integral part of their coursework. The practical insights gained through these classes are further enriched by a wealth of global and domestic learning opportunities.

Research Centers:  UVA Darden boasts nine vibrant research centers and initiatives, offering students a thriving academic community to enhance their educational journey. These initiatives encompass diverse areas, including the Global Water Initiative and the Business Innovation and Climate Change Initiative.

Admission requirements

• Bachelors Degree
• GRE or GMAT

DARDEN MBA ESSAY ANALYSIS 

Lets dive into the essay analysis for Darden MBA 2023-2024

Essay 1: Community of Belonging

What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

Essay Analysis:

The UVA Darden MBA program’s Essay 1 is straightforward and concise, with a word limit of 100 words. It’s designed to give the admissions committee a glimpse of your personality and character beyond what they can find in your resume. Here’s a breakdown of the question:

• Content : The question is about revealing personal qualities or experiences that cannot be found in your resume. You should aim to share something unique about yourself, something that can help create a more comprehensive understanding of who you are.
• Word Limit : The 100-word limit is restrictive, so you’ll need to be precise and thoughtful in your response. Every word counts, so avoid unnecessary details or generic statements.
• Purpose : The purpose of this essay is to show your fit within the Darden community and how you’ll contribute to it. Consider what you can bring to the class and the community.

Sample Cue:

“Beyond my professional achievements and experiences listed on my resume, I want my future Darden classmates to know that I have a deep passion for community engagement. Over the years, I’ve been actively involved in local volunteering initiatives, where I’ve not only contributed to various causes but also witnessed the transformative power of collaboration and empathy. I believe these experiences have honed my teamwork and leadership skills, which I’m eager to bring to the Darden community. My commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and giving back aligns perfectly with Darden’s values, and I’m excited to be a part of a class that shares this vision.” (Word count: 100)

This sample cue focuses on a specific passion and the skills gained from it, directly tying it to the idea of creating a “Community of Belonging” at UVA Darden. It shows the candidate’s alignment with the school’s values and their desire to contribute to the community. Remember to tailor your response to your unique experiences and values while adhering to the word limit.

Essay 2: Inclusive Impact

Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words)

The essay topic for UVA Darden’s MBA application is centered around your experience in promoting an inclusive environment and how you would contribute to building a welcoming, global community at Darden. The key components to address are:

• Tangible Example : The essay requires you to provide a specific and tangible example from your past experiences that demonstrates your ability to promote inclusivity.
• Relevance to Darden : You should connect your example to how it relates to the values and culture of Darden.
• Future Contribution : Explain how your experience and qualities make you an ideal candidate to contribute to a welcoming, global community at Darden.

Sample/Cue:

To address this essay prompt effectively, consider following this structure:

Introduction (Approx. 50 words):  Begin by introducing the example you’ll be discussing, briefly summarizing the context and its significance.

Body (Approx. 200 words):

• Tangible Example : Describe the specific experience where you promoted inclusivity. It could be a work project, a community initiative, or any relevant experience.
• Challenges and Actions : Discuss the challenges you encountered and the actions you took to promote inclusivity. Highlight your leadership and problem-solving abilities.
• Impact : Explain the positive impact your efforts had on the environment or community. Quantify results if possible.

Connection to Darden (Approx. 50 words):

• Discuss how this experience aligns with the values and culture of UVA Darden. How does it reflect your potential to contribute to their community?

Future Contribution (Approx. 50 words):

• Summarize the qualities and skills you developed from your experience and how these will enable you to create a welcoming, global community at Darden.

Conclusion (Approx. 50 words):  Wrap up your essay by reiterating the significance of your example and expressing your enthusiasm for being part of the Darden community.

Remember to keep the essay concise within the 300-word limit and ensure that your example vividly demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity and your potential to contribute to Darden’s community.

Essay 3: Careers With Purpose

At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

Essay Analysis: The essay prompt provided by UVA Darden for your MBA application is centered around your short-term and long-term career goals. It asks you to describe your short-term post-MBA goal and explain how it aligns with your long-term career vision. The key components to address in this essay are industry, function, geography, company size, and mission, both in the short term and long term.

Here’s a guideline on how to approach this essay:

• Introduction (Approx. 30 words):  Begin by briefly introducing your current career status and the overarching theme of your career aspirations.
• Clearly state your short-term post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size, and mission.
• Explain why this goal is important to you and how it aligns with your skills, experiences, and passions.
• Describe your long-term career vision. How do you see your career evolving over the years?
• Highlight the broader impact or purpose that drives your long-term goals.
• Emphasize how your short-term goal is a logical step towards your long-term vision.
• Show how your experiences, including the MBA, will facilitate this transition.
• Conclusion (Approx. 30 words):  Sum up your essay by reiterating the significance of your goals and expressing your enthusiasm for the MBA program at UVA Darden.

Sample cue-

My current career in [your current industry] has provided me with valuable insights into [mention relevant aspects]. My short-term post-MBA goal is to transition into [new industry/sector] where I can leverage my skills in [function] and contribute to [company mission or impact]. This move aligns with my long-term vision of [describe long-term vision] and my desire to make a lasting impact in [related industry/sector]. UVA Darden’s MBA program, with its strong focus on [mention relevant aspects of Darden’s program], will be pivotal in helping me achieve this transition.

Remember to tailor your response to your unique experiences and career goals, making it personal and convincing. Keep your writing concise and to the point within the 200-word limit.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, crafting a compelling MBA admissions essay for UVA Darden is pivotal in presenting your career goals effectively. Your ability to succinctly articulate your short-term and long-term objectives in terms of industry, function, geography, company size, and mission can greatly influence the admissions committee’s decision. Remember to align your goals with your unique experiences and aspirations, showcasing how an MBA from UVA Darden is the next logical step in your journey towards a purposeful and impactful career.

1. What is the word limit for the UVA Darden MBA admissions essay on career goals?  The word limit for this essay is 200 words. Adhering to this limit is crucial to ensure your response is concise and to the point.

2. How can I make my career goals stand out in the essay?  To make your career goals stand out, focus on specificity and clarity. Clearly state your short-term and long-term goals, making sure they are well-defined and feasible. Emphasize the alignment between these goals and your experiences and passions.

3. Should I address all aspects (industry, function, geography, company size, and mission) in my essay?  Yes, it’s important to address each of these aspects as they are part of the essay prompt. Be succinct in your descriptions while explaining how they fit into your career vision.

4. Can I mention any specific programs or features of UVA Darden that align with my goals?  Yes, you should mention specific programs or features of UVA Darden that attract you and align with your career goals. This demonstrates your research and genuine interest in the program.

5. Is it essential to connect short-term and long-term goals in the essay?  Yes, it’s crucial to demonstrate the logical progression from your short-term goal to your long-term vision. This helps the admissions committee understand your strategic thinking and commitment to your chosen path.

6. How should I proofread and edit my essay for clarity and conciseness?  After writing your essay, read it aloud to check for clarity and conciseness. Remove any unnecessary words or phrases. Ask a trusted friend or mentor to review and provide feedback before final submission.

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UVA Darden MBA essay analysis and tips for 2022 admissions

Posted by Suheb Hussain | Aug 22, 2021 | Business Schools , GMAT Focus Edition , MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

The application for Darden’s full-time MBA Class of 2024 is  now live!  Like last year, Darden asks applicants to write multiple short essays covering a wide range of topics- leadership and impact, teamwork, diversity and inclusion, career goals, and worldwide course. The questions have been tweaked slightly from last year.  In addition to these 5 short essays totaling 755 words, the candidates also get an opportunity to share details about their interests, hobbies, community engagement, and love for Charlottesville to showcase various facets of their candidacy.

Darden continues to invites candidates to submit a test waiver request or submit a range of tests, including MCAT, LSAT, GRE, and GMAT.

In this article, Poonam Tandon from myEssayReview, who has been helping students with their MBA applications since 2011, shares her tips on the Darden MBA essay for 2022 intake.

UVA Darden MBA Application deadline

Below table provides information regarding Darden’s MBA Application deadline:

Learn more about Darden School of Business MBA Class Profile, Employment Reports, Notable Alumni.

Darden MBA Essay Questions 2022: Analysis and Tips

There are seven short essay prompts for Darden MBA application 2022.

Tell us your story

The Darden School of Business is a thriving community of MBA students, faculty, and alumni from a diverse array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Because of the highly participatory nature of the MBA program — both inside and outside of the classroom — Darden actively recruits and fosters a vibrant MBA community. Below are a series of questions to allow you the opportunity to share the many dimensions of you.

Learning Team

Learning Teams are an invaluable peer resource for Darden students as they navigate the core curriculum. Every student is assigned to a Learning Team consisting of 5-6 students from an array of backgrounds and perspectives, and this built-in support system serves as an important connection to the broader Darden community. 

Essay #1: Tell us what you would want your Learning Team to know about you that is not on your resume. (150 words) 

This question about introducing yourself to the learning team has been tweaked a little bit and allows you to use 50 more words than last year’s question. At Darden, you will be solving cases within your learning teams of 4 to 5 members, so your learning team members need to know that you will be a great team player who will contribute significantly to the team. Through relevant examples, tell your team members about team working skills and attributes. Show them what you will bring to the table by sharing some stories/ anecdotes highlighting those skills in a personal or professional context. You have the flexibility to choose both personal and professional experiences, but make sure not to include elements that are already there on your resume.

Leadership and Impact

Essay #2: Darden strives to identify and cultivate responsible leaders who follow their purpose. Please respond to  one  of the following prompts (200 words)  

Select the prompt to which you will respond.

Q #1: Tell us about a time when you acted with a team to solve a problem or seize an opportunity. What role did you play? What did you learn from this experience?

Q #2: Tell us about a time you acted to solve a problem for the greater good. What drew you to this issue? What did you learn from this experience?

For the leadership and impact essay, this year’s applicants will get an option to choose one of the two prompts. The first question allows you to share an anecdote when you worked with a team to solve a problem. Your role may have been as a team lead or team player, but you made an impact and grew from that experience.

The second question is broader in scope in the sense that it may not be limited to a professional setting but for the ‘greater good. Therefore, it’s crucial to spell out why that issue is important to you. For example, you may have contributed to the community in any way by procuring medicines or oxygen for the needy during these unprecedented times.  Darden cares about cultivating high-impact leaders.

Therefore, when brainstorming ideas for your leadership story for this essay, choose an accomplishment when you made a meaningful impact on your organization or community. You have the option to choose a professional or non-work story (extracurricular or community work), but you should emphasize your ‘responsible leadership’ and ‘focus on purpose’ that generated meaningful results and created a significant impact on your organization or community. That is, you need to explain that the decisions you made and the results you achieved benefitted your organization or your team member in a meaningful manner.

For organizing your ideas for both questions, as always, we recommend following the STAR Method (Situation, Task, Action, and Result); however, keeping in mind the stringent word limit, you MUST highlight the ‘result/ outcome part’ of your story. Don’t forget to wrap up your narrative with a final comment on what you learned through this experience.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission, and they work best when they are an integral and celebrated part of our community.  Review the University of Virginia’s Commitment to Diversity . 

Diversity stands with ethics, integrity, and academic excellence, as a cornerstone of university culture. The University promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment that embraces the full spectrum of human attributes, perspectives, and disciplines. When people of different backgrounds come together, they exchange ideas, question assumptions (including their own), and broaden the horizons for us all. A University of Virginia community rich in diversity affords every member equal respect and provides a forum for understanding our differences as well as our commonalities.

The Darden School develops practices and cultivates a culture that reflects and incorporates the worldviews of its many community members. In this inclusive culture, the community learns important — and sometimes uncomfortable — lessons from one another, resulting in more conscientious global leaders and citizens.

Please respond to one of the following prompts (200 words)

Essay #3: Select the prompt to which you will respond. (200 words)

Q #1: Share a time when you learned something related to diversity, equity or inclusion that was previously unknown to you? How did this experience impact your perspective?

Q #2: Share a time when you advocated for a perspective, identity, or community different from your own. How did this experience impact your worldview?

In Darden’s case method of learning, students are presented with an actual business problem, along with all the relevant associated data, and tasked with identifying a solution to that problem. Every student analyzes the situation and information on his/ her own, then discusses it with the learning team members, and finally does so in the classroom. So having one’s ideas and opinions challenged is vital to the Darden’s experience. Therefore, the admissions committee wants to assess if an applicant can listen, reflect, learn, and grow in this environment.

Again, you may choose a personal or professional example/ story. Given the word limit of 200 words, you may not write more than 1-2 sentences on setting up the situation, but make sure to focus more on your thought process and the resulting change in your opinion/ perception. It is crucial to describe the ‘before’ and ‘after’ situations so you can share the inflection point that triggered the shift in your thinking.

When selecting examples for the above three essays, you want to make sure to maintain a balance between your personal and professional examples so that you can showcase your well-rounded personality to the admission committee.

Career Goal

Darden’s Career Center delivers personalized career searches, support, and resources to empower students in their goals to create value as purpose-driven leaders. The team of dedicated, expert career coaches spans every major industry, function, and geography and collectively represent over one hundred years of coaching experience. Coaches are prepared to support students wherever they are in their search, as career goals shift and evolve while pursuing an MBA.

Through a wide variety of career-related programming, students gain lifelong skills they will continue to leverage throughout their careers. And this support continues after graduation – All Darden graduates have access to complimentary career support for life through Darden’s Alumni Career Services.

Essay #4:   What is your short-term, post-MBA goal and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (150 words)

This is a fairly straightforward  goals essay . This question has been tweaked from last year. Last year, Darden only asked about your short-term goal and what led applicants to their goal. This year’s applicants will also explain how their short goal is aligned with their long-term vision. Begin with elaborating on your post-MBA objectives,  identify the position you hope to hold immediately after the MBA program and specify a job title/ role, industry, and 1-2 organizations/ companies that interest you. Next, articulate your goal and explain why this goal is exciting and vital to you. Please make sure that your goals are ambitious as well as realistic. The schools want to know that the path you have chosen is attainable, and the program has resources to aid you in reaching that goal. To provide an effective response, you can give a very brief career history and explain what skills and knowledge you possess to help you accomplish your goal in your chosen field.

Darden Worldwide

The Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship provides all Darden students in our full-time MBA program with an opportunity to participate in a  Darden Worldwide Course .

Short Answer Question # 5:   Darden has an incredible network of alumni and partners around the world, and, in a typical year, the School connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel? (5 words).  And why?  (50 words)

Darden expects its students to participate in at least one global opportunity during their two years of MBA. In 55 words, identify the name of the country that you would choose for your global assignment, explain reasons for your choice, and how your choice will enhance your learning and the learning of your peers. This super short question not only reveals your knowledge of Darden but also speaks about your personality and interest. You may use this essay to show a different side of you that you have not presented elsewhere in the application.

You may click  here  for the Darden admission committee’s advice on short questions.

To adhere to the strict word count specifications, be as precise as possible in presenting your case. Click  here  for 11 helpful strategies (illustrated with examples) to achieve brevity.

What do you do for fun?

Organization/ Community Involvement

There are a variety of organizations and clubs at Darden that help shape our community and the Darden experience overall. In this section, we’d like to learn about your unique interests, talents and passions. Please list the professional associations and community activities (clubs, faith-based, civic, etc.) in which you have participated since graduation from university. If you graduated from university more than 10 years ago, please simply list your activities for the last 5 years, making sure to include:

• Activity type
• Organization name
• Dates of participation
• Description of your involvement

There are a variety of organizations and clubs at Darden that help shape our community and the Darden experience overall. In this section, we’d like to learn about your unique interests, talents and passions. Please list the professional associations, and extra-curricular and co-curricular activities in which you have participated during your time as an undergraduate student.

• Organization Name Role

Add Activity

List up to three hobbies you enjoy in your free time.

After answering the above questions about your community involvement, list three hobbies or interests you like to pursue in your free time. Remember your hobbies and interests make you unique, so feel free to share them to help the admission committee get to know you better. Since there is no prescribed word limit for this question this year, you may write one sentence about each of the three hobbies that you enjoy in your leisure.

Explore Charlottesville

Darden community members love our city. Watch the video to learn why  we love Charlottesville ! 

What are you excited to explore in Charlottesville? (25 words)

This is an interesting question that offers you a platform to share what excites you in the small city of Charlottesville. This super short question offers the admission committee a glimpse into your interest in the activities you want to explore while pursuing your MBA.

Dawna Clarke, Executive Director of Admissions, and Whitney Kestner Senior Director of Admissions recently conducted a webinar to provide insights into Darden’s admissions process, standardized test and waiver requests, short answer questions, early action opportunities, reapplicants, and much more. Click  here  for the webinar recording.

Free Resources

• 10 Key Essay Tips with Examples
• Essay Analysis of Other Top Programs-2020-21
•   MER Students Share their success Stories

Since 2011, MER ( myEssayReview ) has helped many applicants get accepted into the top 20 MBA programs. (Poonam is one of the  top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club .)

Do you have questions about your application? E-mail Poonam at  [email protected]  or sign up  here  for a free consultation.

About the author

Poonam, one of the  top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club , is a master storyteller with more than three decades of experience in successfully helping students craft compelling stories for undergraduate and graduate school programs.

A Ph.D. in English, with three decades of teaching experience in India and the US, Poonam launched myEssayReview (MER) in 2011 to provide highly personalized and dedicated consulting services to Business School applicants. Since then, she has helped hundreds of students around the world get into top MBA, EMBA, part-time MBA, and specialized graduate programs. A full-time consultant, Poonam is passionate about her work and is highly committed to each of her student’s success.

Do you aspire to pursue an MBA at Darden School of Business?  A 740+ GMAT score can improve your chances of admission. Kickstart your GMAT preparation by Signing up for our Free Trial!

Here are a few more related articles:

• How to improve your MBA profile and boost your application
• Avoid these MBA application mistakes and make it to your dream business school
• Importance of MBA Essays in Business School applications
• MBA essay: 5 types of essays explained with examples

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2023-2024 Darden MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jun 15, 2022

• Who is Darden looking for?
• How should I answer Darden essay questions?
• We Make Your Story Shines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 26, 2020. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With its unique case study method and coursework that includes classes on cutting-edge topics such as analytics and machine learning, Darden is at the top of the list for candidates seeking to build successful careers in the modern economy.

However, after the school announced a STEM-eligible MBA specialization, competition to join Darden’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.

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

1. Who is Darden looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @dardenmba on Instagram)

“Darden’s rigorous, purpose-driven education simulates the performance pressures of modern business, developing innovative leaders who not only navigate change — they spark it.” Darden Admissions

Every year, Darden selects a group of outstanding professionals to join its annual class of around 350 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” Darden student, yet the average admitted student in the Class of 2024 had an average GMAT score of 720, a GRE of 319, and 29 years of age .

Beyond the impressive scores, though, Darden is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT/GRE and university grades), Darden seeks candidates who influence classmates to become better people, cheer on others to achieve success, and genuinely care about others. 

2. How should I answer Darden essay questions?

Darden stands out as one of the handful of MBA programs that only give applicants a short amount of space to discuss their profile in the application essays. At Darden, no essay you’ll write will be longer than 300 words. In the words of the Admissions Committee :

As such, your greatest challenges while applying for the Darden MBA will be choosing the right mix of stories and ensuring you can express yourself clearly and concisely . Our tips below are designed to help you accomplish this difficult task!

2.1. Essay 1 Tips

Community of Belonging: What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

This prompt requires two elements: knowledge of the Darden community and the information you wish to share with your classmates.

If you don’t know much about the Darden community, it’s going to be hard to write a compelling essay that demonstrates how you will fit in. So first start out by doing your homework. What is unique about Darden’s community, and what opportunities can you take advantage of on campus? Which of Darden’s many student clubs are you excited to join, and which social events most appeal to you? Which parts of Darden’s culture do you identify with? Finally, how can you contribute to the program in a way no one else can?

After doing your homework, we suggest you start crafting your by selecting a few different aspects of your profile that you believe make you unique. As stated in the essay tips the school provides on its site , any type of example for a question like this is applicable. In their words: “This is a chance for you to let your true self shine. Hobbies, interests, passions, values — it’s all fair game here.”

Thus, we suggest that you first think about the other aspects of your profile and personal brand that you’ve already touched upon in other parts of your Darden application. Then, think about additional ways you can bring value to the Darden community. 

For example, our client Luigi focused on how his empathy for others has shaped his leadership style. He brought in examples of how he has used his empathy in his professional life to improve the lives of poor farmers in Brazil. He then talks about how he can share this perspective to help his classmates become more collaborative and conscious of the impacts their careers will have on society. 

Another client talked about how he was recruited to help his company solve a financial challenge at a branch in Angola and developed a solution, together with that country’s government, that not only solved your company’s financial issue but also provided a reliable food source for thousands of Angolans. He then wrote about his plan to share the challenges of performing business on an international scale with his learning team to help them become more high-potential global leaders. 

This prompt is broad, so you’re free to choose elements from your personal and professional life. Just make sure you choose your most high-impact story or personal characteristic and meaningfully connect it with what you believe your future classmates could gain from it. 

Finally, make sure you’ve got the tone right. Darden wants to hear something about your story , so imagine you’re sitting across the table from a classmate. This approach can make the essay feel more personal and genuine, helping you win over the Darden admissions committee.

TOP TIP : If you’re having trouble fitting all of this information into just 100 words, our team of editing experts can be your ace up the sleeve by helping you incorporate as much content as possible to show off your profile in this super short essay. 

Need more guidance? 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Darden MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning UVA Darden 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 2 Tips

Inclusive Impact: Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words)

This question also clearly touches on two aspects that Darden values highly: leadership and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Because of this, you will want to focus on a time when you took the lead to step up for others who belong to marginalized groups.

This question seeks to understand how well you “fit” with Darden’s core values, including their commitment to diversity . As such, showing that you thrive in and help promote more diverse environments will be the key to demonstrating that you belong at Darden. 

Though you may be tempted to include a list of leadership experiences for this question, Darden clearly asks you for a single experience, though they do not dictate that you must draw this example from your professional experience. For many applicants, this will be a great opportunity to share something from your personal or volunteer experience.

As such, considering Darden’s focus on responsible leaders and on creating a “New Story of Business,” start by brainstorming a list of examples in which you created impact in the realm of DEI. Then, as you read through the list, try to determine which were most meaningful to you or most impactful in the community at large.

To get things started, keep in mind that you don’t have to think of a time you demonstrated earth-shattering impact that changed an entire industry (a lot of clients worry that if they didn’t change the world in a big way, their essays will lack impact). 

For example, a past client of ours was instrumental in founding an LGBTQ+  group at a top consulting firm in his home country. Under his leadership, the group grew from 3 to nearly 50 members, radically changing the way LGBTQ+ persons were treated in the office. Furthermore, he also gave lectures at various universities, showing that LGBTQ+ persons are just as welcoming in the consulting career as anyone else. This move greatly increased the number of LGBTQ+ new recruits in the following years. He then ended by showing how important it is to win over allies when working to change office culture. 

Though the possibilities are endless, essentially, Darden wants to see how you use your leadership skills to make your communities more inclusive. 

To do so, we truly feel you should stick to the STAR framework to ensure you deliver an answer that reveals why inclusion is a key value. Start with an introduction that sets the stage before introducing the challenge or challenges you were facing or helping others overcome to make a work or personal environment more inclusive. 

Continue by showing what you did (this is the part in which you’re actively demonstrating your capacity to lead). During this section, focus on showing how you accomplished what you did and why you felt the actions you took were appropriate for the challenge. End your essay by showing the result you were able to achieve (we suggest you focus on examples with positive outcomes), how your environment became more inclusive, and what you learned about leadership in the face of DEI in the process. 

TOP TIP : Illustrating impact in your essays can be difficult, so make sure to check out this post to ensure you are effectively demonstrating your impact in this essay.

2.3. Essay 3 Tips

Careers With Purpose: At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

Again this year, Darden essentially has asked you to write a very short version of a traditional MBA goals essay. Furthermore, they have deliberately been very clear about what they want here: short-term goals and how they relate to your long-term vision.

TOP TIP : If you’re not sure what your goals are, check out this post designed to help you think through this critical component of your application!

When discussing your goals , clarity is king, so make sure you include a job title and industry in your description of your post-MBA aspiration. 

However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For example, a recent client initially started his essay by saying: 

“ I want to become a Business Development Director at a Brazilian company. ”

While interesting, it’s better to give a little bit of context to help these goals come to life. Check out the final version of the same essay’s introduction:

“In the 1970s, the phrase “think global, act local” came into use, suggesting that for the world to change, one must be active locally. With this mindset, I focused my career on Brazilian multinational companies to start creating global change at home. I now seek to take the next step to become a “glocal” leader by becoming Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”

After clearly stating your short-term goal (and your motivations for having this goal) and moving on to your long-term goal, we suggest you briefly touch on how Darden can help you achieve these goals, if you have space. This should not be a “laundry list” of 10 classes you found on the Darden site, nor a section in which you repeat clichés about the school. 

Instead, you should thoughtfully consider how you must grow personally and professionally to reach your stated short-term goal and what elements of Darden  (classes, faculty, clubs, etc.) will help you reach them. 

Ending your essay with a killer conclusion sentence to leave your reader with a strong image of your profile is the perfect wrap-up.  

2.4. Essay 4 Tips

What have you done to improve your candidacy since you last applied? (100 words)

This is a MUCH shorter space than reapplicants normally receive in a reapplicant essay. As such, you need to focus on the 2-3 most important changes since last year, including new GMAT/GRE scores (or other weaknesses you’ve addressed), promotions, and additional community involvement. You have space in the online application form to discuss ways in which you’ve further engaged with the Darden community, so we encourage you add that information in this section, rather than in this essay. 

2.5. Essay 5 Tips

If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admissions Committee, please provide it. (250 words) 

Here you want to make sure to be short and sweet. This is not a place to reiterate why you want to attend Darden or add additional stories. We have written extensively on the topic of optional essays, including example essays, here . 

Looking for University of Virginia Darden MBA essay examples? Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

3. We Make Your Story Shines

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 Andre, who was admitted to Darden. In his words, “Ellin and her team’s work was objective and effective. I think what helped me the most was her work in helping me find the school that “fit” my profile the best. Since the beginning, she helped me express myself in a clearer and more effective way was crucial to my success getting admitted to Darden. 

I had an excellent experience with Ellin, and her work is unique in the consulting market. The clients she accepts for consulting have a huge advantage.”

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. Darden MBA Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. You can access the Darden application by clicking here . 

Real MBA Essays That Got People In

School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted

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• UVA Darden School of Business Essay Tips and Examples

June 16, 2023

Denise Potter

The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business has long highlighted the strength of its community, the way students collaborate both inside and outside the classroom to learn and grow, and the value of bringing people from diverse backgrounds and with differing mind-sets together, and the school’s application essay prompts focus on all these ideas. Candidates must provide three short essays—which the school interestingly refers to as “short answer questions”—of 100 to 300 words. As a whole, the essays cover applicants’ personal, educational, and career objectives while touching on aspects of Darden’s particular character and ethos. Read on for our analysis of Darden’s 2023–2024 prompts.

UVA Darden 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Essay 1: Community of Belonging – What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resumé? (100 words)

Before you start writing, do some foundational research into what the Darden community is like and how it functions. The school is known for having a very collaborative, close-knit student body, so the admissions committee understandably wants to know that you are not only aware of this fact but also ready to engage with and contribute to the community. So, in a mere 100 words (just a little longer than this paragraph), you must reveal that you have a perspective, attribute, background, and/or talent that will enrich and support the student body in some way. 

Although the prompt refers to your future classmates broadly, an important element of the Darden MBA experience that you must keep in mind as you craft your response is its learning teams. These are carefully selected groups of five to six students, assembled with the intent of creating an eclectic mix of personalities and backgrounds. This group meets in the evenings to tackle the next day’s case work together (and if you are not familiar with the case method, now is the time to do your homework on it as well!). Learning teams are a core element of the Darden program, in part because some cases are so voluminous that students must take a divide-and-conquer approach and teach one another the material. In the classroom, students discuss and debate the material at hand, exchanging ideas, knowledge, and proposals and actively working through the lessons together. In short, the learning experience at Darden is intense and complex, requiring strong teamwork skills and contributions but also providing support and camaraderie. Also, much of what occurs outside the classroom at the school is spearheaded and facilitated by the students, rather than the administration. 

So, perhaps you are a great debater and can clearly see and elucidate multiple sides to a story. Or maybe you have a talent for diffusing tense situations with humor and so can keep a tired and stressed group of ambitious students with strongly held but opposing views in a good headspace and cooperating civilly. Perhaps you are a certified Reiki practitioner and can help your classmates manage their stress and energy levels. Or you might have an interesting and/or novel extracurricular talent, interest, or background and could create or contribute to a club through which to share it with your fellow students (consider, for example, the school’s popular School of Brew ). Within reason, the skill or trait you choose to highlight here does not matter as much as establishing that it would make you a positive addition to Darden’s MBA experience. 

To learn more about Darden and the characteristic elements of its MBA program, download a free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Administration .

Essay 2: Inclusive Impact – Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden. (300 words)

In business school—as in life in general—you will encounter people who think differently from you, operate according to different values, and react differently to the same stimuli. And success in an endeavor often involves considering and incorporating others’ input and standpoints. Via this essay, Darden hopes to learn how you view, approach, and engage with such differences. Once enrolled in the school’s MBA program, you will be surrounded every day by people who are unlike you in a multitude of ways, and you will need to work in tandem with and alongside these individuals when analyzing case studies, completing group projects, and participating in other activities both inside and outside the classroom. The school is clearly seeking evidence that you are capable of listening, reflecting, learning, and growing and that you are interested in people and input that come from outside your usual frame of reference. And by asking you to share a time when you “promot[ed] an inclusive environment,” Darden is requesting actual evidence of this open-mindedness in action. 

At mbaMission, we love when admissions committees request examples, because they invite essays that use a narrative structure, and we believe such essays tend to be not only more revelatory but also more interesting to read (always good when trying to make an impression on someone who reads literally thousands of essays each year!). To illustrate, you might start by launching directly into your story and immediately highlighting the actions you took to enhance inclusivity in a given situation: “When I realized that some of our new hires were reluctant to take part in our company’s weekly ‘wine wind down,’ I committed myself to finding out why and what could be done to ….” 

Darden will understandably want to know the outcome of the incident you describe, so you need to relate the results of your actions, but the admissions committee is even more interested in knowing what your motivations were, what decisions you made, and what steps you took to effect change. In other words, you must illustrate the values and thought process behind your efforts, in addition to clearly conveying your actions and their outcome. 

Keep in mind, however, that the incident or situation you share should claim only one half of this essay. The admissions committee is also interested in learning about how you expect to apply your mind-set and dedication to inclusivity once you arrive on campus.  

Essay 3: Careers With Purpose – At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

At one of mbaMission’s annual conferences, Darden’s Executive Director of Admissions Dawna Clarke shared with us that one of her favorite expressions is “You don’t know what you don’t know” and that she keeps this maxim in mind when considering Darden applicants’ career goals. MBA students encounter an incredible (and often surprising) number and breadth of professional opportunities while in business school, and given Dawna’s extensive admissions background, she knows only too well that candidates can and do change their minds and trajectories along the way. This understanding is behind the intro to this prompt (“At this time,…”), but Darden nonetheless wants to know that you have given this aspect of your MBA experience very serious thought, have thoroughly researched your options, and are approaching business school with a strong sense of purpose—that you have a fitting and attainable goal in mind and can articulate it clearly. By providing the level of detail the essay question demands (“industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission”), you will be able to convince the school that you have done the necessary background work and are fully cognizant of where you want to go after graduating. 

Note that the admissions committee asks specifically about your short-term goal, which is often a pretty practical one, compared with applicants’ typically more idealistic long-term goals. So, first make sure that the path you have chosen is a sensible one for you. Ask yourself, “Will a Darden MBA help me get from where I am now to where I want to be?” If, for example, you are a journalist and have dreams of working at a hedge fund after you graduate, the admissions committee will probably not respond very positively to your plan, because hedge funds tend to be the domain of math PhDs and seasoned finance professionals. The school wants to feel that you will be able to achieve your aspirations after completing its program, so you want to avoid goals that could sound farfetched. Instead, as a journalist, you would need to identify a far more realistic path, but one that is true to who you are. Being ambitious is great, but the goal you present must be connected to reality, and to demonstrate that connection, you will have to spell out why your objective is a reasonable one for you. Establishing briefly that you have the skills and knowledge to enter your target field will make that logical connection for your admissions reader, reassuring them that you can be a happy and productive graduate. 

One’s career goals are often part of a traditional personal statement, so we encourage you to download your free copy of the  mbaMission Personal Statement Guide , which helps applicants write this style of essay for any school. This complimentary guide offers detailed advice on approaching and framing these subjects, along with multiple illustrative examples. Be sure to  claim your copy today .

The next few questions are not technically essay prompts, but they are part of the Darden application and should be treated/approached with the same level of thought and effort.

The Batten Foundation Worldwide Scholarship provides all Darden students in our full-time MBA program with an opportunity to participate in a Darden Worldwide Course . Darden has an incredible network of alumni and partners around the world, and, in a typical year, the School connects with over 80 countries. If you could choose any location in the world, where would you want to travel? (5 words) 

And why (50 words).

First, we want to make sure you fully understand what this essay prompt is revealing. At the aforementioned mbaMission annual conference, Dawna explained to us that because of this generous Batten scholarship, every single Darden student can now afford to participate in an international course at some point during their two years in the program. Business school is an experience rife with opportunities, and Darden wants to make sure no barriers stand in the way of its students taking advantage of this particular one: the chance to study abroad and explore new horizons. While this essay prompt might initially strike you as hypothetical, let us reassure you that it is very much grounded in reality. In addition, the admissions committee has noted on its blog, “Th[is] question is intentionally broad. While we encourage you to review our Darden Worldwide Course offerings, you are welcome to go beyond the locations where we deliver a course when crafting your response ” (emphasis added). So really plumb your interests and identify a location that truly excites you—then write about it!  

You can reveal yourself to be adventurous, curious, or intellectual by pinpointing which country most entices you. Then clearly and succinctly (your response must fit a delineated box, so no longwinded travelogues!) convey your enthusiasm for this choice and explain how the opportunity would enhance your Darden education and experience. 

( Note that the previous paragraph is exactly 50 words long! )

If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admission Committee, please provide it. (250 words)

We tend to believe that the best use of the optional essay is to explain confusing or problematic issues in your candidacy, and this prompt offers an opportunity to do just that. So , if you need to , this is your chance to address any questions an admissions officer might have about your profile—a poor grade or overall GPA, a low GMAT or GRE score, a gap in your work experience, etc. In our mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , we offer detailed advice on how best to take advantage of the optional essay, with multiple examples, to help you mitigate any problem areas in your application.

However, because Darden does not stipulate that you can only discuss a problem area in this essay, it does open the door for you to discuss something that is not addressed elsewhere in your application but that you feel is truly critical for the admissions committee to know to be able to evaluate you fully and effectively. We caution you about simply trying to fill this space because you fear that not doing so would somehow count against you. Remember, by submitting an additional essay, you are asking the admissions committee to do extra work on your behalf, so you need to make sure that time is warranted. If you are using the essay to emphasize something that if omitted would render your application incomplete, take this opportunity to write a very brief narrative that reveals this key new aspect of your candidacy.

The Next Step—Mastering Your UVA Darden 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. And, on your way to this high level of preparation, we offer our  free Interview Guides  to spur you along! Download your free copy of  The UVA Darden 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 Essays MBA Essay Tips University of Virginia (Darden)

Tags: business school essay MBA application essays UVA Darden

Upcoming Events

• Mar 26, 2024 Your 2024 MBA Application Action Plan (Online)
• Apr 25, 2024 Assessing Your MBA Profile (Online)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Mar 25, 2024 Dartmouth Tuck (Round 3)
• Mar 25, 2024 London Business School (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Texas McCombs (Round 3)
• Mar 26, 2024 Vanderbilt Owen (Round 4)
• Mar 28, 2024 Berkeley Haas (Round 4)
• Apr 1, 2024 Penn State Smeal (Round 4)
• Apr 2, 2024 Penn Wharton (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Columbia (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Northwestern Kellogg (Round 3)
• Apr 3, 2024 Virginia Darden (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Chicago Booth (Round 3)
• Apr 4, 2024 Michigan Ross (Round 3)
• Apr 8, 2024 MIT Sloan (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Stanford GSB (Round 3)
• Apr 9, 2024 Yale SOM (Round 3)
• Apr 10, 2024 Cornell Johnson (Round 3)
• Apr 12, 2024 UCLA Anderson (Round 3)
• Apr 15, 2024 USC Marshall (Round 3)
• Apr 29, 2024 Toronto Rotman (Round 4)
• Apr 29, 2024 UNC Kenan-Flagler (Round 4)
• Apr 30, 2024 Georgetown McDonough (Round 4)

Click here to see the complete deadlines

2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

• Berkeley Haas School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• BU Questrom School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Cambridge Judge Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Chicago Booth School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Columbia Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management Essay and Examples
• Dartmouth Tuck School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Duke Fuqua School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Emory Goizueta Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Esade Essay Tips and Examples
• Georgetown McDonough School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Harvard Business School 2+2 Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis 2024
• Harvard Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• HEC Paris Essay Tips and Examples
• HKUST Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• IESE Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• INSEAD Essay Tips and Examples
• International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Essay Tips and Examples
• Ivey Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• London Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• NYU Stern School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Ohio Fisher College of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Oxford Saïd Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• SMU Cox School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Stanford Graduate School of Business Application Essay Tips and Examples
• Texas McCombs School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Essay Tips and Examples
• The Wharton School Essay Tips and Examples
• Toronto Rotman School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UCLA Anderson School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Essay Tips and Examples
• USC Marshall School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• UW Foster School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management Essay Analysis, 2023–2024
• Villanova School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
• Yale School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

Click here for the 2022–2023 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

University of Virginia Darden MBA Application Essay Analysis 2023-2024

The UVA Darden MBA application essays are now live! Do you want to attend an MBA program that puts collaboration and teamwork at the forefront of your experience? If so, UVA Darden School of Business  may be a great choice for you.

UVA Darden is known for its case-based and customized learning experience. First-year students are assigned to learning teams that enable them to delve deep into case discussions, strengthen their communication skills, and form strong relationships with their classmates.

Second-year students at UVA Darden use the tools learned in their first year to personalize their academic experiences, targeting specific career goals and skill sets.

If you’re looking to apply to UVA Darden’s MBA program during the 2023-2024 application cycle, the school offers a standardized test waiver. These requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the admissions committee takes several factors into account when reviewing waivers. Check out Personal MBA Coach’s quick tips video on whether or not you should waive the GMAT:

Upcoming UVA Darden MBA Deadlines Are:

Early Action:  September 7, 2023

Round 1:  October 4, 2023

Round 2:  January 4, 2024

Round 3: April 3, 2024

2023-2024 Darden MBA Application Essays Are Below:

Community of belonging:  what would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume (100 words).

Personal MBA Coach advises most applicants to use this first UVA Darden essay to share a personal aspect of their candidacy as opposed to talking about their professional leadership or track record. Topics discussed here should enhance (not repeat or conflict with) your “Personal Story” and should allow admissions committee members to learn more about you.

This is not the time to present a laundry list of hobbies, passions or accomplishments. Instead, focus on what makes you unique. Think about how you might add to the diversity (think literal diversity and/or diversity of perspective) on your learning team.

Be specific and keep in mind that actions are the best predictors of future behavior and provide examples wherever possible. Go beyond just sharing details about you and include the “so what?”

For example, if you were raised in a unique environment, explain this to the reader but then push further. Consider how this shaped who you are today, what makes you unique and what you will bring to the table for your learning team.

Regardless of the topic selected, show the reader that you are someone your peers will be excited to learn with!

Inclusive Leadership: Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words)

This question covers a topic that continues to be important to leading MBA programs: inclusion. Earlier this month Personal MBA Coach attended the annual AIGAC conference (check out our What Is on Admissions Directors’ Minds in 2023 blog for the key insights) with leading admissions directions, and Diversity & Inclusion were top of mind for all schools! Therefore, Personal MBA Coach is not surprised to see Darden’s leadership essay focused on D&I.

A personal or professional example would work here. However, Personal MBA Coach encourages candidates to look at their applications holistically when selecting a story to discuss. You want to ensure this story fits with who you are and that your Darden application includes a nice balance of personal and professional stories.

Remember that inclusion is a broad term here. Do not limit yourself to current event topics unless they are relevant to your story!

Ensure that you limit the amount of time spent on setup and instead focus on your thoughts and actions. While remaining authentic is important, think about the qualities Darden is looking for in applicants and make sure the story selected clearly SHOWS how you demonstrated them.

While the bulk of this essay should be focused on the story itself, be sure to leave time to discuss the implications of this experience and how this experience changed your leadership style and has positioned you to contribute on campus.

Careers With Purpose: At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career?   (200 words)  

This question is a straightforward career goals question. With this short essay, be specific and include both your ideal position and organization type. Articulate what you hope to accomplish in this desired role and why this objective is interesting and important to you.

Darden once again specifically asks candidates about their long-term vision. Given this, be sure to discuss what you hope to learn in the short term and how this experience will prepare you to achieve your long-term goals.

Struggling to articulate your goals? Watch this quick tips video with Scott Edinburgh, Personal MBA Coach’s founder, for advice:

Looking for one-on-one support developing a compelling Darden MBA Application? Contact us  today to learn more about how Personal MBA Coach’s services can help you get into UVA Darden.

You also may like these other blog articles:

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Everything you need to know to get Accepted

June 26, 2023

UVA Darden MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023-2024], Class Profile

The University of Virginia’s Darden MBA program boasts the case-based method of learning to put students in the role of business leaders faced with challenging situations. Through this discussion-based approach, students are active participants as they learn to make decisions in real-world scenarios. Darden is one of the largest case publishers in North America, and because of the school’s commitment to the case study method, a Darden student will examine literally hundreds of business cases over the course of their two years of MBA studies.

Darden has tweaked its essay questions in a few minor ways since last year, focusing primarily on getting to know you and how you will affect the school’s overall community.

Ready to get to work on your Darden application? Read on.

Darden application essay tips

Darden application deadlines, darden class profile.

For the 2023–24 application cycle, we will again feature short essay questions, which provides a broader platform for applicants to highlight their experiences through multi-dimensional narratives. These questions are a great opportunity for you to help the Darden Admissions Committee understand who you are and who you will be at Darden.

Darden Essay #1

Community of Belonging: What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

Darden is one of the smaller MBA programs, with just 348 students in its Class of 2024. As a result, every single student needs to be congenial and contribute a unique perspective. 

With the brevity of this essay, the hardest part might well be identifying the best topic(s) to cover. I suggest just one or two topics; the key will be to dig in and  to really make your submission come alive for the reader. A potential topic might be a relevant formative experience or relationship, or a nonwork activity or passion. Ground your essay in example and detail. To select the best subject matter, look at the application overall, including the other essays, and think about what would really add to and further animate this holistic picture.

Darden Essay #2

Inclusive Impact: Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words)

First, note that the requested example can come from work or outside work. While it’s great to show that you promote an inclusive work environment, if you have a dynamic, impactful example from outside of your job, feel free to use that.  (e.g., ethnicity, geographic background, sexual orientation) to encompass less-obvious elements, such as political perspective and socioeconomic background. Devote most of your essay to narrating your story, showing how it promotes inclusivity. At the end, add a reflection with some specific detail about how this will enable you to help create an inclusive global community at Darden.

Darden Essay #3

Careers With Purpose: At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

Darden’s prompt basically guides you through the requisite details the adcom wants you to provide. Even with the tight word limit, I suggest contextualizing the requested information in a couple of ways. First, start with just a phrase or sentence indicating how the goal arose. In other words, what is the “origin story”? Second, express what you hope to accomplish – what impact you’d like to have – by pursuing and achieving your stated goals. These two elements together constitute your motivation, and that is what will help the adcom feel engaged by (and ideally invested in) your goals.

Here’s a look at the UVA Darden MBA Class of 2024 (data taken from the UVA Darden website ):

Class size: 348

Countries represented: 48

International students: 43%

U.S. minority: 20%

Consortium members: 41

Military service members: 8%

Average age: 28

Average GMAT score:720

Average GPA: 3.51 

Average GRE (combined): 319

Average years work experience: 5.8

For expert guidance with your UVA Darden MBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top MBA programs and look forward to helping you, too!

As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for the MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management.   Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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Tuesday Tips: Darden MBA Essay Tips for 2023-2024

Are you applying to the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business this year? Make sure to read on for tips to learn more about what Darden is looking for.  In these Darden MBA essay tips, we focus on leadership and a sense of passion and purpose. In all of these essays, you will want to communicate who you are and what motivates you. Also, consider both your career and your personal life in your essays. The restrictive word counts can be challenging, so stay focused and precise in your responses.

How should you highlight personal qualities in these brief essays? First, consider that leadership is crucial to future Darden MBAs. Also, teamwork is essential at Darden, a school with a small, tight-knit community . The case study method is the primary teaching method , similar to Harvard Business School. Engaging with the case method requires the ability to communicate clearly and bring your perspective to the conversation.

Curious about your chances of getting into UVA Darden? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session  with an SBC Principal Consultant. 

Darden MBA Essay Tips

For the 2023–24 application cycle, Darden will again feature short essay questions that provide a broader platform for applicants to highlight their experiences through multi-dimensional narratives. These questions are a great opportunity for you to help the Darden Admissions Committee understand who you are and who you will be at Darden.

Essay 1: Community of Belonging

What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

At Darden, your classmates are crucial to your learning. You will be assigned a team of diverse classmates to meet before class and discuss your case assignments. The purpose of these discussions is to ensure that all of you are prepared to participate in the class discussion. Ideally, your classmates are part of a supportive community.

This essay allows you to introduce yourself to the Darden community. What should your classmates know about your background? What diverse perspective will you bring to the learning environment? Perhaps you have unique professional experiences that will be new to the class.

You may be from an underrepresented region of the world, or you have a compelling personal background. In just a few words, describe what you think will set you apart from your peers and be interesting for the class to know about you. Learn more about your potential classmates by talking to a student ambassador or reviewing Darden’s MBA Student Stories .

Essay 2: Inclusive Impact

Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words)

This question focuses specifically on diversity and inclusion. Therefore, you should consider your record of engagement with diverse identities and communities in your example. Past experience is a great predictor of future performance, and specific examples provide the most insight into your behavior.

If you have not spent a significant amount of time outside your own country or culture, look at college or work. Many people live and work with diverse groups at university or the workplace, which can be a good source of inspiration.

For example, perhaps you started a mentoring program or funded internships for underrepresented employees. It’s possible only your department or company felt the impact of that action. However, it shows your values and allows you to discuss how you would significantly affect change at Darden.

In addition, you may have found that you learned about yourself as well. Perhaps in your advocacy, you learned a more nuanced approach to a community or people. Or, you may have discovered your own blind spots and biases. Self-reflection is welcome in this question.

Don’t miss B-Schooled Podcast Episode #115 : Spotlight on Darden

As you write, make sure you place your story in historical context and navigate power dynamics effectively. In that case, reading resources like the HBR collection on racism in the workplace may be useful.

Finally, Darden wants to know how you will bring your advocacy to the MBA program. Consider what you have learned about yourself and how to advocate for a diverse team. How will your unique background contribute to inclusion for everyone?

Essay 3: Careers With Purpose

At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

This question focuses on your short-term career goal. However, it also asks in the context of your overall long-term career vision. Your career goals should fit seamlessly into your personal story.

Do not get intimidated by career goals questions if you are still exploring what you want to do with your life. Darden offers intensive career counseling, and you will have an opportunity to explore many career paths in school. Simply put, the essay question seeks to understand why you are pursuing this path and what you hope to get out of it.

The goal is to gain insight into how you think and plan and what motivates your career decisions. If you are inspired by what you have experienced as a leader and as someone who positively impacts others, that inspiration should be part of your career aspirations. Darden will help you refine your goals and learn the skills you need.

We hope these Darden MBA essay tips help you draft impactful essays that will make your candidacy shine. Please visit the admissions page at UVA Darden School of Business for more information about the program.

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our  All-In Partnership  to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a  free 15-minute advising session  to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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UVA Darden MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Crafting compelling UVA Darden MBA essays can be a game-changer for your application.

Posted March 1, 2024

Featuring Karla M.

From Waitlisted to Admitted: Insider Tips for MBA Admissions

Tuesday, april 9.

6:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

The UVA Darden MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples offers valuable insights and guidance for prospective students looking to apply to the UVA Darden School of Business. As the essays play a crucial role in the application process, understanding their purpose and effectively addressing the prompts is essential to stand out from the competition.

UVA Darden Application and the Role of Essays

The application process at UVA Darden is comprehensive, requiring applicants to submit their GMAT or GRE scores, academic transcripts, a resume, and recommendation letters. However, the essays hold a special place in highlighting an applicant's fit with the school's culture , values, and learning environment.

The essay responses demonstrate the applicant's ability to effectively communicate ideas and experiences , as well as showcase their motivations, aspirations, and unique qualities. Admissions officers thoroughly review these essays to assess an applicant's potential as a future Darden MBA candidate and their contribution to the school's community.

When it comes to the essay portion of the application, UVA Darden seeks to gain a deeper understanding of each applicant beyond their test scores and academic achievements. The essays provide an opportunity for applicants to express their personal and professional journey, allowing them to present a comprehensive picture of who they are and what they can bring to the Darden community.

One of the key aspects that admissions officers look for in the essays is the applicant's alignment with Darden's values and culture . Darden is known for its collaborative and close-knit community, where students actively engage in teamwork and experiential learning. Therefore, the essays provide a platform for applicants to demonstrate their ability to work effectively in teams, their leadership potential, and their commitment to personal growth.

Moreover, the essays allow applicants to showcase their unique perspectives and experiences. Darden values diversity and seeks individuals who can bring different backgrounds, ideas, and viewpoints to the classroom. Through the essays, applicants can share their life experiences, challenges they have overcome, and how these experiences have shaped their values and aspirations.

Another important aspect of the essays is the opportunity for applicants to articulate their career goals and how a Darden MBA can help them achieve those goals. Admissions officers are interested in understanding the applicant's motivations for pursuing an MBA and how they plan to leverage the Darden experience to make a meaningful impact in their chosen field.

Furthermore, the essays provide a space for applicants to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, and how they have grown both personally and professionally. Admissions officers are interested in individuals who can demonstrate self-awareness and a willingness to learn and improve. The essays allow applicants to showcase their ability to reflect on their past experiences, learn from them, and apply those lessons to future challenges.

In conclusion, while the UVA Darden application process encompasses various components, such as test scores and recommendation letters, the essays play a crucial role in evaluating an applicant's fit with the school's culture, values, and learning environment. Through the essays, applicants have the opportunity to present a comprehensive picture of themselves, highlighting their unique qualities, alignment with Darden's values, and aspirations for personal and professional growth.

UVA Darden Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

For the upcoming admissions cycle, the UVA Darden MBA program has released the following essay prompts:

• Essay Prompt 1: Describe the most courageous professional decision you have made recently. What did you learn from this experience, and how did it impact you and your career? (500 words)

When faced with difficult decisions in our professional lives, it takes courage to step outside our comfort zones and make choices that may have a significant impact on our careers. Reflecting on your own experiences, think about a recent professional decision that required courage and delve into the details of this pivotal moment.

Perhaps it was a decision to leave a stable job and pursue a passion project, or maybe it involved standing up for your beliefs in a challenging work environment. Whatever the case may be, take the time to provide a thorough account of the situation, including the factors that influenced your decision and the potential risks and rewards you considered.

As you describe the decision, make sure to also discuss the lessons you learned from this experience. Did it teach you about your own strengths and weaknesses? Did it provide you with a new perspective on risk-taking or decision-making? Reflect on these insights and explain how they have shaped your approach to your career moving forward.

Furthermore, explore the impact that this courageous decision had on your career. Did it open up new opportunities or lead to unexpected outcomes? Did it help you grow professionally or personally? Discuss these effects and provide specific examples to illustrate the tangible changes that occurred as a result of your decision.

• Essay Prompt 2: Diversity, equity, and inclusion are integral to the Darden experience and contribute to the school's mission. How have you incorporated these values in your personal and professional life? (200 words)

In today's increasingly interconnected world, diversity, equity, and inclusion have become crucial aspects of any successful organization. As you respond to this essay prompt, think about the ways in which you have actively embraced and promoted these values in both your personal and professional life.

Start by providing examples of how you have fostered diversity in your personal relationships or communities. This could include instances where you have sought out and engaged with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, or perspectives. Discuss the impact that these interactions have had on your own growth and understanding.

Next, shift your focus to your professional life and highlight instances where you have championed diversity, equity, and inclusion within your workplace. This could involve initiatives you have spearheaded to create a more inclusive environment, or it could be about your efforts to ensure equal opportunities for all team members.

Lastly, reflect on the lessons you have learned from these experiences and explain how they have shaped your understanding of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Discuss how these values align with your own personal beliefs and how you plan to continue incorporating them into your future endeavors.

• Essay Prompt 3: Share your perspective on leadership in the workplace and explain how you have demonstrated leadership in your career, community, or personal experiences. (200 words)

Leadership is a multifaceted concept that can take various forms depending on the context. As you respond to this essay prompt, take the opportunity to share your unique perspective on what leadership means to you and how you have embodied it in your career, community, or personal experiences.

Start by defining your personal philosophy of leadership. What qualities do you believe are essential for effective leadership? How do you approach leading others and inspiring them to achieve their full potential? Articulate these beliefs and provide examples that demonstrate how you have put them into practice.

Next, discuss specific instances where you have demonstrated leadership in your chosen domain. This could be a project you led at work, a community initiative you spearheaded, or even a personal challenge you overcame through your own leadership skills. Elaborate on the actions you took, the decisions you made, and the impact you had on those around you.

Lastly, reflect on the lessons you have learned from these leadership experiences. How have they shaped your understanding of your own leadership style and potential? What areas do you still hope to develop and improve upon? Use this essay as an opportunity to showcase your growth as a leader and your commitment to continued growth in the future.

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List of Expert Tips for Each Darden Essay Prompt

While addressing each essay prompt, it is crucial to present your genuine self and craft a compelling narrative. Here are expert tips to help you ace the UVA Darden MBA essays:

• Tip 1: For Essay Prompt 1, focus on a recent decision that had a significant impact on your professional growth. Reflect on the outcomes and key lessons learned.
• Tip 2: When addressing Essay Prompt 2, showcase your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through specific examples from your personal and professional life.
• Tip 3: Essay Prompt 3 requires highlighting your leadership abilities. Choose examples that demonstrate your ability to inspire, motivate, and achieve desired outcomes.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Writing compelling MBA essays requires careful planning and attention to detail. Consider the following tips to make your essays stand out:

• Tip 1: Begin by thoroughly understanding the essay prompts and the underlying qualities the admissions committee seeks.
• Tip 2: Use engaging anecdotes and personal experiences to illustrate your points and make your essays memorable.
• Tip 3: Structure your essays in a clear and concise manner, ensuring each paragraph addresses a specific point and flows logically.

UVA Darden Essay Examples From Successful Admits — With Analysis

Reviewing examples of successful essays can provide valuable insights into writing your own. Here are a few UVA Darden essay examples from past admits, along with analysis highlighting their strengths:

• Example 1: A compelling essay highlighting the candidate's courageous decision-making, emphasizing the lessons learned and growth achieved.
• Example 2: An essay showcasing the applicant's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, backed by tangible experiences and outcomes.
• Example 3: An essay demonstrating the candidate's exceptional leadership skills through impactful examples from their career, community, and personal experiences.

UVA Darden Essay FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the UVA Darden MBA essays:

• Q: Can I exceed the word limit for the essays? A: It's recommended to adhere to the specified word limit to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively within constraints.
• Q: Can I reuse essays from other business schools? A: It's best to tailor each essay specifically to UVA Darden, showcasing your fit with the school's values and culture.
• Q: Are there any specific formatting guidelines for the essays? A: The essays should be formatted as a standard document with a clear font and appropriate spacing.

By following the guidelines provided in this UVA Darden MBA Essays Guide, you will be well-prepared to tackle each essay prompt with confidence and increase your chances of admission to the esteemed UVA Darden School of Business.

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Virginia Darden MBA Essays: Tips for 2023-2024

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 UVA Darden School of Business.

Personal Essay

• What would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume? (100 words)

Behavioral Essay

• Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (text box, 300 words)

Career Goals Essay

• At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (text box, 200 words)

Optional Essay

• If there is further information you believe would be helpful to the Admission Committee, please provide it. (text box, 250 words)

Reapplicant Essay

• What have you done to improve your candidacy since you last applied? (text box, 100 words)

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Darden’s Personal Essay

The personal essay is a hallmark of most MBA applications. Writing this genre of MBA essay involves divulging information about the core values, morals, and passions that guide your behavior and motivate your decisions. Darden’s MBA admissions committee wants to know more about the actual people to which they are offering admissions, because each applicant is more than their transcript and resume. 

In personal essays, Darden’s admissions committee wants applicants to provide information about personal relationships, hardships, and other individualizing information. It is important to provide concrete examples to demonstrate how your values have influenced you in different areas of your life. Further, Darden wants applicants to demonstrate leadership skills and articulate their reasons for wanting an MBA at UVA Darden. 

When writing your personal Darden essay, you should keep in mind that the best strategy for approaching this type of essay is being open and letting your personality shine through. Successful personal statements often include an engaging story told with an authentic voice. Therefore, as long as you are true to yourself, your Darden MBA essay will be a success.

Darden’s Behavioral Essay

Behavioral essays involve demonstrating how you have used your leadership skills in real-life situations. This Darden essay gives you a space to identify your morality as a leader and how you might benefit from Darden’s leadership development programs. Darden’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 Darden 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 Darden 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. UVA Darden is looking for MBA candidates who can contemplate how they used leadership skills to solve a problem. 

In this Darden 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.

Darden’s Career Goals Essay 

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

It is vital for Darden applicants to have a solid plan for their post-MBA career aspirations. First and foremost, this is because Darden wants its graduates to succeed. However, there are a few selfish motivations for the career goals essay, including the fact that Darden wants to have an impressive employment report and produce graduates who will become donors someday. Further, the Darden 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 Darden’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.

An unusual aspect of the Darden application is that they have two optional essays: one traditional optional essay, in which you can elaborate on or clarify any element of your application you feel requires further consideration, and an additional family information essay, in which you can expand on your family background and any unusual life circumstances that could fortify your overall 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, UVa Darden 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 UVA Darden should pay close attention to the specific expectations for each type of Darden essay. Darden also asks participants to write MBA essays providing information about their experiences with diversity and goals for future global travel. 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 Darden MBA essays.

Menlo Coaching can help you throughout your MBA essay writing process, offering one-on-one coaching and exclusive materials. Explore our specialized MBA admissions consulting services to enhance your application strategy.

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UVA Darden MBA Essay 2023 – Tips and Analysis

Admit expert.

• July 31, 2022

The Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia has always emphasized how strong its community is, how students work together to learn and grow both inside and outside of the classroom, and how important it is to bring people from different backgrounds and with different ways of thinking together. The school’s application essay prompts focus on all of these ideas.

There is a new application cycle, and the essays for Darden have been updated. Even though there are connections between last year’s essays and this year’s, this year’s essays are more focused and no longer give you choices within the prompts. 

Through its application essays, UVA Darden wants to know how you will work with others as a Purpose Driven Leader to make a difference. And what you’ve done in the past is the best way to tell if you’ll be able to make a difference in the future. 

Before you sit down to answer each of the school’s questions, take a step back and think about the most important strengths you want to show in your application as a whole. 

Then, think about what stories you can tell and how you can tell them to show off those strengths.

Pay attention to the stories that don’t already show up in other parts of your application when writing these essays.

UVA Darden MBA essay 2023 intake

Optional essay, let us help you get into uva darden.

These questions are a great opportunity for you to help the Darden Admissions Committee understand who you are and who you will be at Darden.

Given that you will be forming lifelong connections with your classmates that extend beyond the classroom, what is important for your classmates to know about you that is not on your resumé? (200 words)

Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating an inclusive global community at Darden. (300 words)

At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

The first essay question for MBA applicants in 2022-2023 at UVA Darden has been revised to include a more expansive definition of community.

At Darden, the people you study with are a big part of your learning. You will be put together with a set of diverse classmates to talk about your case assignments before class. The goal of these talks is to make sure that everyone is ready to take part in the class discussion. Your classmates should be part of a group that helps each other out.

This essay is your chance to tell everyone at Darden about yourself. What do your classmates need to know about you? What different point of view will you bring to the classroom? Maybe you’ve done things in your job that no one else has done before.

An understanding of the Darden community, as well as facts you want to share with your students, is required for this essay prompt

The less you know about the Darden community, the more difficult it will be to compose an essay that shows how well you will fit there. So before everything else, do your homework. What makes the Darden community special, and what are some of the resources available to you while on campus?

After completing your research, we advise you to begin crafting your profile by selecting a few distinguishing characteristics. According to the essay guidelines on the school’s website, any form of example may be used for such a question. In their words: “This is your opportunity to shine as your authentic self. Hobbies, passions, interests, and ideals are all fair game here.”

So, maybe you’re a great debater who can see and explain different points of view. Or maybe you’re good at calming down tense situations with humor and can keep a group of tired, stressed-out students with strong but different opinions in a good mood so they can work together in a civil way. 

Or, if you have an interesting and/or unique hobby, interest, or background outside of school, you could start or join a club to share it with other students. 

As long as it makes sense, the skill or trait you choose to highlight here doesn’t matter as much as showing that it would make you a good addition to the MBA experience at Darden.

Do you want to impress the Darden Adcom?

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This is a new essay that sort of replaces the leadership and diversity essays from last year. In a case-based learning environment like the one at Darden, it’s important to both share your opinion and actively listen to and learn from others. This way, you can help come up with new and creative solutions. Also, remember that Darden’s goal was to find and train leaders who cared about making a difference.

The first part of the essay prompt asks you to think about a time when you worked to make a culture that was open to everyone. Think of a specific example that shows how you support inclusion, and use the SCAR (situation, challenge, action, result) method for the first 150 words.

In the second part of the essay, you should try to use the remaining 150 words to show how you will enthusiastically welcome and embrace different points of view at Darden, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. Build on the experience you talked about in the first part of the essay and show how you’ll use what you’ve learned at Darden. Think about what you can do and where you can do it (class, clubs, career management, etc.) to help make everyone feel welcome. Think about what you want to do at Darden and how you can help make those places more welcoming. Be real, and if you can, show through your experience or plans to make a difference that you will play an active role in making sure that your Learning Team and class as a whole will have a culture that welcomes everyone.

Note that the admissions committee specifically asks about your short-term goal, which is often more practical than applicants’ long-term goals, which are usually more idealistic. 

So, first, check to see if the path you’ve chosen makes sense for you. Ask yourself, “Will getting an MBA from Darden help me get where I want to be?” 

For example, if you are a marine biologist who wants to work in Private Equity after you graduate, the admissions committee probably won’t be too interested in your plan, since Private Equity is usually run by people with years of experience in finance. 

The school wants to know that you will be able to reach your goals after you finish their program, so you shouldn’t set goals that seem impossible. 

As a marine biologist, you would need to find a much more realistic, but still true to yourself, path. 

Being ambitious is great, but the goal you set needs to make sense in the real world. To show that it does, you’ll need to explain why your goal is a good one for you. 

Establishing briefly that you have the skills and knowledge to get into your desired field will help your admissions reader make the logical connection and feel confident that you will be a happy and productive graduate.

If there is further information you think would be helpful to the Admissions Committee, please provide it:

If you think your application gives a full, accurate picture of who you are and why you should be accepted to Darden, it’s probably best not to add anything else here. 

Adding to the admissions committee’s work by asking them to read another essay that doesn’t add much to your profile isn’t worth it. 

But if you have something truly unique to say that you think will make you stand out, or if you have a problem with your application that needs more explanation (like a gap in work experience or education, a low GPA or score, or a problem with discipline), this is the place to talk about it and explain it.

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.

Do you want to get into your dream business school?

Take the first step towards your MBA dream and schedule a free 1 on 1 application strategy call with us.

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

• By Trisha Nussbaum

UVA Darden’s MBA application features three short essays that ask you to get introspective about who you are, what you value, and what you’ll bring to the Darden community.

The low word counts require you to use the space wisely, ensuring that you deliver well-honed narratives that provide enough specificity to showcase your unique and memorable characteristics.

We strongly encourage you to outline all of the essays beforehand, as opposed to writing each one individually. This will help to ensure that each essay shares something new; this helps you capitalize on the limited space. For example, if you plan to talk about leadership in one essay, it may not be in your best interest to use an example of leadership in another essay. Use your limited real estate strategically to convey a compelling narrative across your essays and avoid repeating anything that might be found elsewhere in your application.

Don’t be afraid to express your own writing style in your Darden essays. While it can be a daunting task to provide so much information in such limited space, the admissions committee can learn a lot about your personality by the way you write – how you say it, not just what you say. Every sentence should feel natural and authentic. If you’re artistic, maybe you weave illustrative details in your storytelling. If you’re funny, don’t be afraid to deploy humor. An admissions coach can help you refine your essays so that they showcase both your personality and professionalism.

Decoding the UVA Darden MBA Essays

Essay #1: what would you want your classmates to know about you that is not on your resume (100 words; hard cutoff).

Darden’s admissions team wants to get to know your personal interests beyond a surface level. This question frames this exploration in terms of what you stand to offer your future classmates, so it is important to dig deep and get personal. Instead of making generalized statements such as “I love to swim,” talk specifically about experiences you’ve had with swimming and the impact it has had on your life, relationships, career, etc. With only 200 words, choose to focus on one or two passions, motivators, or interests that mean the most to you. Then, describe why it is important to you and how you will share it with your peers in a way that will allow you to facilitate meaningful connections. This question is resonant of Stanford GSB’s iconic essay, “What matters most and why?” in that it’s an invitation to share more about who you are and what makes you tick, not just what you do. Note: the “not on your resume” phrasing of the question is key; this isn’t about professional accomplishments. What will your response say about who you are, what you care about, and how you’ll show up in community?

Essay #2: Please describe a tangible example that illuminates your experience promoting an inclusive environment and what you would bring to creating a welcoming, global community at Darden. (300 words; hard cutoff)

This question reflects Darden’s values around creating a diverse and inclusive MBA community. It is an invitation to convey your understanding of, commitment to, and fit with these values. It’s also a behavioral style question, reflecting the admissions committee’s belief that past performance is the best indicator of future action. Start by getting introspective about the spirit of the question and consider the kinds of examples that demonstrate share values and awareness in your leadership.

Of the three essays, this is the longest, and explicitly suggests a structure. Spend the introduction of the essay providing a brief example of a time when you promoted an inclusive environment. This example should demonstrate your motivation and your capacity to drive change through leadership. It’s also worth noting that Darden stresses the “global community at Darden,” so your example could be a time when you promoted the inclusion of global perspectives.

Your past example should provide evidence that you will be effective in what you hope to achieve at Darden in terms of driving inclusivity. Look back to your notes from your research about Darden and reflect on the learnings and skills from your example. It may be helpful to write a connecting sentence that highlights these learnings and skills and frames them in terms of how you are enabled to drive inclusivity at Darden.

Use the rest of the essay to describe one or two ways you will promote diversity and inclusion at Darden. As opposed to saying, “I will be a leader,” provide a specific idea for something you will do to promote inclusivity and what resources or organizations at Darden you will be involved with that will help you accomplish it.

Essay #3: At this time how would you describe your short-term, post-MBA goal in terms of industry, function, geography, company size, and/or mission and how does it align with the long-term vision you have for your career? (200 words)

Again, Darden is explicitly suggesting a structure for the essay. Start off by providing your short-term goal with as much specificity as possible. Short-term goals involve your near-immediate plans – either for an internship and/or two to three years post b-school. During this period, you should be acquiring specific expertise or skills that’s essential for you to reach your long-term vision. Given the slim wordcount and the simple fact that Darden doesn’t ask for your past experience, spend less time, if any, discussing related details or skills that can be found on your resume to explain your short-term goal. Only use those details when they are absolutely necessary to provide larger context. Whether or not your goals seem to obviously connect to your past work experiences, use the following sentences to frame your short-term goals in terms of your passions, and seamlessly dive into how these steps set you up for your long-term vision.

Notice how Darden doesn’t ask for the same level of specificity for your long-term vision as it does for your short-term, post-MBA goal. You can still provide something specific, but Darden is giving you with the opportunity to discuss your long-term goal in ways other than a job function or company, like creating a type of impact. The admissions committee expects you to have a clear understanding of where a Darden MBA can take you, and that you have thought about how the MBA, coupled with your short-term goals, will make clear progress in the intended direction. (For more insight on crafting short- versus long-term MBA goals, read our related article on how to create MBA goals .)

Let’s Get You In.

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA Admissions Directors and Officers from 18 of the top 20 business schools, including UVA Darden. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we can 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 .

Fortuna’s Trisha Nussbaum is an MBA admissions coach and alumnus of NYU Stern with a background in tech consulting.  

• Posted on September 27, 2023

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Admissions , ExecMBA Application Tips , Executive MBA

2 April 2024

Craft Your Narrative: Expert Tips for Darden’s Executive MBA Application Process

D arden’s Executive MBA program is designed for working professionals seeking to complete their MBA without taking time away from their career. Our Executive MBA applicants are juggling a lot, so we   geared our application deadlines to accommodate our applicants’ busy schedules . With deadlines every month, there is still plenty of time to submit your application to join our Executive MBA c lass enrolling this August . W e will continue accepting applications until the class fills . 

Here are three things to help you navigate the coming months in the admissions process:

Our next Executive MBA application deadlines are:

We will keep the application open after the 25 June deadline if seats are still available in the class.

Scholarships:

When it comes to scholarship awards, it is never too late to receive an award, and we expect to make awards in all remaining rounds.

While it is true we have more scholarship money earlier in the admissions cycle, we manage our scholarship budget expecting to meet great candidates throughout the cycle.   

If a scholarship award is an important factor in your MBA decision, we encourage you to apply as soon as you feel you can put together a strong application. By applying earlier you will ensure you are applying when we have more money to award.  

All admitted students are considered for all available scholarships. No additional paperwork is required to be evaluated for a scholarship award. We do have one scholarship – The Batten Innovation/Entrepreneurship/Technology Scholarship – that requires a supplemental essay, but otherwise, scholarship consideration is an automatic process.    

We release the admissions decision and outcome of scholarship review on each decision release date. In most Executive MBA rounds, candidates can expect a decision in 2.5 to 3 weeks. Plus, this timeline accelerates as we enter the later rounds – In other words, things move quickly!  

Standardized test waivers:

When applying to the Executive MBA program, there are two options: submit a test waiver request with the application materials or apply with a standardized test score.  

We offer test waivers for Executive MBA applicants because there are many factors that can demonstrate readiness for the Darden curriculum. Whether it’s work experience, the nature of job responsibilities, educational background, professional certifications, non-degree-related coursework, etc., these factors all come into play for each candidate.  

Candidates who feel their application would benefit from a test score may apply with any number of standardized tests – Executive Assessment, GMAT Focus, GMAT, GRE, MCAT and LSAT. We view these tests equivalently and encourage applicants to choose the test that best aligns with their strengths and application plans.  

The most popular test with our Executive MBA applicants is the Executive Assessment. While a newer test, the EA was originally developed with Executive MBA applicants in mind, and it requires around 20-30 hours in preparation. In other words, it’s a good option for busy applicants who wish to apply with a test score.   

Advice moving forward:

Managing Director of Admissions, Brett Twitty, is here to answer any questions throughout the application process. He has advice for candidates applying to Darden’s Executive MBA program:

“Remember the application process is a storytelling exercise, and the application is best thought of as an initial introduction to you. 

When you open the application, take a few minutes to read through everything. What’s required? Think about what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you after reading your application. What are your application priorities? After you develop this list, think about how the various elements of the application can help you advance these priorities and convey your story. After all, there is no weight assigned to any part of the application, and the Admissions Committee will be reviewing your application holistically.

If you are invited to interview, this is a great opportunity to deepen the Admissions Committee’s understanding of who you are, particularly what has motivated you – the “why” of your story – along your journey. Your interviewer will write up what you share during the interview and this will become part of what the Admissions Committee reviews when finalizing their decision. Seeing the application and interview phases of the application process as related and not distinct is a hallmark of our strongest applicants.”  

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