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UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Get ready to ace your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application with this comprehensive essay guide.

Posted March 1, 2024

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Are you interested in pursuing an MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School? One vital aspect of your application will be the essays you need to submit. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide an overview of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays, along with useful tips and examples to help you craft compelling responses .

UNC Kenan-Flagler Application and the Role of Essays

When applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler, you will be required to submit a set of essays that allow the admissions committee to understand your background, goals, and fit with the program. These essays are an opportunity for you to showcase your personality, motivations, and achievements , providing a holistic view of who you are as a candidate.

Your essays serve as a critical complement to your resume and other application materials. They allow the admissions team to gauge your potential for success in the program and contribute to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Therefore, it is essential to approach these essays with careful thought and effort.

One of the key aspects that the admissions committee looks for in your essays is your ability to articulate your goals and aspirations. This is your chance to demonstrate your clarity of purpose and how the UNC Kenan-Flagler program aligns with your career objectives. You should highlight the specific skills, knowledge, and experiences you hope to gain from the program and explain how they will contribute to your long-term professional growth.

In addition to showcasing your goals, the essays also provide an opportunity for you to highlight your unique background and experiences . The admissions committee is interested in understanding the diverse perspectives and experiences that each candidate brings to the table. You can discuss any challenges you have faced, how you have overcome them, and the lessons you have learned along the way. By sharing your personal journey, you can demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic and competitive environment.

Furthermore, the essays allow you to showcase your leadership potential and your ability to work effectively in teams. UNC Kenan-Flagler places a strong emphasis on collaborative learning and values candidates who can contribute to a collaborative and inclusive community. You can discuss any leadership roles you have held, the impact you have made, and how you have effectively worked with others to achieve common goals. Additionally, you can highlight any experiences where you have demonstrated strong interpersonal skills, such as resolving conflicts or fostering a positive team dynamic.

Lastly, the essays provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the UNC Kenan-Flagler program and how you envision yourself contributing to the community. Conduct thorough research on the program, its curriculum, faculty, and extracurricular activities. Show your enthusiasm for specific aspects of the program and explain how you plan to leverage those opportunities to make a meaningful impact. This will not only showcase your genuine interest in the program but also demonstrate that you have taken the time to understand what makes UNC Kenan-Flagler unique.

In conclusion, the essays play a crucial role in the UNC Kenan-Flagler application process. They allow you to go beyond your resume and provide a deeper understanding of who you are as a candidate. By carefully crafting your essays, showcasing your goals, experiences, leadership potential, and knowledge of the program, you can increase your chances of standing out and securing a spot in the UNC Kenan-Flagler community.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

For the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, UNC Kenan-Flagler has released the following essay prompts:

• Prompt 1: Discuss your short-term and long-term career goals. How will the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program help you achieve these goals? (500 words maximum)
• Prompt 2: At UNC Kenan-Flagler, we believe that collaboration and teamwork create the best results. How have you demonstrated these characteristics in your personal and professional life? (300 words maximum)
• Prompt 3: Optional Prompt: Is there any additional information that you would like to share with the admissions committee? (300 words maximum)

These prompts offer you the opportunity to present a well-rounded picture of your experiences, aspirations, and potential contributions to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Let's dive into expert tips for each essay prompt to help you craft impactful responses:

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List of Expert Tips for Each Kenan-Flagler Essay Prompt

1. Prompt 1: Start by clearly defining your career goals, both short-term and long-term. Be specific and realistic, showcasing an understanding of the industry or role you aspire to.

2. Discuss how the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA program aligns with your career goals. Research the curriculum, faculty, and resources unique to UNC Kenan-Flagler to demonstrate your genuine interest in the program.

3. Prompt 2: Identify significant instances where you collaborated or worked effectively in a team setting. Provide specific examples that highlight your ability to contribute and cooperate with others.

4. Showcase your interpersonal and leadership skills in your response. Share experiences that demonstrate your ability to navigate diverse perspectives, manage conflicts, and achieve common goals.

5. Prompt 3: Use the optional prompt strategically. If you have any compelling information that couldn't be included in other essays, address it here. This is an opportunity to highlight unique aspects of your background.

6. Avoid repetition across your essays. Each response should provide new insights into your candidacy and offer a holistic view of your personal and professional journey.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Aside from specific tips for the Kenan-Flagler essays, here are some general MBA essay writing tips to help you create compelling and memorable responses:

• 1. Start early: Give yourself ample time to brainstorm, outline, write, and revise your essays. Procrastination can hinder the quality of your responses.
• 2. Reflect on your experiences: Take the time to reflect on your personal and professional journey, identifying key turning points, challenges, and achievements that have shaped your character and aspirations.
• 3. Be authentic: Your essays should reflect your unique voice, experiences, and aspirations. Avoid using buzzwords or portraying an image that doesn't align with who you truly are.
• 4. Structure your essays effectively: Use paragraphs and headings to create a clear and organized structure. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or idea.
• 5. Provide concrete examples: Support your statements with specific examples and anecdotes that demonstrate your skills, qualities, and achievements. This will make your essays more convincing and memorable.
• 6. Edit and proofread: Ensure that your essays are free of grammatical errors, typos, and awkward phrasings. Edit and proofread multiple times, or consider asking someone else to review your essays.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

To further guide you in your essay writing process, we have compiled a collection of successful UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay examples, along with an analysis of what makes them effective. These examples will provide valuable insights into the execution and presentation of strong essay responses.

By studying these examples, you can gain a better understanding of how to structure your essays and effectively convey your unique story and key messages.

UNC Kenan-Flagler Essay FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays:

• Q: How long should my essays be?

A: For the first prompt, the maximum word count is 500 words. For the second and third prompts, the maximum is 300 words.

• Q: Should I answer all three prompts?

A: It is recommended to respond to all three prompts. However, the third prompt is optional, and you should only use it if you have significant additional information to share.

• Q: Can I exceed the word limits?

A: It is generally advisable to adhere to the given word limits. Admissions committees appreciate concise and well-articulated responses.

Now armed with a comprehensive understanding of the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays, along with expert tips and examples, you can begin crafting compelling and persuasive responses that showcase your unique candidacy. Good luck with your application!

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UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays for 2024-2025

Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School ? Then, let the brainstorming begin! Here are the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays and deadlines for the 2024-2025 admissions season.

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays

From the AdCom: You’ll respond to two required essay questions and one optional question. Your responses should be concise, clear, and introspective as we’ll use them to learn more about you, your motivations, and your aspirations.

Essay 1 is required.  Your response should be no longer than  500 words  and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
• As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

Essay 2 is required.  Your response should be no longer than  500 words  and should address the following question:

Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Essay 3 is optional.  We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than  200 words .

Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

Essay 4 is required only for previous applicants to any UNC MBA program format.  Your response should be no longer than  100 words  and should address the following prompt:

If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.

For more application information, please visit the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA admissions website . If you need guidance on your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis  of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

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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UNC MBA Essays: Tips for Kenan-Flagler 2024-2025

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 UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. 

Career Goals Essay

Essay 1 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words, upload file and should address the following questions: Please respond to the questions below that will assist us in learning more about you.

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
• As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

Behavioral Essay

Essay 2 is required. Your response should be no longer than 500 words, upload file and should address the following question:

• Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Optional Essay

Essay 3 is optional. We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than 200 words, upload file. Optional Topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

Applying to UNC Kenan-Flagler

At UNC Flagler, they have a customizable curriculum that urges their students to think innovatively and deal with problems head-on. Through the story you relate in your essay, the admissions council is looking to see if you reflect these same values that the school does. The school is looking for students who are innovative and yearn to gain tangible work experience in the program that they can use to further their career. The best way to represent that you possess those qualities is through the type of essay you choose to write. 

It’s crucial to pick the right experience to discuss in your essay, and the different types of prompts help narrow that down for you. Keep reading for a closer look at the different types of essays, and how best to utilize them in order to write some stand-out UNC MBA essays.

The Career Goals Essay

You’re not the only one hoping you’ll have a job after you’ve graduated with your MBA. Admissions committees are looking for students who are motivated and clear in their intentions so that when they get a job post-grad, they’ll be more willing to speak positively of their experience in the program. And, of course, in the hopes that their alumni will earn enough money to become a donor to the school one day.  

For example, if you aim to work in real estate, this is an essay to take seriously. UNC Kenan-Flagler is well-known for their alumni’s success in the real estate field, and showing them that you also strive to achieve that same success is wholly beneficial to your chances of being admitted. 

There are three aspects to the career goals essay: 

• What you want your future profession to look like.
• Why an MBA is necessary to advance your career.
• Particularly, why a degree from UNC Kenan-Flagler will be most beneficial to you and your job plan. 

Your aspirations need to be convincing, ambitious, and realistic. The admissions committee is looking for applicants who have meaningful goals grounded in their past experiences, and it’s important that you relate that notion in your essay, however it applies to your experience in life. 

The Behavioral Essay

To make it simple: the behavioral essay is meant to show UNC Kenan-Flagler that you have developed some sort of leadership skills, what your values are as a leader, and how you are going to most benefit from their development programs. 

The admissions committee is looking for applicants that are self-reflective. Whether it’s through a setback you’ve experienced, or how you dealt with situations that have gone awry, the school is looking for students who are resilient and able to learn from their mistakes. 

Do not overexaggerate (or underexaggerate!) the situations you decide to write about. Be honest about what happened; UNC Flagler is looking for genuine people to join their campus community, and they are less likely to admit an applicant who has overinflated their prior experiences. 

Last but not least, make sure to describe what you learned and how you implemented this in a subsequent situation. This is an expected element of the behavioral essay, even if it’s not directly written in the prompt. Prompts that deal with these topics can be daunting, especially when they require you to write about a weakness you have or a failure you’ve experienced.

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

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

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

Writing strong, coherent, genuine stories is an essential part of your MBA application. These essays are meant to help you stand out among many other applicants, so it is worth your time to do the work and write about situations unique to your life and that you truly learned from.

Struggling to tackle Kenan-Flagler MBA admissions essays? Our experienced team specialize in MBA admissions consulting , offering personalized guidance to help you craft compelling essays that stand out.

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August 22, 2024

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024-2025], Class Profile

Are you a team leader? Are you committed to sustainable enterprise? Are you seeking the resources and intellectual capital needed to shape both business and government? Are you a motivated, goal-oriented, innovative individual? If you answered yes to these questions, the UNC Kenan-Flagler adcom is interested in learning more about your multidimensional personality and capabilities. 

Ready to get to work on your Kenan-Flagler application? Read on.

Kenan-Flagler application essay tips

Kenan-flagler application deadlines, kenan-flagler class profile.

The Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina has two required essays and one optional essay again this year.

Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
•  As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

What do you see yourself doing immediately upon graduation, and why? What is your motivation to go down this path? And finally, why do you need an MBA from Kenan-Flagler specifically to realize your dream?

The adcom also wants to know what your Plan B is. If you are aiming for a position with Goldman Sachs and a career in investment banking, would your backup plan be obtaining a similar role with, let’s say, Bank of America? Or would you instead pursue a position in corporate finance or with a start-up? If you are aiming for McKinsey & Company, Bain, or BCG, what would your Plan B be? Perhaps a position in a leadership rotation program? Or maybe you’d like to work for a firm such as Deloitte or Kearney?

Your Plan B needs to be at least as achievable as your Plan A – if not more so. It should also be an alternative to your Plan A that the MBA education you’ll receive at Kenan-Flagler will help you attain.

Check out our free guide The Winning Ingredients of a Dynamic MBA Goals Essay for more tips on writing about your post-MBA professional aspirations.

Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following question:

• Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader dedicated to making a difference in the world?

Kenan-Flagler’s adcom is interested in learning about a meaningful experience you’ve had and how it shaped you. The outcome of the situation you share must have been positive for the people involved. The prompt does not require you to have held a particular role in the situation. Still, whether you were part of a group or in a leadership position, you need to reflect on your actions, considerations, decisions, contributions, and outcomes that benefitted others. To begin your essay, share context and details that paint a picture of the situation. As you lead the reader through the situation, it’s crucial to go beyond merely stating what you did; you must explain why and/or how you did what you did to illustrate your commitment to driving positive change. Finish the essay by reflecting on what you learned and your inspiration for continuing to be a leader who inspires hope.

Essay #3 (Optional)

We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than 200 words. Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

Here are the key elements of the instructions for this optional essay: 

• “Tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person.” This essay should not be about the widgets or apps you’ve created or the three-letter acronyms that define your work. It needs to be about you as a human being and a potential member of the MBA program’s community. Why should your fellow students want to hang out with you?
• “Convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application.” Don’t repeat material that can be found elsewhere in your application. And do not treat this essay as some kind of grand finale. 

Although you could use this essay to provide context for a weakness in your application, you can also use it to discuss your “interests and passions” or to present a “fun fact about yourself.” Let the adcom see this other side of you, which might not come through in the required portions of the application. This is one optional essay you should not skip!

Again, the school is genuinely trying to learn about you and assess whether you will add value to the Kenan-Flagler community. Give the adcom reasons to conclude that you will.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the application date.

*Round 3 is the final deadline for international applicants.

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Kenan-Flagler directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the Kenan-Flagler MBA Class of 2026 (data taken from the Kenan-Flagler website ):

Class size: 249

Average GMAT score: 707

Average GPA: 3.42

Average age: 28

Average years of work experience: 5

International: 43%

Military: 12%

Female: 31%

You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are in life. Now that you’re ready for your next achievement, make sure you know how to present yourself to maximum advantage in your Kenan-Flagler application. In a hotly competitive season, you’ll want a member of Team Accepted in your corner, guiding you with expertise tailored specifically for you. Schedule a free consultation today.

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, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for 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!

Related Resources:

• How to Get Accepted to UNC Kenan-Flagler Full-Time MBA Program , podcast Episode 496
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants
• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your MBA Application Essays , a free guide

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UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays for 2021-2022

UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays

From the AdCom: You’ll respond to two required essay questions and one optional question. Your responses should be concise, clear, and introspective as we’ll use them to learn more about you, your motivations, and your aspirations. Typically, we ask that you keep responses to 300-500 words max.

Required Essay 1

Your response should be no longer than 500 words and should address the following questions:

• What are your immediate career goals and how will you benefit from earning an MBA at Kenan-Flagler Business School?
• As the business world continues to evolve, circumstances can change and guide you in a different direction. Should your goals that you provided above not transpire, what other opportunities would you explore?

Required Essay 2

Your response should be no longer than 300 words and should address the following question:

We all belong to different communities representing various aspects of who we are, including groups we belong to, where we come from, how we think, what we believe, and how we see and experience the world. The process of discovery is strengthened when people with diverse perspectives and life experiences come together to share and learn from one another, negotiate differences, and engage in diplomacy.

How have you dealt with differences in your personal or professional relationships? In what ways will you contribute to the community and learning environment by embracing your authentic self while respecting others? How do you envision furthering your growth in inclusive leadership as an MBA student and as a business leader?

Optional Essay

We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application. Your response should be no longer than 200 words.

Optional topics:

• Personal or professional accomplishments
• Interests and passions
• Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
• Context for recommender selection
• A fun fact about yourself

If you are re-applying to the program , we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay (100 words or less) that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.

For more information on applying, please visit the UNC Kenan-Flagler  MBA admissions website . If you need guidance on your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis  of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

The post UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays for 2021-2022 appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting .

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Perspectives

Making the most of your mba experience.

Throughout the application process, MBA candidates spend ample time filling out applications, writing essays and honing interview skills to get into business school.

But once you’re accepted and ready to go, what can you do to ensure you succeed in business school so you achieve your career goals and maximize your investment in yourself? And how do you even start?

Alex De, Author of MBA Insider

Al Dea (MBA ’15) has been studying the issue for the past five years and writing about it for his blog MBASchooled . Now he answers those question in his book “ MBA Insider: How to Make the Most of Your MBA Experience .” It’s a how-to guide for navigating business school, with tips and best practices from over 50 students and alumni.

>> Learn more about the Full-Time MBA Program

Here’s a sample from Dea’s book: Lessons from UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA grads show how you can make the most of your MBA experience.

Lesson 1: Prioritize early and communicate your priorities.

The beauty of business school is that there are so many opportunities. That’s also why it can be so challenging.

Najee Johnson (MBA ’15) learned this in his time at UNC Kenan-Flagler. He described business school as “one big prioritization exercise.”

For example, when he recruited for management consulting, he knew there were info sessions, coffee chats and other relevant events he had to attend on top of his classes and study commitments. To ensure he succeeded, Johnson identified the courses that were most important to management consulting employers, and made sure he focused extra carefully to succeed in those classes. He asked for guidance from second-year MBAs on what events were most important for recruiting, and made sure to attend them.

“Everyone has his or her own unique strengths and experiences as well as their weaknesses, and putting these strengths to work can add real value.”

Johnson made sure to share his priorities with his study team, so they knew what they could count on him for, but also, what was important to him. With a clear sense of his priorities, he could make trade-offs, and still contribute to his study team. “It wasn’t easy, but having clear priorities meant I could make adjustments and honor all of my commitments,” he says.

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Lesson 2: Teach others.

After growing up, going to college and working in India, Nishanth Kadiyala (MBA ’16) moved to Chapel Hill to attend UNC Kenan-Flagler. Since this was his first time living in the U.S, he took advantage of the many resources at UNC to immerse himself in his new home.

Whether it was taking advantage of the Business Communications Center to practice his public speaking or asking his classmates about American traditions, Kadiyala adapted quickly.

In addition to making use of the resources, he also made sure others learned – he taught classmates about Indian culture and business. “As MBA grads aspire to be globally relevant, it is equally important for the American counterparts to learn about your culture, too. So, this cultural shift doesn’t have to be a one-way street. All of us can be both a student and a teacher,” says Kadiyala.

Lesson 3: Find your own way to invest in relationships.

When you start a new experience – at the same time as a couple of hundred other people – and spend 12-14 hours a day them, you build relationships. But like anything of value, building relationships takes time and effort.

While there are plenty of ways to build them – social events, club activities and study teams everyone has their own unique style, Kirsten Smith (MBA ’20) recommends finding the best ways for you to build relationships, and to stick to them.

She enjoys getting to know people, but recognizes she needs alone time, too. Smith found that while she enjoyed some big events, she didn’t need to go to all of them. She realized she really enjoyed getting to know classmates in smaller group settings, and she made time for game or movie nights, or going out to a small group dinner in Chapel Hill.

Lesson 4: Use your strengths.

When he started at UNC Kenan-Flagler, Ben Thayer (MBA ’16) was impressed with his hard-working, collaborative and intelligent classmates. He also noticed that he and many of his classmates sometimes stressed about their faults or weaknesses.

“It’s easy to feel the imposter syndrome when you are around so many smart people,” Thayer says. To counter this feeling, he recommends looking within to “realize that everyone has something to offer.” By figuring out what your strengths are, and sharing them with others, you can make an impact.

“Everyone has his or her own unique strengths and experiences as well as their weaknesses, and putting these strengths to work can add real value,” Thayer says.

That happened after a study session for an economics exam where the professor mentioned a problem they weren’t familiar with. Thayer and classmates sprang into action: They divided up re-reading notes, reviewing videos and searching through the textbook. Sure enough, the problem was on the exam, and because we were prepared, they made high marks.

Lesson 5: Push yourself to take risks.

Business school is a chance to try new things and to push yourself, even if it’s uncomfortable.

As a self-proclaimed “shy guy,” Reinaldo Caravellas (MBA ’19) embraced this strategy.

He started his time in Chapel Hill by giving a dance performance in front of 200 of his classmates, and getting involved in various student activities that were new to him.

“Had you told me two years ago I would have done these things, I would not have believed you,” Caravellas says. As a result of these activities, Caravallas feels more confident presenting in public and exploring his creative side, something that was very difficult for him to do before business school.

By Al Dea (MBA ’15), author of “MBA Insider” and a senior manager in product marketing at software company in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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