Essays

The essays are a key aspect of your application and are designed to inspire thoughtful reflection.

Your essays help us understand what character traits have propelled you in your career and tell us how the Stanford MSx (Master’s in Management) Program is integral to maximizing your impact in the world after receiving your full-time, one-year master’s degree in management.

We request that you write two personal essays.

In each essay, we want to hear your genuine voice. Think carefully about your values, passions, aims, and dreams. There is no “right answer” to these questions — the best answer is the one that is truest for you.

What matters most to you, and why?

For this essay, we would like you to reflect deeply and write from the heart. Once you’ve identified what matters most to you, help us understand why. You might consider, for example, what makes this so important to you? What people, insights, or experiences have shaped your perspectives?

The Stanford MSx Community

How do you plan to support and enhance the experience of your classmates and the learning community at Stanford GSB? 

Candidates who apply jointly to both the MBA and MSx programs will need to write an additional essay.

Why Stanford for You?*

Describe your aspirations and how your Stanford MSx experience will help you realize them. Why is this the right time for you to pursue your master’s degree at Stanford GSB?

*This essay is only required if you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs. 

Length and Format

You may write up to 650 words for the first essay (“What matters most to you, and why?”) and up to 350 words for the second essay (“The Stanford MSx Community”). For applicants applying jointly to both MBA and MSx programs, you may write up to 350 words for the third essay (“Why Stanford for you?”). We often find effective essays written in far fewer words. Use a minimum of 12 point font size.

Career Aspirations Short Answer Question (required)

How will the Stanford MSx Program, along with your experiences, skills, and network, help you achieve your career goals?

Optional Short Answer Question

What do we mean by “optional”? We mean you have the opportunity to choose. If you feel that you’ve already described your contributions well in other areas of the application, congratulations, you’re done! If not, feel free to use this opportunity to tell us more.

In the Essays section of the application, we ask you to tell us about who you are and how you think Stanford will help you achieve your aspirations. We are also interested in learning about the things you have done that are most meaningful to you. Using these optional spaces, perhaps you would like to expand upon a bullet item from your resume and tell us more about the “how” or “why” behind the “what.” Or maybe you have had a significant impact outside of work in a way that doesn’t fit neatly in another part of the application. You are welcome to share up to three examples (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words, for each example).

Question: Think about a time in the past five years you’ve created a significant positive impact, whether in professional, extracurricular, civic, or academic settings. What was the situation, what did you do, and what was the impact? 

Exceptional essays are authentic: Write about what you are compelled to tell us, not what you believe the admissions committee wants to hear. In addition, they:

• Indicate self-awareness and acknowledge areas for growth opportunities
• Express an understanding of your effect on others
• Demonstrate how you want to maximize your impact on the world
• Showcase your unique worldview and goals by being personal, specific, and honest
• Detail how you see the MSx Program helping you achieve your goals and how you will leverage your year at Stanford

Begin work on the essays early to give yourself time to reflect, write, and edit.

Feel free to ask friends or family members for feedback, especially about whether the tone and voice sound like you. Your family and friends know you better than anyone. If they think the essays do not capture who you are, what you believe, and what you aspire to do, then surely we will be unable to recognize what is distinctive about you.

Feedback vs. Coaching

There is a big difference between “feedback” and “coaching.” You cross that line when any part of the application (excluding the letters of recommendation) ceases to be exclusively yours in either thought or word.

Appropriate feedback occurs when others review your completed application — perhaps once or twice — and apprise you of omissions, errors, or inaccuracies that you later correct or address. After editing is complete, your thoughts, voice, and style remain intact. Inappropriate coaching occurs when you allow others to craft any part of your application for you and, as a result, your application or self-presentation is not authentic.

It is improper and a violation of the terms of this application process to have another person or tool write your essays. Such behavior will result in denial of your application or revocation of your admission.

If there is any information that is critical for us to know and is not captured elsewhere, include it in the Additional Information section of the application. Pertinent examples include:

• Extenuating circumstances affecting your candidacy, including academic, work, or test-taking experiences
• Academic experience (e.g., independent research) not noted elsewhere
• Explanation of why you are not using a current supervisor as a recommender

This section should not be used as an additional essay.