Kelley MBA Essays

Are you dreaming of pursuing an MBA from the prestigious Kelley School of Business at Indiana University? If so, crafting compelling essays is a crucial step in your application process. Kelley’s essays are designed to provide the admissions committee with a deeper understanding of your personality, goals, and fit with their program. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the key elements of Kelley MBA essays and offer valuable tips to help you stand out.

Understanding Kelley’s Unique Focus

Kelley School of Business is renowned for its emphasis on “The Business of Good.” This philosophy highlights their commitment to fostering leaders who can create positive social and economic impact. When writing your essays, keep this in mind and showcase how your experiences and aspirations align with Kelley’s values.

Essay Samples

Essay 1. Discuss your immediate post-MBA professional goals. How will your professional experience, when combined with a Kelley MBA degree, allow you to achieve these goals? Should the short-term goals you have identified not materialize, what alternate career paths might you consider? (500 words)

In 20xx, I spearheaded the online marketing for my sister’s household products, focusing on driving social media growth. I realized the importance of adapting and thinking originally in ways that resonate with consumers. I’m intrigued by the possibility of providing customers unique and personalized experiences. Post-MBA, I aspire to become a Product Marketing Manager for a customer facing company like A or B, working on tools to improve consumer experience . I would gain a broad understanding of products across various industries that help brands connect with their customers using digital tools and new technologies. This role will help me ideate, execute and align marketing strategies that tailor to each brand’s target audience, bridging the gap between the product and customer needs. 

As a Brand Manager, I lead a team to drive brand vision, ideate consumer-focused campaigns and collaborate closely with multiple clients. Balancing creativity with strategy, I ensure the team’s goals are aligned with brand requirements and leverage data insights to boost performance, deliver impactful results, and satisfy customer needs. FS (MBA ‘xx) corroborated that my customer-centric approach and problem solving skills will be an asset while formulating marketing strategies as a PMM that meet customer needs. In the long term, I aim to leverage my cross-functional experience in marketing, sales and product development to work as a Marketing Director for a SaaS company like Google to develop strategies for all digital products that enhance customer experience. 

Despite my proficiency in social media marketing, I need to elevate my skills in market research, product development and pricing, and know an MBA will bridge the gap between product, sales and marketing for my career goals.  

Speaking with HM (MBA ‘xx) I learned how the Business Marketing Academy combines marketing expertise with real world experience through partnerships with companies such as Salesforce. BMA will boost my skills by working on consulting projects for companies such as X. Academy Friday’s with industry professionals and one-on-one mentorship opportunities within the academy will help me achieve professional development at the onset of my career. I am excited to be a part of the Kelley Marketing Club, where I can hone my current skills while being amongst and learning from a diverse group of marketers from a wide range of industries. The Tech Club’s skill development and PM casing workshops will help me gain experience in product development. 

Courses in New Product Management, Marketing of Technology and Pricing Management will provide me with a solid foundation. Director of Admissions Jim Holmen stated during Virtual Office hours that Kelley has one of the largest, most diverse alumni networks. I aspire to interact, ideate and collaborate with alums on networking nights and Academy Week. 

Should my aspiration to transition into a PMM role not materialize, my planned minor in Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation will enable me to pursue a broader marketing role in a consumer-tech start-up. My experience in social media marketing, collaborating with multiple stakeholders and customer-centric approach will be an asset. 

Essay 2. Please respond to one of the following short essay prompts. (300 words)

1. My greatest memory is…

2. I’m most afraid of…

3. My greatest challenge has been…

4. I’m most proud of…

My greatest challenge has been overcoming my battle with anorexia and body image. I started playing Karate at the age of 4 and  fell in love with the sport. It was empowering and taught me an immense amount of discipline and perseverance. 

I went on to win a Karate National level bronze medal in Grade 11, becoming the first person to win the award from my school in 10 years! The following year, due to weight gain, I was enrolled in the Open-weight category. As a teenager, I was humiliated, and determined to lose weight. However, I soon obsessed about the intake of each calorie and eating became my bane.

Before I knew it, I had become borderline anorexic. My physical and mental health deteriorated rapidly as clothes hung, my hair thinned dramatically and I turned pale. I was irritable, socially withdrawn and obsessive about working out. Despite my parents’ concern, I resisted their help .My obsession with weight had jeopardized my relationship with my body, my family and friends.

A shocking blood test revealed that my hemoglobin was down to 4.2 grams and I was on the verge of collapsing. It was at this moment that it struck me that my greatest achievement, (Karate), was now my biggest failure. 

Recovery was challenging, but it completely changed my outlook on food, fitness and self-worth. With every kilogram that I gained, I felt happier – more alive. I learnt to value my overall health over appearances and see food as fuel rather than an enemy. Not only has this experience made me healthier and happier with my body, it has also endowed me to help others with similar struggles. I have guided two friends through their own battles with anorexia and have been able to turn my hardships into a source of strength.  

Essay 3. Share a brief fact about yourself that your classmates would find interesting, surprising, or noteworthy. (25 words)

I am a national level Karate champion,with 17 years of experience. As a 3rd degree black belt (Sensai) I’m professionally certified to teach Karate. 

Essay 4. Optional: Is there anything else that you think we should know as we evaluate your application? If you believe your credentials and essays represent you fairly, you shouldn’t feel obligated to answer this question. (300 words)

My current GMAT score is not a true definition of my academic and analytical capabilities. I have been a go-getter and an achiever since my school days. 

As a Brand Manager at XYZ, I have formulated comprehensive social media plans and content strategies leveraging analytical skills by using tools like excel and google slides. I have also managed the performance marketing budget across multiple brands ensuring strategic data-driven decision making to improve results. These have included customized profile visits, engagement and awareness plans and utilizing spends to maximize ROI. For a hospitality brand, with a minimal budget, I formulated a profile visit plan that doubled followers within a month, optimizing for a low cost per click, customized targeting and high click-through rates.

I also create monthly reports for all brands that help me analyze key metrics like reach and engagement. I helped increase a hotel brand’s reach from 100K to 2.2M through interactive content and awareness marketing campaigns. I have managed budgets up to INR 2 lakh. My proactive nature, data-driven mindset, and strategic approach has led to my promotion to brand manager within a year, one of the fastest promotions in my company. 

Conclusion

Crafting compelling Kelley MBA essays requires careful thought, planning, and self-reflection. By understanding Kelley’s focus, addressing the key essay components, and following the tips provided, you can increase your chances of gaining admission to this prestigious program. Remember, the goal is to present a well-rounded picture of yourself that showcases your potential as a future leader committed to making a positive impact on the world.

 Stay focused, be authentic, and let your unique story shine through with MBA&Beyond.