What are you most proud of?
Say, at the age of 19, you won a significant tennis tournament. That is something that anyone would be naturally proud of. Your name and picture came out in the papers, and you were interviewed by the media. People you did not even know started smiling and saying “Hi!” when they saw you.
A few years later, a severe flood devastated your area. Food and essential supplies began to run out, and even though official rescue teams tried to bring succor to the people, much remained to be done. Stepping in, you and a friend reached out to a senior citizen couple stranded in a flat, carried them on your shoulders, and helped them to a rescue raft, from where they were transported to a safe location. There was a warm glow in your heart when you succeeded in your mission, but in the grip of the prevailing crisis, not many noticed your feat, and you did not receive any publicity.
Which of the above occasions would you choose to write on for this essay?
We would suggest that you choose the latter. Winning a tennis tournament is, no doubt, an achievement, and if you can moreover show, for instance, how you overcame a frail childhood to fashion yourself into an athlete, it would showcase a will-power, a determination, and a fighting spirit that any organization will value. However, the second incident not only displays your courage, but also highlights a largeness of spirit and a feeling for others in you that certainly makes for a higher accomplishment in terms of human values.
What you are most proud of could be one of many things, but whatever you write, you would do well to consider the words of the Ross Admissions Director Soojin Kwan, who noted in a blog, “We want to understand what makes something important to you. It gives us a glimpse into how you think about and process things, and what your priorities and values are.”
Hence, you should write how what you are most proud of has shaped you into what you are today. 400 words are all you have, so you would do well to limit yourself to describing your one most important takeaway. For instance, if you have related the incident about rescuing the elderly couple, you can explain how the satisfaction you felt and the rise in self-esteem you experienced made you realize the truth of the maxim that “it is in giving that you receive,” and how this has subsequently impacted your attitude to your life and your career.
This goal essay is the heart and soul of your Ross EMBA application. Articulate your post EMBA goals in terms of functions, industry, location and geography. Also show ADCOM what inspires you to accomplish these goals. Why they resonate with you? The answer need to be convincing and real. Keep in mind that short term goal is a means to an end (long term goal). Hence, talk about post EMBA goals that will be rooted to reality and don’t sound like building castle in air!
Your long term goal should flow logically from your short-term goal. Think about the big picture of your career and state your overall ambition. Don’t just focus on the job title or position. Instead tell them what value you wish to add to an industry, or to the society, or maybe just to that company. Keep in mind that you don’t wish to simply achieve the title of “CEO”, but you want to make your marks in the company, industry or society through the position of CEO of ABC or Partner in XYZ consulting firm.
The final section of this question is “How Michigan Model of Leadership" + the EMBA Leadership Development curriculam will help you in this transformational journey. First, please study in detail about the Model of Leadership and Leadership Development Curriculam. The Competing Values Framework developed by Ross faculties has been widely accepted by top business leaders. Moreover, the one-on-one executive coaching in the Leadership Development program will give you a highly personalised training that will address your areas of improvements. Now, look at your profile, strengths and weakness and write in detail about your specific need and how the program will address them.
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Politicians have speech writers. Journalists use news editors. Famous writers and columnists have an army of professional editors. Don’t you think you also need to have one?