Cornell University SC Johnson Graduate School of Management MBA Essays + Analysis 2024 - 2025

Cornell University’s Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management has released its MBA application questions for 2024 - 2025. The questions have changed for this year’s application cycle. Let’s explore the new Cornell essays below.

Here are Cornell Johnson's MBA application essays for the 2024 - 2025 application cycle. 

Short Answer

Use this short answer question to succinctly share your short and long term goals. If invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to elaborate further and should be prepared to connect your prior experience with your future aspirations.

A statement of your goals will begin a conversation that will last throughout the admissions process and guide your steps during the MBA program and experience. To the best of your understanding today, please share your short and long term goals by completing the following sentences and answering the enclosed short answer question (350 words maximum):

Immediately post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

In 5 – 10 years post-MBA, my goal is to work as a(n) ____[Role]____ at ___[Company]___within___[Industry]___.

Targeted Job Role:

Target Job Company:

Industry:

Please share how you plan to utilize the resources available to you at Johnson as well as any existing resources you bring to the program to help you secure your post-MBA career goal. (350 words)

Applicants would be wise to simply fill in the blanks for the first section of the prompt.  Past examples for the short answers have included:

Short Term Goal: Immediately post-MBA my goal is to work as a(n) Consultant at Accenture within Media and Technology.

Long Term Goal: In 5-10 years post-MBA my goal is to work as a(n) Founder and President within Nonprofit.

Like the prompt says, start by simply filling in your short and long term goals in the blanks as directed. 

The 350 word limit is for the the next part of the prompt, where you will explain how you will achieve these goals by using the resources available to you at Johnson. Note that this questions differs significantly from last year’s prompt, where you had to write a classic career goals essay. This year, your answer should focus on “Why Johnson”, including the resources you already have that you plan to bring to the school.

Start by telling a brief story that demonstrates what you are passionate about. Connect it to your goals. Now, you’ll want to explain what you have already done so far to achieve these goals. Here, include the skills, strengths, and advantages that have prepared you for your goals. Be specific about these!

Next, explain the skills and resources you still need to acquire to achieve your goals. Connect them to specific advantages in Cornell’s curriculum, extracurricular activities, programs, and network that will help you get them. Research is key here; don’t just find information on the Johnson website, but reach out to alumni and current students at the school to find more targeted, industry-specific information. 

Note: Be careful not to repeat your contributions from Essay 1! Learn more about this below.

Essay 1

Option 1: Impact Essay Option: At Cornell, our students and alumni share a desire to positively impact the organizations and communities they serve. How do you intend to make a meaningful impact on the Johnson community?  (350 words maximum)

This is one of 2 options for Cornell Johnson’s Essay 1. We discuss Option 2 below.

This year, Cornell has made several important changes to this prompt. Instead of asking applicants to reflect on their background to explain the contributions they will make to an “elite MBA community”, the question is now super specific to Cornell and a lot more straightforward. This tells us that Cornell may have previously received applications where candidates have been more general and vague, and now want more direct, targeted information about their place in Cornell’s MBA program and community. 

Note the difference between the previous short answer question and this Essay 1 prompt. Previously, you were asked how Cornell can support your goals; here, you’re being asked how you will add value to Cornell.

Again, research is key. In addition to online research, Cornell strongly encourages applicants to reach out to current students, alumni, faculty members, and other staff at the school to start conversations on how you can fit into the community. You can do this through LinkedIn, virtual events, campus visits, or even by scheduling a 1-1 coffee chat. Consider the areas you already have previous experience in, and strategically build connections in these areas. 

In your essay, start by referencing these conversations to build credibility. Lead into your contributions by identifying the specific opportunities that you will contribute to and what experience you already have in this area. For example, you may have learned more about a student organization from an alum who was previously involved in it. Now, you are interested in taking up a leadership role at this organization, where you will build on your previous experience of leading a similar organization during your undergrad. Explain specifically what you hope to achieve in this role.

Ultimately, your goal is to convince the AdCom that the insider information you have gathered from your research and the Cornell community has further strengthened your resolve to attend its MBA program. Demonstrate that you are eager to find areas of need and opportunity on campus where you can fill in the gaps, and thus be an integral part of the Cornell community. Don’t be afraid to discuss life after the MBA! There are many ways you can contribute to the school’s program and community as an alum. 

Option 2: Unique Trait That Defines Me Option: What is something unique about you that others will remember you by? (350 words maximum)

This isn’t your ordinary business school essay question. So why has Cornell included it?

This essay prompt likely aims to help the school ensure that they attract a diverse set of applicants. This is your opportunity to tell the AdCom about what differentiates you from the rest of the applicant pool, and how you will enrich the Johnson community with this strength/trait.

If you’re unsure of which quality or strength you want to discuss, talk to your friends, family, recommenders, or your consultant. They may be able to bring out an aspect of your personality that you may not have thought too deeply about, but which has made a big impact on them.

Once you’ve honed in on a specific trait, set the stage for your essay. 

Start by providing context for your unique trait in the form of a story. Use the SCAR structure to tell this story. Then, establish your trait. Follow this with examples of how you have used this trait in your personal/professional life to impact others positively. Your impact is how others will remember you, so make sure that you quantify it wherever possible. Then, conclude with how you will use this trait in the future to create a larger impact. Connect this to a specific opportunity at Cornell to demonstrate that you will leave a mark on its student community, just as you have for those in the past. Add a little flair by connecting your future contributions to the story you started the essay with. 

Optional Essay 

You may use this essay to call attention to items needing clarification and to add additional details to any aspects of your application that do not accurately reflect your potential for success at Johnson (350 words maximum). 

If you are reapplying for admission, please use this essay to indicate how you have strengthened your application and candidacy since the last time you applied for admission. Please also review our Application Guide for additional information about reapplying (350 words maximum).

Most business schools provide applicants with some extra space to write about crucial aspects of their profile that haven’t been appropriately explored in the essays. This includes any discrepancies in your background, like low grades, gaps or overlaps in employment, a low GMAT/GRE score, or choice of recommenders. Use this essay to write about these. Address the issue head-on and explain how you have learned and grown from it. Don't ramble on just because you have an extra 350 words; keep it short and direct.

If you are a reapplicant, this essay is important. Without contradicting your previous application, explain how you have improved your profile since. This could be through refined career goals, new interactions with the school community, promotions and increased responsibilities at work, any new professional or academic certifications you have acquired, improved test scores, additional international exposure, new community projects or extracurriculars, or an entrepreneurial idea you have recently begun working on.

---

You might also want to check out our Cornell Johnson MBA Interview Guide for in-depth insights into Cornell Johnson's interview process, what they're looking for in prospective candidates, interview schedule and questions for 2024-25, and tips to ace your interview.

Get the full Cornell application course on MBAconsultant.com, including essay examples based on real applicants.

We help determined applicants get admitted to top business schools. Get in touch if you think we can help you with your MBA application. Book a free 20 mins chat now.