While we cannot perfectly predict the future, our 17 years of experience as MBA admissions essay consultants and careful analysis of past trends can help us assess what MBA candidates should expect with this year’s MBA essay questions.
Many MBA hopefuls who have already narrowed their target school lists are anxiously awaiting the release of the 2025-2026 MBA application essay questions and deadlines.
A few years ago, top MBA programs released their essay questions as early as May. While HBS officially kicked off the 2025-2026 MBA application season by announcing its deadlines for the next MBA application cycle, we have yet to see any MBA program officially confirm their upcoming essays.
Last year, many top programs waited until June to confirm their essay questions. However, Personal MBA Coach does not recommend that clients wait that long to get started with their essays!
In fact, based on recent discussions with admissions directors (which will continue next week as we attend the 2025 AIGAC conference and meet with admissions directors from nearly all top schools at Berkeley Haas, Stanford GSB and UCLA Anderson) our clients have already begun to answer the MBA essay questions least likely to change!
To help you get started with your MBA essays, below are Personal MBA Coach’s predictions for what to expect in the upcoming MBA application essay cycle!
2025-2026 MBA Essay Prediction 1: “Goals” and “Why MBA” essays will become increasingly popular
Many top MBA programs include a “goals” or “why MBA” essay in their applications. Last year, the list of programs asking clients to elaborate on their goals included:
- Wharton (check out this video for last year’s tips)
- HBS
- Stanford GSB (more on Stanford goals’ essay in this video)
- Chicago Booth (learn more about Booth’s why MBA essay here)
- Kellogg
- Yale SOM
While the wording may change slightly this year, we would be surprised to see many of these programs remove their goals or why MBA essay questions. This means, you are safe to get started now thinking about your post-MBA goals and how an MBA fits in. Check out this blog for more advice on how to develop and articulate your post-MBA goals.
2025-2026 MBA Essay Prediction 2: Schools will remove DEI-specific essays, but this does not mean sharing your story will not be key
Despite the political environment and pressure to remove DEI funding and related programs, developing diverse classrooms will continue to be important for Admissions Directors. This means MBA applicants will be continually challenged to communicate their unique value-add to admissions directors.
However, as we started to see last year following the Supreme Court ruling, top MBA programs are likely to continue to decrease their focus on pure DEI essays.
Instead, applicants will be challenged to share past successes and potential contributions (see prediction 3) with admissions directors to show how they will add to the diversity of thought within the classroom.
2025-2026 MBA Essay Prediction 3: Contribution essays will remain popular
While MBA programs cannot evaluate candidates purely based on their demographic background, they CAN assess how they expect applicants to add value on campus.
Last year, a number of top MBA programs asked applicants to spell out their intended on-campus contributions. While not explicitly asked, Personal MBA Coach advised applicants to include details on their past contributions as evidence of their ability to contribute.
Personal MBA Coach would expect many of these contribution essays to continue. Check out our tips for how to address last year’s Wharton and Kellogg essays to learn more about how to approach a contribution essay.
2025-2026 MBA Essay Prediction 4: Wild Card essays will continue, though may change from year to year
A number of top MBA programs include what Personal MBA Coach refers to as wild card essays.
Given that schools are limited on what they can ask applicants, we expect to see some MBA programs leverage more unique wild card essays to try to separate students from overrepresented background.
A few examples of schools that relied on wild card essays last year included:
Berkeley Haas has asked applicants for the past few years: What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why?
NYU Stern has asked applications to answer the following questions for the past two years: In today’s global business environment, the only constant is change. Using NYU Stern’s brand call to action, we want to know how you view change. Change: _____it. Fill in the blank with a word of your choice. Why does this word resonate with you? How will you embrace your own personal tagline while at Stern?
These essays can change from year to year and therefore at Personal MBA Coach we are NOT having our clients get started on essays for these programs.
Our final thoughts on the 2025-2026 MBA Application Essays
Keep in mind, the details shared above are predictions only! As soon as this year’s MBA application essay questions are released, Personal MBA Coach will let you know what has changed and will share advice on how to tackle each MBA essay question. Join our weekly MBA Tips newsletter to be sure you do not miss anything!
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