Yale EMBA candidates can now begin working on their essays for the 2025-2026 application cycle. This year, the Yale EMBA application includes two required essays and one optional essay.
To better assess whether the Yale EMBA program could be a good match for you, visit the school’s latest class profile for the class of 2026.
Below, Personal MBA Coach has noted the 2025-2026 Yale EMBA application deadlines along with our tips for writing this year’s Yale EMBA essays.
The 2025-2026 Yale EMBA Application Deadlines Are:
Round 1: October 27, 2025
Round 2: February 2, 2026
Round 3: March 27, 2026
2025-2026 Yale EMBA Essays
Yale EMBA Essay 1: Imagine that you have just completed your EMBA program. Write a letter to yourself reflecting on your experience and the legacy you hope to leave behind. (300 words maximum)
This year, Yale SOM has updated both of its EMBA application essays.
This first essay prompt still functions as a “goal/why MBA” essay in that you want to link where you are today with where you want to go in your future. However, it now comes with a unique twist: applicants are asked to reflect on their SOM EMBA experience as if it were already completed, writing in the past tense.
Yale is asking you to imagine yourself at the end of your EMBA journey and look back on the experience. To do this well, you should establish where you were in your career when you arrived at Yale. Next, you want to show Yale how the EMBA program helped you grow as a person and as a leader. To do this, Personal MBA Coach recommends that you are specific in detailing not only classes you “took” or clubs you “joined” but also how each prepared you to achieve your ultimate goals.
Finally, and most importantly, you want to tell Yale what the future holds for you. Applicants should approach this section as they would any goals essay. For more on how to think about your post-MBA goals, check out this blog.
This is a tall order in only 300 words so, as always, make every word count and avoid any fluff!
Yale EMBA Essay 2: Tell us a story about a defining moment in your life and how that has shaped who you are today. (300 words maximum)
The second Yale Executive MBA essay is also new this year for Yale. This is a more classic personal story essay and give applicants a great deal of flexibility in terms of what to cover.
While there is no wrong answer here, Personal MBA Coach encourages applicants to pick a story that has an applicable “so-what?” and ideally one that is ownable for you. Perhaps an experience growing up or in your early professional career changed your path or your goals? Perhaps your leadership style was changed based on an experience you had?
As with any story essay (and particularly one this short), you want to limit the set-up and get to the point as quickly as possible. Be sure that you leave plenty of space to talk about how this experience changed you. Keep in mind that (as discussed at a recent AIGAC conference) admissions committee members today are not looking to see who overcame the most adversity but instead want to see what actually matters to you. Thus, this defining moment does not need to be a major tragedy or challenge that you faced.
Optional Information: If any aspect of your candidacy needs further explanation (unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, academic performance, promotions or recognitions, etc.), please provide a brief description here. (200 words maximum)
Yale EMBA candidates should choose to respond to the optional essay question only if they have specific extenuating circumstances. Find out more about how and when to answer optional essay prompts here.
For those seeking guidance throughout the EMBA application process, Personal MBA Coach is here to help maximize your chances of admission via our Executive MBA admissions consulting packages.
