What Reviewers Look For in the MBA — Reapplicant Essay

This rubric looks at whether your response clearly explains meaningful development and provides concrete evidence of what has changed since you previously applied. When the prompt asks about goals or the school, it also looks for a clear connection between your updates and that requested topic. It checks that you answer the actual prompt in direct, professional language.

What We Check

Mistakes We Flag

Guessing why you were not admitted before

Do not present an admissions decision rationale as fact. Focus instead on your own understanding of what you have developed or on concrete changes you have made.

Calling yourself stronger without explaining how

A statement such as “I became a stronger leader” needs substance. Explain your earlier approach or capability and what is now different in your judgment, actions, or contribution.

Listing updates without detail

Promotions, classes, and volunteer work need context. Show what you did, what responsibility you took on, what resulted, or what the experience demonstrated.

Treating future plans as completed progress

Planned steps are not the same as evidence of change. Separate what you intend to do from actions, responsibilities, or results that have already occurred.

Using a school name or goal as the whole connection

If the prompt asks about school fit or goals, explain the connection. Show how an update informed, tested, sharpened, or prepared you for that goal or school understanding.

How this rubric reads your essay

• Built from published reader guidance — the sources are listed below.
• Scored per section against defined criteria, not general impressions.
• Calibrated for consistent scoring, so a better draft shows up in the score.

References

Frequently Asked Questions