Earlier I posted my first MBA essay that answered questions related in general to the MBA program. Now I am posting my second optional essay. Here are the questions that may be typically asked from different schools:
OPTIONAL ESSAY: What other information about you is important in considering your application? (If a GPA is below a 3.0, the David Eccles School of Business must appeal to the University of Utah on behalf of the applicant. These applicants are strongly encouraged to address their GPAs in this essay)
Your application presents ample information about you to the admissions committee. What would you like the committee to know about you that is not reflected elsewhere in your application materials?
Ok, here is my Personal (Optional) MBA Essay:
Personal Essay
I consider myself extremely fortunate to be here in the United States, building my career, earning my education and start applying for this MBA program. I know how unlikely this opportunity is for an orphan, having grown up in a small town orphanage in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. Various life events led me to where I am now, having opened my understanding of the steps to make me more valuable to companies and the technical business world.
Growing up in an orphanage, I could have followed in the footsteps of so many who left the orphanage at 16 and ended up in one of many minor colonies with no skills. Lack of a strong education, employment and housing, were my realities when I started to live on my own at 18. Despite my mother, as with many other mothers in Ukraine, abandoning me in the hospital and leaving me for an orphanage, I have never seen myself as a victim and was able to rise above the desperate circumstances to graduate from high school, then later graduate as Valedictorian from culinary school. My desire for higher education led me to obtain a BS degree in Electronics (supported by a scholarship), and later, a BS degree in Computer Science in the US.
Apart from my academics I have also been actively involved in extracurricular activities that I believed were essential for my personal development. During my studies at the vocational school I was awarded certificates of honors for excellence and active participation in the social life of the school. In addition I won first place in the inter-vocational school’s Physics and Mathematics Olympiads (two years in a row).
At Chernivtsi National University, I was a member of the Student Council where I promoted the interests of students among the college administration, staff, and parents, and proposed activities to the college administration to improve the quality of student life at the college.
At UVU I was an International Student Council member, where I brought students of different nationalities closer by organizing cultural activities, food festivals, annual international night programs, fund raising events, and inviting speakers to deliver cultural speeches. In addition, I was awarded first place in the public speaking and in the International Student’s Undergraduate Essay contests.
I also volunteered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where I provided written, verbal and simultaneous translations for Russian and Ukrainian speakers. Today I volunteer at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation assisting in creating its website, and the marketing, and promoting the International Piano Concert Series and International Artists Piano Competitions.
Along with these extracurricular activities, I obtained vital certifications in business writing, marketing, communication, sales and management from the American Management Association, ZigZag Marketing, and other recognized certifying organizations. These certifications helped me with the accomplishments mentioned in my resume.
I believe this diverse experience and my career aspirations make me well-suited for the University of Utah MBA program.
