Common Problems Faced by Foreign Students in Their MBA Essays

Many countries value people who have American MBA degrees and as such, many hopefuls fly to the land of milk and honey to earn what they see as their ticket to success.  However, MBA schools in the US are very much discerning when it comes to picking out applicants, even if they are Americans.  Though not racist in nature, many of the most prestigious MBA schools pass a critical eye over applications and essays sent in by foreign students.  Scores and grades are tabulated, converted, and reformatted to the US counterpart for easy understanding of panel members.  Though the language barrier is fast disintegrating especially in countries where English is a secondary or tertiary language, many essays from foreign students still fall short of getting them accepted because of miscommunication and incoherence of messages.  However, in this wired world, improving language skills is just a click away.  In order to come up with the best MBA application essays, here are just a few suggestions for topics that will make your application stand out.

Stating reasons for applying to US schools

As mentioned earlier, an MBA degree from a premier school in the United States can definitely help one gain an advantage in the corporate world in many different countries.  However, it's not just the brand name that has human resources snapping up applicants with American MBA schools listed on their resumes.  It's also the fact that the education in these schools have better equipped these individuals with the proper initiative and business acumen that many employers look for.

Aside from mentioning this quite glaring fact for one's preference in studying in an American MBA school, one can also mention the goals one intends to reach in the near future.  One can state how going to so and so business school in the US can greatly help in achieving one's goals and dreams.

Explaining how a US MBA degree can help you, your home country, and your family

It all boils down to how an education from a US business school can hedge one's chances of permanently staying in the country.  Foreign students mainly go to the US for the proverbial greener pastures in the hopes of living a more comfortable and intellectually satisfying life as they can gain employment and resident status within a year of graduation.  However, there are more and more foreign applicants who return to their homeland to contribute to their own economy what they have learned in US business schools.  Enumerating these plans and how an MBA from a certain US business school can definitely help one make a lasting impression on the panel members.

Seeking for assistance (including financial aid and counseling services)

Financing one’s studies is hard especially for foreign students who may have tough financial situations.  Check out the scholarships and grants allotted by the school one is applying for.  Some organizations and corporations also offer scholarships to foreign students who not only need financial help but also aid for counseling, housing, and even language assimilation.  Foreign students writing their scholarship essays can bank on their goals that coincide with an organization’s or corporation’s mission or ideals.