How to Omit Unnecessary Words in Your MBA Application Essays

The book Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, has long been known as an excellent source of information about elements of the English language and an overall guide to writing style. Some of the most practical  tips that are discussed  in this book will also be useful in writing  your MBA application essays: Respect Space and Attention Not only are the spaces you are given to write your business school essays constrained by the given word count, but the attention span of the Admissions Committee (who will be reviewing your applications) is also rather short. Using unnecessary words dilutes the impact of the most powerful parts of your essays, the same way adding water to a perfectly blended coffee would dilute the drink. Being respectful of word limits and the valuable time of the reader should help provide you with some discipline, allowing you to cut down on unrelated tangents and lengthy deliveries as you  edit your writing. Write for a Broad Audience Taking into account that your reader may  be someone who does not hold an MBA himself   and even more likely, holds a background outside your specific field avoid using industry jargon  and  company-specific references while writing. These details are needless words that will only bore, and potentially  even alienate, your readers. Instead, write with a broader audience in mind, focusing your essays on your  impact on people, your company as a whole  and events, rather than on  finite, technical details of your work and accomplishments. Focusing on  only the style of your writing, especially by  showing off an overly-immense vocabulary, can also distract from your message, just like the 2013 movie, The Counselor.  (Chances are you haven’t even seen this movie, and that just makes my point!) With a top-caliber cast and crew, this film disappointed critics and the box-office alike   with names like Brad Pitt, Cormac McCarthy, Ridley Scott, Michael Fassbender, Penelope Cruz, and Cameron Diaz associated with the film, it was a wonder that  a movie could fail so badly. However, word-of-mouth from most moviegoers and critics was often unnecessarily long-winded and boring. Thus, the film’s vast talents and materials at its disposal were wasted. Just as a successful box-office hit will keep a wider audience engaged while still delivering its message powerfully and subtly, your essays should present your personal story well  to all readers,  and make the Admissions Committee  root for your triumph. Applying to business school? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! And as always, be sure to find us on Facebook, YouTube, Google+  and Twitter. Written by Edison Cu, a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for  INSEAD. You can read  more articles by him here.