Prompt 1: MIT Sloan seeks students whose personal characteristics demonstrate that they will make the most of the incredible opportunities at MIT, both academic and non-academic. We are on a quest to find those whose presence will enhance the experience of other students. We seek thoughtful leaders with exceptional intellectual abilities and the drive and determination to put their stamp on the world. We welcome people who are independent, authentic, and fearlessly creative — true doers. We want people who can redefine solutions to conventional problems, and strive to preempt unconventional dilemmas with cutting-edge ideas. We demand integrity and respect passion. Taking the above into consideration, please submit a cover letter seeking a place in the MIT Sloan MBA Program. Your letter should conform to a standard business correspondence, include one or more examples that illustrate why you meet the desired criteria above, and be addressed to the Assistant Deans of Admissions, Rod Garcia and Dawna Levenson (300 words or fewer, excluding address and salutation).
Video Statement: Applicants are required to upload a 1 minute (60 second) video as part of their application. In your video, you should introduce yourself to your future classmates, tell us about your past experiences, and touch on why MIT Sloan is the best place for you to pursue your degree.
Videos should adhere to the following guidelines:
No more than 1 minute (60 second) in length
Single take (no editing)
You should be speaking directly to the camera
Do not include background music or subtitles
2020/21 essay question analysis
The Cover Letter
Similar in content to last year, you’ll want to focus on the qualities and experiences that have made you who you are and how that will drive your future. Highlighting 1-2 unique achievements that set you apart from other applicants is effective. Just ensure you can communicate adequate depth within the tight word limit. If you find yourself struggling, dig deeper into a single impact where your decisions generated a positive outcome. Also ensure that what you share is also memorable. A terrific test is to ask your application partners (consultants, friends, family) for 1-3 takeaways from your letter a few minutes after they’re finished reading it. If they remember the core points you’re trying to make, you’re on the right track.
Importantly, avoid discussing your future plans at Sloan and after graduation. You won’t have room, and it risks crowding out the more important discussion of why your background and experiences make you a great fit for Sloan.
Video Statement
One of the biggest challenges our clients faced last year was packing in the content they wanted into 60-seconds without making the submission feel rushed and inauthentic. Instead of mentioning anything discussed elsewhere in your application, the key here is to convey enthusiasm for Sloan and one interesting fact that will make you memorable with the Admissions Committee. Also, be creative! Video is a great way for your confidence to come through. A note for applicants whose first language isn’t English; practice the articulation of your words and timing. It may require more work for you up-front, but the Admissions Committee will have a strong sense of who put in extra work to optimize their video submission.
2020/21 deadlines
Deadline time: 3:00pm ET
Round 1: Application deadline: October 1, 2020; Decision date: December 16, 2020
Round 2: Application deadline: January 19, 2021; Decision date: April 2, 2021
Round 3: Application deadline: April 12, 2021; Decision date: May 20, 2021
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