As discussed in my LBS and Insead essay analysis, Oxford is also getting more attention from international applicants due to the anti immigration policies of the Trump administration in the USA. Thousands of applicants from India, China, the Middle East and Eastern Europe are eyeing Oxford instead of US schools for their MBA education. Because of this, the competition among the international applicants has significantly increased, requiring applicants to do better than their best in the application essay.
Oxford asks a series of questions related to your goals instead of setting you one single goal essay. These short questions are different for different career paths. In this analysis, I will discuss the questions they ask if you choose “employment” or “entrepreneurship” as your short term career goal.
It’s not difficult to state your career goals. But your chief responsibility in this question is to differentiate yourself from other applicants in your pool (such as Indian IT pool, Chinese manufacturing pool, UK finance pool, etc.). Hence, you need to thoroughly evaluate your profile, career path and future goals in order to effectively answer this question. If you are a star applicant (740+ GMAT, consulting experience, branded academic institution), securing a seat at Oxford should pose no problems. However, if you don’t have such a stellar record, you will face substantial competition from hundreds of other applicants.
In such a competitive scenario, extensive research on your future career path will be your biggest strength. Oxford specifically asks about your research in question # 2. If you wish to switch from technology to consulting, or software development to private equity, or automobile to energy consulting etc., you need to undertake elaborate research on the feasibility of your plan before you write this essay. Your research will help you identify all the skills you need to get your post MBA dream job. You can look at the list and identify how many skills you already posses and how many you need to pick up at Oxford.
Moreover, Oxford has increased your accountability by hinting that you should try to acquire additional skills even before you enroll for the MBA program. Which skills do you plan to acquire? Why and how? Finally, what is your alternative career plan?
Overall, it’s a complete essay package that Oxford is asking for, although it is presented in a different manner. Your prime objective should be to stand out from the crowd. If you handle these questions well, it will make you a prime contender for admission. But if your execution fails, you will pay dearly. So, be cautious, work hard, and write and rewrite your answers till perfection is achieved. Let us know in case you need assistance.
If you have the entrepreneurial gene, Oxford will welcome you with open arms, but first you need to prove your talent. What is your business plan? Do you have a business model or a prototype? Have you done any pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of your plan? Has any venture capitalist or investors funded you to date? (This question is paramount, as Oxford wants to know if your ideas have been pre-tested by anyone else). Or have you already sold one of your start-ups and are on your way to build the second one? If yes, let Oxford know about these accomplishments. Nothing better shows how savvy you are in business than the fact that you have made some profit by selling a nascent business to a bigger player in the market.
Now, if you are a successful businessman, you need to convince Oxford that you really need an MBA. On the other hand, if your first start-up went belly up, you have to show Oxford that you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Both these questions are actually quite tough and will test your maturity as a leader.
Differentiating yourself from others in terms of business plans, models, ideas, execution capability, speed, or any other factor is your main target in this essay. B-schools love entrepreneurs. They just want to understand that you are the real deal. If you need any assistance to create your argument, please feel free to contact me.
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