Cambridge Judge MBA 2023/2024 - Detailed Essay analysis
Why a Cambridge MBA?
The Cambridge MBA is a one-year program conducted by the Cambridge Judge Business School, which is a part of the prestigious University of Cambridge. The program is renowned for its rigorous academic approach, integrating deep functional knowledge with practical business experience. Entrepreneurship is a significant aspect of the MBA program at Cambridge Judge and students have the chance to explore and test their entrepreneurial ideas during the programme. A distinctive part of the Cambridge MBA is its Global Consulting Project where students work in a team on a live consultancy assignment in a location around the world.
Typical Student Profile
"At Cambridge, we're looking for intellectually curious individuals who are ready to commit to a rigorous and immersive learning experience. We're not simply looking for great students, but great contributors to our community." - Director of Admissions, Cambridge MBA.
As a high-level overview, a typical Cambridge MBA applicant can be characterized by the following aspects:
Professional Background: Many applicants come from a diverse range of fields such as consulting, finance, technology, healthcare, and industry. It's important to note that no one background is favored over the other - it's all about what you've achieved and how you've made an impact in your respective field.
Academic Background: While many applicants do come from a STEM background, there's a significant percentage that come from humanities, arts, and social science disciplines as well. Again, the school values diversity in thought and perspective, so the specific field of your undergraduate degree isn't a determining factor.
Global Experience: Applicants often have experience working in, or with, different countries. This underlines the global nature of the Cambridge MBA program.
Leadership Experience: This can come in many forms, from leading teams or projects at work to volunteering in leadership roles in community or non-profit organizations.
Personal Characteristics: Highly motivated, collaborative, and driven individuals tend to be the most successful applicants. Cambridge looks for individuals who can not only excel academically but also contribute positively to the community and culture of the MBA program.
Essay Questions for 2023/2024
Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)
Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)
Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)
Additional question for re-applicants. Describe any relevant developments since you last applied to the Cambridge MBA? (up to 200 words)
Real life example
Question: Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)
Applicant first draft:
In July 2017, I made a professional mistake by taking on two demanding roles at the same time. I was working as a director at a startup company while also working part-time as a consultant at "Consulting Firm."
Because I was trying to handle both roles, I didn't realize the problems that were coming my way. It led to communication problems, a loss of trust from my teams, and a decline in the quality of my work. I received direct feedback pointing out these issues.
My mistake happened because I didn't manage my time well and I tried to do too much. To avoid this situation, I should have realistically looked at how much I could handle and talked to my colleagues about getting help with the workload.
Looking back, I learned important lessons from this mistake. It taught me the importance of setting clear priorities and communicating openly. By having honest conversations and rethinking my priorities, I was able to rebuild trust with both teams and improve the quality of my work.
This experience had a big impact on how I see my career. It made me realize that clear and timely communication is key to avoiding mistakes and handling complex situations. I'll carry this lesson with me as I continue to grow in my career.
Initial feedback from admissions consultant:
The first draft is always the most unrefined, however the applicant did well in getting their thoughts onto the page. The answer at the moment lacks depth and critical analysis. Here are a few areas that the applicant falls short of providing a strong response.
Lack of detail: The original answer provides specific details about the situation, such as the roles held and the challenges faced, which adds depth to the narrative. In the lower quality answer, these details are missing, resulting in a vague and generic account.
Simplistic language: The lower quality answer uses simpler language and lacks sophistication. It fails to convey the complexity of the decision-making process and the impact it had on the individual. This leads to a superficial and unengaging narrative.
Limited reflection: The original answer reflects on the lessons learned and personal growth resulting from the difficult decision. In contrast, the lower quality answer only briefly mentions the importance of communication and time management without exploring these concepts in depth. The lack of thoughtful reflection diminishes the impact of the experience and the subsequent personal development.
We then worked with the applicant to go through a few more iterations which ultimately led to this final essay:
Applicant final essay:
Confucius once said “A dog that chases two rabbits, catches neither”. In July of 2017, I was splitting my time between two demanding roles - as a director at a startup company and a part-time consultant at "Consulting Firm."
Caught in the whirlwind of these dual commitments, I failed to recognize the impending collision course. My attempt to wear two hats led to communication breakdowns, trust erosion within my teams, and ultimately, an overall decline in work quality for which I received direct feedback for.
This misstep was a manifestation of poor time management and overly ambitious task-juggling. Had I assessed the magnitude of both responsibilities realistically, I could have avoided the situation. The situation could have unfolded differently if I had communicated my capacity constraints earlier or sought assistance from my colleagues to manage the workload.
In retrospect, the fallout from my mistake offered invaluable lessons. I learned the importance of setting clear priorities and the necessity of transparent communication. Through open dialogue and re-prioritization, I was able to regain the trust of both teams and elevate the quality of my work.
This experience has significantly shaped my professional outlook and ultimately led me to selling my business to focus full time on my consulting career. I've learned that transparent and timely communication is a powerful tool for preventing missteps and handling complex situations and will be a lesson I will be carrying with me as I progress through my career.
Final Tips from an admissions consultant:
This is the first essay question from Cambridge. Firstly, it's crucial to understand that this prompt is inviting you to showcase your capacity for reflection, growth, and resilience. It's not so much about the mistake itself, but rather how you navigated its aftermath.
Now, let's outline how to approach this essay:
Select a real professional mistake: Choose an example from your work experience where you made a significant mistake. Make sure it's an incident where you had substantial responsibility and where the error was genuinely yours. This could be an error in judgement, a missed opportunity, a strategic miscalculation, etc. Do not choose a minor mistake or one that can be easily dismissed.
Detail the circumstances of the mistake: Describe the scenario leading up to the error. What decisions did you make, and what information or assumptions led to the mistake? Don't shy away from explaining your thought process at that time. This gives depth to your story and sets the stage for your learning journey.
Explain the impact: How did the mistake affect you, your team, your project, or your organization? Be clear and specific about the negative consequences.
Reflect on your learning: Here is where the true value of your essay lies. Identify the lesson or lessons you learned from this experience. How did it change your perspective, your decision-making, or your professional behavior?
Demonstrate application of this learning: If possible, give examples of how you've applied these lessons in subsequent professional experiences. This demonstrates that you're not only capable of learning from your mistakes but also of putting those learnings into practice.
Examine alternative outcomes: Address the second part of the prompt by exploring how things could have ended differently. If you had made different decisions or taken different actions, what might have happened?
Remember, the most compelling essays are those that tell a real story about growth and resilience. Good luck with your writing!
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