For this essay, we would like you to:

• Do some deep self-examination, so you can genuinely illustrate who you are and how you came to be the person you are.
• Share the insights, experiences, and lessons that shaped your perspectives, rather than focusing merely on what you’ve done or accomplished.
• Write from the heart, and illustrate how a person, situation, or event has influenced you.
• Focus on the “why” rather than the “what.”

It must be a record of some sort that Stanford GSB has asked applicants to answer the same question for over a decade. “What matters most to you, and why?” has become one of those iconic questions that business school aspirants are aware of, irrespective of whether they are applying to Stanford. And why not? It is one of those deeply introspective questions that forces you to look deep inside and truly consider what matters to you.

Answering this question definitely requires deep introspection and a keen look into your life so far. Instead of picking out a theme that seems like the “right” answer like “helping others”, “making the world a better place” etc., a better approach would be to think of the experiences in life that have defined you as a person. Brainstorm for a few days, talk to your friends and family and come up with a list. Think about turning points in life and incidents that left a mark.

Then work backwards and look for a unifying theme to figure out what has actually mattered the most in your life. Think of the values that have driven you and the decisions that have impacted your life. Touch upon both professional and personal aspects of your life and try establishing a connect with the unifying theme so chosen.

As the prompt asks, focus more on the “why” rather than the “what”. Give specific examples and go deeper into your thought process at the time.

This is an opportunity for you to come alive in front of the admissions committee who knows you so far only by your accomplishments. Think about what stories would stand out for an adcom member who is reading dozens of applications every day. Above all, you are applying to “Stanford” – whatever theme you choose, you must create a wow factor leveraging the variety of things you have been involved in and the impact you have brought around you.

Enlighten us on how earning your MBA at Stanford will enable you to realize your ambitions.

• Explain your decision to pursue graduate education in management.
• Explain the distinctive opportunities you will pursue at Stanford.
• If you are applying to both the MBA and MSx programs, use Essay B to address your interest in both programs. 

In the past few years, Stanford has also added a somewhat more traditional question “Why Stanford” to its essay requirements. The two questions, together, form a pretty good picture of what the admission committee is looking to know – who you are, what drives you and how Stanford will be the right fit for your aspirations.

After a very open-ended question which allows you to explore your candidature in any way that you deem fit, Stanford asks a much more pointed question for its second required prompt. Even though it sounds like just another statement about your interest in a particular business school, Stanford would like you to go deeper.

The admission committee has seen your professional accomplishments (resume), what others think of you (recommendations) and what matters to you (first essay). Now they want to figure out where Stanford fits into your life plans.

The pointers for this prompt are relatively detailed. So, talk about how your career path so far has led you to consider an MBA at this point. Why is MBA the right degree for you and why specifically Stanford. Do your research on Stanford and figure out what resources (that are not available elsewhere – pay attention to the word “distinctive” in the prompt) and unique aspects of the program and the school appeal to you. Have you interacted with any current students or alumni? What courses or professors excite you? Which clubs and activities will you be a part of? Think of all these questions and more to form a truly customized answer. It will be important to not just mention the opportunities at Stanford that you would like to participate in, but also present in greater detail how they will add specific value to your personal and/or professional growth. 

Stanford has a smaller cohort in comparison to other business schools of similar repute and therefore, it wants to be sure that it is the right choice for you and that you are the right choice for them.