A client of ours had brainstormed her Essay with her consultant and come up with a strong outline based on her brand and overall profile.

However, when she went away to write the first draft of the essay she gave in to the pressure that many applicants endure—copying the format of an existing essay that someone else had written.

The draft she came up with was extremely boring and not memorable!

The popular B-School book, 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays, has been dissected by many business school hopefuls with the goal of identifying the secret code that these 65 successful candidates figured out.

Applicants should be careful about how they use such books. The reality is that while some of the essays in that book are good, others are not. In fact, it isn’t unusual for applicants to get into business school despite imperfect essays.

It is a major mistake to give in to the temptation to model your essay after an existing essay, as if there is an unspoken formula that these successful candidates have uncovered.

One of the easiest ways for MBA candidates to derail their admissions is to become a copy cat!

Admissions committee members are familiar with the same books and have read many of those same essays. Copying existing essays robs you of the opportunity to share your unique story and your personal voice.

Also, you should keep in mind that other applicants have the same idea as you and copying those essays found in a book will ensure that many of the essays being written by applicants will sound similar.

Since the admissions game is one that is all about differentiation, copying existing essays will make it easy for the adcom to  reject your application for more authentic and interesting essays.

So here’s my advice if you want to look at existing essays as a starting point:

• Read them to get a broad picture of the different approaches one can take in writing one’s essay but do not rely on them as a template to be followed.
• Existing essays can serve as a brainstorming tool to get you thinking of alternative topics. Look for a twist or contrarian point of view.
• Consider what’s missing—what topics, if any, are missing from the examples covered that speak to your life story. There may be an opportunity for you to share something not commonly covered in B-School essays that will enable you to stand out in your essay.

I still advocate grounding your essay writing process in your personal brand. Take the time to identify the brand themes that resonate for you throughout your life. Brainstorm the best examples of stories that you have from your life that reinforce those themes. Then prioritize which examples stand out and best reflect who you are. Taking the time to confirm these points will help you write effective, compelling and memorable essays so you can win the hearts and minds of the admissions committee.

Need help with your B-School essay? Contact EXPARTUS to find out how we can help you differentiate yourself from your competition.