The trend in MBA admissions recently has been to require fewer – and often shorter – essays from b-school applicants. And while it’s nice not to have to write a short novel for every school you apply to, it also means that the pressure on that single Essay is ever greater.

There is a lot of advice out there about how to write an effective application essay, but if you’re short on time, there are two pieces of advice that you absolutely must follow if you want to write an essay that will get you admitted:

Key #1 – Get Specific

Recently, I worked with a client who had written an Mba Application Essay that was designed to show his growth and ability to overcome obstacles. He started off by talking about a promotion he’d received, then flashed back to the start of his career. He briefly mentioned a setback he had faced, then went on to say, “I knew I needed to make a change. It was hard, but I was much better off after I started doing things differently at work.”

The remaining paragraphs of the essay essentially covered the same message for his subsequent positions: “There were challenges. I worked hard, overcame them, learned new things, and made great connections.” In his effort to comprehensively discuss his career and still stay under the word limit, he had managed to write an entire essay without saying anything of substance.

This is something I see all the time in Mba Application essays. Candidates know they have a story they want to tell, but they’re afraid that if they focus too much on specific examples, the broader message won’t come through.

In fact, the exact opposite is true. The more specific you are, the more effective your essay will be. Think about it this way: there are only so many stories in the world. A story about dealing with challenges in the workplace could be The Devil Wears Prada… or it could be The Wolf of Wall Street. The details matter.

In my client’s case, I advised him to choose 2-3 very specific challenges he faced in his early career, and to really drill down into how he took initiative to solve them. The end result was a far more interesting and effective essay that not only showed his growth, but also highlighted his potential as a leader to recognize obstacles and formulate a plan to overcome them.

Key # 2 – Get Feedback

Your MBA application essay is one of the most important pieces of writing you will do. And with so much riding on it, it can be very, very difficult to get a clear sense of perspective about your own work.

Often, when people think about having someone look at their essay, they’re thinking of basic editing: having someone check for spelling and grammar mistakes, and making sure the essay as a whole is readable and comprehensible. But an application essay isn’t a writing exercise (or at least, it’s not JUST a writing exercise). The admissions committee isn’t nearly as concerned with whether you can write well as they are with what you have to say.

So when you’re ready to move to the revision phase with your essay, you’re not just looking for someone to check it over and say, “Yup, this looks good.” You need someone who can give you a real critique of your message.

A thorough critique of an MBA essay should address several questions. First, does your essay actually convey the message you were intending to send? Do your examples (which are hopefully very specific and detailed!) support your message? Does your essay effectively address the prompt? Is the essay consistent with your personal brand? What message does it send about you as a leader and as a scholar?

While it’s perfectly possible to edit your own work (although even there, outside help can be beneficial), you simply can’t do this kind of analysis of your own essay. You’re too close to the material, and know your own message too well.

The best sources for outside feedback on an MBA application essay are people who aren’t afraid to challenge you or hurt your feelings. A spouse or good friend is often too close to be able to give you real, meaningful feedback. Admissions consultants are ideal when it comes to feedback, because they have perspective both in terms of knowing what admissions committees are looking for, and having seen hundreds of examples of application essays, both good and bad.