Is attending a modern, innovative, one-year MBA program within a globally renowned historic university of interest to you? Only two business schools uniquely blend cutting-edge innovation with a rich historic backdrop going back more than 800 years, and they are Oxford Saïd Business School and Cambridge Judge Business School.
Whether you are still deciding where to apply to or already have offers in hand, thinking through the similarities and differences between the two programs is helpful.
With MBA application deadlines fast approaching for many candidates, we thought we would share a piece of advice that might help alleviate some of the deadline-related stress you might be experiencing. After you have completed your application(s), find someone you trust—perhaps a professional admissions consultant or an individual with insight into the MBA application process—to read your essays one last time before you submit anything and give you feedback. However, we strongly suggest that you limit the number of people you approach for this kind of help and request feedback from no more than two individuals.
Because the application process is subjective, you will discover that the more readers you consult, the more new and different opinions you will get. Soon, you will be facing a multitude of alternatives, and although none of these varying ideas will necessarily be “right” or “wrong”—considering that a single candidate’s stories can be marketed in almost countless ways—having such a wide variety of input could create unnecessary uncertainty on your part. You do not want to start second-guessing everything about your essays when the schools’ deadlines are imminent.
We are not suggesting that you ignore critical feedback, of course, but rather that you not complicate your final days and stir up doubt or confusion where it might not be due. If your chosen one or two readers support your ideas and feel that your application needs minimal additional work, that is probably a good sign that you can end your feedback loop there and move forward with submitting your application.
Applicants to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School must first provide their rationale for pursuing an MBA and have 250 words with which to do so. The school’s second required essay has two separate prompts, each of which also has a 250-word limit. In response to the second essay’s first prompt, candidates must discuss which of the school’s core values align most closely with their career, and with the second prompt, the admissions committee is looking to understand how the applicant’s background will allow them to contribute to the school’s classroom and community. Candidates who have more to share about themselves or issues to explain can use the school’s optional essay to (briefly) offer this key information. Read on for our in-depth analysis of Kenan-Flagler’s 2025–2026 essay questions.
The UCLA Anderson School of Management requires candidates to provide three “short essays.” The first is about the applicant’s need for an MBA, and the second focuses on their short- and long-term professional objectives. For the third, candidates must discuss why Anderson is the best MBA program for them and how they anticipate participating in the school’s community. In total, the three essays have a maximum word count of just 550 words, so applicants must be concise and direct in their responses. Some might be tempted to use the optional essay to squeeze in more information about themselves, but anyone considering this option must be prudent about doing so, because Anderson very clearly states that the essay is specifically for “extenuating circumstances.” Our full analysis of all the school’s 2025–2026 prompts follows.
In a recent blog post, Allison Jamison, the assistant dean of admissions at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, noted the importance of keeping things straightforward in the application process. Reflecting this mindset, the admissions committee’s demands are on the minimal side, which most candidates likely appreciate. Applicants must respond to one short-answer essay question in a mere 100 words, and the maximum length for the program’s traditional essay is just 500 words. Although Fuqua’s distinctive “25 random things” prompt might give some candidates pause at first, we love it for the freedom it gives applicants to get creative and paint a well-rounded picture of themselves. It should therefore be approached with more enthusiasm than fear. (Plus, Jamison has previously noted that the admissions committee enjoys reading these essays the most.) Our detailed analysis of all Fuqua’s prompts for 2025–2026 follows.
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