Oregon Lundquist MBA Essays: What to Know
MBA essay prompts change periodically, so always check the official Oregon Lundquist website for current-year prompts. However, the core themes remain consistent across years. Most programs ask variations of the same questions: Why MBA? Why now? Why this school? Tell us about a time you led or failed.
Oregon Lundquist values innovation, building things, and impact. Your essays should demonstrate these qualities through specific stories and concrete goals.
The "Why Oregon Lundquist" Essay
This essay makes or breaks your application. Admissions officers read thousands of generic "why this school" essays. To stand out, you need school-specific evidence of fit:
- Reference specific programs or classes that connect to your career goals. Don't just name them; explain why they matter to your development.
- Mention conversations with current students or alumni. If you visited campus, reference specific observations from your visit.
- Connect your background to the school's strengths. Oregon Lundquist is known for Sustainability Careers, Sports Industry, Pacific Northwest Careers. Show how your goals align with what the school does best.
- Be specific about what you'll contribute. Which clubs will you join? What perspective will you bring to classroom discussions?
The test: if you can replace "Oregon Lundquist" with another school's name and the essay still works, it's too generic. Rewrite it.
Leadership and Impact Stories
Choose stories where you drove measurable impact. "I managed a team" is generic. "I restructured our sprint process, reducing delivery time by 40% and eliminating 12 hours of weekly overtime for my team" is specific and memorable.
The best leadership stories include a moment of difficulty or failure. How you respond to setbacks reveals more about your character than your victories. Show self-awareness, growth, and the ability to learn from experience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing what you think the admissions committee wants to hear instead of what's true
- Using corporate jargon or consulting-speak
- Overselling your accomplishments (they'll verify through recommenders)
- Listing school features from the website without connecting them to your goals
- Ignoring word count limits (stay within 10% of the stated limit)
For comprehensive essay strategy, see our MBA Essay Writing Guide.