An MBA application is about your story, and few tell a story better than Hollywood screenwriters. Learn how they use surprise & suspense to pull readers in.

In short, the applicant needs to “show” us a particular truth about themselves by using a vivid, active, and specific example, rather than merely “telling” the reader this same truth through a vague description or explanation.

In top-notch personal statements, resumes, and recommendations, an MBA applicant must be seen as effective. That means you’ve done stuff. Actively.

A framing device is a storytelling technique that can achieve a number of things: it can inject humor, offer a bigger perspective, reinforce a main theme, and leave us with a feeling of closure.

One of the biggest traps that most MBA applicants fall into while telling their story is using language that attempts to prove that they’re serious MBA-level candidates. And they often try really hard. 

While sitting down to craft your MBA applications this season, you’ve undoubtedly been left scratching your head, wondering how to best market yourself to the most competitive business schools out there.