The Consortium MBA Essays 2025 - 2026

The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management is a powerful network of top business schools and corporate partners committed to increasing diversity in business leadership. If you’re admitted through The Consortium, you get to apply to multiple member schools with just one application. You will also be automatically considered for full-tuition fellowships – one of the MBA world’s biggest financial perks.

But the Consortium’s biggest advantage by far is its community. iFrom the moment you’re admitted, you get access to an amazing network of peers, alumni, and recruiters who are deeply invested in your success. There’s even a pre-MBA Orientation Program where you can start building connections before classes begin. 

The Consortium gives you a head start on recruiting, leadership opportunities, and a solid, lasting network. Check out our guide on Everything you need to know about the Consortium for MBAs.

How the Consortium works

First, you’ll need to complete the Consortium application. This includes:- Mission essays- Mission recommendation- Resume- Personal details

1. Select the member business schools you want to apply to (within the same portal). Here’s the full list of Consortium member schools.

   
   

2. For each school, complete their required core essays and any additional supplemental questions.

   
   

   Important: Schools only see your school-specific essays. They will not see your mission essays, mission recommendation, or Consortium membership supplements.

   
   

3. After submission, the Consortium committee reviews your file to ensure all required materials are included.

   
   

4. Once confirmed, your application is forwarded to the schools you selected.

   
   

5. Each school evaluates your application through their normal admissions process. You’ll hear directly from the schools regarding admission decisions (accept, waitlist, or deny).

   
   

The Consortium MBA essays 2025-2026

Mission Essay (required): Our mission, supported by the strength of our growing alliance and network of committed allies, is to expand access and increase representation in business education and leadership. In collaboration with our member schools and partners, we work to strengthen enrollment and leadership across the following sectors: for- profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, government agencies and contractors, and entrepreneurial ventures in both for-profit and nonprofit environments.

*Please address the three questions noted below and use specific examples that clearly articulate your involvement, actions and results.

With these three essays, the Consortium wants to see your commitment to driving its mission in three parts: what you have already accomplished, what you will do during your MBA, and what you plan to do as an MBA alumnus. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Membership Application Essay 1

The Consortium is committed to expanding access and increasing representation for individuals and communities that have not always had equal access to opportunity. Please describe the specific actions you have already taken—through your business, personal, academic, or volunteer experiences—that demonstrate your commitment to this mission. Include examples that show your values in action, the impact of your efforts, and how they contribute to building a more inclusive community. (400 word limit)

In this essay of 400 words, you will need to demonstrate a history of long-term commitment to the Consortium’s mission of effecting positive change for underrepresented populations “that began long before you applied to business school”. In this essay, The Consortium puts into practice the classic tried-and-tested MBA admissions mindset of using past performance as a solid indicator for future success. You are being asked to provide specific examples in line with the Consortium’s mission statement to answer this question.

According to the Consortium guidelines, here are some examples of the sorts of activities and organizations that you may have been associated with and could write about in this essay.

Community: Leadership Education And Development (LEAD), Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), Forté, INROADS, Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Urban League, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

At the undergraduate level, you may have been involved in campus chapters of NAACP, Urban League and similar organizations, other organizations that support local community outreach and serve the Consortium’s mission.

Professional: Organizations like Teach for America, or other organizations that champion the representation of the Consortium’s target minorities in business. 

Life experience: Your personal lived experiences of having advocated for the betterment of your community or other positive impact you have had on your community. 

Now that you have an idea of what kind of impact the Consortium is looking for, structure your examples clearly using the SCAR format. Remember to quantify your results and impact, and reflect on the values and principles that have compelled you to take action and be a force for change. Your examples should show the reader why you are so passionate about enhancing diversity and inclusion in your community and beyond. An ideal example would demonstrate your leadership and ability to take initiative and start something new, like starting a first-of-its-kind program in your city for an underrepresented population. 

Remember to be specific and clear about your contributions and which population you served, rather than stating things in broad terms. It’s ideal if you were in a formal leadership position, but if not, focus on the leadership skills you were able to demonstrate through each contribution.

Membership Application Essay 2

How do you plan to support The Consortium’s mission while enrolled in your MBA program? What actions will you take to help build a stronger, more inclusive community? (400 word limit)

Now that you have demonstrated your longstanding commitment to the Consortium mission, you need to show an action plan for how you will continue to serve this mission during your MBA. 

Research your target MBA program thoroughly. Consider this in two parts: (1) what are the existing activities and opportunities you could contribute to, and (2) what opportunities can you establish while you are enrolled.

For part (1) regarding existing activities, consider relevant resources, groups, and events that align with your past experiences and which also further the Consortium’s mission. With limited space, you’ll want to only discuss those opportunities where you can actively and concretely effect change and encourage productive dialogue. Again, be specific about these. Name the clubs, classes, programs, and people you have researched or interacted with, and specify how you will use your strengths to serve them.

For part (2) regarding new opportunities, your research may help you identify any gaps on campus that you can fill. What will you pioneer or advance?

Remember, you’ll be up against other highly competitive candidates who have driven powerful change that impacts others, so don’t pander to the AdCom or try to win diversity brownie points with vague statements about “passion” and “inclusion”.

Membership Application Essay 3

After completing your MBA, how will you continue to support The Consortium’s mission through your career, leadership, or community involvement? (200 word limit)

This is the shortest of the three essays, sitting at 200 words. Here, you are asked to explain how you will continue to serve the community and be an involved leader after graduating from the MBA program. 

Being a member of the Consortium doesn’t end with graduate school. The collective’s mission isn’t just to increase representation in corporate leadership, but also in global business education. With this in mind, describe how, as an alum, you can help more underrepresented minority individuals into the MBA and help them empower themselves through a business education. You could lead recruitment efforts, provide career guidance, get more involved with the Consortium’s events and orientation programs, or even engage with other organizations that have similar missions. 

Again, do your research to understand opportunities that make the most sense for your profile and strengths, and discuss how you can leverage your career to help underrepresented populations thrive as leaders at both the corporate and academic levels. 

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Core Essay 1

Please describe your short- and long-term goals post-MBA. How has your professional experience shaped these goals and influenced your decision to pursue an MBA degree? (2000 characters)

The Consortium application also includes a straightforward core essay that asks you to describe your career goals, what shaped these, and why you want to pursue an MBA. 

This is your classic career goals essay. Follow our advice for career goals essays which remains applicable here too:

Use a clear Story - Goals - Why MBA structure.

Story: Start with a brief story that demonstrates the larger purpose behind your career decisions. This story should lead into the professional experiences and achievements that provide context and support your goals.

Goals: Clearly outline your short and long term post-MBA goals. These goals should support the professional purpose you have described in your story. You may want to use your short term goal as a stepping stone towards a more ambitious longer term goal, but there should be a sensible evolution and connection between your previous experiences, short term goal, and long term goal. 

Why MBA: You may have some of the skills you require to achieve your career goals, but not all - that’s why you’re pursuing an MBA! Describe how an MBA will help you cover these skill gaps, specifying the concentrations or areas of study you are interested in. The Consortium wants to see that you have carefully considered this decision and that you are focused and driven enough to be part of an MBA. Consortium members have a positive impact on their classmates and the larger MBA community, so it’s important to show that you have deeply introspected what you need from the program and how it can help you achieve your goals. 

Core Essay 2 (Optional)

Is there any other information you would like to share with us that is not presented elsewhere in your application? (1000 characters)

The Consortium application provides ample space for you to discuss your extracurriculars, professional credentials, and your current role. So don’t use this optional essay as an extra essay; only address it if you have a low GPA/GMAT score that you would like to explain, or if there are any extenuating professional, academic, or personal circumstances that the Consortium should know about.

Note that there are separate questions in the Consortium portal to explain gaps in your employment history and your choice of recommenders, so you don’t need to explain these here.

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Interested in applying through the Consortium? Get in touch with our team of expert consultants to discuss how to approach your mission essays and recommendation.