Q) How has the world you come from shaped who you are today? For example, your family, culture, and community all help to shape aspects of your life experiences and perspective. Please use this opportunity if you would like to share more about your background (250 words)
Breaking down the ethos of a culture requires shortlisting 2-3 traits that are stand-out qualities for the MIT Sloan MBA application.
Applicants from a military background - parents or served in the military bring adaptability, determination, and a certain restraint in their words and phrases.
The number #1 indicator of a professional's success is their adaptability to stressors and the discipline to accept the current uncomfortable feeling while remaining focused on the solution. This bias towards action, while remaining emotionally present to solve the problem, makes military applicants the most sought-after group.
A technologist from a military family shared the impact of military ethos – respect, discipline, and self-reliance on his startup and his career.
He even funded his engineering degree, not out of necessity but from a principle of self-reliance. Such examples are rare in M7 applications.
But it is not just about discipline, a zen-like attitude, or a determination to get things done.
The best essays balance a narrative of success with vulnerability. The applicant also shared the support of the communities where he served and the impact the support had on his startup.