Virginia Darden MBA 文书赏析
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01
“ When I made the decision to leave my job as a management consultant to go to business school, I knew that I needed to go to a program where I could continue to problem solve both inside and outside of the classroom. The case method was the only pedagogy where I could truly see myself being fulfilled, while also having the opportunity to grow as a management consultant and leader. By tackling ambiguous problems—which often don't have a “right” answer—through the case method, I know that I will leave Darden better prepared to handle any challenge, whether technical or interpersonal, that I may face in my post-MBA consulting career and beyond.
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Comments案例教学法是Darden的显著特色，也就成为很多申请人阐述 Why School 的重要理由。
这位申请人立志在毕业后从事咨询业，对案例教学法的诉求也就更强，在学校特色和个人规划之间建立了紧密的联系。
02
“ The faculty at Darden is a fantastic mixture of inspirational professors and terrific friends. All the alumni I've met keep in contact with the faculty throughout the years, continuing to consult them for their daily life challenges. As an international student, I praised having a solid support system, to build meaningful relationships with fellow students and professors.
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Comments除了课程设置、区位优势这些“硬件”条件，学校的气质、文化、价值观也可以成为 Why School 的理由，重点在于精准的概括和充分的论证。这位申请人将校园文化具象化，表达了对Darden和谐的人际氛围的向往。
03
“ One of the main reasons that I chose Darden was its commitment to creating community. For First Year (FY) students, this often begins with the Learning Team, a group of 6 students who meet to discuss their classes and cases. Darden structures these groups to include students from a variety of backgrounds – my team has members from 3 different countries and experience in architecture, consulting, industrial design, finance, and accounting! This mix provides the chance for us to share our strengths, cultivate trust, and feel confident as we strengthen our weaknesses. We learn with and from each other, becoming closer as we do so.
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Comments这位申请人为Darden的校园文化提供了非常具象化的阐述，通过一年级学生的学校小组切入，展现了Darden 学生间良好的文化氛围。
04
“ I was looking for an MBA program that would truly broaden my skillsets and prepare me for a career shift. But I was also looking for a learning environment where I could build life-long academic and professional relationships. During the application process, I was amazed by the faculty at Darden and inspired by the learning atmosphere they cultivate. Building strong relationships with professors and TAs can have a transformative impact on your experience in the classroom and beyond. It’s something I greatly value and looked for when applying to graduate programs.
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Comments同样是校园氛围，也有不同的侧重面来阐述。这位申请人则更加倾慕于Darden的课堂氛围，向往和教授间建立牢固的关系。这些都要建立在对学校详实的了解之上，在阐述的过程中增加可以作为论据的素材，让论述更加可信。
05
“ Two factors were the strength of the Finance Club, and the chance to manage a portion of the endowment as a part of Darden Capital Management as a second year. Coming from a non-profit background with an interest in finance, I knew I wanted to gain as much exposure as I could to banking and asset management. The pivot to finance would be manageable, but still quite aggressive given my background. As a result, I knew I wanted to have a supportive community throughout my recruitment process. I also felt Darden’s 400 member or so class size would be helpful in building relationships with people outside of my section, and beyond what industry I was recruiting for.
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Comments金融行业方面的资源是这位申请人选择 Darden的原因，校内俱乐部、实习机会、项目规模都成为资源优势的一部分，体现了申请人坚定的职业规划，以及对学校做出的充分的了解，真诚感十足。
06
“ It is the remote location that led me to choose Darden. I grew up in the heart of Los Angeles (South Central to be exact) and then proceeded to live in large cities throughout the U.S. (Chicago, DC, SF Bay Area). I’d had enough of the hustle and bustle of city life, and I knew that for graduate school I wanted to be in a much smaller location where I could recharge for a few years and make deep connections with my classmates.
I was immediately drawn to Darden and Charlottesville’s location because of the ease of access to hiking trails, Shenandoah National Park, and various breweries and vineyards. I’d heard of how overwhelming business school would be so I wanted to ensure that I had access to activities that would help me destress. For me, those activities involve being in nature and having sweeping vistas. Once I moved to Charlottesville, I told several of my friends that I felt at peace here given the abundance of mountains and greenery surrounding me.”
Comments区位因素是Why School 的一个重要方向，有的人会因为区位选择国际化都市，有的人则会因为区位选择一个悠然小镇，无论哪种选择，阐述清楚理由并和自身需求建立联系，就是充分的 Why School。
这位申请人选择Darden，正是因为它能远离城市喧嚣。申请人对夏洛茨维尔的一切如数家珍，向往之情跃然纸上，是非常生动的阐述了。