by Linda Abraham

Take a few buzzwords like "synergy," "global village," "e-commerce," "empower," "diversity." Season with acronyms B2B, B2C, IPO, M&A, VC. Stir in generous platitudes about "forces that molded you into the person you are today" and "the top-notch faculty, diverse student body, and outstanding alumni network" at the schools to which you are applying. Cook on your hard drive while seeking feedback from a bevy of your fifty closest colleagues, friends, and relatives. And voila! You have an MBA application essay.

No, you may have a recipe for rejection.

All too often MBA applicants grope for a recipe for success, a one-size-fits-all approach to writing the essays. Push the right buttons, stir in the correct ingredients, and you'll have it made. Right? Wrong! That recipe doesn't exist. You aren't making pancakes here; you're trying to portray yourself as a multi-faceted, one-of-a kind gem. How do you do that? Use the tools below to focus on your uniqueness, accomplishments, and strengths as you refine your essays.

1) To thine own self be true.
Sincere self-reflection forms the basis for insightful essays. Go beyond the stereotypes of a marketer, an immigrant, an IT professional, a member of a particular ethnic group. Go deep into yourself so that you will answer distinctively and honestly.

Examine all areas of your background to determine which unusual qualities and experiences you can contribute to your class. When have you overcome obstacles? Where did you excel? What is important to you - besides obtaining an MBA? Why? Where have you served someone or some cause other than yourself? Why? What distinguishes you from the stereotypical candidates from your field? And of course, when have you motivated and led others? Why did you choose this particular venue for leadership?

The answers to these questions form the raw material of your essays. You will mine them again and again as you go through the application process. If you go through this stage with sincerity and integrity, you will find the gold vein. Fool's gold is for those who lazily fool themselves.

2) Do your homework.
You have to know what you want to do with the degree and why you are applying to the particular programs you have chosen. An incredible amount of information about the schools and their programs is available. Use it first to determine which schools you should apply to. Then use it to target your essays for each particular school.

3) Look at the application as a whole and use the essays to bring out information not found elsewhere.
In the essays, don't merely repeat the superficial information contained in your resume or provided in those little boxes elsewhere in the application. Highlight your multi-faceted personality, diverse interests, and accomplishments.

Strategize. While you certainly want to write about significant professional achievement, shouldn't the adcoms also know you are a disciplined athlete who has compete...