How To NOT Botch Your Stanford or HBS Essay [2020]

MBA essay questions are answered here, as we cover examples of effective essays. HBSGuru.com founder Sandy Kreisberg and Poets&Quants Editor-in-Chief John A. Byrne explain how NOT to ruin a Stanford or HBS essay. Watch for great tips about how these essays are similar and how to do them. Know when you actually have something to say AND how to get by when you DO NOT. Pro tip: Influence is the way to go!
Where are you at with your essays? Did you get admitted to your favorite school? Join the conversation below for feedback from HBS Guru Sandy Kreisberg and John A. Byrne, Editor-in-Chief of Poets&Quants.
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[@fintech1378]

hi regarding Stanford essay, if I am not mistaken, Sandy mentioned that we may approach the essay by writing our goals and influences. But there is another optional essay that also asks this:
We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. We are interested in how your background may have influenced your life experiences. In answering this question, consider how your background, such as your work, education, skills, interests, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, where/how you grew up, and/or other factors had an impact on your recent actions and choices (up to 1,200 characters, or approximately 200 words).
Tell us about a time within the last three years when your background influenced your participation in a situation, interaction, or project.
How should we navigate between these 2 essays?

[@anthonywells2080]

At 6:22, do you say that we are supposed to clarify why HBS in our resume?