STRUCTURED

FRAMEWORKS - MBA ESSAY DEVELOPMENT

WINTER 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Get Prepared To Get In! 3

I. Executive Summary 4

II. Frameworks: Chronological 5

III. Frameworks: Thematic 6

IV. Frameworks: Anchored 7

V. Conclusion 8

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GET PREPARED TO GET IN!

Crimson Oak Academy is an innovative, online business academy for scholars and young profes-
sionals from ~ 20 – 40 years old. The Academy was conceived in the Blue Mountains of
Jamaica, constructed on the Upper East Side of New York City and inspired by multiple site visits
to Singapore & Australia. Crimson Oak was born to turn your aspirations into realized plans. Uti-
lizing 21ST century technology, Crimson Oak provides you:
(1) personalized MBA admissions counseling;
(2) advanced, virtual education programs; and
(3) face-to-face, pragmatic, memorable events.
CAREER ADVANCEMENT OFTEN BRINGS ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES SUCH AS GAPS IN DIS-
CRETE KNOWLEDGE, A LACK OF FELLOWSHIP AMONGST PEERS AND WORSE, AN EBBING OF
PERSONAL COURAGE TO RISK FAILURE. Crimson Oak builds on these pragmatic insights to
offer you more robust, integrated programs that are relevant throughout your leadership devel-
opment. We remain unapologetic in our commitment to an integrated, hybrid learning model; in
our focus on recruiting only leading instructors and partners; and in our empathetic approach to
our clients and community.
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I. Executive Summary
INTRODUCTION
More than 267,000 MBA aspirants sat for the GMAT last year – the most ever! MBA Admis-
sions Officers’ desks have become cluttered with more swollen dockets of MBA applications.
These prospects are increasingly more international, younger and more polished. With such
increased competition how do you stand out? Simple: share your story. Your distinction lies in
your compelling content and clear structure of your MBA essays. In STRUCTURED – our quar-
terly MBA Admissions Insight report – we provide techniques to assist you to better position your
candidacy.

SAVE TIME
Non-descript essays, littered with hackneyed diction and connected loosely by a fraying logic, will
not get you accepted. Frameworks are routinely used in a variety of sectors: architecture, cor-
porate strategy, trading technical analysis, etc. Their usefulness also extends to the MBA essay
development process. We believe that having an initial framework can save you an incredible
amount of time. This technique creates much more time for you to mold your content (i.e., your
story) unto your chosen framework.

SIMPLICITY OF FORM
The power of utilizing frameworks is the ability to structure the ambiguity of your varied experi-
ences. Through our research and team experience in helping to craft hundreds of accepted
MBA prospects’ essays, three (3) simple frameworks seem most useful. In selecting these
frameworks, we paired various secondary research sources with primary sources such as inter-
views with respected journal editors, top MBA alumni and former MBA admission officers. The
three frameworks are:
• Chronological
• Thematic
• Anchored
The familiar nomenclature of the framework categories are meant to aid you in quickly feeling
comfortable applying these frameworks to your writings. As you will see later in the paper, there
are nuances that make your story fit better in any particular framework.

DISTINCTLY YOU
Understanding deepens appreciation. Respected modern day philosopher, George Bernard
Shaw, once remarked that:
“Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else.”
Perhaps the same could be said of acceptance to a top MBA program! Notably, a Wharton
MBA Admissions Officer recently mentioned that “over 80% of our [Wharton’s] applicants are
qualified for acceptance”. Your distinction will lie in the clarity of your essay’s structure and
nature of your content. We hope that you will find these frameworks useful. Good luck!

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II. Frameworks: Chronological
Harvard Business School’s “Career Vision” essay question serves as the overarching question
being tackled by this framework. The chronological approach is a literal unpacking of your story
along a linear timeline projected into the future. Utilizing this approach is intuitive: a recount of
your memory and an extension of your imagination. The key risk, however, is an overflow of extra-
neous information as each time period brims with the richness of experience.
LINEAR APPROACH
The linear approach, of course, requires a defined starting point. Crimson Oak’s recommended
starting point is your graduation from college. Subsequent time periods could be approached
annually or in grouped time periods. For example, your three years as an investment banking
analyst could be referred to as that 3-year time period. Alternatively, your post-MBA early years
could be parsed annually. For example, your first year upon MBA graduation could be noted by
your supportive, execution skills; whereas your post-MBA third year could be marked by a more
supervisory role.
Graphic 1: Visual Representation of the Chronological Framework

First~ Five The MBA First~ Five Beyond ~ Ten

Graduate College Years (Early Career) Years Years (Post-MBA) Years

DATED MILESTONES
The Chronological Framework, similar to a straight stretch of highway road, still needs mile-
stones to make sure the reader is progressing along the right path. In utilizing this framework,
the introduction becomes more important than in the other two frameworks. Within the intro-
duction you will prepare the reader for the naturally dated segments, i.e. the upcoming “road
signs”. Please be cognizant of the risk of deviating from your initial stated milestones as you
write. That will confuse the reader.
CRIMSON OAK’S SIMPLE TACTIC: X-Y-Z
Despite being constrained by a strict word limit, structuring your response to the “career vision”
question, even with the help of the Chronological Framework, can be difficult. One tactic that
Crimson Oak’s clients have successfully employed is the “X-Y-Z” strategy. This simple, yet effec-
tive, approach cleaves the essay response into three the time periods. The points are described
below:
• “X” – is where you are now, your current situation and recent achievements;
• “Y” – is the rationale for an MBA program at this time, tempered by unique aspects of
your targeted MBA program; and
• “Z” – is a description of where you intend to be post-MBA, this can be further refined
into early post-MBA career and your long term goals.

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III. Frameworks: Thematic
Columbia Business School’s “Goals” essay question serves as the main question being addressed
by this framework. The thematic approach is distinguished by its consistency in motivation with
one or two driving subjects. This approach is usually fueled by your passion. The risk in applying
this framework is balancing candor with credibility. Your sincere passion must be coupled with
a credible career progression.
FINDING THE THREAD
In reviewing your past professional experience and envisioned career does a theme emerge?
Perhaps quite a few themes become apparent? Crimson Oak recommends maintaining objectiv-
ity during examining of the motivations for your career choices. A contrived motivation will only
serve to erode your credibility and distinction. As emergent themes arise, winnow them to the
dominant theme(s). Dominant themes remain true through different phases of your career, per-
sonal life and academic studies. For instance, a management consultant covering the media
industry may have a passion for “impacting people’s lives through art and entertainment”. His
undergraduate studies, major in Economics and minor in Film, provide ample content. His cur-
rent profession as a media consultant further supports this theme. Finally, his envisioned post-
MBA career at a leading media firm such as Disney credibly extends the theme.
Graphic 2: Visual Representation of the Thematic Framework

College Early Career

Theme
(Underlying Passion)

MBA Program Post-MBA Career

CONNECTIVE TISSUE
Whether you are constrained by a typical 400-word limit for the career vision question or feeling
a bit more liberated by Columbia’s 750-word limit, applying the Thematic Framework can be chal-
lenging. The key is finding the constant theme and applying to different areas of your professional
and personal life. Similar to ligaments, which connect bones to other bones throughout the body,
your theme has to be flexible. However, in its application the theme must not be over-extended
as to snap your credibility.
CRIMSON OAK’S SIMPLE TACTIC: X1, X2, X3 …
Critical to utilizing the Thematic Framework is finding a theme that is sincere, repeatable and con-
tinuous. One Crimson Oak recommended tactic is the “X1, X2, X3 …” strategy. The tactic
requires finding a theme and multiplying its application. In so doing, the theme becomes more
pronounced and authentic. The points are described below:
• “X1” – is the prime, dominant theme; it is sincere and is rooted in your history;
• “X2” – could be considered the theme applied to other parts of your life; it is
repeatable; and
• “X3” – is the theme amplified by projecting it to your envisioned career; it is continuous.
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IV. Frameworks: Anchored
Stanford Graduate School of Business’ “Career Vision” essay question provides the question for
this framework to contend with. The anchored approach is characterized by a single penetrating
point from which the story emanates. This approach requires your judgment to select an appro-
priate point of entry to start your story: grabbing the reader’s attention and never letting go. The
application of this framework is perhaps the most complex of the three referenced frameworks.
However, if successfully executed, it offers the promise of making your candidacy memorable and
distinct. The risk lies in the choice of entry point and the failure of reproducing similar vibrancy
in the remaining body of your essay.
ROTATING THE ANCHOR POINT
In assessing your aggregate professional and personal experience, ask: “Is there a pivotal
moment, thought or statement that presents the opportunity for an entry point to begin my
essay?” Crimson Oak recommends that you weigh factors such as appropriateness and intensity
in deciding the entry point. For example, a marketing professional could utilize a tense conversa-
tion with her subordinate during her first year as an associate as the entry point for her essay.
The effect, rationale and insights gained from this experience are echoed in her envisioned MBA
experience and tenure at college.
Graphic 3: Visual Representation of the Anchored Framework

MBA
Program
(Point”X”)

College
(Point”X”)

Early Past-MBA
Career Career
(Point”X”) (Point”X”)

Note: Image is of Sierpinski’s (Fractal) triangle.

FRACTAL FOCAL POINT

The Anchored Framework is somewhat similar to a mathematical fractal image (see above
image). The framework has a recursive feature to it, where the point is repeated in different
settings or sections of your essay. Note that the entry point could be from any time in your pro-
fessional history. There are a few potential pitfalls in utilizing this framework such as selecting a
dramatic but disconnected point that is no longer reflected in the essay. Additionally, selecting
an entry point which at first glance seems poignant, but to the reader is mundane, is also a risk.

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CRIMSON OAK’S SIMPLE TACTIC: X MARKS THE SPOT
The Anchored Framework requires judgment and deftness in crafting the essay. One tactic
which several Crimson Oak clients have successfully employed for acceptance to business school
is the “X marks the spot” technique. This technique involves a careful evaluation of the suggested
entry points against strict criteria. Subsequently, after selecting a point of entry, the process
progresses by rotating the various phases of your professional life around the entry point. This
Anchored Framework point is described below:
• X – is the entry point and a focal point; its effect can be replicated in the introduction,
body and conclusion of the essay. The entry point can occur anywhere in multiple forms
such as a quote, a scene, a thought, etc.

V. Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read this paper. We intend to reward your time and attention
with thoughtful, distinctive insight. In reaching for a New Standard of Leadership™, your feed-
back is essential. The Crimson Oak contributors who worked diligently putting this paper are also
thanked. Your feedback will direct our next topic and refine our approach in helping you Get Pre-
pared to Get In!
As a boutique online business academy, we only accept a limited number of clients each year to
ensure our high quality of service is maintained. Crimson Oak’s core values are below:
Committed – We have built an integrated platform for your continued success. Your path to
success may become circuitous or even have momentary back steps along the way. During
those lulls, Crimson Oak will still remain committed to your success. Our interaction with
each client is relationship-based and is never simply transactional.
Leading – Our elite and conscientious team members are the most important factor to ensur-
ing your success. Our team members overwhelmingly have excellent academic backgrounds
punctuated by MBA, MA and PhD degrees from universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Cor-
nell and MIT.
Empathetic – Our advisors, clients, teammates and partners share our passion for providing
opportunity to the less fortunate and together we have developed an impactful Giving Back
policy.
We hope that we will get the opportunity to know you better, earn your trust and welcome you
to the Crimson Oak family. Please do consider joining us on Facebook.com/CrimsonOak
We hope you find these frameworks useful. Best of luck! Cheers!
Disclaimer
The STRUCTURED report is meant only as a guide to help improve your
chances of acceptance to a coveted graduate program. While Crimson
Oak assists in polishing your essays and applications, it remains your story
and ethically we refuse to cross a boundary from guide to actual scribe.

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