The goal of brainstorming is to reveal not just the experiences, but more

importantly, the stories, that make you distinct from other business school
applicants. Taken from mbaMissions Brainstorming Guide, the following questions
serve as a guide to your own brainstorming process. Once you have completed
these questions, if you feel the need for additional help with your brainstorming
process in particular, or would like advice on any other element of applying to
business school, please contact us for a free consultation
(http://www.mbamission.com/consult.php).

Brainstorming Questionnaire

1. List your major accomplishments/achievements (not responsibilities!) in each of your

professional positions (see the example that follows). To the best of your ability,
briefly describe the beginning, middle and end of what would constitute a story about
these accomplishments.

EXAMPLE:

Company/Dates of Employment: Recruiting Associates Inc.; Sept. 2004

Present

Company Description (if company is not well known, be brief!): ABC is a 300-
person human resources consulting firm, operating out of Kansas City, Kansas.

Department: Corporate Recruiting

Job Title: Senior Consultant

Accomplishment 1: Established new accounting recruitment department

Beginning: Approached management with idea to enter accounting
recruitment market; persuaded management to dedicate human
resources and $120K budget
Middle: Managed staff of three; identified 80 credible candidates; held
unique marketing events/career fairs to showcase candidates;
aggressively built relationships with 60 manufacturers in tristate area
End: Placed 37 candidates in first year; revenue of $420K; promoted;
budget increased and additional human resources allocated

Accomplishment 2:
Beginning:
Middle:
End:

2. List your major accomplishments in each of your community activities, following a

similar format (template below).

EXAMPLE:

Organization/Dates of Involvement: Urban Kitchen; July 2005Present

Description of Organization: Urban Kitchen aggregates unserved restaurant

meals and serves this food to the less fortunate
 Role: Shift Coordinator

Hours Per Month: 16

Accomplishment 1: Raised funds for full-time general manager

Beginning: Saw organization being stretched; identified need for
general manager to recruit volunteers and oversee distribution
Middle: Networked with existing corporate sponsors; identified
available government grants; applied for grants from charitable
foundations
End: Received $55K in funding; full-time manager in place; 12 new
volunteers are serving 15% more meals per week

3. List your major accomplishments in each of your collegiate extracurricular activities,

following the format shown in the examples for Questions 1 and 2.

4. List any instances in which you have made a significant difference in another human
beings life (i.e., helping solve a family problem, teaching a child to read, mentoring a
coworker who is having trouble, etc.).

5. List the five personal accomplishments of which you are most proud (as they relate to
yourself, not othersi.e., completed a marathon, published a poem in literary journal,
overcame a fear of heights, traveled to 17 different countries, etc.).

6. List your academic accomplishments: awards, honors, distinctions, publications, etc.

Briefly explain the nature of and selection criteria for each.

7. List any professional/community recognition that has been bestowed upon you.

8. Describe any conflicts you have had in professional or organizational settings and
how you handled them.

9. Discuss any professional or personal setbacks or failures that you have experienced
(not addressed in Question 8). Have you ever missed any opportunities, not achieved
a goal or disappointed another person?

10. List your primary hobbies and interests, past and present.

11. List five words or phrases your friends/family would use to describe you. List five
words or phrases you would use to describe yourself.

12. List all the countries to which you have traveled and your reason for doing so (i.e.,
business or pleasure).

13. List any language(s) you speak aside from your native tongue and your level of
fluency in each.

14. Briefly, what are your short-term and long-term goals after business school?

15. List the reasons you feel you want/need to get an MBA. How do you believe an MBA
program will prepare you to reach your goals, and why do you believe now is the best
time to get this degree?

16. What do you want to learn in an MBA program? What will be your area of focus?