CollegeVine College Essay Team December 6, 2024 9 Essay Breakdowns,Essay Guides 2024-25

How to Write the Babson College Essays 2024-2025

Babson College has two essay prompts. The first is a Why this school question that is straightforward, however you are allowed to submit it as a video if you wish. The second is a classic diversity question.

Babson College Essay Prompts

The Babson College prompt is a combination Why This Major/Why This College essay, asking you to explain why you are drawn to Babson’s specific academic offerings and how the school aligns with your career aspirations. Whether you choose to respond in essay form or through a one-minute video, the goal is to connect your interests with Babson’s unique approach to business, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.

Understanding the Prompt

Babson is known for its strong focus on entrepreneurship and its commitment to preparing students for leadership roles across various sectors. To answer this prompt, you need to show:

• Why you’re passionate about business, entrepreneurship, or social innovation.
• How Babson’s curriculum, resources, and community align with your goals.
• What you hope to gain from a Babson education and how it will help you achieve your career aspirations.

You should be specific about Babson’s offerings and connect them to your own ambitions.

Brainstorming Questions

To craft your response, reflect on these questions:

• Why are you interested in studying business, entrepreneurship, or social innovation? Have you had experiences (such as internships, projects, or clubs) that sparked this interest?
• What specific Babson programs, initiatives, or classes attract you? How do they relate to your career goals?
• What kind of entrepreneur, innovator, or business leader do you aspire to be? How does Babson’s approach help you get there?
• How do you hope to contribute to Babson’s community?

What Makes a Good Response

A strong response will:

• Show passion for business or entrepreneurship: Share where your interest comes from and why you’re excited about this field.
• Connect to Babson’s unique strengths: Mention specific Babson programs or resources (like its Entrepreneurial Thought & Action methodology or its student-run businesses) that align with your goals.
• Explain what you bring to Babson: Demonstrate how you’ll contribute to Babson’s entrepreneurial community or how your values align with the school’s mission.
• Reflect your personal goals: Clearly explain how Babson will help you grow as an entrepreneur or business leader.

Hypothetical Student Examples

• Olivia, aspiring social entrepreneur: Olivia has been passionate about creating social change since she started a nonprofit in high school that provides school supplies to underfunded schools. She could write about how Babson’s Social Innovation Lab and its emphasis on blending entrepreneurship with social impact will help her grow her nonprofit, as well as provide the knowledge and tools she needs to scale it globally.
• Max, tech startup enthusiast: Max has been coding and developing apps since middle school. He could discuss how Babson’s focus on entrepreneurship will provide the resources and mentorship he needs to take his tech startup idea from concept to market. He might highlight the Entrepreneurship Tower and mention wanting to be part of Babson’s student-run tech incubators.
• Grace, a student interested in family business: Grace grew up helping with her family’s restaurant business and wants to learn how to scale it. She could describe how Babson’s Family Entrepreneurship classes and the STEP (Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices) Project would help her understand the dynamics of managing and growing a multigenerational family business.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being too vague: Don’t just say you like Babson’s reputation or that you love business. Be specific about why Babson’s approach to entrepreneurship is the perfect fit for you.
• Listing generic resources: Avoid mentioning resources or programs that could apply to many schools, like “small class sizes” or “entrepreneurial spirit.” Focus on what makes Babson truly unique.
• Not showing personal connection: You need to make it clear why Babson is the right school for your personal and professional journey. Avoid making this essay sound like you could be writing it for any business school.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

I first realized the power of entrepreneurship when I launched my own small business selling eco-friendly jewelry in high school. What began as a project to raise money for my local animal shelter grew into a full-fledged online store, with over 200 orders in its first year. I became captivated by the idea that business could be a force for good, blending profit with purpose. That’s when I knew I wanted to study entrepreneurship in college.

Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® approach immediately stood out to me. I love how Babson encourages students to learn by doing, which aligns with my belief that the best way to learn business is through real-world experience. I’m particularly excited about the opportunity to participate in Babson’s student-run businesses, where I can test my ideas and refine my business skills in a hands-on environment. The Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, with its resources for student startups, is also a huge draw for me. I envision developing a new line of sustainable fashion products while gaining invaluable feedback and mentorship from Babson’s thriving entrepreneurial community.

But what truly excites me about Babson is its commitment to social innovation. I’ve always believed that business has the potential to create positive change, and Babson’s emphasis on blending entrepreneurship with social impact aligns perfectly with my vision. I’m eager to explore the Social Innovation Lab, where I can collaborate with like-minded students to create solutions for global challenges. I plan to take advantage of Babson’s Social Impact Programs to expand my knowledge of ethical business practices and grow my brand into a company that champions sustainability.

Ultimately, Babson is the perfect place for me to push the boundaries of what business can achieve. I’m excited to immerse myself in a community that nurtures big ideas, where I can combine my entrepreneurial passion with a desire to make a positive difference.

Why this works: This essay is specific, shows genuine enthusiasm for Babson’s unique offerings, and connects the student’s personal goals with what Babson provides. It shows how Babson will help them grow, and highlights both academic and extracurricular opportunities.

Bad Example:

I’ve always been interested in business, which is why I’m excited to apply to Babson. Babson is known for being one of the best business schools in the country, and I know I will learn a lot there. I’ve been involved in business clubs at my high school, and I want to continue pursuing my passion for entrepreneurship at Babson. I like how Babson focuses on entrepreneurship, and I know that I’ll gain the skills I need to succeed in the business world.

Tips for Video:

If you feel like you would be better in person or like you are particularly suited to public speaking, feel free to use the video option. Make sure you have good lighting, you are in focus, and the background is clear. Also, since this would be on your Youtube or another site, be aware that the admissions team might see other videos you have posted.

In either essay or video format, your response should show a clear connection between your personal goals and Babson’s unique resources. Be specific, passionate, and thoughtful about how Babson will help you grow as an entrepreneur or business leader!

Understanding the Prompt

This prompt falls under the Diversity essay archetype. Babson wants to know what aspects of your identity, culture, values, or life experiences have shaped your perspective. It also asks you to reflect on how you will learn from and contribute to Babson’s collaborative, diverse environment. This essay is not just about where you come from, but how your experiences will influence your role in the Babson community.

Brainstorming Questions

To get started, consider:

• What aspects of your background or identity are most important to you (e.g., cultural heritage, socioeconomic status, family structure, immigration background, etc.)?
• What experiences have shaped your worldview? How have they impacted your understanding of diversity and inclusion?
• How do you contribute to your current communities (school, neighborhood, work, etc.)? What makes you a good collaborator or leader?
• How have you learned from others with different perspectives? What did those experiences teach you about diversity or community?

What Makes a Good Response

A strong response will:

• Show self-awareness: Reflect on your background or experiences and how they’ve influenced your worldview.
• Show how you engage with diversity: Demonstrate how you’ve interacted with people from different backgrounds and what you’ve learned from them.
• Highlight contributions: Explain how you will add to Babson’s community, whether through specific skills, experiences, or perspectives.
• Connect to Babson: Emphasize your excitement about learning from Babson’s diverse community and how you’ll contribute to an inclusive, collaborative environment.

Hypothetical Student Examples

• Nina, a student passionate about disability advocacy: Nina, who has a sibling with autism, could talk about her experience advocating for disability rights in her school community. She could describe how her personal experiences have given her a deep understanding of the importance of creating accessible and inclusive environments. At Babson, she’s eager to join or create initiatives that support inclusivity for students with disabilities.
• Aaliyah, a student from a small rural town: Aaliyah could share how growing up in a tight-knit rural community with limited exposure to diverse cultures sparked her curiosity about the world. Moving to Babson’s campus will be a huge shift, and she’s excited to contribute by bringing a unique rural perspective while learning from peers with different backgrounds, preparing her to grow as a socially conscious entrepreneur.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Focusing only on diversity of identity: While your identity is important, this essay is also about how you’ll actively contribute to Babson’s community. Be sure to discuss how you’ll engage with others, not just where you come from.
• Generalizing about diversity: Avoid vague statements about the importance of diversity without tying them to your specific experiences or how you’ve engaged with it in the past.
• Neglecting reflection: Be sure to reflect on how your experiences have shaped your worldview, and how they’ll influence your interactions with Babson’s community.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

Growing up in a multigenerational Vietnamese household, I learned early on how different perspectives can coexist and complement each other. While my grandmother passed down traditional Vietnamese values centered on respect and community, my parents emphasized independence and the importance of self-advocacy, values they embraced after immigrating to the U.S. as refugees. This blend of values shaped my understanding of how various viewpoints can lead to stronger, more empathetic solutions to problems.

At school, I often served as a bridge between students from different cultural backgrounds, organizing events like our annual International Food Fair to celebrate diversity. This experience taught me the value of collaboration across differences. At Babson, I’m excited to contribute by joining initiatives like the Global Scholars Program, where I can learn from students with a wide range of perspectives while bringing my own cultural insights into the mix. I look forward to engaging in conversations that challenge my assumptions and encourage me to think more globally, all while creating an inclusive space where everyone’s voice is heard.

Why this works: The essay shares specific details about the student’s background, connects those experiences to skills they’ll bring to Babson (e.g., cultural bridge-building and collaboration), and highlights an excitement to learn from Babson’s diverse community.

Bad Example:

I believe that diversity is important because it allows us to learn from others and grow. I come from a very diverse high school where I met people from different backgrounds. I think being exposed to different perspectives makes you a more well-rounded person, and I look forward to learning from Babson’s diverse community. I will contribute by bringing my open-mindedness and willingness to collaborate with others.

Why this doesn’t work: This response is too vague and lacks personal detail. It doesn’t provide any concrete examples from the student’s background, nor does it clearly explain how their experiences will help them contribute to Babson.

By reflecting on your unique background and how it has shaped your perspective, and demonstrating a clear desire to engage with Babson’s diverse community, you can create a compelling essay that highlights your fit for the college’s inclusive environment.

Where to Get Your Babson College Essays Edited For Free

Want feedback on your Babson College essays to improve your chances at admission? When you’ve proofread your essay a dozen times, it can be hard to even spot where there’s room for improvement. That’s why we’ve created our free Peer Essay Review tool, where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also sharpen your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays!

Need feedback faster? Get a free, nearly-instantaneous essay review from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!