I have a passion for energy. No other industry is as far-reaching in its impact on the world. Energy enables public and private sector development, it influences the rise and fall of nations, and it even transforms societies and the everyday lives of the individuals that constitute them. By providing the capital to finance infrastructure, exploration, and technological development related to energy, I believe I can have the greatest impact in the global arena. My longterm goal is to become managing partner at an international private equity firm focused on the energy industry.

Working alongside entrepreneurial management teams who flourish amid the flexibility of the private equity business model excites me. On a daily basis, I see opportunities to do things that just are not available in other specialties—creative ideas to stretch our limits for what can be accomplished. Whether investing in a company that generates electricity from waste in landfills or one that extracts difficult-to-recover, unconventional natural gas in China, firms such as First Reserve are at the forefront of innovative structures and unexploited opportunities.

To help me achieve this vision, the key next step is a graduate business education. An MBA is fundamental to advancing to management-level positions in private equity and will equip me with the competencies to meaningfully improve organizations. Whether managing an investment firm or stepping in to run a struggling portfolio company, the functional and managerial knowledge that an HBS education furnishes will give me confidence to lead effectively in various situations.

During a campus visit in April, I sought out the HBS faculty members most germane to my career vision. I spoke with Richard Vietor on energy policy and with Nabil El-Hage on the private equity form of corporate governance. Through discussions with students, I realized that HBS is the ideal place for me to meet my future private equity partners and industry peers.

Attending Mukti Khaire’s Entrepreneurial Management class, I saw the case method performed live from the front row. Observing the lightning-fast class discussion, I am confident there is no better training ground for me to develop the skills necessary to drive meaningful change in the organizations on which I have an influence. For the skills that I will develop, and for all that I can and will contribute, I view Harvard Business School as the most valuable MBA program I could attend.

Analysis

Stephen’s passion and his clear understanding of HBS set him apart from his private-equity peers. Initially, Stephen draws the reader in with a dramatic statement, “I have a passion for energy,” and follows with an articulately crafted paragraph about why he believes energy is so vital to the world economy. He demonstrates thorough knowledge about the industry and in the second paragraph highlights how his work experiences have helped shape his worldview.

After articulating his vision, Stephen addresses two other critical elements of this prompt. To answer the question “Why an MBA,” Stephen highlights the specific relevance of the degree to success in private equity. In addressing “Why HBS,” Stephen clearly demonstrates that he has taken initiative to get to know the school.

What is also noteworthy for future applicants is the way in which Stephen speaks to his audience. He takes a traditional goal—to be a partner in a private equity firm—and encases it in a vision that would enable him “to make a difference in the world,” thus demonstrating an implicit understanding of the HBS mission.

Similar to the critiques of other essays in this section, Stephen could have strengthened his case by highlighting specific skills he hopes to develop at HBS, thus proving that the education is not merely career enhancing. He could have also discussed what he will bring to the HBS classroom, and what he will contribute to the community.

From 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays edited by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson. Copyright (c) 2009 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group