What other information do you believe would be helpful to the Board in understanding you better and in considering your application?

What an interesting topic! Open-ended questions are challenging because candidates have to go through the sometimes harrowing process of deciding what to talk about. They can, however, be the decisive, positive factor in an application. We encourage applicants to think of this question as an opportunity to display elements of their personality that haven’t come across in their other essays. For example, some applicants choose to talk about their family life and their personal values; others touch upon specific aspects of their personalities that they think will differentiate them from the rest of the applicant pool. What’s important to know is that there is no best answer, no best approach, no best topic, but it is essential that the message remains consistent with previous essays submitted by the applicant. While maintaining that consistency, successful essays in this category fall into two broad groups: on the one hand, the ones that reinforce the candidate’s previous analysis, thoughts, and observations about themselves, and on the other hand, the ones that mark a sharp contrast with the previous essays in an effort to demonstrate a multifaceted personality and an ability to approach problems from various angles. Both approaches work, providing they convey a clear message.

As for the tone of this essay, candidates have absolute freedom as to how to best express themselves. Serious or light, again the important thing is that tone and topic treated are appropriate and logical. For example, if you choose to talk about how your first entrepreneurial venture was selling ice cream in minus-ten-degree weather, it’s perfectly appropriate to adopt a humorous tone while invariably demonstrating your salesmanship.

The following essays span a variety of those choices. They represent the last touch of the painting, the final “taste” that applicant leaves with the reader. Let that reader into your mind. Be creative. Be humorous. Be open!