Simply sign up to the Business education myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox. Writing the perfect MBA application essay involves brevity, a degree of literary panache, and total honesty.

When I wrote my own MBA admissions essay, I remember feeling lost, rambling without a clear direction. Crafting a standout essay requires self-awareness, authenticity, and alignment with the program.

Smile! You're on camera -- a video camera, now integral to our lives. Video Conferencing applications have gone from nouns to verbs. Most of us Skype, Google Hangout, or FaceTime friends and relatives ...

Barbara Coward is an MBA admissions consultant who has helped students get into top-tier programs. Her advice for nailing the personal essay includes bridging the gap between your past and future. She ...