Yale School of Management
3 required essays, 1 optional for the 2026-27 cycle.
Deadlines
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 15, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 6, 2027 |
| Round 3 | April 7, 2027 |
Essays
Goals essay · 500 words · required
Choose one of three: Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?
Goals essay · 500 words · required
Choose one of three: Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?
Goals essay · 500 words · required
Choose one of three: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?
Program supplement · no limit stated · optional
Optional Information: this section is truly optional; if no aspect of your application requires further explanation, you should leave this section blank.
Page is the 2026-2027 Application Guide for the MBA Class of 2029. Applicants write ONE essay from the three prompts (the three are recorded separately so a reviewer can see all options). Same prompts as the prior cycle. Video questions are interview-style with 60-second answers and are not printed. No reapplicant essay is listed.
Checked against som.yale.edu/programs/mba/admissions/application-information/application-guide on September 9, 2026. Programs change their prompts between cycles; confirm on the program’s own page before you submit.
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Pick which of Yale SOM’s prompts it answers. The first look is free.
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Common questions
- How many essays does Yale School of Management require for 2026-27?
- 3 required and 1 optional, 4 in total. Every prompt is listed on this page word for word, with the length each one states.
- How long should the Yale SOM essays be?
- 500 words. That is the length the program states on its own page, which this record was read from on September 9, 2026.
- When is the Yale SOM 2026-27 deadline?
- Round 1: September 15, 2026. 2 other rounds are listed on this page.