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Quick Answer
The UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay set is designed to show the admissions committee your goals, values, and fit with the Carolina community. In a small group of short essays, you explain why you want an MBA now and how your past experiences connect to your future plans. Additionally, you’ll discuss how 1 of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s core values — impact, innovation, inclusion, or integrity — has shaped the way you lead and work with others.
Strong UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays share specific results, focused stories, clear goals, and concrete reasons for choosing the program. Also, they add context that the reader cannot get from your resume or test scores alone.
We have numerous successful UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay tips to help you succeed. So, keep reading for our UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA admissions essay guide!
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Prompts 2026 at a Glance
- What UNC Kenan-Flagler Looks For in Your MBA Essays
- How to Approach UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay 1: Goals and Personal Story
- How to Approach UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay 2: Core Values in Action
- Optional Essay: When (and When Not) to Use It
- Reapplicant Essay: Showing Growth Since Your Last Application
- Word Count, Tone, and Style: Writing Powerful Essays in Short Word Limits
- Common Mistakes in UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays (and How to Avoid Them)
- Final Checklist Before You Submit Your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Are the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay prompts the same for every round, or can they change from year to year?
- Are the essays for the full-time UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA different from essays for the online or executive programs?
- Is it better to focus on professional stories or personal stories in the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays?
- Can I reuse some UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay material in applications to other schools without sounding generic?
- How much do the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays matter compared with my test scores, GPA, and work experience?
- What’s Next?
UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Prompts 2026 at a Glance
The Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Prompts
The Kenan-Flagler MBA written essay prompts for the full-time application are:
Essay 1 (required): “We value the different paths and aspirations that each student brings to the UNC Kenan-Flagler community. Please share your goals for pursuing an MBA, or the path you’re considering, and how they reflect your unique background or perspective.” (250 words max)
Essay 2 (required): “UNC Kenan-Flagler is guided by four core values that shape who we are: impact, innovation, inclusion, and integrity. Which one of these Core Values resonates most deeply with your professional journey? Please share an example that demonstrates how this value has influenced your actions or decisions.” (250 words max)
Essay 3 (optional): “We encourage you to tell us more about who you are so we can get to know you as a person and potential member of the Carolina community. Use this essay to convey information that you may not have otherwise been able to in the application.
Optional topics:
- Personal or professional accomplishments
- Interests and passions
- Gaps in work experience or inconsistent academic performance
- Context for recommender selection
- A fun fact about yourself”
Essay 4 (for reapplicants): “If you are re-applying to the program, we appreciate your continued interest in UNC Kenan-Flagler. We require a complete application in addition to a brief essay that describes how your application differs from your previous submission and that alerts us to new test scores, a recent promotion, or other areas that demonstrate how you have strengthened your candidacy.”
The Video Essay
Video essay (required): “You will be asked to respond to two questions within a total time limit of two minutes.
Both prompts will appear on screen at the same time, and you may divide your time between the two questions however you see fit after an initial 20-second preparation period.”
KEY FACT:
UNC Kenan-Flagler requires 2 essays plus a video essay.
What UNC Kenan-Flagler Looks For in Your MBA Essays
UNC Kenan-Flagler’s MBA admissions committee says that your essays are “a great way for you to showcase your credentials, demonstrate your communications savvy, and tell us why you’re a good fit for UNC Kenan-Flagler!”
In other words, the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School essays want to understand your:
- Career path: In the first essay, you’ll share a realistic and specific career plan. Additionally, you’ll discuss why it makes sense, given your career to date, experiences, and perspective.
- Values in action: In the second essay, you’ll discuss a specific example of when you exemplified one of UNC Kenan-Flagler’s core values in your career so far.
- Community contribution: In the optional essay, you have the opportunity to share more about who you are and what you can potentially contribute to the cohort. Additionally, you may also share critical information about your candidacy.
Our UNC essay tips will discuss how you can achieve these goals while differentiating your candidacy.
TTP PRO TIP:
The UNC essay prompts challenge applicants to discuss their career goals, values, and personal traits, interests, and passions.
How to Approach UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay 1: Goals and Personal Story
Essentially, Essay 1 is your UNC Kenan-Flagler goals essay. Specifically, it’s a goals question, but UNC also ties it to your background and community.
What the Prompt Is Really Asking
In 250 words, you must answer:
- What do you want to do next (your post-MBA goals)?
- Why is this path right for you, given what you’ve done so far?
- How will your background and perspective set you up for success?
This Kenan-Flagler essay works best when structured as a goals statement, supported by personal logic. In other words, it is not a “why MBA” question.
TTP PRO TIP:
Essay 1 is not a “why MBA” question, but an opportunity to share your goals.
How to Structure Your Response
As you outline your essay, consider the following structure:
- A 1-line statement (10–20 words): A simple statement about your new goal and what drives it.
- Prior evidence (2–4 sentences): Pick 1 theme or experience from your career to date that inspired your interest and/or new direction. For example, this might be a project, a client, a leadership or learning moment, an industry problem you’d like to explore, etc.
- Specific details about your goals (2–3 sentences): Identify your target function, industry, and companies (2–3 examples). Additionally, discuss geography, if applicable.
- Articulate why you need an MBA (1–2 sentences): Share why an MBA is the necessary bridge between where you are today and where you want to go in your career. For example, discuss the gaps in your skills and experiences, and how an MBA helps to close them.
Of course, this is just one way to get started, and your essay does not need to follow this order or exact structure.
Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay Examples: Strong Themes
Here are a few example themes (not full essays) that mirror UNC MBA essays that worked. Specifically, these themes are specific to the individual and anchored in his or her experience:
- “I’ve witnessed firsthand how small businesses struggle to earn a meaningful return on their ad investments. Now, I want to develop products that boost a small business’s visibility and enable them to compete.”
- “I’ve led technical teams at large companies and understand how to build products from scratch. Now, I want to become the product owner who identifies a need and brings these solutions to market.”
- “In my experience to date, I’ve seen how compensation plans have helped — and hurt — business outcomes. Now, I want to play a more meaningful role in developing compensation strategies at scale.”
These are just a few examples of how candidates connect their past experiences and perspectives to their future plans.
How to Approach UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essay 2: Core Values in Action
At its core, Essay 2 is your University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler core values essay. Specifically, UNC names 4 core values — impact, innovation, inclusion, or integrity — and asks you to choose the 1 that resonates the most.
How to Structure Your Approach
- First, pick which value resonates most with you and your experiences. If you need help or inspiration, review details about UNC’s core values.
- Next, choose 1 story that aligns with your value. Then, outline the story using the CARL framework:
- Context: Describe the situation and stakes.
- Action: Talk about what you did — and why.
- Result: Discuss the outcomes — measurable and otherwise.
- Learning: Conclude with what the experience taught you.
- Connect your story to UNC. However, you do not need to write “Why UNC” in this essay. Instead, align your values with the Kenan-Flagler community.
TTP PRO TIP:
Choose ONE value and ONE story for essay 2.
Optional Essay: When (and When Not) to Use It
As a reminder, UNC’s optional essay is truly optional. However, if there are specific aspects you’d like to discuss about your background or experiences, you should take this opportunity.
You should submit an optional essay if:
- you want to explain a circumstance related to your academic performance or a gap in your professional experience
- your recommender was not a formal professional supervisor
- you want to share a key part of your story, identity, interest, or passion that isn’t shared elsewhere in your application
You should not submit an optional essay if:
- you’re repeating the same information from your resume, essays, or elsewhere
- you have a great essay for another program that you’re just dying to share with UNC
- you’re pitching your candidacy for UNC — without new or relevant information
First, the Georgetown McDonough optional essay asks applicants to:
“Please provide any information you would like to add to your application that you have not otherwise included.”
So, be judicious with what you share in the optional essay.
TTP PRO TIP:
Review the prompt for the optional essay carefully and ensure that what you submit adds value to your candidacy.
Reapplicant Essay: Showing Growth Since Your Last Application
If you’re reapplying to UNC Kenan-Flagler, you must submit a brief update about how your candidacy has improved. Specifically, you can address:
- new professional developments, such as a promotion, increased scope of responsibility, or a new job
- improved test scores and/or transcripts from recent quant-related coursework
- refined career goals and more recent interactions with and insights from students and/or alums
Ideally, your reapplicant essay shows growth and change from your prior application.
Word Count, Tone, and Style: Writing Powerful Essays in Short Word Limits
UNC’s full-time essays are short, at 250, 250, 200, and 100 words. Therefore, you don’t have a lot of word count to get your points across. So, you must clearly state your intentions.
Regarding tone, make sure your essays are direct and specific. Additionally, you should aim for a confident but grounded tone. Finally, be reflective when applicable.
Style-wise, you’ll want to use concise verbiage so that you’re not taking up too much word count with filler words. So, make sure that your responses are vivid and specific, but also do not exceed the word count limits.
Remember, the shorter the essay, the more challenging it becomes! If you think you’d be more successful with feedback, we can help! Request a free consultation with one of our experienced admissions consultants.
How to Prepare for the Video Essay
The video essay is another opportunity to share your story and communicate with UNC’s MBA admissions committee. However, you will not have the questions beforehand — this exercise will assess how you respond to spontaneous questions.
So, consider practicing timing — specifically, 2-minute responses — and speaking in a natural and authentic voice. Additionally, consider sharing additional experiences and stories that weren’t shared elsewhere in your application. Of course, your responses will entirely depend on the type of questions you’re asked.
Curious how to prepare for the video essay and MBA interview? Here are our tips on interview prep to guide your process.
TTP PRO TIP:
Practice your timing and speaking in a natural voice to prepare for the video essay.
Common Mistakes in UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays (and How to Avoid Them)
It’s easy to get off-track with the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays. Here are some of the common mistakes:
- Providing generic goals — You can’t just say you want to pivot into consulting. So, name your specific focus, your target companies, and the problems you want to help solve.
- Telling too many stories in 250 words — Instead, stick to 1 story and/or theme. For example, in essay 2, share 1 example that illustrates your chosen value in action.
- Differentiating your background and/or experience — Remember, essay 1 specifically asks about your “unique background or experience.”
- Misusing the optional essay — Follow the instructions regarding the optional essay and only share relevant information.
- Rushing through the video essay — The video essay is designed to learn how you think on your feet. However, you should practice answering common interview questions.
TTP PRO TIP:
Be specific about your goals and target companies and the problems you hope to tackle.
Final Checklist Before You Submit Your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA Essays
Before you submit your UNC Kenan-Flagler application essays, make sure that you:
- Answer each prompt directly, including your goals and background for essay 1 and your value and 1 story for essay 2.
- Provide evidence for your goals and actions to back up your claims.
- Share career goals that are specific and achievable, given your career to date and background.
- Stay within the UNC Kenan-Flagler application essays’ word count limits.
- Practice and give yourself time and space to record your video essays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay prompts the same for every round, or can they change from year to year?
Essay prompts are the same across rounds for each application cycle. However, the essay prompts can change from year to year.
For the 2026 application season, the full-time MBA application requires two 250-word essays plus an optional 200-word essay and a 100-word re-applicant essay.
Of course, always verify the essay prompts on the UNC website and online application before drafting your responses.
Are the essays for the full-time UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA different from essays for the online or executive programs?
No — each of these programs has its own essay prompts. So, follow the correct prompts for your target UNC MBA program.
Is it better to focus on professional stories or personal stories in the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays?
It depends. Generally, professional stories make sense in essays 1 and 2, because the prompts are about your professional goals and experiences. However, there may be a good reason to integrate personal details into your responses, so long as they help to answer the prompt.
Can I reuse some UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essay material in applications to other schools without sounding generic?
You can reuse core information, such as your career goals, key examples, and lessons learned. However, you will need to rewrite each of these to answer the specific questions asked and connect with each program’s community and culture. So, make sure that your University of North Carolina essay responses show your fit with the program.
How much do the UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA essays matter compared with my test scores, GPA, and work experience?
The essays matter quite a bit, as they demonstrate your communication skills, career direction, and alignment with UNC’s values. While a strong test score and GPA help, essays can help differentiate very similar candidates.
What’s Next?
We hope this was helpful to guide your process! Reference our overall MBA admissions strategy guide to create a plan, and our MBA application timeline to plan your UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA application timeline.
If you’d like 1:1 assistance with your applications, we can help! Request a free consultation with an experienced admissions consultant today.
