Each of the degrees offered at BYU Marriott require a different application essay. This is a very important part of the application. Regardless of your GPA, we recommend that you spend a considerable amount of time answering the questions. We also recommend that you first type your essay into a word processing program, save your essay, and then copy and paste it into the application in the essay box below. If you logout, your application will be saved, but not formally submitted.
Accounting
Cover the points below in an essay of 100–500 words.
Tell us more about who you are outside of GPA and academic accomplishments. You may consider addressing some of the following topics:
- Tell us something unique about yourself that we cannot get from your grades alone. In other words, what differentiates you from every other School of Accountancy applicant? As examples, tell us about your background, experiences, challenges, attitude, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, motivation, and so forth.
- Briefly tell us why you want to be a BYU Marriott accounting major.
- Tell us about the non-academic demands on your time while you have been an undergraduate student. Examples include work, student athletics, student performing groups, volunteering, family, and so forth.
- To the extent not previously discussed, highlight anything that you feel is important for the admissions committee to know in considering your application, including any personal hardships or events that you have faced that may have affected you or your studies.
Please write a 50–300 word response to the following prompt:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/.
- After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated November 2023)
Entrepreneurial Management
In 100–400 words, respond to the following prompt:
- You will be given a link to complete a survey asking you about your experiences and interests.
- After completing the survey, please describe how these experiences and others listed on your resume have prepared you for the entrepreneurial management major.
Answer each question prompt in separate responses of 50–300 words.
- Using a specific experience as an example, describe your process for collecting and analyzing data to evaluate an entrepreneurial opportunity, make a decision, or solve a problem.
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated June 2024)
Experience Design & Management
Answer each question prompt in separate responses.
In 400 words or less, please explain how the ExDM major will help you achieve your educational and professional goals. To help you write your response, please be sure to address the following:
- What are your educational and professional goals?
- What have you done prior to applying to the ExDM program to achieve your educational and professional goals?
- How will a degree in ExDM help you achieve your educational and professional goals?
- What else has uniquely prepared or qualified you to succeed in the ExDM program?
Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others. (50–300 words)
(Updated March 2024)
Finance
Please write a brief (100–500 words) essay explaining how getting a degree in finance will help you achieve your personal and/or career goals and why you believe you will succeed in our program and in achieving your personal objectives. Consider addressing the following subjects:
- What are your personal and/or career goals?
- How will getting a finance degree help you achieve your goals?
- What have you done prior to applying to our program to work towards achieving your goals?
- What experience or exposure do you have to the world of finance (internships, Finance Society involvement, participation in Finance Society trips, important mentors, etc.)?
- What about your past accomplishments demonstrates an ability to succeed in the finance program?
- Is there anything else that has uniquely prepared or qualified you to succeed in the finance program?
Impromptu interview question.
(Updated April 2021)
Global Supply Chain Management
Answer each question prompt in separate responses.
- How have you prepared for the global supply chain management major? Please include any interactions with GSCM students, participation in GSCM activities, GSCM classes taken, experiences in clubs, jobs, internships, etc. (100–200 words)
- What appeals to you about the global supply chain major and how do you plan to use this degree in your future career? Please share specific examples from your life and your future career aspirations. (100–200 words)
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others. (50–300 words)
(Updated February 2024)
Human Resource Management
Answer each question prompt in separate responses.
- Why are you applying to the human resource management major? (200–400 words)
- What personal attributes, background, or experiences do you feel will help you excel in human resources management? (For example, you might reference involvement in student organizations such as SHRM, HR-related internships or jobs, etc.)
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others. (50–300 words)
(Updated March 2023)
Information Systems
Cover the points below in an essay of 300–600 words.
- Tell us about your accomplishments, background, talents, motivation to major in information systems, life experiences, challenges you have overcome, or anything you feel is important for the admissions committee to know.
- What is unique about you or your situation that should be considered with your application?
- Explain any deficiencies or irregularities in your academic record.
Respond to the following prompt in 50–300 words:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2023)
Marketing
Cover the points below in an essay of 100–600 words.
- We want to admit students who will be successful marketers. The key attributes of successful marketers include a passion for marketing, strong work ethic, and the ability and desire to learn. Market yourself by demonstrating evidence of these attributes from your life experiences such as prior work experience, internships, competitions, club participation, or coursework. Describe in detail one or two specific experiences.
Respond to the following prompt in 50–300 words:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2023)
Strategic Management
Answer each question prompt in separate responses of 100–200 words.
- Why are you applying to the Strategy major/minor?
- What is it about a career in this area that appeals to you, and why?
- What personal attributes, background, or experiences do you feel will help you excel in the Strategy program?
Respond to the following prompt in 50–300 words:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/. After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated March 2023)
Business Management
Please write a 100–200 word response to following questions:
- Why are you applying to this major?
- What type of career are you intending to pursue with this major?
Please write a 300–500 word response to following prompt:
- Business management is designed to provide an overview of multiple functional areas of business without emphasizing a specific area. Some of the challenges inherent in this approach include a lack of specialization, challenging career placement, no student cohort, and electives with variable availability.
- Please explain your understanding of these potential difficulties and how you plan to be successful within these constraints.
In 50–300 words, respond to the following prompt:
- Please review the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values at https://marriott.byu.edu/our-story/mission/.
- After reviewing the BYU Marriott vision, mission, and values, share an example of how you have exemplified one of these values in your leadership or service to others.
(Updated June 2024)
General Essay Suggestions
The primary purpose of the essay is to help the admissions committee see how you differ from other applicants and to get a picture of who you are in addition to what is on your transcript.
The ideas below are general suggestions. Make sure you directly address the essay prompt for the program to which you are applying.
- Show the committee know who you are—differentiate yourself
- Consider essay basics: (1) a brief introduction paragraph with a thesis statement, (2) paragraphs/subheadings that support the thesis, and (3) a strong concluding paragraph
- Expound on what your resume cannot portray; try to complement your résumé rather than repeat its content
- Be concise; make every sentence count
- Be creative, interesting, and professional
- Be genuine; avoid trying to tell the story that you think the admissions committee wants to hear; your tone will likely show through
- Talk about your service, church, or work experience in a unique way (e.g. a story); explain how your experiences and qualifications set you apart
- Be specific; more than half of BYU Marriott applicants are returned missionaries—if you want your experiences to distinguish you from others, you will need to be specific about what you learned and how you changed, etc.
- Explain how your participation in clubs relating to your preferred major helped you become a better qualified candidate
- Highlight your accomplishments; humility is a positive trait, however, you still need to showcase your strengths
- Explain positive outcomes; when telling stories about adversity, focus on what you learned or how you overcame those obstacles. Similarly, if you feel you need to “explain” low grades or a poor semester, do so in a positive, concise way without making excuses; e.g., include what you’ve learned and how you have changed
- Refer to recent accomplishments—when possible emphasize college experiences over those from high school
- Translate your experiences, even if they are entry-level jobs, into business frameworks, principles, and terminology; e.g., you can explain how your experience working in your local grocery store taught you about basic customer service, inventory management, or showed you the need for technological innovation in an established industry (e.g., self-service checkouts)