The Stanford GSB "Background" Essay

Question: We know that each person is more than a list of facts or pre-defined categories. With this question we provide you with an optional opportunity to elaborate on how your background or life experiences have helped shape your recent actions or choices. (1,200 characters)

“Background" is an intentionally vague term, but some examples include your race, nationality, religion, hobbies, family, language ability, life/work experience, values/morals, etc.

Let's say you are an applicant from India based in the US working on a project that had a challenging aspect related to India. Perhaps there is a factory or tech center there experiencing difficulties that no one else from the US side could diagnose or resolve. Your cultural background (knowledge, experience, language abilities, etc.) would be of obvious importance and value in solving this problem.

The topic is another angle on the optional "impact" or "achievement" essays in that you are trying to show how your background allowed you to achieve something that other people without your background were unable to, but based on something more inherent to you as a person rather than some external ability. It is also another test of your self-awareness, which all schools value but which Stanford seems to prize more highly than other schools; the question is asking you to make a connection between an important aspect of yourself and how that aspect empowered you to provide a significant and beneficial impact.