In May, on the eve of the HBS application season, MBA Admissions director Dee Leopold (MBA 1980) announced a change for Class of 2016 hopefuls. There would be only one essay question: In addition to your résumé, test scores, and recommendations, what else should we know about you? And it would be optional. (A new writing requirement instituted last year will stay in place, though: A "post-interview reflection," asking candidates for their ruminations within 24 hours of the meeting—eliminating any opportunity to turn to professional scribes for help.)

Still, the changes mark the end of an era for the traditional essay. To honor that era, we asked alumni in our Facebook and LinkedIn communities what they remembered about penning their pitches to MBA Admissions.

"I recently found my application from 1983 when one of my kids asked about it. …The most amusing thing is the typos (but they still admitted me)."
—Roger E. Cole (MBA 1985)

"Working on the essays for three months was a part-time job to get them right. It was before personal computers, so a lot of retyping!"
—Kathleen Fitzsimmons (MBA 1981)

It was an easy way to determine which school fit me best. The HBS answers came to me easiest and felt most natural. There were a couple of other schools that I didn't even bother with because the questions didn't feel right. (I'm thinking specifically of 'If you had to leave a time capsule for someone to find 100 years from now, what three things would you bury to represent your personal, professional, and—something else—self.' No thanks!)"
—Jeni Golomb (MBA 2003)

"As I recall, there were six one-page essays. I crafted every word while on a week's vacation from work."
—J.W. Penland (MBA 1996)

"I still remember them, and much of what I wrote helped me to articulate my personal philosophy during and after HBS."
—Shyam Ayengar (MBA 2006)

"Storytelling is such an important skill in business. I liked the fact I had to sit down and craft a story that was credible."
—Mark Crowther (MBA 2003)

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