Hi,

I have a conditional offer from LUMS (Lancaster University Management School). The condition I need to meet to convert my offer into an unconditional one is that I must submit a pre-admission essay.

The deadline given to me is a week and the essay must comprise 2000 words. I wish to understand the bearing of such an essay on my offer. Also, who goes through such essays the Ad Com or the alumni/current students? Is there anyone here who has worked on such an essay and can point me in the right direction?

TIA

Hello, I did the essay, and it was accepted, which subsequently led to getting an unconditional offer (although I decided to go with Durham University instead).
After submitting the essay, it will be given to the professor of the relevant department to review and grade. I don't know if we all received the same articles, but mine was an essay on marketing so I assume it was marked by a professor in the marketing department. I also got an email with the professor's feedback. They commented on what they found fascinating about my essay and provided suggestions on how it could be improved (I found this to be very helpful). Also, note that the report will be screened for plagiarism, so be VERY careful when utilising other resources.
I have a study gap of eight years, so reading the article and putting together a well-written essay was a tad bit challenging. The first thing I did was to read the article slowly and make sure I comprehended everything. It may seem complicated, but it isn't. Once you can understand the essay, you will be able to relate it to real-life situations (perhaps in your organisation).
The next thing I did was to do some research on academic essay writing in the Uk. I'm Nigerian and can't use the same format I used in uni. The academic standards in the Uk are very high; for a school like Lancaster, you need to write something impressive. Many websites on the internet will give you tips on how to write excellent essays. I can't give you too much information concerning my approach to answering the essay questions because that would be cheating.
Remember, you didn't write the GMAT exam, so this is the only way they can ensure that you have good critical thinking skills. 
I hope this helps you and other people in the future. Good luck!

[Edited by natha on Jul 11, 2022]

Hi Natha! 

At the onset, thank you very much for your detailed input. You've offered more than I asked for. Did you use an application for a plagiarism check? Which one was it? 

As per mentioned parameters shared by the university, the essay can have citations as long as the source is listed. Further, when did you submit the essay? how long did they take to revert with feedback?

Since it's almost mid-July and I have yet to submit the essay, I am also concerned about applying for visa. Thou, the website gives me the option to pay the deposit. Any suggestions from your end to navigate this situation? 

Thanks. 

Hello, I didn't use an application. I was already quite confident in how I presented the information without plagiarising, all while citing the researchers. I heard that universities over there use Turnitin to check for plagiarism. Although, if you use the website, it will upload your work to the website, and when your work is checked for plagiarism, it could come out with a 100% plagiarism result. I suggest you try as much as possible to understand the topic, and when presenting someone else's idea, try to write it in your own words and reference the source.

My essay was due on June 24th; I submitted it on that day and got feedback on July 6th. Perhaps, you could email the postgraduate admissions team if you want it to be treated faster.

Lancaster's semester begins on October 3rd as opposed to other schools that start in September, so you have 2-3 weeks extra. You could pay the deposit if that's what you want. Worst case scenario, they would refund the card you use if they're unsatisfied with your essay.