Best Tweet could win $37,000 award from UI MBA program

There's the MBA application essay, and now the application Tweet.

The University of Iowa's Tippie College of Business MBA full-time program will award one full financial award package to the applicant who most creatively answers the question, "What makes you an exceptional Tippie MBA candidate and full-time MBA hire? Creativity encouraged!," in 140 characters or less. The aid package will be presented to a student entering the program in fall 2011.

The award is valued at $37,000. Deadline for the Tweet is July 28 and the recipient of the award will be announced Aug. 4.

"Social media has been shown to be a powerful tool for business communication, so it makes sense that our applicants demonstrate an ability to use it," said Colleen Downie, senior assistant dean of the full-time MBA program in the Tippie School of Management. "This is a way for prospective students to show us that they embrace innovation and are comfortable using the kind of media and technology driving so many changes in business."

She said students can connect their Tweet to blog entries, full resumes or expanded talking points elsewhere on the Web to impress the judges.

"We think that by saying 'creativity encouraged,' we open the door and allow people to go way beyond 140 characters," she said. "The best Tweets aren't all-encompassing, they are teasers that lead the user somewhere else on the Web where they can dive deeper. This exercise encourages applicants to show us they can draw someone in and so dive deeper."

Downie said students would need to be admitted to the program to be eligible for the financial aid award. That admission is based on the usual mix of factors, including academic performance, professional experience and demonstrated leadership.