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Admission & Application Survey |
| Full-time MBA |
HBS has an arduous application consisting of 8-10 essays, all of which
have a very strict (and short) word limit. Shorter tends to be harder,
so you must make sure every word counts. There are 3 application dates
and many philosophies on which one you should use. I won't go into
details, but recommend the 2nd date (usually in January). Either you
will be admitted on your application, or you will have an interview (or
you will be rejected). If you are rejected, and really want to go to
HBS, wait a year and get some more work experience -- but make it
count. I know a number of folks who go in the 2nd time they applied --
supposedly your chances are better the second time.
Like most schools, grades, work experience, recommendations and GMAT
scores are important. The best way to get in is start planning when you
go to college -- aka, get great grades, go to the right job, and take
your GMATs right as you graduate from college, as it is easier then than
later after you have been working for a while. However, for most people
reading this it is likely too late to change grades. As such -- focus
on your essays, GMAT score and recommendations. If you are a US
student -- try to get over 700 on your GMATs (many folks get in with
less, but the higher your score, the better your candidacy). I know
International students have a different bar (esp. if English is not your
1st language), but can't speak to that.
Make sure your essays flow and together tell the story you want to
tell. Make sure you hit on all the key elements of leadership and
management, and make sure you know the difference (use John Kotter's
book Force For Change : How Leadership Differs from Management -- it is
VERY helpful). Make sure that your recommendations touch on any of the
elements of yourself that you can't cover in your essay. Make sure both
your essays and recs use specific examples to describe each quality
about you that you are trying to convey. And -- be real, but don't be
humble.
If you get called in for an interview -- PRACTICE! And -- good luck!
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Harvard Business School Admission & Application Surveys
