Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School
Average GMAT Score	731	GMAT Range	580-790
Total Applicants	Click here to know	Acceptance Rate	Click here to know
Class Size	934	Average Work Experience	53 Months
Applicant Deadlines	R1:08-Sep-2021 R2:04-Jan-2022	Decision Dates	R1:09-Dec-2021 R2:30-Mar-2022
Length of Program	24 Months	Placement Information	Click here to know

 

HarvardEssayfor the Class of 2022:

There is only one essay question for the Class of 2022:

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?

There is no word limit for this question.Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of HBS adcom who don’t know your world can understand.

HarvardEssayfor the Class of 2020:

There is only one essay question for the Class of 2020:

As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?

There is no word limit for this question.Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of HBSadcom who don’t know your world can understand.

Harvard Essay for the Class of 2018:

There is only one essay question for the Class of 2018:

It’s the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your “section.” This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.

Introduce yourself.

Note: Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.

There is no word limit for this question. Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of adcom who don’t know your world can understand.

HarvardEssayfor the Class of 2018:

There is only one essay question for the Class of 2018:

It’s the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your “section.” This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.

Note:Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.

There is no word limit for this question. Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of adcom who don’t know your world can understand.

To know more aboutHarvardSample Essayvisithere.

Essays for the Class of 2016:

There is only one essay question for the Class of 2016:

You are applying to Harvard Business School. We can see your resume, school transcripts, extra-curricular activities, awards, post-MBA career goals, test scores and what your recommenders have to say about you. What else would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy? (No word limit)

Essays for the Class of 2015:

Essay 1: Tell us about something you did well. (400 words)

Essay 2: Tell us about something you wish you had done better. (400 words)

A few important points to keep in mind while addressing this question are:

The situation need not be professional. It could be a personal situation.

The presentation of the frustration / desperation need not be overly dramatic. The context setting is most important here.

Clearly spell out the cause of frustration

Clearly spell out the outcome of situation

Thinking beyond the frustration helps only to a limit (e.g. how the applicant managed the situation) but not at the cost of word limit.

Good Luck with the question. If our experts could be of any help, do give us a call or reach out through the form on the right side of the page.

Essay 6: When you join the HBS Class of 2013, how will you introduce yourself to your new classmates?

Analysis:

The first impression is the last impression. Isn't that really what 99% of people in modern urban society would like to believe?

Any top ivy school MBA program is rigorous and one definitely needs help of his / her peer group in different capacities to complete the course. The camaraderie built over the span of two years would definitely help not only through the school but also beyond the program. Few years down the line after graduating from the MBA program, one may not remember the case studies done in 2 years of HBS program, but he would certainly remember the friends who helped him pass through the corporate finance course. Undermining the importance of networking in today's world would be a mistake.

To address this question, an applicant would be expected to put all his / her innovation skills to test. An innovative way of introduction would certainly leave a long lasting impression in a bunch of 100 odd students per section.

HBS is asking this question to understand what traits of persona the applicant values most as their reflection would show up in the introduction he makes to the peer group. Mentioning the work-experience in chronological order would be a hackneyed idea because it tells only about one aspect of personality.

The trick lies in combining the personal and professional traits in the introduction. To know more on addressing this question, let General Education Experts help you guide through the essay.

Recommender Questions

Recommendations must be completed online. The form includes the following three essay response questions, along with other types of questions.

Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250-word limit)

Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250-word limit)

Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250-word limit)

Essay Question For Year 2009-10

Essay 1

What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? Please limit your response to two, double-spaced, typed pages.

We suggest that you choose 3 accomplishments based on following factors:

Impact: These accomplishments should have made a big impact. The impact could be professional (e.g. increased sales by $XX, started a company, effectively managed a diverse team) or personal (e.g. changed you as a person).

Leadership: The example should showcase your leadership traits/qualities. Harvard is big on leadership and any example that underscores leadership would be powerful.

Diversity of examples: It would be advisable to have examples from different areas of your work (e.g. professional, community work). Must have at least one example from the professional environment.

Essay 2

What have you learned from a mistake? Please limit your response to two, double-spaced, typed pages.

The most powerful examples are one where the mistake is personal and the learning is powerful and lasting (e.g. something that has taught you to change the way you work). Focus both on mistake and learning, they should go hand in hand. E.g. On an assignment in a foreign country as a team leader, I did not spend time learning the local culture and the personality of my team members. This created a dysfunctional team environment which ultimately led to delay in the project. This taught me an important lesson to invest time upfront to understand my team mates.

Essay 3

Please respond to two of the following :

1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience? Please limit your response to two, double-spaced, typed pages.

Focus on something that is not already mentioned in the above essays and the one that showcases leadership (e.g. president of student association, started a non-profit, tutored kids in local school, played in a rock band) and also the breadth of your personality (e.g. examples of leadership role in sports or cultural organizations).

2. Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.Please limit your response to two, double-spaced, typed pages.

Give an example where you have made an impact (e.g. helped XX kids go to school, provided food to XX people) in a community organization. Just participation would not be a powerful example. Also, it should showcase a leadership trait (e.g. initiative taking, fund rising, stating a community organization).

3. What area of the world are you most curious about and why? Please limit your response to two, double-spaced, typed pages.

It would be good if your example ties into a story that you have touched upon in your previous essays (e.g. professional or personal). Also, your choice of place and why would convey an aspect of your personality, so think carefully before choosing your example.

4. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you? Please limit your response to two, double-spaced, typed pages.

Be ambitious in your career vision. Just saying that you want to work in a strategy consulting firm is not ambitious enough (that is easy if you get into Harvard). Harvard looks for people who have the vision to make a big impact in the world. So, be ambitious and bold, yet realistic in your career vision (e.g. entrepreneurship).

Also, the part about why it is meaningful is very important. This conveys what you value.