The gift will create the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator to identify new technologies and prepare them for commercial development and licensing, as well as the Blavatnik Fellowship in Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Program at HBS. This program will provide MBA students with life science entrepreneur experience through exposure to the work done through the Accelerator.

The Blavatnik Family Foundation is headed by Harvard Business School alum Len Blavatnik (MBA ’89). “By partnering with Harvard’s world-class biomedical research division, I am delighted to help accelerate the development of new therapies,” says Blavatnik. “Moreover, by increasing the collaborative efforts between Harvard Business School and Harvard’s scientific community, we will empower the next generation of life science entrepreneurs and provide a further catalyst for innovation and research development.”

The dean of HBS, Nitin Nohria adds, “By bringing together expertise and experience from across Harvard, the Accelerator and the HBS Fellows program will further enhance Harvard’s commitment to innovative research and entrepreneurship. With student interest in entrepreneurship at an all-time high and with the resources of the University’s Innovation Lab and HBS’s Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship at the ready, we are well positioned to make the most of this generous gift from the Blavatnik Family Foundation.”

See the Harvard Gazette article for more info.







Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Does an MBA, specifically an MBA from a top program, really offer something valuable for entrepreneurs? Listen to the full recording to hear Linda Abraham explore this question and much more with entrepreneurs Casey, Hicham, Amaris, and Mike of MBAs Across America.

00:01:55 – 10 weeks in 10 cities: An internship HBS has never seen before. Meet the MBAs Across America team.

00:02:43 – The genesis of an awesome idea – it all started with dinner with friends and a travel-bug.

00:04:10 – There is no getting around it, Linda is jealous.

00:04:27 – Working and learning with visionary entrepreneurs in overlooked locations. How the itinerary was developed (and how a town of 900 people made it onto the list of destinations).

00:07:19 – What value will MBAs Across America provide for the businesses it works with? And a word about the storytelling component.

00:10:02 – Personal goals for the program: see the country, have fun, create a replicable model for future grad students worldwide, and more (I’m not giving it all away in the notes).

00:14:30 – What are their post-MBA goals and how does MBAs Across America fit into their plans?

00:17:57 – Given your entrepreneurial leanings, why HBS?

00:20:08 – Harvard’s supportive response to this unconventional internship idea.

00:22:42 – Some refreshing comments about honesty in admissions, going to grad school for a good reason (yay!), and priorities (high starting salary vs. impacting the world).

00:25:02 – Mike wants to be the CEO of GE.

00:27:44 – Great tips for HBS applicants from those who’ve been there.

00:32:58 – MBAs Across America is awesome! Go ahead and donate now to be a part of this internship revolution!

Click here to listen to the full recording. 

 Subscribe to Admissions Straight Talk in iTunes to keep up with the latest in admissions news and trends! And we do love a bit of feedback…

*Theme music is courtesy of podcastthemes.com.

Shownote Links:

• Subscribe to Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
• MBAs Across America
• Top MBA programs with a focus on entrepreneurship
• Harvard Business School Zone

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

 Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

A quick glance at

Harvard Business School Class of 2014 Profile

8,963 people applied to Harvard Business School in 2012; 13% were admitted and 925 enrolled.

The Harvard class of 2014 students have an average age of 27 and a median GMAT score of 730. 43% of students have educational backgrounds in economics and business. 12% (or 112 students) worked in financial services prior to attending b-school.

HBS Academics Related to Finance

The Harvard Business School curriculum is divided into two parts: the required curriculum (RC) and the elective curriculum (EC). Students spend their first year taking RC courses which cover fundamental business practices, as well as FIELD courses, smaller, hands-on projects that complement the case-method style used in the RC courses.

Term 1 Required Courses:

• Finance 1
• Financial Reporting and Control
• Leadership and Organizational Behavior
• Marketing
• Technology and Operations Management

Term 2 Required Courses:

• Business, Government, and the International Economy
• Strategy
• The Entrepreneurial Manager
• Finance 2
• Leadership and Corporate Accountability

Elective courses in the second year enable students to delve deeper into the subject areas that most interest them.

Finance Courses:

Clubs for HBS Finance Students

• Finance Club
• Venture Capital & Private Equity Club
• Global Business Club
• Investment Club
• Turnaround & Restructuring Club

Financial Services Employment Stats at Harvard Business School

35% of the class of 2012 graduates received jobs in the finance industry. See chart for sub-categories and salary details:

And by function:

Historically by industry:

Historically by function:

(These statistics – and more – can be found on HBS’s Employment Statistics page.)

A Few Finance Recruiters at HBS

• Goldman Sachs
• Morgan Stanley
• Merrill Lynch
• Credit Suisse
• Citigroup
• Bain Capital, Inc.
• Fidelity Investments
• UBS Investment Bank
• The World Bank Group

Are you applying to Harvard Business School? Please see our Harvard B-School Zone, Harvard Application Packages, and Harvard Business School 2013 Essay Questions and Tips for more information on how Accepted.com can help you get accepted.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Although some candidates may be tempted to submit a lengthy resume to counterbalance the recently reduced number of essays in the Harvard Business School application, Leopold cautions that a one-page resume is still a good guideline. Also, do not submit anything extra with your application. Period.

Don’t forget to manage the recommender process! Applicants must input their recommenders’ names and contact information before the application deadline, the director stresses, since that’s the only way they will be able to access the recommender form.

We all know business school is expensive, so if you are interested in applying for financial aid, sit tight for now because all need-based financial aid information goes out only to admitted students.

The online scheduler for first-year class visits have opened and the slots are filling up fast, so head on over to set up your appointment to visit a class and learn more about the HBS case method.

***

If you are looking for guidance on your MBA application, Stacy Blackman Consulting can help with hourly and comprehensive consulting services. Contact us to learn more. Visit the website for Stacy Blackman Reviews, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school-by-school guidance.

The dean himself speaks about his less-than-imposing demeanor: “Let’s face it: I am 5-feet-6-inches, bald. Charisma is not the first word that comes to mind when people meet me…That is not who I am.”

Maybe not, but perhaps the words “innovative,” “effective,” and “dynamic” should come to mind.

Some updates in the HBS program include:

• Emphasizing “doing” and “real world” experiences over classroom case studies, especially with the new required Field Immersion Experiences in Leadership Development (FIELD) course. (The case study method is still central to the HBS teaching philosophy; Nohria explains that the new initiatives affect less than 15% of the total curriculum.)
• Increased participation in local and global economies.
• Increased emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation.
• More active international programming.
• Expanded collaboration with other schools in the university.

Please see Accepted.com’s Harvard Business School B-School Zone for more HBS news and admissions tips.

Accepted.com ~ Helping You Write Your Best

Accepted.com’s experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages, or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top MBA programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn’t, so contact us to get started now!

This article originally appeared on the Accepted Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of Accepted.com.

Harvard Business School (HBS) has released some information about its new application for Fall 2013 matriculation. I know many of you have been waiting anxiously for this! Compared with prior years, there are some substantial changes to the application, including the essays and the overall process. Below, I highlight some of the notable changes, some of the notable things that have stayed the same, and some of the implications of each.

Among the most notable changes are these:

1. The number of essays that are due before HBS makes a decision about whether it will extend an interview to you has been reduced from four essays to two essays. Each essay is limited to 400 words. This represents a tiny amount of required essay material relative to other top business school applications, which tend to have essays totally between 1800-2100 words in content. The implication here is that you must do a truly outstanding job with the two HBS essays, since you have so little essay space. You need to think long and hard about what represents the best material to include here. Another implication is that, given how little space you have in the essays to present your case for admission, your other admissions materials will be all the more important – including your resume, your application form, and your recommendations. You will need to go over those other materials with a fine tooth comb! You should aim to use those materials to present your best credentials in compelling, concise ways in order to persuade the HBS admissions committee to extend an admissions interview invitation to you.

2. The resume can now be 2 pages long. In some past years, HBS restricted the resume to only one page. The resume will be more important given the brevity of the essay section. Make sure to use the resume excellently!

3. After the admissions interview, the candidate will be asked to submit within 24 hours a post-interview reflection essay. Note, however, that only some applicants will be invited to interview, and those applicants are the ones in whom HBS has ‘some interest’ after reviewing their written application. Thus, not all applicants will need to complete this reflection essay.

HBS describes the reflection essay process as this: “Following the interview, candidates are required to submit a written reflection using our online application system. This must be submitted within 24 hours following the completion of the interview. Detailed instructions will be provided to those applicants who are invited to the interview process.” (HBS website) This reflection essay will be very important. You need to use this essay to your great advantage, given the small amount of text you have for essays in this set. You should make sure you are able to devote the time to generate the best possible content in the 24 hours after the HBS admissions interview. This essay will be a true test of your writing abilities and of your ability to underscore the case for your admission!

4. The application is due in late September rather than in early October. Moving a deadline earlier in Round 1 sometimes signals that a business school is expecting a greater volume of applicants. HBS may believe this will be the case, since a shorter essay set may encourage more applicants to apply.

Among the items that have remained the same, are these:

1. Three recommendations are still required. The recommendations are a similar length as in recent years and have similar questions to those found on previous HBS recommendation forms of recent years. The recommendations will be all the more important now given how little space you will have to present yourself to the admissions committee through the two required HBS essays that are due before a potential interview.

2. The HBS admissions interview will be tailored to the candidate. The interview will be very important, so prepare for it excellently!

3. The HBS application form restricts how much information you can include with regard to past awards, jobs and extracurricular activities. This means you need to determine which credentials you truly want to shine a light upon. You should use the HBS application form excellently, in particular because you have so little space in the essays to present your case for admission to the committee. The HBS application form has many “boxes” (fields) where you can add text to describe your jobs, activities and awards. Use your words carefully in these areas. You need to use the HBS application form itself to shine and impress.

4. HBS will only consider one GMAT score. This is great news for those of you who scored poorly but were able to improve your GMAT score. Your best score is what will factor into the admissions calculation.

I look forward to providing more reflections on the new HBS set as more information is released! Be sure to visit our website at www.mbaadmit.com for more reflections.

Best wishes,
Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts)
President, MBA Admit.com

http://www.mbaadmit.com

email: mbaadmit@aol.com

Harvard Business School 2+2 Program Essay Questions:

The Harvard 2+2 application is online and the submission deadline is July 1, 2009. Harvard’s instructions and question are in black below; my comments and tips are in bold:

HBS will this year accept either the GMAT or the GRE from 2+2 applicants.

Last year, 2+2 had two required questions and offered a choice of topics for two additional required questions. This year, three questions are required, and HBS offers choice on just one question.

Required Questions:

1-What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

This is practically Harvard‘s signature question. It has been around for years, and it goes to the heart of Harvard’s values. Harvard wants highly accomplished students entering its program. It wants leaders.

At least two of the three accomplishments should show leadership and/or teamwork with the emphasis being on leadership. I also like to have this essay show some breadth. My ideal would be to have one professional/internship, one community, and one personal accomplishment in this essay, but that breakdown is neither set in stone nor imperative.

2-What would you like us to know about your undergraduate academic experience? (400-word limit)

Optional for regular applications, this question is required for 2+2 applicants. When introduced, I thought this query was going to produce monotonous, boring pieces, but it didn’t. To my pleasant surprise, I reviewed several responses as part of our quality control program, and they were revealing, excellent essays. Your topics will clearly vary depending on your experience and the rest of your application, but my ideal answer will discuss a leadership experience from your undergrad career to show that you are a natural leader. Remember: HBS wants to develop leaders, not create them. It should complement your other essays and reveal another dimension to your personality and experience.

3-What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)

People of initiative err. They must learn from those mistakes to be effective leaders. A friend went to her daughter’s graduation and quoted the valedictory address, “In school you learn lessons and then take tests. In life, you have tests and then learn lessons.” If you view your mistakes as experiments, lessons, or tests, you can grow and make sure you don’t repeat them. Show HBS through this essay that you are the kind of person who learns from your mistakes.

Again, preferably  have this essay reveal your mistake in a leadership role, and then applying lessons learned in a sphere of your life not covered by other essays. In the best HBS applications, each essay uncovers a different facet of the applicant and his or her experience. Together they paint a portrait of a dynamic, talented leader with initiative and exceptional ability.

Please also respond to one of the following (400-word limit each):

-Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.

New question. Harvard does not just want “engagement.” It desires leadership, impact, inititiative. Look to team projects, sports teams, bands, clubs, and other organizational commitments where you have had impact.  Discuss your role and the results of your “engagement.”

-What area of the world are you most curious about and why?

New question. The “why” part of this question is far more important than the “what.” In responding avoid boring declarative sentences like “I am most interested in Zimbabwe because…” Perhaps present symbols of the region, something personally meaningful to you that you can explain, or a story illustrating your interest to open your essay.

-What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

Harvard is one of the few, if not the only, top business school that has made the goals question optional. And even this one is a little different than the typical “What do you want to do and why do you want to do it?” The interesting twist to Harvard’s question is “career vision.” With Harvard’s focus on strategy, Harvard is asking you to develop your career strategy and discuss its importance to you. But don’t leave your answer on an entirely theoretical plane. Bring it down to earth with your plan for implementing that vision. In other words writing that you seek “a career leading an innovative enterprise, providing work-life balance, and allowing me the opportunity to contribute to my community” sounds great. But it will also sound a lot like other people’s visions. You need to have some idea of how to achieve that vision, define it more narrowly, and explain why it resonates with you.

For more on the concept of vision, please see “The Parable of the Three Stone Masons.” I believe that HBS is attempting to identify those who are like the third stonemason — perhaps with less religious fervor, but with well… that kind of vision. They are still working hard, with feet on the ground, but they radiate enthusiasm for a distant goal and pride in their ability to contribute to something much larger than themselves.

If you would like help with your Harvard 2+2 application, please consider Accepted’s essay editing and admissions consulting.

Other resources to help you with your Harvard Business School MBA application:

• The Consultant`s Guide to MBA Admission, an ebook by Cindy Tokumitsu and me with a focus on Harvard.
• MBA BlastOff: 45 Terrific Tips to Launch Your MBA Application to Acceptance, an ebook by Maxx Duffy and me with tips for H/S/W.
  

Final suggestion, actually from Dee Leopold, Director of Harvard’s MBA Admissions, watch the video Inside the HBS Case Method.