Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants

People have differing opinions on HBS interviews, but the consensus is that it is more important than other schools due to the fact that they interview so few people and the admit rate post interview is very high (50-60%). How much more important is up for debate. My personal view is that for some people (regular and marginal candidates) it is make or break, but for others (superstar clear admits) it can only break you. I don't know exactly where the lines are drawn, but my advice would be to take it seriously and do the best you can... you don't want to kick yourself afterward for taking it too lightly and not prepping potentially obvious questions (3 weaknesses or mistakes or something).

3 people on the BW forums have posted interview invitations after Feb 9th! HBS is definitely still sending out those 50-100 interview invites.

Here is also some interesting information from the HBS blog:

"More About Round 2
Date: February 12, 2009
Here's a question I've been asked a few (hundred) times in the past few days:

Why doesn't HBS send out denials at the same time we issue interview invitations?

We don't send out final decisions until the notification date because we need to see the results of the interview process before we extend offers to join the waitlist. After we've finished interviewing, we want to make sure we are still considering enough candidates from certain profiles - which include nationality, gender, industry background, leadership styles...and other dimensions - to compose the overall portfolio of next year's class. This is why it is important for us to keep EVERY round 2 applicant under consideration until notification day. I know this process isn't perfect, but I am absolutely certain that it's thoughtful and thorough."

Great news !! Good luck to you for the same.

But this wait now for an interview invite is killing

Congrats maverick and agrawal!

Has anybody completed their R2 interview yet?

just wanted to add my name to the list - r2 applicant, awaiting an interview.

seems pretty brutal so far for harvard r2... good luck to all!

Hey everyone,

I had my on-campus interview a couple weeks back. Overall, a lot of atypical questions, such as

1) how do you think your undergrad institution markets itself
2) what would you do differently to market it (i found these kinda odd since i never really indicated an interest for marketing)
3) what's your favorite book
4) something people are surprised to know about you

they left out a lot of things like
1) why harvard? 2) why mba?


overall, my interview was real pleasant and despite a couple things i wish i could've taken back, i really don't have many complaints.... just a little more than 3 weeks left!

Any of my fellow waitlisters get that email this afternoon to confirm your waitlist status? Kinda weird.

Yeah, I did. It seems like they are making final decisions for many WLers on April 2nd. The last thing I want is to stay on the list after that day...

Agreed.

It seems like they sent this update to everyone (haven't seen anyone say they didn't get it), which is in contrast to last year. On last year's HBS WL thread on BW only 3-4 people reported getting this email a bit before the R2 notification date. All of them got in. If only we all could be so lucky!

That's exactly what I was hoping for. I wished the email meant I was pretty much in, but everyone seemed to get the email. Having said that, I am pretty much in love with Booth. It would be emotionally difficult for me to choose any school over Booth.

I say...might as well add me to the R3 applicant list .

I dont like how they phrased it "shortly after." That could mean a lot of thing. They are so crafty. I was also hoping that there would be more than 40 admits off the waitlist since I was wishful that there were more WLers this year than the past...

Yeah it seems like they've changed their tune a bit on the timing. I think 2 different communications said on April 2nd, but I'm not sure.

I was hoping for more than 40 as well, which I believe is the same number as last year. Estimates on BusinessWeek say 200-250 on the waitlist, so at best we have a 20% chance.

Good luck!

And so D-Day has finally arrived...best of luck to all our GMAT Clubbers tomorrow!!

Good luck guys! I hope you're able to sleep tonight (I definitely didn't before R1)...

Hopefully we'll pick up a few more G-Club admits tomorrow!!

Good luck to us all! This wait is a killer.

good luck guys !!!!!!!!!!