Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016

This is actually pretty encouraging. I don't think it matters that it is not a "perfect" comparison. When the sample size is large enough it doesn't matter i.e. last year's GMATClub members may look stronger based on stats (higher GMAT/GPA averages etc) but that can be cancelled out by other stuff not captured on paper.

More importantly, 8% is way below the expected value of ~18% interviewed for the intake (might be higher for round 1).

Lastly, this is completely meaningless and waste of my time when I have real work to do. But this whole bsch affair is like taking drugs. And refreshing the GMATClub forums is like taking small doses of it. Sure I'd like to take a huge hit (getting the invite), but that's not available right now. And I rather refresh GMATClub forums than deal with real life right now.

HBSGuru and other consultants have all said that the date/time of the interview slot makes no difference, so you should be fine with Shanghai.

I was told the following at an on campus info session:

1) No difference

2) about 1800 will interview, about 1000 will be accepted (all rounds)

3) The interview is just an additional data point. Following the interview the candidate will be judged based on their entire application, including the interview.


Hope this helps. Best of luck on the interview!

Hey,

I got a call, and yes Mumbai is appearing as an option.

Ha yup emotional support and sharing hope. It only makes sense that the more interesting applicants would come out in the second wave as they want to have the time to develop a better understanding of them.

YES that's the spirit.

Sad thing is when I read threads in the past year I always look at the people who stay hopeful after the first wave and think - poor bastards...

Sure enough, 80% of them would get dinged.

BUT THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT!! RIGHT?

For those who’ve received interviews: how many interview slots do you see available/already-taken when you sign up? That may be the best indicator of all on what % of interviews have been given out.

You can see it here... https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/Pages ... ector.aspx

An excerpt from the blog posted on September 18, 2013



Note the sentence in bold.

Skype = video + audio

Word on the street seems to be that the bulk of PE megafund associates have received invites, which suggests that the bulk of people who'll receive HBS interview invites have already received them. Not to be pessimistic, but if you look back at last year's thread, there was a lot of fuzzy, optimistic thinking very much along the same lines of this year's thread comments, so I'm skeptical (but hopeful) that this year's Wave 2 will be sizable.

Based on last year's thread, it seems like best way to know how big Wave 2 will be is to ask those who've received invites roughly how many "spots" were up for interview when they signed up for times, but I don't know if that is easily visible this year. In any case, as the wiser folks have noted, this is all pointless speculation that doesn't actually increase our chances tomorrow.

Good luck to everyone!

Best of luck to everyone today!

For those not receiving invites, hold your head high, cue up some Chumbawamba, and move on. There are great success stories both inside and outside of HBS, and they all start with great adversity.

You must be really nervous...

I wrote a long Essay, it was 1700 words and was invited. I also wrote about what was important to me, how i got there and where I wanted to go....

not to be self-delusional, as i am in the same boat, but i think there's some logic to dwal44's comment. i saw MBAGirlJourney decided to withdraw out of R1 FC with HBS and out of interviewing with Wharton to go to CBS. people make decisions based on many different factors - its not just based on US News ranking. we (R1 FCs) are probably borderline in a possibly under-represented pool or have some unique hook to our application (otherwise, they would have enough in R2 to fill the class) that warranted a second look later.

for you other R1 FC people: are you doing anything to supplement your application?

I'm a R1 FC, and I would love to believe this theory is true. However it's probably self delusional.

Posted from my mobile device

Ugh this waiting is tough. 3 weeks, 45 minutes to go!

Posted from my mobile device

Been trying to protect my sanity by staying off the forums but diving back into a couple of the topics going on. Firstly, my essay was about 1200 words, no subheadings, answering very directly the prompt "what else do we need to know about you" and quite personal (and hopefully raised a smile or laugh).

As for this topic, last year I applied to 6 schools R1. I got into three of of them, waitlisted at one and rejected from two. I turned down all offers to stay with my startup another year and now am going through the process again (now narrowed down to 3 schools to reapply to).

It was a tough push doing 6 schools R1 but what I realised after I got my offers was that it really doesn't matter how many apps you send if you don't feel like you connect with the school (and I mean *connect* not *you feel like it ranks well*). There were three schools I loved (one of which I got into last year), and I would be thrilled to be at any of them, and I'm applying to those again. The number of applications is less relevant than the fit with the schools you're applying to. It's a hefty price tag to settle for something you wouldn't be happy with. Obviously it depends on your career plan and how critical an MBA is, but if there are three schools you want to go to, apply to those three and leave it at that.

Good to see others are going through the same painful waiting process I am. I'm going to start on other applications too but I don't know how I'll concentrate properly with this hanging over me.

For those still waiting and interested I wrote an account of my interview day and evening reception in London, but it's a little long to post here. Link is below.