Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016

Anyone else running into writer's block on the essay? On my third version now, trashed the last two already.

I don't even know where to begin...

My gut is telling me to just go with a free-flow essay to highlight my personality... I really want to write an essay about how ridiculous most essays are and fill it with loads of humor... but Harvard is Harvard, and I'm afraid to submit something that could be perceived as "goofy"

Please don't do this.

There's a chance that someone could pull this off but reading this made us cringe.

From the Harvard essays we're seeing so far, the biggest problem is that it's not clear what the person is trying to say.

dave785, you don't need to tell Harvard Admissions that essays are ridiculous. They just removed the essay requirement completely, they get that! If you really feel that essays are dumb then a way to emphasize that would be to not write one! Instead, if you're going to do one, then use the space to convince them why you belong at Harvard, by offering stuff that's not communicated elsewhere in your app.

We have no problem with funny or showing a sense of humor (though we very rarely see someone pull that off in practice) however the "free flow" thing scares us out of our wits. Your essay must have a point; that's what essays do (good ones, at least!).

Good luck to all on this - it is not a simple exercise.

EssaySnark

I know exactly how you feel - on my 2nd one.. I think the point is to highlight something unique that can add more colour to your package (resume/gmat/recommendations etc.), but also provide even more consistency to your profile.

Good luck.

Reapplicant, will also (re)try!

Does anybody know the recommender questions for this year?

They're at the bottom of this page - relevant bits here:

I submitted my Round1-application a couple of weeks ago. According to the HBS website, the status on my GMAT Score Report is "Awaiting". I'm confused by this as the MBA.com website claims that my score was reported to HBS five months ago. Is this normal? Do you think that everything is OK, or is any further action required on my part?

Already? Wow.

Typically schools take some time (~2/3 weeks) to put in scores in your application file. Give them some time and you should see the right indicator.

Wow. Two months in advance. What if you get a big promotion or cure cancer during the next 2 months?

Posted from my mobile device

He'll have to send in an awesome update letter

Heck I was feeling good I had even looked at the application!

That's great, but schools don't even look at applications till after the deadline, so submitting SO early is totally unnecessary. Take a deep breath and take time with your applications, you all have PLENTY of time.

I have written thousands of words, opened up 5 windows of unsaved work, saved 4 drafts and all of them are WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Ugh.

Can I just say: "Please accept me, I'll be a good student! I PROMISE."

Count me in for R1!

Hi,

I had a few questions about an HBS MBA for Indian engineers, do they take only the IITians or do they at least look into others' profile as well? There is a myth(or truth) that HBS, Stanford, MIT etc they r only looking for IITians. How far is this myth/truth true?

Can someone outline the points which are extremely important for HBS (other than GMAT, GPA and Essay of course)..

TIA

@FinalFurlong, they definitely take more than just IIT but it certainly helps if you attended a good school. BITS Pilani, BMS in Bangalore, H.R. College of Commerce & Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru Tech U... these are just some schools that have fed to HBS that we know of. So this myth is definitely NOT TRUE.

What needs to come through in everything - including "GMAT, GPA and Essay of course" - is excellence. You need to show how you're ahead of your peers. You need to be a superstar. There's no one way to define this; it's very individual.

And even though we just said that you need to show excellence through "everything", that doesn't mean that everything needs to be perfect. It's very possible to get in to HBS with a low(er) GMAT score or a low(er) GPA. Probably not both. And much more difficult for someone from India, only because there's so many others from your area who are closer to perfect. But it's definitely possible.

That answer probably didn't help much... it's the kind of thing "you know it when you see it." It's the whole package. There's never one element that causes any decision in either direction.

That means, there's hope! And, it means it's very very difficult at the same time.

EssaySnark