Harvard Business School has announced temporary changes to admissions and campus visit procedures as they grapple with COVID-19. Round 2 applicants will still receive an admissions status update at noon on March 31, 2020. However, the school will not hold the traditional Admitted Student Welcome (ASW) event for round two admits.
The suspension complies with university guidelines prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people, in effect until April 30, 2020. According to HBS admissions director Chad Losee’s recent blog update, the school is “working hard on virtual alternatives for you to learn more about the HBS experience and have all of your questions answered before you need to make a decision on our offer.”
Campus Tours
As of March 16, 2020, Harvard Business School will also suspend its campus visit program. Losee expressed regret over the necessity to halt these valuable in-person research opportunities for prospective applicants. He noted that for now, people can tap into the school’s online resources. These include virtual campus tours, a Case Method explainer, and resources to learn about student life.
COVID-19 and global information sessions
COVID-19 is officially a global pandemic, and as such, HBS will suspend all of its international information sessions. The university has restricted travel to help avoid spreading the virus, Losee explained. Meanwhile, the admissions team is working to come up with virtual gatherings, he added.
“We plan to tailor these opportunities by geography, industry, and other affinity groups so that you can learn more about what HBS offers for someone with your background and interests,” Losee said.
For now, Harvard Business School has not canceled the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) or the Peek Weekend Program for college students in June. These two programs invite interested students to campus, where they stay in HBS residence halls and participate in MBA case studies.
Finally, Losee urged applicants to check the HBS website frequently for updates, as recommendations related to COVID-19 are continually changing.
“We understand that this disruption to our normal slate of admissions activities may be disappointing to some of you. Truth be told, we are sad too,” Losee said, adding, “We hope you understand our desire, and the university’s guidelines, to put your health and safety first.”
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