{"id":46186,"date":"2019-06-24T13:28:49","date_gmt":"2019-06-24T20:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/5-top-tips-reapply-to-harvard-business-school\/"},"modified":"2019-06-24T13:28:49","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T20:28:49","slug":"5-top-tips-reapply-to-harvard-business-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/5-top-tips-reapply-to-harvard-business-school\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Top Tips: Reapply to Harvard Business School"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t presume that Harvard Business School isn\u2019t interested in your candidacy solely because you\u2019ve been rejected before.<\/h2>\n

Often, MBA candidates endure more than one application cycle before securing a coveted place at their dream school. Furthermore, approximately 10 percent of HBS candidates apply more than once. Navigating the process once gives you more concrete information about what HBS really wants<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and how to deploy a more adept performance this time around.<\/p>\n

As the associate director of doctoral programs and a former member of the MBA interview board at HBS, I\u2019ve seen many cases where rejection breeds significantly stronger candidates. Additionally, I\u2019ve supported rejected applicants\u00a0<\/a>in strategically positioning a successful reapplication as a Fortuna Admissions\u00a0<\/a>coach. Here\u2019s what you need to know about reapplying to HBS, and the key aspects \u00a0to consider for maximizing your chances for success this time around.<\/p>\n

5 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR REAPPLYING TO HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  1. Ensure your reapplication stands on its own. <\/strong>Don\u2019t assume HBS will read your previous application(s). Generally, the focus has always remained on the current application, and it should stand alone. While it\u2019s true that prior application(s) are always available to the assigned reader, it\u2019s up to this person\u2019s discretion how deeply they choose to invest in past work. Be certain to relay what you\u2019ve accomplished since prior applications, as well as the ways you\u2019ve matured and evolved. Past records won\u2019t usually be examined unless aspects in your current application raise a flag.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Solicit external feedback.\u00a0<\/strong>Do you think what you communicated or wrote was found lacking, as opposed to the more quant-driven factors in admission? Maybe you advanced to the interview stage, but your performance failed to connect with the assessor. Sometimes, HBS will offer feedback, so it is always prudent to ask. Feedback from a trusted friend, or an MBA coach with experience as a former gatekeeper, can give you insight into better understanding what went awry and what opportunities exist for the future. Obtain a clear understanding around areas of improvement to help enhance your narrative.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. It\u2019s alright to reformulate your goals. <\/strong>If you suspect your post-MBA aspirations were the weak link in your past application(s), do some introspection and due diligence. Were your goals incoherently defined or unrealistic? HBS wants to see a thoughtful combination of ambition and realism, which means presenting your short- and long-term career goals\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>as credibly, coherently and impactfully as possible. Leverage LinkedIn to research professionals who may have followed your anticipated trajectory and try to identify models of success with the goals that you\u2019re developing. This can illuminate a clearer sense about the viability of your goals and path.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
          \n
        1. Stop to\u00a0<\/strong>reassess your recommenders. <\/strong>Should your recommenders remain the same, or should you source other people? Do their letters require subtle revisions and updates, or do they need more substantive edits? The answer is, it depends. Some applicants have an inclination around what their recommenders articulated, while others have no access to the content produced on their behalf. If the latter applies to you, stop to ask yourself \u2013 is this definitely the ideal person to advocate for my candidacy? If you\u2019ve switched jobs, you might consider someone new who\u2019s an immediate supervisor (though with a recent move, this isn\u2019t always appropriate). If you\u2019re returning to a previous recommender, equip them with the latest developments to share that reinforce your suitability and potential. Make certain they have ample details to pen the updated letter with specificity, depth and enthusiasm.<\/li>\n
        2. Elevate your essays by getting more personal. <\/strong>I\u2019ve written before about What HBS Really Wants<\/strong><\/a>, and it\u2019s worth repeating in this context: once you\u2019ve reached a particular echelon of brilliance, drive and dedication, it\u2019s all about your story. And great stories will inspire an emotional connection with the reader. Your willingness to go deep and get genuine personal can often make the difference for the HBS essay. To echo my Fortuna colleague, Sharon Joyce<\/a>, in Writing a Powerful MBA Essay<\/strong><\/a>, \u201cThis is a medium to be courageous.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          A wonderful example is a third-time reapplicant to HBS, whose remarkable essay gave goosebumps to my Fortuna colleague and former head of Wharton admissions,\u00a0Judith Silverman Hodara<\/a>. \u201cUnlike in previous years, this individual revealed an achingly personal account of the family dynamics that shaped her, which conveyed a level of depth to the positive impact she was advancing in her community and company,\u201d notes Silverman Hodara in her recent reflection<\/strong><\/a>. This candidate\u2019s willingness to share an intimate story that outlined her underlying motivations for pursuing the MBA uncovered a level of clarity of purpose and depth that hadn\u2019t come through in prior applications.<\/p>\n

          Lastly, don\u2019t fixate on your status as a reapplicant as being a disadvantage. Reframe it as evidence of your tenacity, streadfastness and commitment to HBS, yourself and the journey of becoming a more enlightened and self-aware person. Approaching your reapplication from this perspective will lay a foundation for success and allow your courage, confidence and sincerity to shine through.<\/p>\n

          Fortuna Admissions coach Karla Cohen\u00a0<\/a>is former Harvard Business School associate director of doctoral programs and an MBA interview board member. She was also a manager of the PhD program at INSEAD. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Don\u2019t presume that Harvard Business School isn\u2019t interested in your candidacy solely because you\u2019ve been rejected before. Often, MBA candidates endure more than one application cycle before securing a coveted…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,1831,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-fortuna-admissions","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46186"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46186\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}