{"id":53176,"date":"2021-09-26T10:47:19","date_gmt":"2021-09-26T17:47:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/harvard-mba-the-complete-guide-to-admissions\/"},"modified":"2021-09-26T10:47:19","modified_gmt":"2021-09-26T17:47:19","slug":"harvard-mba-the-complete-guide-to-admissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/harvard-mba-the-complete-guide-to-admissions\/","title":{"rendered":"Harvard MBA: The Complete Guide to Admissions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Harvard MBA Class Profile: GMAT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and GPA<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Admissions Statistic<\/td>\n<td>Class of 2022 Numbers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>GMAT Score Range<\/td>\n<td>620-790<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Median GMAT Score<\/td>\n<td>730<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Average GPA<\/td>\n<td>3.70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>GRE Score Range<\/td>\n<td>Verbal: 148\u2013170<br \/>\nQuantitative: 145\u2013170<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Median GRE Score<\/td>\n<td>Verbal: 163<br \/>\nQuantitative: 163<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Average Work Experience (Years)<\/td>\n<td>4.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Women<\/td>\n<td>322 (44%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>U.S. Ethnic Minorities<\/td>\n<td>329 (45%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>International Students<\/td>\n<td>242 (33%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-48 from cache --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sources:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbs.edu\/mba\/admissions\/class-profile\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chart data from HBS website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Additional sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessmba.com\/?id=2684\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/best-graduate-schools\/the-short-list-grad-school\/articles\/2015\/03\/26\/10-b-schools-with-the-highest-gmat-scores\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beatthegmat.com\/mba\/school\/harvard-business-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">3<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/gmat.economist.com\/blog\/gmat-tutor-updates\/top-10-business-school-gmat-scores-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">4<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/whats-a-good-gmat-score\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">5<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/20130307025845-17970806-could-you-get-into-harvard-business-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">6<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mbadataguru.com\/blog\/admissions\/harvard-business-school-acceptance-rate-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">7<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/files\/2021\/09\/GMAT-Harvard-MBA.jpg\" alt=\"Harvard University\" width=\"1200\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11302\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>How to Get Into Harvard Business School: Admission Requirements<\/h2>\n<h3>GMAT Scores for Harvard: The Range<\/h3>\n<p>When you&#8217;re applying to business schools, shooting for a Harvard acceptance can feel like seeking the holy grail of MBA admissions. There are so many factors that go into business school admissions. Getting your GMAT score around the average Harvard GMAT score is difficult\u2014but possible. After all, the admissions office did accept more than 850 students in its class of 2022.<\/p>\n<p>So what does this mean for you and your GMAT score? Take a look.<\/p>\n<p>The average GMAT score for admitted students in Harvard&#8217;s class of 2022 was 730. And, actually, the median GMAT score for Harvard&#8217;s incoming classes of 2020 and 2021 were also 730. Therefore, to get a good GMAT score for Harvard, you need to score a 730\u2026right?<\/p>\n<p>Not necessarily! Average scores can be misleading. Score ranges are more telling. Harvard Business School admitted\u2014and has historically admitted\u2014students with a huge range of scores. In this year&#8217;s class profile, students scored between 620 and 790.<\/p>\n<p>Shocked? Surprised? Excited? Remember that 50% of students admitted to Harvard Business School got lower than the average score of 730. In fact, in previous years, students with 480 and 510 scores on the low end have gotten in, though in both cases, this was so exceptional that it was newsworthy.)<\/p>\n<p>Remember that the GMAT is only one part of your application. As far as Harvard is concerned even an 800 score may not be enough, on its own, to get an admit. Likewise, those scoring around 620 on the GMAT have demonstrated they are exceptional candidates in other ways.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aiming for a 700 GMAT score range is ambitious, but doable\u2014this video outlines how you can reach it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your scores are in the \u201cquestionable\u201d or \u201cshot-in-the-dark\u201d ranges, I highly recommend you do some serious GMAT prep or <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gre\/2014\/gre-vs-gmat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">consider the GRE as an alternative<\/a>, a test that is now well-accepted at HBS. Although statistics show there is still a slight bias towards GMAT applicants, if you can score much better on the GRE, that is without a doubt the way to go. Your extra laurels <i>may<\/i> be able to get your foot in the door, but why not make their decision easier by giving them scores that are going to raise fewer eyebrows?<\/p>\n<h3>Application<\/h3>\n<p>Harvard&#8217;s MBA application process is made up of three stages. In the first stage, you submit your written application. IF you manage to impress with this, you&#8217;ll be invited to an interview. Lastly, you&#8217;ll have to complete a post-interview reflection within 24 hours of the interview conversation. You can get more info on how to approach this with Magoosh&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/a-guide-to-the-harvard-mba-application\/\">complete guide to the Harvard MBA application.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Essays<\/h3>\n<p>Writing essays requires a lot of introspection about what you stand for, why you want to get your MBA from Harvard, and what you want to do with it.<\/p>\n<p>The admissions committee at Harvard looks for three key characteristics in applicants:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A habit of leadership<\/li>\n<li>Analytical aptitude and appetite<\/li>\n<li>Engaged community citizenship<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>You will want to demonstrate that you possess these qualities throughout your application. As well as introducing yourself and your achievements, you&#8217;ll also want to show a logical and well-researched career plan. <span>Take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/harvard-business-school-essay-2016\/\">complete guide to the Harvard Business School essay<\/a> to give yourself a headstart. Remember to be authentic and to focus on your story, rather than the story you think admissions officers want to hear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Other Requirements<\/h3>\n<p>In addition to the long essays, your resume, your GPA, and your test scores, there are also short questions you&#8217;ll need to answer. You can think of these as short essay questions because a decent amount of time and energy should go into them. is not something you can come up with overnight. These shorter essays ask you about your post-MBA career plans, your employment, and extracurricular activities.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;ll also need to choose recommenders who can favorably compare you to your peers and describe a piece of constructive feedback they&#8217;ve given you.<\/p>\n<h2>Harvard MBA Curriculum<\/h2>\n<p>Most MBAs will cover the same curriculum &#8211; core subjects like marketing, business finance, and accounting; more specialized electives; and some exposure to entrepreneurship. What sets Harvard apart is the caliber of its students and professors and the school&#8217;s approach to teaching business.<\/p>\n<p>Harvard is not only one of the top MBAs in the world. It is also the first MBA in the world. Harvard&#8217;s MBA is over 100 years old and the school continues to be a pioneer in business education. The case method of teaching started at Harvard and is still an important part of the HBS approach. The case method is a way of learning where the class analyses a case &#8211; a real situation from a real company. The class then discusses different aspects of the company&#8217;s challenges and their recommendations for that company.<\/p>\n<p>The case method gives you a chance to put yourself into a business leader&#8217;s shoes. Just like real life, the information is complex and many perspectives need to be considered. Another advantage of the case method is that different students, from diverse backgrounds, can give their points of view. It is often said that you learn as much or more from your peers in an MBA program as you do from your professors. The case method encourages everyone to give their view. Harvard Business School then gives students a chance to apply their learnings through<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbs.edu\/mba\/academic-experience\/curriculum\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> an experience-based curriculum<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Is an MBA from Harvard worth it?<\/h2>\n<p><span>Graduating with a Harvard MBA gives you access to 150 alumni career programs and an alumni network spanning from Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Ann\u00a0 Sarnoff\u00a0 CEO of Warner Bros, and Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg. And if that&#8217;s not enough, a\u00a0 fair share of senators, ministers and even a US president (George W. Bush) also graduated from HBS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span>Harvard MBA Employment Outcomes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span>A look at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hbs.edu\/recruiting\/employment-data\/Pages\/default.aspx?view=career&amp;year=2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">employment data from Harvard<\/a> from 2021, shows the median base salary for graduates is $150 000.\u00a0 Over half of graduates get jobs in consulting or finance roles. 85% The rest work in a diverse range of industries.\u00a0 85% of the class gets jobs in the US.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>But the return on investment of an MBA is not only about your first job. The career benefits will compound over your entire career.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget that having the experience, the friendships, and the transformational leadership lessons will also last a lifetime.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Set on Harvard but not the MBA per se? Here are some other Harvard programs that accept GMAT scores: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hks.harvard.edu\/admissions-financial-aid\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harvard Kennedy School of Government<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gse.harvard.edu\/admissions\/faq\/gmat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harvard Graduate School of Education<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And if you want to explore additional options along with Harvard, our <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/top-mba-programs\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Magoosh&#8217;s Top MBA Programs article<\/a> is a great place to start!<\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/harvard-mba\/\">Harvard MBA: The Complete Guide to Admissions<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\">Magoosh Blog \u2014 GMAT\u00ae Exam<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Harvard MBA Class Profile: GMAT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and GPA Admissions Statistic Class of 2022 Numbers GMAT Score Range 620-790 Median GMAT Score 730 Average GPA 3.70 GRE Score Range&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,783,243,940],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gmat","category-magoosh-blog","category-blog","category-gmat-prep-gmat","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53176","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\/133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53176\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}