{"id":56973,"date":"2023-01-18T11:28:56","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T18:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2023\/01\/hbs-22-program-for-college-seniors-how-to-get-in-3\/"},"modified":"2023-11-01T03:20:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T10:20:17","slug":"hbs-22-program-for-college-seniors-how-to-get-in-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/hbs-22-program-for-college-seniors-how-to-get-in-3\/","title":{"rendered":"HBS 2+2 Program for College Seniors: How to Get In"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"college<\/p>\n

What comes to mind when you think of business these days? If it\u2019s the stereotype of the grey flannel suit and traditional office environment, then Harvard Business School<\/a> wants to have a word. To reach college seniors \u2014particularly liberal arts students\u2014HBS launched the 2+2 Program<\/a> back in 2007. This deferred admissions program targets students who might have otherwise never considered business school.<\/p>\n

Candidates apply in their senior year of college and, once admitted, work for two years before starting the Harvard MBA program. Graduate students who went directly from undergrad to grad school are also eligible.<\/p>\n

Andrea<\/a> on the SBC team is the former HBS Associate Director of MBA Admissions who helped launch the 2+2 Program targeting college seniors.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Andrea explains that the program is all about getting the word out regarding what a graduate business degree can offer. Potential 2+2 candidates may have had few mentors in business. Or, an MBA degree might not be on their radar, given their current course of study.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one ever tells undergrads that business involves areas like nonprofits, government, education and social enterprise,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a sample of the HBS Admissions expertise on our team<\/a>:\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SBC\u2019s stellar team includes many deferred MBA program experts. In fact, it includes not one but two former HBS Admissions Officers who helped launch the 2+2 Program. Geri<\/a>, a former HBS Admissions Officer who now works on the SBC team, shared, \u201cI was closely involved when 2+2 was launching, so I remember this time well. The HBS class demographics certainly shift over a period of time, sometimes driven by HBS priorities.<\/p>\n

For example, based on faculty feedback (seeing a lack of flexibility in thinking from students who had worked for many years), the school began to experiment with admitting people with fewer years of work experience. This ultimately led to the 2+2 (deferred admit) program.\u201d<\/p>\n

What should college seniors know about the 2+2 Program?<\/h3>\n

To be considered for admission to the 2+2 Program Class of 2027 (entering fall 2025), you must graduate from your program between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.\u00a0\u00a0 Applicants should plan to take the GMAT or GRE test on or before the April 27, 2023, 12 pm (noon) ET deadline. HBS will continue to accept the online (at-home) version of both the GMAT and the GRE.<\/p>\n

College seniors outside the US. are welcome to apply. If you are an international applicant attending a non-English speaking undergraduate university, you will need to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score taken between April 27, 2021, and April 21, 2023. HBS will accept the at-home or online versions of these tests.<\/p>\n

The 2+2 application is essentially the same as the online application for the traditional full-time MBA program. It has a reduced application fee of $100 vs. the $250 fee for non-2+2 applicants. Note that HBS offers a need-based 2+2 application fee waiver. This waiver is available to all 2+2 applicants for whom the fee presents a financial burden (this includes domestic and international applicants).<\/p>\n

Notably, 2+2 applications have only one deadline: April 27, 2023. This allows you to submit fall semester grades for consideration. Interviews and decisions happen in May.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Although the name implies a two-year work period prior to the MBA, it\u2019s actually more flexible. In fact, the school says in many cases, they allow 2+2 admits to defer for three to four years in an HBS-approved professional opportunity. \u201cThey always approve a third year of deferral if you are working on something reasonable, i.e. not laying on a beach in Bali,\u201d says our HBS insider.<\/p>\n

\"college<\/p>\n

What is HBS looking for in 2+2 applicants?<\/h3>\n

If you check out the latest 2+2 class profile<\/a>, the educational background breaks down as follows:<\/p>\n