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Harvard MBA Program Guide 2025

All Business Schools
Official Harvard MBA Website
Harvard Business School (HBS) is a leading global business school in Boston, Massachusetts. It offers a two-year full-time MBA program and 2+2 program for college seniors. HBS is renowned for its case method teaching, diverse class, and alumni.
Read More
Harvard Business School (HBS) is a leading global business school in Boston, Massachusetts. It offers a two-year full-time MBA program and 2+2 program for college seniors. HBS is renowned for its case method teaching, diverse class, and alumni.
Read More

Harvard Class Profile

Harvard Class Profile
Average GPA:
Average Work Experience:
yrs
Applicants:
Class Size:
Acceptance Rate:
%
Yield Rate:
%

Harvard Deadlines

Official Harvard Application
Submit by:
Interview Invite by:
Decision by:
School
Status
Round
Year
GMAT GRE
GPA
YOE
Years of Experiance
Post-MBA industry
Location
Date
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 615 GMAT Focus
675 GMAT Focus
3.2 7 Consulting United States
05 Dec 2024 10:47 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 328 GRE 4.4 4 Finance Nigeria
05 Dec 2024 09:17 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 735 GMAT Focus 9.7 4 Consulting India
04 Dec 2024 11:52 PM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 655 GMAT Focus 2.8 6 Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals India
03 Dec 2024 12:50 PM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2023 710 GMAT Classic
740 GMAT Classic
4 6 Other Hungary
01 Dec 2024 08:42 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 655 GMAT Focus 3 Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals Brazil
28 Nov 2024 08:18 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 615 GMAT Focus
705 GMAT Focus
3.8 4 Consulting India
26 Nov 2024 11:14 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 7 Other Malaysia
26 Nov 2024 12:58 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 3.4 4 Manufacturing Canada
17 Nov 2024 01:30 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 338 GRE 3.6 5 Consulting United States
14 Nov 2024 07:51 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2025 710 GMAT Classic
720 GMAT Classic
3.9 3 Consulting India
11 Nov 2024 10:04 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied without Interview
Round 1 2024 760 GMAT Classic 3.8 6 Consulting India
08 Nov 2024 10:54 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 0 Finance: Diversified Financial Services Taiwan
06 Nov 2024 07:44 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 690 GMAT Classic 3.3 4 Consulting Mexico
06 Nov 2024 04:36 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 3.8 6 Media/Entertainment United States
05 Nov 2024 01:29 PM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 330 GRE 3.5 4 Other United States
01 Nov 2024 07:36 PM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 735 GMAT Focus 3.8 5 Finance: Private Equity United States
01 Nov 2024 02:16 PM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 335 GRE 3.9 5 Other United States
31 Oct 2024 10:01 AM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Interviewed
Round 1 2025 685 GMAT Focus 3.8 0 Pharmaceuticals and Biotech United States
30 Oct 2024 02:13 PM
Harvard
Full Time MBA
Denied with Interview
Round 1 2025 325 GRE 3.2 5 Consulting Nigeria
29 Oct 2024 11:40 PM
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Jun 4, 2023 08:06
Status:
Online
Interviewed on:
Feb 15, 2023
Final Decision:
Matriculating
The interviewer (a senior adcom member who was also HBS Grad) was so nice and welcoming - really mad... Read More
The interviewer (a senior adcom member who was also HBS Grad) was so nice and welcoming - really made me feel at ease throughout the process, and it felt really fun! 30 mins went by really quickly, and it did not feel like a rapid-fire Q&A at all. Was surprised at how many questions there are for my prior employer! Here is the list of questions: Ask about why picking my undergrad college. How was the exchange program (when I was a high school student) structured? How did you pick your prior employer and move to a different city? What is the big-picture view of your prior employer’s structure? What is your role at your prior employer? How did your role change as you moved to a more senior role? Which division would make the most revenue and which division would make the most profit at your prior employer? A follow-up related to my impromptu research on my prior employer Was dividing your prior employer into different product companies a good idea? Why do you think P/E firm would divide up the company? What was your thought process to go back to your home country and join your current startup from your prior employer and how did the transition go? What was the current startup’s mission, and how did it start? I answered the question, added on the long-term civic mission A follow-up on how did the users use the product of the startup? How current startup is doing, is it still a 10-person startup and what is the business model? What were the customer segments and did they change as the current startup scale? Who was the lead investor in the current startup? Did you participate in fundraising? Were there questions from investors that helped the current startup? How is working under the CEO? Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun? Read Less
Viet Nam
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Jan 4, 2023 03:01
Status:
Online
Interviewed on:
Nov 8, 2022
Final Decision:
Admitted from WL
I gave my interview in person and it was a great experience! For the interview know your entire appl... Read More
I gave my interview in person and it was a great experience! For the interview know your entire application well - anything you’ve submitted is available to the interviewer so the questions can come from anywhere. Be relaxed and be yourself- they are interested in learning about you- show them you are an interesting person to speak to and you’ll be good! Read Less
User avatar
Posted Privately
India
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Oct 20, 2022 10:10
Status:
Off Campus with Adcom
Interviewed on:
Oct 11, 2022
Most engaging conversation ever! It did not feel like the Rapid Fire Round description and it was on... Read More
Most engaging conversation ever! It did not feel like the Rapid Fire Round description and it was only as I reflected did I realize there were some 20+ questions covered. The interviewer was very warm, wore a smile throughout the conversation and brought in personal anecdotes that really helped build a rapport. We went quite deep into my company, talking about different verticals, industry, competition, sale cycle, product range, client, challenge, what I enjoy the most. I think 70% of the interview was on this and I apologised at one point for talking a lot, that I know I should keep the answers crisp and short but she reassured me that as long as you are doing most of the talking, the interview is going great we covered 1 question about my short term goal and 3-4 on my long term goal as to why, where, how would you realize it etc The last question pertained to hobbies I did not realise how 30 minutes passed. The interview flow was very organic and I felt like it was a conversation with an acquaintence! I enjoyed the process a lot! All the best to all applicants Read Less
User avatar
Posted Privately
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Feb 20, 2021 12:02
Status:
Online
Interviewed on:
Feb 15, 2021
Final Decision:
Admitted
Hello Folks, So I was waitlisted without an interview in R1 and finally got an invite to interview i... Read More
Hello Folks, So I was waitlisted without an interview in R1 and finally got an invite to interview in R2. I was allowed an opportunity to submit additional information where i mentioned my marriage, promotion, international publications, and my hobby of cooking. This letter i believe helped me go up from waitlist to interview. The interview was virtual and very laid back. Sarah Lucas from HBS was the only person on the panel and she started my interview with her wishes for my 1st anniversary. From the get go it was a very laid back interview. Following are the points we covered. 1. Why particular major and college ? 2. How has my firm helped me evolve as a person ( 6 yrs in same company ) 3. Discussion on recent promotion. 4. I had mentioned about restructuring in the company due to covid, she asked for more details on that and my views on it. 5. Why i was promoted when others were getting laid off. 6. Most challenging country to work in and why. 7. I had 10 international conference publications - which was most important for me. 8. Future goals - why i wanted to follow what i wrote. 9. Role of world bank in energy market ( i mentioned i wanted to join world bank ) 10. Do i think subsidy on renewable is good. 11. My hobbies. Sarah was very soft spoken, allowed me to do a lot of talking, was very conversational as she kept expressing her views on what i said too. Overall a pleasant experience, I think I could not have done better. Now fingers crossed for the decision date ! Read Less
India
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Jan 11, 2021 06:01
Status:
Interviewed on:
Nov 2, 2020
Final Decision:
Admitted
Interview went very smoothly, the interviewer set a welcoming and warm atmosphere which made me feel... Read More
Interview went very smoothly, the interviewer set a welcoming and warm atmosphere which made me feel much more comfortable. I also loved that almost all questions were straighforward about specific things from my application, so I basically knew how to answer them. Questions/talking points -specific thing about my essay, family background and how it relates to my background and goals -why did I go to my first job at a Big 4 and how it related to my goals -how did I handle the fact that my college education hadnt provided me with the basics to work with audit, valuation -how my participation at an Innovation and Entrepreneurship program connect to me transitioning careers to a startup -what do you do now (had just changed jobs after sendind application), what does the company do, can you give more detail on what X means? -can you explain more about the problems the industry faces -question about my volunteer experiences during college, if I had done anything since. How do I choose the institutions I work with or donate to -what about other industries, if you were not in industry Y where would you be? what if during the mba you do an internship, where would that be? -anything you wanted me to have asked you? follow up questions done! I don't exactly remember all questions but this is how much I can remember and hope it helps you. Read Less
User avatar
Posted Privately
Brazil
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Nov 16, 2020 12:11
Status:
Off Campus with Adcom
Interviewed on:
Nov 13, 2020
Final Decision:
Admitted
The interviewer was friendly and the full interview was quite tailored to my application. Not sure I... Read More
The interviewer was friendly and the full interview was quite tailored to my application. Not sure I remember all the questions (the interview was quite intense) but here are the ones I can recall: - Explain your industry and your current job - I mentioned a failure in my essay, he asked me why I thought I failed. - He asked me to rate myself in 3 areas (I don't remember..) - Current challenges in my job - He asked me about a trait I mentioned I had in my essay that didn't seem consistent with my management style - What did I know about HBS? How did I get my info? how would I thrive? What would be my challenges? - He asked about a hobby I mentioned in my resumé - A question I wish he asked. Read Less
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Nov 12, 2020 04:11
Status:
Interviewed on:
Nov 5, 2020
Final Decision:
Admitted
My interviewer was friendly but the interview itself was very intense - with high pace, a lot of sud... Read More
My interviewer was friendly but the interview itself was very intense - with high pace, a lot of sudden changes of the topic, a big share of industry-related questions and almost no questions to my CV. Generally I would group all questions I received as follows: 1. Industry-related (very general examples) - 50% - explain what you do - what your competitors are currently doing - what fresh new regulation is there (she definitely informed herself in advance, so I did not fell toooo fit there) - explain your project in plain english 2. "Explain" the stuff in the application - 40% - why exactly you got promoted - how did you persuade your management - explain to me the overall industry environment at the moment you started the project - why you choose exactly that point of time to switch - what have you been doing the last two months 3. Random - 10% - what are your hobbies - what are you doing during Corona She did not stick to the above structure actually, rather she was throwing questions randomly and at a very high pace, sometimes asking 3 questions in a row (I tried to answer them all!). I was not completely satisfied with my answers relating to industry, so I decided to bring some more clarity in the post-interview reflection. I have no clue what reactions my interviewer had as I was very focused to look at the camera. It did not feel like my best shot, but I could not have prepared anything better - it was so tailored to my very specific situation! Best of luck to everyone! Read Less
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Oct 29, 2019 10:10
Status:
On Campus
Interviewed on:
Oct 24, 2019
Final Decision:
Interviewed
Interviewer is very friendly and we covered my resume in depth. Generally each topic had the followi... Read More
Interviewer is very friendly and we covered my resume in depth. Generally each topic had the following 3 questions: what do you do, how did you get involved, and why did you do it. Asked how my day was and how was class. Asked about an special internship in college I highlighted in my app. Asked about a sport I played in college and what it was like being a captain. Asked what was the hardest part of becoming captain. Asked about my managerial style on my professional experience. Asked how did I get there and about my promotions. Asked how would I solve a problem in my future industry. Asked about an extracurricular I'm currently in. How did I get involved/ what do I do/ why did I get involved. Asked if there's anything more I would like to share. Read Less
United States
Posted:   Jan 30, 2018 02:01
Status:
On Campus
Interviewed on:
Feb 21, 2017
Final Decision:
Admitted
The experience was an absolute blur, but the interviewer kept the conversation very casual and made ... Read More
The experience was an absolute blur, but the interviewer kept the conversation very casual and made me feel comfortable. Having said that, you need to be ready and totally focused. The questions and follow up questions come quick, and you should provide thoughtful and concise questions to each to keep the energy of the interview up. Flow of the interview was as follows: Walked through resume from undergraduate experience to present. Random follow ups on personal interests and current events. Undergrad leadership experience Why undergrad major? Why job/company selected out of undergrad? Challenges, achievements in first job. Follow ups Challenges, achievements in second job. Follow ups Current assignment - how has responsibility increased? (I have worked for same company for 5 years, so the whole interview was showing how I've developed and taken advantage of opportunities in development program) Saw one of my interests in resume, asked why I enjoy it and asked me to expand (learning more about personal side) Asked where I learn about current events. What am I interested in in my own industry and other industries? What companies am I following, etc. Read Less
United States
Posted:   Jan 30, 2018 02:01
Status:
Off Campus with Alumni
Interviewed on:
Nov 25, 2015
Final Decision:
Matriculating
I interviewed last week in New York. Similar to what others have said the interviewer was friendly, ... Read More
I interviewed last week in New York. Similar to what others have said the interviewer was friendly, but he definitely came at me from the beginning. We did not touch my resume, or any of the traditional leadership questions that I had anticipated, instead he asked mainly curve ball questions really from every direction. I feel like I did well, I made a point to be articulate and conversational in my responses. To echo what others have said though, it was very apparent that his purpose was to get me off of my script and then push me around to see how I reacted. I think I reacted well, and he definitely had me off of my script from the first to the last question. My interview was 44 minutes long though, not sure if that is a good or bad sign! In the beginning he said there wouldn't be time for questions, and as we were wrapping up I knew we were already past time so I was very surprised when he said, "Do you have any questions?", and then after I asked one and he responded, he asked me, "What is another question?"! Whether I get in or not I know I did my best and there is no way I could have been more prepared for the interview. I am grateful that I did plenty of mock interviews and personal preparation beforehand though, had I not there is no way I would not have been a deer in the headlights 5 minutes into the conversation. Read Less
United States

Harvard MBA Employment Report

Full-time graduates:
Full-time graduates known to be seeking employment:
Full-time graduates employed at graduation:
%
Full-time graduates employed three months after graduation:
%
Average base salary:
Average signing bonus:
Consulting (25%)
Finance: Investment Banking (3%)
Finance: Investment Management (6%)
Finance: Private Equity (17%)
Finance: Venture Capital (6%)
Technology(16%)
Retail: E-commerce (1%)
Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals (5%)
Consumer Packaged Goods (4%)
Nonprofit (5%)
Media/Entertainment (1%)
Manufacturing (6%)
Government(5%)

Harvard Recommendation Questions

Full Harvard Recommendation Form
Please respond to the questions below in a single document.

How do the applicant’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (Recommended: 300 words)

Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Recommended: 250 words)

(Optional) Is there anything else we should know? Please be concise.

Harvard MBA Essay Questions

Respond to these three essay prompts:

Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)

Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)

Harvard MBA Program Cost

Per Year
Tuition:
Req Fees:
Room and board, books, & miscellaneous expenses:
Avg Indebtness of FT students:
Graduates with Debt:
%

Harvard YouTube Videos

More from YouTube
Harvard MBA in 30 Seconds: Rankings, Salary, GMAT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Class Size
HarvardBusinessSchool #HBS #MBA #businesseducation Discover key statistics about Harvard MBA Class in 30 seconds!
How to Prepare for MBA Interviews - Top Tips by HSB Alum
Get ready to crush your MBA interview and take the first step towards your dream business school! In this video, Gavriella Semaya ...

About Harvard Moderator

oiploiloi
Hi. It has been an unbelievable journey but I am super excited to have gotten into HBS in R2 and super excited to be starting in Aug 2024. If you believe in yourself and doubt yourself enough, you will get in!

Harvard MBA Application Deadlines 2025

Official Harvard Application
Submit by:
Interview Invite by:
Decision by:
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Jun 4, 2023 08:06
Status:
Online
Interviewed on:
Feb 15, 2023
Final Decision:
Matriculating
The interviewer (a senior adcom member who was also HBS Grad) was so nice and welcoming - really mad... Read More
The interviewer (a senior adcom member who was also HBS Grad) was so nice and welcoming - really made me feel at ease throughout the process, and it felt really fun! 30 mins went by really quickly, and it did not feel like a rapid-fire Q&A at all. Was surprised at how many questions there are for my prior employer! Here is the list of questions: Ask about why picking my undergrad college. How was the exchange program (when I was a high school student) structured? How did you pick your prior employer and move to a different city? What is the big-picture view of your prior employer’s structure? What is your role at your prior employer? How did your role change as you moved to a more senior role? Which division would make the most revenue and which division would make the most profit at your prior employer? A follow-up related to my impromptu research on my prior employer Was dividing your prior employer into different product companies a good idea? Why do you think P/E firm would divide up the company? What was your thought process to go back to your home country and join your current startup from your prior employer and how did the transition go? What was the current startup’s mission, and how did it start? I answered the question, added on the long-term civic mission A follow-up on how did the users use the product of the startup? How current startup is doing, is it still a 10-person startup and what is the business model? What were the customer segments and did they change as the current startup scale? Who was the lead investor in the current startup? Did you participate in fundraising? Were there questions from investors that helped the current startup? How is working under the CEO? Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun? Read Less
Viet Nam
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Jan 4, 2023 03:01
Status:
Online
Interviewed on:
Nov 8, 2022
Final Decision:
Admitted from WL
I gave my interview in person and it was a great experience! For the interview know your entire appl... Read More
I gave my interview in person and it was a great experience! For the interview know your entire application well - anything you’ve submitted is available to the interviewer so the questions can come from anywhere. Be relaxed and be yourself- they are interested in learning about you- show them you are an interesting person to speak to and you’ll be good! Read Less
User avatar
Posted Privately
India
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Oct 20, 2022 10:10
Status:
Off Campus with Adcom
Interviewed on:
Oct 11, 2022
Most engaging conversation ever! It did not feel like the Rapid Fire Round description and it was on... Read More
Most engaging conversation ever! It did not feel like the Rapid Fire Round description and it was only as I reflected did I realize there were some 20+ questions covered. The interviewer was very warm, wore a smile throughout the conversation and brought in personal anecdotes that really helped build a rapport. We went quite deep into my company, talking about different verticals, industry, competition, sale cycle, product range, client, challenge, what I enjoy the most. I think 70% of the interview was on this and I apologised at one point for talking a lot, that I know I should keep the answers crisp and short but she reassured me that as long as you are doing most of the talking, the interview is going great we covered 1 question about my short term goal and 3-4 on my long term goal as to why, where, how would you realize it etc The last question pertained to hobbies I did not realise how 30 minutes passed. The interview flow was very organic and I felt like it was a conversation with an acquaintence! I enjoyed the process a lot! All the best to all applicants Read Less
User avatar
Posted Privately
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Feb 20, 2021 12:02
Status:
Online
Interviewed on:
Feb 15, 2021
Final Decision:
Admitted
Hello Folks, So I was waitlisted without an interview in R1 and finally got an invite to interview i... Read More
Hello Folks, So I was waitlisted without an interview in R1 and finally got an invite to interview in R2. I was allowed an opportunity to submit additional information where i mentioned my marriage, promotion, international publications, and my hobby of cooking. This letter i believe helped me go up from waitlist to interview. The interview was virtual and very laid back. Sarah Lucas from HBS was the only person on the panel and she started my interview with her wishes for my 1st anniversary. From the get go it was a very laid back interview. Following are the points we covered. 1. Why particular major and college ? 2. How has my firm helped me evolve as a person ( 6 yrs in same company ) 3. Discussion on recent promotion. 4. I had mentioned about restructuring in the company due to covid, she asked for more details on that and my views on it. 5. Why i was promoted when others were getting laid off. 6. Most challenging country to work in and why. 7. I had 10 international conference publications - which was most important for me. 8. Future goals - why i wanted to follow what i wrote. 9. Role of world bank in energy market ( i mentioned i wanted to join world bank ) 10. Do i think subsidy on renewable is good. 11. My hobbies. Sarah was very soft spoken, allowed me to do a lot of talking, was very conversational as she kept expressing her views on what i said too. Overall a pleasant experience, I think I could not have done better. Now fingers crossed for the decision date ! Read Less
India
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Jan 11, 2021 06:01
Status:
Interviewed on:
Nov 2, 2020
Final Decision:
Admitted
Interview went very smoothly, the interviewer set a welcoming and warm atmosphere which made me feel... Read More
Interview went very smoothly, the interviewer set a welcoming and warm atmosphere which made me feel much more comfortable. I also loved that almost all questions were straighforward about specific things from my application, so I basically knew how to answer them. Questions/talking points -specific thing about my essay, family background and how it relates to my background and goals -why did I go to my first job at a Big 4 and how it related to my goals -how did I handle the fact that my college education hadnt provided me with the basics to work with audit, valuation -how my participation at an Innovation and Entrepreneurship program connect to me transitioning careers to a startup -what do you do now (had just changed jobs after sendind application), what does the company do, can you give more detail on what X means? -can you explain more about the problems the industry faces -question about my volunteer experiences during college, if I had done anything since. How do I choose the institutions I work with or donate to -what about other industries, if you were not in industry Y where would you be? what if during the mba you do an internship, where would that be? -anything you wanted me to have asked you? follow up questions done! I don't exactly remember all questions but this is how much I can remember and hope it helps you. Read Less
User avatar
Posted Privately
Brazil
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Nov 16, 2020 12:11
Status:
Off Campus with Adcom
Interviewed on:
Nov 13, 2020
Final Decision:
Admitted
The interviewer was friendly and the full interview was quite tailored to my application. Not sure I... Read More
The interviewer was friendly and the full interview was quite tailored to my application. Not sure I remember all the questions (the interview was quite intense) but here are the ones I can recall: - Explain your industry and your current job - I mentioned a failure in my essay, he asked me why I thought I failed. - He asked me to rate myself in 3 areas (I don't remember..) - Current challenges in my job - He asked me about a trait I mentioned I had in my essay that didn't seem consistent with my management style - What did I know about HBS? How did I get my info? how would I thrive? What would be my challenges? - He asked about a hobby I mentioned in my resumé - A question I wish he asked. Read Less
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Nov 12, 2020 04:11
Status:
Interviewed on:
Nov 5, 2020
Final Decision:
Admitted
My interviewer was friendly but the interview itself was very intense - with high pace, a lot of sud... Read More
My interviewer was friendly but the interview itself was very intense - with high pace, a lot of sudden changes of the topic, a big share of industry-related questions and almost no questions to my CV. Generally I would group all questions I received as follows: 1. Industry-related (very general examples) - 50% - explain what you do - what your competitors are currently doing - what fresh new regulation is there (she definitely informed herself in advance, so I did not fell toooo fit there) - explain your project in plain english 2. "Explain" the stuff in the application - 40% - why exactly you got promoted - how did you persuade your management - explain to me the overall industry environment at the moment you started the project - why you choose exactly that point of time to switch - what have you been doing the last two months 3. Random - 10% - what are your hobbies - what are you doing during Corona She did not stick to the above structure actually, rather she was throwing questions randomly and at a very high pace, sometimes asking 3 questions in a row (I tried to answer them all!). I was not completely satisfied with my answers relating to industry, so I decided to bring some more clarity in the post-interview reflection. I have no clue what reactions my interviewer had as I was very focused to look at the camera. It did not feel like my best shot, but I could not have prepared anything better - it was so tailored to my very specific situation! Best of luck to everyone! Read Less
Full Time MBA
Posted:   Oct 29, 2019 10:10
Status:
On Campus
Interviewed on:
Oct 24, 2019
Final Decision:
Interviewed
Interviewer is very friendly and we covered my resume in depth. Generally each topic had the followi... Read More
Interviewer is very friendly and we covered my resume in depth. Generally each topic had the following 3 questions: what do you do, how did you get involved, and why did you do it. Asked how my day was and how was class. Asked about an special internship in college I highlighted in my app. Asked about a sport I played in college and what it was like being a captain. Asked what was the hardest part of becoming captain. Asked about my managerial style on my professional experience. Asked how did I get there and about my promotions. Asked how would I solve a problem in my future industry. Asked about an extracurricular I'm currently in. How did I get involved/ what do I do/ why did I get involved. Asked if there's anything more I would like to share. Read Less
United States
Posted:   Jan 30, 2018 02:01
Status:
On Campus
Interviewed on:
Feb 21, 2017
Final Decision:
Admitted
The experience was an absolute blur, but the interviewer kept the conversation very casual and made ... Read More
The experience was an absolute blur, but the interviewer kept the conversation very casual and made me feel comfortable. Having said that, you need to be ready and totally focused. The questions and follow up questions come quick, and you should provide thoughtful and concise questions to each to keep the energy of the interview up. Flow of the interview was as follows: Walked through resume from undergraduate experience to present. Random follow ups on personal interests and current events. Undergrad leadership experience Why undergrad major? Why job/company selected out of undergrad? Challenges, achievements in first job. Follow ups Challenges, achievements in second job. Follow ups Current assignment - how has responsibility increased? (I have worked for same company for 5 years, so the whole interview was showing how I've developed and taken advantage of opportunities in development program) Saw one of my interests in resume, asked why I enjoy it and asked me to expand (learning more about personal side) Asked where I learn about current events. What am I interested in in my own industry and other industries? What companies am I following, etc. Read Less
United States
Posted:   Jan 30, 2018 02:01
Status:
Off Campus with Alumni
Interviewed on:
Nov 25, 2015
Final Decision:
Matriculating
I interviewed last week in New York. Similar to what others have said the interviewer was friendly, ... Read More
I interviewed last week in New York. Similar to what others have said the interviewer was friendly, but he definitely came at me from the beginning. We did not touch my resume, or any of the traditional leadership questions that I had anticipated, instead he asked mainly curve ball questions really from every direction. I feel like I did well, I made a point to be articulate and conversational in my responses. To echo what others have said though, it was very apparent that his purpose was to get me off of my script and then push me around to see how I reacted. I think I reacted well, and he definitely had me off of my script from the first to the last question. My interview was 44 minutes long though, not sure if that is a good or bad sign! In the beginning he said there wouldn't be time for questions, and as we were wrapping up I knew we were already past time so I was very surprised when he said, "Do you have any questions?", and then after I asked one and he responded, he asked me, "What is another question?"! Whether I get in or not I know I did my best and there is no way I could have been more prepared for the interview. I am grateful that I did plenty of mock interviews and personal preparation beforehand though, had I not there is no way I would not have been a deer in the headlights 5 minutes into the conversation. Read Less
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Harvard MBA Essay Questions

Respond to these three essay prompts:

Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)

Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)

Harvard Recommendation Questions

Full Harvard Recommendation Form
Please respond to the questions below in a single document.

How do the applicant’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (Recommended: 300 words)

Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (Recommended: 250 words)

(Optional) Is there anything else we should know? Please be concise.

FAQ

What GMAT score do I need for Harvard?

The average GMAT score for Harvard is around 740 (Classic) / 685 (Focus Equivalent) for the latest incoming class. As score is just one component of the application it does not mean that you can get in with 740 and someone will get dinged with 700.
Here is what you can use as a guide:
1) Are you from an over-represented demography? If yes, add 30 points to the average to arrive at a competitive score for your peer group.
2) Are you from a unique background or disadvantaged group such as a refugee or first-time college grad? You can subtract 30 points from the average and still get in.

What is the average GRE score for HBS?

Harvard average GRE score for the latest incoming class is 326. The dynamics for most schools with GRE admissions is that a great profile with a lower-caliber GRE score seems to be acceptable but a below average profile will usually not be able to get in with above-average GRE score. As the result, the average GRE score may look very tenable but it may not result into an Admit. This is just an average score and schools admit a spectrum of applicants.

Does Harvard accept without GRE or GMAT?

Harvard Business School requires that you submit either a GMAT or a GRE score for MBA Admissions. Both GMAT Focus and GMAT Classic are accepted. Note that you may need to submit an additional business writing assessment if you took GMAT Focus.

What GPA do you need to get into Harvard (HBS)?

Harvard average GPA is 3.73 note that the GPA is only calculated for the domestic US applicants and international GPA equivalents are not converted or included in this average. As the result, there is more leeway for international applicants as their GPA does not impact school's average but keep in mind that GPA's vary based on the prestige of the institution and rigor of the program attended. If your GPA is below 3.4 but is competitive for your program or background, you should address and explain this fact in the optional comments/essay available in the application specifically specifically for this purpose.

When is Harvard MBA program application deadline?

Harvard has 3 application deadlines:
Round 1 is September 4, 2024 (the best round to apply)
Round 2 is January 6, 2025 (still OK round to apply)
Round 2+2 is March 23, 2025
Round 1 is best for admissions and scholarships. Round 2 tends to be the most competitive. Round 3 is not for friendly for most applicants and has the least chances of financial aid.

How long is the FT MBA program at Harvard?

Harvard Full Time MBA program is 20 months long. You will start the program in August/September (the first 1-2 weeks will be orientation) and graduate in April/May. The full-time MBA program has a break for a summer internship.

Does HBS have a Part Time MBA program?

Harvard does not have a Part Time MBA program. There are many short executive courses, but no official Part Time Program

How much is Harvard MBA tuition?

MBA is expensive! Harvard MBA Program costs $76410 per year, plus $8444 in required school fees. In addition, you will need an additional $34000 per year for room and board (living expenses).

How many years of work experience do you need to get into Harvard Business School?

Harvard Requires at least 2 years of work experience for their Full Time MBA program. Two years is minimum and the recommended / ideal work experience is 5-6 years, which gives you more content for the application and is more likely to result into admission. More experience also offers a stronger resume and better chances for recruiting.
Keep in mind that having too much work experience such as 10 or more years, is often detrimental to your chances.

What is the starting salary for MBA from HBS?

Average starting salary for Harvard is $175000 per year. Many graduates report receiving a sign on bonus of $30000 on average. In addition, many qualify for annual incentive, retention, or performance bonuses up to 20% of their annual pay.