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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 21 Aug 2015, 13:41
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AnthonyMason
Anyone else working on their application for R1? I'm having trouble deciding how long my essay "should" be. Seems like a lot of the freely available advice from admissions consultants is encouraging 800-1000 words, but I wrote something that I really liked that came in around 400 words. I had a friend who recently graduated from HBS look it over and they really liked it as well, but I'm still wondering whether I need to toss more stuff in to lengthen it.
Show more

Anthony, I am working on the essays as well, finished my first draft last week (haven't done anything since). My essay came up to about 600-700 words.
From what I read, I believe, the length of the essay is immaterial. The only thing that matters is your story.
If you do want to toss in additional stuff, do it only if it is consistent with the story, else it might end up looking like a mashed up piece.
Good Luck with your applications! :)
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 21 Aug 2015, 22:11
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AnthonyMason
Anyone else working on their application for R1? I'm having trouble deciding how long my essay "should" be. Seems like a lot of the freely available advice from admissions consultants is encouraging 800-1000 words, but I wrote something that I really liked that came in around 400 words. I had a friend who recently graduated from HBS look it over and they really liked it as well, but I'm still wondering whether I need to toss more stuff in to lengthen it.

Anthony, I am working on the essays as well, finished my first draft last week (haven't done anything since). My essay came up to about 600-700 words.
From what I read, I believe, the length of the essay is immaterial. The only thing that matters is your story.
If you do want to toss in additional stuff, do it only if it is consistent with the story, else it might end up looking like a mashed up piece.
Good Luck with your applications! :)
Show more

Thanks, I actually ended up making some edits and it is now about 700 words in (hopefully) final form. Best of luck to you too!
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 25 Aug 2015, 12:00
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FROM HBS Admissions Blog: Meet the Class of 2017!
Here's the Class of 2017 Profile...check back here for more in the coming weeks.
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it. -BB
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 25 Aug 2015, 14:26
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Can someone comment on why HBS asked us to watch the video before starting to write the essay? I wasn't able to incept anything from the video that may be useful for the essay....
https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/appli ... fault.aspx

We suggest you view this video before beginning to write.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 26 Aug 2015, 01:56
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In case you haven't seen it already, we have posted here a compilation of all important posts from HBS class of 2017 discussion. collection-of-best-content-from-harvard-class-of-2017-discussion-203276.html. In the article you will get a handle on application experiences of past applicants, important information about HBS program derived from their research, interview debriefs, school visit reports, and many other great things.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 26 Aug 2015, 02:57
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Anyone else working on their application for R1? I'm having trouble deciding how long my essay "should" be. Seems like a lot of the freely available advice from admissions consultants is encouraging 800-1000 words, but I wrote something that I really liked that came in around 400 words. I had a friend who recently graduated from HBS look it over and they really liked it as well, but I'm still wondering whether I need to toss more stuff in to lengthen it.

Anthony, I am working on the essays as well, finished my first draft last week (haven't done anything since). My essay came up to about 600-700 words.
From what I read, I believe, the length of the essay is immaterial. The only thing that matters is your story.
If you do want to toss in additional stuff, do it only if it is consistent with the story, else it might end up looking like a mashed up piece.
Good Luck with your applications! :)

Thanks, I actually ended up making some edits and it is now about 700 words in (hopefully) final form. Best of luck to you too!
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Hey guys - great to meet you!

My essay also ended up being around 700-800 words, but I'm still not 100% sure about the format. Do you guys write it more like a speech and a little bit less formal than you'd usually write an essay? I mean it says "You will have the chance to read this to your section classmates" - so I'd kind of address it to them. What do you think?

Thanks for your advice and best of luck with the applications!
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 28 Aug 2015, 08:44
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My biggest concern here, although it is a part of the largest financial services group of the country, my company is a completely local (emerging market, Turkey), hence globally unknown firm. Do you guys think that would be a serious problem in my application?
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! Updated on: 29 Aug 2015, 12:04
Originally posted by Amateur on 28 Aug 2015, 09:37.
Last edited by Amateur on 29 Aug 2015, 12:04, edited 1 time in total.
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Revisorx
My biggest concern here, although it is a part of the largest financial services group of the country, my company is a completely local (emerging market, Turkey), hence globally unknown firm. Do you guys think that would be a serious problem in my application?
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Hello Revisorx,
Are you banking on your leadership ability or your company's? In the application, you need to show how you advanced, not how your company did. Business schools will also be looking for the same. Remember, diversity in the class. If companies were so reputed, only applicants from industry leaders would have been admitted. If I were you, I will concentrate on how working for a local company, established to cater emerging market needs, has given you greater exposure.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 28 Aug 2015, 17:29
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jole101


Hey guys - great to meet you!

My essay also ended up being around 700-800 words, but I'm still not 100% sure about the format. Do you guys write it more like a speech and a little bit less formal than you'd usually write an essay? I mean it says "You will have the chance to read this to your section classmates" - so I'd kind of address it to them. What do you think?

Thanks for your advice and best of luck with the applications!
Show more

I wrote mine like a speech.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 30 Aug 2015, 01:13
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That the hypothetical audience of the essay is the classmates, not the ad-com is a real challenge. In regular essays, you are supposed to make yourself shine as much as possible and it is fair game. When it is your classmates you are addressing to on the other hand, there is delicate line between introducing yourself and bragging about what you had achieved. I wouldn't like to meet people at HBS whose first words to me (that is, their introductions) are how they had been ranked first here and there etc... There are a few places in the application form to talk about key accomplishment, but still, since this is the only essay and the thesis is introduction, it is difficult. Besides, as an applicant who is 31, it find it very difficult to stress out why now is the best time for me to go business school.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 08:03
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Does HARVARD need notarized copies of transcripts or documents that are to be uploaded? I hope its a NO since it hasn't mentioned any such requirement..
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 08:12
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They state on the admissions section of the website (see https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/appli ... fault.aspx under transcripts):

"You may upload an "unofficial" or student copy of your transcript; however, we will request an official copy for verification purposes should you be admitted to HBS."
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 08:26
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tgaucher
They state on the admissions section of the website (see https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/appli ... fault.aspx under transcripts):

"You may upload an "unofficial" or student copy of your transcript; however, we will request an official copy for verification purposes should you be admitted to HBS."
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Thanks for the reply.. Do we need to self attest or do any such thing or simply upload the documents as they are?
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 09:02
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Asheesh Nayak
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They state on the admissions section of the website (see https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/appli ... fault.aspx under transcripts):

"You may upload an "unofficial" or student copy of your transcript; however, we will request an official copy for verification purposes should you be admitted to HBS."


Thanks for the reply.. Do we need to self attest or do any such thing or simply upload the documents as they are?
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My understanding is that you just upload the unofficial transcript; I haven't seen anything that said otherwise.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! Updated on: 31 Aug 2015, 18:47
Originally posted by ct58255n on 31 Aug 2015, 09:15.
Last edited by ct58255n on 31 Aug 2015, 18:47, edited 1 time in total.
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hey guys
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 13:30
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Hello all, Hope everyone's apps are coming along nicely. Say if you've worked for the same employer in different locations do you just list your most recent location and Adcom can see from your resume that you've worked in different places?
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 13:38
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ZoSoKM
Hello all, Hope everyone's apps are coming along nicely. Say if you've worked for the same employer in different locations do you just list your most recent location and Adcom can see from your resume that you've worked in different places?
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My guess is that it all depends... same job, different location? Different job? Promotion? It sort of is a judgment call on your end.. I've got multiple entries for the same company, since I've changed positions and locations multiple times.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 20:18
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Submitted! :shock: Best of luck to everyone trying to meet the deadline.
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 31 Aug 2015, 23:23
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tgaucher
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tgaucher
They state on the admissions section of the website (see https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/appli ... fault.aspx under transcripts):

My understanding is that you just upload the unofficial transcript; I haven't seen anything that said otherwise.
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thanks tgaucher
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Calling all Harvard Applicants: (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!! 02 Sep 2015, 17:53
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Submitted. And now I wait.
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