I agree with helloitsme16

Even though my resume covered a lot of the work that I've done - it did not cover what i learned from the experiences, both personal and professional, and how I can bring these experiences to school. I ended up writing about 4 aspects of my life that have shaped who I am today and elaborated on each. My essay ended up at 1182 words but I reckon anything between 600-1000 words will hit the sweet spot.

FROM HBS Admissions Blog: “Tasting” the Case Method – Class Visits

For those of you applying in Round 1, I know I don’t have to remind you that the application deadline is less than a month away—September 7. Coming up! Good luck as you pull things together over the next couple of weeks. What are we up to? We’ve been on the road a lot this summer, trying to spread the word about HBS. One of the things we always highlight (and receive lots of questions about) is the case method. It is the core teaching approach at HBS and, for most people, very different than their undergraduate experience. I could talk about the virtues of the case method (many!), but the rub is that it is actually very hard to describe yet easy to understand once you’ve experienced it in action—sort of like describing (vs. tasting) a new food or describing (vs. riding) a bike. So…an invitation. Come to HBS for a visit—for a “taste” of the case method in action. In addition to  the tour and information sessions we hold on campus, you can sit in on a case method class. I still vividly remember the HBS class I visited as a prospective student. Sign up for class visits here. Or if you can’t make it to a visit on campus, check out this video on the case method. Current students have also written about their experience with the case method here.

FROM HBS Admissions Blog: “Tasting” the Case Method – Class Visits

For those of you applying in Round 1, I know I don’t have to remind you that the application deadline is less than a month away—September 7. Coming up! Good luck as you pull things together over the next couple of weeks. What are we up to? We’ve been on the road a lot this summer, trying to spread the word about HBS. One of the things we always highlight (and receive lots of questions about) is the case method. It is the core teaching approach at HBS and, for most people, very different than their undergraduate experience. I could talk about the virtues of the case method (many!), but the rub is that it is actually very hard to describe yet easy to understand once you’ve experienced it in action—sort of like describing (vs. tasting) a new food or describing (vs. riding) a bike. So…an invitation. Come to HBS for a visit—for a “taste” of the case method in action. In addition to  the tour and information sessions we hold on campus, you can sit in on a case method class. I still vividly remember the HBS class I visited as a prospective student. Sign up for class visits here. Or if you can’t make it to a visit on campus, check out this video on the case method. Current students have also written about their experience with the case method here.

Consensus for the essay appears to be best kept at less than 1000 words, or just slightly over if need be. All focus on this for the next 1.5 weeks >.<

Hi all -- Sorry I missed this question/thread before! While HBS definitely values concise communication, I feel like if you are under 1200 and all of the content is truly telling them something they wouldn't know otherwise, that's fine. 1200 is my limit for my clients.

Hope that helps!


_________________

SBCErikaOlson thanks for the reply! Another question for you: in the employment section, there is a section for Key Accomplishments for each position. Do you recommend listing accomplishments (ex a list with multiple contributions fitting within the character limit) or focus on detailing one accomplishment story succinctly? Thank you!

In the extracurriculars section of the application, does anyone know if HBS prefers to learn about your post-undergrad extracurriculars only, or a mixture of post-undergrad + during undergrad?

If the heading is plural (Key Accomplishments), then it's fine to list out more than one. Whereas if the heading is "Most Significant Accomplishment," then I would stick to just one and try to use the space you have to tell them something else about it that isn't already in your resume.

In general I recommend not just copying and pasting from your resume into the data form for any field -- might as well use the opportunity to give them more insight/different details.



_________________

I always go by what the directions say (they are different for each school) -- if they allow a mix and you have good ones to mention from both college and after-college and you are limited to, say, three, I would do two from after-college and 1 from college. After-college extracurriculars are usually more differentiating because not everyone has them or is able to make time for them. But in general I would also say to pick the ones where you showed the most leadership... where your role/achievements were the most substantial.

Hope that helps!


_________________

Question about the language information section. I've never seen the option "some instruction" before - lowest is usually something a little more substantial. Is it worth listing that high school Spanish I haven't used since or better to not list it unless conversational?

High school Spanish counts as "some instruction" in my book, for sure, and I would advise you to include it. Hope that helps!


_________________

Hi SBCErikaOlson, any advice for having "analytical aptitude" come through in your resume or in other parts of the application? Specific words or what are good activities to describe? I do analyze a lot of reports on a weekly/monthly basis to optimize media, but it's not a very compelling resume bullet point I don't think...Other scopes of work to consider? Thanks!

I can't really recommend certain words without seeing the full resume or knowing a lot more about what you do on a daily basis, but I think rather than saying something like you "analyze reports," you could perhaps say what exactly you are analyzing in those reports. Are you looking for trends? Discrepancies? The more details, the better. Give them insight into HOW you go about analyzing the reports and what "optimize media" means (the results of your work).

Any time you can quantify results of your work, that helps. And any time you can really quantify ANYTHING that sounds impressive, that's a good idea as well. So instead of "Conducted client interviews," something like "Conducted 56 client interviews across 4 divisions," etc. Even when work is not inherently analytical, you can make it sound more impressive by including details like that.

Aside from your resume, the best way to prove you have an analytical aptitude is by someone ELSE giving examples of it -- as in, your recommenders. That carries much more weight.

Hope that helps!


_________________

Thanks!

One more question. Regarding "Were you ever the subject of disciplinary action at a prior academic institution?".

I went to a stricter university & got a semester of disciplinary probation for having beer in my dorm room at age 20. Disclose or not? On one hand, yes, why risk it? I know it shouldn't make a different in my app if they like everything else. On the other, no, why hurt myself? I know the spirit of this question is things like cheating (+ the fact the MA won't let them even ask about misdemeanors in the next Q). This doesn't show up in official transcript. Why have my app start with a negative impression?

Although it's not on your transcript, there's a chance it could come up during the background check that will be run if you get into a program and have paid your deposit to secure your spot. We've had other clients in these situations and have ex-adcom on our staff and they always say it's best to just be honest.

So just put one line in your Additional Info section that says pretty much exactly what you said below, but leave out the "stricter university" part as that's besides the point and if the university has a reputation, the adcom will already know it and it just sounds like you're making excuses (technically it is against the law if you're under 21, right?). So here's what you say: "I was put on a semester of disciplinary probation for having beer in my dorm room during my X year." (X should be freshman/sophomore/junior or whatever year it was.) That's it.

And don't worry, if they want you in their program this is NOT going to affect your chances -- I promise you.

Best of luck!


_________________

In my intended post MBA goals section I mention wanting to work in an international location for a top consulting firm. I specifically call out Asia or Europe. Does the adcom view this as being (a) too broad and (b) not truly feasible? Should I just stick to saying I want to work in consulting and advise international firms? Thanks.

I think the clearer you can make your goals, the better. It shouldn't be about what city you want to live in but rather what you want to do (and, elsewhere in your application, you've hopefully made it clear WHY you want to do it). So I would try to be as specific as possible on the type of consulting you want to do (strategy? technology? operations? etc), that you want to do it for multinational firms and maybe give an example of one or two types of firms that you would target.

So the structure would be something like "I want to be/do a ROLE/FUNCTION for a TYPE OF FIRM, such as X or Y."

Hope that helps!


_________________

This place is strangely quiet. Who else is submitting R1?

Oh I am. Making last minute edits to the essay and goals question. Biting nails, lips etc. Nerve wracking times. I see you changed your status to submitted? How do you feel? Big step!!

Good luck to all applicants!
Round 1 deadline is very very close and I'm in the final stages of finishing up my application. Like many of you, HBS is my top choice and I'm applying in round 1 after all the blood, sweat, and tears to get to this point. Feel free to message me and discuss the application process- It'd be my pleasure to get to know other HBS applicants!

Sent from my SM-G928T using GMAT Club Forum mobile app