Calling all Harvard (HBS) Applicants Class of 2020 (2018 intake)

I was waiting for this for too long. *excited*!

Gavriel from Israel soon turning 30.

Applying to R1, now working on my essays.

A little about myself:

Recently discharges intelligence officer, now a product manager at a 700 employees startup company.
B.Sc in computer science (GPA 3.3), M.A in government (cum laude).
GMAT 740, TOEFL 110.
Married+2.

Best of luck to everybody.
Let's make this dream come true!

This is it! :D
Applying on R1 as well, still studying for the GMAT- will take it on June 23rd

Good luck everyone! Let the party begin.

FROM HBS Admissions Blog: Ready for 2020!

I’m happy to report that the application for the Class of 2020 is now live. The application submission deadlines are: MBA Class of 2020 Applicants Round 1: September 6, 2017 Round 2: January 3, 2018 Round 3: April 2, 2018 2+2 Applicants April 10, 2018 I’m also delighted to announce that HBS will now waive the $250 application fee for all active duty military applicants. You can read more about that update here. The Admissions team will be traveling all over the world this summer to meet with you and chat about the MBA program. Please take a look at our Events page and fill out a “Getting Started” profile to be notified when we’re in your area. Hope to see you soon!

Hey Goidelg,

As a former US military officer with a similar background, I think you have great stats and would make an excellent candidate for HBS in particular. Just make sure you don't rest on your resume and instead really devote yourself to telling a compelling personal narrative that ties together your past inspirations and motivations, through HBS, to your future aspirations. If you can do that you should have an excellent shot at admission.

Best of luck! Hope to see you in Boston.

Hey guys, first post here. Just recently joined. Won't be applying for the normal MBA app, but am thinking of applying to the 2+2 program, since I'll be in my last year of undergrad (Electrical/Electronic engineering) starting Sept 2017. Currently on an internship at a Fortune 100 in the Silicon Valley, and will be joining it following my degree.

Small question, this is the first time I've looked at this whole application process in detail, so what would you guys suggest I start off with? I'm thinking of first studying for the GMAT and get as high score as possible (until September) and then focus on essays/LoR's and the application. Good strategy or would you suggest something else?

Hi guys,
All the best for the application process.

I am Vishrut from India & I'll be applying in R1.
Planning to pursue a double MBA from HBS; completed my first MBA from IIM Ahmedabad in 2014. I have three years of work experience in pharmaceutical industry.

Looking forward to connect with someone who is also gearing up for a double MBA this year.

All the best again

Out of interest why are you going for another MBA?

Hi stickman,

Its a good thing that you are thinking about business schools at such a young age. GMAT forms a very important part of the 2+2 application so definitely aim at a high score. However as HBS always recommends its 2+2 applicants "Start as early as possible". Although it may seem that the 2+2 deadline is really far away, these 10 months will run by very quickly. You can start your application now and just fill out some basic details about yourself. Further just start brainstorming for your essay, start thinking about who would you ask for your recommendations, work hard on your internships and try to be involved in some community services. Think about why do you need an MBA, your short term and long terms goals and how would HBS help you achieve them. It is very important to connect all the dots in your story before you apply. A lot will change in the next 2+ years, but having a bit more clarity on your options will certainly help you gain a lot more out of the time between now and the time you matriculate.

Hope this helps. All the best.

Agreed with the above statement. I personally would try to get the highest GMAT score you think you can get out of the way. Having the GMAT taken care of allows you to focus solely on the rest of your application.

All - knowing how helpful this forum has been for me, I'll be checking in periodically to help out as much as I can. Feel free to post any questions here or PM me.

Hi fellow HBS applicants!

I'm starting to work on the app and realized that the essay question/option to upload isn't available anywhere in the applicant portal (there isn't even an essay area like there is for recommendations, resume, extracurriculars etc).

Does anyone have any insight on where this would be since the application is fully live at this point?

Hi all! I'm applying to HBS Round 1, though still studying for the GMAT.. Taking it on August 19 after 2 attempts already (changed my study material from Veritas to Manhattan). I'm a prior enlisted female veteran (USAF) and it's my understanding that HBS, like many other top tier b-schools, are partial to officers so I've got my work cut out for me.

I'm a mother of 2 awesome kids and the lucky spouse of a very supportive hubby. Finally, looking to break into environmental sustainability through b-school. Good luck to everyone and hope to see you in Boston!

Posted from my mobile device

Posted from my mobile device

Welcome to GMAT Club! Many Top schools take a number of Military and Officer candidates. You may want to visit this thread for Military Applicants: https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all- ... 17779.html It is probably time for the next year's thread - feel free to start the 2018 one!


Edit. There is already the 2018 one: https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all- ... 40848.html

Thanks mate! I am not resting on laurels and putting much effort on the application.
Best of luck!

HBS -- and other top programs in general -- doesn't care about whether an applicant was an officer or enlisted.

You see a disproportionate ratio of officers to enlisted at business schools because officers are more likely to view an MBA as their next career move post-EAS and as such they apply to business schools in much larger numbers than enlisted personnel.

Additionally, officers are more likely to have academic backgrounds that make them competitive for admission to MBA programs -- i.e. strong GMAT/GRE scores and solid GPAs from highly-regarded undergraduate programs.

If you were to control for those factors I'd wager that admission rates for, say, E-5s vs. O-3s are essentially identical.

Hey JLyons -- I'd say that HBS loves veterans, not just military officers. Sure there are not nearly as many prior enlisted walking around HBS (I know a few), but that makes well-situated applicants like you who know how to effectively communicate their story all the more attractive to the admissions committee. I would wear your prior service proudly in the application process! You've overcome a lot more to get to the point of applying than a lot of vets like me who went to OCS, or the ones who went to a service academy.

My wife (also HBS) and I also used Manhattan- GMAT and GRE prep books to get 99+ percentile scores on each respectively, so you're using the right stuff. Now it's all in the tricks you use to get the most out of the studying, and performing at your best on test day. Happy to help!

What are your details otherwise (undergrad, major, etc)? Feel free to share in a PM if private.