Welcome all HBS class of 2022 hopefuls. Let's use this platform to know each-other, exchange ideas, discuss app strategies, and some profile discussions may be? Give a shout out! HBS Application Deadlines, Essay Questions and Analysis HBS 2020 Decision Tracker Useful Links: Application tips from the Director HBS Class Profile Class Visit Program Class of 2021 discussion and Decision Tracker Need a HBS profile Evaluation? Post it here >

Last visit was: 28 Apr 2026, 18:35

It is currently 28 Apr 2026, 18:35

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

MBA Archive

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Back to Forum

Create Topic

Calling all Harvard MBA Applicants: 2020 Intake [Class of 2022]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

jjthejetplane

Joined: 09 Dec 2019

Last visit: 21 Jul 2020

Posts: 17

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 5

Location: United States

Schools: Kellogg '22 (M) HBS '22 (D)

GPA: 3.41

Schools: Kellogg '22 (M) HBS '22 (D)

Posts: 17

Kudos: 2

26 Dec 2019, 14:14

Kudos

Bookmarks

Do incoming students have to share their essay with their section still..? Just have some personal things in there that I'm fine sharing with the AdComs, but not sure I want to share that with a bunch of potential friends I don't really know yet

BoundMan

Current Student

Joined: 20 Jun 2018

Last visit: 09 Apr 2026

Posts: 221

Own Kudos:

260

Given Kudos: 121

Products:

Posts: 221

Kudos: 260

28 Dec 2019, 07:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

In the Annualized Compensation, should we also include the overtime pay and Bonuses or only the base pay?
There is a separate section for Bonus.

SBCErikaOlson

Stacy Blackman Consulting Admissions Consultant

Joined: 23 Jun 2015

Last visit: 10 Feb 2026

Posts: 366

Own Kudos:

182

Given Kudos: 1

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 366

Kudos: 182

28 Dec 2019, 10:29

Kudos

Bookmarks

I do not have my clients include anything but their base salary in the compensation field. bonuses go in the separate bonus field. You could put overtime pay in there as well and then include a one-sentence note in the Additional Information field saying that the field includes both bonus and overtime pay, and then you're covered. As long as you can explain what you did, you're good. Best of luck!

akash7gupta11

In the Annualized Compensation, should we also include the overtime pay and Bonuses or only the base pay?
There is a separate section for Bonus.

BoundMan

Current Student

Joined: 20 Jun 2018

Last visit: 09 Apr 2026

Posts: 221

Own Kudos:

260

Given Kudos: 121

Products:

Posts: 221

Kudos: 260

28 Dec 2019, 11:37

Kudos

Bookmarks

SBCErikaOlson Thank you. I will go with Base then.

kimbui12

Joined: 05 Jan 2018

Last visit: 05 Apr 2021

Posts: 37

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 17

Location: Viet Nam

Schools: Tuck '22 (WL) Kellogg '22 (D) Booth '22 (D) Stanford '22 (S)

Posts: 37

Kudos: 19

29 Dec 2019, 03:56

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi, I have some extracurricular activities during and after undergraduate that I cannot mention on the application, should I submit a 2-page resume?

Founder

Joined: 04 Dec 2002

Last visit: 28 Apr 2026

Posts: 43,171

Own Kudos:

83,745

Given Kudos: 24,683

Location: United States

GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42 Verified score

GPA: 3

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42 Verified score

Posts: 43,171

Kudos: 83,745

29 Dec 2019, 07:10

Kudos

Bookmarks

kimbui12

Hi, I have some extracurricular activities during and after undergraduate that I cannot mention on the application, should I submit a 2-page resume?

Looks like you asked the same thing in the Kellogg discussion earlier today.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all- ... 4-200.html

kimbui12

Joined: 05 Jan 2018

Last visit: 05 Apr 2021

Posts: 37

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 17

Location: Viet Nam

Schools: Tuck '22 (WL) Kellogg '22 (D) Booth '22 (D) Stanford '22 (S)

Posts: 37

Kudos: 19

29 Dec 2019, 07:23

Kudos

Bookmarks

kimbui12

Hi, I have some extracurricular activities during and after undergraduate that I cannot mention on the application, should I submit a 2-page resume?

Looks like you asked the same thing in the Kellogg discussion earlier today.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all- ... 4-200.html

Yes I did. But Kellogg app allows extra space to put in things that one cannot put in the 1-page resume. HBS isn't like that, so I had to ask.

MBAPrepCoach

MBA Admissions Consultant

Joined: 24 Mar 2015

Last visit: 03 Dec 2025

Posts: 3,936

Own Kudos:

1,545

Given Kudos: 634

Status:MBA Admissions Consultant

Affiliations: MBA Prep Coach

Location: United States

Farrell Nelson: MBA

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 3,936

Kudos: 1,545

29 Dec 2019, 08:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

For full-time program you just don't want to do a two-page resume.. You will look like a primadonna. I did a two-page resume for a 36 year-old man going into Ross weekend because he's much older than the average. Adcom Expects for you to have the judgement to cut down your bullets and summarize old work history...and make room for community and activities. You don't have to include everything..sometimes that's not as good it's better to just pick the best parts. For example my MIT emba candidate had a volunteer position in between two board positions and I had him take it out

kimbui12

Hi, I have some extracurricular activities during and after undergraduate that I cannot mention on the application, should I submit a 2-page resume?

Looks like you asked the same thing in the Kellogg discussion earlier today.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/calling-all- ... 4-200.html

Yes I did. But Kellogg app allows extra space to put in things that one cannot put in the 1-page resume. HBS isn't like that, so I had to ask.

Posted from my mobile device

SBCErikaOlson

Stacy Blackman Consulting Admissions Consultant

Joined: 23 Jun 2015

Last visit: 10 Feb 2026

Posts: 366

Own Kudos:

182

Given Kudos: 1

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 366

Kudos: 182

29 Dec 2019, 09:18

Kudos

Bookmarks

Absolutely not. You will have to pick and choose the strongest ones just like everyone else. A two-page resume is only justifiable for those with over a decade of work experience or certain military applicants -- otherwise it will make you come off like you think the rules don't apply to you and/or are otherwise not self-aware. Be strategic about what you pick -- choose the ones where you showed some sort of leadership, were in a leadership role, or accomplished something big. Best of luck.

kimbui12

Hi, I have some extracurricular activities during and after undergraduate that I cannot mention on the application, should I submit a 2-page resume?

dcummins

Joined: 14 Feb 2017

Last visit: 16 Mar 2026

Posts: 1,021

Own Kudos:

2,379

Given Kudos: 368

Location: Australia

Concentration: Technology, Strategy

Schools: INSEAD Sept'21 Intake (WA$$$) Melbourne (A$$$$) AGSM (A$$$$) Kellogg '23 (WL) Said '22 (A$$$$) CBS '23 (D) Booth '23 (WA) Anderson '23 (WA) Cambridge '22 (WL) LBS '23 (D) Stern '24 (WA)

GMAT 1: 560 Q41 V26 Verified score

GMAT 2: 550 Q43 V23 Verified score

GMAT 3: 650 Q47 V33 Verified score

GMAT 4: 650 Q44 V36 Verified score

GMAT 5: 600 Q38 V35 Verified score

GMAT 6: 710 Q47 V41 Verified score

WE:Management Consulting (Consulting)

Products:

Schools: INSEAD Sept'21 Intake (WA$$$) Melbourne (A$$$$) AGSM (A$$$$) Kellogg '23 (WL) Said '22 (A$$$$) CBS '23 (D) Booth '23 (WA) Anderson '23 (WA) Cambridge '22 (WL) LBS '23 (D) Stern '24 (WA)

GMAT 6: 710 Q47 V41 Verified score

Posts: 1,021

Kudos: 2,379

30 Dec 2019, 01:33

Kudos

Bookmarks

I'm applying to the joint MS/MBA program. Looking for the reference questions - anyone able to kindly share these?

Admissionado

Admissionado

Joined: 30 Nov 2009

Last visit: 26 May 2024

Posts: 9,229

Own Kudos:

2,075

Given Kudos: 69

Location: Chicago, IL

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: HBS - Class of 2005

Posts: 9,229

Kudos: 2,075

30 Dec 2019, 14:17

Kudos

Bookmarks

kimbui12

Hi, I have some extracurricular activities during and after undergraduate that I cannot mention on the application, should I submit a 2-page resume?

Unless you have a really long work experience history (e.g., over 12 years) you should not be submitting a 2 page resume. You especially shouldn't submit a 2 page resume to accommodate college ECs. Everybody who has a good shot at HBS could have a multi-page resume if they wanted to - you need to pare down to a page just like all the other successful applicants. Since HBS is synonymous with leadership perhaps more than any other school, you'll want to emphasize those activities in which you took a leadership role and share what that role was (e.g. "President, [Undergraduate Mentoring Group] - organized biweekly science experiments at the college labs for underprivileged 6th graders).

Admissionado

Admissionado

Joined: 30 Nov 2009

Last visit: 26 May 2024

Posts: 9,229

Own Kudos:

2,075

Given Kudos: 69

Location: Chicago, IL

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: HBS - Class of 2005

Posts: 9,229

Kudos: 2,075

30 Dec 2019, 14:22

Kudos

Bookmarks

akash7gupta11

In the Annualized Compensation, should we also include the overtime pay and Bonuses or only the base pay?
There is a separate section for Bonus.

In this case, I'd advise to include only base salary in the annualized compensation field, and include your bonuses total in the bonuses section. If there is an "additional compensation" or "other compensation" section, I'd include your overtime there, otherwise I'd leave it out.

wabo22

Joined: 29 Jul 2019

Last visit: 27 Nov 2020

Posts: 42

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 9

Location: United States (MA)

Schools: Kellogg '22 (D) CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (A) Sloan '22 (WA) Tuck '22 (A) Johnson '22 (A$) HBS '22 (D)

GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 Verified score

GPA: 3.6

Schools: Kellogg '22 (D) CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (A) Sloan '22 (WA) Tuck '22 (A) Johnson '22 (A$) HBS '22 (D)

GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 Verified score

Posts: 42

Kudos: 12

30 Dec 2019, 14:35

Kudos

Bookmarks

I'm finishing up my R2 application and thinking through the post-MBA goals section. My long-term goal is PE but realizing this is unlikely directly post-MBA from any school, I'll likely recruit for banking (or possibly consulting). What's the best way to frame this? My industry is PE and explain IB>PE path, put my industry as banking because that's the immediate post-MBA goal, or another approach? Also, better to only discuss PE in the free-form section?

Generally not certain if HBS's aim is to see long-term career interest or what you're recruiting for ideally. And better to show self-awareness that there's a step before PE for me or just discuss the goal of working in PE?

Admissionado

Admissionado

Joined: 30 Nov 2009

Last visit: 26 May 2024

Posts: 9,229

Own Kudos:

2,075

Given Kudos: 69

Location: Chicago, IL

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: HBS - Class of 2005

Posts: 9,229

Kudos: 2,075

30 Dec 2019, 14:49

Kudos

Bookmarks

wabo22

Your question about PE is a good one and a common one, especially for applicants to top schools like HBS. AdComs are savvy to the realities of recruiting, and while your AdCom application reviewers may not be financiers themselves, they are able to recognize a resume that is imminently PE-worthy already (e.g., somebody applying to HBS out of Warburg, with 2+ years of IB under their belt already, with a top undergraduate institution & GPA...), versus somebody who'll have to start out in IB or some other financial field and then transition to PE later on. PE and VC are the hardest careers to recruit for immediately post-MBA and the AdCom knows this.

You'd be wise to recognize your own realities and, if you aren't immediately qualified for PE today, indicate a more reasonable short term goal like IB with a *LONG-TERM* goal of PE in your HBS essay. You can talk about the HBS curriculum and an Associate position in IB building your financial modeling skills which you'll then reposition into PE in the long-term.

Be mindful of the fact that PE is a very frequently espoused long-term goal, so it will help you if you can be as specific as possible to differentiate yourself (e.g., what industry? Geographic concentration of portfolio companies? Growth stage? Middle market vs. Apollo/KKR, etc.) Ideally, you should touch on your near-term and long-term interests in the career short answer as well as the personal statement, though obviously the personal statement should not be solely about your career ambitions.

wabo22

Joined: 29 Jul 2019

Last visit: 27 Nov 2020

Posts: 42

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 9

Location: United States (MA)

Schools: Kellogg '22 (D) CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (A) Sloan '22 (WA) Tuck '22 (A) Johnson '22 (A$) HBS '22 (D)

GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 Verified score

GPA: 3.6

Schools: Kellogg '22 (D) CBS '22 (D) Booth '22 (A) Sloan '22 (WA) Tuck '22 (A) Johnson '22 (A$) HBS '22 (D)

GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 Verified score

Posts: 42

Kudos: 12

30 Dec 2019, 15:15

Kudos

Bookmarks

Admissionado

wabo22

This is great, thanks so much! Understood on the open-ended section, but in this case the "Industry" drop-down" should still be Private Equity (long-term aspiration) and not IB (post-MBA recruitment industry), correct?

iSimpson

Joined: 08 Apr 2014

Last visit: 04 Jan 2020

Posts: 2

Kudos: 0

01 Jan 2020, 05:14

Kudos

Bookmarks

Admissionado and SBCErikaOlsen: What if you have an 8 year long career working with 6 different companies, could you have a 1 and a half page resume? cause i can't seem to bring mine to a one pager and HBS say they are cool with a one or two pager. please let me know your thoughts

xprometheusx

Joined: 12 Jun 2019

Last visit: 26 Nov 2022

Posts: 120

Own Kudos:

186

Given Kudos: 20

Location: United States (NY)

Schools: HBS '22 (D) Wharton '22 (M$) Stanford '22 (D) Sloan '22 (D) CBS '22 (A$)

GMAT 1: 760 Q47 V48 Verified score

Schools: HBS '22 (D) Wharton '22 (M$) Stanford '22 (D) Sloan '22 (D) CBS '22 (A$)

GMAT 1: 760 Q47 V48 Verified score

Posts: 120

Kudos: 186

02 Jan 2020, 05:48

Kudos

Bookmarks

iSimpson

How impactful are your early years? Assuming 8 years and 6 companies, that means you spent on average 1 year and 4 months at each firm. I don't know your history and what you accomplished at each job, but I have to imagine that there is fat somewhere you can cut within those 8 years.

Alternatively, shorten your description of the impact at each stop, or shorten your education/extra curriculars. There is a section of the app that allows you to put your extra curriculars, so you can use that space to put any significant descriptions of your extra curriculars, which should allow you to remove some things from your resume.

Best of luck

aspiringto

Joined: 03 Jan 2020

Last visit: 24 May 2020

Posts: 3

Own Kudos:

Posts: 3

Kudos: 1

03 Jan 2020, 11:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello! Not much time left but I’m double checking everything and got worried about possibly misrepresenting something in my resume and then failing a background check.

Two years ago I helped people buy crypto. I had a Facebook business page with a catchy name and they’d contact me there.

I later partnered with two people and we developed a business plan, pitched it in an informal setting to an investor, but in the end he didn’t accept. Meanwhile we also advised a company on the basics of something, but they weren’t interested enough to advance with the idea.

There was no registered company for the three things. For the first one, I was contacted and then I would just talk with people and my fee would be in the exchange rate (fully disclosed). For the last two works, we had decided that we would register a company only if we actually got the deal/job.

This was all real work. But I don’t want to fail a background check because I can’t provide documents with regards to the company. I could easily get signed letters from people who bought from me, my partners, even maybe the other company we talked to.

Should I write it as freelancing? Or how should I write it in the resume?

Thanks!

Posted from my mobile device