Calling all Harvard MBA Applicants: 2021 Intake [Class of 2023]

Can't wait

Are they releasing the interview invites? If so, can you tell me at what time?

Tomorrow (6OCT) at 12pm EST on the application portal.

Got it. Thank you kutsch

I have seen from previous years, Harvard will release all the decisions in one go. So I guess by 12:05 PM EST or sooner everyone will have a status update

Is it one hour from now, right? Being in Europe, time zones are always tricky!

MicCat

Yes. All the best

All the best everyone. Fingers crossed.

Best of luck to everyone!!!

HBS DECISION TRACKER

Updates for the last hour:

• Denied, 2 minutes ago, from India, GMAT:760 (Q50 V44), heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 8 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:740 (Q49 V42), GPA: 3.03, Industry: Manufacturing, WE 46, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 15 minutes ago, from India, GPA: 3, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 17 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:720 (Q44 V44), GPA: 3.88, Industry: Mutual Funds and Brokerage, WE 60, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 22 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:730 (Q48 V42), GPA: 3.81, Industry: Other, WE 69, heard via: email
• Denied, 23 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:780 (Q49 V51), GPA: 3.09, Industry: Law, WE 84, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 24 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:750, GPA: 3.86, Industry: Other, WE 75, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 25 minutes ago, from Canada, GMAT:750 (Q49 V44), GPA: 2.4, Industry: Consulting, WE 40, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 25 minutes ago, from Canada, GMAT:690 (Q47 V37), GPA: 3, Industry: Consulting, WE 60, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 26 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:730 (Q48 V42), GPA: 3.42, Industry: Human Resources, WE 92, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 27 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:750 (Q49 V42), GPA: 3.69, Industry: Other, WE 108, heard via: portal_update
• Invited to interview, 27 minutes ago, from United States, heard via: portal_update

UPDATE YOUR STATUS

Brutal.

To those of you under "further consideration": don't take things sitting down. You need to mount a active campaign to get off the waitlist or else your chances of getting the interview invitation in Round 2 (and admissions afterward) are toast.

To everyone who was dinged: focus on the next applications and what you can do in the future to improve. Getting the ding can be a real bummer. But you shouldn't give in to such negative feelings. In reality, schools like HBS are super receptive to re-applicants; the key is that you need to dispassionately evaluate what exactly went wrong in your application and -- most importantly -- use that information to put forth an even more kick-ass application in the future! That's our objective when we run our Ding Reports on clients. Below are some of the most common areas of improvement that we find:

• Unimportant narrative - HBS wants students who are going to change the world, not just change their job. Ask yourself this: would the Adcom feel that they are making the world a better place when they admit me? If not, then you have failed in this dimension.
  
• Not credible in mission - Maybe you have a good mission in life; the challenge is why should I believe that you are the MBA who is going to accomplish it? As important as it is to pick a good mission, you also have to choose where to place the goal posts. A mission that is too broad or not aligned with your previous work experience may appear too unrealistic to be credible.
  
• No cohesion in life story - No one likes a flip-flopper. Sure your career can take twists and turns, but can you argue that everything is all a part of a singular overarching mission? We can, and you should.
  
• Not aware of / not addressing weaknesses - Everyone has weaknesses. Good leaders show self-awareness about their weaknesses and consciously work to improve them. If you don't, you might not fit in with the continuous self-improvement mindset of HBS.
  
• Never answered "why HBS?" - MBA applications should be like love letters - they need to be personalized. No other school should be able to read it and fall in love with you. HBS wants high commitment individuals that will thrive in its on-campus, case-discussion dominated environment. To get in, you really need to show the Adcom what you are going to do with that spot that you can't do at another business school.
  
• The wrong recommenders - Business schools prioritize work experience above all else, and the single biggest champion for your work experience is your recommender. The challenge is that if you pick someone who is too far in your past, or too senior to have directly observed your working behaviors, the vivid recommendation you need will come out blurry.
  
• Aiming at the wrong tier of business school - If your GPA and GMAT are not in the ballpark, you might not have a chance no matter how good of an application you have. Reach out to us here and we'll help you determine your odds and which schools you should be targeting.

Dear fellow humans, don't be disappointed if you get rejected. Usually HBS rejects still end up in a beautiful M7 college with a decent profile.

I ask you to look at this not as a loss but as an opportunity to focus more on other schools.

I went through the HBS ding last year, quite frankly felt nothing except the loss of $250 (60% of my monthly pay)

Anyone know what chances have historically been for deferrals? I come from an overrepresented group (US male, IB/PE), so was expecting either a flat out yes or no. As such, deferral was a bit of surprise.

Any thoughts?

HBS DECISION TRACKER

Updates for the last hour:

• Invited to interview, 7 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:710 (Q48 V40), GPA: 3.74, Industry: Consulting, WE 30, heard via: email
• Denied, 21 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:770 (Q49 V46), Industry: Manufacturing, WE 52, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 30 minutes ago, from Canada, GPA: 3.06, Industry: Manufacturing, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 39 minutes ago, from Brazil, GMAT:730 (Q49 V41), Industry: Consulting, WE 42, heard via: portal_update
• Waitlisted, 39 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:740 (Q49 V41), GPA: 3.7, Industry: Venture Capital, WE 48, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 41 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:710 (Q49 V38), GPA: 3.4, Industry: Military & Defense, WE 96, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 42 minutes ago, from Philippines, GMAT:740 (Q51 V38), GPA: 3.86, Industry: Consulting, WE 37, heard via: email
• Invited to interview, 43 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:780 (Q51 V47), GPA: 3.29, Industry: Insurance, WE 60, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 45 minutes ago, from Georgia, GMAT:710 (Q50 V36), GPA: 3.54, Industry: Energy and Utilities, WE 70, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 46 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:740 (Q49 V42), GPA: 3.62, Industry: Real Estate, WE 50, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 46 minutes ago, from Kazakhstan, GMAT:700 (Q50 V34), GPA: 3.28, heard via: email
• Denied, 47 minutes ago, from France, GMAT:740 (Q49 V41), GPA: 3.5, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 48 minutes ago, from Italy, GMAT:750 (Q50 V41), GPA: 4, Industry: Consulting, WE 55, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 49 minutes ago, from Viet Nam, GMAT:680 (Q46 V37), GPA: 3.95, Industry: Manufacturing, WE 72, heard via: email
• Waitlisted, 50 minutes ago, from India, GMAT:750 (Q50 V41), Industry: Energy and Utilities, WE 72, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 52 minutes ago, from United Kingdom, GMAT:700 (Q45 V41), GPA: 4, Industry: Consulting, WE 60, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 52 minutes ago, from India, GMAT:740 (Q48 V42), Industry: Consumer Products, WE 53, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 52 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:710 (Q46 V40), GPA: 3.48, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 54 minutes ago, from Brazil, GMAT:750, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 55 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:720 (Q47 V42), GPA: 3.1, Industry: Other, WE 72, heard via: email
• Denied, 56 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:730 (Q50 V38), GPA: 3.5, Industry: Education, WE 56, heard via: email
• Denied, 57 minutes ago, from Indonesia, GMAT:720 (Q47 V41), GPA: 3.78, Industry: Investment Banking, WE 5, heard via: portal_update

UPDATE YOUR STATUS

HBS DECISION TRACKER

Updates for the last hour:

• Waitlisted, 16 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:760 (Q50 V44), GPA: 3.45, Industry: Venture Capital, WE 60, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 37 minutes ago, from India, GMAT:770 (Q50 V46), GPA: 4, Industry: Consumer Products, WE 28, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 37 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:760 (Q51 V41), GPA: 2.96, Industry: Consumer Products, WE 56, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 49 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:760 (Q50 V42), GPA: 3.69, Industry: Consulting, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 49 minutes ago, from Greece, GPA: 3.82, Industry: Investment Banking, WE 36, heard via: portal_update

UPDATE YOUR STATUS

HBS DECISION TRACKER

Updates for the last hour:

• Invited to interview, 28 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:720 (Q46 V42), GPA: 3.92, Industry: Consulting, WE 37, heard via: portal_update
• Denied, 29 minutes ago, from India, GMAT:740 (Q50 V40), Industry: Consulting, WE 156, heard via: portal_update
• Invited to interview, 32 minutes ago, from United States, GPA: 3.88, Industry: Consumer Products, WE 72, heard via: portal_update
• Invited to interview, 40 minutes ago, from United States, GMAT:730 (Q47 V44), GPA: 3.71, Industry: Consumer Products, WE 60, heard via: portal_update
• Invited to interview, 43 minutes ago, from Spain, GMAT:750, Industry: Investment Banking, WE 70, heard via: portal_update

UPDATE YOUR STATUS

HBS DECISION TRACKER

Updates for the last hour:

• Denied, 21 minutes ago, from India, GMAT:750 (Q50 V41), GPA: 4, Industry: Internet and New Media, WE 60, heard via: email
• Denied, 54 minutes ago, from Germany, GMAT:750 (Q48 V45), GPA: 3.94, Industry: Consulting, WE 36, heard via: portal_update

UPDATE YOUR STATUS