Calling all Harvard MBA Applicants: 2024 Intake Class of 2026

I attended their webinar, what they are looking for is ambition and character, if you can really lay out your future goals very neatly in your SOP, then you have a shot. Where do you see yourself in the future etc. Ultimately, you can be stuck in some deadend job with no flair for years and they won’t pick you. Go ahead with your 2.5 years if you can show strong ambition and character. Also, check in their GRE score average is higher than your score or not. If the difference is bad, I would suggest retaking the test.

What is a deffered pool for application ? what does it stands for? I hear it is allowed in the last round?

Decision week is here

Hi! Does anyone know if we will receive a call/email if accepted? Or should we just wait for the portal update on Wednesday?

just the portal update

What time (and time zone) do they release the decisions usually?

Noon Boston time

30 hours and 25 minutes to go

Okay. Thanks!

Join us on YouTube as we decode HBS, Stanford, & Wharton Essays for Round 2 Apps redirect.php?id=59hgtvzlxa

1

HSW Review: 26M, 760 GMAT, lower GPA/IR, Software Engineer at TikTok/(Lyft, Uber, Stripe, Pinterest, Robinhood)

Hi everyone, I'm currently a mid level software engineer at TikTok in the SF Bay Area. I previously worked at a tech unicorn (think Lyft, Uber, Stripe, Pinterest, Robinhood) as a Software Engineer after graduating from college. I went to a top Engineering school in Canada (think Waterloo, U of T).

I previously applied to 2+2 but I think my lower GMAT got me dinged then. But I just did the GMAT and got a 760 (V44, Q50, IR2 ikr ) . Looking to apply to HSW for R2.

\*\*MBA Info\*\*


\* \*\*\*Why I want an MBA:\*\*\* Being in the tech industry, I'm interested in pivoting to tech consulting at MBB or VC in the future.


\*\*Background\*\*


\* \*\*\*Work experience:\*\*\*
\* \*I've done internships at big and small tech companies (including one **each** **at all** of Facebook (now called Meta), Airbnb, Pinterest and Stripe) in Software Engineering and Product Management roles.\* I've done NINE internships (yes NINE!), more details on why I left school to do more internships below. So I graduated with like 3 years of internships.


\* Worked at a tech unicorn (think Lyft, Uber, Stripe, Pinterest, Robinhood) as a Software Engineer after graduating from college. I got promoted there and then left to my current job.

\* Currently work as a mid-level software engineer at TikTok in their US offices. Recent performance review was good, expect to be levelled up mid 2024 hopefully.

\* I graduated in mid 2021, so that currently puts me at a little over 2.5 YOE post grad, but if I matriculate Sept 2024, I'd be at a little over 3 YOE post grad.


\* \*\*\*Extra curriculars and other experience:\*\*\*
\* I run a drone flying club that funnels kids assigned to extrajudicial sanctions after their criminal charges are dropped by the courts. (ie. kid gets picked up for fighting, charged with assault, judge lets em off, with the condition that they take a course in anger management, and join an activity, in this case drone flying). We've helped over 25 kids over the last 3 years get into drone flying, that otherwise were going down the wrong path.


\* \*\*Undergrad school/major:\*\* Electrical and Computer Engineering major at Tier 1 Engineering school in Canada
\* \*\*Race/nationality:\*\* Pakistani-Canadian (born in Pakistan, grew up in Canada)
\* \*\*Gender:\*\* Male


\*\*Stats\*\*


\* \*\*\*GMAT Score:\*\*\* 760 V44 Q50, IR2 (I fumbled the IR section, sadly, but I don't want to write the GMAT again lol, its so draining, and I don't know if I'd hit 760 again, maybe might hit like 740, idk? Is the IR really a red flag?)


\* \*\*\*Undergrad GPA:\*\*\* So this is where I'm confused. My school isn't on a 4.0 scale, but we have percentages instead. 1st and 2nd year I did not do so well and got averages in the mid-60s. I did have extenuating circumstances because my father suffered a heart attack during this time and it was a major burden on my shoulders. So much so that, when in the middle of my 2nd year he was no longer able to work, I withdrew from school for one year in the middle of my 2nd year to work for a year to pay the bills. Came back and in 3rd year I got averages in the mid-70s, which is a Good standing at my school. In 4th year I got averages in the mid to high 80s, which is an Excellent standing.

​

\* Though I did graduate with "distinction", it says this on my official transcript, but my school only uses the last 2 years of grades to determine this. "distinction" is kinda like cum laude?


\* Not sure how much my circumstances matter, but being from a family with limited means and being a first-generation college student coupled with some bad cards dealt to me led to poorer performance for the beginning part of my undergrad. Dad is still a city bus driver, mom's a cashier at a grocery store, still bumbling along.


\* I'm hoping that my upwards trend in my undergrad performance is a good signal for them, coupled with my GMAT score, and strong Quant score is a good signal. Plus I do think I got some good brand names of my resume, and TikTok is certainly a cool name to have I think.


What are my chances for HSW? I think the MBA is a really only worth it for me if I go there, and how can I frame my application in a way to offset my not so great school history and IR score?

​

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Best of luck to all R1 applicants finding out today! Don’t forget to update the decision tracker to help those who are behind you get the most accurate info on what the Adcom is looking for!

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All the best everyone for the decisions.

Please update your decision in the tracker decision-tracker/register.html

Are the decisions going out at Noon Eastern?

I HOPE!!! cant wait any longer

Just a few minutes to go then

it is noon indeed, the wait is excruciating