Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 00:27 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 00:27
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
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
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
mainhoon
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Last visit: 10 Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Own Kudos:
397
Given Kudos: 15
Status:Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Concentration: $ Finance $
Schools:Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
GPA: 4.0
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Posts: 532
Kudos: 397
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 18:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jk12 -for truncating recs, by no means am i an authority, i see HBS posting they do not truncate, so I am following that...
avatar
jk12
avatar
Joined: 29 Nov 2010
Last visit: 11 Jul 2022
Posts: 196
Own Kudos:
9
Given Kudos: 11
Status:R1
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Technology
GPA: 3.5
WE:Engineering (Computer Hardware)
Posts: 196
Kudos: 9
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 18:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
alienfluid
smartperson
jk12

mainhoon, are you sure they do not truncate (i am hearing conflicting info on this - a blog mentioned in this forum says they do not; on some webpages i heard they do)

I see this at https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/blog-all.html (emphasis mine):
Quote:

Question: How rigid is the word-limit restriction? What happens if I go over?

This is the language we used last time about this; it's still true, and I can't think of a better way of saying it:

"Your essays do not get cut off if you go over the word limit. That being said, after reading many, many essays, we have a good feel for whether an essay is going over the limit. I think it's fair to say that we expect a candidate to be able to edit effectively, but don't stress over a few extra words.

We're getting a lot of similar questions from recommenders wondering if their remarks are being cut short. They aren't. We have suggested word limits for recommenders that amount to roughly a page of text; we do this to give those not familiar with writing recommendations a sense of an appropriate length of response. If your recommenders have more to say, that's fine. Their file upload doesn't get cut off after a single page or after a certain number of words."

My recommender just asked me about this. I referred him to the blog post above (thanks smartperson!) and said not to worry about going over the word limit by a bit. He was particularly concerned about the 'one page' limit - how are you supposed to fit 750 words on one page?
Show more

i think 1 page reference is for each answer (so total 3 pages)
User avatar
BubbaWon
User avatar
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
Last visit: 09 May 2011
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 1
Schools:HBS - Class of 2013
Posts: 51
Kudos: 7
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 18:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mainhoon
What do people write in the "additional information section"? I think this is the optional essay section?
Show more

I felt as though HBS had a good picture of who I am, so I didn't write anything. I imagine the section is for addressing issues like: low GPA, low GMAT, brow-raising choice of recommenders (i.e., your first grade gym teachers), etc.
avatar
Magellan
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Last visit: 27 Nov 2012
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
7
Schools:HBS - Class of 2012
Posts: 34
Kudos: 7
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 18:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
tgtharvard
Any of the R1 admitted students (or anyone who has info on this!!):

My Ques is regarding the Reco Word count.

Two of my three recomenders have called me saying that the 250 word limit is too less and each of their answer is about 350-400 words, with the overall count around 1100.
But they say that they are liking what thet have written and the flow is nice !!!

Now do i request them to CUT the words down or go - ahead with the 400-word cap.

I believe the reco is taking two complete pages in TNRoman, Font 12, single - space !!

NEED ADVICE URGENTLY !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in advance!
Show more

They are your recommenders, not you and you are not supposed to have any control over what they write so don't stress too much. If they have nice things (and don't repeat themselves) to say during 1100 words, that is fine.

Tell them to put 1 question per page and submit a 3 pages document. I told them to do that way and it worked just fine.
avatar
Magellan
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Last visit: 27 Nov 2012
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
7
Schools:HBS - Class of 2012
Posts: 34
Kudos: 7
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 19:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
theacademist
Ha! that said, they sure don't give you much room for explaining in the 'extra' section about gpa, employment, gmat, etc.... 500 CHARACTERS. yes, that CHARACTERS people. I was dying...
Show more

Unless you have some very good reason to use these extra 500 characters, I would not worry about it.
User avatar
alienfluid
User avatar
Joined: 25 Aug 2010
Last visit: 15 Jul 2011
Posts: 90
Own Kudos:
6
Given Kudos: 1
Status:Chicago Booth Class of 2013
Location: Northwest
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Schools:HBS (R2 - ding), Booth (R2 - WL - In!), Kellogg (R2 - ding), MIT Sloan (R2 - ding)
GPA: 3.67
WE 1: 6
Posts: 90
Kudos: 6
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 19:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Magellan
tgtharvard
Any of the R1 admitted students (or anyone who has info on this!!):

My Ques is regarding the Reco Word count.

Two of my three recomenders have called me saying that the 250 word limit is too less and each of their answer is about 350-400 words, with the overall count around 1100.
But they say that they are liking what thet have written and the flow is nice !!!

Now do i request them to CUT the words down or go - ahead with the 400-word cap.

I believe the reco is taking two complete pages in TNRoman, Font 12, single - space !!

NEED ADVICE URGENTLY !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in advance!

They are your recommenders, not you and you are not supposed to have any control over what they write so don't stress too much. If they have nice things (and don't repeat themselves) to say during 1100 words, that is fine.

Tell them to put 1 question per page and submit a 3 pages document. I told them to do that way and it worked just fine.
Show more

These are the instructions that the recommenders get:
Quote:

    Answer all three questions in one document and on one page.
    Single-space your responses.
    Separate your answers by writing each question or question number at the top of each question.
    Recommendations longer than one page are discourage
.
Show more

I interpret this as all 3 answers must be on the same page. But I guess I'm wrong :|.
User avatar
mainhoon
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Last visit: 10 Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Own Kudos:
397
Given Kudos: 15
Status:Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Concentration: $ Finance $
Schools:Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
GPA: 4.0
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Posts: 532
Kudos: 397
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 20:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
all my recommenders followed the instructions as posted on the website. I would imagine the instructions are there for a reason, it is not suggested! Plus it clearly says longer than one page is discouraged! How much clearer can one be. I don't quite follow the flexibility here.
User avatar
Phaser
User avatar
Joined: 03 Mar 2010
Last visit: 06 May 2012
Posts: 12
Own Kudos:
30
Given Kudos: 2
Status:In Quiet Contemplation
Concentration: Social Entrepreurship, Strategic Management
GPA: 3.88
WE 1: General Management: Plastics Manufacturing (7 years)
Posts: 12
Kudos: 30
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 20:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Just submitted my HBS application. Two of my recommenders have done their part, waiting on the third now.
User avatar
BubbaWon
User avatar
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
Last visit: 09 May 2011
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 1
Schools:HBS - Class of 2013
Posts: 51
Kudos: 7
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 20:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mainhoon
all my recommenders followed the instructions as posted on the website. I would imagine the instructions are there for a reason, it is not suggested! Plus it clearly says longer than one page is discouraged! How much clearer can one be. I don't quite follow the flexibility here.
Show more

The flexibility is the adcom accepts/dings applicants NOT recommenders
User avatar
mainhoon
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Last visit: 10 Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Own Kudos:
397
Given Kudos: 15
Status:Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Concentration: $ Finance $
Schools:Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
GPA: 4.0
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Posts: 532
Kudos: 397
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 20:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Well I guess its upto the adcom, its just that the instructions are there for a reason and if I were to be a recommender it would not strike me to violate them. It would seem to be an unfair advantage for the 1100 words recommendation vs the 700words, following posted instructions..

Well too late to request recommenders to write more at this point!
avatar
deechi
avatar
Joined: 07 Sep 2010
Last visit: 19 Dec 2011
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
10
Concentration: Strategy, IB, Finance
Schools:Kellogg, Booth
GPA: 3.49
Posts: 56
Kudos: 10
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 20:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mainhoon
Well I guess its upto the adcom, its just that the instructions are there for a reason and if I were to be a recommender it would not strike me to violate them. It would seem to be an unfair advantage for the 1100 words recommendation vs the 700words, following posted instructions..

Well too late to request recommenders to write more at this point!
Show more

Dude. I'm not trying to be rude but you might want to relax a bit. You can't control everything in the world. Think about it, why would someone gig YOU if someone else can't follow instructions or lacks the skill of brevity?

If you can't understand that not everyone is as anal as you, then you're going to have some serious issues going forward.
avatar
jk12
avatar
Joined: 29 Nov 2010
Last visit: 11 Jul 2022
Posts: 196
Own Kudos:
9
Given Kudos: 11
Status:R1
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Technology
GPA: 3.5
WE:Engineering (Computer Hardware)
Posts: 196
Kudos: 9
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 20:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
alienfluid
Magellan
tgtharvard
Any of the R1 admitted students (or anyone who has info on this!!):

My Ques is regarding the Reco Word count.

Two of my three recomenders have called me saying that the 250 word limit is too less and each of their answer is about 350-400 words, with the overall count around 1100.
But they say that they are liking what thet have written and the flow is nice !!!

Now do i request them to CUT the words down or go - ahead with the 400-word cap.

I believe the reco is taking two complete pages in TNRoman, Font 12, single - space !!

NEED ADVICE URGENTLY !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in advance!

They are your recommenders, not you and you are not supposed to have any control over what they write so don't stress too much. If they have nice things (and don't repeat themselves) to say during 1100 words, that is fine.

Tell them to put 1 question per page and submit a 3 pages document. I told them to do that way and it worked just fine.

These are the instructions that the recommenders get:
Quote:

    Answer all three questions in one document and on one page.
    Single-space your responses.
    Separate your answers by writing each question or question number at the top of each question.
    Recommendations longer than one page are discourage
.

I interpret this as all 3 answers must be on the same page. But I guess I'm wrong :|.
Show more

where did you get these directions, i do not see them on website. how'd anyone fit 750 words in 1 page?
avatar
crimemaster
avatar
Joined: 29 Oct 2010
Last visit: 24 Oct 2012
Posts: 44
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 44
Kudos: 0
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 21:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Take a deep breath guys and RELAX!
User avatar
mainhoon
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jul 2010
Last visit: 10 Oct 2013
Posts: 532
Own Kudos:
397
Given Kudos: 15
Status:Apply - Last Chance
Affiliations: IIT, Purdue, PhD, TauBetaPi
Concentration: $ Finance $
Schools:Wharton, Sloan, Chicago, Haas
GPA: 4.0
WE 1: 8 years in Oil&Gas
Posts: 532
Kudos: 397
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 21:02
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
deechi
mainhoon
Well I guess its upto the adcom, its just that the instructions are there for a reason and if I were to be a recommender it would not strike me to violate them. It would seem to be an unfair advantage for the 1100 words recommendation vs the 700words, following posted instructions..

Well too late to request recommenders to write more at this point!

Dude. I'm not trying to be rude but you might want to relax a bit. You can't control everything in the world. Think about it, why would someone gig YOU if someone else can't follow instructions or lacks the skill of brevity?

If you can't understand that not everyone is as anal as you, then you're going to have some serious issues going forward.
Show more

Look, I am perfectly relaxed. And thanks for your kind words. I don't see what I wrote to deserve your comments. Good luck with your application.
avatar
jk12
avatar
Joined: 29 Nov 2010
Last visit: 11 Jul 2022
Posts: 196
Own Kudos:
9
Given Kudos: 11
Status:R1
Location: United States
Concentration: General Management, Technology
GPA: 3.5
WE:Engineering (Computer Hardware)
Posts: 196
Kudos: 9
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 21:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mainhoon
deechi
mainhoon
Well I guess its upto the adcom, its just that the instructions are there for a reason and if I were to be a recommender it would not strike me to violate them. It would seem to be an unfair advantage for the 1100 words recommendation vs the 700words, following posted instructions..

Well too late to request recommenders to write more at this point!

Dude. I'm not trying to be rude but you might want to relax a bit. You can't control everything in the world. Think about it, why would someone gig YOU if someone else can't follow instructions or lacks the skill of brevity?

If you can't understand that not everyone is as anal as you, then you're going to have some serious issues going forward.

Look, I am perfectly relaxed. And thanks for your kind words. I don't see what I wrote to deserve your comments. Good luck with your application.
Show more

Do recommender document have to repeat the rec questions or can it just reference Q1, Q2, Q3
User avatar
alienfluid
User avatar
Joined: 25 Aug 2010
Last visit: 15 Jul 2011
Posts: 90
Own Kudos:
6
Given Kudos: 1
Status:Chicago Booth Class of 2013
Location: Northwest
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Schools:HBS (R2 - ding), Booth (R2 - WL - In!), Kellogg (R2 - ding), MIT Sloan (R2 - ding)
GPA: 3.67
WE 1: 6
Posts: 90
Kudos: 6
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 21:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
jk12
alienfluid
Magellan


They are your recommenders, not you and you are not supposed to have any control over what they write so don't stress too much. If they have nice things (and don't repeat themselves) to say during 1100 words, that is fine.

Tell them to put 1 question per page and submit a 3 pages document. I told them to do that way and it worked just fine.

These are the instructions that the recommenders get:
Quote:

    Answer all three questions in one document and on one page.
    Single-space your responses.
    Separate your answers by writing each question or question number at the top of each question.
    Recommendations longer than one page are discourage
.

I interpret this as all 3 answers must be on the same page. But I guess I'm wrong :|.

where did you get these directions, i do not see them on website. how'd anyone fit 750 words in 1 page?
Show more

My recommender sent them to me when he asked about the word and the page limit.
User avatar
hbsguru
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 14 Feb 2010
Last visit: 17 Apr 2015
Posts: 558
Own Kudos:
111
Location: Cambridge MA
Posts: 558
Kudos: 111
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 21:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
12 HOUR WARNING

HBS APPS ARE DUE TOMORROW AT NOON NOT 5PMHERE IS HRH HERSELF


As the Round Two deadline approaches, here's a reminder: the deadline on January 11 is at NOON, EST. Sorry to shout, but that's NOON, not 5pm.

https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/blog.html
User avatar
srjaidev
User avatar
Joined: 25 Jul 2010
Last visit: 03 Mar 2026
Posts: 286
Own Kudos:
36
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Technology
Schools: Darden '14 (WA) Goizueta '14 (A$) Fuqua '14 (D) Tuck '14 (D) Johnson '14 (WL)
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V46
GPA: 3.2
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Darden '14 (WA) Goizueta '14 (A$) Fuqua '14 (D) Tuck '14 (D) Johnson '14 (WL)
GMAT 1: 770 Q51 V46
Posts: 286
Kudos: 36
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 21:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Aspiria
srjaidev
I have a question for those who got admitted in R1.
Is it OK to implicitly imply why those achievements are the most substantial in the 3 achievements essay?
Or do I have to explicitly say it?

For example, in one of them, I mentioned that it was one of the most challenging tasks I had to do and later on also mentioned what I was able to learn from the experience. I am hoping that these two points will imply why I consider the achievement as substantial.
Explicitly answer it would be better in my opinion because HBS actually asks flat out "why do you view them as such?" I personally think addressing why these achievements stand out for you is equally or even more important than the description of the achievements themselves.
Show more

Aspiria and Bubba,
Thanks for the quick response! Yeah, I know its better to explicitly mention it, I was just hoping at least one of the admits didn't be as explicit. Now back to editing. It looked so much better the other way :(
User avatar
BubbaWon
User avatar
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
Last visit: 09 May 2011
Posts: 51
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 1
Schools:HBS - Class of 2013
Posts: 51
Kudos: 7
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 22:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Being as important doesn't mean it needs to comprise the majority of the essay - you just need to address it for each. In my case, I broke each accomplishment into 1, 2, and 3; each accomplishment consisted of 3 paragraphs: 2 describing the situation, 1 why I viewed it as one of my most substantial.

Good luck tonight! I pulled an all-nighter submitting my app

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
alienfluid
User avatar
Joined: 25 Aug 2010
Last visit: 15 Jul 2011
Posts: 90
Own Kudos:
6
Given Kudos: 1
Status:Chicago Booth Class of 2013
Location: Northwest
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
Schools:HBS (R2 - ding), Booth (R2 - WL - In!), Kellogg (R2 - ding), MIT Sloan (R2 - ding)
GPA: 3.67
WE 1: 6
Posts: 90
Kudos: 6
Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2) 10 Jan 2011, 22:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Just submitted my HBS app!! I'm finally done with all my applications. Time to take a break and not think about this for a couple days. Good luck everyone!
   1  ...  56   57   58   59   60  ...  147   
Moderator:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts