Harvard Business School Application for the class of 2013 is online. This thread will also serve as a master thread for the 2+2 applicants for the class of 2016 (June 2011 Applicants!) APPLICANTS: Please fill out your stats in the Google Doc attached and keep updating your information whenever you see fit! We will keep this thread updated as well (GIANT Post - Be warned ) Current Students: Harvard Admits 2+2 APPLICANTS REQUIREMENTS: GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION: 1. Essay Questions : 2. Application Deadlines : To be announced for the Summer of 2011. For the Summer of 2010 class: 3. Letters of Recommendation : 4. Sandy's Advice for Students Applying to 2+2 : REGULAR APPLICANTS All quoted sections of this post are from the Harvard Business School Admissions Website GENERAL APPLICATION INFORMATION: 1. Essay Questions : 2. Application Deadlines : 3. Letters of Recommendation : APPLICANT LIST: HBS Applicant List Google Doc 0Avb_1Ns4jB92dHp0UTJQcWpEajJwdENjYW9PVEc1TEE OTHER RESOURCES: Useful Web Pages for Application * HBS Director's Blog for All Important Updates * Last year's thread for HBS (Regular Applicants) * Last year's thread for HBS 2+2 Applicants * Veritas Prep School Report for Harvard Business School (Please register your email id, and Veritas will send a link to the download and you can download multiple school reports at once if you want!) * Class Profile for 2+2 * FAQs * HBS Director's Blog for All Important Updates * Clear Admit's Essay Analysis for Harvard Fall 2011 * Veritas Prep Essay Analysis for Harvard 2011 Life at HBS - Blogs a) CS @ HBS - https://www.computersexy.com/blog/ b) Harvard Bound - https://myharvardmba2010.blogspot.com/ c) Inside HBS - https://www.insidehbs.com/ d) Sync - https://sync.bradleylautenbach.com/ e) Mark and Jie's Journey to B-School - https://markandjie.blogspot.com/ f) Will Hsu's HBS Bubble - https://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=wphsu99 g) AGirlsMBA at Harvard Business School: https://agirlsmba.blogspot.com/ h) Military to Business: https://militarytobusiness.blogspot.com/

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Calling all HBS 2011 Applicants!! (Including 2+2)

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smileyface

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20 Sep 2010, 12:36

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From Harvard MBA Admissions Director to Round 1 applicants:

Quote:

Every year we hear comments (OK, "complaints" would be more accurate) about the anxiety our invite-to-interview process causes. So, we're going to do it differently this year. Let me walk you through Round One:

October 1 - deadline for receiving online applications
October 15 - November 3 - interview invitations will be issued via email
November 3 - all candidates not invited to interview will receive either a decision indicating that "we are unable to offer you a place in the Class of 2013" or an invitation to join our waitlist
November 1 - 21 - interview weeks, both on and off campus
December 14 - decision notification (admit, deny, or waitlist) for all interviewed candidates
While no one applies hoping for a "deny" decision, we have heard you say that the worst case is the uncertainty which can extend from October through mid-December. So we're trying this to see if it helps. Yes, it means that we will be making decisions faster. Yes, we have the resources to ensure a thorough review of all written applications before rendering any decisions. All applications will be reviewed at least twice before any decision is made. Our Admissions Board is fully staffed and able to implement this new model. We hope this new approach will allow denied candidates to re-direct energy toward Round Two applications to other schools.

All those invited to join our waitlist are candidates whom we would like to "further consider." Our plan is for waitlisted candidates to receive further consideration in Round Two. We expect all to receive a final decision with the Round Two notification date in late March. We completely understand if such a candidate would elect to withdraw his/her application.

I promise that all letters will clearly communicate a candidate's status!

If this new system works well, we will replicate it in Round Two.

minime2

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20 Sep 2010, 12:51

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smileyface

minime2

MBAUncle

I am sick of HBS. Yeah, it is the dream schools of everybody, but the "legacy" issue and the discrimination against older applicants are notorious !

Please do not believe everything you hear on the forums or what the admission consultants say. Most people who apply to HBS (and other top schools) get rejected which gives rise to these these theories.

Age does become an issue (in the thirties) for full time MBA only because by that time, people start getting into more leadership positions in their job and are more suitable to the exec. program.

I know a bunch of people in HBS who were 27-28 when they got in. HBS and other schools are committed to admitting the most accomplished people who are a few years out of school ( 2-5). It's in their interest to do so. It is true however, that HBS is such an attraction that a number of extremely talented 23-25 years old ( who figured things out in their life early) apply and they get in. But they get in because of their accomplishments and not because of their age.

I have to strongly disagree. I know quite a few 24/25years old with average accomplishments who were invited to interview/admitted to HBS. The age discrimination issue is very real. I saw a breakdown of the % of applicants age 30 or over HBS admitted last year. It was a mere 1%. I'll be 30 when I matriculate. I think it is more than possible that HBS is selecting who to invite to admissions event since the events are in such high demand. After all, last year rumor (BW forum) has it that they sent out interview invites to younger applicants before they did to older ones.

Well...I respect your opinion and can't do anything to change it.

I will just point to a couple of things here:

"I know quite a few 24/25years old with average accomplishments who were invited to interview/admitted to HBS."

"Average accomplishments" is a subjective term and people can debate on it. It may just be that you and HBS have a different definition of accomplishment. You will actually have a better chance of getting into HBS if you could spend some time to figure out what HBS is looking for. They call it "fit"

"I saw a breakdown of the % of applicants age 30 or over HBS admitted last year. It was a mere 1%. "

Well we don't really know what % of applicants were beyond 30. We also dont know the relative quality of 30+ applicants compared to those who were 25-26. I am just saying that these are subjective matters and we as applicants don't have enough information to make correct assertions.

"last year rumor (BW forum) has it that they sent out interview invites to younger applicants before they did to older ones"

BW forum actually talked about a university of flying saucer( i am not kidding...search for it!). Also most discussion on BW forum start with "you are an idiot!"

See...i understand your frustration. I am 27 and I will be one of the older ones to apply to HBS which makes me sad. But really, I am just focusing on putting in the best application. If I am the best 28 year old- I should get in.

I would also encourage you to read the "65 best HBS essays" book. I read through some of the accomplishments from successful applicants and they weren't earth shattering. I think HBS likes people who have done simple things very well and are able to reflect on it in their essay. Hope that helps and all the best with HBS!

Just another point here: HBS (or any other school) has a huge legacy to protect. And the HBS adcom has much greater stakes into the HBS brand than we as applicants do. It is in their interest to take the guys *they think* will carry their school's name forward. If you really think that they are making a wrong judgement with respect to age... just dont apply.

CarpathianRidge

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22 Sep 2010, 08:00

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Hey everybody -

HBS reapplicant here...interview - no WL.

Question: Should I use the "Additional Information" section to explicitly say how I've improved my candidacy (i.e. higher GMAT score, more leadership experience, etc.). Or, do I let my stronger application speak for itself? Thoughts?

- CR

Cille

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22 Sep 2010, 09:53

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I'm in for Round 2

VictoryMBA

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22 Sep 2010, 10:26

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I'm having a really difficult time deciding whether I want to apply to HBS, what do you guys think.

UGRAD: Top 3 public (UC school): 3.3/history
Grad: Ivy League: 3.7 urban planning
GMAT: 670
We: 3 years real estate development
Age: 29 at matriculation
URM: Hispanic/Mexican-American
Post-MBA: I want to get into social entrepreneurship based private enterprise

I think I'm too old, I have an MA (which seems like Harvard doesnt like?), and my gpa/gmat is a bit off. At the same time it seems like I'm a non-trad candidate so I dont know. Can you guys recommend any other top 5 schools that might be more favorable to my profile. This is more of a hail mary attempt rather than a targeted selection obviously....

Jeanette

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22 Sep 2010, 10:40

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Yeah, it's probably a stretch, but it doesn't seem to be a totally unreasonable one as a URM.

With a 670 and 29 years old? Kellogg.

Try posting your profile on one of the admissions consultants as a profile evaluation. they do it for free. Also, try: https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#-school-selector/

co2012

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22 Sep 2010, 12:47

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In for R1. I was going through the Google spreadsheet and it seems like it hasn't panned out the way it should've. I just like the fact that I'm applying in the same round as a Canadian, 800 GMAT scorer, 2.2 GPA bomber, Nuclear Gardner who claims to be America's next top model.

Strap on suckas, this is going to be one hell of ride!!!

Good luck everyone!

gijoedude

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24 Sep 2010, 08:55

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Jeanette

Interesting tool by Veritas prep. With my GPA, apparently I would need a 790 for HBS, 780 for Wharton, 770 for Tuck and 760 for Kellogg and 750 for Columbia. Yikes!

andersmc

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24 Sep 2010, 10:18

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Question about the other employment section of the application. Are you annualizing your salary info for college summer internships? For example, if you earned $8,000 for two months, are you putting just 8k or 48k?

I know Wharton asks for annual salary, but unclear about HBS

Thanks!

oldguru82

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26 Sep 2010, 01:58

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# Application for MBA Program: Submitted
Submitted Date: 9/26/2010 4:24:00 AM EST

CarpathianRidge

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26 Sep 2010, 10:19

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Does anyone know how strict HBS is on the essay word limit?

Wharton asks you to stay under the word count but understands if you go over by 50-100 words. What about HBS? Each of my 400-word essays are coming in closer to 440. How problematic is this?

Jeanette

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26 Sep 2010, 10:35

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If all your essays are over the limit, I think it may annoy them. If it's just one or two of your essays that are a little bit over, I doubt they'll care. But it's not like I really know what I'm talking about!

Magellan

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26 Sep 2010, 11:02

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CarpathianRidge

I was 6 words above the limit on two essays and got in. But 40 words is way too much. AFAIK, they actually don't count the words so you will get away with 1%-2% extra. 10% is too much.

oldguru82

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27 Sep 2010, 00:53

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I've already submitted my application and I was almost 10% above the limit in 2 of the 4 essays... I hope it won't be an issue, I read in several sites that +-10% was fine and I did my best to reduce them :/

dwivedys

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27 Sep 2010, 06:00

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I am a 34 year old applicant to HBS this year. Will be 35 next year by the time the course starts. If I go by the stats - I am simply no where. I don't have any non-traditional discriminators (combat experience, PHD etc going for me). Over the last 12 years since graduating from the Engineering school - I just couldn't get my act together to apply.

I am going ahead to see what happens. No body knows for sure and rumours abound. I prefer not to pay heed to misconceptions and keep the faith. It's a hard sell at the end of the day and as somebody mentioned earlier - it's even harder for the schools because, yes indeed, they have a legacy to protect.

I would say - apply with conviction and with all the might as you may have. We are ALL unique without exception. Our circumstances, abilities, motivations are all unique and it's how we package these essential elements is what truly counts. If nothing, simply applying to schools like Harvard is an experience in itself. I have learnt a lot from the process.

The older applicants really have nothing to lose. The odds are stacked against us - so instead of focussing on the outcome, it's better we focus on the process and see if we can learn a thing or two. Life has certainly much more to it than getting an MBA.

Good luck to everyone and may the force be with you all.

RFMBA2

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27 Sep 2010, 07:14

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Hi, quick question on the application:

In the "Part-time employment" section, it references putting in summer jobs, internships, or jobs that explain any gaps in employment. However, in the full-time section, it only asks for full-time employment post college. My question is, is it necessary/recommended that I put my college summer internships in the part-time section, or will it be sufficient to only show them in my resume?

oldguru82

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27 Sep 2010, 07:59

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RFMBA2

I put a 6-months full time internship in the part-time section as I wasn't graduated.

dwivedys

Good luck dwivedys, I hope to meet you in less than a year in Cambridge

Jeanette

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27 Sep 2010, 08:12

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you have my respect, dwivedys. I'm all but done with my HBS application, and it was no easy feat. I spent weeks on it, and I'll admit it was exhausting. If I knew my chances were minuscule because of things I couldn't change (like age, GPA, etc), I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have taken the time to do it.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I have a GOOD chance of admission. Just that I don't have an instant-disqualifier that would have to be carefully explained away.

dwivedys

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27 Sep 2010, 08:29

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rid82

Good luck dwivedys, I hope to meet you in less than a year in Cambridge

Appreciate it my friend! I would pray likewise...

minime2

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27 Sep 2010, 09:29

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dwivedys

rid82

Good luck dwivedys, I hope to meet you in less than a year in Cambridge

Appreciate it my friend! I would pray likewise...

Great! Now we have a group of retirees (me included, although still 27) encouraging each other! We will show them what us antiques are capable of!! :lol: