2+2 Applicants - Please add yourself to the 2+2 Roll Call which will be put up on this thread: HBS 2+2 Class of 2016 HBS Business School Guide HBS Applicant Summary (Real Time) Quick Glance: GMAT Club vs. Latest Intake (Class of 2013) Latest GMAT Club Member Profile Updates Detailed Applicant List: Add Yourself to This List (add HBS to your profile) GMAT Club's Real-time Admissions Statistics Add Your Profile to This List Questions about this Roll Call ? Members Invited to Interview HBS CLASS ADMITTED THIS YEAR (entering 2011) VS LAST YEAR (entered 2010) FINANCIAL SERVICES BLOODBATH HEADLINES 1. apps DOWN fr. 9524 to 9134 2. PE/VC Down fr. 18pct to 13pct -HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3. Women up 36 to 39 pct 4. Class size up fr. 910 to 918 5. Investment banking and Investment Management DOWN fr. 14 to 12 pct Class of 2013* https://www.hbs.edu/mba/perspectives/class-statistics/ Admissions Total MBA Enrollment 918 Applications 9,134 % Admitted 12% Yield 90% Class Composition Women 39% US Ethnic Minorities 23% International 34% Average Age 27 Countries represented 68 Undergraduate institutions represented 243 GMAT Score Range 490-790 Median GMAT 730 Citizenship North America 70% ?United States 66% Asia/South Pacific 13% Europe 10% Central/South America 4% Africa 2% Oceania 1% Undergraduate Majors Business Administration 20% Engineering/Natural Sciences/Technical Disciplines 36% Humanities/Social Sciences 43% Other 1% Pre-MBA Industry Consulting 21% Consumer Products 6% Financial Services** 12% Healthcare/Biotech 6% High Tech/Communications 9% Manufacturing 14% Military 5% Non-Profit 8% Other Services 5% Venture Capital/Private Equity 13% Unspecified 1% * As of June 1, 2011 – subject to change ** Includes Investment Banking and Investment Management ============================== Preliminary Profile of the Class of 2012 https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/blog-all.html entry for July7,2010 Date: July 07, 2010 Here’s a peek at the Class of 2012. This is still officially “preliminary” until registration in September. Admissions Total MBA Enrollment 910 Applications 9,524 % Admitted 11% Class Composition Women 36% US Ethnic Minorities 23% International 34% Countries represented 73 Undergraduate institutions represented 243 GMAT Score Range 510-790 Middle 50% GMAT Score Range 710-750 Average GMAT 724 Citizenship North America 70% ?United States 66% Asia/South Pacific 13% Europe 12% Central/South America 3% Africa 1% Oceania 1% Undergraduate Majors Business 23% Engineering/Natural Sciences/Technical Disciplines 33% Humanities/Social Sciences 43% Other 1% Pre-MBA Industry Consulting 22% Consumer Products 7% Financial Services* 14% Healthcare/Biotech 6% High Tech/Communications 6% Manufacturing 9% Military 5% Non-Profit 7% Other Services 5% Venture Capital/Private Equity 18% * Includes Investment Banking & Investment Management BTW: A GREAT, GREAT RESOURCE FOR ALL HBS APPLICANTS IS LAST YEAR'S THREAD, CALLING ALL HBS 2011 APPLICANTS, calling-all-hbs-2011-applicants-including-96063.html#p739570 ESP THE FIRST POST, WHICH ITSELF GIVES RESOURCES. SPENDING AN HOUR READING THRU THOSE POSTS WILL GIVE YOU AN EXCELLENT IDEA OF WHAT THE YEAR AHEAD WILL LOOK LIKE AND PROVIDE YOU WITH MANY, MANY PROFILES AND THEIR OUTCOMES. Interview questions:

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HBS 2012 - Calling All Applicants

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mpg2011

Joined: 08 May 2011

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Schools: Wharton '14 (WL) Darden '14 (A) Fuqua '14 (A) HBS '14 (D) Booth '14 (A) Kellogg '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 710 Q46 V42 Verified score

Schools: Wharton '14 (WL) Darden '14 (A) Fuqua '14 (A) HBS '14 (D) Booth '14 (A) Kellogg '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 710 Q46 V42 Verified score

Posts: 219

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11 Oct 2011, 19:04

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HBSGrad

thekhan

I haven't sit GMAT yet, now working hard on it. Going to give a first try in November and than second try in December if results are no good.
I got into mba race just recently, understand that this is very late. But at the same time what I see is that next year it maybe too late for me to apply when I will be 29. Realistically My chances will go down.

Aim for a 680+ on your GMAT. If you can get at least that score, you should spend the bulk of your time on your essays.

As I've written before, the difference between spending 20 or 100 hours studying for the GMAT might be the difference between a 650 and a 720. Not as big a deal as everyone will have you believe.

The difference between spending 20 or 100 hours writing your essays will be the difference between a crappy essay and poetry. And THAT will make or break your application.

This is especially true if you're a "unique" candidate as many people have written on this blog, eg. female, agronomist, latin america, etc. HBS cares more that they've picked someone who will truly add color to classroom discussions and will overlook that you can't calculate WACC in your head.

HBSGrad
hbs.consultant@gmail.com
https://www.hbsadmissionsconsulting.com

How can you write poetry with a word limit though? With HBS, we had basically 200 words to tell our stories, the 3 accomp + 3 setbacks.

I'm a journalist and have always been an eloquent writer. However, with these essays, I had to cut and cut and cut. It was more math than poetry. I told my stories, but they didn't sound as nice as they could due to word limit.

NoggieViking

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Concentration: International Business, Other

Schools: Columbia - Class of 2014

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12 Oct 2011, 13:06

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I've submitted my application, R1...

Jacksparrow1906

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Concentration: Strategy

Schools: Northwestern (Kellogg) - Class of 2014

WE:Marketing (Computer Hardware)

Schools: Northwestern (Kellogg) - Class of 2014

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12 Oct 2011, 18:12

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Do we have any idea how many spots are already filled with 2+2 folks?

saptak1990

Joined: 16 Jun 2011

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Location: India

Concentration: Marketing, General Management

Schools: HBS 2+2 '18 (D) YLP '16 (D)

GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40 Verified score

Schools: HBS 2+2 '18 (D) YLP '16 (D)

GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40 Verified score

Posts: 57

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12 Oct 2011, 18:36

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Jacksparrow1906

Do we have any idea how many spots are already filled with 2+2 folks?

Around 70-74 folks were invited for interview so I guess about 35-40 seats are already filled.

MSDHONI

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Status:It's "Go" Time.......

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12 Oct 2011, 19:49

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Jiya bekaraar hai....

)

fsaq

Joined: 01 Jan 2011

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Updated on: 13 Oct 2011, 06:51

Originally posted by fsaq on 12 Oct 2011, 21:27.
Last edited by fsaq on 13 Oct 2011, 06:51, edited 1 time in total.

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Hi everyone In for RD1

jjoeteller

Joined: 11 Oct 2011

Last visit: 23 Mar 2013

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Schools: Wharton '14 (D) HBS '14 (M) Stanford '14 (D) Booth '14 (A) Sloan '14 (D) CBS '14 (D) LBS '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 750 Q48 V45 Verified score

GPA: 3.4

Schools: Wharton '14 (D) HBS '14 (M) Stanford '14 (D) Booth '14 (A) Sloan '14 (D) CBS '14 (D) LBS '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 750 Q48 V45 Verified score

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12 Oct 2011, 21:56

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fsaq

Quote:

VC, PE and finance are the only ones who get into HBS and are highly regarded as gods, as if no other good enough backgrounds existed in the world...

Except that's not true --> (google "class statistics HBS" and read the pre-MBA profile section)

But you can tell yourself whatever makes you feel better, ok?

shekmba

Joined: 03 Oct 2011

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Schools: Kellogg '14 (A)

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12 Oct 2011, 22:09

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jjoeteller

fsaq

Quote:

VC, PE and finance are the only ones who get into HBS and are highly regarded as gods, as if no other good enough backgrounds existed in the world...

Except that's not true --> (google "class statistics HBS" and read the pre-MBA profile section)

But you can tell yourself whatever makes you feel better, ok?

I agree. This is just a misperception. They do seem to admit on merit of your application and inherent strength. If there are guys from VC, PE etc. or from consulting backgrounds or from blue chips like Apple or Google, can you really blame them. These guys have those backgrounds because they are really some of the best. This does not mean you are not the best but at the same time you cannot blame those folks.

When I started this process, there was a lot negative vibe about HBS. I was applying just for the heck of it. But deeper into the process, I realized that most of the stuff I had heard was not true and HBS is a wonderful place which cares about its students and their success. Sure, it has its idiosyncrasies but then that's where fit comes in.

probin

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13 Oct 2011, 02:50

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fsaq

Quote:

Excellent point, which leads me back to the bs that adcoms always say about "tell your story".... how the heck can someone describe an accomplishment in less than 200 words, giving proper context of the situation, background and the achievement/setback itself??? I dont get it... I wish they would not try to take a big bite through these questions. Instead of 3 accomplishments, perhaps 2.. the extra 100 words could do wonders.

I cutoff so much that I basically ended up talking like Tarzan...mainly expressing the point of each setback or accomplishment but not really giving proper context to it...

I am 100% sure that the process taking place at HBS right now is flipping coins between one candidate and another. Gmat, gpa? ... doesnt matter... Everyone knows that you do not get into HBS because you are brilliant, you get in because you are lucky, the lucky winner of a random drawing. This mentality fits Wall Street anyways, you need lucky people when making the most expensive bets in the modern world... losing one crashes a country and yet, VC, PE and finance are the only ones who get into HBS and are highly regarded as gods, as if no other good enough backgrounds existed in the world...

Disclosure: I am not in VC, PE, finance .... obviously.

LOL.. i am sorry, but your argument is so flawed it looks like one of the AWAs for GMAT !! :lol:

Just because they put a word limit to their essays doesnt mean that actual admissions are being done through lucky draws! In any case, it is the same for everyone- isnt it? everyone has to follow the word limits, and everyone writes about 3 accomplishments within those..
let's have more faith, if not in harvard, then in common sense :wink:

nath99

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13 Oct 2011, 09:32

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jjoeteller

fsaq

Quote:

VC, PE and finance are the only ones who get into HBS and are highly regarded as gods, as if no other good enough backgrounds existed in the world...

Except that's not true --> (google "class statistics HBS" and read the pre-MBA profile section)

But you can tell yourself whatever makes you feel better, ok?

Same here, was frustrating to cut down my stories to fit in 200 words but HBS has a point. When you are dealing with senior executives all you are going to get is 30mins to share your 6 months work and they dont have all the attention in world. It is a very important skill to be successful ( at least i feel so) to be able to crisply make your point in few words. Yes you wont be able to add more emotions to it and I think hbs is more stats driven than touchy feel like stanford where the 2 essays can really differentiate you. So dont buy hbs is luck. The luck part comes when they have very similar 2 candidates (or may be 10) and they have to unfortunately pick 1 and this happens very often at hbs from what I hear.

For the record I do work at mbb.
nath99

hbsguru

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14 Oct 2011, 12:51

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Indian Delhi College and IIT rejects turn to U.S Ivies, says NY TIMES
https://t.co/PIo6PA17

hbsguru

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14 Oct 2011, 13:01

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Quote:

Same here, was frustrating to cut down my stories to fit in 200 words but HBS has a point.

Please, this whole discussion about 200 vs. 300 vs. 400 wds is insane. It is not a writing contest. They used to ask you for 3 accomp. in 600 wds, 200 wds each, and then had another question about your greatest leadership exp. in 400 words. Believe me the 400 wd answers were not always better and all that registers mostly is the situation.

if you are writing about your work in a Leper Colony in Tanzania, viz.

THE SUMMER I SPENT EXPANDING MEDICAL TREATMENT AT THE XYZ LEPER COLONY IN TANZANIA WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT BECAUSE I WORKED WITH INTERNATIONAL AID ORGS, AND LOCAL DOCTORS, AND VICTIMS RESULTING IN X AND Y.
I WAS EFFECTIVE BY BEING CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, LEADING UP, AND FINDING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO RASIE MONEY VIA FACEBOOOK AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE END. THAT IS DUNNO, LIKE 150 WORDS (assuming you slug in one or two quick examples of being sensitive and managing up), AND IT WILL REGISTER HIGHER W. HBS--even without any insipid take-away-- THAN ANY 400 BS STORY ABOUT HOW YOU MANAGED FOUR OTHER JERKS IN SOME DUE DILIGENCE NONSENSE ON THE JERKOFF DEAL.
NO MATTER HOW WELL WRITTEN THE DUE DILIGENCE ANSWER IS, IT WILL NOT MOVE THE NEEDLE MUCH. THEY ALREADY KNOW YOU WORK ON WALL ST, AND DUH, FOLKS THERE WIND UP DOING A LOT OF DUE DILIGENCE.

dont get me wrong, you can mess up the due diligence answer by being unclear, off point, and getting lost in the weeds, but you can only make it SO good, however well written and however brilliant your 'take aways' --that is why another 200 words wont help. That is a 200 word story.

hbsguru

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14 Oct 2011, 15:34

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CANT GET MY STORY TO 200 WORDS???
IF ANYONE HAS SOME STORY THEY CANNOT GET TO 200 WORDS, POST IT RIGHT HERE, AND I WILL FRIGGIN SHOW YOU HOW TO GET IT TO 200 WORDS AND MAKE IT BETTER.
NO KIDDING.

hbsguru

Quote:

Same here, was frustrating to cut down my stories to fit in 200 words but HBS has a point.

nowwhat

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15 Oct 2011, 05:28

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I have applied to some other colleges in R1 but missed the HBS and Booth R1 deadline. But now I am ready to submit. The essays are good as they can be (as things currently stand)..Any point? Should I wait till the R2 dealine to submit (and also by then the R1 results for other colleges would be out)? Any idea if the Adcom even begins to consider looking at the application before the R2 deadline?

ebonn101

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15 Oct 2011, 06:26

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No point in submitting immediately. Adcom won't look at your application until after the R2 deadline is passed. Give yourself the extra 2 months to pore over it and make improvements so it will be good to go R2.

shekmba

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18 Oct 2011, 21:24

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Gentlemen and Gentleladies,

Just one week to go !

ebonn101

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19 Oct 2011, 07:47

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it is admittedly difficult to focus on other applications with October 26th looming in the back of my mind, but so far I've been successful in my effort to avoid the neurosis of some of the applicants in previous years, who posted some (quite funny) dissections of random blog postings, emails, and conversations with admissions committee members over the phone, etc.

hypnotoed

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19 Oct 2011, 22:27

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ebonn101

Any interesting ones you can repost on this thread?

spacecurves

Joined: 17 May 2011

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Status:Waiting for interviews

Location: United States (MA)

Concentration: General Management

Schools: Booth '14 (WL) Sloan '14 (D) Boston U (A$) Anderson '14 (D) Haas '14 (A) Darden '14 (M$)

GPA: 3.76

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Schools: Booth '14 (WL) Sloan '14 (D) Boston U (A$) Anderson '14 (D) Haas '14 (A) Darden '14 (M$)

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20 Oct 2011, 06:42

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ebonn101

Yes, I hope all of us going through it this year can stay strong enough to avoid such a fate. There are some real conspiracy theories in those threads!

hbsguru

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20 Oct 2011, 11:11

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https://poetsandquants.com/2011/02/23/sa ... nterviews/

Sandy’s Dos & Don’ts for Harvard Business School Interviewsby John A. Byrne

Sandy Kreisberg, an MBA admissions consultant known as HBS Guru, has created his own list of dos and don’ts for applicants who have been invited to interview by the admissions office at Harvard Business School. This more irreverent list of suggestions, really a send up on the recently published 2011 Unofficial Harvard Business School Interview Guide, is a complement to his more substantive advice in How NOT to Blow Your Harvard Interview.

His two cents:

1) Don’t wear ear buds, no matter how cool your playlist is, and don’t ask if you can finish eating this cookie.

2) Cover up gang insignia.

3) Don’t pack visible firearms, even if licensed.

4) Don’t ask interviewer if it is okay if you ‘friend’ them after the interview.

5) Similarly, don’t say, ‘Do you mind if I take a picture of us together and send it to my Mom right now?’

6) Don’t attempt to sell interviewer lottery tickets, no matter how good the cause.

7) Don’t give interviewer stock tips or inside information about your company, with a wink.

8) Don’t say: 1. ‘You look old for this kind of work’ or 2. ‘You look tired. This must be exhausting’ or 3. ‘You look cute!’

And if you’re one of the few applicants who is interviewed by admissions director Dee Leopold, don’t say:

1) ‘Holy ****, now it all comes down to this’ (even though true).

Do say:

1) ‘Good afternoon, your majesty.’

2) ‘You look young for this kind of work.’

3) ‘Love, love, love those shoes! Where did you get them?’