|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
15 Jun 2015, 22:36
Kudos
Bookmarks
Our updated (June 2015) “How to Apply to HBS” Guide is the starting point for a prospective applicant to the Harvard Business School. This 15-page white paper is available for immediate download and is provided to prospective applicants at no cost.
Our 10-step guide will help you understand all of the key hot button issues and major thematic touch points – as well as critical admissions strategies and tips – that will make or break your prospects for gaining admission to the world’s most coveted business schools.
Download the Harvard Business School Guide >[/b]
Excerpt:
In the admissions consulting business, we love to ask the question, "Where are you applying?" And applicants appear to equally enjoy giving an answer that starts with "HBS, of course." HBS, of course. The first rule of applying to Harvard Business School is to understand that everyone applies to Harvard Business School. Applying to HBS isn't a novel exercise, but rather the first box on a checklist for virtually every candidate pursuing an MBA from an elite program.
So what does this mean you shouldn't apply to HBS? Of course not. But it does mean two critical things:
1. Your interest in HBS must rise above "it's HBS"
2. You absolutely must do everything right
To the latter point, doing things “right” includes not just what you do, but what you don’t do. It’s about handling your business with total confidence, self-possession, assuredness, and mastery. It’s about stepping into a world of ambiguity and not breaking even a hint of a sweat. Harvard has so much talent to choose from that it’s almost an impossible task to sort it out, so one thing they have done is introduced some stress and then watched to see who handles it. Basically, you don’t have to be perfect when you apply to Harvard, but you have to be perfectly composed. You have to own who you are, know when and where your personal expectations took shape, understand the path you are on, and – above all else – know how to put one foot in front of the other without doubting yourself along the way.
Quite honestly, if you are a legit candidate at HBS and have dreams of going there, this is a place to invest some resources and hire someone who can coach you through the process. You will not only submit a better app and stay closer to that ideal of perfection, but you will also grow and evolve as a person – that’s just the kind of app process it is. Nothing builds character more than navigating ambiguity and coming out the other side. For those who can’t afford services, we have created this 10-step approach to applying to HBS that can at least help you set the right path. Indeed, the following guide will help keep you on the straight and narrow as you undertake the nerve-racking task of applying to the world's most famous business school.
Download the Harvard Business School Guide >
Our 10-step guide will help you understand all of the key hot button issues and major thematic touch points – as well as critical admissions strategies and tips – that will make or break your prospects for gaining admission to the world’s most coveted business schools.
Download the Harvard Business School Guide >[/b]
Excerpt:
In the admissions consulting business, we love to ask the question, "Where are you applying?" And applicants appear to equally enjoy giving an answer that starts with "HBS, of course." HBS, of course. The first rule of applying to Harvard Business School is to understand that everyone applies to Harvard Business School. Applying to HBS isn't a novel exercise, but rather the first box on a checklist for virtually every candidate pursuing an MBA from an elite program.
So what does this mean you shouldn't apply to HBS? Of course not. But it does mean two critical things:
1. Your interest in HBS must rise above "it's HBS"
2. You absolutely must do everything right
To the latter point, doing things “right” includes not just what you do, but what you don’t do. It’s about handling your business with total confidence, self-possession, assuredness, and mastery. It’s about stepping into a world of ambiguity and not breaking even a hint of a sweat. Harvard has so much talent to choose from that it’s almost an impossible task to sort it out, so one thing they have done is introduced some stress and then watched to see who handles it. Basically, you don’t have to be perfect when you apply to Harvard, but you have to be perfectly composed. You have to own who you are, know when and where your personal expectations took shape, understand the path you are on, and – above all else – know how to put one foot in front of the other without doubting yourself along the way.
Quite honestly, if you are a legit candidate at HBS and have dreams of going there, this is a place to invest some resources and hire someone who can coach you through the process. You will not only submit a better app and stay closer to that ideal of perfection, but you will also grow and evolve as a person – that’s just the kind of app process it is. Nothing builds character more than navigating ambiguity and coming out the other side. For those who can’t afford services, we have created this 10-step approach to applying to HBS that can at least help you set the right path. Indeed, the following guide will help keep you on the straight and narrow as you undertake the nerve-racking task of applying to the world's most famous business school.
Download the Harvard Business School Guide >
PersonalMBACoach
Expert
Personal MBA Coach Founder
Joined: 11 Sep 2010
Last visit: 06 Nov 2025
Posts: 3,756
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 11
Status:Boutique MBA Admissions Consulting from a Wharton graduate - Helping applicants get into top global business schools since 2008
Affiliations: Wharton, MIT
Location: United States (NY)
Overall Client Admit Rate: 96%
Expert reply
26 Jun 2015, 17:45
Kudos
Bookmarks
HBS has one required question this year and while it is very simple and straightforward, there are many things to consider when drafting a response.
------------------
Question: It’s the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your “section.” This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.
Introduce yourself.
Note: Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.
We suggest you view this video before beginning to write. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA5R41F7d9Q
There is no word limit for this question. We think you know what guidance we're going to give here. Don't overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don't know your world can understand.
-------------
How to answer the question
Review the rest of your application to get a sense of what has already been communicated to HBS. This includes your letters of recommendations, short answer questions and resume. While this essay can certainly discuss items already in your application, it is a good idea to try to have it be somewhat complementary.
What are some things you could address?
• Explain when you were a protagonist. How did you get there? What did you learn?
• An interest or passion of yours. How has it made you a better leader?
• Reflect on why are interested in learning through the case method and how you will contribute to the classroom. It is not necessary to specifically write how you will do this, rather think about the characteristics that define you and how those characteristics will manifest themselves in your team discussions. If you love lively debates with friends, talk about how that helps you to grow.
• Leadership and motivation: While you don’t want to come across as too intense, you definitely want your passion, drive and motivation to be evident.
• Lastly, this does not have to be and should not be completely professional. Your classmates will want to know all about you, not just what you have accomplished but what makes you interesting.
What should you keep in mind while writing?
• Imagine reciting the essay out loud to your classmates
• This could be a starting point for an interview conversation. (as Dee mentions in her blog) https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/Pages ... ector.aspx If you have something very impressive that hasn’t been written about elsewhere, you could discuss it here. Just be prepared to talk about it in great detail during the interview.
• Reveal interesting things that will peak the interest of both adcom and your classmates. After all, the point of this is to start a dialogue. You don’t have to leave stories unfinished but write something that will make the reader curious to hear more about.
• This essay will be VERY different for everyone. Even more than traditional essay questions, this requires very deep thought and reflection. There is an art to crafting a successful answer here. Make sure to take the time to do so.
How long should the essay really be?
• Most essays that work will fall somewhere between 500-1000 words, with some being over 1000.
• Absolutely consider quality over quantity. If you can write a solid 600 word essay that is powerful and moving, that can absolutely work and lengthening it for no reason would only hurt you.
The case method video is very informative and inspiring! I have all of my clients watch it multiple times as it helps put you in the mindset of an HBS student and better prepares you not only for the application but the interview. Watch it a few times, especially the day before your interview.
If you would like individual and personal support while applying to HBS, contact me to learn how I can help! scott@personalmbacoach.com
------------------
Question: It’s the first day of class at HBS. You are in Aldrich Hall meeting your “section.” This is the group of 90 classmates who will become your close companions in the first-year MBA classroom. Our signature case method participant-based learning model ensures that you will get to know each other very well. The bonds you collectively create throughout this shared experience will be lasting.
Introduce yourself.
Note: Should you enroll at HBS, there will be an opportunity for you to share this with them.
We suggest you view this video before beginning to write. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA5R41F7d9Q
There is no word limit for this question. We think you know what guidance we're going to give here. Don't overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don't know your world can understand.
-------------
How to answer the question
Review the rest of your application to get a sense of what has already been communicated to HBS. This includes your letters of recommendations, short answer questions and resume. While this essay can certainly discuss items already in your application, it is a good idea to try to have it be somewhat complementary.
What are some things you could address?
• Explain when you were a protagonist. How did you get there? What did you learn?
• An interest or passion of yours. How has it made you a better leader?
• Reflect on why are interested in learning through the case method and how you will contribute to the classroom. It is not necessary to specifically write how you will do this, rather think about the characteristics that define you and how those characteristics will manifest themselves in your team discussions. If you love lively debates with friends, talk about how that helps you to grow.
• Leadership and motivation: While you don’t want to come across as too intense, you definitely want your passion, drive and motivation to be evident.
• Lastly, this does not have to be and should not be completely professional. Your classmates will want to know all about you, not just what you have accomplished but what makes you interesting.
What should you keep in mind while writing?
• Imagine reciting the essay out loud to your classmates
• This could be a starting point for an interview conversation. (as Dee mentions in her blog) https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/Pages ... ector.aspx If you have something very impressive that hasn’t been written about elsewhere, you could discuss it here. Just be prepared to talk about it in great detail during the interview.
• Reveal interesting things that will peak the interest of both adcom and your classmates. After all, the point of this is to start a dialogue. You don’t have to leave stories unfinished but write something that will make the reader curious to hear more about.
• This essay will be VERY different for everyone. Even more than traditional essay questions, this requires very deep thought and reflection. There is an art to crafting a successful answer here. Make sure to take the time to do so.
How long should the essay really be?
• Most essays that work will fall somewhere between 500-1000 words, with some being over 1000.
• Absolutely consider quality over quantity. If you can write a solid 600 word essay that is powerful and moving, that can absolutely work and lengthening it for no reason would only hurt you.
The case method video is very informative and inspiring! I have all of my clients watch it multiple times as it helps put you in the mindset of an HBS student and better prepares you not only for the application but the interview. Watch it a few times, especially the day before your interview.
If you would like individual and personal support while applying to HBS, contact me to learn how I can help! scott@personalmbacoach.com
01 Jul 2015, 10:00
Kudos
Bookmarks
| FROM HBS Admissions Blog: Class of 2018: Start Your Engines! |
|
It's June 1 and, as promised, the application for the Class of 2018 is live! You can now access the application via our website. Stay tuned for some more information about the Class of 2017 over the coming weeks. |
This Blog post was imported into the forum automatically. We hope you found it helpful. Please use the Kudos button if you did, or please PM/DM me if you found it disruptive and I will take care of it.
-BB
