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bball
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 08:17
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egy
i had a very similar experience... except no questions about "why mba" or "why hbs".
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wow, interesting. you must have done a really good job explaining these in your essays then!
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants Updated on: 04 Dec 2008, 09:05
Originally posted by Rubashov1 on 04 Dec 2008, 09:04.
Last edited by Rubashov1 on 04 Dec 2008, 09:05, edited 1 time in total.
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I had pretty much no Why MBA or Why HBS questions as well. I was most surprised that I got virtually no questions about what I do, strengths/weaknesses, accomplishments/failures. My questions were mostly general things about my industry, hobbies and my thoughts on organizations/inspirations. Some fairly abstract stuff. I took the "anything else you'd like to cover" opportunity to discuss more specific job-related things that I didn't go into detail on in my essays.
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 09:05
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One of the adcoms said that they don't ask "Why HBS?" in their application for a reason. They are confident with their yield % and their competitive advantage. She implied that with limited space/time adcoms will oftentimes focus on other areas since yield is less of a problem at HBS.

(This was also a bit awkward since adcoms from other schools were also present).
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 09:26
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rca215
I had pretty much no Why MBA or Why HBS questions as well. I was most surprised that I got virtually no questions about what I do, strengths/weaknesses, accomplishments/failures. My questions were mostly general things about my industry, hobbies and my thoughts on organizations/inspirations. Some fairly abstract stuff. I took the "anything else you'd like to cover" opportunity to discuss more specific job-related things that I didn't go into detail on in my essays.
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Interesting. for all this talk about HBS interviews counting more than other schools, it seems like everyone's experiences has been uneventful / anti-climactic. I really wonder how adcom makes decisions after interviewing...
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 09:58
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I'll tell you how: I saw two people who when greeted by their friendly interviewers and asked how they were doing simply responded "good". No, "thank you", "and you?", that's it. Just silence. Silence!

bball
rca215
I had pretty much no Why MBA or Why HBS questions as well. I was most surprised that I got virtually no questions about what I do, strengths/weaknesses, accomplishments/failures. My questions were mostly general things about my industry, hobbies and my thoughts on organizations/inspirations. Some fairly abstract stuff. I took the "anything else you'd like to cover" opportunity to discuss more specific job-related things that I didn't go into detail on in my essays.

Interesting. for all this talk about HBS interviews counting more than other schools, it seems like everyone's experiences has been uneventful / anti-climactic. I really wonder how adcom makes decisions after interviewing...
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 10:13
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egy
I'll tell you how: I saw two people who when greeted by their friendly interviewers and asked how they were doing simply responded "good". No, "thank you", "and you?", that's it. Just silence. Silence!
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:facepalm:

So either they were rude or lying about their answer (real answer being "scared ****!").
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 10:16
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egy
I'll tell you how: I saw two people who when greeted by their friendly interviewers and asked how they were doing simply responded "good". No, "thank you", "and you?", that's it. Just silence. Silence!

:facepalm:

So either they were rude or lying about their answer (real answer being "scared ****!").
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Yea that and they have poor English skills... unless they actually are "doing good (deeds)".
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 10:26
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yah.. people were sooooo stressed in the waiting room. it was rather funny. there was a guy pacing around mumbling to himself... there were a few people playing with their cell phones... one guy looked like he had drugged himself. Another kept going to the bathroom.

i was by no means not nervous... but jeez. I actually enjoyed the interview. my person was very friendly and i really enjoyed talking to her.



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egy
I'll tell you how: I saw two people who when greeted by their friendly interviewers and asked how they were doing simply responded "good". No, "thank you", "and you?", that's it. Just silence. Silence!

:facepalm:

So either they were rude or lying about their answer (real answer being "scared ****!").

Yea that and they have poor English skills... unless they actually are "doing good (deeds)".
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 10:44
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egy
yah.. people were sooooo stressed in the waiting room. it was rather funny. there was a guy pacing around mumbling to himself... there were a few people playing with their cell phones... one guy looked like he had drugged himself. Another kept going to the bathroom.

i was by no means not nervous... but jeez. I actually enjoyed the interview. my person was very friendly and i really enjoyed talking to her.
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I agree 100%. While I'm not joyous about my interview, I actually quite liked it. The admissions group there is super friendly and easy-going.
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 19:56
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i agree with egy and rca215. the adcom at harvard are super nice and friendly!
i had my interview yesterday--while the adcom members are very nice, it is nearly impossible to read them at all during the interview! i was hoping and praying for some signals of approval or disapproval but nothing at all. that was expected, but still can be frustrating if you are interviewing! no trick questions--my interviewer asked me a lot about career development and my plan post MBA which i thought was interesting..

btw, question for ppl who had their interviews on campus already--
did you guys write a thankyou email to your interviewers? if so, how did you guys go about it?
i'm wondering if 1) it is customary to send a thank you note to an adcom member 2) while i got the full name of my interviewer, i actually did not ger her email address. all i have is "admissionsboard@hbs.edu", which i'm guessing is everyone on the admissions board...
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 04 Dec 2008, 21:06
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if you're typing a thank-you email how do you address your interviewer (if her name was say Mary Smith, do you say "Mary" or Ms. or "Mrs. Smith"?)
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 05 Dec 2008, 09:29
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i would start with "dear mary" not "ms. smith"
i think that sounds more personable since you've met the interviewer in person but thats just my two cents...
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 05 Dec 2008, 09:34
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It depends upon how they introduced themselves during the interview. If she says, Hi I'm Mary, then you can say Dear Mary. However, if she says, Hi, I'm Mary Smith, then I would use Mrs. Smith.
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 05 Dec 2008, 09:34
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If they said "call me Mary" during the interview, go with Mary. If they just introduced themselves with their full name, I would say "Ms. Smith" (not Mrs. unless you know she is married... for a fact). For all my interviews they all stated "call me [insert first name], so my decisions were easy.

So thats my take.....

gt7er
if you're typing a thank-you email how do you address your interviewer (if her name was say Mary Smith, do you say "Mary" or Ms. or "Mrs. Smith"?)
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 05 Dec 2008, 09:48
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Recent article on HBS debate regarding future of MBA program.

Do you guys believe current HBS MBA program needs to be updated?

https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6053.html
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 05 Dec 2008, 16:37
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did people bring copies of the resumes for HBS interviews? or literally just walk in empty handed?
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 05 Dec 2008, 16:40
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bball
did people bring copies of the resumes for HBS interviews? or literally just walk in empty handed?
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I brought a resume but my interviewer had one already.
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 06 Dec 2008, 20:48
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Quick question - As you prepare for your HBS interview, are you guys brushing up on current events? Or do you think that's beyond the scope of an HBS interview?
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egy
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 06 Dec 2008, 21:08
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NOT beyond the scope. but as long as you're a thinking/breathing person, it shouldn't be too hard to talk about all the crazy things going on in the world.

BigBad
Quick question - As you prepare for your HBS interview, are you guys brushing up on current events? Or do you think that's beyond the scope of an HBS interview?
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Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants 06 Dec 2008, 21:14
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ditto. Best to look prepared though. Personally, I would feel weird walking into an interview empty handed.

rca215
bball
did people bring copies of the resumes for HBS interviews? or literally just walk in empty handed?

I brought a resume but my interviewer had one already.
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