Harvard 2013 (HBS) - Calling All Applicants

Congrats to all those invited for R2! I'll go out on a limb and on behalf of the R1 Admits, I am excited for you. I really enjoyed the interviewing process (met many people interview day that I am now friends with/reunited with at ASW).

Just some thoughts on interviewing--

1) Be online tomorrow right when interview scheduling opens, and be prepared. Know your schedule and which days of the week are ideal. I found the early AM slots did not go as quick, so it might be less stressful to aim for those rather than refresh and have a panic when you can't get your preferred time.

2) Think hard about trying to come to campus. I am local to Boston so on-campus was the default for me, but if it is within your means to come to campus to interview, it is worth it. I spent 2 days (day before interview, day of) wandering around, doing a class visit (HIGHLY recommended, see below), talking with other interviewees (many of whom I am now friends with), etc. HBS offers a lot of programming on campus around the interviews and I think that was very valuable. Set my mind at ease too. That said, I've met people who interviewed out of the country or ex-Boston and found that to be a positive, professional, and consistent experience to on-campus.

3) Do a class visit if you interview on campus. Seeing the case method live in action was the highlight of my interview experience. It gave me a much clearer sense of how I might fit in to the HBS community. Also found it somewhat relaxing - guests aren't in the hot seat. If you can, schedule a class visit before your interview.

4) Throw all of your thoughts away about your GMAT, stats, etc. If you got an invite to interview, they aren't relevant anymore. Focus on your story, why HBS, and get in the mindset to say "I can see myself here."

5) Don't try to prepare. Really, Dee wrote to us that you can't prep for the interview. You really can't. I got asked questions about two obscure interests on the most blighted part of my app (the last line of my resume). Other people I know got grilled on their job. Some people got management consultant type questions. It's a complete roulette, specific to you.

6) Make as many meaningful acquaintances as you can at interviews, wherever they are. I am still talking to the people who sat next to me waiting to be interviewed - plus the reunion was that much sweeter at ASW seeing friends make it through the needle's eye. Get in the mindset that these are your future classmates - not your interview competition.

7) Try not to worry about the 30 minute time limit. I'm sure you all know that interviews are a blisteringly short 30 minutes. I was fortunate in that mine wrapped up organically in that time. But it's the interviewer's job to keep it to 30 minutes, not yours. Offer answers that are honest, direct, but evident of your personality, and the interviewers will dial things up or down as they would like.

8) Think of your second "silent" interviewer as a potential third party to the conversation. Perhaps my experience was unique, but I got some dialogue going with my first and second interviewers (who is supposed to be a seen-not-heard observer for the most part.) At the beginning of my interview, this had a huge impact in putting me at ease and making my time feel conversational. Not sure you can manufacture this, but if your second interviewer engages you, engage them as best you can.

9) Don't focus on the reflection essay until after you finish. After grabbing my interviewer's cards (write a handwritten thank-you!!!), I went and wrote down all the questions I was asked right away. But not a second before.

10) Don't be afraid to write your real feelings on your post-interview reflection. Don't fret about the length - I've heard varied responses on how much people wrote. My response was about a page and a half. I wrote mine like a letter, addressing things I enjoyed about the interview, honed in on the most interesting part of the interview, and added one topic I wish we had covered. Let your personality show. Use your natural voice and try not to be too stiff. And, from a few admits I've met, it's okay to voice some disappointment or things you wish had gone differently. I don't think there are any "catches" in the process.

11) The interview process is the most personal, private part. I was more private with my application process than some - I didn't solicit any outside opinions during the written app. But thinking about interviewing, I really focused on looking inward on myself, where I've come, and where I'm going. I'm sure there are many paths to success, but I think in my case the interview and post-reflection process were done in isolation without outside influence.

If anyone has any other thoughts or questions, would be happy to be a resource. And congrats again!

Enough said.

@HBSguru.... love your direct style, your track record and approach...

but sometimes reading your posts, and blogs, and edits... I sometimes wonder how you ever passed 5th grade....

(hoping not to start a flammatory thread... but I dont know what others think)

Accepted! Praise Allah

This forum was our life and blood while we were going through the process, and the support we got here kept us alive! I think it is hard to let go of the e-relationships and the sentiments, and it is nice to help out people in our shoes the best we can

I just want to tell everyone who was saying how with a low GMAT you have no shot... 650 GMAT and just got the invite.

Mario your princess is in another castle...

I was trying to describe how painful the wait is to some friends that are not applying to B-Schools. I ended up telling them that it's like training for the Olympics. You've just competed in the gold medal round and now, you have to wait 1 month to see the judges scores.

Interviewed Yesterday on campus.

I'm pleased overall, I think it went well. I came up before the crazy blizzard because I didn't want to have to postpone. Selected the first interview slot for R2's and I'm glad because now it's over! I stayed with a friend in Soldier Field Park apartments. So even though the conference I planned to attend was cancelled due to the weather I still got a very real experience being couped up on campus the whole weekend. There were so many house parties that I was able to interact with students on a normal level and just get to know who they were as individuals. Geesh, everyone is so intelligent and doing amazing things already. Really great environment to be in. Once they found out I had an interview, everyone was so encouraging! Didn't get any of the stuffy vibe people stereotype ivy schools to have.

I explored a little once I could, and I'm glad to have had the full weekend prior to my interview since I had never visited before. I enjoyed that each interview is focused and tailored specifically for you, no one else. They asked me very particular questions about why my current job, current company, undergraduate school, what am I learning from it in terms of effective leadership, and what I was bringing to the table that others hadn't before. Definitely have a point of view on where your current and future employers are going and a reflection on past strategies that may not have worked out so well. I needed at least 30 seconds to answer a Q on: "Tell me something about the industry you are pursuing that I wouldn't know." Great one!

I kept a running tab of things to talk about in my post reflection all weekend so that made it easier to incorporate by the time I had to actually write it. I figured that going past a page wouln't be a good look given the two required essays were very short to begin with. Anyway, wanted to share. Don't let anyone tell you you can't prepare for your interviews. You definitely have to be yourself, but you still need stories in your toolbox that you can pull out at the right time!

Good luck to everyone else in R2 or waitlisted!

I'm in. Can't wait to join HBS. Unreal.

Let's see if I can accurately represent how my stomach feels right now: jkasdnakjcsahfabsdljxndlcahnDSSLKJSXHDNqjchbalkxnsjDALHNALCJCRLAkdbalndks

Hello Class of 2015!!!

I've had a few requests for interview prep advice, so I thought I'd share here for everyone.

1. I used two sources for prep:
Clear Admit free wiki: https://blog.clearadmit.com/category/interview-reports/school/harvard/
HARBUS un-official guide: https://www.hbsinterview.com/

2. I basically looked over my application about 100 times before the interview looking for gaps or career choices so I could concisely explain my decisions. Remember - your interviewer will have your application in front of him/her and may reference something specific. This happened to me: She asked me what I meant when I described my current role. I laughed a bit and told her it's hard to explain what I do in 200 characters and then answered in more detail. I think she chuckled.

3. RELAX!! I usually do not get nervous, but I could tell in my first answer or two that I was a mess. I just kept thinking that I knew myself better than they did and the purpose of the interview is show them who you are - nothing more, nothing less. That seemed to help me calm down, but think about what works for you. You will most likely need to use it!

GOOD LUCK!!!!

let's prove that HBS made some mistakes today in the future!

I'm in as well! First admit... I am so relieved.

Congratulations!

The rest of GmatClub can join in celebration, as HBS admits will now release their seats in other schools

When I was a 15 year old. The only foreign college I had heard of was the Harvard Business School.

When I was 18 year old. The only college I had dreamt of was Harvard Business School.

When I was 22 year old, the only college I wished to see myself at once before I died, it was Harvard Business School.

When I was 25 year old, I didn't took the exam for Indian B-Schools because all I could think of was the Harvard Business School.

When, today, I'm 27 year old and I'm going to apply to Harvard Business School, merely opening hbs.edu sends a chill down my spine. I can't fathom why.

HBS...an unfulfilled dream that will accompany me to my grave?

Count me in for R1.