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ILBoy
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 07:11
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knightofdelta
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I wrote a long Essay, it was 1700 words and was invited. I also wrote about what was important to me, how i got there and where I wanted to go....

Thank you so much for your response. I finished my first draft yesterday and I hit 1,230 words. I freaked out because I set a target of 700 - 800 words. I guess I was not as shallow as I thought.

Did you talk about why Harvard?
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Harvard traditionally don't ask why Harvard because they figure everyone wants to go to Harvard, so I didn't talk about it. More room to talk about yourself :)
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knightofdelta
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 07:12
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AsafIsrael


I wrote less than 800 words and got an invite. I basically took all of the best parts from essays of other schools. I therefore recommend to save the HBS essay for last.
Interview in one week, wish me luck :-D
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Good luck! :-D

You must be an exceptional candidate...
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knightofdelta
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 07:15
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RSAproud
knightofdelta
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I wrote a long Essay, it was 1700 words and was invited. I also wrote about what was important to me, how i got there and where I wanted to go....

Thank you so much for your response. I finished my first draft yesterday and I hit 1,230 words. I freaked out because I set a target of 700 - 800 words. I guess I was not as shallow as I thought.

Did you talk about why Harvard?

Yes i basically took a few normal essay topics and put it together.. What makes you tick, why an mba and why now, why Harvard, what I will contribute....

I was nervous about the length but obviously it seemed fine. I'm also no rockstar candidate.. I am from Africa, no major extra curriculars, average marks, average GMAT of 730 and normal job progression. I needed the Essay to stand out....
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Good to read from a fellow African! And from an African perspective 730 is a rockstar GMAT score...
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knightofdelta
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 07:17
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AsafIsrael
knightofdelta
RSAproud
I wrote a long Essay, it was 1700 words and was invited. I also wrote about what was important to me, how i got there and where I wanted to go....

Thank you so much for your response. I finished my first draft yesterday and I hit 1,230 words. I freaked out because I set a target of 700 - 800 words. I guess I was not as shallow as I thought.

Did you talk about why Harvard?


Harvard traditionally don't ask why Harvard because they figure everyone wants to go to Harvard, so I didn't talk about it. More room to talk about yourself :)
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Why do I suddenly feel like I am doing a case study with AsafIsrael and RSAproud in a Harvard Class? We need more people to join this conversation! :-D
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ltg1671
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 08:26
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knightofdelta
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For those who has submitted your applications to HBS, may I ask what you wrote about in your essays?
I am having hard time figuring out what to write...Thanks!

I really think that everyone's essay should be different, there's no one 'thing' that people should write about. I'd suggesting thinking about who you are as a person, focusing on what made you that way, and then writing about some aspect of that. I wrote about several specific experiences that helped shape me into the person I am today.

Thanks for this Boulderbiker. If I may ask, how many words did you write in your essay altogether?

It will be well appreciated if anyone who was invited for interview by Harvard can chip in a word or two into this.
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Everyone's essays will be very different. I, for one, wrote six completely different drafts before cranking out the seventh two days before the deadline. It used two amusing anecdotes to describe how I became aware of what I wanted to do, why Harvard, what I intend to do there, etc. Sub 800 words.
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Kitkat6
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 09:56
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Mine was somewhere between 700 and 800. It was a blend of my hobbies, motivations, and an extracurricular that highlighted leadership experience. I figured my recommendations would cover my work achievements so I didn't really touch on that.

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boulderbiker
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 10:54
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Kitkat6
Mine was somewhere between 700 and 800. It was a blend of my hobbies, motivations, and an extracurricular that highlighted leadership experience. I figured my recommendations would cover my work achievements so I didn't really touch on that.

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Yea, mine was about the same length.
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sp67
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 12:10
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My HBS essay was short - 500 words. I focused on my desired industry/field and how an MBA will help me achieve my career goals. Didn't really mention "why HBS" except for a couple short sentences at the end.

I interviewed on campus a few weeks ago.
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 12:40
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All your replies have been really helpful. Thanks a lot guys. Please keep 'em coming. I am gradually seeing a pattern emerge here... and it is... there is no pattern. :-D

I guess HBS just allows you to express yourself anyhow you want. You will not get punished for it. Looks like I'm gonna have many interesting classmates with diverse perspectives... :)
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 13:22
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If they wanted you to write about a specific topic, they would have given you a more specific prompt. Write about what's most meaningful for you.
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rennation
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 14 Nov 2013, 20:55
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Mine was around 650. I will note though that the other short answer questions in the application were discussed in my interview so I see those as just as important. My essay boiled down to "why I am the way I am" and "what's next".
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 15 Nov 2013, 09:38
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New theory for all "further consideration" people: Harvard is just protecting itself. They read our apps and said, "This really sounds like a Stanford/Wharton person. Let's wait and see if they get into those schools and withdraw from us. If not, we will let them in round 2."

This is a bulletproof theory. I feel so much better now. Anyone commenting on this theory needs to agree with it or you will ignored. Other than that, I'm open to any comments!
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knightofdelta
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 15 Nov 2013, 10:03
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dwal44
New theory for all "further consideration" people: Harvard is just protecting itself. They read our apps and said, "This really sounds like a Stanford/Wharton person. Let's wait and see if they get into those schools and withdraw from us. If not, we will let them in round 2."

This is a bulletproof theory. I feel so much better now. Anyone commenting on this theory needs to agree with it or you will ignored. Other than that, I'm open to any comments!
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Why would anybody want to drop Wharton for Harvard? Stanford, I understand.
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nycdweller
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 16 Nov 2013, 10:10
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knightofdelta
dwal44
New theory for all "further consideration" people: Harvard is just protecting itself. They read our apps and said, "This really sounds like a Stanford/Wharton person. Let's wait and see if they get into those schools and withdraw from us. If not, we will let them in round 2."

This is a bulletproof theory. I feel so much better now. Anyone commenting on this theory needs to agree with it or you will ignored. Other than that, I'm open to any comments!

Why would anybody want to drop Wharton for Harvard? Stanford, I understand.
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not to be self-delusional, as i am in the same boat, but i think there's some logic to dwal44's comment. i saw MBAGirlJourney decided to withdraw out of R1 FC with HBS and out of interviewing with Wharton to go to CBS. people make decisions based on many different factors - its not just based on US News ranking. we (R1 FCs) are probably borderline in a possibly under-represented pool or have some unique hook to our application (otherwise, they would have enough in R2 to fill the class) that warranted a second look later.

for you other R1 FC people: are you doing anything to supplement your application?
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 17 Nov 2013, 01:12
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For my essay I wrote what they asked - my theme was basically "tell us things we need to know".... I wrote 1500 words, and under about 4 sub-headings. Basically 4 mini-essays, simply about things that when I read my application in full I felt deserved more depth.

Like everyone says, it's completely individual and I suspect that's the point. How you answer the questions says as much as what you write!

I got invited to interview, and mine is on Tuesday (Eeek!).
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 17 Nov 2013, 09:59
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I'm a R1 FC, and I would love to believe this theory is true. However it's probably self delusional.

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knightofdelta
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 18 Nov 2013, 08:15
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Yikes, I can only imagine the stress. I will be in your shoes in the next few months.
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NYPE
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 18 Nov 2013, 09:54
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Had my interview for HBS a few weeks ago in Boston. The interview was very conversational and friendly. Mix of specific questions for me and generic questions (why HBS, walk through resume, etc). Talking to others who also interviewed makes me think that HBS has tilted their interview to a more friendly conversation, compared to in the past where others felt that it was high stress. The interviewees were also very diverse by region and industry.
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 20 Nov 2013, 09:15
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Ugh this waiting is tough. 3 weeks, 45 minutes to go!

Posted from my mobile device
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RSAproud
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Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016 20 Nov 2013, 09:22
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Kitkat6
Ugh this waiting is tough. 3 weeks, 45 minutes to go!

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Kitkat6 did you only apply to 3 schools? Are you preparing additional applications just in case? Trying to decide what my next step should be...
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