Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016

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!).

Yikes, I can only imagine the stress. I will be in your shoes in the next few months.

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.

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...

I've started making contingency plans. Talking to recruiters at other firms now... hopefully it won't come to that, but worst case scenario I don't want to be unprepared if bad news comes next month.

My problem is that in my country, most people take off from Mid December to Mid January... So if I need any last minute references its not going to happen. I was invited to interview at 2 schools, So mentally I'm going to find it hard to prepare additional applications, even though I know I should have a back up plan. The Jan deadlines are awfully inconvenient!

Yep, just the 3 in R1. I'm starting to think about what other schools I would apply to if I get bad news, but haven't started anything yet. I'm thinking if H is a no go, I'll start my apps and have almost a month to finish them. I asked both my recommenders how much notice they need for early Jan deadlines and they said Dec 11 is plenty.

For right now, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for HBS, but I'm getting so antsy that I might start other apps just to distract myself...

Its going to be so hard to muster up the motivation to do anything in Round 2. I'm trying to write some essays now to keep myself occupied, but its just so difficult.

I know the waiting is so difficult. Trying to distract myself any way I can. Hope the next 3 weeks go by quickly!

Thanks for the input London! I've started thinking along those lines the past couple of days and it's great to see your first hand experience. I just knocked a few schools off my R2 list because I realized I would have a hard time convincing my S.O. that I actually wanted us to move there. It seems like a waste of time and money to apply if I wouldn't want to go anyway... no matter how high it's ranked. Let's hope we all get in exactly where we want to be and don't have to make any tough decisions

Hi guys. I just had in interview recently.

However, my interviewer told me after an interview that the result would be release online on 15th December. I don't think I misheard that. So has it been announced that the decision date is 15th not 11th?

Anyway, all the best for everyone!!!

Good luck! :D

No way. It's got to be the 11th. That's what it says on the website. Also, when I interviewed on campus a few weeks ago Dee Leopold quoted the Dec 11th date several times.

Well, maybe the the decision date remains Dec 11, but the list of accepted candidates will be made available online on Dec 15.

Haha. So Hopefully there will be an e-mail informing us about the date later on I hope.


Just want to add about my interview to help out others who may interview this week or for Round 2.

My interview is completely resume-based with all the questions that really makes me feel that my interviewer has really read through my application for real! When I mentioned one issue about my essay, she said to me like "Oh! Like you have written in essay right?" So it caught me off-guard a bit but it really showed that she really have read the whole application!

She dug deep into my details about my current job and really like super deep asking about my customer and how I do my business. She ask some normal stuff like my weakness and why I choose my first job and my university and why I move to second job as well.

She didn't ask Why MBA, Why HBS or any typical MBA questions though. No walk me through your resume neither.

30 minutes can't be faster than HBS interview I Must say and she probably asked about 20 questions in 30 minutes time!

Overall, I felt quite weird coming out don't know if I did ok or bad or good at all and now I just keep thinking how I could answered better or what aspect I should have said! It is torturing actually! haha

Now the waiting begins! Let's hope for the best!

How about you guys? Has it gone well for you guys?

Dee sent an email yesterday confirming the 11th:

"By now, you have had your HBS interview – and you've reflected on it. So this is the "what’s next" memo.

We're headed toward 12/11/13. For us, it feels like a very (very) short time...we have so much to do, so much to read, so many meetings to hold. But for you, it must feel like a long wait. Let me tell you what will happen at 12:00 noon Boston time on 12/11/13."

Well, what I can say is that the interview was intense. Around 35 minutes of fairly rapid-fire questioning, I think we must have hit around 14 main questions, with anywhere between 2- 5 follow-on questions for a few of those when the interviewer felt that she wanted more information.

Most of the questions were fairly standard HBS fare: a lot of "WHY" and "HOW" questions about decisions and transitions in my academic and professional career. (I obtained a graduate degree in law after college). Thankfully, I didn't get any of those "toughest questions" that were in the Harbus book, though I had prepared for them.

Interviewer was definitely pleasant, but also inscrutable, she gives you no information about whether you are doing well, and was frequently scribbling notes on a copy of my resume.

Now comes the really hard part, waiting for the decisions on Dec 11. I have a feeling I'm not going to be sleeping well until then.

As a lawyer, you must have spoken well... interview is all about expressing yourself succinctly. I am sure you have a leg up over mere mortals like us. Good luck for 12/11