From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: info@mbaadmit.com
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HBS Application and Tips, 2015-2016The Harvard Business School (HBS) application has historically been one of the most complex applications of all of the business school applications. This year is no exception. A first best practice you should observe: don’t wait until the last minute to complete this intricate application! The HBS application form itself is the admissions committee’s first glance at your candidacy and first impressions can last, so make sure you set off on the right foot!
Here are some key details about what is required by Harvard this admissions season.
DeadlinesThis year, the application deadlines are as follow:
Round 1: Application due Wednesday, September 9, 2015.
Round 2: Application due Wednesday, January 6, 2016.
Round 3: Application due Monday, April 4, 2016.
Scores, Transcripts and ResumeThe HBS application will remain the same as last year in terms of needing to submit GMAT or GRE scores, English proficiency score (if you did not attend an English-speaking college), academic transcripts, and resume. Many candidates will be happy to hear that they only need to submit information about their highest GMAT score prior to the admissions decision; they do not need to report the most recent two or three GMAT scores.
Candidates can also submit a resume of up to two pages, which allows candidates with strong extracurricular activities or long work histories to showcase their many strengths.
Essay Requirements
A few years ago, HBS shook up the MBA admissions field by reducing the number of the required application essays from approximately four to one, by having no specific topic for the essay and imposing no word limit either. That was a change! This year, HBS continues on this path by providing one single essay prompt and no word limit. But unlike the last two years, the essay topic is a bit more defined. The topic is as follows:
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. (No word limit)
HBS has indicated that a main reason for reducing the essay portion to one essay is that the admissions committee believes that acceptance to HBS should not be based on essay content. This means that for many candidates, your raw qualifications – GPA, GMAT score, quality of work experience – will factor more strongly in the admission decision than it may have over the past 10 years at HBS. For advice about how to approach this single essay with no defined word limit, please read our blog entitled “HBS: What to Do With Harvard’s No-Word-Limit Essay”.
Application Form
The HBS application form represents the first stage toward progressing on to the interview stage and will be used to eliminate many applicants. Last year, HBS reportedly received approximately 9686 applications and it had an acceptance rate of only about 11%! That is an 89% rejection rate!
Among the important areas on the form to pay attention to are these.
Job descriptions. You will have 250 characters to describe your roles and responsibilities for each job that you’ve held; 250 characters to describe your company/organization; 250 characters to discuss your reason for leaving; 250 characters to describe your key accomplishments; and 250 characters to discuss your most significant challenge. If you have had any gaps in employment, you will have 1000 characters to explain.
Academic awards. You can insert a maximum of 3 academic awards in the HBS application. Make sure to choose the most important ones – ones that are likely to persuade the admissions committee that you are a highly accomplished candidate and stand out relative to peers. In each award space, you will have 200 characters to describe the basis of your selection.
Extracurricular activities. You will be able to discuss a maximum of 3 extracurricular activities in the application. You will be required to prioritize the activities in order of importance to you, and you will have 200 characters to describe each activity. Make certain to highlight the extracurricular activities that demonstrate you can have an impact in the community and/or that you have valuable interests. You want to convince the admissions committee that you can bring positive impact to your environment and that you will be a valuable student in their MBA class.
In its application form, HBS also asks you to provide information on your intended post-MBA goals. You will be able to select the industry, function, and use 500 characters to explain your career aspirations. You will have an additional 500 characters to explain any additional information not discussed or clarified in the rest of the application. Make sure to use this space strategically and to your best advantage.
Recommendation RequirementsAs with last year, this year the number of recommendations required is two. Harvard is also continuing to use the so-called ‘Common Recommendation Form’ questions that have been adopted by many top business schools including Stanford, Columbia and Wharton. The reason for this is to save recommendation writers time and allow them to give more thought to the recommendation they are writing, the contents of which can be sent in to multiple schools.
One recommendation would preferably come from a current supervisor (although this is not always possible). Asking recommendation writers for a recommendation early on is key to cultivating an excellent recommendation and may allow you to work closely with the recommendation writer to ensure that the letter is an accurate reflection of your performance and character. To this end, recommendation writers should be people who know you well.
Recommendation writers will be required to fill out a grid that ranks your performance and characteristics in key areas such as leadership. Don’t underestimate the importance of the grid on the recommendation form, which asks recommendation writers to rank you in key areas such as leadership. It provides valuable information to the committee about how you rank relative to your peers, which is a key factor influencing whether or not you will gain admission to this top business school.
In addition, recommendation writers are instructed to answer two ‘Common Recommendation Form’ questions:
Question 1: How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words max)
Question 2: Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250 words max)The short length of the responses means that recommendation writers need to provide content that presents only the most important information and that creates an outstanding portrait of the candidate’s abilities and future promise.
Post-Interview ReflectionAdditionally, as was done last year, after the interview HBS will ask interviewees to submit a short reflection within 24 hours of the interview to address specific thoughts on the interview and whether they still believe HBS is a good fit for them.
Timing, Especially for Overrepresented Candidates or International CandidatesAs you prepare your application, be aware of timing. Candidates with more common profiles should apply earlier in order to apply when the most number of seats are still available. International applicants should aim to apply by Round 2, so as to be able to work out any visa issues beforehand.
Need assistance with your MBA applications? Please contact us at info@mbaadmit.comWould you like a free profile evaluation? Fill out the profile evaluation form on our homepage at https://mbaadmit.com. To benefit from our free webinars, click https://mbaadmit.com/webinars/.Best wishes,
Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts)
President, MBA Admit.comhttps://www.mbaadmit.comEmail:
info@mbaadmit.com