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Harvard Business School (HBS) states that while it looks for applicants with diverse life experiences, successful applicants have demonstrated a habit of leadership, analytical aptitude and engaged community citizenship. Students who form a part of the HBS community thrive in a dynamic, demanding environment that is highly verbal – filled with debate and discussion. The school’s learning methods depend heavily on active participation by students who process and analyse information quickly from extremely diverse sources and ambiguous situations.

As you prepare your HBS application, your essays should provide the admissions committee with a clear picture of how your value system and life experiences, whether personal or professional, speak to the school’s ethos.

Click here to learn more about how you can approach the HBS essay prompt.

------------------------------------------------

The Red Pen is a leading independent education consultancy that helps applicants navigate the school, college, MBA and postgraduate admissions process. 95% of our clients receive offers to one of their top choice-colleges.

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Let's first look at the essay prompt

Same topic, different word limit

The MBA essay topic is the same as it was for the 2022 admissions.
There is just one topic which is:
As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?

However, this year Harvard admissions committee has added a 900-word limit to the essay which in previous years was without any word limit.



Things to keep in mind before writing the Harvard MBA essay?
Please keep in mind that your essay must be additive. The prompt’s keywords are “what more?” It should not be an extension of your resume.

Here are 3 things to keep in mind:

    1. It shouldn’t be a series of broad generalizations and assertions that could apply to a lot of people.
    2. It cannot be a collection of anecdotes with no meaning or significance attached to the events. It should include at least a portion of your unique story, the part you want Harvard MBA adcom to know.
    3. It should demonstrate your motivations, values, and goals.

Here are 6 Harvard MBA essay tips:

    1. Choose your words carefully
    2. Choose your stories based on what HBS admission committee is looking for
    3. Be genuine and authentic
    4. Avoid fluff in your essay
    5. Draft and revise
    6. Get Feedback on your essay

Take a look at our blogpost on Harvard MBA essay analysis to get a detailed understanding of how to write this essay and things to keep in mind.
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Are you applying to HBS or any of the M7 business schools this fall?

All seven schools have now officially released their 2022-2023 essay questions. Personal MBA Coach is here to guide you through the essay writing process. Download our free M7 Essay Analysis e-book today!

About Personal MBA Coach:

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 15 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2 by leading sources. Personal MBA Coach is the #1 most favorably reviewed US Consultant of all time on Poets & Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing, and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last cycle, our clients earned more than $6.5M in scholarships!
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Thank you for the feedback !
Feoneliya
Thanks for the info. Very informative article.

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Free webinar 7/26: Write your way into H/S/W!

Write Your Way into HBS, Wharton, or Stanford GSB!

Even if you graduated from a top school with a killer GPA, have a 760 GMAT and have had great career progression at a big name company, you need to NAIL your essays to earn a seat at a top MBA program.

Join Stratus MBA Admissions Counselors Jennifer Jackson (Harvard Business School MBA) and Sophie Hilaire (Wharton MBA) as they share insider guidance and tips. Learn how to connect your past experiences with your aspirations to craft a unique narrative that makes you stand out.

Live Q&A to follow.

Register for free by heading to Stratus Admissions Counseling's website. From the 'MBA' dropdown select 'Events.'

See you there!
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Harvard Business School (HBS) states that while it looks for applicants with diverse life experiences, successful applicants have demonstrated a habit of leadership, analytical aptitude and engaged community citizenship. Students who form a part of the HBS community thrive in a dynamic, demanding environment that is highly verbal – filled with debate and discussion. The school’s learning methods depend heavily on active participation by students who process and analyse information quickly from extremely diverse sources and ambiguous situations.

As you prepare your HBS application, your essays should provide the admissions committee with a clear picture of how your value system and life experiences, whether personal or professional, speak to the school’s ethos.

Click here to learn more about how you can approach the HBS essay prompt.
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Those who are exploring business school options have likely discovered that there are a growing number of strong MBA programs across the globe with noteworthy rankings and powerful alumni networks. However, despite this increase in attractive business school options, the M7 business schools continue to be top choices for many MBA candidates.

For applicants who plan on applying to one of more of the M7 schools (Harvard Business School, Stanford GSB, Wharton, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, MIT Sloan and Columbia Business School), Personal MBA Coach is here to guide you through the essay-writing process.

Here, we have shared the all of the required essay questions for the M7 schools, and our quick tips on how to best answer these questions!

About Personal MBA Coach:

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 15 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2 by leading sources. Personal MBA Coach is the #1 most favorably reviewed US Consultant of all time on Poets & Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing, and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last cycle, our clients earned more than $6.5M in scholarships!
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Nail the MBA application essays of 3 top business schools - HBS, Stanford, and Wharton - with confidence. In this video, Drew Hoff, MBA Admission expert at Amerasia Consulting, gives a complete understanding of these three top MBA programs and their application components such as Essays, Recommendations, Resume, interviews, work experience, etc.

Key Discussion Points:
  • Understanding your candidacy for a top MBA program
  • 12 questions to ask yourself in essay brainstorming
  • How to understand your target audience - The MBA Program and Adcom
  • How to approach Harvard essay
  • How to approach Stanford GSB essay
  • How to approach Wharton essay
  • Audience Questions

YouTube Link: https://gmatclub.com/forum/redirect.php?id=za463dstum

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This time of year, MBA hopefuls chomping at the bit to try their hand at Round 2 admission to selective MBA programs are always asking about how to craft strong essays for their dream school. They know it’s critical to stand out in the MBA admissions race and they want to make sure they are crafting the right answers to what MBA adcoms are asking in the MBA essays and MBA application questions. It’s understandable to want to make sure you are staying on point. One of the most common criticisms of reviewers of MBA essays is “you missed answering the question”.

But I am here to suggest there is a part of the MBA application strategy that comes before you start writing your essays that will position you to much better craft every component of your MBA application, not just the MBA essay answers.

The strongest MBA candidates understand the importance of soul-searching, using the seven essential questions. The answers to these questions will flow into the four essential stories every candidate applying to business school will need to create. These four stories are narratives about leadership, accomplishment, challenge, and growth.

Every top tier MBA program looks for these qualities and asks for them in various parts of the business school application. They may be “disguised” under different names but they invariably fall into one of these categories. If you do the work to build a bank of examples that collectively amount to a track record in each one of your categories, you will have a source to tap when you tackle any MBA admissions stage – answering the MBA application questions, writing your MBA admissions essays, refining your career goals, acing the MBA admissions interview, and even choosing the best fit MBA program for you when admissions offers arrive in your inbox.

Let’s take a look at how this framework fits into the admissions criteria of top MBA programs. Then further down, you will find some ideas about what personal and professional examples could go into each of the four essential stories: https://www.mymbapath.com/insights/four ... cant-needs
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Coffee with MBA and Beyond

Craft admit winning MBA Essays!!



Greetings, Everyone!!🎉

With the the preparation for Round 2 is already in the air, everyone from denied applicants to waitlisted and especially the new applicants have taken it up an extra notch and are more determined than ever to secure a spot in their dream B-schools!!

This time around, the competition is going to be a little extra tough with many stellar profiles still waitlisted, waiting for their call, and with the seats being lesser than before, it is going to be a tough job for the adcom to select from a pool of talented MBA aspirants!

Sounds a little tough? Well, fret not! We at MBAandBeyond will try our best to assist in your quest for your dream B-school, so Cheer up,🥳 and let's put our best foot forward together!!💪)

At MBanndBeyond, we believe that "it's never too early to start preparing, and it's never too late to improve. " hence, we bring to you an electrifying session hosted by our team of experts so that you can spearhead your preparation for the Round 2 deadlines by help you Craft admit winning MBA Essays with ease!

In this session, we will discuss starting with some very crucial points on crafting inspiring MBA essays, starting obviously, with the most common genre- Leadership, Achievements & Failures Essays!" We will discuss a Step-by-Step Plan to answer such questions along with a correct approach to build a unique answer! and then further proceeding with the session to understand some critical to demonstrate strong 'FIT' in the application,discussing hacks for optional Essays & understanding the concept of Collinearity and Intentionality, and finally ending with Tips on Resume, LOR & Video Essays. (A Total Package!!)

As they say, "Reaching the Top sure does come with a lot of Hardship." Hence, it's our duty to make sure this is the last time you worry about your application by helping aspiring candidates glide through the rigorous process and high expectations of the top B-schools by discussing with alums of top schools!

Going through all the hurdles alone may look like a very daunting and hefty task, but a guiding hand can alter the course of your life!

On Dec 03, 2022,
AT 10:00 AM ET | 7:30 PM IST


SPEAKERS-

    TIMOTOEJ GAVRILOVIC, UC BERKELEY- HAAS

    DEVANSHU SHIVANI, INSEAD

What to expect: from the session:

1. Leadership, Achievements & Failures Essays: The Art of Storytelling.
2. "WHY MBA" essays: Collinearity and Intentionality.
3. Optional Essays: Tips to explain low GMAT/GPA.
4. How to demonstrate strong 'FIT' in the application.
5. Tips on Resume, LOR & Video Essays.

Register for the session here: Coffee with MBA and Beyond

An Exclusive Chance to Meet Our Team of Profile Experts

No one knows the application process better than the individuals who have gone through it. We at MBA and beyond are committed to guiding you through the entire application process and ensuring that you receive the best offers from top Business schools with hefty scholarships. Therefore we match you with alums from your desired business school. Meet our Panel of Consultants. who will help you throughout the application process by following a step-by-step method to achieve maximum efficiency and quality, not to mention we will provide solid networking opportunities & interaction, ensuring that every minute is well spent!

If you'd like, we are happy to connect you with our Profile Experts (who are alums and students of top B-Schools) who will discuss your profile at length in a 30-45 minutes call and provide you with feedback based on your aspirations and goals. Feel free to schedule a FREE Evaluation call with them by clicking here and unveil additional benefits including networking opportunities on the side!!

"Better to Start Early than Finish Late."

Good luck!
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Archived HBS Discussion
Hi there,
You've stumbled upon an old discussion from our HBS Forum that's now outdated and has been archived. No more replies are possible here.
Interested in current discussions? Feel free to dive into our dedicated HBS Forum for all fresh things related to the HBS MBA program.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
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