Older Applicants Friendly Schools

HBS AND AGE: IF YOU ARE ~28 AND IN BANKING, PE, CONSULTING, OR WORK FOR MNC, YOU GOT PROBLEMS.

HBS has been trending younger for the last 3 years, and now has two programs [one focused on college seniors and other 2+2 focused on JUNIORS] which are geared to get admit kids after two years of work experience, soooo, that is Exhibit A. But their efforts have not stopped there: one of the things I mull over, and quite frankly, mull over and over, is what happened to my own clients in Round 1, and what trends exist in interview invites for Round 2. After trying to figure out surprising results like dings and WL for really strong clients, it hit me, there was a real age bias in that group, they seemed to be 28,29, and over. Military is one exception to this rule,and see below about extradordinary cases. One amazingly powerful statistic was the subset of kids who were reapplicants, and had in fact been interviewed last year: this was a small group, but it turned out to be a DEAD ZONE --none of reapplicant kids 28+ who had been interviewed last year were even interviewed again (except one extraordinary case with bigfoot intervention=accept). Younger reapplicants were successful along historical lines. I then reanalyzed something I usually only ponder momentarily: kids who got in, who surprised me a bit, e.g. had less powerful stats and stories, claimed interview did not go well, etc. Again, not a super large group, BUT THEY WERE ALL 25-26. TWENTY-FIVE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER. HBS will reach for a 25 year old, and turn away quickly from a 28 year old. Dunno what they do w. 27 year olds. And obviously, there are always both EXTRAORDINARY exceptions (older kids w. unique accomplishments, e.g. high govt positions, Rhodes Scholar, etc) and even one or two normal exceptions, but ANYONE trying to figure out HBS interview patterns, or accpet patterns, needs to start with the knowledge that AGE is as impt as any other stat in determining outcome. The fact that most kids on HBS R2 thread do not report age is a real oversight, and I'd be interested if everyone who has received an invite, just posted back w. their age--THIS ALSO IS TRUE AT STANFORD. PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO. As much as Wharton is in the doghouse these days for Hodara-gate, one must give them credit on one issue which is even more important: the give 28+ year olds a fair break, something NOT TRUE at H or S. Sure, 28+ bankers and consultants will continue to get into H and S, there are always exceptions, even normal ones, but the trend to me towards 25 year olds seems very, very strong.

If you did not in to Hor S, it may help to look in a mirror,but if that does not tell you anything, look at your driver's license.

--someone transpost on HBS R2--where this could begin trend of kids who are interviewed posting age as well as stats. I am happy to have this theory tested.