Harvard (HBS) Calling all applicants - Class of 2016

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!

Been trying to protect my sanity by staying off the forums but diving back into a couple of the topics going on. Firstly, my essay was about 1200 words, no subheadings, answering very directly the prompt "what else do we need to know about you" and quite personal (and hopefully raised a smile or laugh).

As for this topic, last year I applied to 6 schools R1. I got into three of of them, waitlisted at one and rejected from two. I turned down all offers to stay with my startup another year and now am going through the process again (now narrowed down to 3 schools to reapply to).

It was a tough push doing 6 schools R1 but what I realised after I got my offers was that it really doesn't matter how many apps you send if you don't feel like you connect with the school (and I mean *connect* not *you feel like it ranks well*). There were three schools I loved (one of which I got into last year), and I would be thrilled to be at any of them, and I'm applying to those again. The number of applications is less relevant than the fit with the schools you're applying to. It's a hefty price tag to settle for something you wouldn't be happy with. Obviously it depends on your career plan and how critical an MBA is, but if there are three schools you want to go to, apply to those three and leave it at that.

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

Good to see others are going through the same painful waiting process I am. I'm going to start on other applications too but I don't know how I'll concentrate properly with this hanging over me.

For those still waiting and interested I wrote an account of my interview day and evening reception in London, but it's a little long to post here. Link is below.

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."

Clearly the team over at Dillon House are tracking online forums quite closely!

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

In for R2.

Good luck to all those awaiting a decision for R1. The wait is the hardest part.

one week to go!

The wait is killing me!

Going legitimately nuts over here.

Looks like the 3 of us are going to have an emotionally overwhelming 24 hours next week. Good luck!