Calling all Harvard (HBS) Applicants Class of 2020 (2018 intake)

Once again Thanks, Bridgeur and aeropower for the wonderful session.

HBS aspirants - Please feel free to use this thread to post your questions related to HBS admissions.

Is there a transcript of this? Thanks!

Two weeks to go!! How is everyone doing? I am currently on draft two of my essay...I think I'll probably only need one more draft because I am feeling pretty good about what I have...still...I'm starting to feel the pressure of that deadline. Hope everything is going well for all of you too!

Wow! That is a great progress! You have two more weeks to complete the second draft, should be more than enough if you are confident with the first one.

It is unlikely that I will apply for R1, will target for R2 as GMAT hurdle yet to be crossed

Wish you all the best FuturePM91

Anyone here applying to the MS/MBA dual degree? I'm not sure how how much technical stuff I should be dropping in the second essay since I'm not an engineer by trade or training (did Math in college). The main essay is a straight up story but should the second essay be more expository?

Thanks

Just finished my second draft too. I have been buried with work and essays for so many schools. I'll post updates to all the school forums i'm in. See you guys soon.

Also: for HBS and GSB applicants, how much of common content are you using for the essays?


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Great to know that souvik101990 - You are almost set! Looking forward to the updates. All d best!

Who else is targeting for HBS R1? and How are the Essays coming up?

Man, being an Indian male, an interview invite from HBS is almost impossible. But tell you what, if I do land that, beers for everyone!


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Ha Ha.. I do understand! But you have a strong profile and over all best wishes of GMAT Club Family are with you...!

Although I am not an Indian male, I completely agree...getting the interview will be huge for someone with my GPA, and if I do get to the interview stage I think I will feel ok with not getting in...don't get me wrong I would be ecstatic to get in...but getting an interview will make me feel like I have made my absolute best case so if the ultimate answer is no I would be at peace with that...not getting an interview will just feel incomplete you know? Fingers crossed for all of us!

When re-applying, do you have to purchase and send a GMAT score report to the school a second time or will they still have the previous one?

Also, are there any special formatting considerations for the HBS (or any other program) essay? Do you number pages, put your name on the text, add the prompt question at the top, etc.?

Thanks

Hi everyone! A little late to this thread, but I am also applying to HBS Rd 1. Stats below:

GMAT: 760 (49 Q, 44 V)
GPA: 3.7 HYP undergrad
Occupation: Finance (MBB i-banking for 2 years, 1 year on buy-side)

I've been struggling with the essay, and wavering between going the more formal "I am a leader, this is what I've done" path and writing a quirkier essay (think along the lines of, training for a marathon while working in banking, climbing Everest, type of essay). Just curious what people here have gravitated towards?

Couldn't agree more with you. I think getting an interview invite at HBS is more than half the battle won and it definitely gives you a lot of confidence in your other applications!


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Hi! I'm happy to answer about how I approached my essay. Although I'm not sure if it will answer your question about which direction you should take of your two options.

Basically, I looked at my career goals and then I looked at all of the significant events in my life that led up to where I am now and where I plan to go and saw a theme behind what was driving those decisions and that theme became the theme of my essay and I picked 3 of those events to talk about. One from childhood, one from an extracurricular activity I had a significant leadership role in and one professional. I then got into my career goals, why those were my goals, and why Harvard would get me there. I kept my childhood and professional examples shorter than my EC one because I felt the EC one was the best example of leadership for me. I just felt like this was a good way to showcase who I genuinely was as a person and tie it in with HBS. It may not be the perfect formula for everyone and I guess it's actually a combo of both of your options but my advice would be to just be genuine, don't just say what you think they want to hear, showcase who you are as an individual, and remember the essay is meant to get you an interview so you don't have to put everything in there if it doesn't fit.

Hope this helps!

Second draft is done and edited...I think I may actually submit this weekend. But I do have a question...I have been looking at different suggested lengths for the HBS essay. An analysis posted here previously suggested a max of 600 but I have seen other consulting sites with a suggested max of 1250 (mbaMission) my essay is currently 1190...about a page and a half single spaced....so not sure if I should keep chipping away at it to get in down more or not? (my first draft was about 1400)

I struggled with this same question when I was in your position -- and I made the wrong decision. My essay was all retrospective about my own leadership including some high-adrenaline moments that were pretty strong. However when interview invitations came out, I saw that the adcom put me under "further consideration" and deferred any admissions decision to Round 2 .

It was then that I realized that what the HBS essay is aching for is a compelling personal narrative -- much like what political candidates offer when they run for office. One story that really illustrates why this approach is best is the Parable of the Three Stonecutters, which you can check out on the Ivy Admissions Group blog here: https://www.ivyadmissionsgroup.com/blog ... ions-essay. I'd check that out before going further on the essay.

I used that story to write waitlist letters to the Adcom that recast me from the Second Stone Cutter to the Third Stone Cutter and it worked! I was invited to interview Round 2 and admitted . Bottom line: go for narrative over self.

That length is totally fine -- I urge my clients to stay under 1200 (ideally under 1100), so you're within that range. Good luck!