Calling all HBS Fall 2009 Applicants

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. I did not attend any local events nor did I visit campus prior to applying. Out of all the top programs, HBS seems to care the least about you "demonstrating" an interest in their program. It's almost certainly because they lose so few applicants to other programs that they aren't as concerned with their yield. This is perhaps best exemplified by their application - they do not ask whether you have visited/attended an info session nor do they ask "Why HBS?" in their essays. Contrast that with MIT which has an entire page of their application dedicated to stating every single thing you have done to research the school. If you're applying to Sloan, you really need to visit the campus but with HBS it's not even taken into consideration for admission.

That being said, you can still gain a lot by visiting the campus prior to applying. I agree with forcefeed that the only way to truly understand the value of the case method is to see it firsthand. Any opportunity you have to get a deeper feel for the culture of a program will work to your advantage when writing essays or interviewing. You have nothing to lose by taking the trip if you have the time and money, but it certainly isn't a necessity.

OMG two Harvard students!!! Am I excited....... It's such a gr8 task to find even one HBS student to talk (compare the no. of HBS student blogs freely available to the number of other school blogs) and we have two....... WOW

BTW Dee Leopold (HBS Admissions Director) said in her blog that questions will be up by mid May....... 1 day to go for that......... lets see......

Can anyone summarize some of the questions that HBS has been traditionally asking year after year?? I mean what does HBS's "pet question" seems to be??

"3 Best accomplishments and why you view them as such" is probably HBS's version of "What matters to you most, and why?".

Crispy, prompt reply as ever ncp..... thanks

I saw this one coming...... Apart from this, do we have another??

That question is really tough...

I would have trouble plucking out three accomplishments that I think would WOW the AdCom...

Almost makes me discouraged from even thinking about applying to HBS!

~Sam

Be ready to address the topics discussed in the following questions:

- What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

- Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development. How did this experience highlight your strengths and weaknesses? (400-word limit)

- What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you? (400-word limit)

Take a look at the clearadmit tips for answering these questions https://blog.clearadmit.com/2007/08/hbs- ... 2007-2008/.

***edit: Also purchase "65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays" for good examples.

Thanks forcefeed !

There was no outreach event in my city last year.. I am keen to visit to learn more about the school and its culture. Given the summer break, what is the best time to visit between now and the R1 deadline in October ?

I agree with this 100%. You really have to see the classroom dynamic to understand it. And if you plan to go to HBS you better be a clapper because these kids love to clap. I visited a class with about 6 other people. At the beginnig of class they introduces each one of us and followed up with clapping. Everytime people came up to speak everyone clapped. After the anouncements, yup more clapping. I also thought it was a little wierd that you stay in the same classroom and the teaches come to you. But it was very inclusive. Even the most socially akward person should eventually feel at home in this setting.

See below (Formatted version)

As promised, Harvard released the Essay topics and the deadlines. Here is the list of questions f0r the applicants and the recommenders.

Essays:
What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)

Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):
What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
What area of the world are you most curious about and why?
What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

Joint degree applicants:
How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (400-word limit)

Recommender Questions for the Class of 2011
Recommendations must be completed online. The form includes essay questions along with other types of questions.

Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250-word limit)
Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250-word limit)
Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250-word limit)

Also the filing deadlines were reported as follows:
Application Periods: Application submitted online by 5 p.m. EST: Notification of the MBA Admissions Board's decision:
Round 1 October 15, 2008 January 21, 2009
Round 2 January 6, 2009 April 2, 2009
Round 3 March 11, 2009 May 13, 2009

For better viewing, click here:

Deadlines and

Written Application

Ladies and Gentlemen, Revv Up your Engines. Let's Get Started, NOW!

Ya..... Lets do it and do it right.............. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL........ May we achieve our dreams this season.............

And here are the deadlines............

Application Periods Application submitted by Notification by
Round 1 October 15, 2008 January 21, 2009
Round 2 January 6, 2009 April 2, 2009
Round 3 March 11, 2009 May 13, 2009


So, who's gunning for round 1???

I am - HBS and Columbia are my first choices.

Best of luck to everyone... we'll need it.

Andrea

I am in for R1..Going for the dream !

Looks like I'm in for round 1 as well. I figure I'll shoot for the stars and it should help me fine tune for some later applications.

There isn't really a great time to visit between now and the R1 deadline. During the summer they will offer campus tours and information sessions, but there are no classes for you to sit in on. Most applicants haven't sat in on a class, so you are not at a disadvantage.

Last year class visits didn't start until a week before the R1 deadline.

I believe last year required three essays from the selection list, so they've made the burden a little easier. To be honest, though, I preferred last year's choices, with the defining leadership and culture shock questions.

Does anyone have thoughts on the community/organization essay? It seems like the best venue to discuss volunteer/related things, but it might make for an interesting job-related question for those who have made a big impact at work.

Good luck to everyone.

Actually, this fact is a gr8 plus for us internationals, who cant visit the school anyways, since it offsets the prospective advantage of the nearby living citizen......

I'm in for R1. Good essays this year - looking forward to it.

EDIT: would have liked to write about the culture shock question, but alas, that question no longer exists!