Hello tomcal36dc, thanks for your question and for all your details!
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After reading your profile, here are some broad comments:
• Most of your target schools are the cream of the crop. I certainly understand your strategy of trying to be “above average” in all facets of your application, but I think it’s more important to aim to be exceptional wherever you can (in terms of ambition, vision, or results driven, etc. - doesn’t have to be in every facet) to move the needle at those programs, especially the first 3!
• For someone of your age, these programs will want to see in your experience the potential for future leadership. So, I’d ask you to call out your specific contributions along your areas of participation. Clearly, hockey is a passion and an area where you have committed considerable time and energy. Your coaching is a potentially good experience to write about. What drove that? What results have you achieved? What have you learned from coaching the goalie position? Another example: you are involved in A&M’s IIE chapter. Next year, I will be interested in the work you’ve done as Director of Membership. Is it closer to participation or impactful leadership? The more you can speak to the latter, the more you will move the needle.
• In terms of what internships/experience to add to your resume, I encourage you to follow your passion, as opposed to guessing what programs want to hear – that is far more compelling in the eyes of the admissions committees. Moreover, when you apply, it will be to your advantage to have a more specific vision of what you want to achieve than you do currently. I think what they want to see at your age is someone who has a basic idea of what they want to pursue in the future, as well as a history of setting goals/following passions and demonstrating a track record of producing results and gaining traction against those objectives. I notice a couple of times in your profile, you wrote that you considered something but nothing concrete came of it. That is certainly not insurmountable, but what lessons did you take from those experiences? How did you apply those lessons? How did they affect/change your thinking?
Specifically, regarding HBS 2+2, I don’t think you face a downside in applying b/c you can still reapply in 2 years. As I allude to above, you’re going to need to show real leadership in college and good internships. Many people who aren’t sure of the direction they want to take choose consulting because it provides exposure to different fields and functions. It’s fine for you to take this path (but don’t do it for $), but by the time you apply you will need to have a better idea of where you’d like to go.
As far as I know, no other program other than HBS takes direct admits, with or without deferrals.
I’m happy to discuss further.
Best of luck!
Brian