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Supplementary quant courses for strengthening HBS profile

PNCH

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Joined: 19 Aug 2021

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Location: Denmark

Schools: HBS '26 Columbia CBS'26 Stanford '26 Wharton '26 INSEAD Jan'24 intake Ross '26

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Supplementary quant courses for strengthening HBS profile [#permalink]

22 Nov 2021, 09:37

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Hi all,

I am looking to apply for HBS' MBA and would like to take some supplementary quant courses (economics, finance, statistics), since I did not score well in my undergrad business degree. I keep hearing about HBX CORe, and am strongly considering this one. However, I am a bit confused why this is considered good as a supplementary course - of course it is considered a rigourous course (and even from Harvard itself), BUT it does not provide grades (only fail, pass or honours). So not sure how well it would actually support my case if I cannot show A's in the courses.

a) Any thoughts from any of you wise people in here if HBX CORe would help make my quants abilities look better in spite of the grading system?

b) If you would recommend it, will it only support my case if I receive honours or will a pass be fine? (I am an international student, so not so familiar with this grading, but under the impression that receiving Honours is tougher than receiving A's)..
C) Any other quant supplementary courses that grade with letter grading you would suggest I look into - Harvard or other schools?

Thanks!!

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AndrewN

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Re: Supplementary quant courses for strengthening HBS profile [#permalink]

26 Nov 2021, 13:58

Expert Reply

PNCH wrote:

Hi all,

I am looking to apply for HBS' MBA and would like to take some supplementary quant courses (economics, finance, statistics), since I did not score well in my undergrad business degree. I keep hearing about HBX CORe, and am strongly considering this one. However, I am a bit confused why this is considered good as a supplementary course - of course it is considered a rigourous course (and even from Harvard itself), BUT it does not provide grades (only fail, pass or honours). So not sure how well it would actually support my case if I cannot show A's in the courses.

a) Any thoughts from any of you wise people in here if HBX CORe would help make my quants abilities look better in spite of the grading system?

b) If you would recommend it, will it only support my case if I receive honours or will a pass be fine? (I am an international student, so not so familiar with this grading, but under the impression that receiving Honours is tougher than receiving A's)..
C) Any other quant supplementary courses that grade with letter grading you would suggest I look into - Harvard or other schools?

Thanks!!

Hello, PNCH. Considering that the CORe program is designed by HBS to demonstrate readiness for business school, it seems like a safer bet compared to signing up for random courses in some other non-degree program. Regarding the grading scale, although the details on the Program Policies page are a little murky, I imagine that "Pass with High Honors" would translate to an A in the American grading system, "Pass with Honors" a B, and "Pass" a C. Should you decide to go through with the CORe program, give it everything you have got so that you can pass with the highest honors. A mere "pass" would not likely do your application any favors. Doing well on quizzes and the final exam for each course would be a must, and from what I can tell, the difference between a regular pass and the two types of passes with honors lies in the degree to which your "contributions to the program through your engagement and participation" are judged to be deficient, strong, or exemplary.

You may want to run your queries by a few admissions experts in the Ask Admissions Consultants forum. They ought to be able to provide more insight into the matter.

Good luck.

- Andrew