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loveforcars
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Joined: 26 Aug 2017
Last visit: 05 Feb 2023
Posts: 38
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Location: Japan
Schools: HBS '22 CBS '23 (S) MIT SDM "22 (A)
GRE 1: Q165 V153
GPA: 3.08
Schools: HBS '22 CBS '23 (S) MIT SDM "22 (A)
GRE 1: Q165 V153
Posts: 38
Kudos: 20
HBS re-application; dinged post interview; low test scores. 21 May 2020, 22:31
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I got dinged after an interview at HBS. I believed that my story was really good. My interview was good, though as the day passed I started thinking I could have positioned the answers better than I did. I am a grad of top engineering college in India and working in an Asian country (one of the top five economy in the world) since my graduation in a top Fortune50 company, rose to the head of venture partnerships for the same company in four years. Also, extracurriculars are real solid including leading overseas alumni network and volunteering as a team lead in Olympic, etc. The essay story was really personal and 9of10 readers would surely love to meet me. I crafted my applications three days before the deadline so there were some small mistakes such as grammar or coherence in the app too.

My test scores: GRE V148 and Q161.

My question to the wonderful people in this forum is:

1. If HBS invited me to an interview with such a low verbal score could they reject me on the score? or is that interview which didn't go well?
2. How much could small tweaks like grammar or wordiness in the app could have hurt me post-interview? Though my post-interview reflection was super clean, precise, and on LATEX.
2. Also, given a very short span in the R1, how can I improve my application apart from the score, which I am trying but it seems really tough?
3. I am retaking the test but, if I still can't improve my verbal what more can I do to improve this hole in my application.

I'd really appreciate any follow up on this.
Thanks!
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HBS re-application; dinged post interview; low test scores. 22 May 2020, 15:51
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loveforcars
I got dinged after an interview at HBS. I believed that my story was really good. My interview was good, though as the day passed I started thinking I could have positioned the answers better than I did. I am a grad of top engineering college in India and working in an Asian country (one of the top five economy in the world) since my graduation in a top Fortune50 company, rose to the head of venture partnerships for the same company in four years. Also, extracurriculars are real solid including leading overseas alumni network and volunteering as a team lead in Olympic, etc. The essay story was really personal and 9of10 readers would surely love to meet me. I crafted my applications three days before the deadline so there were some small mistakes such as grammar or coherence in the app too.

My test scores: GRE V148 and Q161.

My question to the wonderful people in this forum is:

1. If HBS invited me to an interview with such a low verbal score could they reject me on the score? or is that interview which didn't go well?
2. How much could small tweaks like grammar or wordiness in the app could have hurt me post-interview? Though my post-interview reflection was super clean, precise, and on LATEX.
2. Also, given a very short span in the R1, how can I improve my application apart from the score, which I am trying but it seems really tough?
3. I am retaking the test but, if I still can't improve my verbal what more can I do to improve this hole in my application.

I'd really appreciate any follow up on this.
Thanks!
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loveforcars,

Thanks for posting!

And congrats on gaining an interview invite at HBS, it is no small task! On the surface, there were probably a lot of reasons why they liked your candidacy. Let's dig in a bit here:

Positives: Academics, Career Progression, and EC - it's clear from what you've written that you have done strongly in school and have progressed well in your career at a brand-name company. These factors are very important to HBS, and you've shown leadership both at work and outside. You've checked their boxes.

Improvements: Application/Test Scores: A 161Q and 148V on the GRE correspond to a GMAT lower than 600. Thus, you are a candidate they are looking out from outside the lens of a test score. At this point, it is hard to imagine what types of improvements can be made...to go from a 570-570 equivalent to something in the high 600's would require an inordinate amount of time and efforts...and as English may not be your first language the improvements in verbal will be harder to achieve.

Secondly, you said you only wrote the application 3 days before applying. Likely, there were a number of errors/sentence structure issues that could have been avoided had you given yourself more time to prepare. But, they liked your background and story enough to give you the chance to present yourself in person.

My recommendation to you would be to work with an admissions consultant on going over your application and identifying holes in the story/essays and how to re-position you to re-apply. I'd be happy to chat offline about your candidacy, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at [email protected] if you are interested. I'd love the chance to work with you to try and drive a successful re-apply.

Regards,
Scott