Reapplying to HBS

Question

So i got into booth, Sloan and Kellogg, but got rejected from HBS post interview. Is it worthwhile pursuing hbs again (reapplying)? Is the difference between hbs and booth/sloan/kellogg marginal or significant?

Which of the three would stack up best to hbs in terms of prestige?

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Which of the three would stack up best to hbs in terms of prestige?

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Gnpth · Answer

Oh Man!!

All the programs you got into are really good. And have a huge alumni network. So it actually depends on you. Do you really want to wait for one more year?

And of course, Havard is the big name. But others are big one too. It all comes to you if you are going after the ranking.

All would stack up equally in terms of prestige among themselves. Look at the program size too. It is better being a stand out among 400 people than no one among 900+ students.

There are many folks who rejected Havard for the schools you got in. You can search their post and reasoning on the forum.

indecisive · Answer

Why are you applying to elite business schools with the sole purpose of getting into elite business schools?

bb · Answer

Congratulations! There are a few perspective perhaps instead of evaluating brand vs brand, you can look at options.

Waiting another year vs. building up your profile and can you build up your profile. 
Clearly you were strong enough to get an interview but either the interview or the overall evaluation did not match the min threshold. Some categories and groups have a very hard time getting in (Asian applicants)... not that anyone has an easy time getting into HBS but still you probably get the point. If you have also applied to Stanford and Wharton and did not get admits, that kind of gives you feedback and idea where your profile fits on the totem pole and what it takes to break through to the top 3 schools.

I would look at your overall profile and see if you can up the game and if that effort is worth it. I can see how one's personality may have a hard time letting go of the #1 spot and knowing you achieved that and once you start cutting corners, there is no end in sight. At the same time, sometimes you fall on the sword as you chase your dream - Captain Ahab's story. Sometimes we are so focused on the distant goal that we don't see what we have in front on of us.

Mo2men · Answer

Congrats for great schools

It is clearly that you have a stellar profile to be accepted in those schools. While some people could move on and accept one of the offers, others are addicted to HBS. it is up to the character. I would move on and accept one of the offers, especially if you have considerable scholarship. If you choose to reapply next year to HBS, then you want to know you might not get into HBS. Also there is another scenario which you need to consider but I personally do not know about it. I assume you will apply next year to other schools in addition to HBS . How will the schools of previous year react, when they see you reapply, despite your acceptance and then declining their offers. It would be awkward that they may ask for clarification or reject you. You may find yourself forced to start applying to other schools. You need to study the situation carefully. Good luck

jessepinkman · Answer

what are your post MBA goals and did you receive scholarships from any of booth/kellogg/sloan?

Xyz123t · Answer

Hi, I want to pursue entrepreneurship (i.e) in the next 5 years I want to run my own show. And yes I got 30K from MIT Sloan

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zenogen · Answer

I would strongly recommend that you do not reapply.

There is no guarantee that HBS will interview you again, which would be a waste of a year of your life. There will also be a question mark against your applications at the other schools (if you reapply to those again next year too). I imagine they'd be much more cautious admitting someone who recently rejected them. I am just one data point: but I also received some M7 acceptances, but was dinged straight off the bat at HBS. I'm sure there are people who have got in everywhere they applied but weren't interviewed at HBS. It's sometimes that much of a crapshoot, it seems.

There have also been observations that HBS are increasingly NOT re-interviewing people that reapply. See below:

https://i.imgur.com/G3uB161.png

Wilch · Answer

If you're thinking entrepreneurship, I'm not sure what HBS can do for you that Sloan can't - or even Booth or Kellogg for that matter.

Getting funded isn't an issue even at a school outside of the top 10 as long as you're doing things right. Professors and alumni from all business schools invest in good business ideas and capable people, they're brand & ranking agnostic in general as long as you're from a top institution. I've known Yale SOM folks getting investments from Stanford & HBS alumni and HBS students getting funded by Yale SOM professors.

If you're thinking about acquiring the know-how or even finding a co-founder, MIT is littered with people with great technical abilities.

While 30K isn't exactly a big deal, you still want to minimize your debt down the road if you're starting a business. Lower debt alleviates your financial stress & can perhaps allow you to put more money in for more equity or enter a shareholding structure more favorable to you.

PaulatAlta · Answer

I will go out on a limb and say that you may be someone that has to go to HBS or perhaps nowhere? It really depends on your future aspirations and what you consider success.

Working often with candidates that only apply to one, two, or three schools (as well as candidates that are applying to HBS for a second or third time) - as with business and life, sometimes you have to take some risk and go with your gut!

Reapplying to HBS

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