Last visit was: 29 Apr 2026, 20:55 It is currently 29 Apr 2026, 20:55
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
eastcoastchamps
User avatar
Joined: 28 Aug 2016
Last visit: 10 Apr 2019
Posts: 161
Own Kudos:
25
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 161
Kudos: 25
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 29 Aug 2018, 13:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Guys,

Do you think 1300 is too long for HBS? 1300 words is not much different from 1000 words though?

Archived HBS Discussion
Hi there,
You've stumbled upon an old discussion from our HBS Forum that's now outdated and has been archived. No more replies are possible here.
Interested in current discussions? Feel free to dive into our dedicated HBS Forum for all fresh things related to the HBS MBA program.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
MV23
User avatar
Joined: 10 May 2015
Last visit: 30 Mar 2021
Posts: 296
Own Kudos:
152
Given Kudos: 502
Status:Winter is coming
Location: United States
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Schools: LBS '21 (A) Wharton '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 730 Q50 V40
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
GPA: 3.9
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: LBS '21 (A) Wharton '21 (WL)
GMAT 2: 760 Q50 V42
Posts: 296
Kudos: 152
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 29 Aug 2018, 13:47
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I don't think that's too long. Mine's about 1,200 words.
bondtradercu
Guys,

Do you think 1300 is too long for HBS? 1300 words is not much different from 1000 words though?
Show more
User avatar
chibilovespurple
User avatar
Joined: 29 Nov 2017
Last visit: 29 Jan 2025
Posts: 46
Own Kudos:
31
Given Kudos: 29
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: LBS '21 (M$)
Schools: LBS '21 (M$)
Posts: 46
Kudos: 31
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 29 Aug 2018, 18:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Mine is > 800 words... and I think it is too short. I read several samples before, and they are about 1300 words...

Does anyone know if they read all our essays or screen our profile based on work experience, GMAT, salary first...?
User avatar
MBAPrepCoach
User avatar
MBA Admissions Consultant
Joined: 24 Mar 2015
Last visit: 03 Dec 2025
Posts: 3,936
Own Kudos:
1,545
 [1]
Given Kudos: 634
Status:MBA Admissions Consultant
Affiliations: MBA Prep Coach
Location: United States
Farrell Nelson: MBA
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,936
Kudos: 1,545
 [1]
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 30 Aug 2018, 18:07
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I insist on a max of 1000 words; HBS values concision and the lack of word limit is partly a way to assess your respect for their time and sense of good judgement.
avatar
eka27
avatar
Joined: 16 Aug 2018
Last visit: 24 Jun 2019
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
25
Given Kudos: 5
Schools: HBS '21 (D) Wharton '21 (A) Stanford '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 700 Q45 V40
GPA: 3.99
Schools: HBS '21 (D) Wharton '21 (A) Stanford '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 700 Q45 V40
Posts: 44
Kudos: 25
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 02 Sep 2018, 04:18
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Harbus book has almost all the essays above 1100. But I would also try to stick to 700-1000 words
User avatar
eastcoastchamps
User avatar
Joined: 28 Aug 2016
Last visit: 10 Apr 2019
Posts: 161
Own Kudos:
25
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 161
Kudos: 25
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 03 Sep 2018, 09:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MBAPrepCoach
I insist on a max of 1000 words; HBS values concision and the lack of word limit is partly a way to assess your respect for their time and sense of good judgement.
Show more

Thanks - do we need to say why HBS and why now at the end? I understand it's now the Why HBS and Goals Essay - but do we need to have 1-2 sentences to tie it together and how HBS will elevate my dreams/ visions?
User avatar
chibilovespurple
User avatar
Joined: 29 Nov 2017
Last visit: 29 Jan 2025
Posts: 46
Own Kudos:
31
Given Kudos: 29
Concentration: General Management, Operations
Schools: LBS '21 (M$)
Schools: LBS '21 (M$)
Posts: 46
Kudos: 31
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 03 Sep 2018, 19:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bondtradercu


Thanks - do we need to say why HBS and why now at the end? I understand it's now the Why HBS and Goals Essay - but do we need to have 1-2 sentences to tie it together and how HBS will elevate my dreams/ visions?
Show more

I have "why HBS" but not why now...
avatar
mdeepanshu90
avatar
Joined: 23 Jan 2017
Last visit: 28 Nov 2018
Posts: 5
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States
Schools: HBS '21 (S)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V39
GPA: 2.9
Schools: HBS '21 (S)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V39
Posts: 5
Kudos: 0
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 03 Sep 2018, 21:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
bondtradercu
MBAPrepCoach
I insist on a max of 1000 words; HBS values concision and the lack of word limit is partly a way to assess your respect for their time and sense of good judgement.

Thanks - do we need to say why HBS and why now at the end? I understand it's now the Why HBS and Goals Essay - but do we need to have 1-2 sentences to tie it together and how HBS will elevate my dreams/ visions?
Show more

From what I gather they don't really care about the 'why HBS' part. My suggestion would be to outline what area you want to focus (ex marketing, strategy, etc) at HBS and tie that with your career goals.

Good luck!
User avatar
SBCErikaOlson
User avatar
Stacy Blackman Consulting Admissions Consultant
Joined: 23 Jun 2015
Last visit: 10 Feb 2026
Posts: 366
Own Kudos:
182
Given Kudos: 1
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 366
Kudos: 182
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 23 Jul 2019, 10:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
HBS has never asked "Why HBS?" -- they are well aware why everyone wants to go there and what they have to offer. : ) So I would not waste your precious word count on paragraphs about that (also, FYI, I make all my clients stay under 1200 words, and disagree that 800 is too short (from a previous poster)) UNLESS there is some unique aspect of their program that you can naturally mention in the flow of your essay that has to do with something you are already writing about.

HBS has always valued brevity and clear communication, so if you can tell them something about yourself that is not elsewhere on the app (that's what they're looking for in a succinct manner -- insight into what drives you, why you've made certain decisions, or why you have the goals you have (if fairly different from what you're doing now) -- that will never count against you. If you go over 1,200 words, you will likely start losing them.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

eastcoastchamps
MBAPrepCoach
I insist on a max of 1000 words; HBS values concision and the lack of word limit is partly a way to assess your respect for their time and sense of good judgement.

Thanks - do we need to say why HBS and why now at the end? I understand it's now the Why HBS and Goals Essay - but do we need to have 1-2 sentences to tie it together and how HBS will elevate my dreams/ visions?
Show more
avatar
Henns
avatar
Joined: 24 Aug 2019
Last visit: 15 Nov 2019
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
2
Posts: 8
Kudos: 2
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 24 Aug 2019, 05:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Agree with you. For essay writing now there are services like this - https://paidpaper.net/essayvikings-com-review at such services, even reviews do. As for me, it is very useful. You can understand what features work with a particular service. Learn about its advantages and disadvantages before you pay the money. In fact, thanks to such reviews you have a rough understanding of what you buy and it is useful. Because sometimes it is very important to get an essay as soon as possible and to have it well written.
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: 29 Apr 2026
Posts: 43,173
Own Kudos:
83,753
Given Kudos: 24,683
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 43,173
Kudos: 83,753
is 1300 words too long for HBS essay? 10 Jul 2023, 09:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archived HBS Discussion
Hi there,
You've stumbled upon an old discussion from our HBS Forum that's now outdated and has been archived. No more replies are possible here.
Interested in current discussions? Feel free to dive into our dedicated HBS Forum for all fresh things related to the HBS MBA program.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderator:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts