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02 Dec 2020, 09:42
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The Harvard MBA essay famously does not have a word limit. How long should it be? We did a statistical analysis of successful HBS essays and found that the average HBS students submits an essay of 999 words:
You can read the full analysis which features several other insights here: https://www.beacon.community/2020/how-l ... -essay-be/
You can read the full analysis which features several other insights here: https://www.beacon.community/2020/how-l ... -essay-be/
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that's now outdated and has been archived.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!
03 Dec 2020, 12:17
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Thank you for sharing!
We usually recommend somewhere between 700 and 1,000 words, so the average of 999 is on the upper end of that range, but makes sense since most of the early drafts we see are usually very long (and we imagine many do not use consultants to help them curb the length.)
Our range is based on the belief that an essay of >1,000 words tends to lose its reviewer at some point throughout their read. Of course, if there is depth to a story or situation that requires extra length, we always recommend taking advantage of the lack of a limit.
For what it's worth, while there is no structure, many choose to talk about their background, career experiences, a meaningful extracurricular or leadership contribution, why an MBA and why HBS. It takes time to get through all of that material adequately.
The general rule of thumb, is that the reader should come away from the essay without major questions or doubts. The narrative should feel complete with sufficient details and appropriate framing.
-The Admissionado Team
https://admissionado.com/
We usually recommend somewhere between 700 and 1,000 words, so the average of 999 is on the upper end of that range, but makes sense since most of the early drafts we see are usually very long (and we imagine many do not use consultants to help them curb the length.)
Our range is based on the belief that an essay of >1,000 words tends to lose its reviewer at some point throughout their read. Of course, if there is depth to a story or situation that requires extra length, we always recommend taking advantage of the lack of a limit.
For what it's worth, while there is no structure, many choose to talk about their background, career experiences, a meaningful extracurricular or leadership contribution, why an MBA and why HBS. It takes time to get through all of that material adequately.
The general rule of thumb, is that the reader should come away from the essay without major questions or doubts. The narrative should feel complete with sufficient details and appropriate framing.
-The Admissionado Team
https://admissionado.com/
03 Dec 2020, 14:22
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Admissionado
Sure, but, to be clear, while 1,000 words is what most people recommend, the data shows that many applicants go well beyond 1,000 and are successfully admitted. In fact based on the statistics, and the experience of our own clients, the right range is actually 500-1,500 words.
As we show in the article, a key determinant is how unique your background is. The more you stand out, the shorter you can afford to make your essay.
