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(4.8) |
I gained so much perspective from listening to the perspectives of my classmates. We thought about solving tough problems in different ways - and that really comes our during the case method. The professors really brought out these perspectives through carefully facilitated conversations. The end result was that I improved my business judgement and communication skills. I can look at large amounts of information, quickly figure out what matters, analyze that information, and make a recommendation.
Applicants should really focus on how they intend to learn from their section mates, and how they will bring their own unique approach to the classroom.
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Classmates are very bright, curious and come from a broad array of interesting backgrounds both professionally and personally. While the total class size is very large (900+ students). Being divided into sections of 90 students with whom you spend every classroom hour your first year and countless social hours creates a fun close-knit group.
Case method is very engaging and facilitates a ton of learning even though it is frequently at a high level (not as tactical or technical). Participation (and attendance) is a huge part of your grade so everyone, for the most part, shows up prepared and engaged. Academics as a result are a bit more time-consuming than I anticipated but the classes have been great. Have 2-3 cases a day 5 days a week (some days off for holidays and "career search" are sprinkled throughout the semester).
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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Academics -- Incredible opportunity to take classes with renowned experts in their fields. I really enjoyed the Case Method, because it was more interactive and engaging than other classes that I've taken, but also provided opportunities to practice "speaking up", which is a very relevant skill in the professional world.
Culture -- Culture felt more cerebral and scholarly than other business schools I've seen. The student body was pretty tight knit and collaborative. However, there was a huge emphasis placed on wealth, and friend groups tended to form across "class" lines.
Networking -- Hands down the greatest value add of HBS. Alumni have a very strong presence on and off campus, and HBS grads tend to stick together. Most people found jobs through the alumni network (including myself)
Value -- Great value for the money -- probably the best. Very generous financial aid package (need-based) and the brand/network benefits pay dividends long after graduation.
Very good well-rounded traditional curriculum, but it felt outdated in many ways. With so many people going into Tech after graduation, I was disappointed by the lack of classes/field opportunities devoted strictly to digital innovation. Not a lot of sales classes either.
All major companies recruit from here. But not a lot of activity for non-traditional recruitment (i.e. startups or smaller companies)
Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
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HBS has provided everything I could possibly want in a business school. The faculty is incredible (I've had classes with the former PepsiCo CEO, Danaher CEO, and COO of the Patriots) and the section experience during RC year really brings the size of the campus down. I've developed extraordinary friendships with fellow students from myriad backgrounds and know many of these will be lifelong friendships. The only complaint that I have about the program is that we don't have any weekly day off like many other programs do (Kellogg has Tuesdays off, Anderson gets Friday off). Honestly though, the fact that is my biggest complaint about the program shows how great the program is.
Coming from consulting, I heard a lot of opinions about various business schools. While much of the information I got from my co-workers was accurate, you can't truly understand HBS until you visit a class. The case method is a completely different learning experience and it's intellectually stimulating in a way lecture-based classes aren't. Choosing HBS was the best decision I've ever made and couldn't be happier here.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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Additional notes:
-Case Method: This method is absolutely powerful in learning how to process incomplete information quickly (what future managers will need to do). Secondly, this method is quite fun. Although participation is required, participating in a debate with your close friends/classmates is quite enjoyable as well.
-Students: The students are some of the most accomplished from the business world - having the option to ask any question to your class, and having someone who has experienced exactly that to support you is invaluable. However, there are even more accomplished people outside of the business world that provide even more diversity - Military, teachers, etc.
-Professors: Accomplished and smart professors that really know how to guide a conversation (in class) and willing to support you in any way (outside of class).
-Alumni: Very supportive bunch in terms of career, general advice. etc.
Suggestions for future applicants:
-Really understand the Case Method: the method is NOT for everyone. it requires effort, the ability to quickly make an argument, etc. Really make sure that you want this before applying/heading to HBS..
The curriculum although required your first year is quite good. The point of the case method as well as the way HBS recruits is that you learn a great deal from your classmates. You may be an expert in one class, you are there to teach the rest of your class, etc.
There isn't a better school for recruiting. The HBS brand is very strong and will open up many doors..
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My two years at HBS far exceeded my expectations. From the experiences both in and out of the classroom to the sectionmates I got to know so well during my RC (1st) year, I look back on the two years I spent at HBS as some of the best in my adult life.
The biggest surprise for me when I got to campus was the quality of the people.
Nearly all of my classmates were bright, motivated, and accomplished, yet also humble, kind, and collaborative. It was, by no means, the cutthroat culture that I worried I might experience. When I reflect on the friends I made at HBS, I often joke that they are more genuine people than any of the friends I made in earlier walks of life.
My best advice to people going through recruiting at HBS is to prepare to be humbled. The recruiting process is a marathon that ends up resulting in a "no" far more often than I think most people expect.
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HBS provides an incredible platform academically, socially, and professionally. The instructors are world class, both professors and practitioners. The guests are world renowned, and many. The students are incredible, having achieved an enormous amount, and hailing from all around the world . The biggest criticism that I have heard of HBS is the size of the classroom - this works only to enhance the number and quality of your friends and classmates, and I would not have it any other way. You will keep meeting new people and making new friends deep into your experience. Additionally, when engaging with firms, there is likely to be a classmate who has worked at or alongside those firms.
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I wasn't sure what to expect from business school, but HBS has blown my expectations out of the water. The support and kindness of fellow students is wonderful, the willingness of the professors and students to help with career or personal endeavors is fantastic, and the friends I have made are life-long.
The brand is as powerful as one might expect, but it doesn't open every door automatically. It gets you in front of most people, but you still need to prove yourself. The bar is set high when people are talking to and working with an HBS grad.
I'd suggest future applicants to question the negative stereotypes. While they exist at all schools, they are such a minority of the experience.
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HBS is a great place to go to business school. Some key areas that distinguish it from other programs:
- Brand Name: when you say you go to HBS, people take note, even if they aren't in the business world. Sounds a bit stuck up to say, but frankly, if you're going to spend $200k on an MBA, that's the reaction you need.
- Case Method: nearly all classes here are case method where you read a case and debate what decisions should be made in class. And you often have the case protagonist in the room because HBS professors write most of the cases. By the time you graduate, you've made thousands of real world decisions and had to defend them to very smart people.
- Sections: HBS is a huge b-school with nearly 1000 students, but in your first year, you're put in a section of ~95 students. This group becomes your family and really helps make a big school feel small. You get the huge alumni network with the small school intimacy. Win win.
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My time at HBS met or exceeded my expectations in every regard. The school offered everything an MBA program could provide: broad range of courses, distinguished faculty, incredible diversity of student background, immersive social environment, countless opportunities for international study and travel, fantastic career development resources, and an impressive and global alumni network. I met so many new friends and learned so much that I feel my life has been enriched from this experience - which is remarkable for a degree in business. Overall, the program was an amazing two years, and I would choose HBS again in a heartbeat.
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