The HBS Essay: Writing Strategies that Work and What to Avoid,The HBS Essay: What This Year’s Applicants Should Consider
WebHBS Essay Samples For HBS, an applicant’s personal narrative is often the most influential factor in the admissions decision process. HBS essay examples are below. Highlighting WebHBS only accepts the Internet-based (IBT) version of the TOEFL. Please note that the HBS code for the TOEFL is Essay. There is one question for the Class of WebMay 5, · Jeremy Shinewald. Applicants to Harvard Business School (HBS) have incredible leeway in their essay to write about whatever they believe is most important WebMay 11, · 11 May Class of Application Deadlines + New Essay Word Count Calling all applicants who want to enroll at HBS in fall , i.e., the Class of The WebHBS Essay & Analysis The following essay topic analysis examines Harvard Business School’s (HBS) MBA admissions essays for the admissions ... read more
Applicants to Harvard Business School HBS have incredible leeway in their essay to write about whatever they believe is most important for the admissions committee to know about them, beyond what is conveyed via the other elements of their application. However, as of the — application season, candidates have a little less leeway than in years past with respect to the length of their essay, now that the school has stipulated a word limit. Our analysis of the prompt and advice on the best way to approach it likewise remain largely unchanged. With it, the admissions committee is acknowledging that it already has a lot of information about you that it can and will use to get to know you better, including your resume, extracurricular activities, recommendations, short-answer question responses, academic transcripts, and test scores.
You should therefore approach this essay by first thinking about what these portions of your application convey about who you are as an individual and candidate, so you can determine which parts of your profile still need presenting or could benefit from more detail. Now, some applicants might think this means they absolutely cannot mention anything that is included elsewhere in their application, for fear that this will annoy the admissions committee, leading to a rejection. So, even though a bullet on your resume might inform the school of a certain fact, if a profoundly important story lurks behind that fact that you feel effectively expresses a key part of your personality or skill set, you should not feel hesitant to share that story. Before we discuss a few approaches you might take in framing this essay, we must note that your goal in writing it is sincerity.
These are human beings who are trying to get to know you and really want to end up liking you! With this essay, you essentially want to forge a meaningful connection with a complete stranger, and if you try to present yourself as something or someone you are not, you will fail. You, like many other applicants, might worry that your sincere stories will sound clichéd. If you have truly made a significant difference in the lives of others and can own that angle by offering powerful anecdotes and demonstrating a deep emotional connection to others and profound purpose in your acts, you can write on this topic. So, what approach might you take to this essay?
The prompt is so open-ended that we cannot possibly capture all possible options, but here are a few:. Certainly they want to know about that! For example, if you are a consultant who plans to return to consulting after graduation, we cannot imagine a scenario in which addressing your goals and why an HBS MBA is critical would constitute an effective use of this essay. However, if you are a medic at a bush hospital in Uganda and are applying to HBS with the goal of commercializing low-cost technologies to fight infectious diseases, this might well be a fitting topic for your essay, as you seek to connect the dots between your unusual in a positive sense career path and your aspirations.
Why HBS? Finally, let us talk about the new word limit. In the past, HBS did not stipulate any such parameter, but most of our clients used between and 1, words, so the word restriction should not prevent anyone from sharing their full story with the admissions committee. In short, take the space you need to tell your story properly and showcase your personality and experience, and then work to reduce your essay to fit the allowed word count in a way that does not sacrifice any impact or effectiveness. The only solution was to undergo a complete double lung transplant in America—a precarious, logistically complex, and financially burdensome procedure. Despite the daunting news, I sprang into action and spent weeks researching options.
I channeled my inner Product Manager and delegated aspects of the research and planning to different family members, creating dozens of spreadsheets detailing our to-dos. We then waited patiently for the call. After months of nervous anticipation, I received word from the hospital that a matching donor lung had been found. The hour surgery, though harrowing, was a stunning success. Assuming my work was done, I flew home to San Francisco with an enormous burden lifted. In the subsequent months, though, my mother would call me almost every day crying. I listened and would tell her that everything was going to be alright, but no amount of reassurance seemed to make her feel better.
One evening, I stumbled upon an opportunity to volunteer at Helping Hands, a suicide prevention hotline that focuses on providing emotional support. I knew that helping strangers would be rewarding in itself but also thought the program could expand my own perspective and help me guide my family through this emotional crisis, so I signed up on the spot. I had never encountered any experience as intense, rigorous, and grueling as Helping Hands. Helping Hands volunteers go through an active listening boot camp, with dropout rates higher than the Navy SEALs.
Taking over calls at Helping Hands, I learned how judgment and excellent listening skills are incompatible, especially when the other person holds views or values that are completely diametric to yours. Helping Hands requires operators to treat every caller equally and with empathy, no matter how you feel about them. So, I cast aside all presumptions and focused on talking to the caller like an old friend, listening to what he had to say and unraveling the struggles he was wrestling with. By helping him get troublesome thoughts off his chest, I could only hope that I helped reduced the chances of him reoffending.
Practicing empathic listening with these callers enabled me to understand and connect with humans who are vastly different from me. The GMAT or GRE is a prerequisite for admission. A TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English PTE , or Duolingo English Test is required if you did not attend an undergraduate institution where the sole language of instruction is English. If you completed a graduate degree which was taught in English, it is recommended you submit one of these tests, but it is not required. To apply to Harvard Business School, we ask you to assemble and prepare a variety of materials that will help us assess your qualifications. Remember, all materials must be submitted to HBS online by the application deadlines.
The following serves as a preview of what you need to prepare. Candidates must have the equivalent of a U. Degrees from international universities offering three-year baccalaureate degrees are valid equivalents. We require uploaded transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions that you have attended full- or part-time. You may upload an "unofficial" or student copy of your transcript; however, we will request an official copy for verification purposes should you be admitted to HBS. When the Admissions Board looks at your transcripts, we are looking at the whole picture — not just your GPA.
We take into account where you went to school, the courses that you took and your performance. We understand the structures of different grading systems worldwide. There is no minimum GPA to apply, although our students usually have strong undergraduate records. Undergraduate academics are just one factor the Admissions Board uses to evaluate a candidate. There is no minimum GMAT or GRE to apply and we do not have a preference toward one test or the other. If you look at our class profile , you can see that we have a range of GMAT and GRE scores in the current first year class.
HBS does not have a minimum test score to apply, however, the MBA Admissions Board discourages any candidate with a TOEFL score lower than on the IBT, an IELTS score lower than 7. HBS only accepts the Internet-based IBT version of the TOEFL. Please note that the HBS code for the TOEFL is As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program? We think you know what guidance we're going to give here. Don't overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don't know your world can understand. Recommenders will be asked to fill out a personal qualities and skills grid and answer our two additional questions see below.
In addition, some of the key characteristics HBS looks for in applicants are:. Leadership may be expressed in many forms, from college extracurricular activities to academic or business achievements, from personal accomplishments to community commitments. We appreciate leadership on any scale, from organizing a classroom to directing a combat squad, from running an independent business to spearheading initiatives at work. In essence, we are looking for evidence of your potential. Harvard Business School is a demanding, fast-paced, and highly-verbal environment. We look for individuals who enjoy lively discussion and debate.
Our case and field-based methods of learning depend upon the active participation of prepared students who can assess, analyze, and act upon complex information within often-ambiguous contexts. There is no particular previous course of study required to apply; you must, however, demonstrate the ability to master analytical and quantitative concepts. So much of our MBA experience — including the case method, section life, and student-organized events — requires the active collaboration of the entire HBS community.
The right candidates must be eager to share their experiences, support their colleagues, and teach as well as learn from their peers. We want applicants who have these traits, as well as bring a variety of skills, accomplishments and aspirations. In each class, we create a dynamic environment that mirrors the breadth and depth of our world economy. Our promise to our faculty and to every student here is to create a class of students who come from as many different backgrounds and perspectives as possible.
Writing any admissions essay is a tough task, however, Harvard raises the bar with its highly-challenging yet open-ended prompt. In fact, HBS likes this question so much that they have kept it unchanged for multiple years. Keep reading for a more in-depth look at how to turn this rather open-ended task into a standout essay! As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program? As an admissions consultant who encourages clients to use the MBA application process to reflect on past accomplishments and future ambitions, I personally love this question. The open format allows you to include plenty of information about the experiences and examples you think make you unique.
At its core, this essay is focused on allowing HBS to get to know the person behind the data, understanding how you have demonstrated leadership and excellence in your life, as well as gain insight into what motivates your decision. That means your first task is to decide what you want HBS to know about you. Consider the fact that they have read your letters of recommendation, your CV, and all the information you typed into the online forms. Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Library has dozens of past successful HBS essays and a detailed brainstorm to help you plan out a winning HBS essay.
Baker Library ©Susan Young for Harvard Business School. This is good news for candidates, as previously the lack of word count — combined with the breadth of the prompt — felt maddeningly open-ended for so many applicants. As words is just under two pages, having limited real estate to work with can have a focusing effect. And, staying authentic while being pithy and succinct takes discipline and humility. This leaves you with the prompt itself to contend with. Where do I begin? What do I share? As a Fortuna Admissions coach and former Associate Director at HBS leading PhD admissions and supporting the MBA Interview Board, I spend a lot of time putting this essay into context for anxious candidates.
Everyone wants to know, what is HBS looking for? Beyond credentials, HBS is looking for character. The Admissions Committee seeks principled, passionate individuals who have the potential to fulfill the HBS mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. While this aspect is readily understood, the process of how to do this effectively is far more complex. Indeed, the essay is often the make or break factor for HBS. Your opportunity to show them what you are made of, what drives you, is in the essay. The competition is fierce, so this is the place where you can convince them you have what it takes to be part of this incredible community. Remember that the majority of applicants 9, apps last cycle, to be precise will come with impressive credentials. A great essay will entice the reader to say wow, I cannot wait to meet this person and learn more.
And frankly, staying awake was the biggest challenge I faced when reading applications, from my time at INSEAD to HBS and even admissions work at Stanford. Too many applicants wrote essays that were boring, lifeless and dull. What really made my eyes glaze over were narratives from candidates who sailed through life, having never failed or struggled, who always excelled at everything and then segued to the details of some deal or consulting project. Above all, write an essay you yourself would want to read. Do not restate these same facts again, and again. I find it disheartening that my strongest piece of advice, which is to tell the truth and be yourself, is also so difficult at times.
When you take the risk to be yourself, to be vulnerable, it inspires a human connection. It gives you credibility. Or the story of someone who struggled, faced extraordinary challenges, and demonstrated the tenacity and resilience to not only survive but to thrive? Because so few people are. Few people are rigorously honest, and fewer are vulnerable in the process of storytelling. Some of the best essays I have ever read open with the story of a failure and how that shaped them. Besides, there is something so powerful about the truth when you read it — it hits you and tunes up your curiosity. Always remember — this is a search for authenticity. In the process of storytelling, the details are everything. Avoid the temptation to qualify your experience or tell the readers what they are supposed to think.
Show them instead. I could feel my pulse quickening. Show them what you have been through and the challenges you have faced through vivid recollection. An admissions consultant can help you sift through your experience to help you identify what to focus on. Generally, experiences that shaped your values and attitude toward life are a great place to start. You might talk about a challenge, for example, or a time you fell and picked yourself back up. Underscore how it shaped you as a human being and what you learned from the experience and remember to SHOW them the impact vs. simply telling them. Perhaps, you can introduce an experience that was momentous or marked an important milestone in your opening paragraph.
As you weave together stories that show the committee who you are and the twists and turns your life has taken, you will want to revisit this theme at different points in your story as a way to unify the narrative. The conclusion should serve to tie it all together. This may sound formulaic, but when in doubt, rest assured this is a tried and true model that allows you to connect the dots for your reader. There is always an intangible driving force that builds, which is an essential ingredient to a winning essay. The new word recommendation alleviates any anxiety about what HBS will be seeking in terms of length.
Many clients often think this is a trick question, and in a way, it could be. Whether the change is simply to dispel any confusion as the Direct from the Director HBS blog states, or as I suspect , to speed up the review process reading 10, applications is time consuming! You could zero in on a singular theme with some evidence to back it up, or tell a story that touches on elements the committee would never know about you or safely assume they know in a compelling narrative. Given the volume of competing applications, keep it simple and succinct enough to ensure impact, and SHORT enough to ensure no eye rolling is happening while they turn page after page of what may be seen as an attempted autobiography.
Open up! This will create intrigue and a desire to learn more about you… in an interview! Ultimately, HBS is looking for people who are ambitious and extraordinary , with a habit of leadership, a history of engaging the community, and the appetite and aptitude for success that separates them from the simply smart and hard working. Beyond a demonstrated professional track record and impressive credentials, they also want to see a proclivity for consistently exceeding goals. Your challenge with the essay — and opportunity — is to fuse that with a captivating story of who you are as an individual. And if that feels daunting, keep in mind that no one else has lived your story but you, which makes you uniquely qualified to tell it.
For a deeper dive on what HBS is looking for and how to position your application for success, view my video strategy session with Fortuna Admissions industry experts and former HBS admissions gatekeepers, Matt Symonds, Taniel Chan, and Malvina Miller Complainville. How to Ace the HBS Interview. Tips for Writing the HBS Post-Interview Reflection. Reapply to Harvard Business School: 5 Top Tips. HBS video strategy sessions on our YouTube channel 8 videos. You can also request a copy of our Insider Tips Report on HBS or the full deep dive reports on HBS and Stanford GSB.
Fortuna Admissions Expert Coach Karla Cohen is former Harvard Business School associate director of doctoral programs and an MBA interview board member. She was also a manager of the PhD program at INSEAD. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation. You May Also Be Interested In: Tips for Writing the HBS Post-Interview Reflection Feb. Sign up for a free consultation Free Consultation. First Name:.
Admissions,Ellin Lolis MBA Resource Center
WebMay 11, · 11 May Class of Application Deadlines + New Essay Word Count Calling all applicants who want to enroll at HBS in fall , i.e., the Class of The WebMay 5, · Jeremy Shinewald. Applicants to Harvard Business School (HBS) have incredible leeway in their essay to write about whatever they believe is most important WebHBS Essay & Analysis The following essay topic analysis examines Harvard Business School’s (HBS) MBA admissions essays for the admissions WebHBS only accepts the Internet-based (IBT) version of the TOEFL. Please note that the HBS code for the TOEFL is Essay. There is one question for the Class of WebHBS Essay Samples For HBS, an applicant’s personal narrative is often the most influential factor in the admissions decision process. HBS essay examples are below. Highlighting ... read more
Inflection points: Maybe the key events and aspects of your life cannot be neatly captured or categorized within a neat and tidy theme. The conclusion should serve to tie it all together. Generally, experiences that shaped your values and attitude toward life are a great place to start. This leaves you with the prompt itself to contend with. Tips for Writing the HBS Post-Interview Reflection. Helping Hands requires operators to treat every caller equally and with empathy, no matter how you feel about them.
Now, some applicants might think this means they absolutely cannot mention anything that is included elsewhere in their application, for fear that this will annoy the admissions committee, leading to a rejection, hbs essays. Do you need to submit words? I was a starting defender by my hbs essays year, and she would make me yell out directions to organize my teammates. Learn more. Who are you? Analytical Aptitude and Appetite Harvard Business School is a demanding, fast-paced, hbs essays, and highly-verbal environment. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
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