College Students, Now Is the Time! – Apply Through the 2+2 Deferred Admissions Process
Undergrads, secure your spot in a future HBS class now! The deadline for our 2+2 deferred admissions process is approaching on April 25, 2024, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. This unique opportunity is open to those in their final year of college (or a master's degree program if you entered directly from your undergraduate studies). By applying to HBS via 2+2, you could secure admission now and spend the next two to four years gaining valuable professional experience before embarking on your MBA journey.
If you are a student with a passion to make a difference in the world, we would love to have you apply through HBS’s 2+2 deferred admissions process. Click here for more information on how the 2+2 program can transform your trajectory, including student profiles and application guidelines.
Round 2 Application Decisions
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27th is the big day! At 12:00pm (noon) Eastern time, Round 2 decisions will be available via your Application Status page. We truly loved getting to know all of you. Tomorrow, there will be one of three decisions: Accept, Waitlist, or Release. Accept and Release are more self-explanatory; if you are invited to the waitlist, it means you are a strong candidate, but we have not made a final decision yet (please take it as a good sign!).
To all who applied to the Class of 2026, thank you for your interest in HBS and sharing your stories with us. You continue to inspire us, and we feel honored to have met you.
Round 2 Interview Invitations
A big thank you to all of you who applied in Round 2. We have loved reading your stories and hearing about the ways in which you are making a difference in the lives of those around you. We have been so impressed and inspired by your journeys.
Next week, on Wednesday, January 31 at 12:00pm (noon) Eastern Time, everyone who applied in Round 2—or received a “Further Consideration” decision in Round 1—will receive an update via the Application Status page.
There are two possibilities:
Invite to Interview – Congratulations, you are moving forward in our application process. You will receive additional information regarding the interview process on January 31; you will then be able to start signing up for an interview slot on Thursday, February 1. We are offering both in-person and Zoom interviews from February 9th – March 1st.
Early Release – While we enjoyed getting to know you, we are not able to move you forward in the application process. But please remember, we are very reapplicant friendly and 10% of our class are reapplicants.
Thanks again for all the time and effort you put into your applications—we’re grateful for your interest in HBS!
Last Call for Round 2 Applicants and Happy Holidays
As we close out 2023 and head into our winter break here on campus, our Admissions office remains busy preparing for Round 2 applications. For those of you applying in Round 2, we are excited to meet you! Here are a few things to keep in mind over the holidays:
- The Round 2 application deadline is January 3, 2024 at 12 PM (noon) ET. This is the final opportunity to apply to the MBA Class of 2026.
- Additional resources for applicants include our FAQ blogpost, App Tips videos, and MBA Application Guide.
- HBS is closed from December 23 through January 1. We will reopen on January 2, 2024, will be monitoring ApplyTech@hbs.edu if you have any technical challenges with the application; we will respond to other messages after the office reopens.
We wish you a Happy New Year, and good luck to those of you working on your applications!
College Students – Save Your Seat! The 2+2 Deferred Admissions Application is Now Open
Are you in your final year of college? If so, consider applying to our MBA program through the 2+2 deferred admissions process! The HBS 2+2 program is a deferred admission process for current students in their final year of study, whether in college or a full-time master’s degree program. If admitted through 2+2, you will work for two to four years to gain professional experience before enrolling at HBS in the regular MBA program.
The application deadline is April 25, 2024, at 12:00 noon ET. There is a reduced application fee of $100, and we also have a 2+2 need-based application fee waiver.
In the meantime, explore the 2+2 brochure for in-depth information details about the application process. Saving your seat at HBS now will allow you to explore different paths early on in your career, and you can read more about how some of our students decided to use that time on the MBA Voices Blog.
Still thinking about an MBA but not yet ready to apply? We encourage you to register for Peek, an upcoming virtual program in January designed for college students to learn more about HBS and the value of an MBA. We hope to see you there!
Managing Director Introduction
Hi all! My name is Rupal Gadhia and I just joined the team here at Harvard Business School as the Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. This is honestly the opportunity of a lifetime for me as HBS has had such a profound impact on my life. In a few short months, I will be celebrating at my 20th year reunion from HBS. After almost two decades in marketing and consulting, I am so grateful to come back to the place that shaped me into the professional and leader I am today.
In my past month in this role, I have had the amazing opportunity to get to meet and read about many of you. I have been so moved by your stories, your journeys, and the difference you are making in the world. Thank you for applying to HBS and sharing your stories with us. It is such an honor to learn about the remarkable impact you are having on your companies, communities, and humanity.
I look forward to continuing to meet you and learn more about you!
Round 1 Interview Invitations
Thank you to everyone who submitted a Round 1 application. Next Wednesday, October 4, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, all Round 1 applicants will receive an update via their Application Status page on next steps in our process. There are three possibilities:
- Invite to Interview – this is very good news! If you are in this group, you will receive additional information regarding the process on October 4. On October 5 you will be able to choose the date and time for your interview.
- Further Consideration – this is also good news. We ask a small group of strong applicants to wait until Round 2, at which point we will review your application again. More information will be shared with you via email if you receive a “Further Consideration” update.
- Early Release – unfortunately, this means we are not able to move you to the next step in our process. Our hope is that by letting you know this news early, you can move forward with other plans.
We thank everyone who submitted a Round 1 application to HBS – we enjoyed getting to know you!
Meet the Class of 2025
Last month we welcomed the Class of 2025 to campus. It’s always such a delight to see 900+ students arriving from all over the world, representing many different backgrounds, life experiences, and professional interests. Our Class of 2025 is a remarkable group, filled with enthusiasm to connect with one another and dive into the HBS experience. Learn more about the first-year class here.
Introducing the New Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid
Jana Kierstead here. I’m writing with an exciting announcement: Rupal Gadhia (MBA 2004) will be the next managing director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid, effective October 10th, 2023. We could not be more excited to welcome Rupal to the team!
Rupal comes to HBS after a successful career across brand and strategy roles. Here in MBA Admissions and Financial Aid, Rupal will oversee our admissions process that aims to deliver a high-quality MBA class with wide-ranging talents and experiences. She will also work to build on our efforts to increase access and affordability for applicants and students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Keep an eye out for Rupal’s first blog post soon. In the meantime, you can read more about her in our Press Release.
Welcome Rupal!
Application Fee Waived Automatically for Those Making $65,000 or Less
We believe that your financial circumstances should never prevent you from applying to, being admitted to, or attending our MBA program.
If you are applying to HBS in the 2023-2024 application cycle (Round 1 or Round 2) and your annual income at your current or most recent place of employment is $65,000 USD or less, the need-based application fee waiver will automatically apply.
If you do not automatically qualify, you may still submit a need-based waiver request form due to financial hardship once you have started your application. The fee waiver request must be submitted two weeks before the application round deadline in which you are applying, and you will receive a response to your fee waiver request before the application deadline. (If your fee waiver request is not approved, you are expected to pay the $250 application fee by the round deadline in order to be considered.)
Please note, admission to HBS is need-blind, which means we do not take your financial circumstances into account when making an admissions decision. Information collected in the fee waiver request process is not shared with the MBA Admissions Board. Read more about the application fee waiver process here.
The HBS MBA Application is Now Open!
We just opened the application for the MBA Class of 2026 (enrolling in fall 2024). Start an application here or download an application guide. The Round 1 deadline is September 6, 2023 and the Round 2 deadline is January 3, 2024.
We encourage prospective Class of 2026 applicants to check out upcoming virtual events including Demystifying the MBA Application, Q&A with Current HBS Students, and Applying to HBS as a Reapplicant. Once you start an application, you will also have access to sign up for small-group Application Help Sessions hosted by a member of the HBS Admissions team.
We look forward to connecting with you soon. Good luck!
Harvard University Leadership Statements on the Supreme Court Decision
"Today, the Supreme Court delivered its decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The Court held that Harvard College’s admissions system does not comply with the principles of the equal protection clause embodied in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Court also ruled that colleges and universities may consider in admissions decisions 'an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.' We will certainly comply with the Court’s decision.
"We write today to reaffirm the fundamental principle that deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. That principle is as true and important today as it was yesterday. So too are the abiding values that have enabled us—and every great educational institution—to pursue the high calling of educating creative thinkers and bold leaders, of deepening human knowledge, and of promoting progress, justice, and human flourishing."
Read Full Statement from Harvard University Leadership, Including HBS Dean Srikant Datar
"A few hours ago, the Supreme Court issued its decision in our admissions case—a decision that carries weight not only for Harvard as an institution, but for many of us as individuals. Today is a hard day, and if you are feeling the gravity of that, I want you to know you’re not alone. Please take a moment to watch my message"
Watch Video Message from Harvard President-Elect Claudine Gay
2023-2024 Application Updates + GMAT Policy
Calling all prospective MBA students who want to enroll at HBS for fall 2024, i.e. the Class of 2026. The application deadlines to apply are set: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 (Round 1) and Wednesday, January 3, 2024 (Round 2). You can learn more about the application process here.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The MBA application will open in summer 2023, but you can start preparing now by downloading the Application Guide or watching the Application Tips Videos.
- The essay prompt will remain the same as last year with a 900-word limit: “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?”
- To minimize confusion across Round 1 and Round 2 in this year’s MBA application, we will only accept the traditional GMAT exam or the GRE. We will not accept the new GMAT Focus exam as it will not be available until after this year’s Round 1 deadline. As a reminder, test scores are valid for five years from the test date, so rest assured that your scores from the traditional GMAT exam will continue to be accepted into the future.
- For those applying to 2+2 in 2024, we plan to accept the GMAT Focus and will provide further updates when available. The 2+2 application deadline is Thursday, April 25, 2024.
We are already looking forward to getting to know you and encourage you to get to know HBS at one of our upcoming virtual or in-person events this summer!
2+2 Interview Invitations
Thank you to everyone who submitted a 2+2 application for deferred admission to the Harvard MBA program. We are enjoying getting to know you better. On behalf of the whole team, thank you for sharing your stories with us!
Each 2+2 applicant will receive news on next steps on May 30 at 12:00 PM noon Eastern Time. There are two possibilities:
- Invite to Interview – Congrats!
- Early Release – Unfortunately, we are not able to move you forward in the process, but hope you will think of HBS again in the future (we are very reapplicant friendly!)
If you are invited to interview, the online scheduling system will be live immediately and you will be able to choose the date and time of your interview. All 2+2 interviews will be conducted via Zoom by a member of the HBS Admissions Board.
Round 2 Application Decisions
Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 29th is the big day! At 12:00 noon Eastern Time, Round 2 decisions will be available via your Application Status page. There will be one of three decisions: Accept, Waitlist, or Release. Accept and Release are more self-explanatory; if you are invited to the waitlist, it means you are a strong candidate, but we have not made a final decision yet (please take it as a good sign!).
To all who applied to the Class of 2025, thank you for your interest in HBS. We are truly inspired by what you are doing to make a difference in your communities and the world.
Round 2 Interview Invitations
A big thank you to everyone who applied to HBS in Round 2. We’re enjoying getting to know you through your applications.
Next week, on Wednesday, February 1 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, everyone who applied in Round 2—or received a “Further Consideration” decision in Round 1—will receive an update via the Application Status page.
There are two possibilities:
Invite to Interview – you’ll receive additional information regarding the interview process on February 1; you’ll then be able to sign up for an interview on February 2. We are offering both in-person and Zoom interviews.
Early Release – unfortunately, this means we’re not able to move you forward in the application process. Our hope is that by letting you know as early as possible, you can proceed with other plans.
Thanks again for all the time and effort you put into your applications—we’re grateful for your interest in HBS!
A Goodbye from Chad + Reminder for Round 2
As we close out 2022, I write to say farewell and thank you.
Serving in this role for the past six years has been an honor and a joy—learning deeply from my colleagues, from you, and from thousands of prospective and current HBS students around the world. I am a better leader and person as a result. Thank you. Even as I look ahead with excitement to my next professional chapter, I am sad that this one at HBS has come to a close.
But enough about me! I am excited to introduce you to my wonderful manager, Jana Kierstead, who will be taking over this blog for the time being.
___________
Greetings, prospective students! My name is Jana Kierstead and I’m the Executive Director of the MBA and Doctoral Programs at HBS. I have the amazing job of overseeing the full student experience at HBS, from admissions through graduation, and am excited for the opportunity to get to know our applicant community even better over the coming months.
I’ll be working closely with our MBA Admissions team as we continue the search for the next Managing Director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid. In the meantime, I will go on providing admissions and application updates via this blog. So, with that in mind, here are a few updates:
- Our admissions and financial aid processes have not changed nor have our decision criteria: admission is based on merit and financial aid is based on need
- The last chance to apply to the Class of 2025 (entering fall 2023) is less than two weeks away: January 4, 2023
- HBS is closed from December 23 through January 2. We will reopen on January 3, 2023. But we are here for you!
- We will be monitoring ApplyTech@hbs.edu if you have any technical challenges with the application; we will respond to other messages after the office reopens.
Our best wishes for a peaceful holiday season and a happy new year, and good luck to those of you working through your applications!
The 2+2 Deferred Admissions Application is Now Live
The 2+2 application is now open in our application portal! The HBS 2+2 program is a deferred admission process for current students in their final year of study, either in college or a full-time master’s degree program. If you are admitted through 2+2, you work for 2-4 years in a field of your choosing before enrolling at HBS in the regular HBS MBA Program.
The 2+2 application deadline is not until April 27, 2023, so you have plenty of time to apply (we do not review applications until after this deadline). There is a reduced application fee of $100, and we also have a 2+2 need-based application fee waiver.
In the meantime, check out the 2+2 website for more information and details of the application process. We hope that knowing you have a spot at HBS on the horizon will enable you to really explore early on in your career as you build toward a life of impact.
Round 1 Application Decisions
Tomorrow is the big day for Round 1 applicants! We will release Round 1 decisions on Thursday, December 8 at noon Eastern Time via the Application Status page. We’re honored to have met so many talented and driven individuals through the application and interview process and thank you for sharing your stories with us.
For those thinking of applying to HBS in Round 2, we hope you will. Round 2 is the final opportunity to apply to the MBA Class of 2025 (entering fall 2023) and the deadline is a little less than a month away on January 4, 2023. There’s still plenty of time to put together your application and submit it here.
Calling current college students – ‘Peek’ into a Harvard MBA and find your path to HBS through the 2+2 Program!
At its core, a Harvard MBA is about learning how to get things done and finding the solutions that can move business and society forward. If you’re a current college student, it’s not too early to start thinking about an MBA.
Peek is a virtual program at Harvard that gives college students a preview of the HBS MBA program. Join Peek from January 25-27 to experience the case method with HBS faculty, connect with current students and alums, learn how to develop your leadership skills, and craft your career after college. This program is free and open to any college student. Simply register for the sessions that fit your schedule.
The 2+2 Program is a deferred admissions process that gives current students in their final year of study - either in college or a full-time master’s degree program - a chance to apply for a Harvard MBA now and, if admitted, defer their entry for 2-4 years to start their careers. The application isn’t due until April 27, 2023, but we will open the application on December 15, 2022 so you can get started on the process early.
I am impressed you found your way to this blog post while still in college and hope that many of you choose to check out HBS through Peek or 2+2!
Thank you
In the US, the Thanksgiving holiday is just around the corner. On behalf of the team, thank you for your interest in joining the HBS community.
We are continually wowed by your accomplishments and commitment to make a difference in the world. Getting to know you fills us with excitement about the future and gratitude for the present.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Round 1 Interview Invites
A big thanks to those of you who submitted Round 1 applications earlier this month. Next Thursday, October 6, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, all Round 1 applicants will receive an update via their Application Status page on next steps in our process. There are three possibilities:
- Invite to Interview – this is very good news! If you are invited to interview, you will receive additional information regarding the process on October 6 – you will then be able to sign up for an interview on October 7.
- Further Consideration – also good news. This is a small group of strong applicants who we ask to wait until Round 2, at which point we will review your application again. More info on this process will be shared with you directly if you receive a “Further Consideration” update.
- Early Release – unfortunately this means we are not able to move you forward in the process. Our hope is that by letting you know this news early allows you to move forward with other plans.
We thank everyone who submitted an application to HBS – it has been our pleasure getting to know you and your story.
Personal Update
I write to share directly with each of you, that after six and a half years as the head of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at HBS, I have accepted a position to serve as head of strategy in the Provost’s Office at Yale University, starting in January 2023. I hope you don’t mind a longer post than usual as I reflect.
As I shared with my team earlier this afternoon, Harvard Business School has changed my life. I distinctly remember being in your shoes applying to business schools, now about 12 years ago. I was hopeful but also worried that HBS might be out of reach for me, someone who grew up in a small, rural town in the western US. I will always be grateful to have been admitted to and subsequently transformed by HBS, first as a student and now as a member of the team.
The remarkable thing about HBS is that my story is not unique. More than any organization I’ve known, this is a place dedicated to its mission: to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. As an Admissions and Financial Aid team, we are working hard to broaden who considers HBS by making the program more accessible and affordable. We believe that enrolling students from a variety of backgrounds will enhance the learning that happens at HBS and help us fulfill our mission.
I will be at HBS through Round 1 and the end of the calendar year. In the new year, my experienced and dedicated colleagues will continue supporting you as the search for my replacement unfolds. Rest assured, the admissions and financial aid processes and criteria will remain the same during this interim period.
Let me close by thanking you for the work you are doing in your own organizations, companies, and communities to make business a force for good in society. I have always felt that one of the humbling honors of our work is getting to know you and feeling inspired by your potential to make a difference in the world. Even with all the challenges today, you give us all a sense of optimism about the future, and we’re grateful for your interest in HBS.
Given what HBS has done for me personally, I hope you too will apply and give yourself the chance to be transformed by this place.
Meet the Class of 2024
They’re here! We’re thrilled to have the Class of 2024 on campus. As the restrictions from the pandemic have eased, it has been an especially joyful start to the academic year. We just published the Class Profile here.
This class includes about 100 people who were originally admitted to start in fall 2020. That year, due to the onset of the pandemic, we allowed incoming students to defer for 1 or 2 years. (But remember that was a one-time exception—we don’t offer deferrals, so apply in the year you are ready to enroll.) We plan to go back to our normal class size of around 900 next year.
Preparing for Round 1
The Class of 2025 Round 1 application deadline is a week away on September 7, 2022 at noon eastern time. If you have remaining application questions, we encourage you to attend tomorrow’s virtual Q&A or reach out to admissions@hbs.edu. We know this is a busy time as you finalize things, and we are sending good thoughts your way.
You should know that we don’t start reading applications until after the deadline, so there’s no difference submitting now vs. the morning of September 7. Just make sure to give yourself enough time to submit before the deadline in case something comes up last minute.
After a summer on the road and on Zoom meeting prospective students, we are eager to get to know you on a personal level as we read your applications. Good luck!
Introducing Full-Tuition Scholarships Based on Need
Today we announced a new phase in our efforts to ensure that HBS is affordable for talented students from every socioeconomic background: beginning this fall, 10 percent of our student body – those with the greatest financial need – will receive full-tuition scholarships.
Based on extensive research, we understand that financial concerns are the number one barrier to pursuing a full-time MBA. And it makes sense: an MBA is a big investment that continues to pay off over the long run.
Even as the long-term earnings of a Harvard MBA continue to increase, we have been diligently addressing the upfront costs of an MBA by offering the largest need-based scholarship program of any MBA program in the world, increasing those scholarships year after year, holding tuition flat for the past four years, and introducing a need-based application fee waiver.
If financial concerns have kept you from considering Harvard Business School, please read more about HBS financial aid here and consider HBS now!
Interview Plan for the 2022-2023 Application Year
With about a month left before the Round 1 submission deadline, I am delighted to let you know we will offer both in-person and Zoom interviews this year.
Zoom interviews have worked well the past two years, which is why we plan to continue to offer this as an ongoing option for anyone invited to interview. We know it can be inconvenient or expensive to travel for an interview—a challenge which Zoom helps solve—and so we are happy to offer multiple options. Whether you do your interview in person or on Zoom, the process is exactly the same. In either format, the same Admissions Board members conduct the interviews, so there is no advantage in the evaluation process to interviewing in person or via Zoom. Really!
As a reminder, we invite a subset of those who apply to advance to the interview stage of our process. We will offer in-person interviews on the HBS campus and a limited number of interviews in a few hub cities around the world. While the list of cities may change, we are tentatively planning to interview in Tokyo, Bay Area CA, London, Paris, Dubai, Lagos, and Johannesburg. For all interviewees, we’ll offer the opportunity to hear from members of the HBS community as well as connect 1-1 with an HBS alum.
Finally, a request: with lingering impacts of the pandemic, we are thoughtfully preparing now for multiple potential scenarios. We ask in advance for your flexibility if we need to change the day, time, or format of your interview as the application season unfolds.
For those of you preparing Round 1 applications, we wish you all our best over the next ~month. We are looking forward to getting to know you!
Class of 2025 Application Now Open and Need-based Application Fee Waiver
We just opened the application for the Class of 2025 (enrolling in fall 2023). Check it out here or download an application guide. The Round 1 deadline is September 7, 2022, and Round 2 applications are due on January 4, 2023. Good luck as you get started on your application!
For a second year we are offering a need-based application fee waiver for both admissions rounds. If you’ve been wondering whether to apply to Harvard Business School, and the application fee presents a hardship for you, please consider submitting a fee waiver request to get the process started!
This need-based app fee waiver complements our generous need-based approach to financial aid. We believe that your financial circumstances should never prevent you from applying to or attending Harvard Business School. We need leaders from all socioeconomic backgrounds at HBS to make a difference in the world. More information on how to request a fee waiver is located here or in the MBA Application.
Class of 2025 Application Deadlines + New Essay Word Count
Calling all applicants who want to enroll at HBS in fall 2023, i.e., the Class of 2025. The applications deadlines to apply will be September 7, 2022 (Round 1) and January 4, 2023 (Round 2) – you can learn more about the application here. The application will open in late June 2022, but you can start preparing by downloading our Application Guide now.
Essay news:
- The prompt will remain the same as in previous years: “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 are, however, adding a 900 word limit to the essay. Why, you might ask? Well, we have heard from some applicants that, without a word limit, sometimes questions (and stress) arise about the “right” word length. We hope that including a limit provides applicants with a little more direction and eliminates the stress about how much is too much to write.
- Do you need to submit 900 words? No, certainly not. Successful applicants may share what they wish to in 500 or 700 words, for example, or go up to 900.
We are already looking forward to getting to know you!
2+2 Next Steps
Thank you to everyone who submitted a 2+2 application for deferred admission into the Harvard MBA program. We are enjoying getting to know you better and understanding your leadership journey.
Each 2+2 applicant will receive news on next steps on June 1 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. There are two possibilities:
- Invite to Interview – Congrats!
- Early Release – Unfortunately, we are not able to move you forward in the process, but hope you will think of HBS again in the future (we are very reapplicant friendly!)
If you are invited to interview, the online scheduling system will be live immediately and you will be able to choose the date and time for your interview. All interviews will be conducted via Zoom by a member of the HBS Admissions Board.
HBS Admissions Will Be in 14 U.S. Cities on May 17th
This spring we’re very happy to be bringing back in-person outreach events and to be on the road to meet prospective students around the world. One day we’re particularly excited about is May 17th, when we’ll be visiting 14 U.S. cities in one day!
Our inspiration is this year’s FIELD (Field Immersion Experiences for Leadership Development) Immersion, which is a course that will take all first-year students to cities across the U.S. for a 9-day experience working as teams with local companies and organizations. It’s a culmination of the excellent general management training of the first year at HBS.
On May 17th, current students wrapping up their FIELD experience are helping admissions staff host an HBS information session in each of the FIELD cities listed below. We hope you will join us! Discover more of our in-person outreach events coming up and sign up here.
May 17th Cities:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Chattanooga, TN
- Columbus, OH
- Detroit, MI
- Louisville, KY
- Milwaukee, WI
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- Shreveport, LA
- Tulsa, OK
Save Your Seat at HBS—Apply Through the 2+2 Deferred Admissions Process
The deadline for our 2+2 deferred admissions process is coming up on April 28, 2022 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. If you are in your final year of college (or Master’s program you matriculated into straight from your undergrad) you can apply to Harvard Business School now and, if admitted, start the MBA program in two, three, or four years.
In the 2+2 application process, we always meet outstanding applicants who are poised to make a difference in the world. 2+2 allows you to explore widely in the early years of your career and then build on that foundation with a two-year MBA from Harvard. We hope that you consider HBS—you can learn more about our 2+2 deferred admissions process here.
MBA Class Visits Are Back!
When I was an MBA student, the case method was one of my favorite parts about HBS. As a student, you put yourself in the shoes of different business leaders facing big decisions and you build your analytical, listening, and communication skills as you debate with your classmates the best course of action. Your professors expertly guide the conversation towards key insights, but the true learning comes from your classmates. The case method has worked for 100 years because students bring different perspectives to the classroom every day – perspectives shaped by their individual experiences, world views, and aspirations.
I am excited to share with you that after a two-year pause, in-person MBA class visits are back! You can sign up here. For those of you considering applying via the 2+2 deferred admissions process (deadline is on April 28th) or the next application cycle, come see the case method in action. I think you will find it as rewarding as I did.
If you can’t make it to campus, I encourage you to take a virtual seat into the classroom with the fabulous Professor Tsedal Neeley.
Round 2 - Nearly Through
We recently finished conducting Round 2 interviews and will be wrapping up our decisions two weeks from today. To all who applied, thank you for your interest in HBS and what you are doing to make a difference in the world.
We know it’s hard to wait! Decisions will be out soon—Wednesday, March 30 at noon Eastern Time via the Application Status page
Round 2 – Interview Invitations
A big thank you to everyone who submitted an application in Round 2. We are enjoying getting to know you through your stories.
Next week, on Wednesday, February 2 at 12:00 noon eastern, everyone who applied in Round 2—or received a “Further Consideration” decision in Round 1—will receive an update via the Application Status page. Either you will be invited to interview (good news!) or released from our process at this point. Those invited to interview will be able to sign-up for an interview slot on Thursday, February 3. As a reminder, all interviews will be conducted via Zoom and will take place between mid-February to early-March.
Thanks again for all the time and effort you put in to your applications—we are grateful for your interest in HBS!
Calling all Round 2 applicants
This is a busy time of year for many of you, we know! I wanted to lay out some hopefully helpful information for those of you planning to apply in Round 2.
- The Round 2 application deadline is January 4, 2022 at 12 PM (noon) ET. This is the final opportunity to apply to the MBA Class of 2024. Open or access your application here.
- Additional resources for applicants include our FAQs blogpost, App Tips videos, and MBA Application Guide.
- If the application fee presents a hardship for you, please apply for our need-based application fee waiver—more information here.
- Harvard University is closed from December 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022. The MBA Admissions team will continue to provide support to applicants via email leading up to the Round 2 deadline. Any technical application questions can be addressed to ApplyTech@hbs.edu; please note that we may take longer than usual to respond during this period.
Thank you for considering HBS as part of your future.
Round 1 Decisions
Tomorrow is the big day for Round 1 applicants! At 12:00 PM (noon) ET tomorrow (December 9), we will release Round 1 decisions via the Application Status page. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who applied and shared your story with us.
For those thinking of applying to HBS in Round 2, we hope you will. The deadline is a little less than a month away on January 4, 2022 at 12:00 PM (noon) ET, so still plenty of time to put together your application and submit it here.
Calling current college students – take a ‘peek’ into a Harvard MBA!
If you’re currently in college and intrigued by the idea of pursuing an MBA down the road, check out our virtual program, Peek.
At its core, a Harvard MBA is about learning how to get things done—big, important things in business and society. Peek will give you and other college students a sense of how an MBA from Harvard can help you make a difference in the world.
The Peek virtual program will offer prospective students a case method class experience with HBS faculty, an opportunity to connect with current HBS students, and discussions on leadership and mapping your career after college. And, the program is absolutely free!
Peek will take place virtually January 19 - 21, 2022 for 1.5 - 2.5 hours of synchronous programming each day. Peek is open to all current undergraduate students globally, no matter what you are studying. You are eligible for Peek if you have a projected college graduation date that falls between October 2021 and December 2027.
Registration for this program just opened and the deadline to sign up is January 9, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET.
Gratitude
In the U.S. there’s a holiday this week called Thanksgiving. I try to be intentional, especially at this time of year, about giving thanks. That might seem quaint given the, well, almost two-year pandemic. But sometimes gratitude can be paradoxical like that: it’s easier to recognize the good when you’re also working through the hard.
I continue to be moved by your lives and the difference you are making in the world. A great part of our job is to meet you now and project forward the impact you might have in various industries, organizations, and communities. Given who you are, that’s an exercise that fills me with hope—and gratitude—about the future. Thank you for applying to HBS and for sharing your stories with us.
In my reflection today, I also recognize and thank my colleagues and friends on the MBA Admissions and Financial Aid team. I remember when I was in your shoes that it was hard to imagine who was on the other side of the application process. Let me pull back that curtain for you: they are real, wonderful people who have experienced some of the same losses, anxieties, and challenges—and yes, some joys too!—of the past two years. Through it all, they have gone to truly extraordinary lengths to support you in your journey to HBS despite the many disruptions of the pandemic. I feel lucky to work with such a dedicated team and hope you have been surrounded by similarly supportive colleagues.
Happy Thanksgiving.
100 Years of the Case Method
Our MBA program features many different ways of learning—from small group discussions, simulations, project-based work, and hands-on experiences—but HBS is famous for pioneering the case method. This year marks 100 years since the first Harvard Business School case was published in 1921—check out this timeline.
When I was in your shoes, the case method is something that made me excited about applying to HBS. As a student, I found the case method the ideal way to learn about leadership, business, and general management. In addition to being incredibly engaging, the case method centers the diverse experiences of every student in the class allowing you to learn deeply not just from faculty, but also from your classmates. I also loved when leaders of the companies we discussed in the cases joined our class to share their insights.
Just before the pandemic hit, we filmed a case discussion with Professor Tsedal Neeley and a section of HBS students. Check it out here. If you find yourself excited about this way to learn after this ten minute video, I hope you’ll apply to HBS!
Round 1 Next Steps
Over the past few weeks, we have had the pleasure of reading your Round 1 applications. I distinctly remember how much effort—and heart—goes into putting together an application. On behalf of the whole team, thank you for what you have shared with us.
On Tuesday, October 5 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, each of you will receive individual news on next steps in our process. There are three possibilities:
- Invite to interview – this is good news!
- Further consideration – also positive! This is a small group of strong applicants that we ask to wait with us until Round 2, at which point we will review your application again. More info on this process will be shared with you directly if you receive “further consideration” news.
- Early release – unfortunately we are not able to move you forward in the process. This part of our work never gets any easier, but our hope is that by letting you know this news early on in the process you can move forward with other plans.
If you are invited to interview, you will receive access to our Interview Information website on October 5 to learn more about the process – you will then be able to sign up for an interview on October 6.
The 2+2 Deferred Admissions Application is Now Live!
The 2+2 application is now open in our application portal! The HBS 2+2 program is a deferred admission process for current students in their final year of study, either in college or full-time master’s degree programs. If you are admitted through 2+2, you work for 2-4 years in a field of your choosing before enrolling at HBS in the regular HBS MBA Program.
We hope that knowing you have a spot at HBS on the horizon will enable you to really explore early on in your career as you build toward a life of impact.
The 2+2 application deadline is not until April 28, 2022, so you have some time. We only review applications after this date. There is a reduced application fee of $100, and we will also open a 2+2 need-based application fee waiver in January 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2+2 website for more information and introduce yourself to us so we can keep you informed about upcoming HBS events for college students.
They’re here! HBS Class of 2023
Earlier this week we welcomed the amazing HBS Class of 2023. It’s been such a delight to see students arriving from all over the world, representing many different backgrounds and life experiences. They are an impressive and down-to-earth bunch eager to get to know one another and dive into their HBS experience. Learn more about the incoming class here.
You Still Have Time to Apply in Round 1!
For those of you planning to apply to HBS, the Round 1 deadline is on Wednesday, September 8 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. Good luck as you put the finishing touches on your application over the next 16 days. We look forward to getting to know you better through your applications.
Should you have any questions on the application or admissions process, there are 3 more Information Sessions prior to the Round 1 deadline. Additionally, on August 30 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, I am hosting Busting HBS Myths: A Candid Conversation with second year student, Cyril Straughn-Turner. We will discuss myths about HBS and debunk misconceptions around the MBA admissions process. We hope you can attend!
Our Plan for Interviews This Year
One of our favorite parts of the application process is the chance to have a conversation with you during the interview phase. At that point, we have come to know you through your written application, and we can’t wait to meet you for a live conversation.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted all of our interviews virtually via Zoom during the 2020-2021 application year with great success. We have made the decision to continue with virtual interviews again this year, given the continued uncertainty due to the pandemic and disruptions to global travel. If conditions change dramatically and we can safely host in-person interviews in Round 2, we may revisit this decision, but at this point we are planning for all virtual interviews in both Rounds 1 and 2.
For many years, we have conducted virtual interviews for candidates who could not travel to one of our hub cities, and we are confident the interview experience in this upcoming year will be a great one. All interviews will continue to be conducted by our Interview Board—a small group of about 25 individuals, who are trained and conduct many interviews per year. For each interview, we prepare as we would for a case discussion—having thoroughly read your application and ready for an interesting and dynamic conversation with you.
Best of luck to those of you preparing to submit an application by our Round 1 deadline on September 8, 2021 at 12:00 noon ET. We are eager to get to know you!
Big news! Need-based application fee waiver and Class of 2024 application now open
Today, we launch a need-based application fee waiver for all admissions rounds. If you’ve been wondering whether to apply to Harvard Business School, and the application fee presents a hardship for you, please consider submitting a fee waiver request to get the process started!
This need-based app fee waiver complements our generous need-based approach to financial aid. We believe that your financial circumstances should never prevent you from applying to or attending Harvard Business School. We need leaders from all socioeconomic backgrounds at HBS to make a difference in the world. More information on how to request a fee waiver is located here or in the MBA Application.
Speaking of the application, we just opened it up for the Class of 2024 (enrolling in fall 2022). Check it out here or download an application guide. The Round 1 deadline is September 8, 2021, and Round 2 applications are due on January 4, 2022.
Good luck as you get started on your application!
Meet Us Online This Summer
We always look forward to this time of year because it’s an opportunity for us to spend time connecting with prospective HBS students around the world! Our virtual events are a chance for you to meet members of our community and get all your questions about the MBA program and application process answered. We believe the most impactful part is hearing directly from our current students and members of our global alumni community about the transformational HBS MBA experience. We hear often from our matriculating students that it was a student or alumni panel or conversation that convinced them that HBS was a community that they wanted to join.
This summer we’re excited about the events that we’re offering – and keep an eye out because the list will continue to grow! Several highlights include the Women in Industry Series, the International Student Series, and one of my favorite events to host which brings section-mates together five years after graduation to reflect on their experience as students and now as alumni. We also encourage prospective students to attend one of our weekly Information Sessions as a great starting point, and then to be able to pick and choose among the myriad events which are most interesting to you.
These events are truly meant for you to learn about Harvard and figure out if the MBA experience we offer is a good fit for you and your future goals. Your registration or attendance at one of these events does NOT play a role in our evaluation process. We offer these events purely to assist with your learning process. Why is this important for us? We realize there are financial considerations for traveling to in person events, and that there can be internet accessibility and time zone challenges for virtual events. Given these and other possible challenges facing prospective students, registration or attendance at our events does not play a role in our evaluation process. We admit many students every year who don’t make their first visit to campus until after they’ve already been accepted.
We hope you’ll check out our events website or complete an Introduce Yourself form and we’ll keep you posted on what’s coming up that meets your interests. We look forward to connecting with you online soon!
2+2 Interviews and Early Release
Thank you to everyone who applied to HBS via the 2+2 program. We have enjoyed getting to know you and appreciate your authentic voices.
On Wednesday, June 2, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, each of you will receive individual news on next steps. There are two possibilities:
- Invite to Interview – Congrats!
- Early Release – Unfortunately, we are not able to move you forward in the process, but hope you will think of HBS again and encourage you to reapply in the future.
If you are invited to interview, the online scheduling system will be live immediately and you will be able to choose the date and time for your interview. All interviews will be conducted virtually this summer via Zoom.
Class of 2024 Application Dates
Hello to all considering applying to the Harvard Business School Class of 2024! Our two application rounds will be:
Round 1:
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 8th at Noon ET
- Decision Notification: Thursday, December 9th at Noon ET
Round 2:
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 4th at Noon ET
- Decision Notification: Wednesday, March 30th at Noon ET
The application will open in mid-June 2021, but you can start preparing by downloading our Application Guide.
For those of you who want to get an early start on your essay, the prompt will remain the same as last year: “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?” Watch our MBA Application Tips: Essay video to learn more.
We look forward to reading your application.
Calling College Seniors – Applying to HBS
The deadline for our 2+2 deferred admissions process is coming up on April 29, 2021 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. If you are in your final year of college (or Master’s program you matriculated into straight from your undergrad) you can apply to Harvard Business School now and, if admitted, start the MBA program in two, three, or four years.
In the 2+2 application process, we always meet outstanding applicants who are poised to make a difference in the world. 2+2 allows you to explore widely in the early years of your career and then build on that foundation with a two-year MBA from Harvard. We hope that you consider HBS—you can learn more about our 2+2 deferred admissions process here.
Round 2 Decisions
We are nearing the end of our Round 2 admissions application round. We feel honored to have met so many talented individuals and learn how you are making a difference in the world. Thank you for your interest in HBS and for sharing your stories with us.
We will release decisions on Tuesday, March 30 at noon Eastern Time via the application status page.
R2 Interview Invitations
A big thank you to all of you who applied in Round 2 for your interest in HBS and the ways in which you are making a difference in the lives of those around you. We have enjoyed getting to know you through the application process so far.
Next week, on February 3 at noon eastern, you will receive an update via the application status page on the next phase of the process as we extend invitations to interview to a portion of those who applied. As we announced previously, all interviews will be conducted via zoom this round as we continue to navigate the global pandemic.
If you are not invited to interview, we will release you from the process next week so you can move forward with other plans. We sincerely thank all who submitted an application to HBS.
Applying to the HBS Class of 2023
The last chance to apply to the Class of 2023 (entering fall 2021) is only two weeks away: January 5, 2021 at noon Eastern Time. Good luck to those of you working through your application between now and then!
HBS is closed from December 21, 2020 through January 1, 2021. We will reopen on January 4, 2021. But we are here for you! We will be monitoring ApplyTech@hbs.edu if you have any technical challenges with the application related to a Round 2 application; we will respond to other messages after the office re-opens.
As we close out a challenging year on many fronts, the need for leaders like you is more apparent than ever. Thank you for your interest in HBS!
Round 1 Decisions; Round 2 Deadline
After what I know is a long wait, tomorrow is the big day for Round 1 applicants! At 12:00 noon Eastern Time tomorrow (Dec 10), we will release Round 1 decisions via the Application Status page. A little over half of those we met during the interview process will receive an offer of admission. To a portion of those not accepted, we will extend an offer to join our waitlist.
For those considering Round 2, the application deadline is a little less than four weeks away on January 5, 2021, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. You can apply here. Please remember that we have increased the size of the next two incoming classes to about 1,000 students each (learn more here), and we look forward to getting to know you through the application process. Best wishes over the next few weeks as you put your applications together.
Giving thanks
In the U.S., the Thanksgiving holiday is this week, and on behalf of the HBS Admissions and Financial Aid team, I want to share our thanks with you.
2020 has been a challenging year around the world. Given the pandemic, we have missed traveling to your home towns and countries to meet you in-person and share more about HBS. And, we have missed hosting you on the HBS campus for class visits, campus tours, and interviews.
Despite all that, we have enjoyed meeting many of you through our online events and, for those who applied in Round 1, through your written applications and interviews. Thank you for your flexibility and enthusiasm for connecting in these new ways. In a world with so many challenges, we are heartened by how you are leading in your organizations and leaning in to your communities.
Round 1 decisions come out on December 10 at noon Eastern time, so just a few weeks away. For those of you considering Round 2 (the final deadline for the Class of 2023), you still have plenty of time before the January 5, 2021 deadline.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Updates on Class Size and Internship
Today, I am pleased to confirm that HBS will increase enrollment for the next few years—the Classes of 2023 and 2024 will enroll about 1,000 students each.
In April, when we announced our one-time deferral policy for those admitted to the Class of 2022, we were already thinking ahead to those of you applying in the next two years. We did not want you to be disadvantaged by spots already reserved for those who deferred from the Class of 2022.
For this reason, even as we prepared for this year’s class, we have been working diligently with Harvard University and our faculty and staff teams at HBS to explore increasing the HBS class size. Though uncertainty remains around the world, we have developed robust plans and contingencies for a great experience for enlarged HBS Classes of 2023 and 2024.
HBS has always strived, through a thoughtful design of the learning and student experiences, to offer the breadth of opportunity of a large business school and the intimacy of a small section of fellow students. This deliberate balance will continue as we temporarily expand enrollment at HBS for the Classes of 2023 and 2024 to about 1,000 students each.
Additionally, I want to share a note from the HBS Dean’s Office about a new summer internship requirement in the MBA program:
Last week, the faculty expressed their support for a proposal to require summer internships for MBA students. Beginning with the Class of 2022, then, students will be able to fulfill this requirement through successful completion of a summer work experience—either with an established organization or by launching an entrepreneurial venture, and in either a paid or an unpaid position. Any student facing circumstances that preclude an internship, including personal circumstances such as the birth of a child or caring for a family member, will be able to apply for a waiver.
We expect this to be seen as good news throughout the HBS community given that 99% of students usually pursue an internship opportunity. We have long considered summer internships an important extension of our curriculum—one that enhances learning and provides important practical experience. Beyond formalizing their vital role in our two-year program, the shift will benefit a number of our international students by offering them U.S. employment eligibility and ensuring that they can pursue unpaid internships.
I hope that you share my excitement on these two pieces of good news and will consider applying to HBS!
HBS Racial Equity Action Plan
Earlier this year, HBS Dean Nitin Nohria acknowledged that
HBS can and should do more in the fight against racial injustice and inequality
especially against Black Americans. In June, he launched the
Dean’s Anti-Racism Taskforce, comprised of students, staff, faculty, and
alumni, and tasked this group with developing an institutional action plan. The
full plan was released on September 23, 2020, and I encourage you to take time
to read the full Racial Equity Action
Plan.
As one of the members of the taskforce workstreams, the past few months have
left me feeling humbled and grateful to be a part of developing our
institution’s Racial Equity Plan. Specifically, in the Students and
Participants workstream, we were tasked with addressing the following key
questions: “How do we attract more Black and African American students to our
educational programs, and how do we ensure everyone can thrive at Harvard Business
School?” I admit that at times I felt daunted by the enormity of what we were
up against—including centuries of racism in this country—and yet time and again
I was buoyed up by the collective commitment of others within my workstream and
members of the broader taskforce as we worked toward tangible action steps and
change.
As outlined in the Racial
Equity Plan in the MBA program, we have committed to expanding our
current outreach, programming and partnership efforts focused on communities of
color. We have also released additional detail on the racial/ethnic identities
of our students in our 2022 Class Profile along with five years of
comparable data for recent HBS Classes in the Racial Equity Action
Plan.
As an HBS community, we are deeply committed to promoting racial equity both
within our institution and—through the leadership of our students and alumni
making a difference—in the world.
The 2+2 deferred admission application opens today
Today (October 1) at noon ET the new 2+2 application will be available in our application portal. We appreciate your patience in waiting for the application to open!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with our 2+2 program, it is a deferred admission process for current students in their final year of study, either in college or full-time master’s degree programs. It is comprised of at least two years of professional work experience followed by two years in the regular HBS MBA Program.
The application mirrors the MBA Application but has its own application deadline on April 29, 2021 and a reduced application fee of $100. Check out the 2+2 website for more information on the program, eligibility, and application details.
Round 1 interview invitations
Maybe you are finding, like I am, that time is harder to track in a pandemic. Some days stretch on for what feels like weeks, and some weeks seem to pass as quickly as a day. I remember as an applicant that the time after submitting my application moved very slooooowly—it is hard to wait.
The good news is that the next steps in our application process will unfold next Tuesday, October 6 at noon eastern time. In your application status page, you will hear one of three things:
- Invite to interview – this is good news!
- Further consideration – Also positive! This is a small group of strong applicants that we ask to wait with us until Round 2, at which point we will review your application again. More info on this process will be shared with you directly if you receive “further consideration” news.
- Early release – unfortunately we are not able to move you forward in the process. Our hope is by letting you know this news early on in the process you can move forward with other plans.
As a reminder, we will conduct all interviews virtually this year. You can expect the same fun, engaging conversation with a member of the Admissions Board.
To everyone who has applied—we have been inspired by your stories as we read your applications. Thank you for your interest in HBS. And good luck with just one last week of waiting.
Class of 2022 Profile
Last week, members of the Class of 2022 began their HBS journeys, and we are thrilled to have them as part of the HBS community. We just updated the Class Profile with information about this stellar group of leaders, and I want to highlight a few elements of it for you.
Over the past 18 months, a group of business schools developed and agreed to establish common standards for reporting admissions statistics. We have been enthusiastic supporters of these standards because we feel they will make it easier for you and other prospective students to compare consistent statistics across programs.
For HBS, the changes you’ll notice in our Class Profile include:
- International student percentage: Previously we included permanent residents in this number. We are adopting the new standard to have international students include only those without a U.S. passport or permanent residency.
- U.S. Minority percentage: Previously we showed this as a percent of the entire class. We are adopting the new standard to show U.S. minorities as a percent of domestic students and permanent residents.
- Class size: We
enrolled a smaller class of 732 students this year as a result of the deferral
option we offered incoming students as they navigated the onset of the pandemic.
The data presented in the Class Profile reflect these 732 enrolled students. Students
who deferred will be represented in the Class Profile when they enroll over the
next two years.
As I’ve noted before, we are actively exploring increasing our class size beyond our typical 930 for the next two years, though that has not been approved yet. Please also note that the deferral option extended in 2020 was a one-time exception because of the onset of the pandemic. You should apply in the year you are ready to enroll, as we have reverted to our practice of not offering deferrals outside of personal emergency situations.
Over the summer, students, staff, faculty, and alumni have also been deeply engaged in the Dean’s Anti-Racism Taskforce to better acknowledge the continuing racism in our society—especially against African Americans—and to build an institutional plan to be more proactively anti-racist. A full report and action plan from this HBS Taskforce will be released at the end of September 2020.
- Race / ethnicity: With this work as a backdrop, we are excited to begin sharing the racial / ethnic identities of our domestic students, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents. As we explain in the Class Profile, we are reporting race / ethnicity in two ways: according to federal reporting guidelines—which allows each student to be represented in only one racial / ethnic group—and multi-dimensional reporting—to more inclusively share students’ multiple racial / ethnic identities.
The HBS experience puts students at the center of our dynamic, immersive learning environments. We need perspectives from diverse backgrounds in order to fulfill our mission to educate leaders who will make a difference in the world. We hope learning more about the Class of 2022 will encourage you to consider applying to HBS in the future!
Round 1 Deadline – Two Weeks Away!
For those of you planning to apply to HBS, the deadline is two weeks from today on Tuesday, September 8 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. We have enjoyed meeting many of you over the summer through our virtual events, and we can’t wait to get to know you better through your applications.
Over the past few months we’ve launched an MBA Application Tips Video Series to help break down the application into small, actionable steps. Hopefully these are helpful as you work on an application that is true to you and your journey. Best of luck as you near the finish line!
GMAT and GRE Testing Extension
We understand that many of you applying in Round 1 or Round 2 may be thinking through all the elements you need to submit as part of your MBA application. If you’re like me, you may have laid out some checklists and to-do's for yourself, and taking the GMAT or GRE may be on your list. We too are busy planning for our upcoming admissions cycle and one of the many things we have been watching closely is the availability of the GMAT and GRE.
We continue to accept either the in person or online versions of each of these tests. Even with these options, we understand that some of you do not have access to taking the GMAT and GRE given the extraordinary disruptions of COVID-19. For this reason, this year we are offering a testing extension for individuals who do not have access to the GMAT or GRE to give you additional flexibility as we all try to manage through this public health situation.
If this applies to you (you cannot take the GMAT or GRE due to outside circumstances), you may request an extension that, if approved, will allow you to submit your application without a test score and provide the score as soon as it is available. The applications must still be received by our Round 1 application deadline (September 8, 2020) or our Round 2 application deadline (January 5, 2021). The Admissions Board will only review your application once we have your test score, so we strongly encourage you to submit scores as soon as you are able. For those with an approved test extension, the last date to submit a GMAT or GRE test score and be considered for the Class of 2023 is June 1, 2021.
Given the number of testing centers that have reopened and the wide availability of online tests, we anticipate the number of approved extension requests will be small. Please request a test extension only if you do not have access to taking the GMAT or GRE as it is currently offered. To learn about the process for requesting a testing extension and to find out if you’re eligible, visit the COVID-19 FAQs.
Thank you again for all the time and energy you are putting into your application process, especially in these difficult times. We certainly look forward to getting to know you more in the coming months.
Virtual Interviews in the 2020-2021 Application Year
I have said it before—the interview is a highlight of the application process for us. After getting to know you first through your written application, we finally get to have a conversation and learn more about you. Invariably the 30 minutes fly by.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the decision to conduct all of our interviews virtually during the 2020-2021 application year. We feel this approach best meets potential health and safety concerns while enabling us to get to know you and make admissions decisions.
Rest assured, the interviews will still play the same role in our admissions process. All interviews will continue to be conducted by our Interview Board—a small group of about 25 individuals, who are trained and conduct many interviews per year. For each interview, we prepare as we would for a case discussion—having thoroughly read your application and ready for an interesting and dynamic conversation with you. That will not change in our virtual interview format.
For many years, we have conducted virtual interviews for candidates who could not travel to one of our hub cities, and this summer we conducted all of our 2+2 interviews virtually. We are confident the interview experience in this upcoming year will be a great one.
We will also be developing ways for you to engage with the HBS community virtually as you go through the admissions process. Best of luck to those of you preparing to submit an application before our Round 1 deadline on September 8, 2020. We look forward to getting to know you through your application!
2+2 next steps: Interviews and early release
Thank you to everyone who applied to HBS via the 2+2 program. We have enjoyed getting to know you and appreciate you opening up and sharing your personal stories.
Tomorrow, June 24, at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, each of you will receive individual news on next steps. There are two possibilities:
- Invite to Interview – Congrats!
- Early Release – Unfortunately, we are not able to move you forward in the process, but hope you will think of HBS again and encourage you to reapply in the future.
If you are invited to interview tomorrow, the online scheduling system will be live immediately and you will be able to choose the date and time for your interview. All interviews will be conducted virtually this summer via Skype.
Application for the Class of 2023 now open
We just opened our application for those applying to start at HBS in 2021. Our first application deadline is September 8th at Noon ET and our Round 2 deadline is January 5th at Noon ET. You can access the application here.
Please feel free to check out a series of application tips I put together that hopefully give you some ideas for your application. Over the next few weeks we’ll also be launching a series of application videos featuring Director of Evaluation Sarah Lucas and me. Follow us on Instagram to learn when they become available!
Now more than ever we need leaders who can make a difference in the world. I hope you will consider applying to HBS. We certainly look forward to getting to know you.
Class of 2022 Deferral Update
As I shared in a post on 27 April 2020, we decided to allow incoming students in the Class of 2022 to defer their offer of enrollment, given the challenges and uncertainties they are facing in this unusual year. In so doing, we recognized that we would likely enroll a smaller class in Fall 2020.
Today, I am writing to share a bit more detail about what we heard back from incoming students and the expected size of the Class of 2022. Here is a message that went out to the HBS community earlier this afternoon.
The deferral window closed yesterday, and we are delighted to let you know that roughly 700 students confirmed they will join us in the fall. After drawing from our strong wait list, and knowing there may still be some small shifts because of extenuating circumstances, we expect to enroll a class of about 720.
Moreover, the composition of the students who are joining us is similar to those who chose to defer, which means the class will have the diversity we strive for and the critical mass to carry on all of our usual curricular and extracurricular activities.
We're equally happy to have given the other admitted students an opportunity to matriculate at a time that works better for them. We look forward to welcoming all of them to the HBS community over the next two years and will explore increasing our class size a bit as they enroll.
Our deep thanks to those admitted to the Class of 2022 for their positivity and patience throughout this process. We are grateful for the sense of partnership that has already formed among incoming students, returning students, faculty and staff as we plan for the upcoming year.
2+2 Deadline – June 1
Congratulations to all the college seniors out there! I know many of you have already celebrated graduation or it is right around the corner. What a remarkable accomplishment.
Friendly reminder to all those finishing up college that our deadline to apply to HBS through the 2+2 deferred admissions process is on Monday, June 1 at noon Eastern time. We know that this has been a challenging several months, and I’m sorry about the disruptions to your senior year. We hope that moving our 2+2 deadline back by about two months this year was helpful to you. Good luck finalizing your application over the weekend.
We anticipate sending out 2+2 interview invitations on June 24, and we plan to conduct all interviews for this round virtually. Please rest assured that as an Admissions Board, we have experience conducting interviews virtually; the format, length of time, and evaluation process will be the same. We cannot wait to meet you.
We hope that you apply to HBS!
Class of 2023 Application Dates
Today, I am happy to announce our application dates for next year’s application cycle. To apply for the HBS Class of 2023, we will have two application rounds:
Round 1:
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 8th at Noon ET
- Decision Notification: Thursday, December 10th at Noon ET
Round 2:
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 5th at Noon ET
- Decision Notification: Tuesday, March 30th at Noon ET
We understand that these are difficult times globally and that many of you have been affected personally by the pandemic. Please know that we always review applications holistically and understand that many plans, employment opportunities, and personal situations have been disrupted by COVID-19. Of course we will take this most unusual of times into account as we evaluate your application.
The application will open up again in mid-June 2020, but in the meantime feel free to download our Application Guide to learn more about what’s inside. Amidst all the uncertainty globally, we plan to minimize changes in our application process this year. For now, I can let you know that our one essay prompt will remain, “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?”
Thanks for your interest in HBS, and please be well.
Update on Fall 2020 - And What It Means for those Applying to HBS Next Year
Earlier today, Harvard University announced that it plans to open in the fall. The format of the start is still to be determined—the semester may begin virtually, in person, or as a hybrid—with the clear goal to be in person as soon as it is safe to do so. In any scenario, at HBS we are committed to providing an outstanding experience and have engaged teams of faculty, staff, students, and alumni to develop an extraordinary fall semester inside and outside the classroom.
We believe there are compelling reasons to enroll this fall. We also realize that the world has changed significantly since our incoming students (the Class of 2022) applied, and understand that the timing may no longer be workable for some. In an effort to be as supportive as possible in this uncertain and trying time, we have extended an opportunity for members of the HBS Class of 2022 to request a 1-2 year deferral of their enrollment.
Depending on how many choose to defer, we will be admitting from our waitlist to balance the Class of 2022. Our learning model depends on bringing together exceptional leaders with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We are steadfast in our commitment to that model, so to sustain it, if we need to enroll a smaller class in August than our typical 930, we may do so. As I mentioned in my 20 March post, we are humbled to have a waitlist with very strong candidates.
We have received questions about whether we will reconsider denied applicants from past rounds or add another round of admission for the Class of 2022. We do not plan to take these steps.
What does this mean for those of you planning to apply to start in the fall of 2021 or fall of 2022? We understand that you may have questions about the number of seats available in these upcoming classes—please know we are working hard to balance doing right by those we have admitted this year and preserving opportunity for you to enroll in the future.
First, we will keep an eye on the number who choose to defer and spread their entry into the MBA program across the next two years.
Second, over the coming months, we will consider with our faculty and with Harvard University the overall class size that HBS may be able to accommodate for the Classes of 2023 and 2024.
Third, our commitment to a robust need-based scholarship program will not change. With the strong support of alumni paying it forward, in recent years HBS has increased need-based scholarships and expanded the overall financial aid portfolio. Despite the financial uncertainty in the world, HBS will continue to support current and future students (both domestic and international). HBS is an investment that pays dividends over a lifetime, and we are as committed as ever to making HBS affordable for all.
The pandemic is teaching us that the world needs leaders who know how to innovate, pivot, listen, manage complex supply chains, support teams, implement change, make decisions with imperfect information, and lead others. I am inspired by how HBS students and alumni are contributing in communities around the globe. I invite you to consider how HBS can help you make a difference in the world and hope that you will choose to apply.
Announcing a Need-Based Fee Waiver for 2+2 Application
Today I am delighted to announce that we are offering a need-based application fee waiver for our 2+2 deferred admission round coming up on June 1.
We know the cost of applying to graduate school does not impact all prospective students the same way, and that the current COVID-19 situation has introduced an additional financial stressor to many college students around the world. We hope that offering this fee waiver to current full-time students with financial need will mean one less thing you have to worry about in these challenging times.
This need-based fee waiver is available to all 2+2 applicants for the 2020 application – both domestic and international. Details on eligibility and process are located within the 2+2 application. As always, we remain steadfast in our commitment to a need-blind admissions process. Your financial circumstances are never a factor in our admissions decision. In addition, if admitted, over $40 million in need-based financial aid is available to help you meet the cost of your degree. We look forward to reading your application and please stay healthy.
2020 Summer College Programs
In light of the ongoing disruptions from the COVD-19 pandemic and striving to do our part to help slow its spread, we have decided to cancel the in-person versions of Summer Venture in Management Program and Peek Weekend for 2020. These programs for college-age prospective students are designed to help you learn more about how attending business school can help you achieve your long-term career goals and have a positive impact on the people around you. Our faculty, staff, and students love hosting SVMP and Peek and enjoy meeting the prospective students through the programs. We know that this is disappointing news for many, and we are sad too. This is not a decision we made lightly.
In lieu of these in-person events, we are excited to offer virtual events programming in an effort to bring to life some of the SVMP and Peek Weekend experiences. Through these online events, participants will learn more about HBS, interact with HBS faculty and students, and learn more about the value of an MBA. We know this won’t be quite the same as hosting you on campus, but we are working hard with HBS faculty to make these sessions informative, engaging, and fun. Additionally, we look forward to hosting you on campus in the future!
Live sessions will be hosted by MBA Admissions, students, alumni, and HBS faculty. The virtual Peek event will take place June 10 – 12, 2020, and the Virtual Venture in Management will take place June 15 - 19, 2020. There will be no cost to participate in the virtual sessions. If you have wondered about how business school might fit into your future plans, we invite you to learn more by registering for Virtual Peek Experience and Virtual Venture in Management now.
Reaffirming our commitment to international students
We learned yesterday that the U.S. State Department is “suspending routine visa services in most countries worldwide,” according to this press release. Knowing that this news would be unsettling, especially for our international applicants and admitted students, I am writing today.
The mission of Harvard Business School is to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. In order to fulfill that mission, HBS has a deep commitment to engaging globally, including by admitting students from all over the world into our MBA program. For example, in the MBA Class of 2021, 37% of our students are international students who bring tremendous experience from which all students can learn. In a post three years ago, I wrote about how I benefitted personally from diverse perspectives as an HBS student.
Today I want to reaffirm that HBS MBA Admissions will continue to admit the most talented international and domestic applicants, irrespective of citizenship, as we strive to build a class of leaders who will make a difference in the world.
We hope that the global situation around COVID-19 improves and that the suspension of visa services passes quickly. The Harvard International Office and we in MBA Admissions and Financial Aid will do all that we can to support students through the visa process. Any international admitted student who is unable to start the program due to a visa issue despite their best efforts will be deferred to next year’s MBA class.
Each year, we are humbled to receive applications from many more talented individuals than we have room to admit in the HBS MBA program. The hardest part of our job is turning away many who we know will go on to lives of purpose and impact. While we could keep these applicants on hold, we normally keep a relatively small waitlist for two reasons 1) we understand the anxiety involved with more waiting and 2) in a typical year, we have a pretty good idea about how many spots in the class will open up over the summer. This is not a typical year. In the spirit of transparency, I am sharing that we plan to invite many talented and qualified applicants to stay with us on a larger waitlist.
Our hearts go out to all of you affected, directly or indirectly, by the spread of COVID-19.
2+2 Application Date Changes
COVID-19 admissions update
The situation around COVID-19 has continued to evolve globally. In an effort to help slow the spread of the virus globally and protect the broader community, Harvard University has released a set of guidelines for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus. Today, I want to share how we are implementing these guidelines for MBA admissions (this is a long post).
First, our admissions criteria and process remain unchanged. With our mission to educate leaders who make a difference in the world, we are looking for students who exhibit a habit of leadership, analytical aptitude and appetite, and engaged community citizenship. In short, we want to get to know you and the difference you want to make in the world.
Round 2
For those of you who applied and interviewed with us for Round 2, we plan to release our decisions on 31 March 2020 at noon Eastern time as planned.
Part of the university’s guidance includes prohibiting gatherings of more than 25 people through 30 April 2020. As a result, we will not hold a traditional Admitted Student Welcome (ASW) on campus for Round 2 admitted students. We are working hard on virtual alternatives for you to learn more about the HBS experience and have all of your questions answered before you need to make a decision on our offer. We will have more information about the virtual ASW offerings by 31 March 2020 when we share our offers of admission.
2+2 round
This round for college seniors applying for deferred admission will proceed as planned. The application deadline is 2 April 2020 and we plan to release final decisions on 3 June 2020. As always, please submit your application online. We will continue to offer Skype interviews as needed, and all interviews will be conducted by a member of the MBA Admissions Board.
Editor's note (3/20/20): The deadline for college seniors applying for deferred admission changed to 1 June 2020. We plan to release final decisions on 28 July 2020. Learn more.
Peek Weekend and SVMP
As of now, we are still planning to hold our Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) and our Peek Weekend program for college students in June 2020. These programs bring you to campus to stay in HBS residence halls, participate in MBA case studies, and learn more about Harvard Business School. The deadline to apply to either of these programs is 21 April 2020. You can learn more about these programs here.
Campus visits
Starting on 16 March 2020, and given the guidance prohibiting gatherings, we will stop holding our campus tours, information sessions, and in person class visits. We apologize to those who had already made plans to come visit us over the next few months. We love to showcase our campus and especially the case method learning model, so we have a few options for you to do that virtually. Please conduct a virtual campus tour here, check out the case method here, and learn about student life at HBS here.
Global information sessions
This is the time of year when we fan out across the country and the world to meet with prospective students like you in your home cities. The university has restricted travel to help avoid spreading the virus, so we are working diligently to come up with virtual gatherings and ways to connect with you digitally. We plan to tailor these opportunities by geography, industry, and other affinity groups so that you can learn more about what HBS offers for someone with your background and interests. We will be adding these options to our events page in the coming weeks.
Please know that given the fluid nature of COVID-19 situation, with new information coming out daily, the above plans may be extended further into the summer or may change altogether. Please check back here for any updates to these admissions plans. We will also communicate updates to those directly impacted.
We understand that this disruption to our normal slate of admissions activities may be disappointing to some of you. Truth be told, we are sad too. We love the rhythm of traveling out into the world to bring HBS to you, getting to know you through your application and interview, and then celebrating an offer of admission with you during ASW. We hope you understand our desire, and the university’s guidelines, to put your health and safety first. As a global community, we are all trying to manage through a very challenging situation. Thank you for your interest in Harvard Business School and for your patience with us.
Big day tomorrow
Round 2 next steps
To those of you who submitted a Round 2 application, thank you. I remember how busy it felt applying to business school while balancing work. I hope you’ve had a chance to rest and relax a bit since you hit submit!
On our end, we are a week into reading your applications and have been enjoying getting to know you better. Here are the next steps in the process, so you know when you’ll hear from us again:
- Tuesday, February 4, at 12 p.m. eastern time: all Round 2 applications will either be invited to interview or released from the process.
- Wednesday, February 5th at 10 a.m. eastern time: those invited to interview can sign up for a day/time. We will offer interviews in cities around the world, via Skype, and on campus.
So you still have a few more weeks of waiting as we read, review, and reread your applications. Hopefully knowing the day/time will help keep your mind off of it, as I know the waiting can be hard. Thanks for sticking with us.
Class of 2022—Last Chance to Apply
The Round 2 deadline for the Class of 2022 is two weeks from today (January 6, 2020). Good luck to those of you working through your application between now and then. We look forward to getting to know you.
Harvard University, and our MBA Admissions office, will be closed from December 25 through January 1, 2020. We will be monitoring ApplyTech@hbs.edu if you have any technical challenges with the application; we will respond to other messages after the office re-opens.
Finally, for those of you considering applying next year, let me suggest that you sign up for a Class Visit (available dates starting in February 2020). Seeing HBS in person and the case method in action is something I recommend as you consider whether or not to apply to Harvard in the future. Can’t make it to Boston? Meet us in a city near you or watch a virtual event.
Round 1 Decisions
Tomorrow we will release the final decisions for Round 1. I
know it’s hard to wait, particularly the last 24 hours!
Let me suggest something unconventional: celebrate tonight before you know the outcome. Reflect on the journey you’ve been on and (hopefully) what you’ve learned about yourself. And, please thank someone who has helped you along the way.
A little over half of those we interviewed will receive an offer of admission. As in years past, we will also keep a small waitlist. So tomorrow, you may hear a “yes,” a “no,” or a “please bear with us.” Regardless of your decision, know that we are humbled by how much you have accomplished and by your interest in HBS.
And a special word to those on the waitlist—please know you are a strong candidate and that we appreciate how difficult it is to keep waiting. We will be in regular communication with you.
For those of you considering Round 2, I hope you will apply! The application deadline is four weeks from today—January 6, 2020. With some effort, that is still plenty of time to put a strong application together. Remember that we no longer have a Round 3, so January 6 is the last time to apply to start at HBS in Fall 2020. Best of luck with the Round 2 applications!
Gratitude
A more personal note from me today. Yesterday, Dean Nitin Nohria, announced he will be stepping down at the end of this academic year after 10 years in the role. I’m grateful to count Dean Nohria as a mentor and a friend—starting when I was a student at HBS, then working in his office as a fellow, and now serving in this role in admissions and financial aid. He is a leader of high competence and high character and has given me much to aspire to on my own leadership journey.
As an admissions team, we are grateful to meet you on your leadership journeys, through your applications and especially in the interviews. In our conversations with you, we are imagining ways that HBS can help you lead and make a difference in the world over the arc of your careers and your lives. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Round 1 next steps: Interviews and early release
Thanks to those of you who have applied to HBS in Round 1. We are humbled by your stories of impact and by your interest in HBS.
On Tuesday, October 1 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time, each of you will receive individual news on next steps. There are three possibilities:
- Invite to interview – this is good news!
- Further consideration – also positive! This is a small group of strong applicants that we ask to wait with us until Round 2, at which point we will review your application again. More info on this process will be shared with you directly if you receive “further consideration” news.
- Early release – unfortunately we are not able to move you forward in the process. Our hope is by letting you know this news early on in the process you can move forward with other plans.
If you are invited to interview, you will be able to view the dates, times, and locations we have available for interviews. You won’t be able to sign up for interview slots until the next day, Wednesday, October 2 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
In the past, we sent out interviews in waves in order to better manage the interview sign-up process. We know that was hard to wait through multiple days. So we are doing it altogether this year, and we believe that we have a good process in place to manage the interview sign-ups all at once. But, may I ask for your patience if we need to work through any unanticipated challenges? Thank you!
Class of 2021 – they're here!
The admissions team sits in a small building on the HBS campus called “Dillon House” surrounded by Chase Hall, one of the many residential dorms and apartments on campus. So we’ve had the chance to catch up with many members of the Class of 2021 moving in over the past few days. We are delighted that they have joined the HBS community, and had their kickoff events this morning. What a thoughtful and talented group!
We’ve just published the Class of 2021 class profile. The profile gives you an “average” sense of the Class but misses the individual impact each has had and will have. I hope you’ll keep that in mind when you’re applying—don’t worry about where you fall relative to the “average” statistic, but instead focus on helping us get to know what you would add to the HBS community as an individual. Over the course of this year, many current students will introduce themselves to you on the MBA Voices blog; hopefully that gives you a better sense of the diverse individuals behind the averages.
A few other notes about the class profile:
You may remember that we did not have a Round 3 for the Class of 2021. We have heard from applicants that their experience was much better, as they were able to better plan for things like housing and visas. This was our goal, and we will have only have two rounds for the Class of 2022 as well.
This change did affect the number of applications that we received overall this year, so I thought I would share a bit more detail in case that’s of interest to you: In the 2017-2018 application year we received 9,886 applications overall, 551 of which we received in Round 3. So without Round 3, we received 9,335 applications in 2017-2018. This is the apples-to-apples number to compare with the 9,228 applications we received in 2018-2019 without Round 3.
We updated our job categories in the class profile to better align with the categories that the HBS Career and Professional Development office uses, so we’re all on the same page. This doesn’t affect how we read applications, interview, or make decisions in the admissions process, but should make it easier for students at HBS.
That’s it for now. Best of luck to those of you finishing up R1 applications that are due next week!
Coming up – Round 1
We are about four weeks away from the September 4th Round 1 deadline. Still plenty of time to put together an application!
May I suggest starting by requesting your letters of recommendation? All you need to do is log into your application and share you recommenders’ names and contact info, and then we’ll reach out to them directly to submit a recommendation. Remember, they are doing you a favor, so it’s a good idea to give your recommenders plenty of time to write a strong letter. The best letters are from people who know you well in a professional context and who can provide specific examples.
For the first time, there are two MS/MBA joint degree programs – the MS/MBA: Engineering Sciences and the MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences – and those applications are due on the same deadline (September 4th). Why not see if you can earn not one, but two degrees in two years?
Good luck as you work through the application and the essay. Here are some tips I put together for different sections of the application that I hope are helpful. We are looking forward to reading your application and learning more about you.
New MS/MBA Biotechnology: Life Sciences Joint Degree
As many of you know, Boston and Harvard are a global hub for innovation in biotech, healthcare, and life science. I am pleased to let you know we have launched an exciting new joint degree. In two years you earn an MBA from HBS and an MS from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences through the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, which will equip you to make an enduring impact at the intersection of life science and business.
This joint degree program is designed for candidates who have an undergraduate degree in life sciences or medicine and/or significant workplace experience in biotechnology or life sciences. Check out more information here. We are accepting applications now to begin the program in August 2020.
Class of 2022 Application is Live!
We’ve been hard at work to get the application ready for you to apply to be part of the Class of 2022, and we opened it today. Check it out here or find a downloadable overview of the application here.
Last summer, I wrote a series of tips for each part of the application. Feel free to scroll back through those posts, or we’ve consolidated them into one PDF for you here. The most important thing to remember: We are aiming to get to know YOU through the written application. Bring us into your world; help us understand the impact you've already had and your aspirations going forward.
Finally, as a reminder, here are the application deadlines for this year:
- Round 1: September 4, 2019
- Round 2: January 6, 2020
- 2+2: April 2, 2020
HBS coming to a city near you
This time of year we spend a lot of time traveling to meet with you and other potential Harvard students in dozens of cities around the world. We will answer questions you have about the application process, but the best part of these “information sessions” is the chance we have to connect you with local alumni/current students who also attend. That way you can hear directly from them about the transformational Harvard MBA experience.
You’ll also see that HBS students are, yes, smart and talented, but also very “normal”! When I was in your shoes, I remember feeling a bit intimidated about applying to HBS. Meeting HBS alumni helped me get over the hump as I realized how down-to-earth the students and alumni are. Rather than feel intimidated, I felt inspired to apply and felt I just might have a chance of being admitted.
While I have you, I do also want to clear up something about HBS outreach events: your registration or attendance at one of these events does not play a role in our evaluation process. The events are entirely meant for you to learn about Harvard and figure out if the MBA here is a good fit with your goals. Our events are often oversubscribed so we do hope that if you register, you will attend the event or update your attendance if you are unable to make it so that someone else can take the available spot.
So keep an eye on our events website as we are always adding more. Or complete an Introduce Yourself form and we’ll keep you posted.
Class of 2022 Application Dates
For those of you who will be applying in the next “application year” we’ve set application deadlines for Round 1 (September 4, 2019) and Round 2 (January 6, 2020). The application will open up again in early June 2019, but in the meantime feel free to download our Application Guide to learn more about the requirements. Our one required essay will remain the same for the upcoming year: “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?” (no word limit)
Hopefully this helps those of you who are planners!
2+2 Application Deadline Next Week
Attention college seniors: if you are planning to apply to our 2+2 deferred admission program, the deadline is coming up next Tuesday, April 9 at noon ET. A few things to remember:
- We look for the same qualities in this admissions process as in the general process: applicants with analytical aptitude and appetite, engaged community citizenship, and a habit of leadership.
- We invite a subset of those who apply to a 30-minute interview with a member of the Admissions Board. This is a required step for admission.
- If you are admitted, you can matriculate at Harvard Business School after 2, 3, or 4 years of work experience. It’s a wonderful way to keep your options open as you start your career.
- If you are not admitted, we hope the application experience is a good one for you nonetheless—especially the reflection and direction it can provide for your career/life goals. Plus you’ll have the GMAT/GRE out of the way should you decide to reapply later. We’ve had many people not admitted to 2+2 who are later admitted to HBS through the regular process.
Looking forward to getting to know you! We hope you apply.
College students – check out HBS!
If you’re currently in college and you’re intrigued by the idea of an MBA in the future, check out two programs we will run on the HBS campus in June:
- The Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP) – June 15-21, 2019 – For rising college seniors, designed to increase opportunity and diversity in business education
- Peek Weekend – June 21-23, 2019 – For current college sophomores, juniors and seniors, preference is given to students who haven’t yet had exposure to business, but are intrigued by all a Harvard MBA can help you get done in the world
The applications for both programs have just opened and the deadline to apply is April 24, 2019. You can apply to both SVMP and Peek, but if you are admitted to both you will have to select one to attend.
Interview invitations! Drumroll…
We are doing our final reads of your applications, and the first thing to say is, “thank you.” I remember how much heart you pour into an application, and we definitely have felt that as we have gotten to know you. As promised, here are the logistics details for interview invitations.
Jan 28 at noon Eastern time: the “first wave” of interview invitations is available via your Application Status page. This is approximately 2/3 of the total interviews.
Jan 29 (again at noon Eastern time): those invited to interview in the first wave will be able to sign up for an interview slot that works for you. In Round 2 we are interviewing in Mumbai, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, London, Paris, Bay Area California, and Boston (on campus). The interviews and process are the same no matter where you interview.
Jan 31 (yes, noon Eastern): the “second wave” of interviews goes out via your Application Status page, and you will be able to sign up for interviews right away. We stagger the invitations in two waves to make the interview sign-up process smoother. (And, yes, we open up interview slots that were not available on Jan 29 so that there will be plenty of options on Jan 31).
If you are not invited to interview, you will receive an “early release” decision on Jan 31. That part of the job doesn’t get easier…we’ve come to know you and have a glimpse of what you can accomplish. We certainly wish you all well.
Round 2 Interview Invitations
We are enjoying getting to know those of you who submitted your Round 2 applications. Thank you for applying! Interviews are the next step in the process, so I thought I’d share a bit more about that.
As I think you know, interviews happen with a member of the Admissions Board who has read your application and comes prepared for a friendly and deep conversation about your background. Remember that we are rooting for you!
After holistically reading each application, we invite about 1 in 5 applicants to interview with us. Typically, just over half of those interviewed are admitted.
On January 28 and 31, we will send out our Round 2 invitations to interview. We send them out in two batches to make for a smoother interview sign-up process. I’ll post a bit more about the logistics as we get closer to January 28. For now, sit tight and try to enjoy the next week or two!
Class of 2021 - Last Chance to Apply!
Round 1 Decisions – One Week from Today
Next Tuesday, December 11 at noon eastern time, we will release Round 1 admissions decisions via the Application Status page.
Some of you must be thinking: "Why not today?" I know it’s hard to wait! The truth is that we’re still making the (tough) decisions—using our best judgment to select a talented Class of diverse thinkers. So please hang with us for one more week. For each of you who applied in Round 1—thank you. We feel honored that we had the chance to get to know you over the past few months.
And for those of you considering submitting an application in Round 2, the deadline is one month from today—January 4, 2019. Remember, if you want to be considered for the HBS Class of 2021, January 4 is your last opportunity to apply since we no longer have a Round 3. We hope you choose to apply!
The Global Experience at HBS
I’m checking back in as we wrap up the interview process for Round 1 applicants. I’ll say it again: this is my favorite part of the process—after months of getting to know you on paper, we love meeting you in person.
This round, in addition to interviewing on campus, I traveled to Tokyo and met great candidates in both places. The HBS Japanese Research Center (JRC) in Tokyo hosted me for the interviews and also organized a get together with local alumni and the interviewees. Anytime I travel, I am reminded that the HBS community is truly global.
The JRC is part of a network of 14 HBS global research offices. The teams in these offices partner with local management teams and HBS faculty to write new cases. About 50% of all the HBS cases written each year are about international leaders and companies. The research offices also act like small embassies for HBS—for example, sourcing great projects for Field Global Immersion, working with students on global internships and job searches, and building community with local alumni.
Matched with a global student body and a global alumni community, the research centers are key to our mission to educate leaders who know how to make a difference in the world.
New 2+2 Cohort
We’ve posted some stats about our most recent 2+2 cohort of 109 students. They were admitted earlier this summer and are settling into their first full-time jobs after their studies. It is an impressive group.
2+2 is a unique deferred admit program for college seniors that is now in its 10th year—if you’re admitted to this program in your final year of study you have a guaranteed spot at HBS after completing 2, 3, or 4 years of work experience.
You can see that only 8% of applicants were admitted to this program—it is small and competitive, but we like to think of it as a no-lose scenario. If you’re admitted, great! If not, you’ve been through a reflective application process and hopefully learned about yourself and about HBS. You’ll have the GMAT/GRE out of the way too, since they are both good for five years. You can always reapply to HBS in the future, and there’s absolutely no negative—HBS is very re-applicant friendly.
Want to learn more about 2+2? Check out the 2+2 webinars.
Round 1 Interview Invitations - Next Week
As promised, here are a few more details about the interview invitations. The first wave of invitations goes out on Monday (October 1) at noon Eastern time via the Application Status Page. We will send out about 75% of the total Round 1 invitations on Monday. If you’re invited to interview, you will be able to see the interview times and locations we have available, but sign-ups won’t open up until Tuesday (October 2) at noon Eastern. If you’re not invited to interview in the first wave, you won’t hear anything from us or see any updates on your Application Status Page on Monday.
On the fence about Round 2?
Round 1 Update
We are enjoying reading your applications and getting to know you! Thanks to those of you who applied in R1. I remember what it’s like to be in your shoes and know that one of the hardest parts about “waiting” is not knowing how long you’ll be waiting. So, here’s what happens next (and when).
Interview notifications: As you likely know, the next step is an invitation to interview. This is our chance to get to know you in person. We interview roughly 2x the number of people we can eventually admit, and those interview invitations come out in two waves: October 1 and October 4 at noon eastern time. Early release: If we are not able to invite you to interview, we will let you know on October 4 that you are being “released” from the process. Of course we wish we could move more people forward—our hope is that this earlier timing is helpful to you, even if it’s not the hoped for outcome. I’ll write a bit more about the specifics as we get closer to October 1. Thank you for your patience!2020 Class Profile / 2021 Round 1 Deadline
Welcoming the MS/MBA: Engineering Sciences Class of 2020
Resume / CV - App Tips Series
If you run out of room in other parts of the application, for instance in talking about awards or extracurricular activities, feel free to include those on your resume. There is no specific format or template preferred. (Really!) Be as clear and simple as you can, including dates and locations. More than one page is typically not necessary.
This is the last post in this series. My goal has been to demystify the written application process and share some practical tips. Hopefully at least one of these posts has been helpful to you.
We are deeply interested in getting to know you—everything in our process is meant to help us imagine you at Harvard Business School. So, please tell us your personal story in your voice through all the elements of the written application. We can’t wait to meet you!
Read the full Application Tips Series.
Tests and Transcripts - App Tips Series
Thanks to those of you who are sticking with me for this application tips series. Today we are talking about standardized tests (GMAT, GRE) and transcripts.
One of the biggest misconceptions about applying to HBS is that admissions decisions are based largely on your GMAT or GRE score. That is not how it works. We consider every element of your application to get to know you as a whole person, and we know that you are more than a standardized test score!
So why do we require a standardized test at all? In the case method at HBS, students think on their feet, debate with classmates, and analyze complex situations. The classroom is very engaging and fast-paced, and I think you’ll love it. A standardized test gives us one indication of your verbal and quantitative agility—important for thriving in the HBS MBA program and the case method.
We are agnostic about the GMAT or the GRE—really. (Really!) Take whichever one suits you best. In the admitted Class of 2019, 12% of students submitted the GRE. In the incoming Class of 2020, 14% of students submitted the GRE.
You can see from the Class Profile that we admit students with a wide range of standardized test scores. While a higher score will never hurt you, it’s not a guarantee to be admitted either. And some of the admitted students who have the biggest impact while at HBS and beyond didn’t have the highest test scores. We’re looking to craft a Class of diverse thinkers and leaders who will make a difference in the world, and that goes well beyond a test score. We always keep that in mind as we get to know you through the whole application and make our decisions.
To get at academic readiness, we also look to your transcripts, GPA, letters of recommendation, and the rigor of your work experience. The transcripts should be one of the easiest parts of the application since your undergrad degree is already behind you by the time you apply. Just upload your unofficial transcript (no need to convert or translate anything), and we’ll take it from there. We look through your classes, major(s), grades, and your journey through your degree(s).
In conclusion, let me just reiterate that test scores and transcripts are two important parts of the application but they are not more important than any other element. I hope this post is helpful to you!
Read the full Application Tips Series.
Recommendations - App Tips Series
- How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples.
- Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response.
Essay - App Tips Series
Let me start by reminding you of the prompt:
“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?”
The first thing you should know about the essay is that we consider all the elements of the application to get to know you and never look at just one piece by itself. The essay isn’t more or less important than other elements of the application. If you’ve been stressed about the essay, hopefully this releases a little anxiety.
Two of the most important words in the prompt are: “what more?” The most helpful essays build on the rest of the written application or share new information. It’s hard to say “what more” you’d like us to know if you haven’t already filled out the rest of the application (or at least thought about what you’d like to say). The essay should help you bring all the aspects of your application together.
We’ve had the same prompt for a few years now, and we like the freedom it gives you. Students who are currently at HBS have taken many (many!) different approaches to this essay and were successful in the application process. There are too many approaches to list, and if I started giving a few examples, you may feel like you had to take one of those approaches. You don’t.
Instead let me share some approaches that are NOT particularly helpful to your application:
- Essays that are basically a paragraph version of your resume: This is surprisingly common: I went to college X then decided to take job Y and that led me to job Z, and now I’m applying to HBS. There’s nothing “wrong” with this essay per se; it just doesn’t add much to your application because we already know all of that from the other elements of your application. Of course you can build on things that are raised in other parts of the application—just make sure it’s additive.
- Essays that are too long: I wish I could give you a general rule that essays over X words are too long, but sometimes you need more space to bring things together. And that’s the reason there’s no word limit. Use your best judgment, and try to be clear and concise in your writing. What do we need to know to understand you that hasn’t been addressed elsewhere? (And what don’t we need to know?)
- Essays that aren’t about you: I know this sounds obvious. I like the advice I heard an HBS alum give recently: After you’ve written your essay, ask yourself, “Could this essay also describe someone else?” If so, it probably isn’t personal enough to add to your overall application, and you likely need to do some more introspection. For example, we occasionally receive essays that talk at great length about HBS or an element of the program like the case method, but only share a tiny bit about the person themselves. That’s a missed opportunity to bring us into your world, your decisions, your motivations or your formative experiences.
Final thought: I know from personal experience it’s tempting to write, rewrite and rewrite again. Be careful in all that polishing that you don’t “shine away” your personality. And, remember, the essay is just one element that we consider in the context of the overall application. Good luck!
Read the full Application Tips Series.
Employment History - App Tips Series
Application Tips Series
When July hits, I know from personal experience, that applying starts to feel “real” when you are planning to apply to HBS in Round 1. In addition to events and webinars, I thought a simple “Application Tips” series might be helpful to you. Hopefully, you agree!
Each week, I’ll write a few paragraphs about one element of the written application—e.g. suggestions on how to approach it, where people may get hung up, misconceptions, etc. My goal is to demystify the written application and give you some simple, practical suggestions for putting together your story. I’ll start with a post later this week about the “Employment History” section of the application. Here’s a tentative plan:Before continuing with the series, let me share with you my only hesitation: that you will try to follow my suggestions too closely. The written app is for you to introduce yourself—we designed a lot of “space” in the app for you to tell your story. If you’re following a rote/cookie-cutter approach we won’t be able to get to know you. So, promise you won’t do that?
We will also be posting the tips on our Instagram page. So feel free to follow us @hbsadmissions.
The Class of 2021 Application is Now Open!
I know that many of you have been waiting to get started on your application, so I am thrilled to announce that the application for the Class of 2021 is now live.
The application deadlines are as follows:
- Round 1 – September 5, 2018
- Round 2 – January 4, 2019
- 2+2 – April 9, 2019
People sometimes ask us if we take the summers off in admissions. Wouldn’t that be nice? The truth is that we are busy reaching out to encourage people all over the world to consider HBS in the future. We do this through programs like Peek, SVMP, or the many events we host with HBS Alumni. And we love this part of our jobs. Here’s just a sample of the 50+ events (and counting!) we currently have planned for the next few months:
June 30 - HBS Information Session in Tokyo
July 11 - HBS Social Enterprise Information Session in Northern California
July 23 - HBS Information Session in Shenzhen
July 31 - Harvard Graduate School Information Session in Washington D.C.
For a complete list of information sessions, visit our events page. We hope to see you soon and good luck on your applications!
News About Rounds for the Class of 2021
Upcoming Dates for 2+2 and Round 3
As promised, I wanted to share some upcoming dates. Happy Friday to all.
- 2+2 Interview Notification & Early Release – April 30
- 2+2 Notification Day – May 30
- Round 3 Notification Day – May 9
Looking Ahead to the Class of 2021
Round 3
Monday, April 2 is the Round 3 application deadline! Remember to submit all the application materials by noon eastern time, and remind your recommenders to submit your recommendations by the same time as well. Given the tight turnaround time on Round 3, we start reading right away and need a full application in order to consider you.
(We get that you have limited control over your recommenders and will allow recommendations to come in for a little while after the noon deadline, but don’t tell your recommenders this! It is still your responsibility to make sure everything is in on time.)
As I mentioned, things move quickly in Round 3. We anticipate sharing interview invitations (or “early release”) on April 11.
To those of you finishing up applications over the weekend, good luck with the final push! If you run into any challenges, here’s how to get in touch with us:
- By phone: +1 617 495 6128 March 30 (today) until 5pm Eastern and then starting at 8am Eastern on April 2
- By email: slatesupport@hbs.edu we’ll be monitoring this throughout the weekend and answer any urgent questions (any non-urgent questions will be answered next week)
Round 2 Decisions + Upcoming Deadlines
• April 2 – Round 3 - this is the last time to apply for the Class of 2020
• April 10 – 2+2 - deferred admissions
• April 18 – Peek Weekend
• May 1 – Summer Venture in Management Program
Introducing the Global Opportunity Fellowship (GO:Africa)
Congratulations to all who received interview invitations yesterday for Round 2. We look forward to meeting you in cities around the world, as well as here in Boston.
Wave 1: Invitations have gone out!
At noon today, we sent out our first wave of interview invitations via email and on behalf of the entire Admissions Board, I wanted to say that we can’t WAIT to meet you!
You have the opportunity to shine in the interview process. We want to get to know you beyond what we can learn on paper. The best advice I can give is to be yourself. Each person who comes in to interview has a different experience and background. Bring your individual perspective, your voice, to the table.
If you received an interview invitation, the interview scheduler doesn’t open until tomorrow, January 26 at 12:00 noon EST, so that you have some time to think about where and when you would like to meet with us. Just remember that interview slots and locations will be available on a first come, first served basis.
Next Tuesday, January 30, the remaining one third of our interview notifications will go out. I'll write again on Monday with more details about that.
Round 2 Interviews
Congrats to those of you who submitted your application in Round 2! Hopefully you were able to spend quality time with friends and family after submitting. We have been busy reading and getting to know you ever since.
We will send two waves of interview invitations: January 25 and January 30. I know it’s tough to wait that additional few days, but we do need the time to finalize interview invitations. Here is what to expect on January 25 and 30:
• Jan 25: you may receive a message inviting you to interview, or you will hear nothing.
• Jan 30: you will either receive an invitation to interview or a "release" notification, letting you know we can’t move you forward in our process.
• These notifications will be shared with you at 12:00 noon eastern time on your Application Status page.
We hold interviews throughout the month of February in locations around the world. In addition to on-campus interviews in Boston, we will interview in the Bay Area CA, Dubai, London, Mumbai, New York City, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo. If none of those locations works for you, we may be able to conduct your interview via Skype. Wherever you interview, you’ll meet a member of the Admissions Board and have the same odds of being accepted.
We can’t wait to meet you.
Class of 2020 Round 2 Deadline Day
Congrats again to those admitted to the Class of 2020 in Round 1! Our next application deadline is just a few weeks away on January 3 at 12:00 noon eastern time. Round 2 is a great time to apply! (And if you want to be part of our inaugural MS/MBA joint degree cohort, this is the last time to apply.)
Historically the vast majority of applications come in the ~24 hours before a deadline. We get it—and we won’t start reading any applications until after the deadline has passed. Just be sure to coordinate with your recommenders ahead of time so that all your application materials are submitted on time.
We do have an admissions Q&A webinar coming up on December 20 at 4pm eastern time. Keep in mind that HBS is closed from December 22 through January 1. During that time, there will be limited technical support available at slatesupport@hbs.edu. We’re back in the office at 8:30am on January 2 for any last minute questions you may have: 617-495-6128 or admissions@hbs.edu.
Good luck to those of you working on Round 2 applications. We look forward to getting to know you.
Countdown to December 12
Just two weeks from today, we will release Round 1 admissions decisions via the Application Status page. Just log-in at noon eastern time on December 12. In the meantime, try not to think about it! (I know, easier said than done).
I promise we are not making you wait, just to wait. We are diligently going over each entire application (yes, including your post-interview reflections) as we work to shape an outstanding Class of diverse perspectives.
One last thing: keep in mind that if you are admitted, you won’t hear about financial aid yet. Admission to HBS is based on merit, but financial aid is based on need. So there is a separate (easy) process after you are admitted to apply for aid. Many are surprised to know that ~50% of HBS students receive financial fellowships that do not have to be paid back—and the average two-year fellowship is over $70K. So there is a lot of support! More details are here on our new Financial Aid website.
Thanksgiving
Next week is Thanksgiving in the U.S. To those who have been part of Round 1, thank you not just for your interest in HBS - thank you for how generous you’ve been throughout the admissions process.
During on campus interview days, we have the opportunity to gather interviewees together for a lunch Q&A session. Those sessions have an interesting mix of emotions since half the room has completed the interview (they’re relieved) and half has not (they’re still anxious). What’s been heartening is to hear how encouraging and helpful the relieved crowd has been to their fellow interviewees. I also saw this play out in Brazil a few weeks ago among interviewees—and have heard from my colleagues around the world: you’re enjoying the interaction with one another and you’re hoping and helping all show their best selves in the interview.
Generosity is something we like to see. Our learning model depends on students who can give and receive, teach and learn, lead and be led. Given that most students live on campus, generosity is also a foundation for the HBS community—and for a lifetime of leadership.
So, thank you for how generous you’ve been in sharing your experiences, your dreams, and yourselves with us. And thanks for being generous with one another.
I’ll post again in about two weeks regarding specifics for Notification Day on December 12. And for those of you working on Round 2 applications, we can’t wait to meet you, too. Please reach out at +1 617-495-6128 or admissions@hbs.edu if we can be of any help.
Round 1 Final Interview Notifications
Good morning! All remaining Round 1 decisions (interview invite, early release, further consideration) will be shared today at 12 noon eastern time. To access your decision, log in to your application and view your Status Update.
For those invited to interview, the sign-ups will be immediately available. And don't worry, we have managed the interview slots so there are plenty of options available today. While availability in our hub cities is typically more limited, we always have spots on campus. There is no advantage/difference to one location over another.
To those who are “released” today, I know this is hard news. As we’ve gotten to know you, of course we wish we could move more of you forward in the process. Thank you for what you have shared with us and for your interest in HBS.
R1 Interview Invitations
Quick note: As promised, interview invitations will start going out today.
Approximately 2/3 of the Round 1 interview invitations will go out at approximately noon Eastern time today via email, with interview slots opening for registration Tuesday, October 3. The remaining 1/3 will go out on Thursday, October 5, along with the “further consideration” or “early release” decisions. So if you don’t hear anything today, please stick with us until Thursday!Round 1: Next Steps
For those of you who applied in Round 1, didn’t it feel good to hit the “submit” button? I distinctly remember that feeling—the culmination of some serious self-reflection and work. We don’t take that for granted and thank you for applying to HBS. On our end, every application is read in its entirety by two separate members of the Admissions Board. We’re trying to get to know you holistically.
What’s next? Interview invitations will go out on October 2 and October 5. We do it in two batches to spread out the traffic on the interview sign-up pages. On October 2, you may receive a message inviting you to interview, or you will hear nothing. On October 5, you will hear one of three things from us: 1) invitation to interview 2) "release" or 3) "further consideration." By "releasing" those of you who we cannot move forward in the process, rather than waiting until December to let you know—we hope to give you time to explore other potential options. For group 3), we would like to "further consider" your applications in Round 2, and more details will be shared directly about next steps.
Interviews are my favorite part of the process because we finally get to meet you in person. Interviews will occur between mid-October and mid-November. In addition to on-campus interviews, we also conduct interviews in Shanghai, Tokyo, Dubai, Mumbai, São Paulo, New York City, Bay Area CA, London, and Paris. Where you interview does NOT affect your likelihood to be accepted (all interviews globally are conducted only by members of the Admissions Board). Choose what’s most convenient for you, and if you aren’t able to travel, we will work something out via Skype.
So, we’ll be back in touch in about two weeks!
Class of 2019 + GRE Scores
Yesterday was the first day for the Class of 2019—a truly impressive group of leaders—and we’ve updated the Class Profile here.
For the first time, we’ve published data about the GRE test—12% of the HBS Class of 2019 submitted GRE scores as part of their application; the remaining 88% submitted GMAT scores. I thought this would be a good chance to review how we think about standardized test scores. Here goes:
Test scores help us determine your preparation for an academically rigorous program, but we never look at them in isolation.
Transcripts, work experience, recommenders, essay, interview—and everything else in our process—come together as we make admissions decisions.
The GRE and GMAT are different tests, and we are truly indifferent about which one you submit.
Really. We are familiar with each test. Choose the one that allows you to best show your strengths, then move on to other parts of your application.
We know you’re much more than a test score.
The whole application and interview process are designed to help us get to know you. We’re trying to imagine what you would contribute in the HBS classroom and community. As I’ve written about before, our learning model depends on a wide range of talent and perspectives in each Class—and we know that not all that talent is measurable in a test.
Countdown to Round 1 & Class Visits
Students from the Class of 2019 are moving in this weekend, and that means Round 1 for Class of 2020 is just around the corner. I’ll post the final Class of 2019 Profile next week.
As you look ahead to September 6, keep a few things in mind:
- We won’t read any applications until after the noon EST deadline. (So, there’s no advantage to submitting earlier.)
- Your recommendations are also due at noon EST on September 6. But, we get it…and we keep the access open for recommenders for a few more days.
- We’ll update you on interview plans in a few weeks.
For those of you applying in a later round or year, class visits are now open. Come see the case method in action!
Application Advice
Hard to believe August is here. I hope you’ve had a great few months. We’ve been on the road meeting many of you in cities all over the world, and we love it. For those of you applying in Round 1, good luck as you pull things together ahead of the September 6 deadline.
Can I offer you two words of advice? Be genuine.
I know you’ve heard this before. Let me explain what I mean: I felt a need when I was in your shoes to write, edit, rewrite, edit, rewrite, edit…you get the picture. In doing so, there was a temptation to “gloss over” what I thought would be the weaker parts of my application and to portray everything in the most positive light.
Yes, we want you to put your best foot forward, but be careful not to be so “polished” that we can’t get to know the real you.
It’s OK to mention setbacks or regrets as well as lessons learned and personal triumphs. And it’s OK to be conversational as you write! Just be genuine so we can get to know the real you. Since we are crafting a Class, that’s your best strategy for moving on to the interview stage.
Financial Aid: Introducing the Forward Fellowship
I’m honored to announce a new fellowship opportunity for students coming to HBS. The Forward Fellowship will help support students from lower-income backgrounds—and let us better recognize how far they’ve come.
We remain committed to merit-based admissions and need-based financial aid because we need diversity of thought, experiences, and backgrounds in our classes to make our learning model work.
Students selected for the Forward Fellowship are eligible for awards ranging from $10,000–20,000 per year, above and beyond any HBS Need-Based Fellowships they receive. You can learn more about the Forward Fellowship here.
MS/MBA – Big news!
Beginning in August of 2018, HBS and the Harvard John A.
Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) will offer a new joint master's degree program.
The application is live now! We expect the first cohort to be ~30 students.
To learn more, visit the MS/MBA website. I would also recommend checking out the MBA Voices Blog to hear why recent graduate Damjan Korac would have applied to the program.
Class of 2019 – Preliminary Profile
Here’s a preliminary look at the incoming Class. So hard to capture the talent and diversity of perspectives in this group. They are amazing!
We’ll post a final look at the matriculating Class in late August.
Ready for 2020!
I’m happy to report that the application for the Class of 2020 is now live.
The application submission deadlines are:
MBA Class of 2020 Applicants
Round 1: September 6, 2017
Round 2: January 3, 2018
Round 3: April 2, 2018
2+2 Applicants
April 10, 2018
I’m also delighted to announce that HBS will now waive the $250 application fee for all active duty military applicants. You can read more about that update here.
The Admissions team will be traveling all over the world this summer to meet with you and chat about the MBA program. Please take a look at our Events page and fill out a “Getting Started” profile to be notified when we’re in your area.
Hope to see you soon!
Looking Ahead
The last week has been eventful in Dillon House—we sent out notifications to our regular admissions applicants and to our 2+2 applicants.
To all of you who applied—thank you. I hope you got some value out of the process in better understanding yourself and in clarifying the goals you have for the future. We certainly understand it is a lot of work to apply. So thank you.
Now, we need to start looking ahead to the Class of 2020! Here are the application submission deadlines:
• Round 1: September 6, 2017
• Round 2: January 3, 2018
• Round 3 / 2+2: TBD (sometime in early April)
The essay question will remain the same:
“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’ll open up the new application in early June. Good luck!
Thoughts on Financial Aid
Last night I had the privilege of attending the 17th annual “Fellowship Dinner” at HBS. The dinner is for current students who have received need-based aid to study at HBS and the donors who make it possible. It was an impactful evening (!) and it drove home a few points for me about how financial aid works at HBS that I thought I’d share:
1. SCALE IMPACT: There were hundreds of students and donors in attendance. I intellectually know that 50% of all HBS students receive an average fellowship of $74,000 over the two years (money that doesn’t need to be paid back). But seeing everyone together—filling up three basketball courts in the HBS gym (Shad Hall)—I was struck by how many people’s lives are impacted for good.
2. PERSONAL IMPACT: But with that “scale” the way aid works at HBS is very individual and personal. See, when alumni give, their money is not just put in a big pot and divvied up among students with need. Nor are fellowships a behind-the-scenes way of discounting tuition for some students. The funds are real money from real people, and each donor’s contribution goes to a specific student. At the Fellowship Dinner, those giving and those receiving sit next to one another, and students are able to personally thank their benefactors. At my table last night, I saw great conversations, genuine heartfelt gratitude, and budding mentor relationships take hold. It was moving.
3. LIFETIME IMPACT: Finally, I was amazed that 150+ alumni donors and guests were present. These are busy people with busy lives all over the world. But here they are on campus to support these students. Many were fellowship recipients themselves as HBS students and feel an enduring connection to the School.
More info about Financial Aid can be found on our website and in this webinar.
Round 3 Dates
It’s official – the Class of 2019 application cycle is now closed! We are already immersed in reading and enjoying getting to know you through your applications. Round 3 goes quickly, so let me lay out the dates for you.
Interview invitations and “early release”
•Regular MBA applicants: Wednesday, April 12 (at noon EST)
• 2+2 applicants: Wednesday, April 19th (at noon EST)
Note that if we are unable to invite you to interview, you will receive an “early release” notification on the same day so you can move forward with other plans.
Interview locations / dates
• Regular MBA applicants: We will host on campus interviews on Friday, April 28. Hub city interviews will be available in London (April 28-30), New York City (April 28), and Menlo Park, CA (April 24 and May 2). Skype as needed/requested.
• 2+2 applicants: We will hold on campus interviews on Monday, May 1 and Monday, May 8. Hub city interviews will be available in London (April 28-30) and Menlo Park, CA (April 27 and May 4). Skype as needed/requested.
Remember that where you choose to interview does not affect our evaluation. It is the same trained members of the Admissions Board conducting the interviews in all locations.
Decision notification
• Regular MBA applicants: Wednesday, May 10 (at noon EST)
• 2+2 applicants: Wednesday, May 17 (at noon EST)
Phew! That was a lot for one post, but hopefully it’s helpful to have all the upcoming dates in one place.
Last Minute Round 3 Questions
We’re only days away from the Round 3 deadline--and the end of our Class of 2019 application cycle. I know you know the deadline to submit is Monday, April 3 at noon Boston time. (Yes, we will keep things open for a bit afterward to catch all applications in the process of being submitted…but, it is your responsibility to get it in on time.)
Last minute questions will inevitably come up, and we’re here for you. If you are stuck, give us a call or send us an email. In addition to our normal days and hours, we will be on the phones and on email over the weekend from 12-4 p.m. (again, Boston time) on both Saturday and Sunday if you need us.
We can’t wait to read your applications!
Round 3
We wrapped up Round 2 interviews last week. What a pleasure to finally get to know you in person (or via Skype) and to learn from you. We are in the midst of the (tough) final decisions and will be back in touch soon – March 22 at noon Eastern Time via the online application system.
But, a break from Round 2 decisions to connect with all of you thinking about applying in Round 3 (deadline is April 3). A few thoughts:
2+2 deferred admissions applicants: If you’re a college senior thinking about 2+2, I’d encourage you to apply! The 2+2 program is small (and, yes, competitive). But, if you are not admitted now, you can get a few years of experience and apply again. There is (absolutely) no stigma attached to this, and many have been admitted to HBS through this path. If you are admitted through 2+2, you have the wonderful certainty of HBS in your future 2-4 years from now. Also, remember there is a reduced application fee for 2+2 applications.
Class of 2019 applicants: For those of you who want to be at HBS in the Fall of 2017, we’d love for you to apply! Yes, it’s true that many seats are filled in Rounds 1 and 2, but there are also fewer applicants in Round 3. We always admit some great candidates in Round 3. Are Round 3 admits eligible for financial aid? Absolutely! The same generous need-based financial aid is available to all admits. Please do keep in mind, however, if you are an international student, being admitted in Round 3 gives you less time for visa processing.
Hope this helps. Don’t forget we have two Q&A webinars coming up on March 20 and March 27 to help you answer any last minute questions.
HBS Mission, the Case Method, and Diverse Perspectives
I feel fortunate to be affiliated with an institution with such a strong sense of mission. The HBS mission—to educate leaders who make a difference in the world—is at the core of all we do. It influences how we teach, how we learn, how we build community, and how we support one another.
For the admissions team, the mission keeps us focused on crafting an exceptional class of leaders each year from across the entire world. We welcome applications from all people, everywhere, who share a passion for learning and making a difference in the world.
This past week, I had the great pleasure of spending two days with our Round 1 admits during Admitted Students Welcome. This gave me time to reflect, again, on the power of bringing together a smart, diverse, and motivated group of leaders in a learning community.
This is especially true at HBS since the case method thrives on diverse perspectives. Easy answers are hard to come by in the real world, so the case method and the broader learning model at HBS are designed to help you develop good judgment. Let me explain.
Over the course of two years at HBS you put yourself in the shoes of hundreds of different business leaders facing big decisions. You debate with your classmates the best course of action, and you won’t always agree. But, you learn to listen, to respectfully make counterpoints, and to understand where someone else is coming from. Your professors expertly guide the conversation toward key insights, but much of the learning comes from your peers. The case method works because students bring different perspectives to the classroom every day -- perspectives shaped by their individual experiences, upbringings, world views, and aspirations.
When I was a student, the most meaningful case discussions were the ones where I came in with a strong opinion about what the case protagonist should do, then walked out of the debate having totally changed my mind. Over the course of two years my classmates molded me into a better communicator, a person with more empathy, and a leader with better judgment. (Although I still have a lot to learn!)
So this post is a (long-winded) way of reaffirming our commitment to assembling a class of remarkable leaders who will make a difference in the world, wherever they come from. The recent U.S. executive order restricting travel to America for citizens from certain countries does not change this, nor are we changing our admissions policy or practices as a result.
While we have limited influence on visa and residency decisions by the government, we will do our best to make it possible for each admitted student to attend HBS (and we are working with our colleagues across Harvard University to ensure that the consequences of the order, as it is being evaluated by the judicial system, are understood). The case method, our community, and the HBS mission depend on it.
Final Round 2 Interview Invitations
OK, we’re dotting i's and cross t’s and preparing to send out the final interview invitations on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at noon Eastern. For this wave of interviews, the online interview scheduler will go live immediately (not the day after). Don’t worry about which wave your invitation came in—we are equally excited about all our interview invitations!
On Wednesday we will also send out our “release” notifications to anyone who we cannot invite to interview. These are tough for us too…let me just plant this seed as you think about things over the next few months: If you do decide to reapply in a future year, remember that HBS IS A REAPPLICANT FRIENDLY SCHOOL. About 10% of each class is composed of students who didn’t get into HBS on their first try. Check out Ryan Hansen’s reapplication story here.
Round 2 Interview Invitations
Good morning! We have had a busy few weeks, and we’re gearing up to send out our first wave of Round 2 interview invitations on Wednesday (Jan. 25) at noon Eastern. Remember, this is only a portion of the interview invites; the second (and final) wave will be distributed on Feb. 1.
The online interview scheduler will go live the day AFTER interview invitations go out, so you have time to think about dates/times/locations that work for you.
And, a reminder, we love to welcome you on campus for interviews, but your odds of acceptance are the same if you interview in a Global Hub city, via Skype, or on campus. All interviews everywhere are conducted by members of the Admissions Board.
I know waiting is tough, but please don’t send in any additional information at this point. We consider your application complete once you hit submit.
Round 2 Applicants: What's Next?
Congratulations to all of you who submitted your applications in last week’s Round 2! Didn’t it feel good to hit the “submit” button? We had a beautiful snowfall here in Boston over the weekend, so you can imagine us, sitting by the fireplace with some hot chocolate, getting to know you.
A few Round 2 items to update you on:
• Interview invitations will go out in two waves: January 25 and Feb 1. As before, try not to worry about which day you receive an invitation to interview. It’s an administrative step for us to make sure everything goes smoothly with the interview invitations and sign-ups. Interviews will be held from February 3 – March 6.
• In addition to on-campus interviews in Boston, we will be interviewing in Dubai, London, Menlo Park, New Delhi, New York, Paris, Shanghai, and Tokyo. No matter where you interview, a member of the Admissions Board will conduct your interview and the process and evaluation will be the same. If you do decide to come to campus to interview, you’ll also have a chance (if you want) to sit in on a class, meet fellow applicants, current students and faculty members.
And now, back to that hot chocolate…
Countdown to Round 2
Happy New Year from HBS! With only 24 hours until the Round 2 deadline the Admissions team is ramping up and getting ready to read your applications.
A few things to keep in mind:
• The Round 2 deadline is tomorrow at 12pm EST.
• We are available by phone and email if you have any questions or concerns.
Phone: +1.617.495.6128
Email: admissions@hbs.edu
Technical Assistance: slatesupport@hbs.edu
• Notification day for Round 2 is Wednesday, March 22nd
Please submit your application as early as you are able, but rest assured that we will keep the application open after 12pm EST to receive all the applications that are in the process of being submitted.
We always get questions about late letters of recommendation. Just between you and me (don’t tell your procrastinating recommender), we will continue to accept recommendations all this week. Remember, it’s ultimately on you to make sure both letters are submitted.
I’ll post again in the next week or two to let you know about Round 2 interview invitation dates and hub cities – stay tuned.
And Now for a Round 2 Update
Last week we welcomed the first members of the Class of 2019 to the HBS community. Hooray!
We’re now turning our attention to all you Round 2 applicants. A few notes:
• The Round 2 deadline is Wednesday, January 4th at 12pm EST. Applications will not be read before that time. We never shut down the application system until every application in the process of being submitted has been received. You will receive a confirmation email from our system once it goes through.
• We have two webinars coming up that I encourage you to attend if you have any last minute questions or concerns:
o Round 2 Application Webinar 12/21 at 12pm EST
o Financial Aid Webinar 12/21 at 4pm EST
• The office (and all of HBS) will be closed from December 23 – January 2. We will be open 8:00-5:00pm EST on both Tuesday, January 3 and Wednesday, January 4. For Round 2 applicants, there will be limited technical support available over the break at slatesupport@hbs.edu. We'll also be keeping an eye on our general admissions mailbox, admissions@hbs.edu, but we will not be responding on the dates HBS is closed unless we think it is critical. I will post another update here when we return after break.
I hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday season, and we look forward to reading your applications in the New Year!
Round One Decisions This Week
On my way into work this morning I tried to think about what might be most helpful to those of you who applied and interviewed with us in round one. Here goes:
First, let me start with some of the mechanics for Wednesday, December 14. Decisions will be released at 12 noon, Eastern Standard Time, via the Application Status page. (Just log in directly, you don’t need to wait for an email.) There will be one of three decisions: accept, waitlist or release. Accept and release are self-explanatory; the waitlist means that we are really encouraged about your candidacy but have not made a final decision yet. You should take it as a good sign! There will be more details on the waitlist on December 14 and in an email from Eileen Chang later in the week.
Second, some advice. Before decisions are released, take some time (even 10 minutes) to reflect on the past couple of months. What have you learned about yourself and what’s important to you over the next few years (and decades)? How do you want to make a difference in the world and how does HBS fit into those plans? Once the decisions are released, there will be a swirl of activity, conversation and, maybe, emotion—so if you can, take time to feel as grounded as possible going into Wednesday.
We are delighted about the “accept” offers that will go out on Wednesday—we need each of your perspectives in the Class of 2019. We are grateful for all of you who have applied.
For those applying in round two, we haven’t forgotten about you! I know it’s a busy time. I’ll post again with some more thoughts for you next week, but be sure to tune into our Round 2 Q&A webinar on December 14 at 4pm Eastern.
Wrapping Up Interviews
As we packed up at the end of our last Round 1 interview day on campus, I chatted informally with a few other members of the Admissions Board about the incredible people we have met (that’s you) from around the world. Many of you told me that you were pleasantly surprised (and relieved) that the interviews were personal, conversational, and substantive. That’s music to my ears, and I hope it was true for all of you. We are really aiming to get to know you.
In the process of getting to know you, I felt the added bonus of learning so much from you—about your industries, the projects or deals you’ve worked on, the challenges you’ve overcome, your aspirations for the future, your perspectives on leadership and the role of business for good in our world. Thank you for that. Speaking with you reminds me of how much I learned from my classmates as a student here.
Now your hard work is done, and ours begins continues. Relish in that as the Thanksgiving holiday (for those of you in the U.S.) approaches! Before you know it, December 14 and final Round 1 decisions will be here.
For those applying in Round 2—we look forward to meeting you, too. Remember that we’re here to help as you get your application over the finish line (by Jan 4!). Check out the rest of this website for great resources, and don’t hesitate to reach out to admissions@hbs.edu or +1 617-495-6128 if you have specific questions.
The Scoop on Interviews/Next Steps
For someone new to Dillon House, I’ve noticed it’s been oddly quiet around here since Round One applications came in. I don’t mean we haven’t been busy—there is actually no busier time for us—but it has been audibly quiet as we’ve all been heads down, reading your (very thoughtful) applications.
The next step is interviews. We will be sending out interview invitations on the following three days: October 4, 6, and 12. Try not to read into which date you hear from us—being invited to interview on October 4 vs. October 12 does not mean you are more likely to be accepted. We spread out interview invitations to avoid congestion on the interview sign-up pages.
If you haven’t heard from us on October 4 or 6, you will hear one of three things from us on October 12: 1) Invitation to Interview 2) "Release" or 3) "Further Consideration." Let me explain. By "releasing" those of you who will not move forward with our process on October 12—rather than waiting until December to let you know—we hope to give you time to explore other potential options. For group 3), we would like to "Further Consider" your applications in Round Two.
Interviews will occur between October 23 and November 18. In addition to on-campus interviews, we also conduct interviews in Shanghai, Tokyo, Dubai, Mumbai, São Paulo, New York City, Palo Alto, London, and Paris. Where you interview does NOT affect your likelihood to be accepted (all interviews globally are conducted only by members of the Admissions Board), but if you come to Boston to interview, you’ll also have the chance to sit in on a class and interact with current students and faculty. Candidates who are not able to travel may be accommodated via Skype.
So, that’s the scoop on interviews! Now back to the best (and quietest) part of my day…reading your applications.
Two Updates
Two updates for you today:
First: The HBS MBA Class of 2018 has officially started classes! It's an outstanding group, and as promised here is their final Class of 2018 profile.
Second: For the many of you who submitted your application yesterday for R1 - thank you. We received your applications and have been reading all morning. I just took a break for lunch and sat back for a few minutes to reflect on the amazing people I feel I've already met in the prospective Class of 2019. Wow. You inspire in ways big and small, and we are grateful for your interest in HBS.
Don't worry about interview invitations just yet; I will provide more details on that later. In the meantime, relish in the knowledge that your hard work is over (for now) and ours has begun. Now back to reading...
Business As Usual (Reprise)
Hello. Chad Losee here, writing to you for the first time. I came in to Dillon House early today to write this post; I’m sitting in an office across the hall from where I interviewed for admission into the HBS MBA program five and a half years ago. It’s surreal.
Let me begin by saying that I am humbled and honored to be serving HBS (and you) in this role. I remember quite clearly what it feels like to put yourself out there in a business school admissions process, and I am committed to keeping up the tradition of transparency and humanity that has been a hallmark of the admissions process at Harvard Business School for several years.
I’ll skip to the bottom line: I think you should apply. An MBA at HBS is a transformative experience—I learned and became so much more than what I started with. I brought one voice and one perspective to the case method classroom, but I was challenged and shaped and enhanced by the other 90 voices in the room. Now we need your distinct perspective in our classroom.
So…let me address a few things that may be on your mind:
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR HAS NOT CHANGED
Just to be clear: we are (still) looking for students who show 1) a habit of leadership, 2) analytical aptitude and appetite, and 3) engaged community citizenship. More on this here. We want you to apply.
OUR ADMISSIONS PROCESS IS THE SAME
You may have already seen that our application is now live. As in years past, we will read (and re-read) and consider the application in its entirety —application, resume, essay, recommendations, transcripts, interview, post-interview reflection, GMAT or GRE scores, etc. Said another way, no one thing will get you admitted or “released” from our admissions process. We are selecting a class with diverse backgrounds and perspectives—elements that are the foundation of learning by the case method.
WE ARE HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP
Call us (+1 617 495 6128). Email us (admissions@hbs.edu). Come to one of our global outreach events. Join a live webinar. Drop by our office in Dillon House. Register (in September) to visit a class. We’re here for you.
More soon.