Ask Questions (FAQ)
Please consider this page your first resource for answers to questions that you might have about Harvard Business School. The frequently asked questions (FAQ) reflect years of experience with MBA applicants and is consistently updated to reflect changing needs.
If you do not find answers to your questions, please submit your questions to us using the form provided below.
Select a topic:
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Application
- General: What is the timeline for applying?
- HBS has three application deadline dates. For the class entering in 2008, the deadlines are: Tuesday, October 2, 2007; Thursday, January 3, 2008; and Wednesday, March 12, 2008.
- General: How will my application
be evaluated?
- Each application received is reviewed in depth by the Admissions Board. When selecting students we put an emphasis on leadership potential, strong academic ability, and personal qualities and characteristics. To find out more, read about our admission criteria.
- General: In which part of the application
may I enter additional information, including special circumstances?
- Please enter important information that you want the Board to know in the Additional Information section of the application.
- General: How do I add new information
if I have already submitted my application?
- Once the application has been submitted, the Admissions Board is unable to accept application updates other than contact updates. If invited to interview, applicants may inform the Board of updates at that time.
- General: Does the reputation/history
or my undergraduate institution or company affect my chances of being
accepted?
- Our goal is to admit a class that offers a variety of perspectives. Therefore, we carefully consider individuals from a wide spectrum of academic and work experiences.
- General: When I print the application
in PDF format, parts of the application appear truncated, unclear and/or
do not appear at all. Are these parts seen by the Admissions Board?
- The Admissions Office receives the entire application in appropriate format and all fields are viewed clearly by the Board. The document that the applicant views is an unformatted version of the final document.
- Essays: How closely do I need to adhere to the word limit?
- Please respect the word limit specified for each essay question.
- Work Experience: What is the desired length of work experience
you wish to see in candidates?
- HBS does not require a minimum number of years’ work experience prior to entering the MBA program, and it is important for you to assess your own readiness when deciding to apply. Successful candidates have the ability to demonstrate strength in our criteria regardless of the number of years of their work experience. We believe our MBA Program can be impactful for students with as little as 2-3 years of work experience.
- Work Experience: What constitutes work experience?
- Work experience includes opportunities in which students have been able to develop their professional and leadership skills.
- Work Experience: Are there specific types of work experience that will
make me a more attractive candidate?
- Rather than focus on specific categories of work experiences, applicants should focus on their roles, responsibilities, and what they have learned from the types of work experiences that they have been involved in. The Admissions Staff will look at the nature of the applicant’s work experience when evaluating the applicants’ ability to handle the academic rigor of our MBA program.
- Recommendations: Who should recommendations come from?
- The Admissions Board requests that of the three recommendations, two come from professional references. Of these two, one recommendation should come from a current or recent supervisor. Recommenders should be individuals who know the candidate well and who can attest to the candidate's leadership ability.
- Recommendations: What is the process for recommenders?
- Candidates enter recommenders' names and email addresses into their online application. Recommenders then receive an email with a link to their recommendation. The recommendations are submitted separately from the candidates' application and will automatically be included in the application upon submission. Applicants should not wait for recommenders to submit their recommendations before submitting their applications.
- Recommendations: Is the recommendation deadline the same as the application deadline?
- Applicants should submit their applications as soon as they feel ready. Recommendations are submitted separately by the recommenders. Please bear in mind that it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all three recommendations are submitted online by the deadline date for the round in which the applicant is applying.
- Interview: When should I expect an invitation for an interview?
- Interview invitations are extended on a rolling basis throughout the course of each application round. The timing of your interview does not imply anything about the status of your application nor does it impact your candidacy. Invitations to interview may be extended up until the notification date and are a positive indicator no matter when you receive them.
- Interview: What should I expect for my interview?
- Your interview will last approximately 30 minutes and will be conducted by a member of the MBA Admissions Board or one of our Alumni Interviewers. Interviews may take place in-person or over the phone.
- Interview: How can I best prepare?
- The purpose of the interview is to better understand you as an MBA candidate for our program. We encourage candidates to relax and be ready to talk about themselves.
- Application Follow-up: Who should I contact if I have a question
regarding my application status?
- Any questions you have should be submitted to us via our on–line form.
- Application Follow-up: When and how can I expect to hear back from HBS?
- Notification dates are set according to each round. For the class entering in 2008 notification dates are as follows: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 for Round 1; Wednesday, March 26, 2008 for Round 2; and Wednesday, May 14, 2008 for Round 3.
- Application Follow-up: Will HBS provide feedback for students who have been rejected?
- Due to the large number of applications we receive each year, we unfortunately cannot accommodate requests for personalized feedback on your application. We receive 7,000 to 10,000 applications for approximately 900 places in the class, and therefore have to deny admission to many exceptional individuals. Also, please understand that the decision of the Admissions Board is final, and we cannot advise you on whether or not you should reapply in the future.
- Application Follow-up: How long can I defer my acceptance?
- Candidates should submit applications only for the year they plan to enter the MBA program. Postponements and deferrals are rarely granted and are considered on a case-by-case basis. We may grant deferred admission to a limited number of college seniors who we feel would benefit from and contribute to the MBA Program after some full-time work experience.
- General: What is the timeline for applying?
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GMAT & TOEFL
- What is the latest date test scores will
be accepted?
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When submitting your application, you must report the unofficial GMAT score given on the day of the test. This is the only score that the Admissions Board acknowledges. The official GMAT score sent by ETS may arrive after the deadline dates, and this score will be used for verification purposes. GMAT scores are valid for five years. Please be advised that in order to apply for admission in 2008, GMAT scores must be dated January 1, 2003, or more recently. Please note that the HBS code is HRLX892. For more information on the GMAT test, please visit www.gmac.com.
TOEFL/TWE and IELTS scores are valid for two years. These tests must be dated January 1, 2006 or more recently to be valid.
If you have applied to HBS in the past and decide to reapply, report your scores on your application. However, you will NOT need to have the testing services resend your official scores to us if the ones we have are still valid.
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- Is there a minimum GMAT score required
to apply?
- No. We accept applicants with a wide range of GMAT scores.
- What is the range of GMAT scores for accepted students?
- The Admissions Board hopes that all applicants will recognize the following: the full range of GMAT scores is very broad, that there is no "minimum" score requirement, and that the GMAT is just one piece of data among the many used to evaluate an application. 50% of the Class of 2009 scored between 700 and 740 on the GMAT.
- Can I list only my best
GMAT score?
- Yes. We review only the score from a single test sitting that you present in your application.
- What is the latest date test scores will
be accepted?
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Transcripts
- How can I submit my transcript?
- There are two ways to submit your transcript, either through a self-reporting Excel-based transcript form found within the application or uploading a scanned transcript. Please do not mail a hard copy of your transcript.
- Is there a minimum GPA
requirement to apply?
- No. Although our students often have competitive undergraduate GPAs, there are many other equally important components of the application. GPA is just one factor the Admissions Board uses to evaluate a candidate.
- What is the average GPA
of accepted students?
- Because we recognize that different schools use various grading criteria, it is difficult to determine an average GPA for the class. GPA is only one of many factors that the Admissions Board uses in evaluating an applicant.
- How can I submit my transcript?
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Financing your MBA
- Financial Aid: What is the estimated cost for one year at HBS?
- To help you understand the costs associated with your education, the student budget for the class entering in 2007 for Terms I and II is outlined below. While living expenses vary from student to student, the Financial Aid and Fellowship Board uses the standard student budget in determining financial aid awards. This budget assumes a moderate student lifestyle. While the standard budget does not include the cost of a personal computer required for the MBA Program, you may finance your computer purchase with a loan. Your tuition and Program Support Fee will remain constant during your time at HBS. Other fees may increase. For more information, please refer to the cost summary page.
- Financial Aid: What are some options for financing my HBS education?
- HBS is committed to making the MBA Program accessible to students with a demonstrated financial need. The 2007-08 annual student tuition is $41,900. Although students are encouraged to draw on personal resources wherever possible to minimize debt, approximately 75% of Harvard Business School students receive some form of financial assistance, which is composed of a combination of fellowships and loans. Nearly 50% of the Class of 2009 received an average $22,000 per year in need-based HBS Fellowships. Loan repayment assistance is available for students who pursue lower-paying positions in the private sector or in social enterprise organizations.
- Financial Aid: What is the estimated cost for one year at HBS?
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HBS Learning Model
- Case Method: What makes the HBS case method successful?
- The case method prepares students for the challenges of leadership in the real world. Through the demanding, engaging, and proactive learning environment, it develops the knowledge, skills, and confidence to face the variety of difficult decisions that students will undoubtedly face throughout their careers. To learn more, you can watch Inside the HBS Case Method , read about the HBS Case Method in Action or schedule to visit a class.
- Sections: How is the curriculum structured?
- Students spend their first two terms completing the Required Curriculum with a "section" of 90 students to which they are assigned. This group of students takes all their first-year classes together and becomes an intellectual and social circle. During the second year, students choose up to five courses per semester from a list of course offerings to build their elective curriculum of choice.
- Academic Environment: Should I expect a more collaborative or competitive environment?
- HBS encourages collaboration amongst students through organized learning groups, such as the section and learning teams. The learning teams consisting of six to seven students who work together on graded projects and as a study group throughout their first year. HBS assigns these groups during orientation to immediately start cultivating an important sense of camaraderie.
- Academic Environment: Is it possible to cross register with other universities?
- Yes. HBS students are able to cross register at Sloan School of Business at MIT, Fletcher school of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and any of the other Harvard University graduate programs. During your second year you are able to cross-register for up to two courses toward your MBA degree or may choose to cross-register for an extra course for enrichment only such as a language class.
- Case Method: What makes the HBS case method successful?
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Student Life
- What are the extracurricular activities available?
- Harvard Business School is home to over 70 industry, regional, sports, and other student interest clubs. The Student Association offers over 200 leadership positions through which students can serve as liaisons between the MBA student body and the faculty and administration. Additionally, students have access to over 300 speaker events, 10 conferences, multiple career treks, and various social activities (including International Week, the HBS Health Fair, Newport Ball, Holidazzle, Section Olympics, the Dean's Fall Community Party, First Year Thanksgiving Dinners, Restaurant Associates Movie Nights, and the HBS Show) scheduled throughout the school year.
- What percentage of students lives on campus?
- Over 80% of HBS students live in HBS dorms or Harvard affiliated housing. These residence halls range from dorm rooms to three-bedroom apartments. Because of the very high demand for residence halls, on-campus housing is assigned through a lottery.
- What are my transportation options?
- The HBS campus is accessible via either car or public transportation. It is not necessary to own a car while living in the Cambridge/Boston area because of the convenient subway and bus systems.
- What social opportunities do Harvard Square and Cambridge/Boston offer?
- Harvard Square and the neighboring Cambridge and Boston areas offer ample opportunities for students to take part in social and entertainment activities.
- What are the extracurricular activities available?
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Events and Networking Opportunities
- How can I sign up for a campus tour?
- There is no need to sign up for a campus tour. Just arrive at the Admissions Office in Dillon House at 3pm on any weekday from October through April. Campus tours are not offered in the summer, but you may still attend information sessions.
- How can I sign up for a classroom visit and is there a limit to how many I can attend?
- To schedule a class visit please refer to the "Visit HBS" section of our website at least one to two weeks prior to your expected arrival date. To attend, be sure to bring your class visit e-mail confirmation. Due to the high volume of class visit requests, you may only schedule one class visit. On any day a class visit is held, you are also invited to take part in our lunch program, during which MBA students will join you for an informal lunch.
- What events are held for accepted students?
- We hold Admitted Student Weekends during in March and April.
- As a student, will I have the opportunity to network with alumni through organized events?
- Absolutely. HBS has many networking events and networking tools available to it students. For example, MBA Career Services helps organize 'treks' to economic hot spots throughout the world. This gives students unparalleled opportunities to network and learn about internship and job possibilities. Also, many student clubs hold career-related events for specific areas of interest. To learn more about our networking offerings visit the "Your Career" section of our site.
- How can I sign up for a campus tour?
Submit a question:
If you did not find the answers to your questions in the FAQ above, please submit your questions using this form.
For your convenience, much of the content on the HBS MBA site is also available in a print-ready format.
In college, teachers talked for an hour then you left to remember what you could. Here the case method pushes me to speak on topics I don't completely understand. I'm becoming more articulate, more thoughtful about major world issues.
My wife and I were accepted by seven other business schools. But Harvard was the only one we knew we'd regret if we didn't go. 
In the beginning of the first term there's more talking than listening. Then as we become more experienced, there's a shift to listening. A lot more listening.
In the beginning, I didn't always have the right answers. But that's not a bad thing—here I learned that there is no one right answer. HBS encourages different perspectives. Suddenly it clicked—I have more to offer than I thought.
Cases not only require students to understand and analyze content, but also to make decisions. You learn how to defend your position on your feet, even when that position is based on imperfect information. I've found the experience incredibly rewarding, beyond my expectations.
I want something more than just work, more than just numbers. It's about passion. I want to contribute to the growth of Latin America.
In class, there's a lot of role playing in difficult situations. It's our chance to practice our management styles with our section mates. Every day, I feel like I'm sitting in a board room making decisions with people who are equally capable. With each case, I become more confident in my arguments and in my ability to express myself.
The case method teaches you to develop better ways of approaching a business challenge, of how to think it through. With so many points of view being presented, you learn to separate the person from the argument, so that you're judging arguments, not people.
I've learned a number of practical skills here. Things like trimming operating processes. Working through time-management issues. Taking a structural approach to pricing. The program is very challenging, but I've learned more in the past eight months than in four years of college.
The discussion of race raised in an HBS case was so enlightening that our professor organized further conversation after class to talk about the history of race relations in the United States and what we could do to improve it. I came out of that class and thought, 'Today, my perspective is bigger than it used to be.'
Having access to Financial Aid played a huge role in my decision to come to HBS. Just knowing that all I needed to worry about was getting admitted was a huge relief! An MBA education is an expensive venture. With Financial Aid, HBS turned my dream into reality. 