Admissions & Financial Aid
Written Application
To apply to Harvard Business School, we ask you to assemble and prepare a variety of materials that will help us assess your qualifications. Remember, all materials must be submitted to HBS online. The following serves as a preview of what you need to prepare.
Application Components
The application for admission consists of the following:
- Responses to the four application essay questions (see below)
- Current resume
- Three recommendations (must be submitted online)*
- Uploaded transcripts transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions attended (full- or part-time)
- GMAT or GRE scores from a test taken January 1, 2007 or later (and TOEFL IBT, IELTS, or PTE score, if applicable, from a test taken January 1, 2010 or later)
- Signed HBS Community Values statement
- Signed Statement of Application Integrity
- Nonrefundable application fee (credit card only) of $250 (USD)*
- Interview (by invitation only)
*Applicants to our 2+2 Program need only two recommendations and pay a reduced application fee of $100.
Verification
HBS will verify application information and reserves the right to withdraw any offer of admission already made if there is any discrepancy between the self-reported information and information provided through verification.
Essays for the Class of 2014
As an opportunity to present your distinctive qualities, your essays are an important part of your MBA application. You will be asked to submit your essays online with the rest of your application materials. Essays should be single-spaced. Please limit your response to the length indicated.
All applicants must submit answers to four essay questions listed below. College seniors applying to the 2+2 Program have different questions to answer. Those questions can be found here.
Joint program applicants for the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Kennedy School must provide an additional essay.
Essays (MBA applicants only):
All application questions below are required.
- Tell us about three of your accomplishments. (600 words)
- Tell us three setbacks you have faced. (600 words)
- Why do you want an MBA? (400 words)
- Answer a question you wish we'd asked. (400 words)
Joint degree applicants:
- How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (400 words)
Recommender Questions (for both MBA and 2+2 applicants)
Recommendations must be completed online. The recommendation form includes the following four essay questions, along with other types of questions.
- Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250 words)
- How does the candidate's performance compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (250 words)
- Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250 words)
- Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250 words)
