How To Get Into Harvard: 3 Things You Need To Show

Update: This article was originally published on May 7, 2024. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

For ambitious leaders eyeing the top tier, Harvard Business School is a beacon of excellence. 

But the path to this prestigious institution is riddled with challenges and competition. Harvard looks for individuals with exceptional promise—future captains of industry with the credentials to match.

So, in a sea of high-achieving applications, how can you ensure that yours sails through the gates of Harvard? Here are the three non-negotiables to showcase when applying to HBS. No gimmicks, no buzzwords—just the raw essentials that separate who gets into Harvard from who gets dinged. 

Business-Minded: A Drive to Create Impact

At Harvard Business School, being “business-minded” isn’t just about profit margins and spreadsheets. Instead, it’s about seeing business as a platform to spark innovation, solve real-world problems, and drive meaningful change.

To impress the adcom, highlight how you’ve used business thinking to improve systems, unlock opportunities, or deliver value to others. This could mean identifying a bottleneck in a nonprofit’s operations and streamlining it, launching a new product line that better served your customers, or proposing a data-driven initiative that boosted efficiency.

You don’t need to come from a traditional business background to show this trait. What matters is your ability to think strategically, collaborate effectively, and demonstrate a clear intention to make organizations—and the world—better through your work.

For instance, did you combine your engineering expertise with market research to launch a social enterprise? Or use financial analysis to help a nonprofit allocate resources more efficiently? Great. These are the kinds of stories that show you’re not just business-aware—you’re business-minded in a way that aligns with HBS’s mission to educate leaders who make a difference.

Let your application reflect your belief in business as a force for good and your readiness to use it boldly and creatively to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. 

Direct from HBS: “In your application, we will look for evidence of your interpersonal skills, quantitative abilities, and the ways in which you plan to create impact through business in the future.” 

 

Leadership-Focused: Beyond the Roles You’ve Held

“Leadership” is a term often thrown around in applications. But at Harvard, it’s not just about what’s on your resume but what’s written between the lines.

To impress the adcom, demonstrate your readiness to go above and beyond by showcasing instances where you initiated change, led a team, or spearheaded projects.

Remember that impact can be measured in different ways. It can be in the form of quantitative results, personal growth stories, or resilience in the face of adversity. 

For example, did you revamp your company’s social media strategy and increase engagement by 40%? Fantastic. Make sure you include this! Did you mentor a junior colleague who went on to become a team leader? Equally awesome. Remember, the habit of leadership transcends job titles and job descriptions.

Direct from HBS: “In your application, your leadership impact may be most evident in extracurriculars, community initiatives, or your professional work.” 

 

Growth-Oriented: Embrace Curiosity and Continuous Learning

At Harvard Business School, being growth-oriented means more than just seeking new opportunities—it’s about your willingness to evolve through challenges, actively engage with diverse ideas, and continuously refine your perspectives.

To stand out in your essays, showcase moments where you stepped outside your comfort zone, tackled complex problems creatively, or embraced feedback constructively. Harvard values applicants who actively seek opportunities to learn both from successes and from setbacks.

For example, perhaps you spearheaded a project that initially failed, but rather than retreating, you proactively sought feedback, revised your approach, and eventually achieved success. Or maybe you actively pursued experiences that exposed you to different cultures or professional disciplines, expanding your thinking and enhancing your capacity for innovative problem-solving.

Remember, Harvard wants to see genuine curiosity—your enthusiasm for exploring new ideas, listening deeply, and contributing meaningfully to the rich dialogue at HBS. Demonstrating that you consistently pursue personal and professional growth, regardless of circumstances, will highlight your potential as a future leader ready to thrive in Harvard’s vibrant community.

Direct from HBS: “In your application, we will look for the ways in which you have grown, developed and how you engage with the world around you.” 

 

Customizing Your HBS Application

Your Harvard application must be carefully crafted to showcase exactly what you have to bring to the table. Here’s how to blend three central pillars into an application that truly represents you.

The Personal Essay

This is your chance to tell your unique story and reveal the essence of who you are beyond the data. Let’s delve deeper into how you can make your personal essay shine and resonate with the HBS admissions team.

Reflect on Impactful Experiences

Begin by reflecting on key experiences that define your journey. Consider moments where you navigated complex work scenarios, initiated change, or demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. These instances, whether professional or personal, provide a window into your character and values.

Embrace Authenticity and Vulnerability

Authenticity is key to crafting a compelling personal essay. Don’t shy away from sharing personal anecdotes that reveal your vulnerabilities and growth areas. Admissions committees value candidates who demonstrate self-awareness and a willingness to learn from their experiences.

Showcase Your Leadership Philosophy

Aim to articulate the guiding principles that drive your decision-making and leadership style. Share insights into the values that underpin your actions, the ethical frameworks you adhere to, and the vision that propels you forward.

The Recommendations

Your referees play a vital role as your advocates in the application process. It’s crucial to guide them in showcasing the core of your leadership abilities, analytical acumen, and community involvement. 

Selecting the Right Recommenders

When choosing your recommenders, opt for individuals who can provide a holistic view of your professional strengths and personal qualities. Consider those who have closely observed your work ethic, problem-solving skills, and teamwork dynamics.

Crafting a 360-degree Portrait

Encourage your referees to delve into the nuances of your performance by offering concrete examples and stories. These narratives should highlight not only your accomplishments but also your growth trajectory and response to feedback.

Demonstrating Impact and Growth

An effective letter of recommendation goes beyond generic praise to offer specific insights into your contributions and potential. Ensure your referees address key aspects such as your comparative performance, principal strengths, areas of growth, and responses to constructive feedback. 

The HBS Interview

Preparing for an HBS interview demands readiness for rigorous assessment. Expect case-like questions that require methodical breakdowns and strategic discussions, and prepare yourself to engage in a dynamic dialogue rather than delivering a one-sided monologue.

Embracing Case-Based Inquiry

During your interview, you’ll be presented with complex business dilemmas or real-world challenges that demand analytical thinking and strategic decision-making. Approach these questions methodically, dissecting the issues, considering multiple perspectives, and proposing well-reasoned solutions.

Showcasing Problem-Solving Skills

Your interview is an opportunity to demonstrate your capacity to tackle complex problems and navigate ambiguous situations effectively. Illustrate your problem-solving approach, decision-making rationale, and outcomes achieved to provide concrete examples of your analytical acumen and strategic thinking.

 

Make Sure You Get Into HBS

You’ve built an impressive career and worked hard to get to this point, but now you’re facing the daunting task of pulling together a compelling MBA application. The pressure to choose which stories best sell your profile, write essays that reflect your achievements, prepare for interviews, and manage multiple deadlines can feel overwhelming. Are you doing enough to be noticed by admissions committees at top business schools? 

At Ellin Lolis Consulting, we understand the stakes. With a 98.9% success rate, we’ve helped countless applicants just like you secure spots at their dream schools. application—from essays to interviews—tells a cohesive, compelling story that gets you in.

That’s the approach we took with Arthur and Isabela, who were admitted as a couple to HBS in the same year. In their words:

“We cannot recommend Ellin Lolis Consulting enough! We had less than a 1% chance of being admitted together to HBS—but here we are, starting this incredible journey side by side.

The team’s professionalism, personalized attention, caring style and ability to understand our unique profiles truly set them apart. They ensured that every detail of who we are as individuals was reflected in our applications. 

This was always coupled with positivity and quick response times, and the constant encouragement boosted our confidence when it mattered most. This led us to have a smoother process even during the stressful moments.”

Don’t leave your future to chance. Learn more about working with us and take the first step toward a successful MBA application journey.