UPDATE: This article was originally posted on July 23, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
When many people think “business school,” the first MBA that pops into their mind is Harvard Business School. Established in 1908, HBS has been at the forefront of business education for more than a century.
However, receiving more than 8,000 applications per year, Harvard Business School is one of the most difficult MBA programs to enter.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Harvard admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Harvard Business School MBA sample essays to ensure you give your HBS application your best shot.
1. Who is Harvard looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @harvardhbs in Instagram)
Every year, Harvard Business School admits the largest single MBA class in the world, with around 1000 students starting each year. In general, Harvard tends to admit applicants with 5 years of work experience and outstanding test scores. The median GMAT for the Class of 2023 was 730, and the median GRE was 163Q, 163V.
Harvard also places a strong emphasis on diversity, with the Class of 2024 containing 46% women and 38% international students.
According to Harvard’s Admissions team:
In addition, some of the key characteristics HBS looks for in applicants are:
Habit of Leadership
Leadership may be expressed in many forms, from college extracurricular activities to academic or business achievements, from personal accomplishments to community commitments. We appreciate leadership on any scale, from organizing a classroom to directing a combat squad, from running an independent business to spearheading initiatives at work. In essence, we are looking for evidence of your potential.
Analytical Aptitude and Appetite
Harvard Business School is a demanding, fast-paced, and highly-verbal environment. We look for individuals who enjoy lively discussion and debate. Our case and field-based methods of learning depend upon the active participation of prepared students who can assess, analyze, and act upon complex information within often-ambiguous contexts. The MBA Admissions Board will review your prior academic performance, the results of the GMAT or GRE, and, if applicable, TOEFL iBT and/or IELTS, and the nature of your work experience. There is no particular previous course of study required to apply; you must, however, demonstrate the ability to master analytical and quantitative concepts.
Engaged Community Citizenship
So much of our MBA experience – including the case method, section life, and student-organized events – requires the active collaboration of the entire HBS community. That’s why we look for students who exhibit the highest ethical standards and respect for others, and can make positive contributions to the MBA Program. The right candidates must be eager to share their experiences, support their colleagues, and teach as well as learn from their peers.
We want applicants who have these traits, as well as bring a variety of skills, accomplishments and aspirations. In each class, we create a dynamic environment that mirrors the breadth and depth of our world economy. Our promise to our faculty and to every student here is to create a class of 900 students who come from as many different backgrounds and perspectives as possible.
If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Harvard’s open-ended admissions essay question.
2. How should I answer Harvard essay questions?
Writing any admissions essay is a tough task, however, Harvard raises the bar with its highly-challenging yet open-ended prompt. In fact, HBS likes this question so much that they have kept it unchanged for multiple years.
Keep reading for a more in-depth look at how to turn this rather open-ended task into a standout essay!
Here’s the question:
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? (900 words)
We think you know what guidance we’re going to give here. Don’t overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don’t know your world can understand.
As an admissions consultant who encourages clients to use the MBA application process to reflect on past accomplishments and future ambitions, I personally love this question.
The open format allows you to include plenty of information about the experiences and examples you think make you unique.
At its core, this essay is focused on allowing HBS to get to know the person behind the data, understanding how you have demonstrated leadership and excellence in your life, as well as gain insight into what motivates your decision.
That means your first task is to decide what you want HBS to know about you. Consider the fact that they have read your letters of recommendation, your CV, and all the information you typed into the online forms. If you’re not sure where to start, review who HBS is looking for here.
Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of successful HBS MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Harvard Business School essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join!
Good examples of past experiences for your HBS essay would include — but are certainly not limited to — how you created a new volunteer initiative in your community, how you navigated complex work situations, context for the decisions you made, the motivations behind your professional choices, difficult challenges you faced and overcame, how you acted as a leader at work and/or at school, etc.
No matter what you choose, each example should add something new about you to the mix.
In addition, business schools, in general, often prefer essays that incorporate good storytelling techniques. In the past, some of our most successful clients have been those who select a defining theme and connect ~3-4 examples to this theme.
What not to do
Though HBS’ essay question is extremely open-ended, you cannot treat it as a “catch-all” for application materials you have already prepared elsewhere. For example, this should NOT be a copy/paste of your Stanford GSB “What Matters Most to You and Why” essay, nor a narrative retelling of your CV.
Remember that your goal is to show HBS who you are and demonstrate that you belong as a member of their elite university. Your essay is your best chance to do this, so make sure every word counts!
Harvard does also give applicants a 500-character optional essay to explain any extenuating circumstances.
3. We help your Harvard essays shine
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories. This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.
Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.
This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.
That’s the approach we took with Fernando, who was admitted to Harvard. In their words, “I absolutely recommend Ellin’s work to anyone who is applying to – or thinking about applying to – an MBA program. She definitely made the process smoother and helped me get to the end goal: get accepted at Harvard!”
Not only can you take advantage of our editing expertise through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!
No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine. Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.
4. Deadlines
The HBS MBA deadlines for the 2023-2024 season are below. You can access the HBS application here.
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
