HBS CLASS 2011 TAKING QUESTIONS!

HBSClass2011

Dear fellow CDers, 

We are HBS admits this year, class of 2011. We have benefited tremendously from CD and we are now here to relay the torch to help you pursue your dream!

We will, on the one hand, update you with the most recent information, and on the other hand, try our best to provide uncodified tips and sweep off your confusions regarding application to HBS in a timely way.

Please bear in mind that we do NOT work at admissions.  We were all applicants earlier this year and have just gone through the entire application process.  Our replies are not OFFICIAL statements, but PERSONAL opinions. Take everything you hear with a grain of salt and use your BEST JUDGEMENT.

Wish you all best of luck!!!

HBS Class of 2011 CDers

Note: This is a shared account.  Replies from this ID may vary in style and content.

Application related information

Main MBA program site	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/
Outreach admissions events	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/events.html           MingLiU","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: PMingLiU;">
Application deadlines	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/applicationdates.html Note: Deadline is set at 5 pm EST of the day.           MingLiU","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: PMingLiU;">
Admission criteria	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/admissioncriteria.html           MingLiU","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: PMingLiU;">
Admissions director’s blog	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/blog.html

Miscellaneous HBS Information 

Class profile	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/profiles/classprofile.html
Employment statistics	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/recruiting/data/industry-career.html
Initiatives	Entrepreneurship	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/academics/entrepreneurship.html
	Social enterprise	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/academics/socialenterprise.html
	Healthcare	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/academics/healthcare.html
Financial aid	http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/financialaid.html

HBSClass2011

The following are the deadlines for the MBA Class of 2012 entering in the fall of 2010:

Application Periods:	Application submitted online by 5 p.m. EST:	Notification of the MBA Admissions Board's decision:
Round 1	October 1, 2009	December 15, 2009
Round 2	January 19, 2010	April 6, 2010
Round 3	April 8, 2010	May 13, 2010

 

Applications received after 5 p.m. on October 1, 2009 will be considered in Round 2. Applications received after 5 p.m. on January 19, 2010 will be considered in Round 3. Applications received after 5 p.m. on April 8, 2010 will not be considered.

 

Application Components

The application for the MBA Class of 2012 consists of the following:

• Responses to the four application essay questions (see below)

• Current resume

• Three recommendations (must be submitted online)

• Self-reported transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions attended (full- or part-time)

• GMAT or GRE scores from a test taken January 1, 2005 or later (and TOEFL IBT or IELTS score, if applicable, from a test taken January 1, 2008 or later)

• Signed HBS Community Values statement

• Signed Statement of Application Integrity

• Nonrefundable U.S. $250 application fee (credit card only)

• Interview (by invitation only)

HBSClass2011

Essays for the Class of 2012

Essays:

• What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
• What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)
• Please respond to two of the following (400-word limit each):
1. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
2. Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
3. Tell us about a time when you made a difficult decision.
4. Write a cover letter to your application introducing yourself to the Admissions Board.
5. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

 

Joint degree applicants: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:

• How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (400-word limit)

 

Recommender Questions for the Class of 2012

Recommendations must be completed online. The form includes the following three essay response questions, along with other types of questions.

• Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. How long have you known the applicant and in what connection? If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250-word limit)
• Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250-word limit)
• Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250-word limit)

withmoon

这个必须顶！

附带Question一个啊：

HBS的学生的chemistry来讲会不会很ego,of course in good way，因为感觉HBS的style和MCK的style很合。

crispypeach

2 questions

Harvard's first essay only gives candidates 600 word to explain 3 achievements. What's the tip to make the story informative, consistent but also concise?

Could you provide the CV template of HBS?

Thanks!

HBSClass2011

以下是引用withmoon在2009-7-7 14:37:00的发言：
这个必须顶！

附带Question一个啊：

HBS的学生的chemistry来讲会不会很ego,of course in good way，因为感觉HBS的style和MCK的style很合。

其实每个admitted student都会有不同的背景，性格，和目标。从我们这届我见过面、聊过的人也体现了这一点。当然，有一点我个人认为确实是大部分admitted students所共有的：那就是比较confident，不能说是很ego，但是应该是能自我发现，也能通过essays和interview很好的present自己优势的。

至于说和那一类公司的style很合拍，我觉得这个就很难说了，HBS往年globally确实从MCK招了不少人，但是MCK去的人也不都一个摸子里刻出来的吧，没有特定style一说。还是要争取把自己的亮点和优势通过种种方式从你的application package里体现出来，不管你是从事什么行业，在哪个公司工作。

希望上述回答对你有一定的帮助。如果还有follow-up question我不能答的，相信其他admitted students也能帮着回答。

withmoon

以下是引用HBSClass2011在2009-7-7 23:45:00的发言：

其实每个admitted student都会有不同的背景，性格，和目标。从我们这届我见过面、聊过的人也体现了这一点。当然，有一点我个人认为确实是大部分admitted students所共有的：那就是比较confident，不能说是很ego，但是应该是能自我发现，也能通过essays和interview很好的present自己优势的。

至于说和那一类公司的style很合拍，我觉得这个就很难说了，HBS往年globally确实从MCK招了不少人，但是MCK去的人也不都一个摸子里刻出来的吧，没有特定style一说。还是要争取把自己的亮点和优势通过种种方式从你的application package里体现出来，不管你是从事什么行业，在哪个公司工作。

希望上述回答对你有一定的帮助。如果还有follow-up question我不能答的，相信其他admitted students也能帮着回答。

感谢！很真诚的回答

HBSClass2011

以下是引用crispypeach在2009-7-7 14:38:00的发言：

2 questions

Harvard's first essay only gives candidates 600 word to explain 3 achievements. What's the tip to make the story informative, consistent but also concise?

Could you provide the CV template of HBS?

Thanks!

A1：

1. 如果还没看过的话，推荐一本《65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays》，当当网之类的肯定有买。我当初看了还是蛮受益的，至少知道怎样才算比较好的3 achievements essays
2. 每个人写这篇文章的方法可能都不太一样，我当时是先确定三个素材（不要都是工作或都是学校里的，尽量平衡）；然后不管字数把每个故事都写完整写好；最后才将这三个故事压缩（我最初稿可能有1000字），这一个步骤可能需要周围的reviewers帮忙，毕竟缩减自己写出来的文章很难。个人感觉前两步最重要，砍字数是个体力活，应该不会是瓶颈。
3. 最后关于每个小故事的结构提一下自己的看法/写法（again，每个人会不同），我都用了小三段论，第一部分context/situation/complication（~20-30%篇幅），第二部分what you did (~50-60%篇幅），第三部分result/imapct/learnings (10-20%篇幅，punchy!!) 。当然也不一定要分三段，比如后两部分就可以合一段

A2：

我也不知道HBS CV template是什么样的。感觉大部分人都是用自己以前CV template稍作改动提交得。如果要给整个package中各个element的重要性给权重的话，我觉得CV会是少于5％。个人感觉还是内容重要，在这个上面追求形式没太大意义。

[此贴子已经被作者于2009-7-8 0:07:01编辑过]

zhanghongzxl

这是我的履历背景，请问我这样的背景申请你们学校有希望吗？？非常感谢！！

GMAT 750

TOEFL 105

2001-2005—— 上海财大本科毕业,金融专业 GPA：3.5左右

2005-2007 —— 在一家大型制造生产业公司从金融助理跳到金融主管，主管银行融资这一块儿。因为自己年纪还小，所以跟公司申请想继续深造，考读研究生，公司给与充分支持，并强烈邀请毕业后重返公司。

2007年9月——  考入贵州大学入读金融系研究生（我的家乡和公司厂房都在贵州）

在校读书一年至2008年7月——重返这家公司，边工作边写论文。感谢公司非常支持，现在的工作岗位提升到经理级别。年薪20w-30w。现在论文完成的差不多了，并且还是不能满足现学到的东西，想要去美国商学院入读MBA。

加起来到2010年。工作经历为4年。

请问，这样子断断续续的工作经历，对申请会不利吗？？学校接受吗？？

sspp0828

赞！顶！