WE ARE HBS CLASS OF 2009 CDERS!

Grace_biti

为了梦想而努力！

amorela

各位大牛,我打算申请明年的HBS,和GMAT/TOEFL都不是特别大的问题,但是关于工作经验目前有个很大的困惑:

我在出国读MASTER之前在一家local公司里做了一年半,做marketing,这期间,lead过一个小的团队,并且带过几个比较大的项目,都做的很成功.但是因为这家公司本身规模很小,也不是什么有名的国内公司,因此我首先担心的是,这段经验是否对我申请TOP 20有用?

其次,在我读完master之后,我就回国了,很快就开始工作了.不过我是做agancy的,属于广告行业.但是,一年半中,我先后换过两家公司,不过我还是发现自己并不喜欢这一行,而且希望可以去更多的拓展我自己,所以这个月我交了辞职信.目前想休整一阵,但是我的担心是:虽然这两家公司是行业里最TOP的公司,但是一是我的职位不是特别高,还没有做到管理层(比如supervisor或者manager),二是我目前出现了一个GAP,因为可能会到十月或者十一月才会开始新的工作.但是我不能保证新的工作一定是我想去的工作想做的position以及想做的事情.

因此,最大的困惑就是,我这前后三年的工作经验究竟对我的申请能起到一个怎样的帮助?

非常恳请各位大牛给我些诊断和建议吗?非常非常感谢.

Replies: http://forum.chasedream.com/dispbbs.asp?boardID=13&ID=260267&page=1

Juliandworld

呵呵，今年HBS的essay题目这么早就出来了，真是让人激动呢，既然有这么好的帖子和HBS 同学坐镇，我也鼓起勇气来贴一下背景征询意见。。 麻烦看看我的背景，有没有希望，以及还要怎么准备，赶得及申请第1轮吗？ 谢谢！

我是中财大会计专业毕业，GPA3.4, 3年外资制造业财务部管理培训生会计工作经验，其间去了新加坡培训半年，做了6 sigma项目；后2年至今跳槽到外资IT制造业，总部在US san Jose, 做业务发展部分析员(business develop), 现在是高级分析员，做了一些案例分析，公司战略发展规划，和政府谈判等，直接向CFO和china chairman汇报。是ACCA member, 今年6月考了CFA level 2, 还没出成绩。 GMAT650，  准备8月初重考，托福还没考，准备9月。 我将来的职业目标是IB, 希望能在国外大的投行学习几年，以后转向为高科技公司金融服务的PE或者hedging, 也可能在金融服务领域自己创业。希望能08年入学。 像我这样的背景算是diversify吗？我知道自己前3年的会计经验不是很出彩，不过也想请教如何能突出自己的特殊方面？已经27了，而且一直在制造业，会不会还有希望呢？谢谢指教！另外选校可以有什么建议呢？应该去一个专注于finance的，比如NYU, Columbia, Wharton？还是坚守HBS就可以了呢？谢谢指教！

以下是引用camelhill在2007-7-4 14:12:00的发言：

It's hard to judge the chance of getting in HBS, it's how you present your stories that matters. you need to prepare good stories to tell in the essays. GMAT is a bit low, let's see your second shot on GMAT, HBS requires a pretty high IBT score, so you'd better prepare it well.Personally, I don't think those certificates. e.g. ACCA, CFA make a difference as long as you articulate and present it in your package well. 

Hope it helps.

以下是引用robinst在2007-7-4 16:46:00的发言：

Personally I like your profile and it's pretty diversified---but be sure to present it well. Being in Manufacturing industry actually is an advantage..so that's not ur concern. GMAT is low. You need to work on that first. Focus!

HBS is unique...it has lots of factors that differentiate it with NYU, Columbia or Wharton. So dig into yourself and find out where u really want to go....! ---you really think that you hv had 4-year in Accounting major, and you want to still just focus on finance??

Good luck.

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-7 3:47:00的发言：
BTW, I won't recommend applying to one school only unless you're fully prepared to reapply next year.

谢谢 camelhill 和robinst，意见很中肯，由你们的回答也更加深刻的体会到如何表述故事的重要性以及要更加深入思考，听从自己的内心的选择。

呵呵，我会努力把GMAT考到730以上，托福的时间比较紧张，尤其要赶10月第一轮，呵呵，看来修改essay只有1个月的时间了。如果不能很好的准备好，那就赶第2轮怎么样？ 还是要精工细作出essay细活阿。。  J

另外，就career plan再请教robinst, 我以前一直都没有风投、咨询、或者投行的经验，虽然拜读了一些职业指导，不过还是有点雾里看花。

我个人的性格是比较喜欢创新思考，喜欢从无到有的来构思项目\制造财务模型或者创造presentation package, 会对自己的创作结果产生由衷的喜悦,即使加班也不觉得辛苦，反而是一种乐趣，也会有时候在逻辑的理性思考面前觉得格格不入，转身更欣赏突发的灵感、情绪、感性。呵呵，由于以前的工作经验，都需要很扎实的数据分析和财务模型的设立，加上自己的专业背景（财务分析），所以隐约觉得可能会适合投行的一些工作，可是由于经验和眼界所限，对外界了解不多，可能现在比较难以想象得出自己还能做什么？
   呵呵，前辈们有没有什么建议和指教呢？ 

 不能松懈，再接再厉！ 谢谢CD前辈的鼓励！

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-5 0:10:00的发言：

Shoot for R1 and you can push it back to R2 if you think your essays can benefit significantly (versus marginal improvement) from more time.  Have you looked into marketing? 

以下是引用robinst在2007-7-5 16:33:00的发言：

Hv u looked at marketing...?---same feeling as YY....you seem fit into marketing..... however, why limit ur choice now? Keep it open and be flexible. that's how i take it.

非常感谢camelhill, yaoyao和robinst的回答！ 几位编辑过的这个界面真是很清爽、信息突出，简洁明快，呵呵，还很有美学的欣赏价值，赞的说！

我想很多人进入B-school之后，通过接触到更广阔的事务和各种各样的背景的同学、老师、社会资源，都会影响到个人最后的职业方向的选择。我也想要尽量使用open的心态去接触了解不同的行业和内容，不要先入为主的限定自己的发展方向。呵呵，毕竟人生很大程度上的乐趣和意义是不断深入了解自己，发现潜力，可以从多种方式和渠道实现自我价值。

有个问题就是，在写essay或者面试的时候，是需要陈述future career plan的，那么应该是很坚定、清晰的说明现在的选择计划（可能比较狭隘），还是坦白说将来的职业选择存在多种可能和不确定性？后者的话，会不会被认为是目标不清晰而被拒？

呵呵，其实实质问题是，我相信很多人都会遇到，要迎合（或者自以为自己可以迎合）学校的taste和偏好，还是完完全全讲述真实的自己和最真实的想法，即使有很大的被拒的风险？

谢谢几位斑斑的回答！敬礼！

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-6 22:16:00的发言：
   

Be genuine and don't assume you know what the Admissions board is looking for or how the they will react in a particular situation.  Keep in mind that it's fairly easy for the Admissions officers to spot a made-up a story, having reviewed thousands of applicants each year.  That being said, you should still be able to articulate a concrete path which will utilize your past experience and skills as well as fit your interests, even if you decide to change your mind later on.  There were applicants who get admitted with an essay stating that they have no career aspirations yet but those are few and far in-between.

shirlyhan

rt

gukangmat

还是一个老问题,希望reconfirm 一下，今年的被录取者有几个是R2申请的啊？我只是想知道对于HBS来说R1与R2申请的差别。会不会比较多数的人都是R1被录取的呢？R2申请的成功机会是不是会小很多呢？

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-12 2:55:00的发言：
The numbers of R1 and R2 admits were comparable.  Just do your best.  It would be impossible to predict the background and chances of other applicants.

第 32 楼

nvassall: What are the pros/cons of applying in each of the admissions rounds?

HBSDeirdre: I think it's fair to say we view rounds one and two as very similar and are looking for roughly an equal number of candidates from each of these rounds, so choosing between these two is largely a matter of personal preference. When can you devote the time to the application process?

I would say that round three is essentially used as a "shaping" round—looking for candidates who round out the profile of the class.

kathleenfly

fudan ba (graduated 2004)
2+ yrs with leading consulting firm
start-up since last sep

my concern for now is whether I should focus my working experience on consulting or on start-up?  many thanks!

以下是引用camelhill在2007-7-13 1:39:00的发言：

It depends on your long term career vision, you should articulate your career path with a consistent direction towards the your future career vision.

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-13 2:50:00的发言：
It also depend on what you did.  I would focus on your biggest accomplishments instead of your job titles or the types of organizations you worked for.

atalbert9

Many thanks to the harvarders. Thanks for your diligent work.

My question is just almost the same with the guys above.

Top 10 school mainland, 3.5GPA , global marketing department in state-owned banks HQ, manager with 3+ex.in market analysis. Before that once lead finance management team, the initiater of private banking. IPO team member. CANADA. perminant resident.

Diversified ex. in entrepreneur such as family company in foreign trade  and migration consulting

For scared about sc. since middle-school and 2 weeks prepare, only gmat 680, donot want try again, toefl 110.

Could U pls. suggest me how to recover my weakness in gmat and success? Many thanks.

以下是引用camelhill在2007-7-13 1:42:00的发言：

If you don't want to re-take GMAT, I don't think it's a big problem given your 3.5 GPA and 110 toefl, however, whether you can make a strong case depends on not only your test scores but also your essays and recommendation, I would suggest you focus on present yourself in a strong essay and recommendation package.

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-13 2:45:00的发言：

A weakness is a weakness and there's not much you can do to "recover" from that, short of taking the test again.  GMAT is probably the easiest thing to improve, relative to the other components of your application.

Like Camel said, the application is a balance act.  Your GMAT score is below average and your TOEFL score barely above the minimum requirement so you need to work hard and make sure the other parts look flawless.

popray

HBS的大牛们好，问个问题：每个学校都要找leadership，那么HBS特别寻找的是那一类leader呢？或者说所有被录取的人他们身上有什么共同点么（除了牛以外）？谢谢！

第 32 楼

businesschat: What does Harvard look for in a candidate?

HBSDeirdre:
   We're looking for an assortment of leaders, all of whom can thrive in a demanding, fast-paced, highly verbal academic environment. Our classroom experience is quite different from traditional academia; students need to be fully present and engaged and ready to contribute. There are no opportunities to be a bystander. We're looking for people who, at every opportunity, have chosen to be givers vs. takers and don't sit by and wait for others to take the initiative.
  

RajeshG: Is HBS interested in only outstanding candidates like Olympic players, consultants from BCG and Bain, etc.? Do "ordinary" applicants stand a chance?

HBSDeirdre:
   I think there's a fair amount of distance between an Olympic athlete and "ordinary," whatever that may mean! We're looking for candidates who have consistently tried to achieve their best in any situation, and this can be from a vast variety of backgrounds and paths. We are very interested in seeing what individuals have done given their opportunity sets.
  

gsach: Is it true that HBS looks down upon applicants coming from the restaurant industry?

HBSDeirdre:
   We'd love to see more applicants from lots of industries. It would be a mistake to see a profile of our entering students' backgrounds and view that as a template for the future. Diversity of experience is very important in the case method model—we're trying very hard to be as broad as possible.

以下是引用robinst在2007-7-15 13:25:00的发言：

my personal thinking of leadership that fits HBS is a desire to change, reform, and take on the leadership role whether in work, or in life. It is a self-drive to make the not-perfect part of our work, or society to better.... It is also the courage to question yourself, and thus know ur limitation and work on that to become better.

Columbus

about campus visit.

Dear NNs, I have a Q on campus visit - how much difference do you think it makes to pay a personal visit? I know it cannot make much difference, but do you think it is worth the efforts meeting with the admissions to show your committment as well as know better your target school? Heard from someone who recently visited HBS that seems HBS does not pay much attention to visiting students compared with Columbia or Wharton. Would you kindly give me some advice?

Thanks a lot.

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-23 9:20:00的发言：

It really is for your own benefit, not for the school to get to know you.  You can always mention this experience in your essays or interviews to show your interest in the school.

desperate_OL

各位大虾们, 有谁能介绍一下HBS这两年进top 5 consulting firm的大陆毕业生有多少人啊? 拜谢!!!

以下是引用yaoyao99在2007-7-24 11:18:00的发言：

Not sure about people from PRC specifically but 21% of class of 2006 went into consulting full-time and 18% of class of 2007 did their internship in the consulting firm.

http://www.hbs.edu/mba/recruiting/data/industry-career.html