The Application Process

HBS Essay Topic Analysis 2009-2010

For the 2009-2010 admissions season, Harvard Business School applicants will need to respond to a total of four essay questions. While the number of responses candidates must compose remains the same as last year, HBS aspirants now have an additional option. Candidates must respond to the two initial questions on the list and may then choose two of five additional questions – one more than last year – to round out the set. With this greater flexibility, it becomes even more important for applicants to choose topics judiciously to provide a comprehensive and meaningful picture of their candidacy. Applicants must also be clear and concise to fit their essays within the 1800 word total limit. Let’s take a look at the essay questions for this year:

1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
This essay question has been a hallmark of the HBS application for many years. Due to its top billing, this question could be the first element of your file that the adcom reads, making this response a great opportunity to present the reader with three strong stories that introduce the major themes of your candidacy. Each accomplishment can be presented as a stand-alone section here, so you needn’t be overly concerned about composing a seamless narrative.

HBS has traditionally been very impact-oriented in evaluating applicants’ credentials, so one way to determine which three accomplishments to describe in this essay is to think about the end results. Experiences in which you made a lasting and quantifiable impact can lend themselves to concise, factual narratives, and considering that each accomplishment must be described in approximately 200 words, this can be an important consideration. However, this isn’t to say that the process followed, skills gained, and lessons learned along the way aren’t important, too; these factors could be a great way to address the second half of the question: why you view these accomplishments as your most significant to date.

A final point is that it’s also important to select stories with an eye to balance. An applicant who describes two professional successes and one extra-curricular accomplishment, or perhaps one each from the professional, academic and activities realms, can show that he or she excels in any environment.

To read the full article and see analysis of the remaining essays, click here: https://blog.clearadmit.com/2009/05/hbs- ... 2009-2010/