Harvard Essay Analysis and Application Deadlines: 2021-22

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Once again, Harvard Business School kicked off the 2021-22 MBA admissions season last week by releasing its application deadlines and essay question.

Application Deadlines:

Round 1:
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 8th at Noon ET
• Decision Notification: Thursday, December 9th at Noon ET

Round 2:
• Application Deadline: Tuesday, January 4th at Noon ET
• Decision Notification: Wednesday, March 30th at Noon ET

“Please note that each "round" represents a distinct period in which you may apply, not a succession of steps for your application. You may apply in one round only, one time in an application year.”

The application will open in mid-June 2021, but you can start preparing by downloading our Application Guide.

Essay Question: Once again, the essay question remains unchanged from previous years. Let's take a closer look at the essay prompt.

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? (no word limit)

There is no word limit for this question. 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.

This open-ended question needs to be tackled very strategically, and it requires a significant amount of introspection. Since the essay prompts says, 'what more would you like us to know', you should make sure that you do not merely repeat what you have already discussed in other application materials. To avoid overlapping of elements in your essay, you must go through other application materials (résumé, application form, and LORs) and discuss with your recommenders what examples they will be discussing in their letters. However, you may still discuss at length the achievements you have already touched upon in your résumé.

This essay requires you to do a deep self-reflection to help you understand your motivation and personality what you want to showcase. Before choosing your stories (personal and professional), please get a thorough understanding of what Harvard is looking for in candidates, and then weave your stories/ accomplishments around these traits. HBS is looking for candidates with "a habit of leadership, analytical aptitude and appetite, and engaged community leadership." Therefore, your stories should illustrate these traits with a focus on leadership.

Be authentic and genuine. Show your confidence and passion for what you have done and what you plan to do- academically, personally, socially, and professionally. Remember, you are a unique individual, so use this essay as a platform to show your uniqueness. Do not be afraid to share your mistake or failure at some point in life.

Harvard is not looking for mistake-free individuals. The key is how you have learned from your mistakes, overcome life challenges, and have emerged a more influential person. Make sure the essay showcases your unique personality and character.

Since there is no word limit for this open-ended question, please use your discretion regarding the final length of your essay. You may decide to submit an essay between 500- 750 words. If you choose to write a longer essay, make sure to keep it under 1000 words. Our clients have written compelling essays within 800-1000 words.

Mistakes to avoid while writing this essay:

1. 'Don't overthink, overwrite, and over craft', When working with people on HBS essay, I often need to remind them of the advice HBS provides. I tell them that though re-writing and revising is the essence of writing, overwriting sometimes may kill the very soul of the essay.

2. After you have brainstormed and finalized your stories, have confidence in your stories and writing style, and organize them coherently and succinctly. Refrain from making countless unnecessary revisions thinking, "Is this what admission committee would like to know?"

3. Write from your heart in a concise and straightforward language. This is not an academic paper, and flowery prose will not get you in. We recommend expressing your passion and drive, your leadership experiences, analytical aptitude, and background in a simple, but effective and concise language that reflects your unique voice.

4. Avoid using the word 'leadership' in every single sentence. Some applicants think that their best bet to impress the admission committee is to use 'leadership' in every sentence. Follow the thumb rule of 'show not tell' and allow your unique accomplishment stories (personal, professional, and social) to vouch for your leadership skills.

5. Avoid writing a 'why MBA' and 'goals' essay since you will be covering these topics in other application materials.

6. Avoid telling the school how great they are. They are aware of their greatness.

7. Even though the essay question doesn't ask 'Why HBS', you would still like to let them know what you envision getting involved in to reach the next level of your career and how you plan to leave Harvard a better place.

8. Avoid spoon-feeding the Ad Com. For example, don't waste precious space by starting your essay with the following statement: "I would like the admission committee to understand what has driven my personal and professional growth." Also, please do not wrap up your essay by stating, "I hope that through this essay you got an insight into my personal and professional life for better evaluation of my candidacy." Please remember that the purpose of writing this essay is to offer the admission committee insights into your personal and professional attributes/ strengths. Hence, such explicit statements are redundant and will not add any value to your story.

Click here for Admission director Chad Losee’s tips on the HBS essay.

Do not forget to visit the HBS website for MBA application tips on other parts of the application( resume, employment history, extracurricular activities & awards, post-MBA goals, and recommenders.)


Free Resources

1. 10 Key Essay Tips with Examples

2. Success Stories -MER Students

3. Harvard MBA Mansi's video interview

Since 2011, MER (myEssayReview) has helped many applicants get accepted into the top 20 MBA programs. (Poonam is one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club.)

Do you have questions about your HBS application? E-mail Poonam at [email protected] or sign up here for a free consultation.

This blog first appeared on myEssayReview.
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