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HBS Essays?

by sunman » Wed May 30, 2012 12:11 am
So, since HBS released their essays earlier than everyone else, I decided to start working on an HBS online app, even though it's my "really reaching" school.

With that being said, one of my great strengths is my unique background. I've lived in South Africa for six years, I've lived in East Asia. I'n on deployment in Afghanistan as a Marine Officer. I'm starting an initiative to bring affordable prosthetic limbs to Afghans.

However, I'm not getting the opportunity to express all of that in my essays, since the topics are:

1. Tell us about something you did well. (400 words)

2. Tell us about something you wish you had done better. (400 words)

and the "optional essay" where I need to address my low undergrad GPA is limited to 500 characters! (characters...not words!)

Based on how short these essay topics are, is this year's crop of HBS admits going to be overwhelmingly determined by raw stats?

I can't win the raw stats game obviously. My GMAT score is barely above their median, and my GPA is much below. There is not much room to quantify work accomplishments.

Anyone else feeling the same?
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by suburban » Wed May 30, 2012 7:20 am
You are absolutely right, it seems like the essays are not so important this year and they give more weight to the interview. You will just have to find space in the application and resume to include all other stories and accomplishments.
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by Jon@Admissionado » Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:31 am
Uh oh! It's already started! :)

Hmmm, I wouldn't say the essays are "less important" but you do have less space, so you have to make even better use of it than before. So, yes, HBS is going minimalist, but with minimalism comes a greater necessity for precision and elegance. And I think in two stories you probably could get out the essence of your experience. No, you won't get all the detail out, but the fundamentals, and it seems that it is that they are aiming for.
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by sunman » Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:12 am
suburban wrote:You are absolutely right, it seems like the essays are not so important this year and they give more weight to the interview. You will just have to find space in the application and resume to include all other stories and accomplishments.
I'm going to have to find some strong recommenders then.

I have a weak GPA, but other than that, my overall package should be strong enough for them to at least humor me with an interview.
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by sunman » Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:20 am
Jon@PrecisionEssay wrote:Uh oh! It's already started! :)

Hmmm, I wouldn't say the essays are "less important" but you do have less space, so you have to make even better use of it than before. So, yes, HBS is going minimalist, but with minimalism comes a greater necessity for precision and elegance. And I think in two stories you probably could get out the essence of your experience. No, you won't get all the detail out, but the fundamentals, and it seems that it is that they are aiming for.
Alright, so,

My target schools are Kellogg, Booth, Fuqua, Ross, and Darden.

HBS is a stab in the dark for me. I have a British Army LtCol, a British Royal Air Force Squadron Leader (Major Equivalent) and a Marine Major who may be able to write recommendation letters for me.

They all know me very well, as we have worked together in Afghanistan every day, 7 days a week for the past several months.

I'm thinking about asking my O-6 Colonel who doesn't know me as well for an HBS rec, using the input from those three. I don't want to burn those three out with rec letters for all the other more realistic schools, plus he has a bit more rank. Thoughts about that strategy?

HBS is a stab in the dark for me. Just throwing up a hail mary and hoping with a 730+ (have a 730 now, retaking when I get home) GMAT and Marine Officer leadership experience, they will interview me and hopefully I can impress there.
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by PrepMBA.AlexLeventhal » Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:40 am
Sunman,

If that story is what you feel most distinguishes you, then write about in one of the two essays. Also give it cover on your resume and perhaps have a recommender give it real estate as well if you can't squeeze it into the two essays.

The limited space is an equal challenge for all, but you are always able to fit in that which most gives you elbow room vs your peers.

Good Luck!
Alex Leventhal
Harvard MBA, 1998
Prep MBA Admissions Consulting
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by sunman » Sat Jun 02, 2012 2:29 am
Gents,

Appreciate all the input thus far.

I'm currently HBS Recommender hunting. A guy I work with is a GS-14 Federal Employee (equivalent of Lieutenant Colonel in the military), he already agreed to write a recommendation letter for me.

I need two more. One is going to be my boss, a Marine Colonel.

For the last one, I noticed that HBS lists "Direct Report" and "Indirect Report/Subordinate" as categories.

Is it wise to ask if a subordinate me a recommendation letter? I have an absolutely transcendental soldier who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Grinnell College (prestigious small liberal arts school in Iowa) and has a distinguished private sector career, and is deployed as a reservist.

He said he would be willing to write me one if asked. Is it a good idea?
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by Jon@Admissionado » Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:20 am
PS with a 730 and as a Marine Officer, I'd say you have more than a Hail Mary shot :)
Harvard does like its military leaders.
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by sunman » Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:40 am
Jon@Admissionado wrote:PS with a 730 and as a Marine Officer, I'd say you have more than a Hail Mary shot :)
Harvard does like its military leaders.
Thanks Jon.

Critical Vulnerability though. 2.84 GPA Liberal Arts degree from Public Ivy university partly due to working my way through school (and quite often unable to afford textbooks for the class). Not much of a valid excuse though, I knew people who worked more jobs and longer hours than me and involved in more extracurriculars yet earned Magna Cum Laudes.

Shot myself in the foot a few years ago by lack of focus and immaturity. I'm paying for it now.

Retaking the GMAT when I come home from Afghanistan in September and hoping to score a 760.
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by Jon@Admissionado » Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:17 am
Yeah but given your awesome GMAT, Im sure you can weave a good narrative.. i.e. about prior immaturity and Im sure the marines grew you up a bit :)
Could be a good angle to take.
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https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

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by sunman » Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:40 am
Jon@Admissionado wrote:Yeah but given your awesome GMAT, Im sure you can weave a good narrative.. i.e. about prior immaturity and Im sure the marines grew you up a bit :)
Could be a good angle to take.
Thanks Jon! :-) You're awesome, I pray that you're not merely giving me false hope!

HBS 400 WORD LIMIT, I SHAKE MY FIST AT YOU!!!!

Grrrrr....
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