The 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?
The tips:
- Figure out your “throughline” – a connecting theme, plot, or characteristic. Focus on that; don’t try to do all the things. Deep, not wide.
- Demonstrate leadership, of course. If you decide to go the path of several smaller anecdotes, show leadership in various settings (work, group-related hobbies, serving on the board).
- Be personal. If you talk about work, make sure it truly helps them to get to know you, your defining characteristic, an aspect of you that is true in every setting. Start with
- context about you as a person, your struggles, etc.
- Don’t include information mentioned elsewhere. Follow the instructions. HBS advises you avoid “essays that are basically a paragraph version of your resume.”
- Move away from analytical thought; the goal is to create emotional resonance. Help them get to know you as your friends do. HBS also advises you avoid submitting “essays that aren’t about you.”
A memorable application that demonstrates who you really are and what you bring to the table – subsequently opening the door to an interview.
Watch and listen more in depth here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTTDTzoTvhY
