Wish to pursue Masters at the prestigious Harvard Business School? We have good and bad news for you. The good news is that you are preparing to compete with the best to study at one of the top business institutions across the world. The bad news is that you have a lot of work cut out. Here are 8 practical tips to successfully getting into Harvard Business School!

Harvard Business School, a dream business school for many, and rightfully so, requires candidates to put in a lot of time and effort towards the application process. Although the process is similar to applying at other business schools, you need to consider certain expectations to get accepted at HBS, given how selective the school is regarding admission.

The margin for error is quite thin as the school rejected over 90 percent of its MBA program’s applicants in 2020. Therefore, we suggest you stay with us till the very end of this guide to learn how to apply successfully at Harvard Business School. Let’s get started!

Why even apply to Harvard Business School?

HBS aims to ‘educate leaders who make a difference in the world.’ The school is highly committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities and developing an environment that fosters mutual trust and respect. Harvard Business School was founded in 1908 and is known for its Ivy League traditions. The school turns students into leaders as the curriculum has leadership as its core element.

Once you graduate, you’ll have good leadership qualities to bring change to the world. Students enrolled in the master’s programs at HBS go through a 100 percent case study method where they read, analyze, and discuss the case studies in a class full of people coming from diverse backgrounds – all this gives you a massive opportunity to boost your listening, analytical, and communication skills. 

What are the requirements to apply to Harvard Business School?

So what do you need to know to apply successfully to Harvard Business School? Here are all the crucial elements or requirements to ace your application process. Let’s discuss them in detail, shall we?

1. Extensive research

This is a critical part of the application process since it lays the foundation for other decisions you will make along the way. Research should ideally begin at least one year before you plan to apply at HBS. Your application process should consider both internal and external research.

External research involves going through HBS’s website, and determining the programs and courses on offer, and campus culture. We highly recommend using LinkedIn to conduct external research as it helps get in touch with people who have applied to HBS. They will always have valuable information regarding the application process. 

Internal research revolves around self-introspection and the ability to determine what you want out of life. We suggest you start reading books that tell how to lead better lives, stay happy, and live with integrity. 

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2. Standard tests

You will have to meet specific standards to gain admission into HBS. First, you will need to clear GRE/GMAT exams with a score higher than 700. The median score of students accepted at Harvard Business School is 730. Preparation for the tests should ideally last for three to four months. We suggest you aim to score at least 20 more points than the median to have the best chance of getting in.

3. Work experience

Do you have any work experience? This is important to your application process since most accepted students at HBS for Masters in Business Administration program have at least four years of work experience. But that doesn’t mean you need to work at a big company to make a lasting impression. All you need is to show that you have work experience and can illustrate what you learned throughout the opportunity. 

4. College grades

You’ll have to be academically strong to get admitted into Harvard. To show as proof, Harvard will ask you to submit your college grades as they help review the application better. But you don’t necessarily have to ace your college grades. Officials at Harvard are quite understanding and they consider your major and college difficulty while reviewing your application. So, don’t sweat it if you have been scoring college grades as low as a 4.0 GPA. If you have been performing consistently throughout college, HBS will have no problem welcoming you in.

5. Leadership and related skills

Harvard, as we mentioned earlier, is keen on producing graduates that have the leadership skills to change the world. HBS intently looks forward to admitting students that have some leadership skills and experience. It is, therefore, critical that you spend time working in a leadership role and gain enough experience to prove you can bring change. Most importantly, your experience should involve projects or tasks that directly improve other people’s lives. 

6. Letter of Recommendation

Lastly, you will have to collect strong letters of recommendation. HBS wants to know if other people testify for the skills and experiences you mentioned in your application. 

Eight practical tips to ace your HBS application!

The Harvard Business School application process generally consists of three steps — 1) Written Application, 2) Interview, and 3) Post-Interview Reflection. Now that you know what you need to complete your application process, it’s time you follow these practical tips to ensure a successful application at HBS. These tips will guide you through the three steps and make the process not so overwhelming.

1. Double down on research

Remember, you are competing with hundreds of thousands of HBS aspirants. So, you cannot take anything for granted. Getting into HBS is a dream for many and therefore, you should carefully start your research by selecting your undergraduate subjects. Make sure you know what you want to pursue and what you like about the topics you chose. Score well and improve your college grades. If you have already graduated, it’s time you focus entirely on networking with students currently studying at HBS. Connect with people that have tried getting into HBS. The information they’ll share about the admission process and events will only make things easier. Moreover, focus on the internal and external factors mentioned earlier.

2. Ace GRE/GMAT tests

If you have been preparing for a master’s program at Harvard Business School, you must already be focusing on nailing the GMATs or GREs. HBS wants applicants to prepare well for the rigors of its master’s program. Since GMAT and GRE tests require extensive preparation, HBS gets to learn whether or not you should be admitted. Indeed, HBS hasn’t set a minimum GMAT or GRE score requirement. But, you should not aim for less. Ideally, you should focus on achieving above the class average scores. Give the tests multiple times if you think you can score more. The score is all the more important if your college grades are on the lower side.

3. Achieve valuable work experience

The work knowledge is a factor that can easily put you ahead of many applicants at HBS since it creates an excellent impression and helps present your case better. We suggest you collect at least three years of work experience before applying to Harvard although the four-year program allows undergrads to work for two years. Work experience allows you to apply the hands-on knowledge to actively participate in class discussions and present solutions. We highly recommend you focus on gaining leadership skills and practicing an analytical aptitude for everything. 

4. Show Harvard you’re a perfect fit

Have you written a personal statement before? Well, you will have to write one now. An outstanding personal statement is a critical part of the application and deserves your undivided attention. Harvard wants to know if you are a perfect fit for their curriculum and tradition. They pull up your personal statement and judge you accordingly. Writing a clear and concise personal statement that states your personality, passions, and work experiences are central to the application process. Your personal statement should aim to show HBS how your skills and experiences can help you contribute to the world.

5. Focus on uniqueness

Ask yourself — What unique thing do you bring to the table? Ask because officials at HBS will. The admissions committee wants students that have a unique way of thinking as it helps them involve better in the case study method of learning. The method gives the students opportunities to put forth their unique thoughts and solutions and discover new and unique ideas. Make sure you highlight your unique thoughts and voice in the application to show how valuable you can be to the school.

6. Tell a well-crafted story

What if Harvard asks you in the interview — “What more would you like to tell us to help us better assess your application and consider you for the master’s programs at HBS?” Coming up with an answer to that question quickly isn’t easy. You need time to reflect on your achievements and goals to weave a believable story. That’s one reason why we suggest you come up with a well-crafted story that illuminates your experiences, personality, perspectives, and goals. Tell them why it is the right time to pursue the program and what you intend to achieve after getting in. Most importantly, tell your story through an essay instead of a resume.

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7. Know your application to the T

It’s your application and nobody should know it better. Once you are done with the application, take enough time reviewing it so you memorize every detail mentioned within. After all, you will be preparing for the interview too! HBS generally invites one in five applicants to an on-campus interview and the interviewer will know everything about them. Prepare well for the ‘why’ questions the HBS admission committee will have for you. Know precisely why you mentioned the details in the application so that you can justify your decisions. Remember, not all HBS interviews are the same. These interviews are tailored to the applicant.

8. Keep working on the gaps in your application

The final tip is arguably the most important one — keep reviewing and working towards a perfect application. The more you review the application, the more gaps you’ll find within it. Connect with HBS students, faculty, and fellow aspirants and take their help in finding the potential gaps in your application. Keep working towards factors that you can still control like the GMAT scores, essays, interviews, and LORs.

Final remarks!

There you have it. We have shared everything you need to know to successfully apply to Harvard Business School. Indeed, getting into Harvard Business School can be extremely daunting and there’s no one sure-shot way to get into it. But, you should not lose hope and give your best shot following the strategies mentioned above. Most importantly, begin your research as early as possible and review your application thoroughly. Need more help with your college application process? Check out other informative posts on our blog!