Dee Leopold, HBS Director of admissions and financial aid answered few FAQ's concerning MBA aspirants:
Q 1. Is there any advantage to submitting my Round 1 application now?
Dee Leopold: Not really. We don't begin to read applications until the day after the deadline. However, it's always nerve-wracking for candidates who wait until the absolute last minute and then the server is backed up. ...so somewhere between very early and just-in-time is probably smart.
Q 2. I can't attend an HBS information session. What am I missing?
Dee Leopold: Here's what happens at information sessions outside of Boston (please view http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/visit.html Event Calendar for dates and locations):
An Admissions Board member presents an overview with general information about HBS and some detail about the MBA Program and the admissions process. We have a new video which captures some student perspectives and shows off our campus. We then present a panel of relatively recent alumni from the local area who share their reflections on their experience at HBS. We close with a question-and-answer session.
And here's an on-campus session (please see our Visit HBS page for more information):
An Admissions Board member conducts an informal session in an HBS classroom. A typical session will have anywhere from 10 to 30 attendees. There is plenty of time for questions. Although there are no MBA classes in session during the summer, the Spangler Student Center is open for breakfast and lunch. We offer an iPod tour of the campus which is fun and takes about 30 minutes.
In addition to afternoon sessions, this fall we will be hosting on-campus information sessions on the following evenings:
September 3, 9, 17 and 23
These will be similar in format to our on-campus afternoon sessions.
Q 3. When will class visits begin?
Dee Leopold: Early October...although the exact date hasn't been set yet. In September we will post the date and there will be a link to an on-line scheduler. Lunches with students and campus tours will get underway then, too.
In her recent blogpost Dee provided advice on recommendations.
She said,"the most important thing is to choose people who know you well enough to answer the questions we are asking. Many recommendations are well-written and enthusiastic in their praise but essentially full of adjectives and short on actual examples of how your wonderful qualities play out in real life. What we are hoping for are brief recounts of specific situations and how you performed."
She elaborated,"We ask for three — and we are fine with several different combinations. It's fine to have all three recommendations come from your current firm/organization. It's fine to have one from a former employer. It's also fine to have one come from someone who has supervised or observed you in a non-work situation — community service or campus leadership, for example. Note that we are not looking for a peer recommendation — we find it most helpful if there is some developmental distance between you and the recommender. The exception to this might be when you have worked on an entrepreneurial venture or project and the only person able to help us understand your involvement is a partner or colleague."
She asked aspirants to realize that the school considers these recommendations in the context of the entire application — school isn't creating a detailed map of the titles and resumes of one's recommenders and setting up an elaborate hierarchy.
Lee further clarified that asking current HBS students to write to admissions committee on one's behalf outside of the formal recommendation process will not help in the application process. Hence professional or personal associations with HBS students willnot prove to be advantageous in the above context
She added,"If you are worried about how we will interpret your choice or recommenders, simply write a (brief) explanation in the "additional information" section of the application."
Lee finally advised,"in these unusual times, please don't jeopardize your employment in order to secure a recommendation from a current employer. While we might wish that all bosses were enthusiastic and encouraging about business school for their emerging leaders, this is not a universal sentiment. Make your best judgment call about whom to ask, make sure they understand what we're asking, explain your choices to us if you think you should... and that's it!"
Hope this helps all future aspirants...all the best to all aspirants!
Links:
http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/blog.html
Q 1. Is there any advantage to submitting my Round 1 application now?
Dee Leopold: Not really. We don't begin to read applications until the day after the deadline. However, it's always nerve-wracking for candidates who wait until the absolute last minute and then the server is backed up. ...so somewhere between very early and just-in-time is probably smart.
Q 2. I can't attend an HBS information session. What am I missing?
Dee Leopold: Here's what happens at information sessions outside of Boston (please view http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/visit.html Event Calendar for dates and locations):
An Admissions Board member presents an overview with general information about HBS and some detail about the MBA Program and the admissions process. We have a new video which captures some student perspectives and shows off our campus. We then present a panel of relatively recent alumni from the local area who share their reflections on their experience at HBS. We close with a question-and-answer session.
And here's an on-campus session (please see our Visit HBS page for more information):
An Admissions Board member conducts an informal session in an HBS classroom. A typical session will have anywhere from 10 to 30 attendees. There is plenty of time for questions. Although there are no MBA classes in session during the summer, the Spangler Student Center is open for breakfast and lunch. We offer an iPod tour of the campus which is fun and takes about 30 minutes.
In addition to afternoon sessions, this fall we will be hosting on-campus information sessions on the following evenings:
September 3, 9, 17 and 23
These will be similar in format to our on-campus afternoon sessions.
Q 3. When will class visits begin?
Dee Leopold: Early October...although the exact date hasn't been set yet. In September we will post the date and there will be a link to an on-line scheduler. Lunches with students and campus tours will get underway then, too.
In her recent blogpost Dee provided advice on recommendations.
She said,"the most important thing is to choose people who know you well enough to answer the questions we are asking. Many recommendations are well-written and enthusiastic in their praise but essentially full of adjectives and short on actual examples of how your wonderful qualities play out in real life. What we are hoping for are brief recounts of specific situations and how you performed."
She elaborated,"We ask for three — and we are fine with several different combinations. It's fine to have all three recommendations come from your current firm/organization. It's fine to have one from a former employer. It's also fine to have one come from someone who has supervised or observed you in a non-work situation — community service or campus leadership, for example. Note that we are not looking for a peer recommendation — we find it most helpful if there is some developmental distance between you and the recommender. The exception to this might be when you have worked on an entrepreneurial venture or project and the only person able to help us understand your involvement is a partner or colleague."
She asked aspirants to realize that the school considers these recommendations in the context of the entire application — school isn't creating a detailed map of the titles and resumes of one's recommenders and setting up an elaborate hierarchy.
Lee further clarified that asking current HBS students to write to admissions committee on one's behalf outside of the formal recommendation process will not help in the application process. Hence professional or personal associations with HBS students willnot prove to be advantageous in the above context
She added,"If you are worried about how we will interpret your choice or recommenders, simply write a (brief) explanation in the "additional information" section of the application."
Lee finally advised,"in these unusual times, please don't jeopardize your employment in order to secure a recommendation from a current employer. While we might wish that all bosses were enthusiastic and encouraging about business school for their emerging leaders, this is not a universal sentiment. Make your best judgment call about whom to ask, make sure they understand what we're asking, explain your choices to us if you think you should... and that's it!"
Hope this helps all future aspirants...all the best to all aspirants!
Links:
http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/blog.html
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