Harvard MBA – Essays Tips and Deadlines for 2024-25

Harvard MBA – Essay Writing Tips 

Harvard Business School (HBS) has released its MBA essay question for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This year, applicants are required to answer three open-ended essay questions. HBS aims to understand applicants’ unique stories and their impact on their personal and professional lives. Let’s break down the essay prompt and explore strategies for crafting a compelling response to all your questions.

HBS Essay 1: Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

• Zero in on a Defining Experience: Instead of giving a broad overview of your career, focus on one pivotal experience that has significantly influenced your career choices and aspirations. This could be a breakthrough project, a leadership challenge, or an impactful mentorship. Describe the situation in detail, highlighting the specific challenges you faced and the actions you took. Explain how this experience shaped your professional outlook and led you to pursue your current career. This approach provides depth and allows the admissions committee to see your decision-making process and the values that drive you.

• Showcase Your Future Vision with Specificity: HBS looks for applicants with a clear vision for their future impact. Go beyond general statements and paint a vivid picture of how you plan to contribute to businesses, organizations, and communities. Be specific about the roles you aspire to, the initiatives you want to lead, and the changes you hope to implement. For instance, if you’re passionate about sustainability, detail how you aim to drive eco-friendly practices within your industry, citing specific strategies or technologies you intend to leverage. This not only demonstrates foresight but also shows your commitment to making a tangible difference.

• Align with HBS’s Mission and Values: Finally, connect your narrative to the core values of HBS—leadership, innovation, and making a difference in the world. Reflect on how HBS’s unique resources, such as particular faculty members, courses, or programs, will support your goals. Show that you’ve thoroughly researched how HBS can help you achieve your aspirations and that you’re eager to engage with its community. Mention any interactions you’ve had with current students or alumni that have influenced your decision to apply. This personalized connection demonstrates your genuine interest in HBS and reinforces your fit with the school’s mission.

HBS Essay 2: Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become? (up to 250 words)

• Think back to a moment when you were thrust into a leadership role unexpectedly. Maybe it was when a team member fell ill during a critical project phase, and you had to rally the team to meet a deadline. Describe the emotions you felt, the actions you took, and how this experience not only honed your crisis management skills but also made you realize the importance of empathy and support in leadership.

• Don’t just list achievements—delve into how these experiences have shaped your philosophy of investing in others. Perhaps mentoring a junior colleague who was struggling helped you understand the value of patience and the impact of one-on-one support. Reflect on how these moments have influenced the kind of leader you aspire to be, focusing on your commitment to fostering growth and collaboration. Connect these personal stories to the broader leadership opportunities at HBS, such as participating in peer mentorship programs or leading student clubs, showing how you will bring your unique leadership style to the Harvard community. This humanizes your application and provides a vivid picture of your leadership journey and future aspirations.

HBS MBA Essay 3: Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)

• To excel in the Growth-Oriented Essay, focus on a specific instance where your curiosity led to significant personal or professional growth. Reflect on a time when you went beyond the surface to explore a new area, whether it was diving into a complex project, learning a new skill, or pursuing an unconventional interest. Describe how this curiosity-driven endeavour challenged your assumptions, expanded your knowledge, and led to meaningful growth. For instance, you might recount how teaching yourself coding in your spare time enabled you to develop a tool that improved team efficiency, thereby enhancing your problem-solving skills and demonstrating initiative. 

Joint Degree Essays:

Essay 1:Joint degree applicants for the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Kennedy School must provide an additional essay: How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (up to 400 words)

• When writing the joint degree essay for Harvard’s various schools, focus on the unique synergy between the programs and how this combination will enhance both your professional and personal growth. Begin by identifying the specific skills, knowledge, and perspectives that each degree will provide. For example, if you’re applying for the MBA/MPH joint degree, discuss how the business acumen from HBS will complement the public health expertise from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, enabling you to lead healthcare organizations more effectively. 

• On a personal level, reflect on how the joint degree aligns with your values and long-term aspirations. Highlight how the diverse community and collaborative environment at Harvard will enrich your personal development. Share specific examples of how you plan to engage with both communities, such as participating in cross-disciplinary projects, joining relevant clubs, or leveraging the alumni network. Emphasize the holistic growth you anticipate, from developing a broader worldview to gaining insights that will shape your leadership style.

Essay 2: Joint degree applicants for the Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences must provide an additional essay: The MS/MBA Engineering Sciences program is focused on entrepreneurship, design, and innovation. Describe your past experiences in these areas and your reasons for pursuing a program with this focus. (recommended length: 500 words). Applicants will also be able to respond to an optional essay.

• For the MS/MBA Engineering Sciences program essay, focus on detailing your past experiences in entrepreneurship, design, and innovation, and clearly articulate why this joint program is the next logical step in your career. Begin by highlighting specific projects or ventures where you have demonstrated entrepreneurial thinking, innovative problem-solving, and design skills. Use concrete examples, such as launching a startup, developing a groundbreaking product, or leading a creative team, to showcase your accomplishments and the impact you’ve made. Then, connect these experiences to your future goals, explaining how the MS/MBA program’s unique integration of engineering and business will equip you with the skills to scale your innovations, drive technological advancements, and lead transformative projects.

Things to Avoid in Your Harvard Essays

•  Don’t simply repeat information found elsewhere in your application
•  Avoid generic responses that could apply to any business school
• Steer clear of controversial topics unless you can discuss them objectively and professionally
•  Don’t focus solely on your accomplishments; show vulnerability and growth
• Avoid using the essay to explain weaknesses in your application (use the optional essay for that)

Crafting compelling essays for your MBA application can be a daunting task, but it’s also a valuable opportunity to showcase your unique journey, insights, and aspirations. Remember, each essay is your chance to provide a window into your experiences, demonstrate your alignment with the program’s values, and illustrate how you will contribute to and benefit from the school’s community. By following these insider tips and approaching each essay with thoughtfulness and clarity, you’ll be well on your way to crafting an application that stands out to the admissions committee. Good luck, and may your essays reflect the true essence of who you are and the impact you aspire to make!