Harvard MBA 2012-2013 Essays The drastic shortening of the Harvard essay set, though in keeping with the general decline in essay standards and size, is probably the worst example of how not to structure MBA application essays. The stark and almost opaquely generic questions are certain to change next year because the HBS admissions committee is begging to receive loads of irrelevant essays. This year Harvard's comprehensive array of MBA application essays have given way to two stingy essays. Still, an applicant should try to make the best of a bad deal and choose a broad variety of ideas, attitudes and life events (personal and professional) to illustrate that you are a worthy candidate. Do your best!
Harvard Essay 1
Tell us about something you did well. (400 words)
Harvard Essay 1 Tips
Though worded blandly, this is a simple achievement essay that can be rephrased as: Tell us about your greatest achievement. It is not mandatory that this be your greatest accomplishment but with just two essays to write, why not write about your biggest and your best in one?!
The 2011-2012 question "
Start off by forming a list of 3-4 key achievements from your professional, personal or academic life. Having done that, choose the accomplishment that best highlights aspects of your leadership, learning, worldview or career vision. Since the essay pack has only two essays, the job is made easier for you since you don't have to worry about overlap with other multiple essays. Choose the abilities/skills that are your greatest strengths; the rider to that is that since this is Harvard and since this is an MBA application, leadership as a skill and an attitude could be given preference over other abilities.
Make the story personal.
Make the story powerful.
Make the story YOU.
Go for it!
Harvard Essay 2
Tell us about something you wish you had done better. (400 words)
Harvard Essay 2 Tips
This complements the first essay question - but as usual writing about a failure or setback might be more difficult than describing our success. The question can be rephrased as: "Tell us about a time when you failed" OR "Tell about a setback you have faced".
Harvard's continued interest in delving into your perception of failures is evident in the 2011-2012 prompt "Tell us three setbacks you have faced.".
An ability to fail does not qualify you for a Harvard admit! However willingness to try, ability to evaluate failures/setbacks/challenges, capacity to learn from mistakes, facility in conquering obstacles and a knack for bouncing back, might be appreciated by the admissions committee. So, though this essay seems to be a failures/setbacks essay it is your ability to learn from failure, your skill in understanding how to overcome challenges and your willingness to improve, that should be the main tilt of the essay. This aspect of the essay is clearer in the 2010-2011 essay "What have you learned from a mistake?" which points you in the right direction.
Identify a time where you faced obstacles and emerged either victorious and a better person/professional. If the setback created a significant difference in your thought process, leadership style, behavior or value system and was a substantial learning, you can go to the printers with the story.
Go for it!
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