国际顶尖MBA申请交流平台--TOPWAY MBA

For Whom:
Current college juniors with at least one remaining semester, after July 2008, necessary for the completion of their degree. Domestic and international students alike are welcome to apply.

HBS 2+2 is a first-of-its-kind deferred MBA admissions program designed to reach qualified college students, especially those who may not typically consider business as a career path or business education as a future option.

This unique program will give undergraduates a guaranteed place in a future Harvard Business School MBA class, contingent upon their graduation from college and the successful completion of two years of approved work experience. Some of the world’s leading organizations such as Google and Teach for America have signed up as recruiting partners, receptive to hiring 2+2’s for the work experience component of the program.

Harvard Business School will reach out to high-achieving college juniors studying in the fields of science, engineering, healthcare, government, and public service, among other disciplines, as they begin to explore career and graduate school opportunities.

Application Dates:

There are two key application dates for Summer 2008:
--Application Submission: 7/1/08 (5 p.m. EST)
--Admissions Notification: 9/15/08
To avoid heavy server traffic and potential delays, we encourage candidates to submit application materials as early as possible. Regretfully, requests for decisions earlier than 9/15/08 cannot be accommodated.

Admission requirements:
To be considered for admission, an applicant must complete the following prerequisites:
--Junior year of undergraduate academic experience, or equivalent
--Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) taken 7/1/03, or later
--Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) taken 7/1/06, or later, if you are an international applicant attending a non-English-speaking undergraduate university
--Submission of a complete online application for evaluation by 7/1/08

Application Checklist:
The HBS 2+2 Program application for the MBA class entering fall of 2011 consists of the following materials. All materials must be submitted online. Please assemble and prepare them to help us assess your qualifications.

--Application essay responses
--Current resume
--Recommendations
--Uploaded or self-reported transcripts from all undergraduate academic institutions attended (full- or part-time)
--GMAT scores from a test taken 7/1/03, or later
--TOEFL or IELTS score from a test taken 7/1/06, or later (if applicable)
--Signed HBS Community Values statement
--Signed Statement of Application Integrity
--Nonrefundable U.S. $100 application fee (credit card only)

Admission Policies:
As you prepare your application to Harvard Business School, please be aware of the following policies:

--All applications and recommendations must be submitted online.
--Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is complete.
--The Admissions Board will not consider any additional materials or changes once an application has been submitted.

The completed application becomes the confidential property of Harvard Business School and is not returnable.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all the information and accompanying material provided in connection with their application is authentic and accurate.

Harvard Business School may at any time require applicants to provide satisfactory verification of the information and documents submitted as part of their application. If an applicant is unable to do so, the School reserves the right to cease consideration of the application, to withdraw any offer of admission already made, and/or to terminate one抯 status as a student.

Applicants assume all costs for authenticating and verifying documents and information associated with their application.

Once an application is submitted, the Board reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant, including, but not limited to, an interview.

All applicants who have been invited for an interview must fulfill the request in order to complete the application process.

I AM A COLLEGE SENIOR (OR RECENT GRADUATE). AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THE 2+2 PROGRAM?

You are eligible to apply to the regular MBA program, but not the 2+2 Program. In order to be eligible for the 2+2 Program you must be a current college junior with at least one remaining semester, after July 2008, necessary for the completion of your degree.

College seniors and recent graduates are welcome to apply via the regular MBA application process. College senior applicants benefit from several special policies: a reduced application fee of $100, and the opportunity to postpone matriculation for up to two years. There is more information on applying directly from college on the HBS Web site.

DUE TO ADDITIONAL CREDITS / MY INVOLVEMENT IN A CO-OP PROGRAM / JOINT DEGREE PURSUITS / ETC., I WILL GRADUATE IN DECEMBER OF 2008. AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO THE 2+2 PROGRAM IN JULY OF 2008?
Yes. We require that applicants have at least one remaining semester to complete their degree when they apply.

MY UNDERGRADUATE CONCENTRATION IS IN A BUSINESS-RELATED FIELD, AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF BUSINESS EXPOSURE. IS 2+2 THE RIGHT PROGRAM FOR ME?

The 2+2 Program is primarily targeted towards students who are not already on a business track (i.e. students studying the liberal arts, sciences, engineering, etc.). If your current academic training and internship experiences put you on a solid foundation to advance in a business career, 2+2 may not be the right program for you. We encourage candidates with a strong track record of leadership and business exposure to consider applying as college seniors to our regular MBA Program.

IF I'M PURSUING A 3- OR 5-YEAR DEGREE, AM I STILL ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2+2 PROGRAM?
Yes. Students pursuing undergraduate degrees that are shorter or longer than 4 years are eligible to apply. Students should apply the summer prior to their final year of study.

CAN I APPLY TO 2+2 IF I AM INTERESTED IN PURSUING A JOINT DEGREE (MBA/MPP, MBA/JD, MBA/MD, ETC.)?
Yes. Students admitted to the 2+2 Program are eligible to apply for joint degrees with other Harvard Graduate Schools. HBS currently participates in joint degree programs with Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Medical School. For more information about the joint degree programs offered by HBS, go to the Joint Degree Programs section on the HBS website.

IF I APPLY TO 2+2 AND I'M NOT ADMITTED, MAY I APPLY TO THE MBA PROGRAM AS A COLLEGE SENIOR?
Yes. Students who are not accepted to the 2+2 Program are welcome to apply as college seniors through the regular MBA application process.

IF I APPLY TO 2+2 AND I'M NOT ADMITTED, WILL IT NEGATIVELY AFFECT MY CHANCES OF ACCEPTANCE TO HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL IN THE FUTURE?

No. If you have applied to 2+2, you will be at neither an advantage nor disadvantage in comparison to other applicants.

ARE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY TO 2+2?

Yes. Domestic and international students alike are welcome to apply.

WILL THE 2+2 PROGRAM GUARANTEE ME A JOB AFTER GRADUATION?

You are responsible for securing your two years of employment; however, the 2+2 Program will provide many resources to assist you. A dedicated HBS career coach will help you navigate your job search, and HBS will introduce you to a wide network of recruiting partners who have expressed interest in receiving resumes from participants in the 2+2 Program.

ARE MY JOB OPPORTUNITIES LIMITED TO THE RECRUITING PARTNERS THAT HBS HAS ENLISTED?

Not at all. Our partner companies and organizations have indicated interest in providing opportunities for 2+2 admitted students; you are welcome, however, to go outside our list of partners for your two-years of work experience.

HOW MANY SEATS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE 2+2 PROGRAM?

Because this is the 2+2 Program's inaugural year, we do not know how large the first cohort will be. We currently plan to grow the 2+2 Program to roughly 90 students as the Program matures. In the short-term, we will let the strength of the applicant pool determine the exact number of admission offers we extend.

WHO SHOULD MY RECOMMENDATIONS COME FROM?

Recommenders should be individuals who know you well and who can relate specific and relevant details about your abilities and performance. We believe that supervisors from an internship or part-time work experience, professors, advisors, and mentors can all serve as equally good recommenders. The Admissions Board discourages recommendations from peers, if possible.

WHEN IS THE LATEST I CAN TAKE THE GMAT?

The GMAT is required by the 2+2 application deadline on July 1, 2008, at 5 p.m. EST. When submitting your application, you must report the unofficial GMAT score given on the day of the test. This is the only score that the Admissions Board acknowledges. The official GMAT score sent by ETS may arrive after the deadline dates, and this score will be used for verification purposes.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE INTERVIEW PROCESS?

Interviews are conducted on the Harvard Business School campus, by invitation only, and at the discretion of the MBA Admissions Board. If you are invited to interview, you must participate in order to complete the application process. All interviews will take place on campus during late August and will last approximately 30 minutes each.

WILL HBS PAY FOR ME TO COME TO CAMPUS IF INVITED TO INTERVIEW?

We will provide some funding to help defray the costs of travel to and from campus for interviewees.

ONCE I COME TO HBS, WILL I AND THE OTHER 2+2 ADMITTED STUDENT BE PART OF A SEPARATE PROGRAM?
No. Once 2+2 students begin their MBA experience on-campus, they will be integrated into the HBS community with all other students in the MBA Program.

HOW DO I ACCESS THE 2+2 APPLICATION?

The 2+2 application is available online. The application submission deadline is July 1, 2008. All applicants will be notified of the Admissions Board's decision on September 15, 2008.

Two weeks ago, we talked about Harvard Business School's new fast-track program for college juniors, HBS 2+2. Since then, quite a few people have stopped by this website wanting to know more. This week, I'm going to take a look at the million dollar question:

Who will get in to HBS 2+2?

I'm an undergraduate at Harvard right now, and I've been watching HBS 2+2 pretty closely. I think I have some answers . However, before we get started on the Magical Mystery Tour of HBS 2+2 Admissions, I'd like to point out one very important fact: we don't actually know who will be admitted, because no one's been admitted yet. The very first round of applications isn't due until July; frankly, not even HBS knows who they're going to admit. So, before you get too nervous, remember: anything's possible. These are not definitive answers, because very few definitive answers exist.

That said, there are some pretty substantial clues.
(Hint: liberal arts majors, women, and geeks are in demand.)

But before we dive in, here's a rundown of what HBS 2+2 is all about:

1. Apply in July after your junior year of college.
2. Receive acceptance/rejection by September of senior year.
3. Team up with a career coach who will help you find a job that's allegedly right for you.
4. Attend HBS 2+2 Summer Program in the summer after college.
5. Work two years at your job, with another HBS 2+2 Summer Program between Year 1 and Year 2.
6. Matriculate at HBS after two years of work.

(Check out this graphic timeline on the HBS 2+2 website for more details.)

Two years of work, two years of school. 2+2. It's a pretty great deal, for the students and for HBS. But who will be lucky enough to get in?

Officially, HBS 2+2 is looking for liberal arts majors who are juniors in college—those "not on a business trajectory." Do Economics majors count as being "on a business trajectory," or not? At a prospective students event for Harvard Business School three weeks ago, an admissions officer answered this question by saying that "We consider Economics majors to be liberal arts majors"—therefore, Economics majors are fine. However, "business majors," which exist at some colleges, are not the 2+2 target audience. "They don't need our resources," according to the admissions officer.

Also, despite a Wall Street Journal article that implied the opposite, HBS 2+2 is not just for Harvard undergraduates. Far from it. Whatever HBS's other motivations are for 2+2, they're pretty serious about using 2+2 to "increase diversity" in the class of 2013 and beyond.

The Wall Street Journal article offered a final clue: stellar women candidates are very much in demand.

"By providing deferred admission, 2+2 will also help Harvard Business School attract more women applicants, says Carl Kester, deputy dean for academic affairs. The demographic is one that M.B.A. programs in general have historically struggled to recruit. 'Young women who are considering an M.B.A., but believe they need for five or six years of work experience before applying, are often faced with concerns about when they might start a family,' he says. 'By comparison, many professional-degree programs can be completed in less than five years.'"

So far, we have the following...
____
Official Characteristics of the Target HBS 2+2 Candidate
1. Junior in college.
2. Liberal arts major—not business major. Economics is okay.
3. "Not on a business trajectory"—could benefit the most from HBS's resources.
4. Women and other traditionally difficult-to-recruit candidates are valued.
____

Now, we get into more speculative territory. At the same prospective students event three weeks ago, the admissions officer said something interesting about leadership. Paraphrased:

"We're looking for the same qualities of leadership in 2+2 candidates that we look for in our regular admits. However, when most people think of the word "leader" they think of the person who's in charge of everything—in charge of a million clubs and publications. We're certainly looking for those people, but we're also looking for different kinds of leaders. You could be a thought leader, for instance—someone who's on the cutting edge. Or you could be a leader in terms of excelling at actualizing other people's ideas and making them happen."

Who are "thought leaders," and what does it mean to be one? It's hard to say, and I think that HBS probably operates on a policy of "we know it when we see it." However, I have one guess, substantiated by some of their targeted advertising:

They're going after geeks.

I haven't seen everything on the Internet, by any means, so this is a very biased observation. However, I did notice a few weeks ago that HBS 2+2 was advertising pretty heavily on BoingBoing—bastion of geekdom, palace of blogging. I've heard that BoingBoing is the third-most-read blog on the Internet, so advertising there seems like a logical step. But let's think about the audience there—certainly not your "traditional" business school candidates. We're talking computer science students, future founders of Internet startups, and yes, a lot of pretty regular people who just love weird things, antique ephemera, and free culture. (Of BoingBoing's readers, I'm definitely in the third category! No computer science superstar here.)

Let's take a look at some screenshots:

Sidebar banner ad I noticed next to my profile page. Incidentally, feel free to friend me over there!

Those look like big ads to me, and I think that demonstrates at least some level of targeting. However, if anyone has encountered these ads elsewhere on the Internet or in print, I'd love to hear about them.
____

Right now, HBS 2+2 is a big mystery; I think the number of people who come to this website looking for answers shows just how big that mystery really is. And if you read my last HBS 2+2 article, you'll know that I think this is a calculated move on the part of Harvard Business School—it's just hard to tell exactly what that calculation is. While I certainly don't intend this post to be the last word on HBS 2+2 admissions, let alone a true guide to "getting in," I thought it was worth laying out what we already know:

Liberal arts majors,
Students "not on a business trajectory,"
Women and members of other traditionally-hard-to-recruit groups,
"Thought leaders" and actualizing leaders
And quite possibly geeks
—in their junior year of college—
constitute a good chunk of Harvard Business School's target audience for HBS 2+2.

So while we may not know exactly who Harvard Business School's 2+2 program will admit, we do know who they're hoping will apply. And I'd venture to say that that's better than nothing.