Harvard Business School (HBS) earlier this week released preliminary profile information for the Class of 2012. Though many of the stats this year are very close to last year’s, the information does reveal some interesting admissions trends taking place at the school.
Overall class composition remained relatively constant year over year. This newest class is 36 percent women (down 1 percent from last year), 23 percent U.S. ethnic minorities (unchanged) and 34 percent international students (down 2 percent, but representing more countries, 73 compared with 70 last year).
Notably, the school received almost 500 more applications this year – 9,524 compared to last year’s 9,093. Of these, 11 percent were admitted, and HBS projects a total MBA enrollment of 910 students. Last year proved slightly less competitive with more applicants admitted (12 percent) and a larger final class size (937).
HBS did not share information about average undergraduate GPA for admitted students this year. Last year, it was 3.67. The middle 50 percent GMAT score range this year was between 710 and 750, slightly tighter than last year’s range of 700 to 760.
As was the case last year, a growing number of students in the Class of 2012 were admitted within four years of graduating from college – which is to say without completing the minimum of five years of work experience that had long been considered the norm before enrolling in business school.
Of the incoming class, a whopping 68 percent graduated from college in 2006 or later. These statistics represent, in part, HBS’s move in recent years toward recruiting promising younger applicants, including through its 2+2 deferred admissions program. As part of the 2+2 Program, promising college students apply to the MBA program while still in school and, if admitted, have a space reserved for them in the MBA class, which they assume after completing two years of approved work experience.
Preliminary Profile of the Class of 2012
Date: July 07, 2010
Here's a peek at the Class of 2012.
This is still officially "preliminary" until registration in September.
Admissions
Total MBA Enrollment 910
Applications 9,524
% Admitted 11%
Class Composition
Women 36%
US Ethnic Minorities 23%
International 34%
Countries represented 73
Undergraduate institutions represented 243
GMAT Score Range 510-790
Middle 50% GMAT Score Range 710-750
Average GMAT 724
Citizenship
North America 70%
—United States 66%
Asia/South Pacific 13%
Europe 12%
Central/South America 3%
Africa 1%
Oceania 1%
Undergraduate Majors
Business 23%
Engineering/Natural Sciences/Technical Disciplines 33%
Humanities/Social Sciences 43%
Other 1%
Pre-MBA Industry
Consulting 22%
Consumer Products 7%
Financial Services* 14%
Healthcare/Biotech 6%
High Tech/Communications 6%
Manufacturing 9%
Military 5%
Non-Profit 7%
Other Services 5%
Venture Capital/Private Equity 18%
