MBA Program

Harvard Business School invites students in. Into two years of leadership practice immersed in real-world challenges. Into a diverse community of colleagues and faculty reflecting a world of talents, beliefs, and backgrounds. Into an intense period of personal and professional transformation that prepares you for challenges in any functional area—anywhere in the world.

To experience the HBS MBA is to go inside the issues that matter—and to reach inside yourself for the strength, skills, and confidence you will develop to face them. In every case, class, event, and activity, you are asked not only to study leadership, but to demonstrate it.

Each day at HBS begins with one question: "What will you do?" Because that's the truest way to prepare you for the larger question that matters most, here and in your career beyond our campus: "What difference will you make in the world?

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

The application for admission consists of the following:

Transcripts

• Candidates must have the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is required (unless applying through the 2+2 program — please see information for college seniors). Degrees from international universities offering three-year baccalaureate degrees are valid equivalents.
• We require uploaded transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions that you have attended (full- or part-time).
• You may upload an "unofficial" or student copy of your transcript; however, we will request an official copy for verification purposes should you be admitted to HBS.

When the Admissions Board looks at your transcripts, we are looking at the whole picture — not just your GPA. We take into account where you went to school, the courses that you took and your performance. We understand the structures of different grading systems worldwide. There is no minimum GPA to apply, although our students usually have strong undergraduate records. Undergraduate academics are just one factor the Admissions Board uses to evaluate a candidate.

GMAT/GRE

• The GMAT or GRE is required in order to submit an application.
• When submitting your application, you may report the unofficial GMAT or GRE score given on the day of the test, or your official score if you have received it. Every applicant must request that Pearson (for the GMAT) or ETS (for the GRE) send an official score report directly to HBS.
• We require you to complete the AWA portion of the exam; however, you do not need the results in order to submit your application.
• If you take the GMAT on or after June 5, 2012, we also require you to complete the Integrated Reasoning portion of the GMAT.
• Please be advised that in order to apply for admission in Fall 2013, scores must be dated January 1, 2008, or more recently.

There is no minimum GMAT or GRE to apply and we do not have a bias toward one test or the other. If you look at our class profile, you can see that we have a wide range of GMAT scores in the current first year class. If you do test multiple times, you may report your best score, and we will only look at the scores from the single test sitting you report in your application.

TOEFL/IELTS/Pearson Test of English

• A TOEFL, IELTS or Pearson Test of English (PTE) is required if you did not attend an undergraduate institution where the sole language of instruction is English.
• If you completed a graduate degree which was taught in English, it is recommended you submit one of these tests, but it is not required.
• Scores from ALL of these tests are valid for two years. These tests must be dated January 1, 2011 or more recently to be valid.
• HBS only accepts the Internet-based (IBT) version of the TOEFL.

HBS does not have a minimum test score to apply, however, the MBA Admissions Board discourages any candidate with a TOEFL score lower than 109 on the IBT, an IELTS score lower than 7.5, or a PTE score lower than 75 from applying.

Essays

• There are 2 required essays.
• There is a 400-word limit for each essay.

We think you know what guidance we're going to give here. Don't overthink, overcraft and overwrite. Just answer the question in clear language that those of us who don't know your world can understand.

Recommendations

• You will need to have three recommendations submitted online by the application deadlines (2 recommendations are required for 2+2 candidates).
• Recommenders will be asked to fill out a personal qualities and skills grid and answer our four additional questions (see below).
• It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all recommendations are submitted online by the deadline date for the round in which the applicant is applying.

Our general advice is that at least two out of three recommendations should come from your professional life. You can have three professional recommendations if that is appropriate given your situation. Ideally one of those should come from a current or recent supervisor, but we know that is not always possible. Use your best judgment on who you decide to ask - there is no set formula for who should be your recommenders. Look at the questions we are asking recommenders to complete. Find people who know you well enough to answer them! This should take priority over level of seniority or HBS alumni status.

Additional Materials

• Current resume
• Signed Acceptance of HBS Admissions Policies
• Nonrefundable application fee (credit card only) of $250 (USD)* - this fee cannot be waived

*Applicants to our 2+2 Program need only two recommendations and the application fee is $100.

ESSAY QUESTIONS

All applicants must submit answers to two essay questions listed below. Joint program applicants for the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Kennedy School must provide an additional essay which can be found below.
Essays required for all applicants:

• Tell us about something you did well. (400 words)
• Tell us about something you wish you had done better. (400 words)

Joint degree applicants only:

• How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (400 words)

Recommender Questions

Recommendations must be completed online. The recommendation form includes the following four essay questions, along with other types of questions.

• Please comment on the context of your interaction with the applicant. If applicable, briefly describe the applicant's role in your organization. (250 words)
• How does the candidate's performance compare to other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (250 words)
• Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (250 words)
• Please make additional statements about the applicant's performance, potential, or personal qualities you believe would be helpful to the MBA Admissions Board. (250 words)

To be considered for admission, an applicant must have successfully completed the following:

• A degree program at an accredited U.S. four-year undergraduate college/university or its equivalent (unless you are a college senior applying to our 2+2 Program).
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) from a test taken January 1, 2008 or later. The GMAT or GRE is a prerequisite for admission;
• Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score from a test taken January 1, 2011 or later, is required for international applicants who attended a non-English-speaking undergraduate university; and
• Submission of a complete online application for evaluation by one of thedecision round deadlines.