Harvard Business School 2+2 – Admissions Tips

Started in 2008, the Harvard Business School (“HBS”) 2+2 Program has offered innovative college juniors the opportunity to apply for deferred admission to the HBS MBA program. Prior to enrollment, accepted students will gain two years work experience at the hands of a Harvard affiliate employer. To prepare students for the workforce, HBS hosts a summer program where each admit is allotted a career coach and begins to build a foundation for professional growth. The following summer students will return to HBS for a more intensive leadership training session. Students will then gain one more year of professional experience before returning to HBS to utilize their newfound knowledge in the classroom.

Typical Applicants

The program is geared towards developing the leadership skills of individuals whose aspirations don’t fit the traditional corporate career mold. Academic fields and areas of interest may include art, activism, and engineering. While the goals of each applicant may vastly differ, all should maintain academic excellence and express a desire to make a difference in a specific field. The highly diverse and competitive applicant pool includes the following representative statistics for a recent year.

Demographics:

Applicants                 844

Admits                      115

Admit Rate            13.63%

Woman                     39%

International            27%

Educational Background:

Engineering & Natural Sciences         50%

Humanities & Social Sciences            44%

Business Administration                      4% 

Academic Information:

Average GMAT            727

Average GRE Q            767

Average GRE V            679

Average GPA               3.75 

 

Application Components

Only college juniors or those who have the equivalent academic credentials will be considered. All materials must be submitted online. Competitive applicants will be offered an interview. After the interview a final decision will be made. 

Application Materials

4 Application essays

Current resume

2 Recommendations from professors, mentors, or advisors

Transcripts from all undergraduate academic institutions attended (full-or part-time)

GMAT or GRE scores

TOEFL or IELTS score (if applicable)

The application process requires thought and precision. It is recommended to begin preparing at least three months before the deadline.

Typical essay questions are as follow:

Required Questions

• What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

• What would you like us to know about your undergraduate academic experience? (400-word limit)

• What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)

Optional Questions

Please also respond to one of the following (400-word limit each):

1. Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.

2. What area of the world are you most curious about and why?

3. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

The deadline for submitting applications to HBS’s 2+2 Program is between June and July. In 2010, it is June 15th. Candidates will be notified of their admissions status in September.

Additional information about HBS 2+2 can be found at http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/2+2/

For Manhattan Review expert admissions help with your application, check out our MBA Admissions Consulting.

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