HBS has released its essay questions for fall 2010. Here is my take on them
1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)
One of HBS’ long standing questions, this is also according to me the simplest of the lot once you have selected which 3 achievements to portray. Leadership should of course come through strongly in all 3 accomplishments. Quantifiable results are generally easier to portray but if the applicant has examples of leadership and achievement in softer areas like community or personal values, it could show some diversity in the application. My suggestion is to keep the language simple and try to cover 3 different areas of expertise among work, community, extras, academics etc.
2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)
This essay if reflected upon correctly can make or break the application. Remember that they do not expect the applicant to be gods gift to humanity and they expect that he/she makes mistakes, learns from them and corrects themselves. Reflecting on the mistake and taking corrective steps and then showing improvment would be an ideal way to frame the essay.
3. 1- What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
This is an ideal essay for early career applicants as it creates the right platform for them to tell the ad com about their undergrad experience. As they have asked specifically about academic experience, it makes sense to write about some good examples of leadership or teamwork resulting from an academic project or experience from undergrad.
3.2- Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
This is a good essay for people involved in non-profit or community experience to highlight their role and results. This should be chosen only for those with significant community experience and not to speak of the one time that the applicant volunteered to donate clothes for the under privileged.
3.3- Tell us about a time when you made a difficult decision
New essay for this year’s application but goes well considering their overall theme of leadership and decision making skills. if the applicant has an experience in which he/she has had to take a decision/risk without having complete information or has had to take a call in the face of adversity and then has stood by it despite opposition will be a great example.
3.4- Write a cover letter to your application introducing yourself to the Admissions Board.
I was a little surprised seeing this essay introduced newly for this year as it generally tends to repeat some of the stuff written about in earlier essays. A good applicant will be able to use this essay to identify an underlying theme to all other essays and highlight the same. This will be a tough one to write without making the adcom sleep. Best to avoid it if possible.
3. 5-What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?
Standard career and long term goals essay. The applicant should remember that the adcom is asking for a vision and so necessarily it may be on a theoretical frame. But if he/she can make it sound convincing , it can be a winner. For those applicants whose long term visions with respect to careers are still evolving, it would be better to let this one go.
I had spent a month and a half writing/reading/editing the HBS essays. All the best for all the applicants out there. I had a great time writing them. You should too.
