Round 2 at HBS is Almost Here

Is your MBA application for Round 2 at HBS as strong as it can be? The deadline is coming up on January 4, 2022. That means there’s no time like the present to review some key elements your Harvard Business School application should highlight.

Unsurprisingly, high-impact leadership is the “Big Kahuna” at HBS. Meaning, it’s the essential trait that the admissions committee wants to see. When evaluating your leadership potential, the AdCom will look for evidence that you’ve made a positive impact on the communities of which you’ve been a part, both personally and professionally.

Are You a Leader?

Your past leadership achievements are the best gauge of your potential for realizing your future ambitions, so make sure to highlight instances that support your case in this area.

The admissions committee understands you may not have several years of work experience from which to draw. Take comfort in knowing that it’s not about the scale of your achievements. Instead, it’s the fact that you left indelible footprints.

How Have You Made the World a Better Place?

Be sure also to focus on service to others in your application. As with leadership, the committee is concerned with the connection between your achievements and how they reflect who you are. Community service is vital for two reasons.

First, because it provides insights into your deeper interests and the causes that you care about. Secondly, the admissions officers want to see evidence that you’re the type of person who devotes energy to making a community stronger. After all, they may be inviting you into their community.

With a mission to “educate leaders to make a difference in the world,” HBS isn’t looking for candidates who want a résumé boost. If you’re applying to Harvard, you have to have passion and vision—think big. Passion is a useful tool for staying motivated and productive, whether it’s in school or business.

But it goes much deeper than simply being passionate about what you’re doing. You need to express your passion in a way that inspires and projects energy onto those with whom you work. It’s not just your footprints that interest HBS admissions. They also want to see the footprints of those who follow you as you blaze a new trail in an area of passion.

Before You Submit in Round 2 at HBS

Prospective applicants can take advantage of one of these upcoming webinars to learn more about HBS before this season’s final deadline.

• Harvard MS/MBA Virtual Q&A (12/7/21)
• MBA Program Admissions and Info Session (12/8, 12/16)

Keep in mind, Harvard Business School is closed from December 20th through January 2nd. So, this will be your last chance to ask the AdCom any questions as you put those finishing touches on your application over the next few weeks.

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If you need further proof that pursuing a Harvard MBA is the right path for you, check out this evergreen post from the HBS MBA Voices Blog.

See here for NEW 2021 HBS interview advice, including format, evaluation criteria and sample questions. The SBC team wishes you much luck with your HBS application and interview and would love to support your efforts. Contact one of our SBC Principals to request availability for HBS interview preparation by emailing hbs@stacyblackman.com asap. As a reminder, HBS interview prep support at SBC is available only after interview invites have been extended. Here’s the overview of SBC’s interview prep services.

Do you need a second set of eyes to review your application before Round 2 at HBS? Work with a Stacy Blackman consultant on an hourly basis.