PDF Summary:65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays, by Lauren Sullivan and The Staff of the Harbus

Securing admission to Harvard Business School requires more than an impressive resume. In 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays, Lauren Sullivan and The Staff of The Harbus provide invaluable guidance to MBA applicants, sharing essays that illustrate the diversity of backgrounds represented at HBS and offering insights on crafting effective submissions.

This anthology showcases narratives that reveal applicants' growth, leadership skills, and capacity for self-reflection. More than a mere list of accomplishments, these essays delve into personal pivotal moments, sharing insights gained from challenges and a vision for future endeavors. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for the multifaceted nature of successful applicants and the necessity of authenticity in the application process.

(continued)...

Articulating an individual's professional aspirations and prospective objectives.

Applicants specify their professional ambitions by outlining their short-term and long-term objectives, explaining how these targets are important to their individual dreams.

Candidates demonstrate a comprehensive and meticulously researched understanding of the profession they plan to enter.

Lauren Sullivan and the staff at The Harbus recommend that candidates craft a unique and actionable plan to fulfill their career goals. The authors underscore the significance of having a solid and well-informed understanding of the chosen career path, which encompasses a comprehensive knowledge of the industry, position, and required skills. Candidates must not only identify the profession they aspire to but also justify its ideal fit with their unique abilities, passions, and values.

The essay describes a candidate's ambitions to explore the healthcare venture capital industry, highlighting the distinctive skills developed from past experiences in the realms of finance and technology. The candidate's connection to the healthcare industry developed from watching family members work in medicine and overcoming a personal health challenge. This essay demonstrates not only a well-researched understanding of the career path, but also a genuine passion and motivation for pursuing it.

Candidates detail how obtaining an MBA from Harvard Business School will facilitate the achievement of their career goals.

The authors recognize that merely stating a career goal is insufficient. Candidates must clearly express how obtaining an MBA, particularly from Harvard Business School, is an essential phase in the pursuit of their goals. To achieve success, it is essential to understand what sets Harvard Business School apart, including its curriculum, faculty, networking opportunities, and resources. Applicants must clearly express how the distinctive learning opportunities provided by Harvard Business School, such as the case method, leadership development programs, and global immersion experiences, are essential for the fulfillment of their career goals.

For instance, an applicant with aspirations to transform the educational sector explained that the focus on innovative leadership and impact on society, combined with the practice of examining actual business situations at Harvard Business School, would equip them with the essential skills and knowledge needed to drive substantial reforms in educational policy. The candidate demonstrates a clear understanding of the distinct opportunities that Harvard Business School offers and their alignment with the individual's professional growth path.

The publication highlights essays that adeptly connect the applicant's past skills with their aspirations for the future.

Candidates showcase the unique experiences and qualifications that make them exceptionally fit for their desired careers.

Sullivan and The Staff of the Harbus advise candidates to depict a consistent narrative of their career paths, linking their previous experiences to their future goals. This involves showcasing how skills acquired, lessons learned, and personal values align with the chosen career path. The aim is to demonstrate how the applicant's background and qualifications have naturally steered them toward their current objectives, laying a solid foundation for ongoing success.

For instance, one candidate with aspirations to head an international private equity company with a focus on energy detailed their varied background, including the oversight of a familial enterprise and the direction of a community initiative dedicated to eco-friendly energy alternatives. The person showcased how their diverse background and strong passion for the energy sector have collectively prepared them to address the leadership obstacles encountered throughout their career path.

Showcasing accomplishments and overcoming challenges

The applicants identified three pivotal events that significantly altered their life paths.

Candidates describe the individual importance and insights gained from each achievement.

The authors believe that notable accomplishments can stem from personal, academic, professional, or extracurricular experiences. The authors argue that the critical element lies in the way these achievements have catalyzed the applicant's growth on a personal level, offering deep insights into their life. For example, overcoming a substantial personal challenge, like recovering from a serious illness or handling intricate family relationships, can demonstrate an individual's steadfast determination and resilience. Exhibiting leadership capabilities can be manifested by accomplishing notable objectives in a professional setting, guiding a group towards triumph, or founding an enterprise or charitable organization, all actions that showcase a person's capacity to guide and influence others.

The book frequently emphasizes the way applicants' experiences have molded their perspectives, detailing what drives them, the obstacles they have faced, and their ensuing contemplations. The authors advise focusing on the profound personal impact of the accomplishments instead of merely recognizing their occurrence. Why was this achievement important to you? What understanding did you acquire from the experience? How did it shape your character and future ambitions?

Candidates demonstrate their growth as individuals, their ability to reflect, and their skill in extracting insights from both successes and failures.

Sullivan and The Staff of the Harbus emphasize that this essay should illustrate the applicant's capacity for growth and learning. They encourage applicants to conduct a sincere evaluation of their strengths and potential areas of improvement, highlighting that these particular accomplishments have offered insights into their personality and identified chances for self-improvement. For example, a candidate might share a story of initiating a successful project at work while also discovering a tendency to micromanage, a realization that prompted a dedication to improving their ability to delegate and empower team members more effectively.

The book highlights narratives where applicants recount lessons learned from previous obstacles, explaining how these difficulties have played a crucial role in shaping their personal and professional growth. Demonstrating the ability to learn from mistakes, adjust your approach, and come back with a strengthened determination showcases a level of maturity and self-awareness that is crucial for surmounting challenges associated with business school and subsequent pursuits.

The book emphasizes the importance of conveying personal reflections and life events rather than just listing achievements.

The candidates carefully contemplated how their accomplishments shaped their unique personalities.

The authors recommend weaving these accomplishments into a narrative that mirrors the person's evolving principles, ambitions, and awareness of self. For example, an applicant may describe overcoming a significant personal challenge, such as a medical issue or family strife, which has enhanced their capacity for empathy and provided them with a renewed perspective on the essential aspects of life.

The capacity to weave together diverse experiences into a cohesive story that demonstrates personal growth reflects a deep level of self-reflection. The authors argue that to fully represent an applicant, it is essential to illustrate their unique attributes, personal development, and potential for leadership in the business sector, which includes detailing these three accomplishments.

Exploring moral quandaries and individual passions.

Candidates anticipate facing and carefully evaluating the toughest ethical challenges that will arise in their future careers.

Candidates exhibit a sophisticated comprehension of managing intricate ethical scenarios with honesty.

The writers emphasize that this particular essay subject provides applicants with an opportunity to demonstrate their moral compass and their skill in handling intricate business scenarios. Harbus recommends that applicants focus on the unique ethical dilemmas pertinent to their field, showing a profound understanding of the complex challenges they might encounter.

For example, an applicant who aspires to work in international development described the challenges of balancing economic development goals with the potential negative externalities for local communities, such as environmental impact, displacement, and social disruption. The applicant demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the complex ethical decisions pertinent to their area of specialization.

Candidates outline a thorough strategy crucial for developing the abilities needed to adeptly navigate ethical dilemmas.

The authors emphasize the importance for candidates to delineate a clear approach for developing particular abilities that will equip them to adeptly handle forthcoming ethical dilemmas, rather than assuming their current ethical principles are sufficient. This approach could include formal learning opportunities such as participating in ethics courses, seeking guidance from experienced leaders, or joining groups focused on ethical business practices. Applicants can also plan to actively engage in ethical discussions, participate in case studies, and reflect on their own experiences to develop a more sophisticated framework for ethical decision-making.

One individual, in preparation for the challenging choices involved in ceasing operations and reducing workforce size, outlined a plan to improve their analytical and social skills by participating in case analyses, ethical instruction, and establishing relationships with experienced professionals familiar with similar circumstances. The candidate demonstrated a dedication to ongoing education and the improvement of their capacity to navigate difficult moral choices by actively pursuing their own ethical growth.

Candidates take advantage of the "other" essay's open-ended nature to provide deeper insights into their unique personality and interests.

Candidates share captivating stories that reveal their deepest passions, core values, and personal evolution.

The additional essay serves as a platform for candidates to highlight aspects of their character or history that have not been expressed in their previous submissions. The authors recommend that applicants seize the chance to share stories and experiences that vividly showcase their unique attributes, highlighting their passions, values, and personal perspectives.

For instance, one candidate described how their family settled in the United States, using the powerful metaphor of a table with three legs, meticulously fixed by their father, to represent unwavering resolve and endurance. The narrative resonated with the audience as it authentically expressed the individual's core values and motivations, and showcased a profound understanding of oneself and a reflective nature that connected deeply with those who heard it.

Applicants share captivating stories that reveal their passions and values, as well as the paths they have taken.

The authors emphasize that the essay offers a clearer and more detailed depiction of the candidate, uncovering insights that go beyond academic and professional achievements. You have the opportunity to express your genuine interests, which could include a profound passion for music, dedication to community service, enthusiasm for discovery, or an uncommon pastime. When selecting personal stories to share, it's crucial to opt for those that deeply resonate with you and highlight characteristics that illustrate your capacity to contribute positively to the community at Harvard Business School.

For example, one applicant shared their journey of overcoming a stutter, highlighting the challenges faced, periodic setbacks, and the important lessons learned through their relentless efforts to conquer this obstacle. The story of the applicant, expressed with sincere emotion and truthfulness, highlighted their unwavering determination and commitment to continuous self-improvement, attributes that are crucial for success in any endeavor.

The essays provide a detailed representation of the writer's personal attributes and background.

The book presents a wide variety of backgrounds and profiles of applicants.

The essays highlight that there is no single formula that applicants to Harvard Business School must follow.

Sullivan and the team at The Harbus highlight that each person's path to Harvard Business School is distinct, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. There’s no specific professional background, extracurricular involvement, or personal profile necessary to guarantee admission. The publication showcases a variety of compositions authored by HBS aspirants, encompassing individuals from military backgrounds, entrepreneurial ventures, artistic endeavors, and community activism, all of which reflect the diverse array of personal narratives that constitute the HBS community. Harvard Business School seeks a varied cohort of candidates who will contribute unique perspectives and foster an engaging, collaborative learning environment.

Applicants craft their essays to offer a holistic depiction of their distinct identities.

The writers recommend that applicants should employ all six essay submissions to present a holistic portrayal of their unique characteristics, showcasing their strengths, weaknesses, values, interests, and goals, rather than trying to conform to a preconceived notion of the perfect applicant. Every essay offers a unique opportunity to reveal different aspects of the applicant's personality, thus creating a comprehensive image of a compelling and complex person.

In one instance, an applicant with a conventional business profile highlighted their passionate involvement in photography and their steadfast dedication to promoting social justice within the essay, showcasing a desire to leverage their business expertise for societal improvement. The applicant distinguished themselves by demonstrating a combination of sophisticated professional skills and a broad spectrum of values and interests, which highlighted their distinctive and captivating character.

The book emphasizes the importance of authenticity and self-reflection throughout the process of applying.

Candidates are encouraged to showcase their true identities and to introspect with sincerity when submitting their applications.

Lauren Sullivan and the team at The Harbus highlight the necessity of authenticity as a means to stand out amidst the intense admissions process at Harvard Business School. The authors recommend that applicants emphasize their distinctive traits and genuine nature in the essays, recognizing that A frank conversation about your aspirations, challenges, and objectives is more likely to resonate with the admissions committee than a story that appears insincere or uninteresting.

Applicants are encouraged to portray themselves genuinely and to delve into introspection, articulating their thoughts and life experiences within the essay's structure.

The authors recommend that applicants convey their distinct stories and viewpoints honestly and compellingly, ensuring they remain genuine and considerate. Applicants must delve deeply into self-reflection and maintain integrity, revealing the experiences and values that have shaped their worldview.

The writer argues that genuine self-awareness can improve your application and help in selecting the ideal business school, setting the stage for a rewarding career path.