Introduction:
Getting admission into Harvard Business School’s MBA program is one of the most competitive things you can do. Harvard receives thousands of applications each year for a class of under 1,000 students. Your essays are one of the only opportunities you have to truly differentiate yourself from the other highly accomplished applicants. With careful consideration into what the admissions committee is looking for and how to craft compelling personal stories, your essays can help tip the odds in your favor.
Craft stories, not just descriptions:
The Harvard MBA essays are looking for more than just descriptions of your past experiences and accomplishments. They want to see how you’ve grown and developed personally and professionally over time. Craft stories that show a beginning, middle, and end with changes or realizations you experienced along the way. Focus on specific lessons learned or how you would approach things differently next time. Admissions officers are human – they want to connect with you through vivid stories rather than lists of experiences.
Show self-awareness and reflection:
Beyond just recounting what happened, the admissions committee wants to see that you’ve taken the time to reflect on your experiences. Analyze what you got out of a challenge or opportunity and how it shaped who you are today. Be aware of both your strengths and weaknesses, and own up to learning experiences that didn’t necessarily have positive outcomes. Self-awareness shows that you’re constantly learning and evolving as a person and leader. Make sure any shortcomings or mistakes you include show genuine reflection on your part.
Connect experiences to your leadership philosophy:
The essays aren’t just about what you’ve done in the past but, more importantly, how that informs your goals, priorities and leadership approach going forward. Connect the dots for the reader by explaining how specific experiences helped shape your leadership values or management style. Frame your past challenges as learning experiences that will directly benefit yourself and future teams. Show the admissions officers you have a vision for how the Harvard MBA will allow you to become an even more impactful leader.
Display both intellect and compassion:
The strongest applicants demonstrate they have both substantial accomplishments and the kind empathy and emotional intelligence required to motivate diverse groups. Share a story that shows not only your intellectual capabilities but also how you cared for others, overcame adversity, handled complexity or brought people together. While a stunning career trajectory is impressive, human stories that peel back your character are what will really stick with readers.
Check tone and voice:
Write in a friendly, warm tone – like you would if conversing with someone you just met. Avoid lecturing or coming across as arrogant. You want the reader to like and connect with you as a full, multi-dimensional person. Maintain consistent voice – don’t switch between formal and informal styles within the same essay. Use active rather than passive language where possible. Proofread thoroughly to correct any typos or awkward phrasing. Well-written, polished essays leave the best impression.
Show, don’t tell:
Rather than making generic statements about qualities you possess, give concrete examples that allow the reader to observe those traits for themselves. Let your specific stories, words and phrasing show that you’re compassionate, resilient, etc. rather than declaring “I am compassionate.” Use vivid language and sensory details to paint a picture the reader can step into. Compelling storytelling through thoughtfully chosen anecdotes is what the admissions committee seeks.
Keep it concise:
Each response has strict character limits for a reason. It forces you to be ruthlessly selective. Get to the core narrative as quickly as possible without sacrificing context. Cut any unnecessary descriptive flourishes or redundant information. Communicate your message crisply while still leaving a lasting impression. Brevity shows you respect the reader’s time while still powerfully conveying your key points.
Be yourself, not who you think they want to see:
While aiming to fulfill the prompt, do not contort yourself to fit some preconceived mold of the “perfect applicant.” Your authentic self will shine through – for better or worse. The committee sees through generic, artificially crafted responses. Let your true character, values and personality emerge from how you describe your experiences and goals. Gravitas and sincerity will serve you far better than trying too hard to please.
Request feedback and iterate:
Have others at different career levels read and provide constructive criticism on your essays. Incorporate that input but do not lose your unique voice. Modify structure, emphasis or details based on what lands best but maintain ownership over your core message and narrative framing. You may find subtle tweaks make a big difference. Set aside for a few days and revisit with fresh eyes to self-edit and refine continually until submission.
Conclusion:
With strategic consideration of what admissions is seeking and meticulous crafting of compelling personal stories, your essays can be the factor that sets you apart from other qualified candidates. Tap into meaningful experiences to showcase both your intellect and character. Authentically represent yourself while responding fully to the prompts. Through iterative refinement, you’ll end up with application materials that allow the committee to understand you as a multi-dimensional leader primed for the transformational Harvard MBA experience. Give your application the best possible footing for admission by making the most of your essay opportunities.
Andrew Stroud