Harvard MBA Application Guide

Harvard Business School MBA is looking for candidates who are:

Business-minded: Interest in helping organisations succeed, whether in the private, public, or non-profit sector

• Best shown through: interpersonal skills, quantitative abilities, and impacts on past working experience

Leadership-focused: Aspiration to lead others, and to build and sustain successful organisations

• Best shown through: extracurriculars, community initiatives, professional work

Growth-oriented: Desire to broaden one’s perspective through active participation, discussion, and problem-solving

• Best shown through: instances where the candidate has expanded their responsibilities, knowledge areas, skills, and/or perspectives, and how they engaged with the world around them

All materials must be submitted to Harvard Business School online by the application deadlines.

A non-refundable fee of $250 is required from applicants to help cover the application review costs, while those applying for the 2+2 Deferred admissions program will need to pay a reduced fee of $100.

Candidates will also need to submit a signed acceptance of Harvard MBA admissions policies.

All re-applicants are required to submit a complete application.

For the Harvard MBA, candidates will need to prepare:

Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions, technical and professional schools, both full-time and part-time

• Unofficial or student copies of transcripts are accepted online. Upon admission, an official copy will be requested for verification
  Overseas college or university degree must be equivalent to a four-year American baccalaureate degree (this includes international three-year bachelor’s degree programmes)

GRE/GMAT

• No minimum score required
• Candidates can report the unofficial GRE/GMAT scores given on the day of the test, though the testing agency will need to send an official score report directly to HBS
  GMAT Focus test-takers should submit their valid GRE, GMAT (10th Edition), or English language test score to fulfill Harvard’s writing assessment requirement. If candidates only submit their GMAT Focus score, they will be asked to take a separate GMAC Business Writing Assessment
• Harvard MBA Class of 2026’s median GMAT is 740, GRE Verbal and Quantitative is 163

English language test
No minimum score required, though it is encouraged that candidates should strive for scores higher than:

• 109 for TOEFL iBT, or
• 7.5 band overall for IELTS, or
• 75 overall for PTE, or
• 145 for Duolingo English Test

Harvard MBA program does not require candidates to adhere to a specific format for their business resumes or CVs. Applicants are free to submit their usual resume or CV.

Additionally, Harvard Business School emphasises that the MBA program is tailored for individuals with full-time work experience, suggesting that candidates should ideally possess a minimum of two years of such experience before applying. Notably, the Class of 2026 at  Havard MBA boasts an average of 5 years of professional experience among its members.

Every applicant is required to submit two online recommendations by the application deadlines. While it is recommended by the HBS MBA program that one of these recommendations come from a direct supervisor (either from the recent past or currently), this is not mandatory.

Recommendations can come from a former supervisor, a colleague, or a collaborator on an activity outside of work. Candidates should find people who know them well enough to complete an assessment of the candidate’s professional attributes and answer the following questions:

• How do the candidate’s performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
• Please describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)

Choosing the right recommender is essential. Here are some important factors to keep in mind:

• Select individuals who truly know the candidate’s strengths, preferably through significant interactions over the last three years
• Seek out those who can provide detailed anecdotes and examples that highlight the candidate’s talents, character, and positive impact on others
• Opt for recommenders who are enthusiastic and ready to invest time in writing a thoughtful and personalised letter in support of the candidate

It is important for candidates to remember that they must take responsibility for ensuring that all recommendations are submitted online by the deadline for the application round they are entering.

For Havard MBA Class of 2027 (matriculating Fall 2025), candidates will need to write the following essays that are in line with the program’s evaluation criteria:

Business-Minded Essay:

Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve.

• Up to 300 words
• This essay serves as a platform for candidates to articulate their career aspirations and illustrate how their past experiences have equipped them for the HBS MBA program
• It’s essential to focus on the “experiences” and their “impacts.” These experiences can stem from personal, professional, extracurricular, or community involvement. Prep Zone highly encourages candidates to draw a clear link between their past experiences and the professional choices they have made thus far, as well as to outline how these experiences will shape their future contributions to the community they aim to serve
• Anecdotes can resonate more powerfully with readers than a simple list, so it’s beneficial to delve into a specific, impactful moment or action that highlights the candidate’s motivation and career objectives

Leadership-Focused Essay:

What experiences have shaped who you are, how you invest in others, and what kind of leader you want to become?

• Up to 250 words
• This is a space for candidates to tell HBS who they are and what they care about
• Prep Zone encourages candidates to connect their responses to their past experiences, highlighting their current impact, or to focus on a specific area of the leadership skills they wish to cultivate for greater future influence. Emphasise the logical relationships between the various elements of the school’s prompt
• Offer perspectives on how the candidate would contribute positively to the Havard Bussiness School student community

Growth-Oriented Essay:

Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth.

• Up to 250 words
• The essence of this essay lies not in a specific area of interest, but in the candidate’s enthusiasm, drive, and dedication to explore and fulfill their curiosity. Candidates should take a moment to reflect on experiences that ignited their desire to learn and develop
• To help structure their thoughts for this essay, candidates might consider the following approach:
  • Set the scene: Begin by introducing the area of interest
  • Take action: Describe the proactive steps taken in pursuit of curiosity, such as taking notes, organising, or leading a team focused on research or problem-solving
  • Share the outcome: Conclude with the results of these efforts and the insights gained about themselves

Joint Degree applicants will need to complete a supplemental essay for their program:

• For the Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Kennedy: How do you expect the joint degree experience to benefit you on both a professional and a personal level? (up to 400 words)
  For the Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences: The MS/MBA Engineering Sciences program is focused on entrepreneurship, design, and innovation. Describe your past experiences in these areas and your reasons for pursuing a program with this focus. (recommended length: 500 words). Applicants will also be able to respond to an optional essay.

2+2 deferred applicants will need to complete the following essays:

• What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead? (Approximately 300 words)
• Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (Approximately 300 words)
• How do the plans you shared in the Career section of the application fit into your current long-term career vision? What skills and/or professional experiences do you hope to obtain in the deferral period that will help build the foundation for your post-MBA career? (Approximately 300 words)

Reapplicant Essay:

Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

• The structure of this Harvard MBA essay question indicates that the school is keen on understanding the proactive measures the candidate has undertaken since their previous application. The response should highlight the concrete steps the candidate has taken to enhance their skills and profile, demonstrating how they have evolved into a stronger applicant for this program
• Examples of such actions might include: retaking the GMAT or GRE, increasing community engagement, or taking on leadership or management roles at work

One of the most common mistakes MBA applicants make with concise essays is responding too literally to the prompt without considering the overall context. When tackling the essay writing process, it’s essential for candidates to reflect on the overarching reasons they believe they deserve a spot at Harvard Business School. By keeping the bigger picture in mind, applicants can avoid fixating solely on traits like “curiosity” or “leadership skills.”

Next, take into account the subjects that have already been covered in other parts of the application. Aspects such as academic performance and professional experience will be detailed in the application or resume. Identify what hasn’t been mentioned yet and think strategically about how to incorporate that information into the provided prompts.

Each essay should reveal something fresh about the candidates—discuss a variety of experiences, achievements, and insights. The more comprehensive the perspective candidates can provide on their story and background, the more impactful their essays will be. View these short essays as pieces of a larger puzzle that together create a complete picture of who the candidate truly is.

Once candidates submit their written applications, they may receive an invitation for an interview after the review process. These interviews last 30 minutes and are conducted by a member of the MBA Admissions Board who has already examined the candidate’s application. Each interview is personalised to the individual candidate, allowing the Admissions Board to gain deeper insights through a conversational format.

Since the questions during the interview will stem from the application, it is essential for candidates to remain authentic in their submissions and to recall the details they provided. Additionally, candidates should consider discussing the information or examples their recommenders included in their letters, ensuring they are prepared for any follow-up questions from the Admissions Board.

Receiving an interview invitation is a positive sign of interest, but it does not guarantee admission; it is just one component of the comprehensive evaluation process at Harvard Business School. All interviews are conducted by invitation only, as determined by the Admissions Board. If candidates are invited, participation is necessary to complete their application.

Interviews can take place on campus, in various domestic or international hub cities, or via Zoom. The mode of the interview does not influence the status of the candidate’s application.

This Harvard MBA essay is typically due within 24 hours after the interview concludes. Applicants who receive interview invitations will be provided with further instructions regarding the reflection.

To effectively draft this reflection, it’s advisable for candidates to take notes right after their interview. This will help them maintain a clear record of the discussion and identify any points they wished to address but didn’t have the opportunity to cover. When writing the essay, candidates should treat it like a final argument for their application.

It’s important to review the messages conveyed in all application materials (essays, CV, etc.) and during the interview, then craft the reflection to highlight the key strengths of their candidacy. Given the tight 24-hour deadline, applicants will need to focus their efforts and plan carefully.