Guides: Business School Insider’s Guides

How to Get Into Harvard Business School: mbaMission’s HBS Insider’s Guide

How to Get Into Harvard Business School: mbaMission’s HBS Insider’s Guide

Harvard Business School has billed itself as a “transformational learning experience” for MBA students. While that may sound clichéd, graduates with whom we have spoken attest that HBS delivers. The school states that its mission is to educate leaders who will make a difference in the world, and the administration takes his responsibility seriously.

While HBS could rely on its reputation to attract the best and brightest students and faculty, competition from other top-tier business schools has forced HBS to continue to provide innovative opportunities and world-class resources to students and alumni.

HBS provides a general management education and has invested in the infrastructure needed to train well-rounded leaders, rather than developing a program dedicated solely to a specific industry or management function. HBS is a pioneer of the case method, which allows students to analyze real business problems and reflect on possible outcomes with their peers.

Given that the interests of its faculty and vast student body will likely vary widely and change over time, HBS offers students the opportunity to participate in customized group or individual Independent Projects. The school has also developed interdisciplinary initiatives that coordinate research on broad areas of study, such as entrepreneurship, social enterprise, and the global economy. HBS also offers vast opportunities for entrepreneurship, including the annual New Venture Competition, which allows students to compete in business and social enterprise tracks and awards up to $225,000 each year. More than half of HBS graduates create at least one venture during their careers.

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How to Get Into HBS

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  • Class size: Smaller versus Larger
  • Curriculum: Flexibly versus Mandatory Core
  • Pedagogy: Lecture versus case method
  • Academic Specializations/Recruitment Focus: Resources and Employers
  • Professional Specializations
  • Location: Urban Campus versus College Town
  • Facilities: Shaping the Academic/Social Experience
  • Alumni Base: Opportunities to Engage
  • Rankings and Reputation: Important Metrics or Arbitrary Measures?
  • The Dean: Srikant Datar
  • Notable Professors and Unsung Heroes
  • Social/Community Life
  • Academic Summary
  • Admissions Basics
  • Harvard Business School Essay Tips, 2024-2025
  • HBS Class Profile (Class of 2025)
  • Harvard Business School Employment Statistics (Class of 2023)

HBS FAQs

Is the HBS MBA worth it?

The estimated return of investment on the Harvard Business School MBA is 286%. The complete cost of attendance at Harvard Business School is approximately $240,000, and Harvard Business School Class of 2025 had a median base salary of $175,000 at graduation. This means that Harvard Business School MBAs tend to go into highly compensated positions after graduation, which improves their chances of a return of investment further in their careers.

The Harvard Business School MBA program is a rigorous two-year journey. The MBA curriculum is demanding and high-paced, but also highly customizable. Harvard Business School MBA students receive a hands-on, intensive experience that equips them with the skills needed for leadership and navigating the business world. The Harvard Business School MBA program is also very entrepreneurial, which may lead to fruitful entrepreneurial ventures that could improve the return of investment for graduates.

What GPA do you need for HBS MBA?

The average GPA among the Harvard Business School Class of 2025 is 3.73. There is no minimum GPA score requirement at Harvard Business School. The Harvard Business School admissions committee evaluates each MBA application in a holistic manner, meaning that the GPA score is only one part of the process and not a make-it-or-break-it aspect. Harvard Business School is a highly selective program, however, and most approved applicants do have competitive undergraduate transcripts.

Is an MBA from Harvard prestigious?

The Harvard Business School MBA program consistently ranks among the very top MBA programs in the world. Both Harvard University and Harvard Business School carry name recognition around the world and Harvard Business School is widely thought to be one of the best business schools in the world. Harvard is part of the prestigious Ivy League. Harvard Business School pioneered the case method of teaching, which today is used by numerous business schools around the world, in some of them exclusively.

Harvard Business School is a highly competitive program, but the admissions committee often underlines that it is not out of reach for “regular people”—for example, more than half of each incoming class receives need-based financial aid. The prestige of Harvard Business School adds to its competitiveness but should not defer applicants.

Is Harvard MBA hard to get into?

The Harvard Business School is highly selective. During the 2022–2023 application season, the Harvard Business School MBA program received 8,149 applications and the admissions committee extended acceptances to 1,076 individuals. This means that 13.2% of the applicant pool were admitted. The Harvard Business School acceptance rate is on the lowest end of the spectrum, rivaled only by school like the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which typically has an acceptance rate of under 10%.

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