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| BUSINESS WEEK RANK # 4 Harvard University Harvard Business School Soldiers Field Boston, MA 02163 E-mail address: admissions@hbs.edu Web site: http://www.hbs.harvard.edu
BW corporate ranking: 4
KEY CONTACTS:
Application deadlines:
BW SURVEY DETAILS:
STRATEGY FOR APPLICANTS: What to expect? At Harvard, the interview is not informational. It's used to further evaluate you as a candidate. You'll be asked questions to elicit actual experiences, risks taken, difficult decisions you've made in your life, and tough feedback you've been given. You may be asked if you failed at something and what you learned from the experience. You may also be asked questions that will allow Harvard to evaluate how you deal with ambiguity and how imaginative you are. Harvard promises decisions on applicants within two weeks from your interview date. Other pointers: Invest at least a week to simply fill out what is one of the more involved application forms of any school. Successful candidates say they spend 100 hours preparing the HBS application. Especially critical are your answers to Harvard's eight essay questions, each requiring a succinct half-page or full-page answer. Examples: "Describe an ethical dilemma you have experienced firsthand. How did you manage and resolve the situation?" Or: "Describe a setback, disappointment, or occasion of failure that you have experienced in your professional life. How did you manage the situation?" How to answer them? Says admissions director Fadule: "They should answer them as if the questions were asked of them by a good friend. They shouldn't get so focused on this being a business school application and that they should narrow their scope of how to answer the question. Be candid. We need to understand the whole person. People who overthink or who craft their responses do themselves a disservice because we don't get to know the true person behind the application." Harvard prefers that your recommenders be people who you have worked with closely and who can comment on your ability to work with others. It's not important to have a "name" recommender. It's also not critical to have a senior executive of a company be a recommender. The quality of your relationship to your recommender, however, is important. Admissions allows applicants to observe a first-year class from October through July, providing you call 617 495-6127 at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that a student host can be arranged. Harvard also holds information sessions daily at 3 p.m. during the school year at the admissions office in Dillon House. Harvard does not offer an IBM-style disk-based application but will accept a Macintosh version from Apply Software Systems Inc. at 800 93APPLY. It will set you back about $40. For written applications, the school suggests that you insert a piece of cardboard in a 9-inch by 12-inch envelope to ensure that your application isn't bent or damaged in the mail. The school has three decision periods, starting in early November and ending on Mar. 5. Harvard discourages telephone calls regarding your application, but provides personal feedback to rejected candidates who were invited by admissions to interview. SCHOOL'S BEST AREAS OF STUDY: N/A AREAS SCHOOL WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE: N/A
COURSES
TEACHING METHODS
Number of full-time faculty: 176
PLACEMENT:
TOP EMPLOYERS/NUMBER OF 1997 HARVARD HIRES:
ALUMNI NETWORK CLASS OF 1996 COMMENTS FROM BUSINESS WEEK SURVEYS "Harvard was my first choice due to its reputation and network worldwide that is unmatched. A lot of students at Harvard Business School from other countries were here for the same reason. If you want to start your own business later on, it gives you a real edge internationally if you want to raise capital from people in the network. Dean Clark has been very responsive to improve a lot of complaints regarding administration. We just got a brand new technology/computer lab and greater administrative support." "The teaching at HBS is phenomenal. Faculty show a relentless zeal for challenging students to make the most of themselves. Students are constantly driven to "think out of the box," and always ask "why," without accepting the most common "good answers." I describe my experience at HBS as having learned the "good questions" and then knowing "how to ask them" and "when to listen." HBS pursues lifelong learning through its dynamic classroom environment." "The network is excellent at Harvard. During my job search, I had over 95% of all alumni return my phone calls when I was conducting an independent job search. They provided specific information and contacts, the +/- of companies/jobs, and useful "next steps." In addition, the professors are extremely focused on teaching. Unlike my old undergrad school which focused on research, HBS ensures professors emphasize teaching." "An alumnus of HBS told me the value of your MBA is that it, "provides you with a wealth of information to amplify and enhance your interests and the opportunity to pursue them." I wouldn't have had half of the opportunities nor interests without HBS." "The administration has vaulted itself off the charts in redressing some historic problems with responsiveness. Dean Clark holds forums constantly and answers email within 24 hours. Problems voiced by students are dealt with by student/administration teams very quickly. Investment and commitment to technology is massive. The highest caliber of classmates makes the program. Case discussions assume the aura of a "mini United Nations," as students from around the world weigh in with local perspectives. The program does not live up to its negative stereotypes. Team focus: many group projects include a timed mid-term exam, group papers, computer simulations, and study groups. The grading system is an asset that prevents "inflation," and actually de-emphasizes grades (since 80% get the middle grade) and promotes real learning." "Positives: The quality of students and teaching here is, I believe, unsurpassed. Field study opportunities are excellent, and had a positive impact on my second-year experience. The alumni network, especially internationally, is far and away the best. Physical facilities and buildings are beautiful and conducive to creating a sense of community. Negatives: Coordination and integration with the rest of Harvard University is poor. IT has lagged other schools. Most of the learning takes place in the first year. Demand for elective courses is not always met. Bottom line: The only other school I would consider coming close to Harvard is Stanford." "Three things make the Harvard program awesome: The teaching staff - not only are the teachers tops in their fields in terms of current thinking, but most of them are also funny and intoxicating speakers. The students - hands down in my opinion, the most gifted, well-rounded, most diverse student body in the world. And, they're very down-to-earth and team-oriented (not cutthroat!). The resources - the endowment, the alumni, the campus, the gym!" "I am very enthusiastic about Dean Clark's focus on HBS becoming a cutting edge "learning organization" (in the sense of an organization that is flexible enough to continually grow, adapt and imbed new knowledge). One element of these changes that I find particularly exciting and important is the Initiative for Social Enterprise, which is incorporating more non-profit, public sector, and social enterprise issues and cases into our courses, adding coursework and field studies in social enterprise areas, sponsoring speakers and seminars, offering Executive Education for Non-profit Executives (with opportunities for student interaction) and formalizing summer fellowship and loan forgiveness programs. These changes are building awareness of social enterprise issues that will encourage students and alumni to think more deeply about social responsibility in their business careers and to participate in volunteer consulting, board positions, and multi-sector careers. Increasing our focus on technology and globalization have also been very quickly and smoothly executed and are proving a tremendous asset. The Leadership and Learning Initiative, particularly the structural shift in the term to include the team oriented, pass/fail ethics, business history, social enterprise, and analytic techniques foundations modules at the beginning of every term, makes a lot of sense and seems to be adding value for the students who are directly involved." "The technology initiatives are unparalleled. For example, I had an entirely Web-based class: DMIO - Designing Managing + Improving Operations, taught by David Upton - which was amazing! You must experience the new 108-computer technology lab." "I was one of the students on the pilot course, DMIO, which used internet based multimedia. It is not only that HBS is embracing technology to such an extent that is impressive, but it is the fact that the rate of change is so rapid. This bold school is far from resting on its reputation. It is reinventing business school education." "HBS has a real advantage through the case method and the amount of "real world experience" that we all absorb through the 800 cases. They need to work on programs to help students pursuing entrepreneurial careers (such as myself). There is too much theory here, they are behind MIT and Stanford." "Regarding the workload, the first semester is excessive (9 - 10 hours per night). After that, it's extremely manageable. Much of this comes from the forced curve grading. Once everyone realizes that they're not going to fail out, things lighten up. The student government has really reinvented itself." "I will never forget the incredible feeling of accomplishment I have leaving this place. One of my professors said that at HBS, the struggle - learning by case method, class participation grading, team projects - is what makes the learning stick. He was right." "Dean Clark has really fired this program up. He quickly made a number of improvements that are having significant impact. For example, a new 100+ computer lab with high speed access to the WWW (+ a number of related initiatives), increased emphasis on the use of information technology in the classroom (e.g. full multimedia cases distributed over the Web - text, video, sound, graphics, simulation exercises), much more responsiveness on the part of the administration (over a dozen major changes were made as a result of student input), and excellent communication from the administration (newsletters, open forums with the dean and other administrators, emails, etc.). In sum, Dean Clark is rejuvenating the school." "I was not prepared for my experience at Harvard. I was expecting a school which would emphasize technical skills so frequently emphasized at the undergraduate level. Instead, the case method promoted a combination of everyday group learning and technical skills. I know when I enter the business world, my interpersonal skills, analytical abilities and leadership developed in the case forum will set me apart from the rest. Harvard places a strong emphasis on relationships. I have made incredible friends and business associates. The dynamic of entrepreneurial high caliber students and faculty has fostered great business opportunities. This coupled with integrity and a strong value system emphasized by the school has created an environment for lifelong friendships and exciting business relationships." "In my opinion, the school has integrated the program across all conceivable facets and dimensions, from the curriculum, faculty, administration, admissions, and recruiting, to the extracurricular club activities. I love the case discussion method. It not only leads to a more rigorous analysis of a problem, but it aids in the development of courage and public speaking skills." "I was a Marine Infantry Officer before business school. Although I had over seven years of solid leadership experience (including infantry combat leadership in Kuwait), I was a "different" sort of applicant. With a 2.80 GPA and a 690 GMAT, I was high risk to say the least. HBS takes chances on high risk candidates; that makes a huge difference in the diversity of the students. The biggest problem with graduating from HBS is overcoming the "asshole factor." There are many assholes at HBS, just like every other school. People assume all HBS grads are assholes. It takes some time to convince them otherwise, but, hey, that's life. The case method is fantastic. It is true that it is an inefficient way to learn techniques in the different disciplines. However, if you want to learn business, do 850 cases in 20 months. This environment is high stress, competitive (yet demands teamwork inherently), and social in its truest sense. The grading system (50% class participation and a forced curve) forces students to make difficult trade-offs between group and individual goals and absolutely requires interpersonal skills and communications. Overall, this place selects and develops organizational leaders. It is not, however, the most enjoyable environment on earth." "As a foreign student, something that really impressed me about HBS is that in more than 30% of the classes you get management people from the company we study. In no other business school do MBA students have the chance to talk real time with the owners and managers when studying cases about their companies. This fact sets Harvard apart from the rest of the field." "There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best general management school in the country. As such, it makes a huge effort to expose students to a broad array of courses. My only complaint is that it does not offer a great deal of depth. I think the GMAT is an excellent addition to the admission criteria. It will improve the student body. I also think that the "forced curve" is one of the main culprits for the lack of teamwork here. Finally, after my summer job, as well as other interactions with students from other top b-schools, I think HBS grads are the most well-rounded and this is due to the required curriculum which spans the entire 1st year." "Harvard is in the process of implementing many of the recommendations of the Leadership & Learning initiative. These include greater course integration and a year-round academic calendar, to name a few. But more importantly, through Leadership & Learning, the school now has a process for continuously reviewing and improving the MBA program. The school has made a significant investment in computing facilities and information technology. The new Shad Research & Technology Lab provides students with state-of-the-art computers, printers and internet access, as well as staff to assist with questions. Several elective courses are already using the Lab to teach new, interactive cases on CD-ROM."
Harvard University 1997-98 MBA STUDENT PROFILE
Harvard Business School ===================================
Soldiers Field 1997 enrollment 1,784
Boston, MA 02163 Part-time None Minority 18%
E-mail address: admissions@hbs.edu Non-U.S. 26% Women 29%
============================== Interviewed in person 80%
PROSPECTS--1996 GRADS* Applicants accepted 14%
Average pre-MBA salary $58,852 Accepted who enrolled 87%
Average post-MBA total pay $113,544 **Less than 1 yr work exp <1%
Median post-MBA salary $55,000 -----------------------------------
Median post-MBA total pay $110,637 1997 TRAITS RANGE AVG
Average job offers per student 4.22 ===================================
Graduates with job offers 99.6% GMAT score 545 to 780 674
------------------------------------- GPA 2.6 to 4.0 3.5
1997 average post-MBA salary $82,670 Work experience 0 to 17 yrs 4.0
Annual Tuition $25,000 Age at entry 22 to 43 yrs 27
Room & board $7,073
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*Latest available figures
**1996 data
BUSINESS WEEK's The Best Business Schools, Fifth Edition, includes in-depth profiles that will help you more fully assess the strengths and weaknesses of more than 50 of the world's best MBA programs. To place an order for this latest edition: call 1 800 352-3566 (domestic), 001-1-212-512-4100 (international), or via the Internet visit the McGraw-Hill Book Store.
Updated February 17, 1998 by bwwebmaster Terms of Use
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