AdmitMBA360 Blog formerly Journey to my MBA

Journey to my MBA

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Harvard Info Session

Went to the Harvard Info Session today. I liked it. I'll do my best to describe the information and the experience. The info session was held at Intuit Corporation. The CEO, Steve Cook is an HBS alumni so it was good to see how the alumni support the school.

The presenter was Alicent McCarty (Assistant Director of admissions at HBS). There were 5 alumni in the panel. All recent grads within the last year or two. She did a non-question PowerPoint presentation followed by a video and then the student panel was brought up to answer questions. Alicent moderated the questions. It was good to hear that she went through HBS herself.

After checking into the registration table and picking up my name tag, I walked into a room with seating capacity of 90 seats. The room ended up filled to about 100% capacity. The first thing I noticed was the dual projector setup with the Harvard Logo with the words Ve-Ri-Tas on the shield logo. I decided to look up the word and found that it means "truth" in Latin. The founder of Harvard actually had a more specific meaning of the word from the Christian roots of the school to mean "divine truth".

I was a bit surprised to find absolutely no hand outs or brochures. Alicent later said that this is because HBS is now completely paperless in its application process and brochures. Everything is available on their web site.

The people in the room was of interest to me. I saw about 90 people. There were only 7 women. The room was about 45% Asian (not- including Indian) and 20% Indians. So the room was about 35% caucasian. Every woman was Asian by the way.

There were sodas and large cookies and deserts which was very thoughtful for people coming from work. Big kudos to Harvard on this.

So Alicent started with the PowerPoint presentation in a thorough and thoughtful way. It was clear that she did the presentation with her experience of questions that she had fielded before in here presentation. The mission statement of HBS can be summarized as "Developing/Educating outstanding leaders who contribute to the well-being of society" It was mentioned that HBS does not create leaders, but develops leaders who are on their journey to greater things.

A key phrase that came up all the time was "Transformational Leadership". The learning experience at HBS is based around four key aspects.
1) General Management Perspective which they believe is a broad scope way to create the most well rounded leaders. Alicent mentioned how becoming a good "listener" is key. This aspect of the school is probably one of two highlights that makes HBS unique.
2) The sections. There are 900 students who are broken up into 10 sections of 90 students each. They all take the same class, but in 10 different classrooms. What Alicent may not have realized was that the room we were in fit 90 people. I looked around the room and was able to visualize how a group that size would be my closest classmates for a year.
3) Case Method. The 1st year is primarily case method and the second year is about 80% case method.
4) Passion for teaching by the Profs.

HBS recommends that everyone join study groups. This helps with having some classmates check your ideas and strengthen your reasoning by poking holes when going over case studies together. 50 % of the grades are based on class participation. Tests are open book. The classes are Pass/Fail and students are rated 1,2,3. 1 is great, 3 is poor and most everone gets a 2. Getting 1's are a key to scholarships and for interviews as all 1 students are usually interviewed by companies first. The number one skill that every student says is hard to manage is time and priority management. Apparently, there is way too much stuff to get involved in. From social life to activities. Later several alumni mentioned how it was important to plan what to get involved with early on and to learn to say no to what you don't have time for.

The diversity of the student body is as follows: 34 % Women, 22% minority, 32% international. This diversity is important because 30% of the case studies are from outside the U.S.

There are over 80 clubs. Many of the clubs are saught out by the faculty to provide feedback about how things could be improved in the school. There are 65,000 living alumni and 7,000 are in California.

Career development is done through
1) Self Assessment. The assessment is called "Career Leader". It's intent is to help show career direction suggestions.
2) Coaching - There are numerous Alumni who have volunteered to coach students.
3) Career Teams-These are student lead groups that help individuals stay on track with their career focus or to get a clear direction in where they want to go.

There are a large number of Marketing and Corporate Partners. Alicent also mentioned that there were 1500 jobs in the job bank this year. 30% of them were for International positions.

After the PowerPoint, Alicent showed us a 10 minute video on the school that was well done and with a few statements from the Dean. I didn't find the video over the top or cheesy at all.

Admissions Points
The key things they look for are
1) Academic ability - If they don't see finance or accounting classes in your background they'll recommend that you take them and depending on certain experiences, they will either recommend or require taking a 2 week analytics course at HBS before school begins.
2) Leadership Exp - Alicent mentioned that they are not just looking for people who are already clearly leaders, but also people who have a keen interest or untapped leadership slant. This is the second biggest highlight that I thought makes HBS unique. Where other schools may emphasize academics or teamwork, HBS focuses on leadership.
3) Personal Qualities.

About Essays
One of the Alumni near the latter 1/2 of the session mentioned how it was very important to find your story of how HBS fits into ones leadership Journey. So, some Indian fellow asked about community volunteer work. The entire panel agreed that 1) The volunteer work better seem like a natural extension of the person's story 2) They'll be able to see real quick if it's insincere and kind of a random thing the person does with no real ties into the person's overall story. So for example, if volunteer work is absent in college/work after college and is only seen as something done in the last 6 months to 1 year which is unrelated to career path, then this may be a red flag of insincere volunteer work.

Another good point by one of the Alumni was to make sure not to overdo it on the essays about ones leadership background. Basically, if you make yourself look like a great leader, then the question the reviewer asks is, "Then how can HBS help you if you've already got it that together". In other words, it's important to show how HBS is important to the Journey of Leadership in Business.

With regards to letters of recommendation. They said to not bother with academic recommondations. The transcipt will already show what they need to know for academics in their view.

Financing the MBA
They have a need-blind guideline. Where financing is only looked after acceptance and not before. They have a guaranteed funding policy that mandates all students will be able to get complete funding to finish school. This goes for whether they really need the loan or not. 70% of all students receive some form of financial aid. The loans are underwritten by HBS. There are fellowships available of up to $20,000.

My conclusions.
The panel was full of sharp well spoken individuals. I was impressed with them. The presentation was thorough and the question of what makes Harvard unique was clearly answered in my mind. I was able to ask about internships, how exams were done in a case study class. The panel was candid and were even open in answering questions about the reputation of Harvard grads that are sometimes negative. The school is highly leadership focused and wants to find people who will make a difference. HBS is DEFINITLY a school that fits who I am. HBS really did a good job.

On my way out, I had to ask one last question of Alicent. I asked her if she follows Blogs or B-week forums. She replied that she did not and said that she thought they were a good idea. That was interesting, I thought a person in her position might be following the forums somewhat.

I ran into Aregon and Depak at the session. It was actually very funny because when the session was over, these two guys standing in the middle of the room were starting straight at me and kept staring. I walked over and asked, "so should I know you guys?" -Thinking it was probably them and they said of course.. "It's us!" We talked for a couple of hours in the parking lot afterwards. It was interesting to get to know them. They are both different from one another. They are so on the ball with the apps. I want to see them get into their desired program.

Over the next week and a half, there are so many more Info sessions to go to. In my area, So far, I have plans for the following
Michigan 10/14
Wharton 10/6
Columbia 10/8
HAAS 10/14
MIT 10/14
Stanford 10/1
Tuck 10/7
Darden ?
Kellogg ?
Notice how HAAS, MIT and Michigan are on the same day? I have some decisions to make about going to the San Francisco ones instead of the Silicon Valley ones for the ones that conflict if at all possible.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Journey to my MBA Locations of visitors to this page
Stay up to date with this Blog
Monitor changes to links on the sidebars of this Web Site
Dave's E-Mail

Subscribe with Bloglines Subscribe with My Yahoo! Subscribe with Google Subscribe in NewsGator Online Subscribe in Rojo Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Subscribe with Bloglines Add to AOL
Get Updates of this Blog via Email:

Powered by Squeet.com
Some Noteworthy Blog Postings
Cornell-Johnson Visit Experience-Dave
MIT-Sloan Visit Experience-Dave
Wharton Visit Experience-Dave
Darden Visit Experience-'04-Dave
Darden Visit/Interview Experience-'06-Dave
Darden Pictures-'06
HBS Visit Experience-'04-Dave
HAAS Visit/Info Session-'04-Dave
Columbia Visit/Info Session-'04-Axechick
Tuck Visit/Info Session-'05-Laser
Tuck Visit/Interview '06-Dave
Tuck Pictures1-'06
Tuck Pictures2-'06
--------------------------------------------------------------
Michigan Info Sess. Experience-Dave
Columba Info Sess. Experience-Dave
Tuck Info Sess. Experience-Dave
World MBA Tour Experience-Dave
Travel Guides-Dave
Columbia Open House I-Droodoggie
Columbia Open House II-Droodoggie
--------------------------------------------------------------
Application Essay Advice-Dave
Application Essay Advice II-Dave
MBA App advice-Consulting/Management-Dave
Good Essay question Prep-Uniqpath
The MBA Journey Begins-Dave
The MBA App Process-MarketWiz
Picking Target Schools-Sghama
Pre-App Tips-Bloghorn8
How to interact w/ B-School Staff-Dave
Managing Your Recommenders-ClearAdmit
Schools I Picked & Why-Anand
Import App Elements-Redwolf056
A Successful Essay(Chicago GSB)-PowerYogi
Why Chicago GSB-Paul Jan
Stanford GSB Dean on Essays
------------------ Application Process ------------------
Advice on Admissions Consultants-Dave
Why get an MBA now?-Dave
Why do I need an MBA?-Dave
Story of Tenacity-Dave
MBA App Advice-Dave
Maximize your MBA Info Sess. Exp.-Dave
Low GPA Stories-Dave
Introspect on being resolute-Dave
Why Attitude Matters-Dave
Wharton's Interview Policy-RedWolf
Dealing with a Low GPA
Tuck's App Review Process
UCLA's App Review Process
Wharton's App Review Process
Every Essay Tells a Story
Your Story is so Interesting
What is a great essay?
Am I too young to apply?
When is the best time to apply?
Applying and not sure where to start?
Is school XXX any good?
The B-School Admit Hate List
Hey Applicant, Lay off the Buggin
Should I interview on or off campus?(See comment)
MBA Tour/Info Session Tip
The Interview
------------------ GMAT ----------------------------------
Low GMAT Success Stories
GMAT Score Needed in Europe
GMAT Score Needed
GMAT Score Needed by Age
GMAT Score Needed by Country
GMAT Score Needed by Race
GMAT Score Needed by Major
Budgeting time for the GMAT
Breaking the 700 Barrier
--------------------------------------------------------------
The B-School Route to Career Change
Pre-MBA Resources
MBA Math Build math and spreadsheet skills
Article
MBA Resources show all
--------- Video Interview's of B-School Deans -------
Video Interviews of B-School Deans
------------ B-School Visit Experiences ----------------
Admin Director Interviews
Visit Reviews
------------ MBA Forums ----------------------------------
Business Week Forum
Wharton Student Forum
PagalGuy.com(India)
Chicago GSB Forum
Yale Forum


----------- B-School Articles and News-----------------
How B-Schools get their name
BusinessWeek(B-School Headlines)
The Economist(News from Schools)
The Financial Times(Business Education)
Wall Street Journal(MBA Center)
----------- Gen MBA Info ---------------------------------
MBAMap.com
MBABuzz MBA Blogs, Forum, App Stat Plotter
MBA Info
GMAC
MBAZone.com
MBA Studylink
MBA Jungle
MBA Game Plan
MBA Official Guide
MBA Depot
Top 10 MBA
Ivy League Admissions.com
MBA Podcaster
MBA Jargon
MBA School Directory
Admission411
MBA 4 Success
Military MBA


------------ MBA Program Summary for Applicants---
Accepted.com
BusinessWeek.com
ClearAdmit School Guides
MBAMap.com
TopMBA.com
TheMBATour.com
WSJ School Snapshots
WSJ Who's Recruiting Where?
MBAPrepAdvantage School Profiles
------------ MBA Foreign Related -----------------------
Canadian MBA
Infozee "Foreign MBA"
------------ MBA Conf/Foundations --------------------
Top MBA
The MBA Tour
The MBA Diversity Alliance
Forte Foundation
Catalyst Women
Knowledge@Wharton Podcast
Association of MBAs
------------ Resume Help ---------------------------------
Wetfleet.com
Resumeedge.com
Resumedeli
Darden Resume's
MBA Game Plan Resume Help


------------ Essay Help ------------------------------------
American Dream Project.org - (Dave's Pick)
Essayedge.com (Samples) (Getting Started)
MBA Essay Strategy(download)
MBA Game Plan Essay Help
Some Classic Advice from Wharton Boards
Clear Edit Automated writing editor
MBA Studio


------------- Interview Insight --------------------------
B-School Interview Braindump-Accepted
B-School Interview Braindump-Clearadmit
------------- Ethnocentric Assoc. ----------------------
P.R.I.N.A.
yKAN
LEAD Program for minorities
------------- Post-MBA ------------------------------------
MBA Concepts
------------- MBA Articles---------------------------------
If you want your application to B-School to stand out;first do your homework properly, and then apply early
Admissions Tip:HBS Essay #2
Writing good essays from an ADCOM perspective
Top 5 MBA programs Article
The Full-Time Advantage
Overcoming Procrastination
Why B-School is good for our Economy

MBA Ranks show all
Ranks by Industry Sector Show
--------------------------------------------------------------
Forbes ranking measures the graduates' return on investment
Economist ranking reports how students and alumni rated their MBA experience
BusinessWeek surveys students and corporate recruiters and measures intellectual capital
Wall Street Journal is a corporate recruiter based poll (21 criteria)
U.S. News & World Report evals student selectivity and placement data and gathers the perceptions of deans and program directors to develop the ranking
Financial Times poll measures career progression of alumni, program diversity and a school's track record in producing new ideas in management
--------------------------------------------------------------
BusinessWeek '06 Rank
BusinessWeek '06 Slideshow
Financial Times '08 (PDF) (Interactive)
US News&World Report 2009
Economist 2008 Rankings
------Wall Street Journal Rankings--------------------
WSJ 2006(US)
WSJ 2006(International)
WSJ 2006(Academic Discipline)
WSJ 2006(Women)
WSJ 2006(Ethics)
WSJ 2006(Minorities)
WSJ 2006(Industry)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Forbes Rankings 05' Results - 07' Results
MBAINFO.com Rankings
Beyond Grey Pinstripes 2009
DTU Research per School
B-School Research Rankings
--------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Times E-MBA Rankings '06 PDF
BusinessWeek E-MBA Rankings '05
Money's top 100 MBA Employers '06
US News Category Ranks '06
Financial Times Category Ranks
--------------------------------------------------------------
Asia B-School Rank 2000
Australian 2005 Financial Review
German B-School Rank
Computerworld top techno MBA Survey
Consus Group B-School Rankings
Entrepreneur.com top 100 Entrepreneurial Colleges
Find MBA Rankings
International Education Commission's Top 10
Marr/Kirkwood Comparison Rankings
Official MBA Guide:MBA Program Ranking and Screening

GMAT Resources show all
GMAC-Register for GMAT
---------- GMAT Articles ----------------------------------
GMAT 700+ Stories(download)
Why Prepare?
About the GMAT
How someone got a 760 score
How someone got a 790 score
Mark Rice GMAT Advice
Low GMAT Success Stories

---------- GMAT Forums ----------------------------------
Beat the GMAT
GMAT Club Forum
Scoretop.com-Forum and Files!
TestMagic Forum


---------- GMAT Companies ------------------------------
Bell Curves
GMATTutor.com
GMAX Online(Online GMAT Course)
Kaplan
ManhattanReview
Manhattan GMAT
Perfect GMAT
Princeton Review
Syvum.com
Test Prep New York
Test Prep Review(Online Course)
Veritas GMAT Prep
790GMAT GMAT Guru(SF based)


---------- GMAT Self Study Guides ----------------------
Corrections to Official Guide 11th
Advanced GMAT Math Study Guide
Deltacourse
GMAT Study Strategy
Micro Edu GMAT Prep Material
Probability Review(download)
4GMAT - Math Books (India)


---------- GMAT Resource/Reference -----------------
GMAT Scratchpad
Dr Math
Dr Math-Pascal Triangle
GMAT Official Guide Question Info
HyperGrammar
Krysstal.com
Manhattan GMAT Study Guides (Dave's Pick)
Math.com (Math Skills Review)
MathGoodies.com
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Texas A&M-College Algebra
The Math Page (For Basic Math Skills)
101 Basic Radical & Exponent Review


---------- GMAT Tests ------------------------------------
PowerPrep GMAT CAT (Dave's Pick)
Ascent Education
Arco
Axxent
800 Score (Dave's Pick)
English Test
GMATBuster
GMAT Cram.com
GMATExams.com
GMAT Practice Tests
Gorilla Test Prep
Manhattan GMAT Tests (Dave's Pick)
R&B Consulting Prep Software
Realtestquestions.com
ScoreTop Online Verbal-Quant Tests
TestMasters
TestPrep New York
Upstart Raising GMAT Simulator


Financing your MBA show all
Campusprogram.com
FastWeb
Finaid.com
Financial Aid Podcast
Foreign MBA.com
FreschInfo.com
Fundsnet-Search Engine
Gradloans.com
Graduate Fellowship Database
MBA.com-Loan info
MBAInfo-Article
MBAJungle-Article
Sallie Mae-MBA Loans
Studentawards.com
Tuitionpay.com
US Government's E-Scholar
MBA Admission Consultants show all
Accepted.com Forum
AdmissionConsultant.com
Brody Admissions
B-SchoolAdmission.com
Cambridge Essay Service
Clear Admit
EssayEdge.com
Essay Solutions
Expartus
Global Now
ManhattanReview
Maxx Associates
MBAdmission.com
MBA Applicant.com
MBA Apply
The MBA Exchange
MBAGameplan Article
MBAPrepAdvantage
MBA Studio
Stacy Blackman
Veritas Consulting
-------- Brazilian Admin Consultants ------------------
MBA Empresarial
-------- Commentary on Admin Consultants ----------
Why use them?
Comments about some of them
Not all Consultants are good
MBA Life show all
Chicago GSB Online Newspaper
Chicago GSB Magazine
Columbia B-School Wkly Online NewsPaper
Columbia Spectator Daily NewsPaper
Cornell Univ. Daily Sun (Main Campus)
Cornell Daily News Service Highlights
Dartmouth Online Newspaper
Tuck Today Online Happenings
Duke News & Community
HAAS Weekly
Harvard B-School Online Newspaper
Harvard Gazette Online Newspaper
Harvard Online Magazine
Kellogg Online Newspaper
News at MIT
Michigan(Ross) Newspaper
Texas McCombs Weekly
Michigan Daily Online Newspaper
Stern Online Newspaper
Stanford Online Newspaper
Stanford B-School Reporter
UCLA Qrtrly Assets Mag
Univ. Virginia Daily Online News
Wharton Online Newspaper
Yale Daily Online Newspaper
Yale Herald Online Newspaper
Blog & Other Resources show all
IQ Test
Efax.com
Bloglines
Computer Interval Clock
T-Mobile Coverage Check
Picasa
Hello.com
YouSendIt.com Send large files
Sendthisfile.com Send large files
Understanding Blog Template Code
SSI Developer - CSS
Changenotes.com-Web Monitor
Fodey.comNewspaperclip generator
MBA Related Books
Search Now:

Site Meter