Harvard Business School stands as a beacon of business education, attracting aspiring leaders from around the globe to its rigorous MBA program. Known for its case method approach and focus on practical problem-solving, HBS equips its graduates to have a big influence in the business sector and beyond.

HBS MBA Application Deadlines 2025-2026

Round 1:

  • Application Deadline: September 3, 2025 (by 12:00 PM ET)
  • Notification of Board’s Decision: December 10, 2025

Round 2:

  • Application Deadline: January 5, 2026 (by 12:00 PM ET)
  • Notification of Board’s Decision: March 25, 2026

HBS MBA Application Essays and Tips 2025-2026

1. Business-Minded Essay:

“Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations. (300 words)”

This essay is an opportunity to narrate your professional journey with intentionality. It is not just about what you have done, but why you did it and where it is leading you.

  • Be Strategic with Your Story: Don’t just list your jobs. Instead, point out 2-3 pivotal choices or turning points in your career.
  • Emphasize “Choices”: The prompt specifically asks about your “choices.” This means demonstrating agency. Explain the thought process behind your decisions, the alternatives you considered, and the rationale that led you to your chosen path.
  • Connect Past to Present to Future: Show a clear, logical progression. How did choice A lead to experience B, which then shaped aspiration C?
  • Be Concise and Impactful: With a limit of 300 words, every sentence counts. Use strong verbs, avoid jargon, and get straight to the point.

2. Leadership-Focused Essay:

“What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead? (250 words)”

HBS values leaders who not only achieve results but also uplift and empower those around them. This essay is about showcasing your human-centric leadership.

  • Select Specific, Meaningful Experiences: Think beyond formal leadership roles. Perhaps it was mentoring a junior colleague, leading a volunteer project, or even an informal situation where you helped someone grow.
  • Focus on “How You Invest”: This is key. Describe the actions you took to support, develop, or empower others. Did you provide guidance, create opportunities, offer constructive feedback, or advocate for someone?
  • Demonstrate the “Shaping” Aspect: Reflect on why these experiences were formative. What did you learn about effective leadership or the importance of investing in people?
  • Show the Impact on Others: Briefly touch upon the positive outcomes for the individuals you invested in or led.
  • Be Authentic and Reflective: Share genuine insights. Adcoms want to understand your personal philosophy on leadership and how it has evolved.

3. 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. (250 words)”

This essay probes your intellectual agility and your commitment to continuous learning.

  • Choose a Concrete Example: Avoid abstract statements about being curious. Instead, recount a specific situation where your curiosity was sparked. This could be a professional challenge, a personal passion, an unfamiliar concept, or a new skill you wanted to master.
  • Define Your Curiosity: How did your curiosity manifest in this particular instance? Was it asking questions, conducting research, experimenting, seeking diverse perspectives, or diving deep into a complex topic?
  • Detail the “How”: Describe what steps you took to satisfy your curiosity. What actions did you initiate? What resources did you leverage? What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
  • Clearly articulate the “Influence on Growth”: This is the most critical part of this essay. Explain how this act of curiosity led to a tangible change or development in you.
  • Show, Don’t Just Tell: Instead of saying “I grew a lot,” explain how you grew. For example, “This particular experience taught me the importance of cross-functional collaboration, which I then applied to [a specific situation].”

Writing Assessment

Writing is an essential component of the MBA program. Therefore, to be admitted to HBS all students must have an official writing assessment. You can satisfy this with a valid GRE, GMAT 10th Edition, or English language test score (for those whom English test is required). If you only submitted the GMAT, which lacks a writing section, HBS will contact you at the interview stage about taking the separate GMAC Business Writing Assessment. If you wish to take the GMAC Business Writing Assessment before knowing your interview status, here is the link.

 

Note: Because the written application has plenty of opportunities to showcase your writing abilities (e.g. essays, short answers), you will not be at a disadvantage if you do not include the GMAC Business Writing Assessment until after you are invited to interview.

Additional Information

Please share additional information here if you need to clarify any information provided in the other sections of your application. This is not meant to be used as an additional essay. Please limit your additional information to the space in this section. We know you’ll be tempted, but please don’t send us any additional materials (e.g., additional recommendations, work portfolios). To be fair to all applicants, extra materials won’t be considered. [textbox, 75 words]

At ARINGO MBA Admissions Consulting, we specialize in helping applicants craft compelling narratives that resonate with top business schools. Here is how we can help.

  • Strategic Application Guidance: We provide expert advice on positioning your profile to align with HBS’s specific values and what they seek in candidates.
  • Essay Development & Refinement: We offer in-depth brainstorming sessions and meticulous editing to help you craft compelling, authentic essays that effectively answer HBS’s unique prompts.
  • Resume Optimization: We assist in tailoring your resume to highlight relevant experiences and achievements in a way that resonates with the HBS Adcoms.
  • Targeted Interview Preparation: We provide mock interviews and personalized feedback to prepare you for the HBS interview style, ensuring you can confidently articulate your story and aspirations.

Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you craft your path to HBS!