MBA blog

HBS Kicks Off 2018-19 MBA App Season

Harvard Business School hasn’t even completed this fall’s admissions, and still they already published the next year’s deadline.

Round One’s deadline is on September 5th, and Round Two’s – January 3rd. The first round’s deadline is one day earlier than last year’s. Additionally, the deadline dates were published a month earlier than during the last year’s admissions season.

This announcement means that new aspiring MBAs can start preparing for their GMAT (or GRE) tests, read up on their dream schools and learn about what they need to get admitted, P&Q reports.

The Essay Question Stays The Same

Chad Losee, the Chief of Admissions at Harvard, wrote in his blog that the essay question for the application will remain unchanged: “As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA Program?” without a word limit. Harvard Business School has used this – and only – essay question for five years already. They started using it even before Chad Losee started working as admissions chief.

Losee believes that aspiring MBA students should already start working on the essay. On June 6th, the school intends to hold a special webinar to explain future students how they should tackle the application.

HBS was not the only one to give their new season deadlines – Columbia Business School is also an early bird. For them, Round One deadline is October 3rd and Round Two – on January 4th. The third round wraps up on next year’s April 10th. We can also expect admissions rounds deadlines from other business schools.

Round One Deadlines Are Getting Earlier

According to Linda Abraham of accepted.com, a consulting company, there is a distinct trend to move the Round One deadline earlier every year. In 2008, the first round for HBS finished on October 15th, and now it’s September 5th.

Linda Abraham believes that moving the deadline to earlier dates is good for candidates, as they get to know about their admission earlier in the year – most likely, at the start of December. Thus, if they don’t get admitted into the schools of their first choice, they still have the chance to apply to Round Two of some other schools. If they get admitted, it makes for a nice Christmas gift, and no worries about getting accepted in Round Two.

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