Harvard Business School Business School MBA Essay Questions, Topics and Sample Essay Response

ESSAY 2001-2002

1. Choose a recent experience in which you acted as a leader. Briefly outline the situation, describe your leadership role, and then explain how you were effective and what you learned. (300-word limit)

2. While recognizing that no day is typical, describe a representative day. (300-word limit)

3. We all experience ”defining moments,” significant events that can have a major impact on our lives. Briefly describe such an event and how it has affected you. (300-word limit)

4. Describe your three most substantial accomplishments and explain why you view them as such. (600-word limit)

5. Describe a setback, disappointment, or occasion of failure that you have experienced. How did you manage the situation, and what did you learn from it? (300-word limit)

6. Why do you wish to pursue an MBA degree from Harvard Business School? What are your career aspirations and why? (300-word limit)

7. (Optional) Is there any other information that you believe would be helpful to the Board in understanding you better and in considering your application? Please be concise.