Review of 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays: With Analysis by the Staff of the Harbus, The Harvard Business School Newspaper (Paperback)
Although I do recommend this book for MBA hopefuls looking to get into top 30 schools – not just HBS, I want to add that this is a “nice to have” for the prospective MBA student.It is not a “must have.”The sample essays here will inspire you in that, you will see that to get admitted, you don’t actually have to be all that great of a writer.In fact, you might read this and wonder just HOW some of these essays led to admission.But I think this shows what I read one admissions officer say about getting in – those who are admitted to top b-schools typically show how they did seemingly ordinary things in an extraordinary way.What I also like about this book of essays is that it shows you how some “broke the mold” and were creative in their approach – yet still ultimately successful.There are some “cookie cutter” essays here, but there are actually some that are very creative and engaging.
A few words of advice if you buy this – one, make sure you pair this with a more comprehensive book on MBA admissions, such as Richard Montauk’s,”How to Get Into the Top MBA Programs.”Two, remember that you don’t have all of the information to evaluate the candidates whose essays are featured.Three, take a look at this book AFTER you’ve drafted your essays.I know it’s tempting to want to see examples when you are having a hard time drafting your own work, but I’d advise only looking at example essays after you’ve done the hard (and sometimes frustrating) work of completing an entire set of your own essays.This will help to ensure that you are crafting your essays in your voice and in your own unique way.Look at these examples as one way to help you drive your revisions.Four, after you read an essay in this book – do your own analysis of the essay first – before you read the analysis that comes after the essay.Then compare your analysis with the analysis in the book.
Basically, do some really hard work – don’t read these before drafting your essays.Do your own analysis of the featured essays.What I believe is that this type of hard work will strengthen your own candidacy and application more than trying to read the samples first and then have what you read influence and drive your first drafts.
Product Description
“YOUR LIFE IN 300 WORDS OR LESS . . .”
Business school application essays are among the hardest pieces that many of us will ever write.
So diverse and successful are the applicants to the nation’s top business schools that your essays need to do more than simply illuminate your background and accomplishments: they must also clearly demonstrate your writing skills and ensure that you stand out from the pack.
LEARN BY EXAMPLE
65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays show you essays that worked and helped their authors gain admission into America’snumber-one business school. Wherever you’re applying, the range of topics, writing styles, and ideas showcased by these writers are truly inspiring.
- HOW TO AVOID COMMON PITFALLS
- LEARN WHAT WORKS
- GET YOUR MESSAGE ACROSS
Each essay topic is introduced, and each individual essay is followed by analysis from a writer for The Harbus, the Harvard Business School student newspaper. 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays will give you the help you need!
About the Author
Each essay topic is introduced, and each individual essay is followed by analysis from a writer for The Harbus, the Harvard Business School student newspaper.
Click Here to see more reviews about: 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays: With Analysis by the Staff of the Harbus, The Harvard Business School Newspaper (Paperback)