Prospective Students

Thank you for your interest in Harvard Business School!

HBS is an exciting and supportive community and a very effective way to transition from active duty to the business world.

Below is some advice that we would like to give to members of the armed forces that are applying to HBS. We get many requests for help from prospective students, so this advice should answer the most frequently asked questions based on our experience. However, we are available to answer any other questions that you have.

• Be great at your job; there is no substitute for performance as a leader in the military or in any other profession.
  
  
• Think about your application as a story: why do you want to attend business school and HBS, specifically, to attain your goals? What are your 5-7 year career goals? What are your long-term career goals? What will HBS help you achieve?
  
  
• Your application should highlight your leadership experience. HBS' mission statement is: "We educate leaders who make a difference in the world" so they take leadership very seriously. As a member of the military, you have unique leadership experiences that HBS values in the classroom and community.
  
  
• Give yourself the time and flexibility to take the GMAT a couple of times (unless you smoke it, of course). To be a well-rounded applicant, you need a competitive GMAT score and undergrad GPA.
  
  
• The most important thing for your recommenders is that they really know you. So, choose people who really know you well over their military rank or position in business.
  
  
• If you have the opportunity, visit the campus, attend a class or two, and be excited about HBS when you interview.

If you do have the opportunity to visit, sign up through the HBS Admissions website and we will arrange for you to speak with AFAA members to help you get a better feel for HBS and the admissions process.

Don't hesitate to contact us and we hope to see you on campus soon!