Our Analysis of Harvard’s Big Admission Changes for 2012/2013

1. Our Analysis of Harvard’s Big
Admission Changes for 2012/2013
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

2. Our Analysis of Harvard’s Big Admission Ch
Harvard's new essays questions and application process
(timing) represent the continuation of a theme at HBS –
namely, the program's desire to matriculate an even
greater diversity of student.
Previously, we have seen this through HBS' introduction
of the 2+2 program, as well as the acceptance of the
GRE.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

3. The 2+2 program is designed to seek out the best and the
brightest from the youngest of potential applicants –
undergraduates.
The GRE is an exam whose test taking pool is
approximately 50% female. If you look at Harvard's
numbers over the past few years, you can see that
demographics are trending younger and more female.
This is something that most applicants to HBS already knew.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

4. With the introduction of two (seemingly) open-ended
questions (
http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/writtenapplication.html#essa
), Dee Leopold is casting an even wider net than in year's
past. There is wide speculation (and evidence) that
Harvard‘s "new" Dean (Nitin Nohria) is driving this
diversification, signing off on a somewhat revised and
unconventional admissions process.
These revisions have raised some early eyebrows since their
introduction earlier this week. However, based on Dee's past
performance as the head of admissions, one has to give her
the benefit of the doubt. And if you can't do that, well then
don't apply to HBS.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

5. So what can we infer from these changes? That Dee
Leopold has a pretty good filter at this point.
She has plenty of consulting and banking resumes on her
desk. The minute she sees one, she pretty much knows the
song and dance.
It's a GMAT and GPA numbers game at that point. Where
she is placing her bets (and increased time) is going to be on
the increased number of non-traditional applicants that
(hopefully) come across her desk.
Dee Leopold wants to get through them early and often.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

6. I won't call this churn and burn, but the number of applicant
inventory turns is definitely going to increase.
I don't think HBS' 20% interview rate is going to increase, but
I do think that Leopold and company will have their hands full
interviewing from the larger applicant pool.
I bet this is a reason why HBS built an extra week or so into
the application process by moving the round one deadline
into September.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

7. If we put on our industrial engineering hats, we would
question the introduction of a third essay so late in the
application process - especially one that requires a 24-hour
turn-around time.
Conventional wisdom dictates that any efficient vetting
process would require as much information up front as
possible.
Of course front loading the process reduces the prospective
applicant's willingness to even start the application –
especially if that prospect is already sitting on the fence as a
nontraditional applicant.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

8. All in all, Dee had to weight the impact of lesser information
up front against the benefit of greater applicant diversity. In
reality, what's the impact of lesser information?
Again, Dee has been doing this long enough to know (with a
high degree of certainty) what she will be getting glancing at
an applicant's resume or datasheet (so make sure you get
your CV just right.) Let us face it, there are only so many
unique snowflakes in this world.
Bottom line - Dee is not worried about what she has been
seeing the last few years, she is worried about what she
doesn't even have a chance to see.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

9. The final "24-hour" essay still remains a little bit of a red
herring for this admissions consultant.
The accelerated time element does not indicate some sense
of urgency on the admissions committee behalf, but rather it
elicits an applicant's ability to process real-time information
and work under pressure.
It's a "think on your feet" self-awareness exercise - a way to
measure your ability to understand how you were perceived
during the interview; ultimately delivering to your audience
(the interviewer and by proxy, admissions committee)
something they believed was lacking in the interview and
overall, something that remains as an outstanding x-factor in
your profile.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com

10. Given HBS' recent trends, I would consider it
a test of your women's intuition.
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/