Our free webinar titled The MBA Trinity: HBS, Stanford, and Wharton | MBA Application Tips provides an essential overview of MBA requirements as they relate to some of the most sought-after M7 MBA programs. In this webinar, we focus on differentiating between admission to GSB, HBS, and Wharton and how to leverage a personalized approach to each individual school based on the best MBA admissions consultant strategies.

 

Beginning with a school overview, we highlight details such as the HBS admission rate, GSB admission rate, and Wharton admission rate amidst a backdrop of various statistical criteria. As seasoned MBA admissions consulting experts, we want to remind you not to be discouraged by averages — and that these schools always review applications with a holistic approach that doesn’t necessarily single out any particular element as a determining factor for admission.

 

 

What is HBS looking for?

 HBS is the largest of the 3 programs and attracts applicants with a very strong academic aptitude. Its strengths include leadership and general management training across broad industry landscapes using an extensive case method. HBS seeks “habits of leadership”, “analytic aptitude and appetite”, characters not intimated by challenges and an “engaged community citizen”.  

 

Applicants who are able to demonstrate leadership qualities and responsibilities such as leveraging data for business decisions, seizing a role in community improvements, and generally viewing challenges as opportunities profile an attractive candidate for the program’s culture. More information can be found at HBS admissions.

  

Tell your story to HBS: Do’s and Don’ts 

 When telling your story to HBS, it’s important to identify a single theme that speaks about your character and motivations, ideally structuring all points throughout the essay while presenting personal growth using limited but very specific points and demonstrations.

 

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is sharing information which the admissions team may already have, such as your life’s journey and personal details. Applicants should never use a prompt from another business school and always treat their HBS application with a fresh and singular lens while being as genuine as possible and avoiding any attempts to “fit the mold” through disingenuous claims.

 

 

What is GSB looking for?

 As the smallest program of the 3, GSB features a notoriously challenging admissions process intended to comb out impeccable academics and high achievers. It’s known for unparalleled resources for innovators and people capable of changing the world. GSB offers an exceptional faculty who challenge students through hands-on learning and decision-making prompts while offering instrumental feedback through an extensive educational community. In applicants, the school seeks the 3 “Hows”: How You Think, How You Lead, and How You See the World, answers which grant perspective on your qualifications as an innovator, leader, and your future impact in the world. More information can be found at GSB admissions.

 

 Tell your story to GSB: Do’s and Don’ts 

 When telling your story to GSB, you’ll want to identify a theme that speaks to an injustice you see in the world and one which matters most to you. For your goals, try to identify the greatest challenges to your target industry and a purpose greater than yourself which relates to your future impact on the world. Always make sure to answer any optional short answer questions, which can inspire alignment with school culture and a genuine presentation of your goals. Try to avoid oversharing about your family story or personal connections as answers to “what matters most to you”, which should be entirely about you and your perspective, engagement, and most importantly — actions.

 

Make sure to avoid bringing up GSB’s reputation as a topic — the application is about you, after all. When discussing your principles and goals, always be genuine and share who you are as an individual and how you care about the world, because it’s not always about the bottom line.

 

 

What is Wharton looking for?

 Wharton finds itself somewhere in between in terms of class size and has the highest acceptance rate of the 3 programs (that’s not to say getting into Wharton is easy!). Wharton is known as a finance school and focuses heavily on analytical aptitude and robust leadership development, but has greatly expanded its MBA program in recent times to involve tech innovation and entrepreneurship with close proximity to Silicon Valley through its San Francisco campus.

 

Wharton seeks impact-minded applicants with professional experiences that showcase this quality, and who can demonstrate analytic aptitude, that they can be trained, and can solve problems through an analytical lens. When applying to Wharton, it’s important to know that this school is a very community-focused, with many students taking leadership roles on campus — and that demonstrating an ability to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams is vital to your chance of admittance. More information can be found at Wharton MBA.

 

Tell your story to Wharton: Do’s and Don’ts

 When telling your story to Wharton, identify a specific problem in your industry that you want to solve through a leadership approach and how you might be able to bring lasting changes. You must demonstrate a team-oriented and project-centric mindset with a willingness to work with others and help them grow. Throughout your story, you’ll also be identifying specific skills and strengths that you will bring to the Wharton environment and how the classroom might benefit from your presence. At the same time, try not to be lofty in your ideas and keep your thoughts tangible in the current business landscape. Avoid responses from other business school prompts and keep them unique to Wharton with very specific answers.

 

 

For comprehensive insights, please feel free to watch the webinar and contact us with any questions or for a free complimentary consultation anytime.