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First get the basic principles of mba essay writing right and then move on to the HBS MBA 2011-2012 essay tips.

Harvard's mix of required and choice essays offers excellent scope for presenting a multi-faceted candidature to the admissions committee. This year, the second essay is longer and the options section has been expanded to include absolutely any question you want. These essays can (and should) bring out the best in you. Do your best!

Harvard Essay 1

Tell us about three of your accomplishments. (600 words)

Harvard Essay 1 Tips

A straightforward question from Harvard where you detail three of your achievements. The 2010-2011 question "What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such?" might serve as a better guide.

Start off by forming a list of 5-6 key achievements from your professional, personal or academic life. Having done that, look at the Harvard MBA application essay package as a whole and then revisit the list. Since you might later write essays highlighting aspects of your leadership, learning, worldview or career vision, ensuring that abilities/skills already highlighted aren't repeated. The rider to that is that since this is Harvard and since this is an MBA application, there is an exception to that rule - leadership. A generous sprinkling of leadership instances across the entire package is fully acceptable and this first essay may be the place for at least one.

The final choice can now be made based on the general importance of the achievements, the extent of your contribution to it's success and what the stories tell about you. Choose the qualities that the accomplishments highlight and decide if those are the traits that you want the Harvard admissions committee to remember about you. While "why do you view them as such" is absent in the question an implicit mention of that will be welcome.

Go for it!

Harvard Essay 2

Tell us three setbacks you have faced. (600 words)

Harvard Essay 2 Tips

You might find this new Harvard question demanding since it asks for not one but three separate failures, setbacks or challenging situations.

Though this seems to be a failures/setbacks essay it is learning that should be the key aspect of the essay. The 2010-2011 essay "What have you learned from a mistake?" points you in the right direction. After all an ability to fail does not qualify you for a Harvard pass; but willingness to try, ability to evaluate failures/setbacks/challenges, capacity to learn from mistakes, facility in conquering obstacles and a knack for bouncing back, might be exactly what the admissions committee might appreciate.

Identify situations and stories where you faced obstacles and emerged either victorious and/or a better person. If the setback created a significant difference in your thought process, leadership style, behavior or value system and was a substantial learning, you can go to the printers with the stories.

Go for it!

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Harvard Essay 3

Why do you want an MBA? (400 words)

Harvard Essay 3 Tips

This a goals essay that asks you why you want the Harvard MBA and also possibly gives scope for answering the 2010-2011 prompt "What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?". How much of the essay you want to devote to the goals and how much to Harvard depends entirely on you.

Some lucid thinking and creativity will go a long way in transforming this from a well-disguised sleeping pill to the high point of your Harvard application. With the loose structure of the question Harvard gives you greater scope than in a usual "career goals" question.

This essay implicitly tests you on how serious are you about seeking admission to Harvard. How specific and convincing you can be about Harvard's contribution to your further growth will decide the fate of this essay. After defining your goals and explaining your vision, move on to why the Harvard MBA makes most sense for you. Try to establish a perfect fit between your goals and Harvard. Think about why you are taking all this trouble applying to Harvard in the first place. Detail what skills, knowledge, relations, thoughts or anything else you expect to gain from HBS that will aid you in pursuing your goals. Take steps to learn as much as possible about Harvard using online and offline modes - websites, current Harvard students, alumni, Harvard fairs/receptions. The objective is to implicitly or explicitly demonstrate that your application is a reflection of your serious and specific interest in Harvard.

Do bear in mind that the theme you choose for the fourth essay can impact this essay, especially if you want to focus on your goals in the next essay (e.g. "What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?").

Do your best!

Harvard Essay 4

Answer a question you wish we'd asked. (400 words)

Harvard Essay 4 Tips

Infinite possibilities! You have the freedom to write on absolutely ANYTHING you want to tell the Harvard admissions committee. Use this mouth watering opportunity to traverse an area in your personality or life that has not been covered in the other essays.

Some essay options from previous years will help you identify options: "What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?" "What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?" "Tell us about a time in your professional experience when you were frustrated or disappointed." "When you join the HBS Class of 2013, how will you introduce yourself to your new classmates?" "What area of the world are you most curious about and why?" "Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization." "Tell us about a time when you made a difficult decision."

Feel free to choose from essays of other b-schools as well.

Have fun!

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