Business School 101
By Eleanor Nuechterlein and Emily Axelsen
Choosing to Apply to Business School
Before applying to business school, it can be helpful to learn more about what business school consists of and how it would help you advance in your career. Start by reading through the interview with Meredith Nelson found in this guide. If you are interested in learning more, schedule informational interviews with people in your network who have attended business school. If you don’t know anyone who attended business school, it can be helpful to use LinkedIn to find alumni of business schools you’re interested in who attended the same undergraduate college you did.
After graduating from college, most students work for at least two years before attending business school. This helps students gain career experience and make the most of their business school experience. After working in a professional job, business school students can bring their working experience and clearly define what they want to get out of attending business school.
Deferred Enrollment Programs
Deferred enrollment programs allow students to apply before they graduate from college and allow students to work a few years before attending business school.
Joint Degree Programs
Another business school option is a joint degree program. Joint degree programs combine Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programs with another graduate program such as law, medicine, or technology. Students usually complete joint degree programs in three to four years. Joint degree programs can be a great way to combine multiple career interests and allow for increased flexibility in what careers you choose to pursue. However, it is important to evaluate whether the three to four years needed to complete a joint degree program will substantially boost your career.
Application Timeline and Requirements
Applying to business school usually occurs in September/October, January/February, or March/April. Most business school programs require that students take the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). Other requirements often include essays, recommendations, and interviews. However, be sure to carefully review the requirements of each individual business school you want to apply to! The interview with Meredith Nelson also includes helpful tips and suggestions about applying to business school!
Helpful Resources
Harvard’s libraries and Office of Career Services provide numerous resources that can be helpful when applying to business school. We have compiled a list of helpful business school resources that are free for all Harvard students!
Overall Business School Guide (Vault Guide):
General GMAT Prep:
Reading Comprehension for the GMAT:
Integrated Reasoning and Essay for the GMAT:
Essay Advice:
Resources With Online Accessibility:
The HBS 2+2 Program Details
The HBS 2+2 program gets its name from spending 2 years working in a professional position then 2 years at HBS earning a MBA. HBS hosts numerous events to provide more information about the 2+2 program which can be helpful for students to learn more about HBS and the benefits they would receive from getting their MBA. To view the HBS admissions events, please see the HBS event calendar.
For more detailed information, please see the HBS 2+2 website.
Programs At Business Schools Across the United States
Stanford GSB Deferred Enrollment
MIT Sloan MBA Early Admission
Columbia Business School Deferred Enrollment Program
Chicago Booth Scholars
UVA Darden Future Year Scholars
Yale SOM Silver Scholars Program
Northwestern’s Kellogg Future Leaders Deferred MBA
University of Pennsylvania’s Advanced Access Program
UC Berkeley’s Haas Accelerated Access
Many other schools, such as NYU and the University of Michigan, allow students to defer their enrollment as well.
Interview with Meredith Nelson (beginning HBS in the fall of 2020):
HUWIB: How did you decide which and how many business schools to apply to?
MN: Everyone’s application process will be different and there is no concrete answer to this question. With that in mind, once you’ve decided you want to attend business school, you should make a list of programs that interest you. Most business schools are pretty similar with a few exceptions. When putting together your list, consider the differences in the programs of different schools and which learning style you would benefit most from. For example, some schools focus more on a case study approach whereas others focus more on directly teaching the content. Because there aren’t as many business schools as colleges, most people apply to fewer business schools than colleges. Similarly to college applications, it is important to not only target Ivies, but also state schools. Many Harvard College graduates apply to HBS, Stanford GSB, Chicago Booth, and UVA’s Darden School of Business, among others. A final component to consider when putting together your list is rolling applications. Many business schools utilize the rolling application process. This can be beneficial because it allows students to apply to fewer business schools. Research which schools have rolling admission and consider if that would be beneficial to your process.
HUWIB: How did you prepare for the GMAT/GRE?
MN: Many people take the GMAT and the GRE, but it is only necessary to take one of the two. With regard to the differences between the two tests, the GRE is applicable to many different graduate schools whereas the GMAT is generally only applicable to graduate business schools. Taking these tests is similar to taking the SAT or ACT, except you take them on a computer. Many people take them multiple times and, if you don’t think you did well, you can cancel your test before seeing your results. Most advise taking the tests during your senior year in college or immediately after graduating because you will have more time to study and will remember your course content better than if you take it a couple of years later. Even if you aren’t planning on attending business school right away, it’s a good idea to take the tests sooner rather than later because your scores last for five years.
HUWIB: How did you prepare for interviews?
MN: Each school has their own application and interview process. During the interview, they primarily focus on your resume, career, and leadership roles. Common interview questions include what is the most recent book you’ve read, what are your strengths and weaknesses, and why are you interested in our business school? Typically, these interviews last about 30 minutes.
HUWIB: Who are good people to write recommendations?
MN: The best people to write these would be any of your past professors or employers. One of each would be ideal because they can cover both your work and school performance.
HUWIB: What internships and full time jobs are good preparation for business schools?
MN: There is no right answer to this question. Hold any job that interests you. Many people pursue internships and jobs in finance, private equity, venture capital, or tech, but you do not need to work in these fields to go to business school. As long as you have a good reason to attend business school, almost any work experience will be beneficial.
HUWIB: What classes are best to take in college or outside of college?
MN: Again, there is no correct answer. Take classes that interest you. People who apply to business schools have all different sorts of majors.
HUWIB: Can you explain the merits of the 2+2 program?
MN: These programs are highly recommended because if you aren’t accepted in this way, you can still apply again later. In other words, this is a way to apply to business schools early but not get penalized if you don’t get in. If accepted to a 2+2 program, you can generally defer beyond the two years after graduating college which gives you even more flexibility (check specific program flexibility though).
HUWIB: What other general tips, advice, and important information do you have?
MN: Study early for the GMAT. Seniors generally have a lighter workload so there is more time to study compared to after you start a full time job. As mentioned earlier, take the GMAT during your senior year or soon after graduation. That way, you won’t need to prepare for the GMAT during the time-intensive application process.