Master in Management Student at Georgetown University | Aspiring Business Leader with a Passion for Innovation and Strategy
The Harvard MBA essay is really about showing who you are—not repeating your resume or trying to sound perfect. The prompt is open on purpose, and they want to hear something real.
One applicant wrote about turning down a high-paying job to work on a local education project. It wasn’t flashy, but it showed values and long-term thinking. That’s what stands out.
A few things to avoid: don’t just list your achievements—they already have that info. Generic answers like “I want to be a consultant and drive global change” don’t say much about you either. And try not to make it sound too formal or robotic. It should feel like your voice.
If you want advice directly from the HBS admissions team, they’ve posted a short video with tips just for the essay. Super helpful before you start:
HBS Application Tips: Essays – Official HBS Video
