HBS Admissions Board makes the most significant changes to their essay questions in years

HOW TO WRITE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL ESSAYS

 
 
If you plan to apply to Tuck, I suggest you write those essays first because the essay topics will apply to other schools, including HBS. Tuck also allows flexible word limits, which helps since it is often easier to write a long essay than a short one.

Kellogg is another good first essay set because the essays are typical (except for essay 3) and the word limits for goals and leadership essays are more generous than HBS.

If you are not considering Tuck or Kellogg, you might consider brainstorming, outlining and drafting Harvard essays now.

Aside from the strict word limits, which you should ignore for now, HBS offers a decent mix of stories to tackle for your first essay set.

The HBS set requires you to share at least seven stories about the past, plus your future goals / why you need an MBA.
  1. three accomplishments, which can include stories that show your leadership and teamwork skills, as well as your technical and analytical skills
  2. three setbacks, which demonstrate your perseverance and ability to learn valuable life lessons
  3. one balance topic (“Answer a question you wish we'd asked”) that allows you to highlight a story that demonstrates a unique selling point
  4. why you need an MBA
 
How will you identify the ideal mix of seven or eight stories to include? Please read my tips below to learn more about my counseling style and approach to HBS essays.

Please note, HBS does not number their essays. To help you follow my analysis, I will number them as follows:

Essay 1: Tell us about three of your accomplishments. (600 words)
Essay 2: Tell us three setbacks you have faced. (600 words)
Essay 3: Why do you want an MBA? (400 words)
Essay 4: Answer a question you wish we'd asked. (400 words)

First of all, please note that HBS adcoms now require all applicants to answer the same four essay questions. This is a significant change. For the past few years, you were asked to select several questions from a list of options. By removing this step, the Board now sends a clear message about what types of stories they want you to tell. Next, I assume that HBS adcoms might have wanted all you to answer the same questions in order to standardize their admissions criteria since they can now compare the same four essays across the entire applicant pool. This strategy mirrors Stanford GSB and MIT Sloan.


Next, a word on essay order. I advise my clients to answer “Why MBA?” first, followed by “three accomplishments”, then “three setbacks.” Save the “choice” essay for last.

Here is my suggested order for answering the 2014 HBS Essay Questions:

Essay 3: Why do you want an MBA? (400 words)
Essay 1: Tell us about three of your accomplishments. (600 words)
Essay 2: Tell us three setbacks you have faced. (600 words)
Essay 4: Answer a question you wish we'd asked. (400 words)

Start with your goals ("Why MBA?") story. Why? Two reasons. First, it will set the tone for your entire essay set. the process of answering the question will clarify your motivations. By assessing your skills and identifying gaps in your personal and professional development, you can set the stage for the other essays in the HBS essay set. That said, you should ignore the 400-word limit for now. Just write.

Second, I advise my clients to answer "Why MBA?" questions first because all other essays are logically dependent on them. In other words, you cannot decide what accomplishments and setbacks to highlight until you know your purpose in applying to school. Accomplishments make your goals sound believable. Setbacks make you human and allow the reader to want to root for your continued success.

Here are my methods for answering HBS Essay 3: "Why do you want an MBA?”
 

 

Essay 3

"Why do you want an MBA? (400 words)"

 


I love helping clients write HBS goals essays because they require self-reflection. I am somewhat introverted myself, so I enjoy helping others get in touch with their inner voice and guiding principles.

At the risk of over-simplifying, I would say that HBS adcoms look for applicants that can lead their current industries. Stanford might prefer applicants that want to create new  industries. How can you combine existing best practices from different disciplines to impact lives and change communities for the better?

A good goals essay should be both believable and exciting.


Here is how I help my clients write 400-word “Why MBA?” HBS essays that get results.

First, a bit of history. HBS made goals essays optional when they  introduced the 2+2 program in 2006. Now, they are required, but the question has been simplified.

My clients answer the “Why MBA?” through a series of dialogs.
 
I ask my clients to tell me
 
  • What are you good at now?
  • What do you want to do right after earning your MBA?
  • What do you want to do after that?
  • Why are you not able to achieve these short and long term goals now?
  • What skills do you need to develop to achieve your goals? In other words, what critical weak points do you need to overcome before realizing your leadership potential?
  • Why is MBA the best place to develop the skills that you need?
  • Why is this school your best fit?
  • Why you? What is your deeper motivation?
 
Send Vince several options for your short and long term goals.

After discussing your ideas, you can choose and focus on one set of short and long term goals. Ideally, your long term goal represents the next logical step after completing your short term goal.


Why MBA?

First, identify what skills you need from your MBA.

What are your strengths and weaknesses? (Please see this link for comprehensive tools ▸ http://www.vinceprep.com/interviews/strengthsweaknesses)

Can you create a skills-based argument?

For example,

I need technical skills such as: finance and accounting
I need analytical skills: corporate strategy, strategic planning (long term thinking)
I need interpersonal skills: to lead cross-cultural and cross-functional team (organizational behavior) to motivate experts in finance, accounting, sales, marketing, engineering, and operations....

Study the HBS curriculum here  ▸ http://www.delicious.com/admissions/curriculum+hbs

For example

Still, I need an MBA from HBS to create the right partnership model, secure and manage the JV funding and scale my new venture to cover demand in Japan and eventually other parts of Asia. To capitalize on my idea, I plan to use my time at HBS to explore the right JV partnership, funding and profit sharing schemes, and develop supply-demand optimizing models.



Why now?

Why do you need an MBA now? Why is this the ideal timing to pursue formal management training in a full-time program? Why is this the right time to study management in a two-year, full-time graduate school program?

You need to answer this question directly, but your answer can be short (two sentences). Think about:

Internal factors (pushing you to get an MBA now): I have mastered certain technical, analytical and/or interpersonal skills; I am now ready to develop my skills and knowledge in new (specific) areas as stated above

External factors (pulling you to get an MBA now): what makes this the ideal market timing for implementing your great business idea after you earn your MBA from this particular school?

For more hints, please see ▸  http://www.delicious.com/admissions/Ynow


Short term goal

Outline your short term goal (STG). Your readers (admissions committee members, aka adcoms) want to confirm the following:
  • Are you qualified (credible)?
  • Are you competitive (ambitious)?
  • Are you a good fit for their program (aware of how your own strengths and weaknesses relate to those of their program)?
 
Start with your direct goal on graduation. Adcoms want to see a goal that is both believable and ambitious. If your goal is simply to continue what you are doing now, that is too realistic. It is a waste of a Harvard MBA. If your goal, however, is to do something radically different from what you are doing now, and there is not a clear sense of how you are going to get there, that is too ambitious.  Many of my clients use MBA to change careers. Others want to lead their current industry.

Having a detailed short term goal is also crucial to explain how this school best prepares you to achieve your goals.

Long term goal

Outline your long term goal. This is your mission in life. Try to show that you are confident to achieve these goals with or without business school (though earning your MBA from their school certainly increases the scale and scope of your future success)

Your long term goal can be general, but should still express your visions and insights about the industry you would like to work in, perhaps in 10 years

A good LTG = the logical next step after your STG

For example

After growing Tokyo operations to 200-300 staff within 5-10 years, I will expand my service into other parts of Asia.


Why HBS?

Adcoms do not ask you why they want a MBA from HBS, but I still advise you to write a few concise and salient reasons why they feel Harvard is the best fit.

Start by making a complete list of all the things that can help you achieve your short and long term goals.

1. Curriculum / professor (1 or 2)
2. Special programs (1 or 2)
3. Network / student culture (1 or 2)

Use "BEST / ONLY" logic: "I could confirm my interest in School X through my ongoing conversations with Mr. FirstName LastName (Class of '07), who told me about (specific aspect of school). This perfectly fits my (specific goal / learning objective) because..."

Use a combination of logic and emotion to convince them of your “fit” with the school
Passion is SHOWN through detailed examples that prove you have done your homework.

HBS’s unique combination of
  • Curriculum / professor(s)
  • Special programs
  • People
 
...best prepares me to (restate goals)...

I suggest you focus on “people", such as a particular professor, current students and/or alumni. For example: "I have known Mr. A before, during, and after he attending School X's MBA program. I saw how it impacted him in terms of (specific hard and soft skills). I have also seen how he applied those new skills and perspectives in his career. I hope to have a similar transformative experience that only (this program) can provide."

Next, be sure to show that you have done your homework by reaching out to current students and alumni. Just be careful not to waste their time. They are busy and receive many such inquiries. Instead, ask if they agree with an idea you have, and ask for any suggestions or tips to help you make your idea better.

Finally, synthesize your findings into a few sentences that prove your “fit” with HBS.

For example

(SAMPLE A)
I could confirm my interest in HBS through my ongoing conversations with Mr. FirstName LastName (Class of '07), who told me about (specific aspect of school). This perfectly fits my (specific goal / learning objective) because...

(SAMPLE B)
Through my recent campus visit and ongoing networking with X (‘09) and Y (‘11), I am convinced that only Harvard gives me the skills necessary to break through my company’s silo-based organizational structure. To persuade 40,000 professionals across different functions and cultures, I need to introduce new goal-based teamwork models to persuade entrenched opinion leaders to embrace changes that will yield new opportunities. I also recently participated in HBS Club of Japan’s Business Awards Ceremony, where I felt strong alumni bonds that extended across generations. After graduating from HBS, I plan to work with the executive director of The HBS Japan Research Center to transform my company into the world’s most innovative SCM service provider.

Need more hints? Check out Vince's links here ▸ http://www.delicious.com/admissions/YSX

 

Essay 1

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

 

For nearly ten years, I have helped clients write about their accomplishments in HBS MBA essays.

Even the successful ones get stuck. Clients often ask me the following questions:

A. How do I identify the three best accomplishments to include?
B. How do I explain each accomplishment in a way that is clear and interesting for my readers?
C. How do I present the most impressive mix of achievements and personal characteristics?
D. How can I persuade adcoms that I will succeed at their school, and achieve my future goals?

I will answer each concern below, one by one.

A. How do I identify the three best accomplishments to include?

First, ask yourself some thought provoking questions as you begin brainstorming which stories to include in your answer to HBS’ “three accomplishments” question:

1. What moments in your life made you feel truly proud?
2. What are the most pivotal decisions you have made in your life? Think about the turning points that made you who you are today. These could include academic, personal and professional successes.
3. How have you helped others? You can emphasize accomplishments earned you praise and awards, but adcoms also like to read accomplishment stories that involve mentoring, training and supporting others. After all, you are getting an MBA in order to learn how to lead organizations. You might want to select a story that shows your current leadership ability.

Make a list of eight to ten options, with a brief explanation of each one (beginning, middle and end).

Then, share your ideas with Vince ASAP. Vince will provide feedback based on what the Admissions Board wants to hear. Through a series of conversations, Vince will help you determine which stories present the best balance of personal and professional, growth and mastery.

B. How do I explain each accomplishment in a way that is clear and interesting for my readers?

When you tell a leadership story, be sure not to skip the turning point. How did you convince others to do something that they did not want to do? Show the step-by-step details. It is never easy to change someone’s mind. How did you get your boss, coworker or client to agree with your idea? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them? Show tension. Build drama. It keeps your reader interested, and it makes your accomplishment sound significant.

C. How do I balance my accomplishments to convince adcoms of my ability to succeed at their school and to achieve my future goals?

Try to include at least one accomplishment that demonstrates your leadership ability. You might also find an accomplishment that highlights your teamwork skills.

Accomplishments can emphasize concrete, quantifiable results. They can also show impact, how you changed yourself or others.

Impact stories can include stories that display leadership and teamwork.

Clients often ask me to help them differentiate between leadership and teamwork. I believe that accomplishment stories should emphasize results (quantitative) and impact (qualitative). Next, leadership stories prove your future management potential, and your ability to achieve your goals. Finally, teamwork stories demonstrate your ability to get along with peers and to contribute to MBA life.

What is leadership?

I believe that leaders display some combination of integrity, self-awareness, courage, responsibility, intellectual curiosity and tolerance for ambiguity. They motivate and develop others, create and articulate a vision, and communicate effectively. They also balance multiple constituencies, identify and capture opportunities, and envision new approaches and possibilities.

We study great leaders in business, politics, literature and popular culture. Think of leaders from classic films like "Saving Private Ryan", "The Godfather", ""Dead Poet's Society", "Lord of Rings", "Schindler's List", “Star Wars”, and "Erin Brockovich". (Add your own favorite title here.)

More hints here ▸  http://www.delicious.com/admissions/brainstorming_leadership

 

What is teamwork?



One dictionary defines teamwork as "a joint action by a group of people, in which each person subordinates his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group."

I often discuss movies with my clients. I ask them to think of a favorite sports movie, like “Slap Shot”, “The Bad News Bears”, “Miracle”, or my personal favorite, “Remember the Titans.”

Since I have a young son, I spend a lot of time watching children’s movies. Many of them include themes of teamwork. I am thinking of “A Bug’s Life”, “Finding Nemo”, and “Toy Story”.


 

Final note

 

  • HBS adcoms used to ask applicants, “What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such?” They longer ask you to explain why you view each accomplishment as "most significant", but I encourage you to explain the logic behind each selection.
     


 


Essay 2

 

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


 
 
“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

'You have learned something. That always feels at first as if you have lost something.' - George Bernard Shaw

Did you lose a job, a business deal, an important competition, or a loved one? How did you regain your confidence?

Failure, mistake, and setback stories are among the hardest admissions essays to write. My clients struggle to find the right stories that showcase their ability to survive and thrive in the face of obstacles and frustration. They also wonder how much responsibility to take for what happened, and how to prove that they have learned their lessons well.

In past years, the HBS Admissions Board (adcoms) required you to discuss what they have learned from a (single) mistake. Now, you must explain three setbacks in only 600 words. As always, ignore the word limits when you begin brainstorming and drafting your answers.

Why did HBS adcoms change the keyword from “mistake” to “setback” and increase the number of required examples from one to three? I have a few ideas.

In general, adcoms ask about failures, mistakes, and setbacks in order to assess the applicant's maturity and teamwork skills. The Harvard MBA experience requires you to work alongside the same 90 peers for an entire year. Your cohort becomes your family. The group self-regulates. If you are rude or inconsiderate to others, the group will ostracize you.
 
Adcoms act as gatekeepers. They need to select students who will contribute their ideas without intimidating others. Fifty percent of HBS grades are based on class participation. Adcoms work hard to ensure that they admit students who will make meaningful contributions to class discussions. For this reason, HBS adcom interviewers sometimes ask questions that are designed to make you defensive. They want to see if you can clarify your ideas without overreacting. In a similar way, in this year's essay questions, HBS adcoms are asking you to share three setback stories because they want to understand:
 
  • How do you react when you do not get what you want?
  • Can you remain flexible and optimistic when you face unexpected obstacles?
  • Can you maintain a gracious attitude as you watch your best laid plans come to nothing?
 

What is a setback? Some dictionaries define a setback as an unanticipated or sudden reversal or check in progress. The word “setback” implies a change from better to worse. It usually involves an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes. Setbacks often cause us to feel frustrated or defeated.

Is a setback your fault? Not always. We encounter setbacks at the hands forces beyond our control: disease, natural disasters, and acts of war. Other times, we are intentionally or unintentionally blocked by others. Worst of all, we sometimes get in our own way. Did you hinder your progress due to your own misjudgment, carelessness, or forgetfulness? Did you fail to consider some outcome that others could have seen? Were you overly optimistic about your ability, or the ability of others?

Whether the setback was due to your error, or whether it was no one’s fault, your outlook matters most. Can you view setbacks as opportunities for learning? If you view setbacks as insurmountable failures, you can become paralyzed. Can you change your mind set? Are you ready to move forward?

When I read a failure, setback or mistake essays, I ask myself:

1. Do I believe? Did this example truly cause pain to the writer? Is she sharing a real setback story, or using an accomplishment story she wrote for some other school?
2. Do I care? Were others affected? Was something damaged? (loss of money, loss of time, loss of reputation, loss of business)
3. Do I want to work with this person on a project or study team? Did she learn something real about herself because of this experience? Did she deepen her understanding about herself, or others? In the process of recovering from this setback, did she gain new hard or soft skills? Is she resilient? Can she prove her learning by sharing another example to show how she applied the lessons she learned from this setback?

Many good setback stories involve personal transformation. Did you change your role (external change) and/or your attitude toward people or problems (internal change)? Did you become more aware of your self-limiting tendencies or bad habits that hold you back from achieving your full potential? Are you now more able to recognize and compensate for personal limitations that might otherwise lead to future mistakes or setbacks?

To show personal transformation, try adding details that display a clear "before" and "after".

BEFORE - how you were   
AFTER - how you changed   
IMPACT  - how does this accomplishment prepare to contribute to MBA life and achieve your  career goals?

Here are some questions to get you started.
 
  • Did you face setbacks when working as a team member?
  • Did you encounter significant challenges when working cross-functionally?
  • Did you face setbacks when working cross-culturally?
  • Did you struggle to manage your time, or the time of others?
  • Did details overwhelm you?
  • Did you fail to consider the larger context of your actions?
  • Did you face a setback because you were afraid to present bad news to others?
  • Did you face a setback because you were afraid to confront others about some important issue?
  • Did you procrastinate beginning new tasks?
  • Did you lose energy in the middle of an important project?
  • Did you face a setback because you were impatient?
  • Did you encounter a setback because you were unable to persuade your subordinates?
  • Did you lose valuable time or fail to achieve a desired result because you could not influence your seniors?
  • Did you fail to close an important project or deal because of your lack of technical, analytical or interpersonal skills?

 
Business and self-help books are full of other cliches, like “Winners never quit and quitters never win”, and “If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.” While they seem over-used, these aphorisms contain wisdom.

A popular motivational speaker named Willie Jolley recently wrote a best-selling book called “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” He emphasizes “faith, focus, and follow-through." Here is an edited excerpt that might help you organize your ideas and write your “three setbacks” essay for HBS.
 
How to Survive and Thrive Through any Business Setback: The four-step Process of Turning a Setback into a Comeback by Willie Jolley   
 
Has your business ever had a setback? Of course it has. Perhaps your right-hand person left to work for your biggest competitor. Maybe your top sales person quit without notice and took a few key accounts away. Even worse, perhaps you lost everything because of a bad business decision.
 
Whatever happened, whether it was a large or small setback, how you dealt with the issue most likely determined where you are today. Those who realize the setbacks are simply part of the business process usually thrive, while those who dwell on the problems of setbacks routinely falter.
 
A setback is a change that needs to occur in order to move forward. No matter what industry you're in, you're bound to have things change. The key is to remember that these temporary setbacks can empower you to reach greater levels of future business success. No matter what obstacle has plagued your business, following this four-step process can help you survive and thrive.
 
1. Focus Your Vision
 
Where you focus your energy determines where you will go. If you focus on the setbacks and challenges it brought you, your business can't move forward. However, when you focus on what you want your business to become, then you are using the setback as a transition.
 
2. Make a Decision
 
Both success and failure are decisions. Once your vision is in place, you have to decide you're going to win despite the setback. The truth is, successful business people choose to be successful. They understand that decision and choice are integral parts of the success formula.
 
3. Take Action
 
A decision without action is simply an illusion, and an action without a vision is mere confusion. Yet, a vision plus decisive action can change the world.
 
Unfortunately, many business people never act on their decisions. While they have the best of intentions, they lack the determination and persistence that comes with taking action.
 
By taking action on a decision, you're also taking responsibility for the setback. Once you take responsibility for your actions, you're ready to move forward and attain your next goal.
 
4. Keep the Desire
 
Desire is the degree of energy you're willing to exert in order to reach your goal. Many business people give up because their desire falters. Either a new idea strikes them and they lose focus, or they encounter another minor setback and become discouraged. In order to reach the new business goal you have set for yourself, you must have the desire to follow through with every action, even if it involves a degree of risk. While taking a risk might be intimidating, especially after a setback, it's a necessary ingredient to reaching your new business goal.
 
All successful business people have had setbacks. If you view a setback as a chance for future growth, you can bring every challenge to a positive outcome, and make a stunning comeback.
 
(found at http://www.allbusiness.com/management/786751-1.html; accessed 2011/07)
 
Need a break? If you get stuck while brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, or editing your setback essay, you might find it helpful to watch one of these famous “setback” movies.
 
  • Rocky I (1976) and Rocky II (1979)
  • Chariots of Fire (1981)
  • Cars (2006)

In each of these films, the characters encounter and overcome significant setbacks, and emerge stronger.

Still stuck? Here are some good brainstorming sites ▸ http://del.icio.us/admissions/brainstorming_failure



Essay 4

 

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



HBS ends their set of four required essays by asking you to make a choice. What story best balances your overall application? You might re-use a favorite essay from another school's application, but be sure to chose the one that best represents your selling points.

Stories related to accomplishments and setbacks would add little value.

Try to include a story that only you can tell. It can cover an ordinary topic, but be sure to demonstrate your ability to go above and beyond expectations to add value to your community, and society as a whole.

Many of you will write about personal topics, but be sure to balance the contents of this essay with the personal accomplishments and setbacks presented in essays one and two.

Some of you might decide to write 400 words about why they wish to attend HBS, or how they plan to contribute to the school. Does such a story represent you at your best? Does the Admissions Board want to read about Harvard? They work there. Why do they want to read about their employer? HBS essays are not reviewed by current students, and the adcom members we have met are quite confident about the quality of the HBS MBA degree. Be careful.

Depending on what stories and examples you have told in other essays, you might consider answering a question like, “What do you do outside of work?” "What is your personal credo or motto?" or “How do you add value to your community?”

 

 

21 DEC UPDATE
 

To help you brainstorm possible questions to ask yourself, then answer in Essay 4, I collected previous HBS essay questions from 2005-2010 that the Admissions Board did NOT ask this year.

Perhaps one of them could form the basis for your answer. Just be sure you are not repeating anything you already said in your previous answers.


HBS MBA Class of 2013

  • 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?


HBS MBA Class of 2012

  • What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?
  • Tell us about a time when you made a difficult decision.
  • Write a cover letter to your application introducing yourself to the Admissions Board.



HBS MBA Class of 2011

  • Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.
  • What area of the world are you most curious about and why?


HBS 2+2 Class of 2011

  • How have you experienced culture shock?
  • Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development. How did this experience highlight your strengths and weaknesses?
  • What global issue is most important to you and why?



HBS MBA Class of 2008

  • Discuss a defining experience in your development as a leader.
  • In your career, you will have to deal with many ethical issues. What are likely to be the most challenging and what is your plan for developing the competencies you will need to handle these issues effectively?
  • What are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?



HBS MBA Class of 2007

  • Provide a candid assessment of your strengths and weaknesses.

 

 

FAQ

 
FAQ highlights
 
  • "GMAT scores are self-reported, and we do NOT need to have received your official score before the deadline - an unofficial score is fine. We verify scores for all accepted candidates later in the season."
 
 
 

LINKS

 
Link highlights:
 

 

 

The Harvard Harbinger

Published by Vince Ricci

 

 

 

TESTIMONIALS

from Vince's Comprehensive Clients

Harvard Business School Class of 2012

Preparing admissions essays for MBA programs can be a lonely process, involving much introspection and contemplation. Throughout this process, Vince was an invaluable partner to me, providing objective and professional advice that was critical to my success; ultimately, I gained admissions to 5 top programs in the US, including HBS, Wharton and Northwestern’s JD-MBA program.

Initially, I was somewhat skeptical of receiving advice from essay counselors. I had been educated in the US through college and had confidence that I could pull it off all by myself. Yet, once I started working with Vince, my initial doubt quickly dissipated, as I realized the importance of having a good listener and thinker give objective feedback and advice. I could not have integrated my myriad of ideas into coherent essay portfolios without Vince’s support.

I was also impressed by Vince’s professionalism. He gave tremendous personal attention (almost to a fault!) and usually worked outside of designated time slots; I believe this separates him from other commercially-minded essay counselors.

Having advised many successful, top-notch Japanese clients in the past, Vince has an excellent understanding of the MBA application process and a keen insight into what admissions officers from top programs look for in candidates. Such intelligence could be hard to gather in Japan, where only several hundred people apply to MBA programs each year.

Last but not least, Vince possesses a dry sense of humor that made every one of my twice-a-week face-to-face sessions enjoyable.

 

Harvard Business School Class of 2012

(also admitted to Wharton)


In short, Vince Ricci:

  • knows what admission committees think and feel: he said, "Essay is an art as well as a science."

  • leverages technologies as a Stanford alum: non-Tokyo based applicants can work with him without stress.

  • is a nice guy: he has a broad network which helps applicants learn about target schools.


Overall, by working with Vince, I experienced great results, good ideas for essays and strategies for interview, and a lot of networking opportunities.

 

 

Harvard Business School MBA Class of 2009

The two greatest aspects of Vince and his counseling are his capabilities to push the client to his/her best potential and his abilities to listen and cheer for the best results.

My first confident essay draft was so easily referred to by Vince as “a mess”. This pure shock hit me hard to realize that he was not there to help and support me no matter what, but was there for me to convince him (later myself and the admissions) that I could make it into business schools. The difficulty of business school preparation is fundamentally changing the mindset to think deep in who you are and what makes you valuable to an admit, and Vince was capable to push me each time I tried to slack off the process. Not to mention that without him convincing me, I would have not applied to Harvard Business School/third round, where I am now today.

Also, business school prep move forward by multiple waves. I could not always execute what I had promised Vince the week before whether it was due to work, or emotional fluctuations. Within each one hour counseling session, I sometimes spent the time just talking with Vince about what was going on in my life in general. This helped me through the tough times and kept me from completely falling apart. Vince is truly a great listener and the best cheerleader I had during my prep period.

Vinceをカウンセラーとして起用して良かった点 は、私の魅力を最大限に引き出してくれた事と、私の話をいつも聞いてくれ、励ましてくれた点です。彼の 所に最初に持っていったエッセイは自信作であった割には「it’s a mess」とコメントされ、沈没でした。駄作であったとしても、よいものに直してくれるであろうと気楽に構えていたのですが、ビジネススクール合格はそん なに簡単ではありません。まずは、Vinceを乗り越えなければ合格にたどり着かないのだなと、その時強く思いました。ビジネススクール受験の辛さは今ま でのマインドセットを変え、自分の経験と将来像を深く考え、いかにビジネススクールに進学する事が自分にとって重要なのかを合理的に追求していく事です が、ちょっと手を抜くたびにVinceが後ろから押してくれていました。HBSへ3rdでも出したほうがよいと、彼にしつこく説得してくれなければ私は今 日HBSで勉強をする事ができなかったでしょう。

ビジネススクール受験はよく言わる通りに、マラソンであり、幾度も山や谷を経験しま す。Vinceに約束したことさえも実施できない週が続く事もめずらし くありません。そんな時に彼はセッションの時間の中で、私の悩みを辛抱強く聞き、励まし、エッセイカウンセラー以上のアドバイスを下さいました。この時間 がなければ機能低下はもちろんの事、受験もあきらめていたかもしれません。Vinceは人の話を聞いてくれますし、一緒になって受験をがんばってくれま す。

 

 

-Updated by Vince on 21 Dec 2011

 
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"Preparing admissions essays for MBA programs can be a lonely process, involving much introspection and contemplation. Throughout this process, Vince was an invaluable partner to me, providing objective and professional advice that was critical to my success; ultimately, I gained admissions to 5 top programs in the US, including HBS, Wharton and Northwestern’s JD-MBA program."

Harvard Business School Class of 2012

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