Harvard released this morning the essay questions for its 2008 MBA application. Let the season begin!

HBS 2008 Deadlines

                      Deadline               Notification Date
Round 1     October 2, 2007     January 16, 2008
Round 2     January 3, 2008     March 26, 2008
Round 3     March 12, 2008     May 14, 2008

As I have done for the last several years, I will post the essay questions from the top business schools along with tips for responding to them.

This year's Harvard questions represent a mix of old and new. The structure is new. The first two are required for all applicants. The last 3 provide you with a choice of six questions and you choose 3  to respond to. Choose the three that allow you to show the greatest breadth of leadership, initiative, and accomplishment.  Last year's six required essays have been reduced to five, unless you are applying to a joint degree program, in which case you have an additional essay to write.

Significantly two of the new questions relate to working in a world where business is global. Although I can imagine scenarios where it would be inappropriate for an individual applicant to answer either of those questions, if you have any international exposure I encourage you to answer at least one of those questions.

Keep in mind that as you draft your essays, even as you respond to Harvard's obvious emphasis on leadership,  you want each essay to disclose a different facet of your background, experience, and interests... of you.  Your application mission is to write  so that each individual essay compellingly answers the given question and when combined with the other essays and information found on your application adds to the portrait of  you as an up-and-coming leader and star.

My comments on the questions will appear in red.

HBS 2008 Essay Questions

1.What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600-word limit)

This is practically Harvard's signature question. It has been around for years and it goes to the heart of Harvard's values. It wants highly accomplished students entering its program. It wants leaders.

At least one and probably two of the three accomplishments should show leadership and/or teamwork, with the emphasis being on leadership. I also like to have this essay show some breadth. My ideal would be to have one professional, one community, and one personal accomplishment in this essay, but that breakdown is neither set in stone nor imperative.

2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400-word limit)

New question. People of initiative err. They must learn from those mistakes to be effective leaders. 

A friend this week went to her daughter's graduation and quoted the valedictory address,  "In school you learn lessons and then take tests. In life, you have tests and then learn lessons." If you view  your mistakes as experiments, lessons, or tests, you can grow and make sure you don't repeat them. Show HBS through this essay that you are the kind of person who learns from your mistakes.

Again, try to have this question show you making your mistake, preferably in a leadership capacity, and applying those lessons in a sphere of your life not covered by the examples in essay 1 or (ideally) the other essays. In the best HBS applications, each essay uncovers a different facet of the applicant and his or her experience. Together they paint an entire portrait of a dynamic, talented leader with initiative and exceptional ability.

3. Please respond to three of the following (400-word limit each)

1. Discuss a defining experience in your leadership development. How did this experience highlight your strengths and weaknesses?

Last year's #3.  A version of this question for many years was HBS' first question.

Anecdotally and briefly describe the leadership experience showing the impact you had as a leader. Explain how it highlights both your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. In defining your leadership style, you should strive to show how it has influenced you in later situations. In those you also want to reveal how you have built on your leadership strengths and mitigated your weakness. That's a lot to do in a 400-word limit. You must write succinctly.

2. How have you experienced culture shock?

A new question for HBS, but a standard at INSEAD. It reflects the growing importance of international business and the need for HBS students and graduates to have experience working with different cultures. When have you, either outside your home country or in your own country, dealt with someone from a different culture and been surprised by their behavior, but realized that it is perfectly normal for their culture? How did you adapt? How did you bridge the gap and successfully complete whatever you had set out to accomplish? What did you learn? 

3. What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?

This question was introduced two years ago. At the time, I thought it was going to produce monotonous, boring essays, but it didn't. To my pleasant surprise, I reviewed several HBS #1 essays as part of our quality control program, and they were revealing, excellent essays.

This question reflects Harvard's interest in early career applicants and really gives them a chance to shine. This essay represents HBS' attempt to see patterns over time.  What you choose to include here will obviously vary depending on your experience and the rest of your application, but my ideal answer will discuss  a leadership experience from your undergrad career to show that you are a natural leader with a history of leadership. Remember: HBS wants to develop leaders, not create them.

4. What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

Also a repeat from last year.  And a lot to squeeze into 400 words. This question is as close to a classic goals question as Harvard comes this year. But it's a little different from the typical "What do you want to do and why do you want to do it?" The interesting twist to Harvard's question is "career vision." With Harvard's focus on strategy, Harvard is asking you to develop your career strategy and discuss its importance to you. But don't leave your answer on an entirely theoretical plane. Bring it down to earth with your plan for implementing that vision. In other words writing that you seek "a career leading an innovative enterprise, providing work-life balance, and allowing me the opportunity to contribute to my community" sounds great. But it will also sound a lot like other people's visions. You need to have some idea of how to achieve that vision, define it more narrowly, and explain why it resonates with you.

5. What global issue is most important to you and why?

This broad question is a bit of a trap. If you say that Issue X is the most important issue to you and you have done nothing to advocate for your position, you are hurting your chances of admission. You can be for or against a wide variety of global concerns, but you want to portray yourself as a person of action and initiative. If you declare Issue X as the most important one to you, be prepared to discuss what you have done in connection with that issue.

Keep in mind this sentence from HBS' web site, "While our students' lives and experiences vary greatly, they all share a demonstrated capacity for leadership and a desire to effect positive change. " [Emphasis added.] If you declare Issue X to be the most important global issue to you, how have you demonstrated a desire to effect positive change in regards to that issue?

6. What else would you like the MBA Admissions Board to understand about you?

This essay is a great place to highlight  a side of you or experience not discussed elsewhere in the application. This wild card question is a gift to you from the the kindly folks serving on the HBS adcom so you can show another area in which you shine. And yes, if you can demonstrate leadership, do so. Do not waste it on a summary or closing sales pitch.

If you would like help with your Harvard MBA application, please consider Accepted's MBA essay editing and admissions consulting or a Harvard MBA Comprehensive Package, which includes essay editing, interview coaching, consultation, and a resume edit for the Harvard MBA application.  All are 10% off through July 31, 2007.

Other resources to help you with your HBS MBA application:

• The Consultant`s Guide to MBA Admission, an ebook by Cindy Tokumitsu and me with a focus on Harvard.
  
• MBA BlastOff: 45 Terrific Tips to Launch Your MBA Application to Acceptance, an ebook by Maxx Duffy and me with tips for H/S/W.