hbs 2 2 essay questions

• Harvard Business School 2+2 Deferred MBA Program Essay Analysis 2024

February 8, 2024

Jeremy Shinewald

The majority of classes at Harvard Business School (HBS) are based on the case method, which depends entirely on students’ contributions. (If you are unfamiliar with what the case method is, this video  will help you quickly get up to speed!) In Part 1 of its essay questions for the 2+2 program, the Personal Essays, HBS challenges you to reveal the unique experiences, perspectives, and circumstances that have shaped your world view and will enable you to contribute to the program. You are given three options, from which you must choose and respond to two. You then have a very tight 600 words (300 per essay) in which to reveal distinct and compelling elements of your background. Then, for Part 2, the Career Essay, the admissions committee wants you look forward. You are asked to share your professional ambitions and discuss what the future holds—laying out a plan for your pre-MBA period and relating it to your post-MBA period—in another 300 words. So, in 900 words total, your goal is to discuss your past as a prologue to your desired future. You will need to be thoughtful about every word to ensure that you are both thorough and affecting.

Part 1: Personal Essays (choose two – up to 300 words per prompt)

The HBS classroom and community thrive when we bring together people who can share a variety of perspectives. To get to know you better and how you will engage at HBS, please choose two of the three prompts below to tell us more about yourself:

• How have your experiences shaped who you are, how you lead, and how you will contribute at HBS?
• What intellectual experiences have influenced your approach to learning and have led you to pursue an MBA?
• What communities have you been engaged with that have defined how you invest in others?

  You are given the opportunity here to choose two of the three prompts to write on, and we can assure you that the admissions committee has no preference for which two you choose. None are technically the “right” or “wrong” prompts in the school’s eyes. What matters is that you select the questions that will allow you to share your strongest stories. Start by brainstorming thoroughly; create a complete inventory of your professional, academic, personal, extracurricular, and community experiences, and then identify the ones that fit best with each question. And you absolutely must write honestly about your life. You will not earn points with the admissions committee by pandering or writing what you think they want to hear. For example, we strongly suggest not submitting a piece on “engaging diversity” if that is not true to who you actually are. It will not help you at all! Let us break down each prompt individually.

  Ask yourself what experiences—both positive and negative—have truly catalyzed your development and defined your life. If you can draw a clear cause and effect between the inflection points or circumstances of your emotional and personal development and where you are today, then this prompt could be a good option for you. Again, those experiences or circumstances can be either positive or negative—your story does not need to be all roses—but take care not to dwell on the past. Instead, you want to show how your past informs who you are today, what kind of leader you are, and how you will contribute at HBS. With respect to that last element, you cannot simply say, “And I will bring this experience to class each day!” You need to get specific about the spirit of your contribution and about where it will be felt. In a class? In a particular club? In FIELD? All of the above? Wherever you believe you could be additive and beneficial to the HBS experience, you need to show the admissions committee that you understand the journey you are aspiring to embark on and the community you hope to join.

Delving into one’s “intellectual experiences” is likely more challenging than exploring one’s general experiences. How do you discuss how you have expanded your thoughts? Well, to start, we should take a broader look at the word intellectual . You can, of course, experience intellectual growth by reading a philosophy textbook, for example, but you can also do so by engaging in conversation with others. This could be as simple as regularly sitting at a shared table at a local café and conversing with fellow community members, or as advanced as interviewing people on specific topics for the podcast you launched. Where you experienced growth is not really what matters, though contextualizing your discussion could be additive. What is important is how you experienced that growth and how it has subsequently affected you. Of course, you must connect your perspective to your desire for an MBA, and you would be wise to explain how earning your MBA will continue to foster your intellectual development!

This essay prompt is ideal if you are someone who represents or promotes diversity. It offers you the opportunity to share that aspect of your identity, but only if you have made an impact. For this essay, you cannot simply say, “I am Hispanic,” for example. You must instead say, “My Hispanic identity has led me to [do XYZ].” We are not suggesting you write these exact words, of course, but we want to ensure that you are coming at this prompt the right way. Ideally, you would start this essay by establishing your identity and then continue by offering examples of truly impactful work you have done in support of others. You want to offer the reader clear instances of cause and effect that make sense and support your claims. And, to build on our example of diverse representation, maybe you have been profoundly involved in student government and used your position to improve others’ experience on campus. Or you might have helped grow your school’s debate society and then led a team to intensify its commitment, upskill, and ultimately win a competition. Whatever the community you engaged in, remember to focus on demonstrating cause and effect!

Part 2: Career Essay (up to 300 words)

How do the career plans you shared in the Career Plans section of the application fit into your current long-term career vision? What skills and/or professional experiences do you hope to obtain in the deferral period that will help build the foundation for your post-MBA career?

This is a question that, in our humble opinion, has been missing from the HBS 2+2 application since the inception of the program. Most early-career applicants feel that they need to explain their purpose—give the admissions committee a sense of where they are going—because this aspect of their profile is not terribly clear when they are still in college or completing a master’s degree. Although HBS gives you 400 characters within the application to present your post-MBA career goals, that only equates to roughly 60 words. So having 300 in which to offer more context and detail is a welcome relief!

This question is about as straightforward as they come. You should start by briefly contextualizing your short-term career goals, basically explaining why they are a fit for you. Then, you can choose one of two approaches. You might immediately connect your short- and long-term goals—and we emphasize connect , because the latter must flow naturally from the former—and then explain how you intend to develop your skills so you are prepared for that path. Or you could start by contextualizing your goals and then discuss your career development expectations, which would lead into a discussion of your long-term goals—which, again, need to represent the natural extension of your professional growth.

A word of caution: be thoughtful about your discussion of your professional experiences. Avoid your industry’s generalities and cliches, and instead, show the admissions committee that you truly understand how you will develop. Compare the following two statements: 

“I am excited to join my consulting firm full-time, because it will expose me to a breadth of global clients and enable me to solve problems with business leaders…” 

“I am excited to rejoin the Boston office after graduation, because the managing directors, who are in the office five days a week, take an active role in helping Analysts develop. I view the coming three years as an apprenticeship, where I will learn from others through observation and practice. In particular…” 

The first statement simply repeats basic industry cliches, but the second reveals an individual who fully grasps the value of the experience and feels a sense of purpose in reentering the field. Of course, this are just examples, but remember, you have to make this essay yours . It needs to be tailored to your desired experiences and developmental needs. Your goal is for the admissions officer to read your submission and think, “Now, that is a plan!” If you feel you are not yet able to formulate a clear path for yourself, we suggest conducting informational interviews with people in your chosen field to ensure that you will be able to write with the proper level of sincerity and authenticity. The admissions committee is aware that you might change your mind about your career path over time, but for now, you need to show conviction!

If you have any questions about how to best position your candidacy or approach these challenging prompts, we encourage you take advantage of a free, 30-minute consultation  to discuss your options with one of our experts.

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Harvard Business School 2+2 MBA Program Essay Analysis: 2024

Harvard Business School may not be accepting any more full-time applications this cycle. However, the 2+2 application remains open. The 2024 Harvard Business School 2+2 MBA deadline is April 25, 2024. The program accepts applications from current college seniors and final year master’s students who enrolled in graduate studies straight from college.

This is the first time in recent history that the HBS 2+2 application has NOT used the open-ended essay required for full-time applications. Instead, Harvard Business School asks 2+2 applicants to answer three questions: in the first part, TWO out of three options that are in a more personal vein, and in the second part, a career-focused question. Together the answers, addressing personal story and professional aspirations, should paint a complete picture of you as a candidate.

2024 HBS 2+2 Program Application Essay Questions Are as Follows:

Hbs 2+2 essay instructions: part 1: personal essays (choose two—up to 300 words per prompt), the hbs classroom and community thrive when we bring together people who can share a variety of perspectives. to get to know you better and how you will engage at hbs, please choose two of the three prompts below to tell us more about yourself:.

With this introduction, HBS makes clear that it wants you to focus on your individuality and singular perspective. So, as you review the options below, Personal MBA Coach recommends that you choose the two that together give you the greatest opportunity to share your uniqueness: for example, something about your background and something about your academic accomplishments, or something about your intellectual accomplishments and about the communities that have shaped you. There is no wrong answer, but the different choices can maximize the singularity of your story differently. Each is only 300 words so you must be direct, concise and to the point.

1. How have your experiences shaped who you are, how you lead, and how you will contribute at HBS?

This option is the closest to the open-ended “personal story” essay that HBS is known for. As you answer this essay, think about what makes you different from your peers and uniquely able to contribute. You might consider your background, upbringing or extracurricular experiences here. If you need help thinking through your own personal story, check out this blog from Personal MBA Coach.

Given the  300-word limit, applicants will need to get to the point very quickly, focusing in on their uniqueness.

Personal MBA Coach recommends that the details provided are specific. Then, quickly transition into the ”so what?” telling HBS not just what these experiences were but how they have shaped your leadership approach. Finally, you want to detail specific contributions you will be able to make at HBS based on this experience.

2. What intellectual experiences have influenced your approach to learning and have led you to pursue an MBA?

This second prompt is a great choice for applicants whose strength lies in their educational or research experience or applicants who have had an internship that is particularly intellectual. Perhaps you have completed an interesting independent study on campus or researched an unusual topic. Keep in mind that particularly through the 2+2 program, HBS seeks candidates from STEM fields, who may be less likely to apply for an MBA later in their careers.

Use this essay to talk about the work you have done, showing readers how you have exhibited specific intellectual curiosity and persistence, if possible. Next you want to tell HBS how this experience has motivated you to pursue an MBA. While this is not a specific goals essay , if you choose this option there should be some connection between this experience and your goals.

3. What communities have you been engaged with that have defined how you invest in others?

With this third essay, HBS is following a recent trend of asking applicants to talk more about communities. This is a great option for applicants who have diverse or unique demographic backgrounds to talk about how they have given back in the past, and to hint at how they will give back in the future.

However, even if your community is not unique, you can use this essay to show how you have contributed to helping others. Applicants who have significant volunteer work may find this essay to be a great opportunity to highlight their efforts. While not specifically asked, noting how you will contribute on campus is also recommended here.

Part 2: Career Essay (up to 300 words)

How do the career plans you shared in the career plans section of the application fit into your current long-term career vision what skills and/or professional experiences do you hope to obtain in the deferral period that will help build the foundation for your post-mba career.

While HBS historically has not asked applicants to write extensively about their long-term goals, in this essay HBS is looking for applicants to discuss both their long-term goals and their plans for the deferral period. For more on Personal MBA Coach’s tips for writing a goal statement, check out this blog !

Once you have detailed your long-term goals, be specific about your plans for the deferral period. If you have already lined up a job, discuss what you will do in this role and, more importantly, how this experience will prepare you to succeed post-MBA. If you have not secured a position, talk about the role you are targeting. As you craft this essay, be sure to go beyond describing the job you hope to have and instead dive into the specific skills you hope to gain.

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, hbs deferred mba: top tips for the 2+2 essays.

• By Judith Silverman Hodara

Application season for deferred entry programs is heating up, with deadlines coming up in April. Business-bound college and master’s degree students applying for Harvard Business School’’s 2+2 program are no doubt working on their essays, and that’s no small task. 

 The 2024 application essays for the 2+2 program offer some options and cover a lot of ground, all in just 300 words per essay. In a recent conversation, my Fortuna colleagues Michel Belden, senior expert coach and former associate director of admissions at the Wharton School, and Alterell Mills, an HBS alumnus and expert coach, offered some advice on how to tackle these essays. 

Why consider early admission? 

Early admission, deferred entry programs like the HBS 2+2 program are a terrific opportunity if you know that you are destined for business and want an early start on acquiring the solid skills of an MBA. 

These programs offer a guaranteed spot in a future class before you’ve accrued the years of practical business experience most schools expect before you enter. With a promise of admission in your pocket when you graduate from college, you have greater freedom to explore career opportunities and experiences that interest you before enrolling in the program.

The 2+2 Application Essays 

For the 2024 season, HBS asks applicants to respond to three essays in two areas. For the personal essays, you pick two of the three prompts and write up to 300 words for each. “You can choose which questions resonate with you — the ones you feel most comfortable with and best allow you to tell your story,” Belden says. For the career essay,  you answer all of the prompt questions in one 300-word essay.

Essay 1:  Personal (pick two, 300 words each)  

‣What communities have you been engaged with that have defined how you invest in others?

‣What intellectual experiences have influenced your approach to learning and have led you to pursue an MBA?

‣How have your experiences shaped who you are, how you lead, and how you will contribute at HBS?

Essay 2: Career (300 words)

‣How do the career plans you shared in the Career Plans section of the application fit into your current long-term career vision? What skills and/or professional experiences do you hope to obtain in the deferral period that will help build the foundation for your post-MBA career?

What is HBS Looking for in its 2+2 Essays? 

Getting admitted to one of the most selective MBA programs in the world straight out of college or a master’s, with little to no professional work experience, is a rare opportunity offered to individuals with an outstanding record of early achievement and leadership.  So what is Harvard looking for in these essays that will set you apart? Actually, HBS is looking for many of the common characteristics they seek in all MBA candidates, Mills says. “The mission of HBS is to educate leaders who will make a difference in the world as well as evidence of the three qualities they seek in all applicants: the habit of leadership, analytical aptitude and appetite, and engaged community citizenship,” he explains. 

“I think it’s important for candidates to think about how the essay questions are really trying to assess those qualities and traits — and then try to find a balance among them. In some ways there’s a trade- around being overly analytical at the expense of not being very human or community-oriented. Likewise, there’s a tradeoff in being a strong leader, but also potentially not knowing how or when to be a follower or team player. I think that some of these questions are intended to probably get a gauge of how folks are navigating that balance.

Consider Community Broadly

Because community engagement is one of those three “pillar” traits HBS seeks, Mills and Belden advise candidates to think deeply about that — and think broadly about what constitutes community.

“We are all part of one or more communities ; it is not only limited to membership in a marginalized group,” Mills says. You could choose to share involvement in any group where you have invested a lot of your time and invested in other people, Belden adds. It could be a consulting club or a group for Muslim students you launched; it could be a leadership role in a fraternity or sorority or a community-based project in the town where your university is located. 

The key, Belden says, is to explain why you were drawn to those experiences, and to focus on impact. What kept you involved, what did you learn, and how did you contribute to or improve others’ experience? 

“In any of these communities Michel mentioned, you will probably have had conversations, discussions, and situations that map to the personal essay prompts. In shaping your essay, consider where in those situations have you been a leader? What have you stepped up to do? How did you support others?” Mills advises.

“Past performance is the best indicator of future performance,” Belden notes. ”HBS expects you to be engaged and contributing to their community, and this essay prompt aims to get an early snapshot of what you will look like as a student in the HBS space. If you were an engaged undergrad, they can envision you being an engaged student as well.” 

HBS seeks to put together a class that is rich in different backgrounds, experiences, and career trajectories, so the 2+2 program gives some preference to applicants from lower socioeconomic background and first-generation college students. “This could also be an opportunity to talk explicitly about things you have done outside of school, like going back to help your hometown community or your family, says Mills.

A cing the Career Questions

HBS understands that when you are applying to an MBA program in your early 20s, your long-term career plans are mostly forecasting a rather generalized future that can change greatly. 

Still, in answering these questions, it’s important to make sure your long-term career vision is clearly tied to the career goals you noted in the short-answer question in the application. Most applicants will have a post-graduation job lined up, or have some solid options in mind, and you should be able to write with some specificity about what you will do and the skills and knowledge you hope to gain. Again, it’s important to explain why that role or opportunity attracts you and how it ties to your long-term career plan. 

“When you’re applying to elite schools like this, you need to be able to speak to what you want to do afterwards:  What is your space — health care, clean tech? — and why? How do you plan to get there?” Belden says. 

More than STEM Stars

MBA programs use early admission / deferred entry programs like the 2+2 program to spot and attract top talent early, especially those bright young leaders who might be on a different career path than those in finance and consulting careers who traditionally head to business school. “They want to get people for whom business school is not necessarily in their plan right now, but they have the capacity to go on and do great things,” says Mills. 

In that light, HBS says it gives some preference to 2+2 applicants planning to work in an operating company, in a technically demanding role, or in an entrepreneurial setting. That leads to a perception that deferred entry programs are trying to attract STEM candidates who are in high demand elsewhere. While it’s true that in the past, the 2+2 program admitted a higher percentage of candidates with STEM backgrounds, non-STEM candidates should not worry that they are disadvantaged. 

Of the 118 candidates admitted through the 2+2 program in 2023, 36% were math and physical sciences majors; 16% studied engineering and 14% studied economics, while 22% majored in business. Another 8% majored in social sciences and 3% in arts.

The emphasis on math and science-based fields naturally reflects that pillar trait of an interest and aptitude for analytics, which is critical in any business sector today. Mills points out people who are majoring in STEM are not necessarily ending up in STEM careers. “I think about the person who studied chemistry or applied mathematics, who goes to McKinsey,” People in engineering or computer science are still going to work at Google or Facebook, possibly not in technical roles, he adds. 

The key is to remember that you are applying for an opportunity to gain stellar business and leadership skills that can make an impact in any field— and then make a case for how you will use these skills to make an impact.  

• Posted on March 1, 2024

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• Menlo Coaching
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• The HBS Essay

The HBS Essay: Writing Strategies that Work and What to Avoid

For the last few years, Harvard Business School has challenged MBA applicants with its sole, open-ended essay question:

• As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program? (900 words)

Where to Begin?

With its broad nature and 900-word limit, it’s no surprise that many prospective business students have trouble getting started with the Harvard MBA essay, and wonder what direction they should take to answer this perplexing prompt. 

Candidates who are applying to HBS in future rounds will likely face the same essay question. In this article, we highlight common mistakes that applicants make and consider the best way for future applicants to approach this unapologetically unlimited essay prompt.

The HBS Essay: What This Year’s Applicants Should Consider

First off, applicants must realize what they are up against before approaching the infamous HBS MBA admission essay. The Harvard Business School acceptance rate is just 11%. Of the roughly 930 individuals who are accepted, there is a very small slice of amazingly fantastic applicants who write the essay as merely a formality. For the rest of the applicants fighting for the available slots–perhaps loads of you reading this article–there are several candidates who are equally qualified fighting for the same seat: great jobs, great career trajectories, great GPAs and GMATs. This means that your personal essay is meant to differentiate you and show the admissions committee why they should select YOU rather than competing applicants.

Learn from those applicants that came before you and make sure to give special thought on how you can really convey who you are in answering this essay question. It is not your typical essay prompt, so it deserves your time and attention.

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Our five-hour package starts at $2,500, and you can work with our MBA admissions consultants on anything you like, including:

✓ Essay and Resume Edits

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Menlo’s Expert Consultant, Yaron Dahan, on: “What more would you like us to know?”

The best advice I can give applicants answering the HBS essay question is this: select a topic that will play as well in the case method as it does with an admissions committee. Ultimately that is what HBS is looking for in its admits: Will this candidate be able to contribute something unique in a case discussion?

Think about the nine areas covered in HBS’s year-one required curriculum (finance, accounting, leadership, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship, strategy, ethics, and government/economics), and figure out where you will be able to add the most value. Dee Leopold, the former admissions director at HBS, told the story of one student who did this very successfully in his interview, and was admitted to the HBS class the following year:

“This is a guy who worked in a small manufacturing facility in a tiny town in Michigan where they make baby formula. He was in quality control, working with union people. Early on the job, they discovered there were bugs in the machinery of the factory. They are contaminating the product, and management was obviously deeply concerned about the problem. The news trucks have gathered outside. The CEO comes. That is an amazing voice to bring to our course on Leadership and Corporate Accountability.”

As an applicant, it’s your job to accomplish the same thing in your essay that this candidate did in his interview. Show them you have a unique contribution to make. If you can do that, then you’ve mastered the HBS essay question.

In the video below, Yaron elaborates on how to approach the personal essays at HBS and Stanford.

Yaron Dahan on Personal Essays for HBS and GSB Admissions

The harvard mba essay: what doesn’t work, playing it safe. .

HBS wants to see several qualities in the applicants it admits: aptitude, accomplishment, character, and passion. Your GMAT and GPA will speak to your analytical aptitude, your resume to your accomplishment, and your recommenders to your character. That leaves your HBS application essay to speak toward your passion: will you have interesting stories and opinions to contribute to the HBS case discussions? Will you involve yourself in the broader Harvard community? Do you have the drive to achieve ambitious things after you graduate? To give the admissions committee confidence in your candidacy, you must let your quirks and passions come through. You cannot play it safe and write a simple, boring essay.

Although you cannot be boring in your MBA essays, you do NOT want to go overboard. In the video below, our co-founder Alice talks about things to avoid while writing the personal essay, namely:

• Using the essay to show literary creativity 
• Boasting in ways that are off-putting 
• Dishonesty and trying to conceal failures

Alice van Harten on Common Mistakes in HBS Essays

Answering the hbs prompt like a typical mba essay question..

The key point of the Harvard Business School essay is the phrase “what more,” which is a clear signal that HBS does not want you using the essay to rehash things that are already covered by your resume, career goals statement, professional recommendations or written application form.

If the HBS admissions team wanted to know why you wanted a business degree, or why you wanted to go to Harvard, or what your career path was, then they would ask. They certainly have asked applicants those questions in years past. But realize that, in providing this very open-ended prompt, HBS expects very open-ended answers. They want answers from applicants that could never be prompted by any questions the admissions committee could ask. They want to learn the things that make you different as an applicant. So take the hint, and realize that HBS ditched the standard essay prompts for a reason. They are looking for something different here. Be creative, and be genuine.

Focusing on one or more of your weaknesses. 

Every year, candidates seem to battle insecurities over the same issues: their GPA was only a 3.2; their GMAT is just a fraction too low; they don’t have many significant extracurriculars. It’s possible that those issues need to be addressed in your MBA application, but this essay is absolutely not the place to do it. HBS will never admit you for mitigating every possible weakness; they will only admit you for showing remarkable strength in one or two really interesting areas. Take the HBS essay question as the opportunity to demonstrate the latter, and leave addressing your GPA or extracurriculars for other parts of your application.

One Menlo Client’s Experience Working on the HBS Essay

Harvard’s MBA admissions essay is not for the faint of heart. It takes dedication, perseverance, and quite a bit of time. It is not a personal essay that you can whip out in one sitting, and we’ve heard many clients say that they woefully underestimated the time and effort needed to complete it well.

For Menlo Coaching client Vicky, the secret to HBS success was to go beyond just talking about her successful career in consulting and retail, and talk about her long-term vision for her family’s manufacturing business.

In the video below, she discusses how we helped her through the MBA admissions process generally, and with finding the right story for HBS specifically (use the chapter “Essay Writing Process” to jump directly to that part).

Wondering if you’re behind for Round 1 2023?

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HBS Essay Examples: How Former Clients Approached the Harvard MBA Essay & Application Journey and Won Admission

Related articles.

• How to Get Into Harvard Business School
• The Harvard Business School MBA Program Overview
• Achieving Work-Life Balance as a Top MBA Graduate
• How One HBS Alum Leveraged Her MBA for Entrepreneurship

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August 20, 2014

HBS 2+2 Essay Questions and Tips

Update: the tips for harvard business school’s 2+2 2009 application are now online- please post questions or comments on the new post..

The Harvard 2+2 application is online and the submission deadline is July 1, 2008.  Harvard’s instructions and question are in black below; my comments and tips are in red:

First, compose your responses to the essays in a word processing document. Please abide by the following instructions:

* Limit your responses to the lengths indicated. * Single-space your essays. * Please use Times New Roman font type and 12 pt font size. * Write the question at the top of each essay. * Refrain from using images and/or any other nonstandard English characters in your essays. They may prevent the system from processing your application.

All applicants must answer questions 1 and 2. For question 3, please answer TWO of the six questions listed below, and upload individually your response to each of the two questions you’ve chosen.

Please note: Do not send an extra copy of your essays to our office, as this will complicate the processing of your application.

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. Harvard wants highly accomplished students entering its program. It wants leaders. At least 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 would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience? (600-word limit)

Optional for regular applications, this question is required for 2+2 applicants, plus you get an additional 200 words to write a superb, revealing essay.  When introduced, I thought this query was going to produce monotonous, boring pieces, but it didn’t. To my pleasant surprise, I reviewed several responses as part of our quality control program, and they were revealing, excellent essays.

Your topics will clearly 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. It should complement your other essays and reveal another dimension to your personality and experience.

3. Please answer TWO of the six questions below (400-word limit each):

The first issue you must address when looking at #3, is which two do you choose. Answer: the two that, when combined with your required essays, allow you to present the most impressive, textured, and comprehensive picture of you.  So if you have lived in Kansas almost all your life and have extensive leadership experience in student government, sports, and your church,  perhaps #2 would not be a good question for you, but #1 might be. If you have extensive international travel, but lack a clear idea of what you want to do, then perhaps 2 & 4 are for you, but you want to pass on 3.

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

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. Strive to show how this experience 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?

This question 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 is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?

Harvard is one of the few, if not the only, top business school that has made the goals question optional. And even this one is a little different than 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. For more on the concept of vision, please see “The Parable of the Three Stone Masons.” I believe that HBS is attempting to identify those who are like the third stonemason — perhaps with less religious fervor, but with well… that kind of vision. They are still working hard, with feet on the ground, but they radiate enthusiasm for a distant goal and pride in their ability to contribute to something much larger than themselves.

4. 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 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, how have you demonstrated a desire to effect positive change in regards to Issue X?

5. 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 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.

6. What have you learned from a mistake?

People of initiative err. They must learn from those mistakes to be effective leaders.  A friend 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 reveal you making your mistake, preferably in a leadership capacity, and applying lessons learned in a sphere of your life not covered by other essays. In the best HBS applications, each essay uncovers a different facet of the applicant and his or her experience. Together they paint a portrait of a dynamic, talented leader with initiative and exceptional ability.

If you would like help with your Harvard 2+2 application, please consider Accepted’s essay editing and admissions consulting.

Other resources to help you with your Harvard Business School 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.

Final suggestion, actually from Dee Leopold , Director of Harvard’s MBA Admissions, watch the video Inside the HBS Case Method.

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An Overview of the HBS 2+2 Program—and How to Kick Off Your Application

HBS 2+2 is one of the most prestigious deferred MBA programs in the country. Here's an overview, with some tips on how to start your application.

Posted March 12, 2024

Featuring Keta B.

Telling Your MBA Admissions Story: How to Create A Wholistic Application That Weaves a Tale

Tuesday, may 7.

4:00 PM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

The HBS 2+2 Program.

It's one of the most prestigious, well-established deferred admissions programs in the country. When most undergraduates hear about it, they immediately assume they're not qualified. Even the name "Harvard" is enough to make this program feel out of reach. Many current students dismiss their own candidacy right away, thinking instead: "Oh, I'll just wait a few years and apply as a traditional candidate, and enroll with everyone else."

Now, it's true — the vast majority of those who apply to Harvard Business School's 2+2 Program won't get in. But we put together this guide to dispel misconceptions about this early admissions program, and how you, too, can apply and earn admission.

So, What Is the HBS 2+2 Program?

Although it's been around since 2008, the HBS 2+2 program is still gaining traction. Many college students don't realize there's a way to secure a spot in the Harvard Business School MBA program before even graduating. That's what HBS 2+2 is: a deferred enrollment program that grants applicants the security of a seat in a top MBA program, with the flexibility to enter the workforce for two (minimum) to five (maximum) years before returning to business school.

HBS 2+2 is a win for Harvard, as well: it allows them to lock down high-potential candidates early, before they enter the workforce and start gaining work experience. That's particularly important for those candidates who might enter industries that don't typically feed into business schools: retail, tech, consumer goods, etc.

Harvard wasn't the first university to launch such a program — Yale was, in 2001 — and other schools, like Yale and Stanford GSB, also offer similar deferred options. (See our article on the Top 10 Deferred MBA Programs in the US .) But HBS 2+2 has quickly become one of the largest, most robust, and popular deferred admit programs in the country.

History of HBS 2+2

The 2+2 Program was created in 2008 when Harvard decided to incentivize accomplished undergrads to plan their careers in advance, and secure spots in its business program roughly two years after graduation. Harvard hoped to reach a diverse group of young individuals who might kick off their careers in less conventional industries, which wouldn't necessarily lead them to full-time MBA programs.

If you're interested in other deferred MBA programs, check out:

• The Top 10 Deferred MBA Programs in the US -- and How to Get In
• The Deferred MBA Process and Top Programs: An Expert's Guide

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Eligibility

So, who's eligible for the HBS 2+2 program?

If you're a college senior, you're eligible. You'd apply in the spring of your senior year (or final year of study) and, if admitted, work for 2 to 4 years before matriculating at Harvard. Candidates earning a joint bachelor/master's degree are also eligible for the program. Graduate or master's students can also be eligible, if they entered their graduate program directly from undergrad, without yet taking a full-time work position.

Who Harvard Looks For

Harvard encourages all interested students to apply, regardless of their educational background. However, HBS has its eye out for individuals who will likely pursue career paths outside the norm of general business school applicants. They are particularly interested in a few groups:

• Students planning to work in technical roles
• Students going to work in an operating role (like tech, manufacturing, etc)
• Students pursuing entrepreneurship
• Individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds who are first-generation college students, or who come from families whose members have not attended graduate school

If you're planning on pursuing a career in finance or consulting, or something in the nonprofit sector, don’t worry! Harvard still accepts such candidates—they just signal a preference for the types listed above. Harvard also encourages international applicants to apply—HBS looks for diversity of background, whether that be a profession, career path, nationality, sexual orientation, or other factors. This perspective and depth are super important to Harvard's admissions committee.

How Hard Is It to Get Into HBS 2+2?

Harvard is one of the few institutions that publishes statistics for its deferred MBA program. For the class of 2023, 1,403 students applied, and Harvard admitted 9% of them (slightly lower than the traditional application rate of 11.5%).

Of that 9%, the range of accepted GMAT scores was 590 to 790, with a median GMAT score of 730, and an average GPA of 3.79. Accepted students represented 65 different universities across the world.

Looking deeper into the class profile, the majority (57%) of admits came from STEM academic backgrounds. 24% studied Economics or Business, while 19% hailed from the Humanities and Social Sciences. (It's worth noting that this high percentage of students from STEM backgrounds is really what differentiates the 2+2 cycle from the traditional application cycle.)

Read: The Top 25 Business Schools' Acceptance Rates and Class Profiles

Application Details

So, what does it take to apply to HBS 2+2?

The application process is the same as that of the traditional MBA program (though you’ll be saving a little money: it only costs $100 to apply, compared to the regular application fee of $250). As with the traditional application, you'll need two recommendations, and one of them will need to be from a direct supervisor. You'll need to write essays and report your GMAT/GRE/TOEFL scores. Interviews for the deferred admission process follow the same format as the regular admissions process: one 30 min, somewhat intense interview.

To learn more, read here:  How to Ace Your HBS Interview

HBS 2+2 Essays (NEW)

For those applying to HBS' deferred MBA program in 2024 or after, please know that the essays have changed for the first time in many years. Here are the new prompts; each essay has a limit of 300 words.

Part 1: Personal Essays

The HBS classroom and community thrive when we bring together people who can share a variety of perspectives. To get to know you better and how you will engage at HBS, please choose two of the three prompts below to tell us more about yourself:

• How have your experiences shaped who you are, how you lead, and how you will contribute at HBS?
• What intellectual experiences have influenced your approach to learning and have led you to pursue an MBA?
• What communities have you been engaged with that have defined how you invest in others?

Part 2: Career Essay

• How do the career plans you shared in the Career Plans section of the application fit into your current long-term career vision? What skills and/or professional experiences do you hope to obtain in the deferral period that will help build the foundation for your post-MBA career?

As far as instruction goes, the portal states simply: "We think you know what guidance we're going to give here: don't overthink, overcraft, or overwrite. Please answer the questions in clear and concise language. We recommend pre-writing the essays on your computer, then copying and pasting the final products into the text box below, as you may lose your work without pressing "Save" often."

*These prompts have not been updated on the HBS website at the time of this article's publication; however, these are the essay prompts listed in the application portal itself.

For more on Harvard's essays, head to: HBS 2+2 Deferred MBA Essay Prompts & Tips (2024) and A Guide to the HBS Essay .

HBS 2+2 Application Deadlines (2024)

This year, the application is due on April 25, 2024 , and decisions are released in early July 2024. For more info on the HBS deadlines, read Harvard Business School MBA Application Deadlines (2023-2024)

Okay—How Do I Start?

First, we want to offer our most important, gained from helping many candidates go through this process: and that's to differentiate, differentiate, differentiate. While test scores, grades, and a good job will all help, the most important thing you can do is make yourself stand out from other applicants.

Don’t try and figure out what Harvard's admissions committee wants to hear. That's likely what others will try to do, and remember: Harvard will read over a thousand applications. Instead, make yourself memorable by highlighting your unique passions, personality, and view of the world. HBS’ mission is to “educate leaders who make a difference in the world.” Show them that you don’t just have dreams, ambitions, and goals for your own career success, but that you are motivated by a drive to make the world a better place!

Then, just get started!

If you're looking for help on your application, be sure to download our robust free strategy guide: 6 Steps to Getting into your Dream MBA Program . It's packed with information that will give you the best shot possible at getting into your dream business school. If you're applying via the traditional MBA application process, check out: Harvard Business School - MBA Program and Application Overview .

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We can improve your MBA profile and boost your candidacy. Gain insight into the review process and eliminate weaknesses from your MBA application.

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HBS 2+2 Program for College Seniors: How to Get In

What comes to mind when you think of business these days? If it’s the stereotype of the grey flannel suit and traditional office environment, then Harvard Business School wants to have a word. To reach college seniors —particularly liberal arts students—HBS launched the 2+2 Program back in 2007. This deferred admissions program targets students who might have otherwise never considered business school.

Candidates apply in their senior year of college and, once admitted, work for two years before starting the Harvard MBA program. Graduate students who went directly from undergrad to grad school are also eligible.

Andrea on the SBC team is the former HBS Associate Director of MBA Admissions who helped launch the 2+2 Program targeting college seniors.

Andrea explains that the program is about getting the word out about what a graduate business degree can offer. Potential 2+2 candidates may have had few mentors in business. Or, an MBA degree might not be on their radar, given their current course of study.

“No one ever tells undergrads that business involves areas like nonprofits, government, education and social enterprise,” she says.

SBC’s stellar team includes many deferred MBA program experts. In fact, it includes not one but two former HBS Admissions Officers who helped launch the 2+2 Program. Geri , a former HBS Admissions Officer who now works on the SBC team, shared, “I was closely involved when 2+2 was launching, so I remember this time well. The HBS class demographics certainly shift over a period of time, sometimes driven by HBS priorities.

For example, based on faculty feedback (seeing a lack of flexibility in thinking from students who had worked for many years), the school began to experiment with admitting people with fewer years of work experience. This ultimately led to the 2+2 (deferred admit) program.”

What should college seniors know about the 2+2 Program?

To be considered for admission to the 2+2 Program Class of 2028 (entering fall 2026), you must graduate from your program between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. Applicants should plan to take the GMAT or GRE test on or before the April 25, 2024, 12 pm (noon) ET deadline. HBS will continue to accept the online (at-home) version of both the GMAT and the GRE.

College seniors outside the US are welcome to apply. If you are an international applicant attending a non-English speaking undergraduate university, you will need to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson Test of English (PTE), or Duolingo English Test score taken between April 25, 2022, and April 20, 2024.

The 2+2 application is essentially the same as the online application for the traditional full-time MBA program. It has a reduced application fee of $100 vs. the $250 fee for non-2+2 applicants. Note that HBS offers a need-based 2+2 application fee waiver. This waiver is available to all 2+2 applicants for whom the fee presents a financial burden (this includes domestic and international applicants).

Notably, 2+2 applications have only one deadline: April 25, 2024. This allows you to submit fall semester grades for consideration. Interviews and decisions happen in May.

Although the name implies a two-year work period before the MBA, it’s actually more flexible. In fact, the school says in many cases, they allow 2+2 admits to defer for three to four years in an HBS-approved professional opportunity. “They always approve a third year of deferral if you are working on something reasonable, i.e. not laying on a beach in Bali,” says our HBS insider.

What is HBS looking for in 2+2 applicants?

If you check out the latest 2+2 class profile , the educational background breaks down as follows:

• Business/Commerce 22%
• Economics 14%
• Art/Humanities 3%
• Social Science 8%
• Total 2+2 Applicants in 2023: 1,528
• Committed 2+2 Students: 118
• Undergraduate Institutions Represented in the Committed Student Pool: 62

Harvard Business School notes that some preference will be given to applicants who are on paths less established in leading to business school, including:

• Applicants from lower socio-economic backgrounds
• Applicants who are the first in their family to attend college
• Operating companies ( e.g. consumer goods, industrials, manufacturing, retail, and technology. Employees within these companies engage with customers, create products and services, and manage staff. )
• Entrepreneurship ( including founding an organization or joining an early-stage start-up. )
• Technically-demanding roles ( e.g. engineering, software development, scientific research, and medical functions. These roles typically require a high level of specialized knowledge, skills, and expertise in a particular field. )

“Traditional applicants were not initially the main target of this program,” our SBC expert shares. “They are looking for all the same qualities and credentials as they do for the regular pool. But then they’re also looking for scientists, engineers, techies, and entrepreneurs, to name a few.”

“They really hoped they would find young people who saw the deferred admission as an opportunity to take a risk and do something a little bit off the beaten path.”

Therefore, traditional applicants should embrace the “untraditional” side of their personal story. Rest assured, it can be done. As an example, check out our client case study highlighting the successful 2+2 application journey of Anita, an Economics major from Northwestern University.

“For the rest, you want the things that 2+2 is looking for to be the focus – science, engineering, entrepreneurship, risk-taking, etc.,” our HBS insider advises. “It’s ok to get dorky in these areas and go deep.”

If you are considering the HBS 2+2 Program and need input from an expert sounding board, we’re here to help! Reach out to set up a complimentary assessment of your candidacy today.

Check out our overview of deferred MBA admissions programs here . You can read an interview from a successful GSB deferred MBA admissions client here . Meanwhile, a n interview with a successful HBS 2+2 deferred MBA admissions client is here . Happy reading!

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Harvard HBS, Stanford GSB and every elite business program in the US and Europe.  These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Erin , who was Assistant Director of MBA Admissions at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB) and Director of MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Meet Andrea , who served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.

Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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How to Answer the 2024-25 Common App Essay Questions

An outstanding college essay can be the x-factor that gets you accepted to the school of your choice – particularly if you’re hoping to attend a prestigious university . As the emphasis on test scores declines , recent data shows that over 56% of colleges place considerable or moderate importance on students’ supplemental essays. So the Common Application, with its variety of essay prompts , can help you showcase your personality, achievements, and aspirations. 

While writing essays about yourself may be an art form, how you approach your answer can be more scientific. Here are our best strategies to select and answer the Common App essay questions for the 2023-2024 admissions year. 

How do you know which prompt to pick? 

Before you start brainstorming, consider the following criteria to choose an essay topic.

• Instinct – When writing a college essay made its way onto your to-do list , was there a personal story that jumped to mind? If so, test out how it feels to trust that instinct. Is there a prompt that this idea aligns with? 
• Passion – Can you write about this topic with excitement? If you’re leaning toward a topic because it feels like the one you “should” choose rather than one you’re amped about, don’t fall for that common mistake . Admissions officers read a ton of essays. If you’re not passionate about your subject matter, it’ll be clear. 
• Understanding – While the Common App essay questions seem fairly straightforward, ensure you understand your prompt and can answer all parts of it. Another mistake students make is forcing something they want to talk about into an existing essay topic. If you have an idea that doesn’t address one of their specific questions, consider prompt 7, which allows you free rein to explore the topic of your choice.
• Dimension – Does your essay give insight into who you are, outside of your GPA, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation? For example, if you were the captain of your school’s varsity soccer team, an essay about soccer may not be your best choice.

The Common App Essay Topics 

According to a study from Yale , the most important thing to college admissions officers isn’t which prompt you choose, but that you write a great essay. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

• Craft a compelling, cohesive narrative that relates back to who you are as a person and a student. 
• Be honest , and don’t embellish details nor use AI .
• Avoid clichés that college counselors have seen before .
• Start early , and give yourself plenty of time to perfect your essay.
• Proofread your essay , and ask a friend, teacher, or family member to read it too. 

Common App Prompt #1: Identity essay 

“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

Students who have a unique aspect of their identity that isn’t otherwise represented in their application might enjoy this prompt. And remember: identity doesn’t just mean your ethnic background. 

• Choose an aspect of your identity that makes you who you are. Are you the first in your family to go to college? Were you educated outside of a traditional school system? Are you a member of a religious group that has shaped your worldview? Each of these examples represents an aspect of identity that might be interesting to explore.
• Be specific about your background, identity, or interest that you’ve chosen. Explain how your personal experience deviates from the norm. 
• Describe the impact of this facet of your identity on who you are. Reflect on how this has related to your growth and perspective on yourself, your community, and your future. For example, if English wasn’t your first language, how did learning the language influence your interests? Did you turn to movies and television and discover a love of cinema that influenced you to pursue a career in entertainment? 

Get your creative juices flowing by reading other Common App essay prompt 1 examples that worked.

Common App Prompt #2: Overcoming obstacles essay 

“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”

Don’t think you can only write on this topic if you’ve experienced some type of significant hardship. No matter who you are or where you’re from, you’ve had to overcome obstacles to get to where you are today. Adversity breeds resilience, which is a great quality to highlight to a college admissions committee. 

• Identify an obstacle that has impacted you. Think back on experiences that required you to persevere. This could be something big, like the loss of a parent or a natural disaster, or something less severe, like a failing grade on an important assignment or losing an election for class president. 
• Detail the experience and your role in it. How did you feel when you first encountered this challenge? If you were overwhelmed or scared, be honest. Specificity around details, emotions, and your mindset will create empathy and paint a full picture. Then, complete the story. How did this event unfold? How did your mindset shift? 
• Highlight what you learned and your eventual success. As you brainstorm, make a list of your takeaways. If you experienced a major illness, did you find a renewed sense of gratitude for your physical health? Then, connect your learnings to some success. If you got fired from a part-time job, did the experience help you identify the career path you actually want to pursue and put you in a position to pursue it? 

Study up on how other determined students have aced Common App essay prompt 2 . 

Common App Prompt #3: Individuality essay 

“Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?”

College campuses are full of students who are eager to expand their horizons and reassess previously held worldviews. If this sounds like you, prompt three might be perfect. 

• Choose a belief or idea that you questioned at some point. This could be anything from your approach to mental health, to your perspective on gender roles or religious beliefs. Explain why you held this belief and the importance of this idea in your life. 
• Explain what prompted you to explore . Was it a book? An article? A conversation with a teacher? Describe the scene – what happened, where you were, and how you felt.
• Detail the experience of your reflection . Did you turn to books to better understand the other side of this issue? Did you engage in conversation with people who thought differently from you? Get into the weeds of your exploration.
• Present your conclusion . If you changed your perspective, what was the evidence that caused this shift? And if you discovered an even greater sense of certainty around your original opinion, how does that feel? Or, if you’re still not sure but continuing to explore, that’s a great answer, too.

Read how other curious high school students explored beliefs in Common App Prompt #3 essay examples . 

Common App Prompt #4: The gratitude essay 

“Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?”

Gratitude can be a powerful source of motivation, particularly when we’re feeling defeated or down. If you’ve experienced an act of kindness that impacted your life in some significant way, reflect on it in prompt #4.

• Pinpoint an act of kindness that someone has done on your behalf. This could be something monumental, like a family member donating an organ, or a small, everyday gesture, like a stranger paying for your coffee. 
• Set the stage for your story. What happened? Why did you need this act of kindness? If you ran out of gas in the middle of the highway, what did that feel like? Then, present the act of kindness in as much detail as you can while staying within the word limit. What prompted the kind stranger to pull over with their gas can? What conversation ensued? 
• Explore your gratitude and reflect upon how the experience affected you. Did this random act of kindness change your perspective? Did you pay it forward through community service? Show how this experience caused you to change in some way, big or small. Don’t stop at gratitude; push yourself to action. 

Read about times other high school students felt inspired by the empathy shown to them.

Common App Prompt #5: The personal growth essay 

“Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.”

High school is a period of deep personal growth. Use this prompt to highlight ways you’ve grown that might not be captured by your GPA or extracurricular activities. 

• Reflect on periods of personal growth and pinpoint the events that might have triggered them. Make a list of these types of occurrences. For example, traveling abroad to a new country, being selected to write for the school newspaper, or overcoming a fear of public speaking to compete in a debate. 
• Narrate your experience . You might think of this as your “before” and “during” snapshot. If you weren’t the best student in your science class, but had an exciting hypothesis to tackle in a science fair project, describe how you approached this project. Then, tell the reader about what happened. Did you succeed? Did you fail? Did you uncover a new skill?  
• Expand on your shift in perspective and how this experience caused you to look at yourself and those around you differently. Think of this as your “after.” If your project went on to win your local science fair, how did this shift your view of your scientific abilities? Underline how you grew from this experience and how it shaped your perspective. 

For inspiration, here are examples of Essay #5 responses from high school students just like you. 

Common App Prompt #6: The passion essay 

“Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

Every student, no matter their GPA or collegiate aspirations, has a hobby or pastime they enjoy. Are you particularly passionate about yours? Take this opportunity to write about it, particularly if your passion is unique.

• List the things you love . Ideally, your greatest passion came to mind as soon as you read this prompt. But if you have an affinity for more than one thing, make a list. This could be anything from making pottery to playing chess or trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
• Explain why you have such an affinity for this hobby or pastime. Delve into the history behind this passion. How did you first get interested in rescuing animals? Did a parent or mentor expose you to this work? Did the experience of finding a lonely cat on the street spark your passion? 
• Expand upon your learning process and how you developed your knowledge of this topic. If you love astronomy, what steps did you take to learn about the night sky and types of stars? Did you immerse yourself in YouTube videos about space? Or visit local observatories? Demonstrate your thirst for knowledge and ability to self-motivate. 

Read other passionate essays here that have captivated admissions officers. 

Common App Prompt #7: Topic of your choice 

“Share an essay on any topic of your choice . It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt , or one of your own design.”

Prompt 7 can be divisive. For some, this open-ended prompt is a great opportunity to write a unique, personal essay. Since there are no rules (other than the word limit), there are several ways to approach Prompt 7.

You could choose a topic that is unique to you, write a personal statement, or tell a compelling story that has some broader appeal. Or, you could think totally outside the box and turn your essay into a screenplay, newspaper article, or other artistic form. 

If you’re considering this prompt, try not to recycle an essay you’ve previously written for a high school class. The admissions officer will recognize your junior year English essay on Othello and, most likely, will find this choice lazy. Moreover, the Common App essays are meant to offer insight into who you are – not how you perform academically. 

That said, this prompt does offer you the opportunity to reuse a prior essay as a base and then tweak it. Just be careful. The college admissions process is high-stakes. Don’t ruin your chances because you’re trying to save time on your essay. 

To find inspiration, check out other students’ essays on Prompt 7 . 

Pay less for college with Going Merry

The Common App essays give students an opportunity to inject some personality into their college applications. No matter which prompt you choose, write with passion and honesty. And then recycle some of those essays in your scholarship applications on Going Merry , to win some cash for college.  Going Merry is a comprehensive college prep platform that helps students get into college and afford it without student loans. We provide tips to make your college applications shine; we curate thousands of high-quality scholarships and help you win them; and we make it easier to compare colleges through our (free!) college cost insights tool. Take the next step to realizing your collegiate aspirations when you sign up for Going Merry today .

Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.

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• 30 Apr 2024

IFC India: Urban Adaptation in a Changing World

Professor Vikram Gandhi’s Immersive Field Course (IFC) “Development while Decarbonizing: India’s Path to Net-Zero" delved into the critical aspect of decarbonization and sustainability goals amid India's rapid development. The course presented an opportunity for students to advance their knowledge of sustainability efforts, decarbonization, and net zero in the context of a broader development agenda. The class culminated in a series of site visits in January 2024 in Mumbai and Bangalore and this is one of 14 student essays that highlights their reflections on uncovering sustainable solutions across the country.

Urban Adaptation & Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan

By 2030, India is expected to be the third largest economy in the world with a GDP of almost $8.5 trillion. Historically, countries have relied on emissions intensive pathways towards development. As the world confronts the threats posed by climate change and aims to mitigate future emissions, India must forge a new, sustainable development pathway. This “twin challenge” of developing while decarbonizing was the main topic of our work in India. Throughout our trip, we engaged with local and international changemakers and leaders trying to answer the question: “What will it take for India to achieve a net-zero build?”

Magnifying the importance of decarbonizing India’s growth pathway is its exposure to climate change related shocks. Increased ambient temperatures, higher sea levels, and increased incidence of natural disasters all present significant risks for India’s sustained economic growth and the wellbeing of its population. As a coastal city with extensive area below sea level and already high ambient temperatures, Mumbai faces acute urban heat and flood risks and represents a case study for cities throughout India and the world in how to respond to a changing climate. Our team’s workstream focused on Mumbai’s adaptation to climate threats through the lens of the Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP). Site visits and associated briefings with three partners were particularly relevant to this topic, specifically the Urban Design Research Institute (URDI), C40 Cities, and World Resources Institute (WRI) and left us with several key reflections.

Importance of Local Context

History, geography, and demography all influence the extent to which cities are impacted and respond to climate change. As discussed with URDI, it is impossible to talk about climate adaptation risks in Mumbai without looking at the city’s historical development. Mumbai was originally composed of seven distinct islands that were connected through a series of land reclamation projects beginning in the late 18th century. As sea levels rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, this historical development process has left Mumbai particularly vulnerable to climate risks. All three site visits also highlighted Mumbai’s unique demographic considerations. Approximately half of Mumbai lives in informal settlements—such as Dharavi (pictured below). These settlements have significantly higher density than the rest of the city and often lack green spaces resulting in 6-8ºC warmer heat bubbles than the surrounding neighborhoods. Urban adaptation projects that expand urban green spaces, such as the Marol Park project that we visited with WRI, can help mitigate urban heat island effects and build resiliency for vulnerable populations living in informal settlements.

Governance Structures Can Hinder or Accelerate Climate Action

The URDI team highlighted the complex web of government structures and competing administrative mandates that make urban planning particularly difficult. The first problem is that guidance on climate mitigation and adaptation at the state and federal level isn’t translated to the municipal level. The second issue is that the administrative footprint of Mumbai’s municipal government only covers part of the greater metropolitan area due to the city’s rapid growth, limiting the government’s ability to apply adaptation initiatives throughout the city. Several different operating authorities have jurisdiction over key areas. This overlap in executive authority slows down the approval of new projects and reduces coordination across initiatives. Delegating more planning authority to local wards and communities could help accelerate climate action, especially because each ward has different industrial and residential components and faces different climate challenges.

Planning is Only the First Step

One topic that came up frequently throughout our site visits was the challenges of converting planning to action. The MCAP contains ambitious mitigation and adaptation goals but lacks specific funding sources or enabling legislation. Therefore, the MCAP remains a suggestion document rather than a concrete plan for implementing mitigation and adaptation initiatives. Several speakers noted positive trends towards converting planning to action, such as the BMC’s establishment of a climate cell to coordinate implementation across departments.

Funding for Adaption Remains a Significant Challenge

As highlighted by the URDI team, funding for climate solutions would need to increase by a factor of five to achieve the mitigation and adaptation targets needed to keep warming below 1.5 degrees. Adaptation is particularly underfunded, receiving less than 10% of all funds when 20% would be required. When funding is available—either from the public or private sectors—it is typically allocated towards implementation and planning, experimentation, and monitoring tend to be underfunded as a result. These elements are critical to ensure that dollars are being allocated to the most cost-effective solutions and underscore the importance of pilot projects —such as their work in Cheeta Camp and Marol Park—to gather data on cost-effective adaptation strategies and drive future investments. Indeed, in most developing economies, there is limited local data available on climate solutions and, as highlighted above, climate adaptation projects must be locally tailored to be effective.

Potential for Global Partnerships and Collaboration

The MCAP emerged as part of a broader dialogue amongst key cities from C40’s network for collectively addressing climate change. Given the global scope of climate change, coordination across global stakeholders is essential. While every city’s pathway towards enhanced mitigation and adaptation will be shaped by its local context, C40’s scope enhances its efficacy in scaling solutions and enhancing climate action plans to address local needs. As highlighted in the MCAP, the need for partnerships extends beyond public sector entities to the private sector. Throughout our site visits, we witnessed how local (and international) corporations are promoting sustainable and inclusive projects. At BEST, Unilever, and the Godrej Group we saw firsthand how public-private partnerships can advance both critical mitigation and adaptation projects by providing financing and operational expertise.

Case Study in Adaptation: Marol Park Project

Urban heat and flooding represent Mumbai’s most significant climate risks. Temperatures are already reaching lethal levels in Mumbai. In April 2023, 11 people died following a ceremony where temperatures reached 36°C and are expected to continue to rise significantly in the coming years. Likewise, due to Mumbai’s low-lying geography approximately 35% of the population is vulnerable to flood risks and low-lying areas will generally flood 5-6 times per year. One of the most cost-effective ways of addressing both adaptation risks is expanding open and green spaces. Shaded areas can reduce summer peak temperatures by 5°C and provide benefits well beyond their local scope through more efficient air flow. Such areas also reduce flood risks by retaining water during extreme rain events. During our visit to Marol Park, a 3.2-acre urban green space that will serve approximately 172K people, we were impressed by the project's scope, which covers a wide plot in a densely populated area of Mumbai. The adjacent Mithi river has historically been controlled with retaining walls, however, in extreme flood events such structures alone are likely to be insufficient to prevent urban flooding. The permeable surfaces of parks like Marol provide additional capacity to absorb excess water and augment flood resilience while offering a public amenity for communal use outside the flood season. Once completed, the Marol Park project will provide substantial cooling and flood mitigation benefits to the surrounding area as well as a model for future adaptation projects throughout the city.

Our conversations with URDI, WRI, and C40 Cities left us aware of the many challenges facing cities like Mumbai in their fight against climate change. We were left hopeful, however, due to the strong efforts already undertaken and the potential for future action based on the results of WRI’s pilot projects.

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