In response to a query on the BW Forum, I sent HBS the following email:
"Your essay one asks, "What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know
about your undergraduate academic experience? (400-word limit)
"
"I am getting inquiries about this question on the Businessweek forums and via
email. Does HBS want applicants to focus in their answers on the narrow academic
(coursework) a part of their undergrad experience? Or is HBS interested in their
larger undergrad academic experience, including out-of-class experiences, which
would not limit them to their coursework?"
HBS promptly responded with the following:
"The Admissions Board is interested in hearing what the
applicant feels is important to communicate about their academic experience. It
is up to the applicant to determine what aspects of this experience are most
salient given the context of their candidacy."
A couple of tips for your essays:
-
"Salience" at HBS has to do with active participation
and leadership, leadership, leadership.
-
The answer provides a good example of brevity that you would be wise to imitate
particularly in answering the HBS questions, but answer HBS' (and all other
schools') questions with infinitely greater clarity and directness than provided
above..
Gotta love that transparency...