Adcom holds admissions ‘tell all’ for first and second years at HBS
DEE-DEE SPILLS THE BEANS AT INTERNAL ADMISSIONS SEMINAR FOR HBS KIDS–GOD ONLY KNOWS WHY ANYONE SHOWED UP, BUT HUNDREDS DID (HOW COME NO INVITE FOR ME 
???????). NOTHING GROUND BREAKING HERE ALTHO SOME GREAT, GREAT TIDBITS. BE SURE YOU KEEP READING………………..PINK FOLDERS, THAT IS A NEW ONE ON MOI. IS ROUND TWO BLUE?
Sandy – Dee [Deirdre Leopold adcom director] organized an event for HBS students early this week it was called “What you want to know about HBS Admissions but couldn’t ask…” A classroom designed to sit 90 and easily 250 people..it was crazy.
She said nothing ground breaking. Just more about process. Day the apps start to get reviewed they print all the apps (someone does this all night)…and apps get put into pink folders (round 1)…
She said they are getting younger and the applicants from the 2+2 program are fantastic
Faculty believes that 3-4 years experience is plenty
International / Domestic mix is likely to remain the same
Still looking for leaders, definitely want more women and people from industry. You aren’t competing against candidates from your own industry / geography / race, etc…they have a general idea of the way they want to class to look like but don’t consciously review the apps in that way…you are competing against everyone else, which was insightful
Alums are not likely to participate deeply in interviewing process going fwd; if alums have the time to do 5 interviews then they are probably the alums that HBS doesn’t want interviewing anyway!
[SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA LOVE THIS GAL– SK]
“Still looking for leaders who care as much about their learning as the learning of their classmates; have to show intellectual curiosity and demonstrate the potential for leadership. HBS trains leaders, it doesn’t create them”
In terms of numbers she said only 10% of class spots are available for round 3…go getters apply in round 1, a very competitive pool, but not too many applications whereas round 2 has a “normal distribution” of applications (crappy, ok, great) and that’s where they admit the majority of the class…she said they will look to interview 1800 (not a hard number, but about that) and she wants the candidate to have a 50/50 shot at getting in after the interview. Nothing about recommenders and legacies (although i wanted to ask but she didnt call on me - way too many people - at least 250 - 300 in a 90 person classroom). Kids asked about international vs domestic student balance (why not more international?) and she said that its a US school and she even has alums telling her to admit more white males so it is very difficult to please everyone so the balance will likely not change. Impact of downturn will bring about more applications but she doesnt expect the review process to change at all. Most students who showed up were 1st years.
She also said that she spends as much or more time on Businessweek.com more than anyone…
