No Harvard Invite  

Posted by Dino in , ,

 
Wonder-woman did not get an invite either. It must be because she can't cook.

You have to applaud the HBS admissions team. They released application questions early. They have kept applicants informed of the process via their blog. They have now even sent out the bulk of their R1 interview invites earlier than expected. Unfortunately, though, I am not one of the 750 that Harvard have invited for interview. I flicked through my application submission to review what I had sent them. In hindsight, I was probably a little too honest in some areas - especially with a job title mix up. That, combined with the age thing, probably gave me enough rope in my application to hang myself. I am not very hopeful that I will be among the last 100 invites. My feet certainly feel like they have been pulled back on to the ground.

As disappointing as this all is, I remain absolutely convinced that I will achieve my career goal. In fact, this is a certainty that has been growing in the last few months as details have become clearer. Does it matter how you get there?... Hmm. It probably does, but it's probably more important that you get there ;-).

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13 comments

Vitaly Kartsev  

I'm getting to the same point. Whatever the setbacks, I have figured out I really do have useful skills and talents in business. Applying has also given me greater responsibilities at work, because I'm seen as more of an up-and-comer. If the worst happens and I don't get in to one of my schools, I have options, and there's always the idea of an EMBA down the road.

So I totally agree that we'll get there by hook or by crook. :-)

One thing about Harvard that has been on my mind since yesterday — their brand and yield really create the self-fulfilling prophecy that if you get in, you'll go. HBS is not a great fit with my interests; it's one of the least international of the top schools. But the fact that the brand will help you succeed in incredible ways makes you feel stupid if it isn't your first choice.

Maybe there are worse things in the world than not going to HBS. :-)

12 November 2008 at 19:24
Vitaly Kartsev  

I'm getting to the same point. Whatever the setbacks, I have figured out I really do have useful skills and talents in business. Applying has also given me greater responsibilities at work, because I'm seen as more of an up-and-comer. If the worst happens and I don't get in to one of my schools, I have options, and there's always the idea of an EMBA down the road.

So I totally agree that we'll get there by hook or by crook. :-)

One thing about Harvard that has been on my mind since yesterday — their brand and yield really create the self-fulfilling prophecy that if you get in, you'll go. HBS is not a great fit with my interests; it's one of the least international of the top schools. But the fact that the brand will help you succeed in incredible ways makes you feel stupid if it isn't your first choice.

Maybe there are worse things in the world than not going to HBS. :-)

12 November 2008 at 19:24
D. G.  

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Vitaly.

I think you are absolutely right about the brand... it does suck you in. Even for me, two of my other schools are technically a better fit for what I want to do. Hell, they are all good.

We should remember that HBS's reject list includes some outstanding people, like Warren Buffet and Scott McNealy. There is hope yet for everyone.

12 November 2008 at 22:28
D. G.  

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Vitaly.

I think you are absolutely right about the brand... it does suck you in. Even for me, two of my other schools are technically a better fit for what I want to do. Hell, they are all good.

We should remember that HBS's reject list includes some outstanding people, like Warren Buffet and Scott McNealy. There is hope yet for everyone.

12 November 2008 at 22:28
striking writer  

I know they sent out 750 invites but from what I understand they're over the course of a week or two. If you haven't heard on the 12th that doesn't matter, but if you haven't heard by t'giving then that's bad. I'm in the same boat! I'm old though so i think thats my problem.

21 November 2008 at 00:12
striking writer  

I know they sent out 750 invites but from what I understand they're over the course of a week or two. If you haven't heard on the 12th that doesn't matter, but if you haven't heard by t'giving then that's bad. I'm in the same boat! I'm old though so i think thats my problem.

21 November 2008 at 00:12
D. G.  

I'm fairly certain that they said they sent all 750 in one go.

21 November 2008 at 00:27
Philip  

hey~ nice blog. I applied to three of the five schools u applied to, plus Haas. I am also not one of the lucky 750 with a HBS interview invitation. But the director did say they plan to send out 100 more, plus 100 wait list invites... more waiting, yay!

22 November 2008 at 13:11
Philip  

hey~ nice blog. I applied to three of the five schools u applied to, plus Haas. I am also not one of the lucky 750 with a HBS interview invitation. But the director did say they plan to send out 100 more, plus 100 wait list invites... more waiting, yay!

22 November 2008 at 13:11
D. G.  

Hey Philip. Thanks for the post. I fear I am more pessimistic than you! HBS accept ~50% of those invited for interview. I expect there were probably around 4000 applicants in R1. So the math says that we are in a pool of about 3250 of which there may be 50 admits?

So I've given up on waiting... :'-( ;-)

22 November 2008 at 14:33
D. G.  

Hey Philip. Thanks for the post. I fear I am more pessimistic than you! HBS accept ~50% of those invited for interview. I expect there were probably around 4000 applicants in R1. So the math says that we are in a pool of about 3250 of which there may be 50 admits?

So I've given up on waiting... :'-( ;-)

22 November 2008 at 14:33
Philip  

that's one way to look at it. another is, an additional 100 people out of 3250 will be invited, then about 400 out of the 850 invites will be admitted.

There's a good chance that adcom will look at the group of interviewed students hollistically, to admit the best mix. The really daunting part is getting one of the remaining 100 invitations out of a pool of 3250...

24 November 2008 at 12:39
Philip  

that's one way to look at it. another is, an additional 100 people out of 3250 will be invited, then about 400 out of the 850 invites will be admitted.

There's a good chance that adcom will look at the group of interviewed students hollistically, to admit the best mix. The really daunting part is getting one of the remaining 100 invitations out of a pool of 3250...

24 November 2008 at 12:39

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