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Harvard Business School Looks Ahead to the Class of 2011

Apr 23, 2008 | 0 comments

In one of her periodic blog posts regarding the HBS admission process, Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Deirdre Leopold revealed that her office is already giving plenty of thought to prospective applicants for the class of 2011.

“We hope to have our new essay questions posted by mid-May and we’ll certainly alert you through the blog about the actual date,” she writes. The department is also planning an outreach event in New York City in May to kick off the new season. The date and venue for this event has yet to be determined.

But wait! For those of you still anxious to hear about the class of 2010, Leopold had some news for you as well. Round 3 notification is scheduled for May 14, and the admissions department is actively managing its wait list. Speaking of the waitlist, the deadline for responses from Round 2 admits is May 9, after which her office will have a clearer sense of how things will go for those on the waitlist. “Please don’t take this too literally,” she cautions. “We won’t have perfect clarity on May 9 – but I want to share with you how the timeline works.”

May 9 is also the last day of class visits for the year for those hoping to sit in on HBS classes. Class visits don’t resume in the fall until October.

That said, information sessions will be held throughout the summer. The schedule is as follows:

• May 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9 from 3 to 4 p.m.
• May 12, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 26, 29, and 30 from 1 to 2 p.m.
• Mondays and Fridays through June and July from 1 to 2 p.m.

Detailed information about visiting campus is available on the HBS website.

Leopold closed her post with some practical advice about claims of “inside information” from former members of admissions boards.

“Applicants are certainly smart to explore the admissions processes at different schools but, speaking for HBS, be careful about very specific advice that may not reflect current practices,” she warns. “I’ve been on the HBS Board for a (very!) long time and I can’t begin to tell you how much has changed.”

Even the most well-meaning advisors and alumnae may not be aware of the most recent updates to admissions practices, she says, so consider anything you learn from these and other sources as just part of the big picture.

Good luck to those still waiting to hear about 2010, and happy exploring to those considering HBS for the class of 2011.

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