Admit Or Ding? Let Sandy Know

Have you already gained an admit to Harvard, Stanford or Wharton? Or perhaps you have already been dinged?

By noon EST today (Jan. 30), thousands of round two applicants to Harvard Business School will get rejection notices, or in the more gentle parlance of HBS admissions be “released.” And about 30% of the school’s round two interview invites will also go out.

For the disappointed, the letter from Chad Losee, Harvard’s managing director of MBA admissions and financial aid, starts with two words.

I’m sorry, but we are unable to offer you a place in the MBA Class of 2020.

Every year we receive roughly ten applications for every available spot in the class. While we are pleased that so many talented people want to be students here, the numbers make for many very difficult decisions. In all likelihood, you are a viable candidate with many strong attributes and accomplishments. Our challenge becomes not one of “evaluation,” but of “selection.” In order to deliver a class who brings as many different backgrounds and perspectives as possible, we must turn away many qualified candidates.

Thank you very much for your interest in the School; I wish you success and happiness as you go forward.

Sincerely,

If you got one of these today, HBSGuru.com founder Sandy Kreisberg will try to tell you why, if you submit your age, stats, undergraduate degree and alma mater, employer, job description, application history and hint what what you wrote in your essay.