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Get Free Admissions Advice From This Harvard Student

Applying to Harvard Business School? You may want to take notes from this accepted Harvard MBA student.

Jeng Yang Chia, a student from Singapore who was admitted to Harvard’s 2+2 program, has yet to actually take his place at school. The 2+2 program allows students to defer their offer while they gain work experience.

Chia offers 30-minute Skype sessions that offer insight into Harvard’s admission process. Chia says he can help applicants frame their personal stories, but he doesn’t ghostwrite or edit applications. Rather, Chia will offer you an authentic view of the realities of the MBA application process. And, it’s all for free.

“I am happily providing a service that can help you get into one of the most coveted educational institute in the world,” Chia writes on his website. “Professionals charge thousands to tens of thousands for this service, and I am happy to do this for free. However, I believe some of that value should be captured and returned to society, and donations for my time is one way to do this.”

Giving Back

Donations made to Chia are all donated to five various charities, such as The Salvation Army and Beyond Social Services. The suggested rate per session is listed at $50.

He says the giving back aspect is why he’s doing it.

“I want to be sustainably incentivized to help people, which becomes harder once other factors like time spent on work and family, time needed to recuperate, etc,” he says. “Knowing that my time is going to charity helps motivate me to continue helping year after year of students, even if I get caught up with work.”

Think of B-Schools as VC Firms

Chia, who is currently a senior operations manager at startup generator Antler, tells CNBC that a number of Harvard accepted students tend to get requests from applicants on advice.

“I got into Harvard Business School, and one thing I and others in the cohort realized is that you get flooded by students who are trying to apply,” Chia tells CNBC Make It. “Because we’ve been there, we never say no,” he continues. “But the kind of people applying to business school tend to have some funding, so I felt there was an opportunity to help others.”

Chia says his advice, while specific to Harvard, is applicable to any school’s application process.

“There’s this misconception that business schools are looking for a particular type of person, like a tech guy,” he tells CNBC.

Rather, Chia says, applicants should think of business schools as venture capitalist firms.

“They’re looking to fund the top 10 percent across all industries,” he tells CNBC. “It’s about being able to define the bucket you fit into and then showing how you’re in that top 10 percent of that bucket.”

Learn more about Chia’s advice sessions here.

Sources: GIVE.Asia, CNBC