Mr. British Tech 2+2

A computer science major with a 4.0 from Imperial plus a 750 GMAT? That is super solid for Harvard’s 2+2 program. Add in the fact that you are a Brit and won a 6-month technology industrial placement at a bulge bracket investment bank and I would think you are as much of a sure-thing as anyone can be in the 2+2 lottery, where admissions is highly selective and unpredictable. Your goals work as well. I’m rooting for you and believe your chances are very good: four times the 12% admit rate. And if HBS doesn’t accept this, you do have a shot at Stanford and a very strong shot at MIT Sloan.

Hi, this is Julie-Anne Heafey from mbaMission. Admissions to HBS’s 2+2 program can be unpredictable, but I think it’s certainly worth a shot. Often, the rationale of admitting people to these programs is just what you describe – providing a “buffer” so that it’s easier for you to take a risk pursuing a sincere passion, and perhaps even giving you an extra boost with your interim goals. If you don’t make it through, no harm done – they will be happy to see you again in a few years. An estimated 10% of HBS’s class each year is made up of reapplicants (many from the 2+2). With your stats, your leadership and community work, I think you have a good chance if you can tell a compelling story of impact and what drives you. You can also target some of the other schools, but just be aware that many of the other deferred admissions programs are much smaller in comparison, so there can be limited seats. HBS is by far the biggest. Good luck!