Mr. Hedge Fund

Hi Mr. Hedge Fund, Kristen from MBA Prep School here. I agree that you check a lot of boxes for HBS, as well as your other target schools. They will eat up the hedge fund experience, community involvement, strong academics, and personal perseverance. The key for you will be tying all of that up into a cohesive narrative that also delivers on the “Why”: why MBA, why HBS, why now. This is likely the most challenging part of the application for a candidate such as yourself, because on paper you have everything going for you. While HBS’ prompt doesn’t limit you on word count, the strongest essays tell a connected story piecing together the various aspects of the candidate’s background and career goals. This is going to be your opportunity to differentiate yourself and make the Committee interested in learning more. Let us know if we can help you further!

As a new Billions binge watcher, I hope you don’t identify with Bobby Axelrod, the CEO of Axe Capital. If so, your chances of getting into HBS are zero. Seriously, though, you are looking at a big hill to climb at HBS this coming year. With a GMAT score ten points above the HBS class median and an undergraduate GPA of 3.8 that is slightly higher than the class average of 3.7, you might wonder why. Mainly it’s because the 2020-2021 admissions cycle at HBS will be among the most competitive ever. We expect a record volume of applications, partly due to the recession, pent-up demand, along with 2+2 admits and roughly 300 deferrals that will take up available classroom seats. Still, you have a lot going for you beside those solid and impressive raw stats. The fact that you have been successful at a top quantitative hedge fund, which is a feeder for top b-schools, is a big deal. Your dual citizen is also a plus because HBS can count yuu as an international student. Your year at LSE puts a bit more pedigree into that Villanova degree as well. Villanova is not exactly a feeder college to HBS, but there are two Villanova undergrads in the Class of 2021 who majored in Chemical Engineering and Accounting. Plus, at 26, you are at the perfect age, with more than four years of full-time work experience. Add it all up, and I would say you should definitely get an interview and then it’s really up to how well you compare with other white hedge fund guys who went to Princeton, Yale, and Columbia.

Hi Mr Hedge Fund, Melisa here from Stratus Admissions. As John mentioned, we believe, HBS is going to be even more competitive this upcoming year. And you have a solid profile that will be attractive to HBS – so you want to make sure that your application stands out among other Finance guys. The fact that you bring hedge fund experience to the class is a plus and your leadership in the community. But what is unique about you – your authentic story of why you need an MBA? While I know it can be looked at as a stepping stone to move up in the finance world – it needs to be more than that to you. Where do you need to grow as a leader and how specifically can Harvard help you do that. Sounds like you have a lot of resources at top b schools – leverage them to get to know the schools. What would you get involved in? What contribution would you make to the class? A strong and memorable story will help you stand out – and can be leveraged into the interview. You have a strong list of schools – and I think you will be very competitive within that list. Best of luck!