Mr. Military, Policy, & Neurodiversity

This is the most compelling HBS assessment request I’ve read in a little bit! You have the pedigree that Harvard seeks to vet it’s candidates: good academic performance at an Ivy UG, a GRE score in line with HBS’ average (327 – though the average for the Indian/Asian male demo is probably a bit higher), military service (a core professional constituency for any M7 MBA class), and demonstrated “service mentality” that guides mission-driven action outside of work. Your autism EC advocacy efforts are indeed a secret sauce, especially in the context of your own autism journey. Your conventional accomplishments would dispel any (likely preconceived and biased) notions about your managerial potential and interpersonal skills as an autistic person. M7 adcoms are looking to maximize return while minimizing risks. Unfortunately, if you weren’t as traditionally professionally accomplished as you are, your autism might be seen as a “risk” to your candidacy. But given your success in conventional arenas, you should be proud to share your diagnosis and how it informs your discipline, empathy and worldview.
Despite your conventional achievements, I don’t have to tell you that HBS admissions are extremely competitive (overall acceptance rates are under 10% and lower for your ethnic demographic). What will separate you from the large number of students applying is your autism diagnosis and how it impels you to action as an advocate for people on the spectrum. In many ways, your story is MADE for HBS’ “What else do we need to know about you?” 900 word essay. The implicit request here is to talk about challenges faced that aren’t going to be obvious from your resume. There is so much fertile ground to plow with regards to what you have overcome. HBS and Wharton are the largest full-time 2 year MBA programs, and they may be good places to charter an Autism Alliance-type club, potentially involving the broader university community. That sort of community impact could really resonate with the AdCom if you wanted to build out that idea in an interview or potentially the essay if it fits.
Regarding your strategic positioning, I will say that social impact is notoriously one of the most overrepresented in the applicant pool and one of the hardest fields in which to actually land positions post graduation (there just aren’t many employers in this space). The AdCom knows this, and wants to admit people who will GET A JOB in their preferred professional sector since employment and comp are important metrics for HBS’ rankings. Your desire to advocate for neurodiversity will appear genuine given your personal story (many social impact essays are inauthentic because the applicant thinks this is what the AdCom “wants to hear”). In your case, Social Impact consulting probably will work since you’ve done similar work professionally and in your EC efforts. To validate your ambitions, though, you should do research on this professional landscape – individual social impact consulting firms where you’d like to work (be able to name 1 or 2 of them), ideally firms that have actively recruited at HBS and have HBS alums on their consultant roster.
Your stats alone put you at double the average acceptance rate and then I’m adding a premium for the autism x-factor for an overall chance of 30%. Best of luck to you!