<p>Hi guys, first time posting in the Business School forum.</p>
<p>I'm considering law school / business school immediately after getting finishing my BS in Economics and Physics, which is far, far away.</p>
<p>Basically, what do I need to consider with regard to admissions for Harvard Law or Harvard Business School?? </p>
<p>I'm just trying to get a feel of where I need to stand.</p>
<p>Both HBS and HLS run recruiting events through the country. Meet them (and other perspectives) in person will help you to get a sense of where you stand.</p>
<p>When applying to most JD/MBA programs, you must separately submit applications to each of the programs and be separately admitted to each of the programs. In other words, the law school will evaluate your application based upon its admissions criteria (including LSAT and GPA, among other things) and the business school will evaluate your application based upon its admissions criteria (including GMAT, work experience and, to a lesser extent, undergraduate GPA). If you are admitted to only one or the other of those programs, than you will not be a joint degree candidate. </p>
<p>Please note that students in Harvard's MBA class of 2009 have an average of 48 months of full time post-graduation work experience. If you intend to apply to Harvard's MBA program straight from college, this may be the most significant hindrance to your admission.</p>
<p>doesn't hbs have a 3+2 program which admits you directly following undergrad?</p>
<p>Go to their respective websites and check out their admissions prerequisites. Also, you'll likely find a contact link their as well. If you contact them programs directly you can get some very valuable information. </p>
<p>As for business school at HBS, like sallyawp said, those applicants with at least a few years of post-undergraduate work experience have a much greater chance at admissions. There are exceptions (i.e., people who go straight from BS/BA to MBA), but they usually have significant internship and/or entrepreneurial experience along with superstar scores/grades and perhaps especially impressive extracurricular experience as well. </p>
<p>A friend of mine graduated from HBS 3 or 4 years ago and was telling me earlier this year that they are beginning to 'encourage younger applicants'. Either way, it's a more difficult road to take for admissions, but it's not impossible. If it's your goal than by all means go for it.</p>
<p>I was on NYTimes.com earlier today, clicked on Harvard's "HBS2+2" ads I've kept seeing, and it looks like a pretty neat program! Needless to say, I agree with the posters above; I would think about 4 years of work experience would improve your odds considerably.</p>
<p>Lets say you did by chance get into a good MBA program like HBS or Wharton straight out of undergrad. Do you think it would be a mistake to procede without some experience to base your learning upon? </p>
<p>thanks.</p>
<p>Wow! Thanks for the feedback guys.</p>
<p>I'm actually at Northeastern this year, 5 year co-op prorgam. For those who are not familiar with this school, it offers you three 6-month full time real job experience during your 5 years as an undergrad.</p>
<p>I plan on working throughout college. I started at a company through an agency in May. I was scheduled to work 4 weeks with them but they decided to hire me full time for the summer. A bit deeper into the summer, they decided to make it a shared job. Someone else comes in the morning for 4 hours, and I'm there after classes. I started as an administrative assistant, and now I'm also backing up the accouting department doing accounts payable. I've done financial reports for directors and other small projects for other departments. I've been to executive / board meetings with the VP. I don't do anything at the meetings, they just want me to get a feel for it. I just listen and watch. I was invited to go to the next executive meeting and also to an auto show preview night afterwards, paid the whole time. My boss just offered me a new position: Database Manager. I plan on staying with this company (20-35 hrs a week job) until I do my first coop. </p>
<p>I'm already making more than my the average pay for second time co-op go'ers. (Don't mean to brag, but I want feedback on how well I'd fare in this admissions war).</p>
<p>What kind of work experience does Harvard expect you to have?</p>
<p>
[quote]
What kind of work experience does Harvard expect you to have?
[/quote]
You can get a sense of what they look for by looking at their application, specifically the essay questions. In general, top schools look for leadership examples, upward career growth, teamwork examples and academic abilities.</p>
<p>Very impressive thus far - but to give you a flavor of the students at schools like HBS or Wharton (or even most of the top 10 b-schools), the majority of them will come from elite private schools (think top 15) and public schools (think top 5), have 3-5 years of work experience at blue chip companies/top consulting firms/top banks, and have demonstrated solid leadership experience (or at the very least, potential).<br>
As for very small number of undergrad admits, you will usually find very high GPA/GMAT combinations from top schools along with unique and impressive work experiences in which they made substantial contributions - ranging from starting up/running their own businesses (successful or unsuccessful) to impactful internships at selective institutions/companies.</p>
<p>read the pinned thread in this board labeled "IMPORTANT" for much more perspective on this.</p>
<p>almost everyone new to this forum asks the "Do I need work experience" question, and the responses are always the same. Don't be That Guy.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. I know work experience is required, but it's just the type of work experience that confuses me. My company just hired a college grad as an administrative assistant, and he wants to go to business school too. I'm allowed to delegate work as I want, and I've only been here for 5 months. What exactly is "leadership" in a work environment?</p>
<p>demonstrating initiative that is beneficial to a business or which grows that business as its end result.</p>
<p>they're interested in seeing that you understand how a business works, especially a large business, that you've had exposure to management or executive leadership and have a sense of it, that you show potential to become an executive or entrepreneur. they're looking to train the leaders of tomorrow. what have you done to show that you're in that category?</p>
<p>I think work experience works from two perspectives and sometimes students (pre-MBA) are losing sight of what is really important in terms of work experience. Work experience is a prereq. at some schools and highly recommended at others because they want you to be able to contribute to the class, give expertise on current industry practices, etc. However, I find work experience being equally important, if not important, for the sake of the student. I've talked to many MBAs and they recommend having five years work experience before applying. Although not a prereq., it could mean a better MBA experience for the student.</p>
<p>An MBA is merely one tool (in some careers, a requirement) of the many tools a person will have on his CV. My classmates have started companies, been assistants to prime ministers, etc. If you have no work experience, I would question whether you could really contribute something to my education. Further, I would question whether you truly understood my experiences of international business if you've never worked abroad. That's not to say you aren't smart enough or not capable, it's just a matter of how many years you've been on Earth and how many opportunities you've had to do great things. </p>
<p>Of course some students are brilliant within 21 years of their life but it's much more likely to have better, more quality work experience with a few extra years. This way, when you learn about others' experiences, you can relate better, have a stronger grasp on improving a company or business, and appreciate the diversity a work place may offer.</p>
<p>lkao, when you say "my classmates", at which school are you enrolled?</p>
<p>just curious.</p>