<p>I have just started my second year out of a four year undergrad degree in Europe at a good university, though probably unknown in the US (I am biligual and my english is fluent). I haven't just randomly had a dream of going to HBS without FT work experience for no apparent reason - I've thought it out properly and decided that it is the best thing to do for me.</p>
<p>I'm willing to do a lot to get there, I just want ideas as to how I can give myself the best chance.</p>
<p>So other than the obvious (excellent grades, excellent work experience) what can I do?</p>
<p>Anyone know of someone who has got into HBS straight out of undergrad college? If so what were they like?</p>
<p>Also how important is knowing the right people? Apparently in the US knowing people at the university who are willing to help you out can have a big impact on your application. In Europe this is rarely done and is probably illegal in some cases, but from what I hear its quite normal in the US?</p>
<p>My general feeling about getting into a HBS type of program out of undergrad directly, is that it's done on a case by case basis. You'll need to convince the admissions folks that they should have no doubt that you are very capable, and are only lacking in experience.</p>
<p>Besides very high GPA, preferably with a very challending workload from a great undergraduate program, high GMAT, you'll need to show leadership. ie. President of Student council, student newspaper Editor-in-Chief, and probably be willing to discuss very tangible things you've done with those positions. They are looking for very bright people, who are clearly ahead of their age, very mature, and clear about their future. You need to show them that you know what you want to do, AND that in 15-20 years' time, you'll be able to donate millions back to HBS. So think that.</p>
<p>The biggest issue in going to B school straight from undergrad is that employers will be much less interested in you. As someone who has hired top MBA's for 25 years, I can tell you you would be a hard sell for elite jobs with just summer work experience.</p>
<p>I've seen several who went straight from undergrad to HSW. 2 had started businesses which had grown to significant size and run them through high school in one case and college in the other. Another is the child of a power figure and she had gone to college later than most and had worked in ibanking prior to undergrad. I know another who went straight after finishing med school not having worked.</p>
<p>Bottom line: the schools will allow a few in who they think will still be competitive for elite jobs given their experiences.</p>
<p>Thank you both. These are useful answers so if anyone wants to add keep them coming!</p>
<p>hmom5, do you think in that case that they'll be impressed by working for the same small firm a few summers in a row and progressing up the ranks there, so that I will have done something meaningful for WE? Do you think that would be better than getting a couple of internships at recognised and prestigious names (ibanks etc.) on my CV, but not doing anything important at them?</p>
<p>I've seen a couple who have gone straight to HBS and Wharton straight from college with no significant work history but their GPAs are very high, something like 3.95 from Yale or undergrad Wharton and received all kinds of honors and awards like Phi Beta Kappa and honors society.</p>
<p>Have also seen MDs going straight to MBA and a few MD.PHD's.</p>
<p>This student graduated from a top 5 MBA school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Saint Louis, MO
Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology
· Received award for 1st place graduate student talk at the 1998 International Cytokine Society Meeting in Jerusalem
· Awarded full scholarship plus stipend by National Institutes of Health for MD and PhD studies
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Hanover, NH
Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with Honors, Magna cum Laude
· Phi Beta Kappa; Graduated in top 5% of class; Barry Goldwater Scholarship recipient
<p>
[quote]
Besides very high GPA, preferably with a very challending workload from a great undergraduate program, high GMAT, you'll need to show leadership. ie. President of Student council, student newspaper Editor-in-Chief, and probably be willing to discuss very tangible things you've done with those positions. They are looking for very bright people, who are clearly ahead of their age, very mature, and clear about their future.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've seen a couple who have gone straight to HBS and Wharton straight from college with no significant work history but their GPAs are very high, something like 3.95 from Yale or undergrad Wharton and received all kinds of honors and awards like Phi Beta Kappa and honors society.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, I'm not entirely sure about that, especially regarding their academic performance. I know some people who got into HBS right out of undergrad, and while granted, their academic performance was pretty good, it is no comparison to the undergrad academic performance of, say, the Harvard doctoral students (and, trust me, a lot of them don't have anywhere near 3.95 GPA's). Those MBA students clearly aren't dumb, but compared to the sheer raw brainpower of the doctoral students, there is no comparison whatsoever.</p>
<p>Pete, in my experience summer work won't do it. There has got to be something that truly seperates you from the crowd they want to wait. That will typically mean having managed people and major budgets, something unlikely to happen if your work is confined to summers. They are looking for sustained success.</p>
<p>Why do you not want to work for a few years?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Actually, I'm not entirely sure about that,
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I know what I am talking about. I have their resumes.
You just talked to them. Have you seen their transcripts? Have they confided in you regarding their academic performance? Show me.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know what I am talking about. I have their resumes.
You just talked to them. Have you seen their transcripts?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I also know what I am talking about, for I have their resumes too (the resume books are out). Trust me, their undergrad academic performance was not that great. They were good, but I wouldn't say they were great, certainly not to the level of the PhD students (and trust me, some of them weren't that great either).</p>
<p>Allright, the pain in the ass of the (electronic) resume book is that it won't let me cut and paste. I have to retype the resume.</p>
<p>But anyway, here is the education section for one particular HBS student who came straight from undergrad. I am including only the pertinent academic information to maintain privacy.</p>
<p>Education: University of California, Berkeley CA
Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in Sociology. Awarded Chancellors Scholarship. </p>
<p>Look, that performance is decent. But I wouldn't exactly call it great. Believe me, it's not that hard to graduate cum laude in sociology at Berkeley, as sociology is generally considered to be a pretty easy, grade inflated major at Berkeley. We're not talking summa or even magna, we're just talking about regular cum laude. The Chancellor Scholarship also shouldn't count for much as that is an award that you are given as a high school senior, and just requires that you renew it every semester (which basically means that you have to avoid academic probation). It basically means that you were a strong student in high school, but says little about how you performed while at Berkeley. </p>
<p>Nevertheless, this person got into HBS with no full-time work experience. </p>
<p>But hey, I suppose that at least it's better than the case of Blake Gottesman, who didn't even graduate from college at all and still managed to get into HBS. </p>
<p>"Pete, in my experience summer work won't do it. There has got to be something that truly seperates you from the crowd they want to wait. That will typically mean having managed people and major budgets, something unlikely to happen if your work is confined to summers. They are looking for sustained success.</p>
<p>Why do you not want to work for a few years?"</p>
<p>^don't know how to put that in a quotation box...</p>
<p>I can't stress how much I hate the idea of taking a career break, particularly a two year one. I know some will say that I'll welcome the break and it'll be fun etc., but for me it really won't be.</p>
<p>As for the work experience, I'm actually getting a student entrepreneurship project going, which I'm hopeing will be quite (very?) successful. Thanks to the structure of my degree I can work on it almost uninterrupted from Wednesday to Sunday (with a few hours of private study of course) and only go to class on Monday and Tuesday (that might sound strange for you, but in my country its very possible to do that and get very good grades if you work hard). So because of the amount of time I'm able to put into it I'm hoping that we can grow pretty large and have something serious to show for it. Managing people and budgets as you put it would certainly come into that.</p>
<p>Sakky and cbreeze, these examples you give of people who aren't anything special and still got in immediately after undergrad - I'm assuming this is only possible if you've got some sort of amazing connections which I don't have?</p>
<p>a career is a body of work in the real world. Taking classes and getting degrees is merely PREPARING yourself for your career. To have a career, you have to have added value to the world, not merely absorbed the teachings and efforts of others (at great expense to yourself or your parents). You don't take a "Career break" by working, you RESUME your career (or start it).</p>
<p>I would think it very difficult to contribute to top MBA classes without having served a boss or clients extensively, and without already having a deep understand of the way companies operate.</p>
<p>Pete....MOST MBA programs want full-time work experience (3+ years) from their applicants. Your summer internships or college courses do not replace that. There is NOTHING wrong with working in the real world. Graduate school will always be there. Build up your resume with a company. Most of us here who are giving you this advice are working professionals.</p>