Since I let the cat out of the bag that I applied to the Harvard Business School I’ve been swamped by people telling me that having an MBA is overrated, that HBS is overrated, that other schools are just as good, and that anyone who goes to HBS is an arrogant punk and I don’t want to be like them. People have assumed I want an MBA from HBS because I’m egotistical, superficial, and vain. Therefore, in an effort to quell the rising tide of erroneous assumptions I give you my reasons as to why I want an MBA and why I’m only interested in HBS.
Why do I want an MBA at all? After all, I run my own business. I don’t need it to get a raise. And I already have a master’s degree from a somewhat reputable business school, namely the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University. Sure, it’s not an MBA, and BYU isn’t exactly ivy-league, but it’s certainly enough to get me places.
And why do I want an MBA from HBS, to the point where I’m not planning on applying anywhere else? Wasn’t Chicago the #1 MBA program last year? Am I so proud as to think that MIT and Stanford are not worth my time? Couldn’t I just go to an executive program somewhere else that is closer and less expensive?
The answer is that there are certain things I want to do in my life. I could probably do them without an MBA. I could probably do them without an MBA from Harvard. But I think an MBA from HBS will help me accomplish those things faster and better than without it. Here is a partial list of my life objectives in no particular order.
1. I want to start a company from scratch and grow it successfully to over 1,000 employees in multiple countries.
2. I want to take over a major corporation that is headed downwards, turn it around, and set the stage for long-term success.
3. I want to write one or more best-selling business books.
4. I want to start a VC fund or other type of funding entity to help young entrepreneurs such as I was (I’m 31, does that mean I can’t call myself a young entrepreneur anymore?).
5. I want to create a microloan/microenterprise program to promote self-reliance in third-world countries.
6. I want to be capable of serving well in any leadership position I may be called to within my church. I should probably explain here that in the LDS Church (Mormons), lay people are called to volunteer in all sorts of leadership positions. These positions are not sought after because anyone who would seek such a position is nuts, plus you don’t get paid for your time, it’s all on a volunteer basis. These positions can be demanding, emotionally draining, and time-consuming. In some cases they require a full-time commitment, often in other countries.
7. I want to effect a cultural/attitudinal shift within the skateboarding industry by creating its largest retail entity and using buying power as a tool.
8. I want to teach college.
9. I say this with some hesitation, but I would like to be involved in politics and run for a major office.
10. I want to work in many countries around the world including China, Japan, Brazil, Germany, and Israel.
11. I want to produce films.
12. I want to develop one or more major pieces of real estate.
13. I want to lift others to higher ground. I want to be an example of what’s possible. I want to inspire others and make them believe in themselves. I want to show others that despite setbacks, despite challenges, they can triumph over adversity. Maybe they can even get rejected from HBS, but then reapply and get in.
What does an MBA offer me that will help me to attain these goals? Education, networking, and credibility. What does an MBA from HBS offer me? A great education, great networking, and great credibility, combined with an emphasis on leadership.
There’s no doubt an education from HBS is a great education. Could I get a great education elsewhere? Sure, but would it be much better? Probably not, unless another school has a particular emphasis and that emphasis were what I was interested in. If my primary interest were technology and innovation, I would probably go to Stanford. If it were pure technology I would probably go to MIT. But for me those are secondary, they are not my primary focus. I also have a lot of respect for Harvard’s case study methodology and the research published by the school. I think the opportunity to learn from professors like Clayton Christensen is without par.
The HBS alumni network is powerful. Again, you might claim another school also has a great alumni network, but I think it would be difficult to argue there is a network that is clearly better. While I could accomplish many of my objectives without such a network, having the network and relationships might make certain goals substantially easier. If I need to raise funds for a real estate development project I will have resources within the network. If I need advice on getting a book published I can get advice from others who have published best sellers. We often hear it’s not what you know but who you know, and when it comes to business if there’s any group of people I’d like to know it’s the HBS alumni.
Credibility has to do with the brand. While the magazines may rate one MBA school as #1 this year and a different one #1 the next, I believe HBS is generally top of mind for the general population. Those in the know might know that the University of Chicago was #1 in 2006, but there are a lot of people, people I want to influence, who will recognize a Harvard MBA as being top-tier. If I write a business book and my bio says I’m a Harvard MBA, I think that will sell more books than an MBA from Wharton or just about any other school. If I’m working in a foreign country with a foreign management team I think the Harvard MBA is going to carry more clout than an MBA from Kellogg (where my brother in law got his MBA, sorry Brent, no offense intended). If I’m running for Congress I think Harvard is going to say more than Ross. This isn’t about pride or ego. This is about reaching my objectives, and I think a Harvard MBA provides more credibility than an MBA from any other school.
But it’s not just education, relationships, or credibility, nor is it all three. If those were the only reasons to go to HBS I wouldn’t go at all. For me, the primary reason is leadership. That is what I’m truly passionate about. Some of those who know me think of me as being passionate about design. Some think I’m passionate about technology. Others think my passion is entrepreneurship. I am passionate about all those things, but they are not ends but merely means to an end, and the true end is leadership experience. I have learned a lot about leadership from being an entrepreneur, but entrepreneurship can only teach so much. There are many other leadership opportunities I want to experience. I believe my education at HBS can be a transition point or a stepping stone to those opportunities, and I believe this is one area in which HBS sets itself apart from other universities.
All my objectives will require leadership talent, and while I believe I have some and am developing more, I think HBS could give me a jumpstart. That, combined with the education, the relationships, and the brand, are the reasons why I want an MBA from HBS. You might think I’m foolish for not applying to other schools, but frankly, they just don’t get me excited, but HBS has excited me for ten years and continues to do so more and more as I learn more about it. Maybe I’ll change my mind. Maybe during the next two years I’ll decide to apply to other programs. I don’t think it will happen, but I won’t rule it out. But for now, I am focused on getting an MBA from Harvard, and I’ll either get in or…well, I think I just need to do whatever it takes to get in.
Have you visited and sat in a class? You should. It’s great.
If Harvard is all you wan tthen why settle for something else? No point in doing something that doesn’t get you excited.
Josh,
Was this one of your application essays? If you could fit the essence of this into their word count reqs…
I say good for you. I’d be a professional student if I could figure out how to do it.
Take a look at kiva.org.
You might be able to move from starting the entire organization to supporting it.
Plus Conan O’Brien is a Harvard alumnus.
Here’s the speech he gave to the graduating class of 2000:
http://www.february-7.com/features/conan.htm
You could go through officer training in the marines . . .
“Since I let the cat out of the bag that I applied to the Harvard Business School I’ve been swamped by people telling me that having an MBA is overrated, that HBS is overrated, that other schools are just as good, and that anyone who goes to HBS is an arrogant punk and I don’t want to be like them.”
I can’t help but think those criticizing something you want so much only feel a bit jaded. Could be something else, but dang, this is all subjectivity. It’s the encouragment, stupid! You don’t have to agree with someone’s interest to wish ‘em well.
“Josh, don’t change a thing. Formal education from a reputable school opens zero doors, regardless of your career path. University of Pheonix is just as good. Progress is overrated and people that embrace change are arrogant punks, and you don’t want to be like them. You want to be just like everyone else.”
“The answer is that there are certain things I want to do in my life. I could probably do them without an MBA. I could probably do them without an MBA from Harvard. But I think an MBA from HBS will help me accomplish those things faster and better than without it.”
Only if you think so. I have many of the same goals you have (it’s actually a little scary reading that) and I’ve never thought of an MBA from HBS being key in me accomplishing those goals. Success is about what’s inside you not where you go to school.
@Bob
“Only if you think so.” I’m afraid I’ve got to disagree with you there Bob. I understand you’re probably not saying that an MBA from HBS is completely worthless, and if you’re just saying that it’s not absolutely necessary to accomplish those goals I agree with you on that, but I can’t help but see a lot of ways in which the MBA from HBS would increase my chances of accomplishing those goals. It’s all about ROI, and I think two years would be a small price to pay for what I would receive.
hey! hold that thought ’till you reapply, print the feeling on the app and hell, you should be in.
Read your app before and it has nothing to do with this post. This one showed courage, determination, vision.. also felt a liitle bit of inspiration.. while the app, honestly, just told me you use to had issues, you still have them, but have managed to get around them.
Regards.
Rock on, Josh. I’ve been a hater of the MBA in the past, but I’m starting to come around slowly for all of the reasons that you listed above. Best of luck on your future application. I’ll look forward to the “How to get into …” post.
The minute I even got into MBA school, I had people coming out of the woodwork offering me money. There has never been a statistic showing (or even pretending to argue) that MBAs don’t pay themselves off, rather quickly. I’m sure the average person graduating with an MBA from Harvard makes millions more over a lifetime than most of the detractors on this blog–most of whom work their butts off for fifty grand, and most of whom have to work in car sales or insurance or mortgages to get there.
Sorry, your goals point towards someone who wants to achieve something big, but without a direction. You are not HBS material if you say “I want to start a company from scratch and grow it over 1000 personnel”. That just isn’t good enough to be a Harvard goal. It’s too vague. You have to want to revitalize an industry with your personal style. Redefine how certain businesses do things, e.g. start an internet bank with all your personnel in India, etc. It has to have some direction.
That’s the reason your ambition essay didn’t work. Like I mentioned before, your goals and desires have to be pointed and specific. You can’t say you want to swim 100 miles, you have to say you want to swim to London.
Best of luck.
I would have a good short essay based on true stories.
One of the most incompetent businessmen I’ve ever met had an MBA from Harvard. He got respect anyway, to the detriment of the people who respected him.
One the slimyist businessmen I ever met had an MBA from Harvard. And he got away with it!
… to t he detriment of the people who did business with him.
I want an MBA from Harvard so that maybe people would listen to me when I say: “That guy is incompetent!” or “That guy is a slimebag!”
The essay would be short. To the point. Though I don’t think it would open the doors that need opening.
Don,
Hi there! Is it really true, great minds think alike? I feel the same way. May be we should get together on the phone and perhaps chat few minutes. We come from similar back ground, technology and startup. Though, I have not applied to HBS yet. Was planning to this 3rd round, but very jittery because of my freaking GMAT score.
For me either I get an HBS MBA or not… end of story. Why, simple — Want to nurture my leadership skills and only from Harvard. Still why, I don’t mean to be politically incorrect but so be it, there is a not an insittution on the face of the planet that can develop someone to be a leader as Harvard can. And, I want to have the connection of the integrated HBS alums to serve my ultimate purpose in life… help the hungry children (I didn’t say adults… j/k) in the world —- however altruistic and convenient it may sound.
Anyway, is there anyway, I can get in touch with you to learn more from your experience of life and HBS rejection? You obviously sound a decent human being so I would like to speak with you if possible, sir! BTW, I loved your last line of Why HBS? It’s awesome. Wherever your life’s journey take you, good luck!
Rgds,
Kris
I just saw your essays for HBS. Man! You killed yourself with the cliches —- “girl friend thing”. Like the other writer, that was the first and only thing that is still on my mind about your essays. Do you have any idea how many applicants use the same excuses each year at HBS? Since you asked for inputs, here are mine’s (pls. forgive me being crude”):
1. I am not a native speaker on English but I felt you have to whitewash your essays, serious work to be done on the structure, flow, bit grammer but most importantly, your essay need to tell a story, it needs to capture your audience. From reading your essay ONLY ONE THING I GOT OUT OF — your girlfriend thing. I GOT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF after reading those few lines. I didn’t bother reading it further. If I was in the HBS adcom, I wouldn’t have read further.
2. How can you show “$0.00″ income? It sounded noble but “cheesy”. You don’t think much of yourself, do you? — that was what I got out of it… How do you make a living? Well, may be “profit” then put some $$$ in there even if it’s not salary.
3. Though I have not read your whole essays but reading few of your blogger’s comments and reading parts of your essay, you seemed to pressing about HBS. I am sure it comes out on your essays. Don’t do that.
4. Avoid laundry listing your accomplisments/desires…. adcom don’t like it.
5. My earnest advice if helping others succeed inlife is indeed your ultimate goal then “HBS MBA” cannot be the one and only way to achieve that. You are contradicting yourself some how. So please, get a great MBA experience (though you really don’t need MBA, you have done more in your life than 70% of the HBS grads would ever do in their lives). In other words, you might want to change your attitude towards “leadership experience” and “HBS MBA”.
Finally, like you, I am dead on “HBS MBA” and I am 33 year old but I realized that HBS MBA cannot be the “only MBA” benchmark in my life. “Getting MBA from one of the top 10 schools” is more than good enough though I would still die to get an MBA from HBS. BTW, you owe some intellectual advices on my candidacy… Take care!
Rgds,
Kris
Yeah, I really debated over putting the girlfriend stuff in there and only decided to because it was the truth and I wasn’t sure how else to explain it. But in retrospect I should have done something else, although I’m still not sure what.
As for the $0 income, I really haven’t had any income for the past four years. As for how I make a living, I don’t. My wife does. Again, it doesn’t sound good, but that’s the truth, and not entirely uncommon for an entrepreneur. Even in years when I could have taken some income I’ve chosen not to because I didn’t need to and wanted to reinvest it back into my business. Looking at it now, perhaps that’s the type of thing that should have kept me from applying in the first place until such time as I could have a year of decent income behind me.
Josh,
You’re fantastic person man! It sounds like you are really quite “fit” for HBS. Here is a $1M advice, perhpas you already know about it, HBS does not keep any old copy of rejected application from previous year. Pls. don’t tell anyone I said it. It’s against their admission consideration policy unlike some of the other schools. I got it from one of their staff, I kind of known for last 6 months. She is very nice to me. I coroborated her fact from couple of other current students at HBS. It’s like you are starting all over again.
Anyway, I really feel for you man. I sincerely hope and am very confident that you will get into one of the “top 10″ business school. I guess it’s maturity on my part, I used to press it really hard that someday I have to get a HBS MBA, nah! My life has been okay without it, it won’t be more or less glorious with or without it.
By the way, boy! you got a wonderful wife too. I wish my wife would have done the same thing to me. Instead, she waits when I bring the salary home…. j/j. My wife is wonerful too. Speak to you soon, my friend….!
If you don’t want people to know something it’s best not to post it on a blog.
Anyone want to confirm/deny whether HBS keeps and or refers to old applications when someone reapplies?