School guides · 2026-27

Harvard Business School

The essay prompts, word limits and deadlines for 2026-27, and what Harvard Business School says it looks for. Always check the official site before you submit.

What Harvard Business School looks for

  • Business-Minded
  • Leadership-Focused
  • Growth-Oriented

Essays

Business-Minded

300 words

Business-Minded: Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations.

Leadership-Focused

250 words

Leadership-Focused: What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead?

Growth-Oriented

250 words

Growth-Oriented: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth.

Career aspirations

500 characters

Briefly tell us more about your career aspirations.

Reapplicant essay

250 words · optional

Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular or volunteer engagements).

Deadlines

R1September 9, 2026
R2January 5, 2027

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Sources

Last checked November 7, 2026. Storylode is not affiliated with Harvard Business School.