The 2025-2025 HBS MBA application is now open!
For the second year in a row, the HBS MBA essays changed for 2025-2026 applicants. However, HBS admissions, clearly largely satisfied with the updates made last year, continues to ask Harvard Business School hopefuls to write three short essays. This year, these essays were streamlined, sending a message that HBS is looking for direct and focused answers to its questions.
Find out more about the HBS 2025-2026 MBA application deadlines and essays below!
2025-2026 Harvard Business School Application Deadlines
Round 1: September 3, 2025
Round 2: January 5, 2026
Below Personal MBA Coach shares details on what has changed and how to approach these new essay questions.
2025-2026 HBS MBA Program Application Essay Questions Are As Follows:
HBS Essay 1 – Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your choices have influenced your career path and aspirations. (up to 300 words)
HBS simplified its first essay question this year. For this streamlined first HBS essay, naturally applicants should expand on their career aspirations. However, more importantly, they should explain the why behind this career. Tell HBS admissions what prepared you for this career and what motivates you to be successful. Your career should be meaningful to you, and a strong essay will show this.
Last year, this essay overtly asked candidates to also discuss the broader impact they will have on their communities. While this second part of the essay has been removed, Personal MBA Coach has shared in the past how business schools are increasingly looking for applicants who understand the role businesses play in society as a whole. Keep this in mind as you discuss your career path.
HBS Essay 2 – Leadership-Focused Essay: What experiences have shaped how you invest in others and how you lead? (up to 250 words)
Once again, the HBS application no longer includes a personal story essay. While last year there was more opportunity to use this second essay to touch on applicants’ personal story, this year applicants are directed to focus only on their leadership and not on “who they are.”
Still, this essay does give applicants an opportunity to reflect upon their past experiences and bring in elements that normally would go into a personal statement type essay. However, with only 250 words to use applicants will need to be very succinct as they talk about their past. You might consider writing about your background, upbringing or extracurricular experiences here if they have shaped your leadership approach.
Personal MBA Coach recommends that the details provided are specific and that you get to the so-what of these experiences quickly. Then, focus on how your past (either personal or professional) has shaped your professional leadership approach and vision. Remember, actions speak louder than words, so it will be important to show readers the type of leader you are by using specific examples from your career. A strong essay will tell readers why they would be lucky to have YOU as their future leader.
HBS Essay 3 – Growth-Oriented Essay: Curiosity can be seen in many ways. Please share an example of how you have demonstrated curiosity and how that has influenced your growth. (up to 250 words)
As HBS states, curiosity can come in many forms. There is no one approach to this essay, so you really want to think about your own uniqueness here as you select an example. You can consider intellectual curiosity, personal curiosity, or professional curiosity. Naturally, the implications are more meaningful than the story itself. It is important that the reader can see how you have grown as a professional and as a person from this experience. While it is not directly asked, this is a great way to show HBS how you take risks and how you will come to HBS with a growth mindset.
Contact Us for One-On-One HBS Application and Essay Support
Are you looking for support with your Harvard Business School MBA applications?
Did you know that Personal MBA Coach’s team also includes two HBS graduates? Find out how Personal MBA Coach helped one of our clients tell their story to get into Harvard Business School and contact us for support today.
