On the eve of my departure for Harvard, my long-standing neighbor and friend, Jack, told me what he had heard and has since never forgotten from his first day of class: Harvard will lead you into a forest, from which you will spend the next four years finding your way out. I have come to fully appreciate the aptness of that statement. I arrived at Harvard a verdant freshman, passionate about intellectual stimulation, excited by challenges, and cautiously aimed for a career in genetic research. Fascinated by the elegant complexity of how a simple DNA double helix can dictate the creation of an entire human being, I spent freshman year taking courses in genetics from both scientific and social perspectives. That spring, I chose to major in biochemistry. By the end of sophomore year, I was three courses away from a degree in biochemical sciences, and I had received As in all my concentration classes. Yet, at the beginning of junior year, I started to reconsider a career in scientific research.

I spent sophomore summer studying Japanese in Hokkaido, and in doing so, realized my interest in international relations. The next summer, I applied for an internship at the U.S. State Department and experienced diplomacy firsthand. My interest in science was enduring, but my ability to understand Chinese and Japanese languages and cultures was an asset I did not want to waste. In the beginning of senior year, I had to make an important decision: Should I pursue an honors thesis in biochemistry, or seize my last chance to access some of the world’s finest resources and professors in Japanese studies? I opted for the latter. Life was too short to let such chances pass me by.

Today, I am intensely grateful for having gotten to know, both professionally and personally, some of the most brilliant minds in Japanese literature. Looking back on my four years at Harvard, I can confidently claim that I have no regrets. I walked into the forest, believing my path was clearly laid out for me, only to have discovered a completely different trail. Yet, I am happy to have seen more of the forest before I came out, for when I finally stepped back into the world, I saw a subtler and more exquisite beauty as a result of my explorations.

Analysis

The author of this essay uses the topic to both enhance his image as a person with diverse interests and provide insight into his varied and unique undergraduate transcript. He comes across as introspective and secure in his choices, and without this context his academic transcript alone might have led a casual observer to believe he was a lost soul. The former description clearly makes for a better applicant profile. This essay’s success stems also from the author’s effective use of metaphors to explain his journey from a Harvard freshman to a career in international relations. It is important to keep in mind that throughout all of your essays, stylish and colorful writing can bring your accomplishments and personality to life. While you must be substantive, your goal is to convince the reader that what you have accomplished is meaningful to you, not that what you have accomplished is monumental on its own. Here, the author shows how he is able to adapt and follow newfound passions. He shares some of his thought process around making unconventional and sometimes risky choices, changing paths when necessary and taking responsibility for his decisions. The author is open-minded; he is able to course-correct and understands what is more important to him as he matures intellectually and emotionally.

One caution: beware of focusing too much on grades. Here the author mentions them only in passing, but given that grades are already reflected in your transcript, you are better served spending your word count revealing new elements of your personality.

From 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays edited by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson. Copyright (c) 2009 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group