What would you like the MBA Admissions Board to know about your undergraduate academic experience?

So you were eighteen when you went to college. Young, impression- able, and experimental—you just wanted to have a good time. Also, you probably did not select your college or courses to justify them to the HBS admissions committee, did you? Besides, come on, that was such a long time ago! Why does the HBS admissions committee want to know about your academic experience? You do not even remember where the diploma is now. No, this essay question is not intended to penalize you for those frat parties and spring breaks years ago.

This essay topic seeks to mine the defining moments of your undergraduate journey. Before you take a stab at this essay, step back and try to think about the following questions. What made you select your undergraduate major? What made you switch course? A move from biology to philosophy is drastic and probably merits an explanation. What are some of your memorable moments, regrets, and takeaways from your undergraduate experience? How did the experience shape your career? Would you do anything differently if you could relive the experience? Remember your audience. For in- stance, if you already have an undergraduate business degree, how do you think an MBA would add value for you? This is also a great essay to discuss any grade deficiencies and steps you have taken to plug holes in your academic career.

It is tempting to copy and paste undergraduate awards and laurels from your resume. There are plenty of other places in the application to do so, and you will be doing yourself a disservice if you spend valuable word count creating laundry lists. You only have four hundred words, so it may be impossible to throw in everything, including the kitchen sink. Select the undergraduate memories and experiences that have made you who you are today. Not every applicant graduated magna cum laude. But if you did, don’t just state the achievement; explain why that particular award was important to you.