Welcome to Harvard! – Advice from MBA Prep Alum

By Elliott Davis, MBA Prep 2014

Elliott Davis, MBA Prep 2014, and recent Harvard Business School (HBS) graduate welcomes the current class of MBA Prep Fellows to HBS and shares his experience and some words of wisdom as the fellows prepare to travel to Pre-Application Seminar in Boston this weekend.

Welcome to the Harvard Business School!

This is an exciting time! When I was in your shoes, our pre-application seminar was held at Stanford. I had my schools narrowed down, possible interview responses rehearsed, and “juice” all figured out.

Yet, I STILL dreaded the upcoming mock interviews. Ugh!

And then, in a Stanford meeting room, my life changed. I met Dee Leopold, the recently “quasi”-retired director of admissions at HBS. I didn’t even know who Dee was before the interview and Harvard was nowhere on my list of schools, but I remember telling her after the interview, “If people at HBS are like you, then I want to go to HBS.” The rest, as they say, is history.

In 2014, I left my cushy consulting role at IBM after four years to attend HBS. I was hoping to not only switch into a tech career and make lifelong connections, but also discover myself. Sounds corny, I know, but MBA programs really have a way of being “transformational.” HBS allowed me to reflect on what makes me tick, learn new leadership styles, and pursue a career that will be personally fulfilling. In the end, I accepted a full-time global strategy consulting role with Samsung in South Korea –  the perfect balance between my desire to travel, solve complex problems, and speak passionately about technology.

In this lead up to Round 1 application deadlines, MLT has given you a great gift. No, they didn’t make you any better than you already are, but they have repurposed every single bit of focus, professional achievement, unexpressed geographic preference, and test-taking ability that you have in order to prepare you for business school applications. I’ve spoken to a lot of Fellows and we all agree, MLT—with its resources, connections, and mentorship—was the best pre-application decision we could’ve made.

So, keep making good decisions! To that end, here are some tips for making the most of your time at HBS during MLT’s Pre-Application Seminar:

• Focus on fit. When choosing which business school to apply to (and later attend), many MBA applicants get distracted by things like location, ranking, alumni, and press. Those attributes may help to narrow down your search, but they shouldn’t weigh heavy on your final decision. Throughout the seminar, focus on how well you “fit” with both current and prospective students, faculty, community culture, and student pastimes. These characteristics of the overall school environment can make or break your two-year MBA experience.

• Explore. First, HBS is an amazing place that evokes lots of different emotions in different people. Talk to the incoming first year students (RCs) that just landed on campus and ask them what their hopes (and hesitations) are for the upcoming two years. Second, metro Boston is an awesome area packed with many neighborhoods of diverse cultures and cuisines. Don’t be afraid to venture outside of the very convenient, very familiar Harvard Square!

• Challenge your assumptions. It is SO easy to come into this seminar and the application process with an unwavering idea of the career you’ll want, the school you’ll like, the friends you’ll make, the roads you’ll travel, and the wine you’ll drink. Don’t do it. Take this seminar as an opportunity to inquire, listen, and learn. You might just surprise yourself with how flexible and diverse your “plans” can be.

• Keep track of the moments. This is the hardest tip I’ll give you, but I implore you to try it out. Keep a journal over the weekend. Whether it’s in your phone’s “Notes” app or in a leather-bound Moleskine, take the time to jot down your reactions, emotions, highlights, and lowlights throughout the seminar. The weekend will pass so fast, and it’s important to take something home with you that reminds you of all the difference-making moments.

I hope you all enjoy your time at seminar and take full advantage of the weekend. Your hard work will soon pay off. Once again, welcome to Harvard!