The Harvard Business School (HBS) MBA program is notable as the world's first MBA program. Based in  Boston, Massachussetts, it is also one of the biggest MBA programs, with a focus on leadership and recently, transcultural education.

At HBS participants are put through two years of in-depth, case-method learning in the role of the decision maker. Field studies, career treks, and in-depth immersions under faculty guidance take students to the frontiers of new markets, practices, and technologies across the globe. The HBS experience is inherently international. One-third of the approximately 350 cases developed each year are international in scope, and a wide variety of MBA courses and cases directly address global business issues. To support its research and case development process, the School maintains a network of Global Research Centers that reach from the Asia-Pacific to the Silicon Valley, from Latin America to India and Europe.

Summary

Location: Boston, MA, U.S.

Duration: 18 months

Fees: US$101,660

2008 MBA Ranking (FT): 5

2008 MBA Ranking (BW, U.S.): 2

Website: http://www.hbs.edu/mba

Essay Questions

Programme beginning: Fall of 2009

1. What are your three most substantial accomplishments and why do you view them as such? (600 words)   

2. What have you learned from a mistake? (400 words)   

3. Please respond to two of the following (400 words):

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

b) Discuss how you have engaged with a community or organization.

c) What area of the world are you most curious about and why?

d) What is your career vision and why is this choice meaningful to you?