You know that feeling when an incredible opportunity presents itself, but the odds seem stacked against you? That’s exactly how many international students feel when it comes to earning a Harvard MBA scholarship.
After all, Harvard is the cream of the crop when it comes to business schools. And with an acceptance rate hovering around 10%, landing one of their prestigious scholarships can seem like an impossible dream.
But here’s the good news: although the competition is fierce, scoring a scholarship is very doable if you take the right steps. In fact, international students made up over 35% of Harvard’s latest MBA class. Many of whom received generous scholarship offers.
In this guide, I’ll reveal the behind-the-scenes strategies used by past international scholarship winners at Harvard. This is your chance to level the playing field and maximize your odds of earning life-changing funding to attend HBS.
Let’s dive right in.
Harvard Scholarship Options for International Students
Harvard University offers a variety of MBA scholarship options to help brilliant international minds attend their program. The big kahuna is the Harvard MBA Admissions Board Scholarship – a grant that can cover up to 100% of tuition and fees.
There’s also the Harvard MBA Admissions Fellowships that provide additional funding on top of the Board Scholarship to offset living expenses. These fellowships are typically awarded to students who demonstrate significant economic disadvantage.
But Harvard goes above and beyond by also partnering with private companies and organizations to fund international scholarships like:
- HBS Forward Fellowship for international students passionate about climate change/sustainability
- Summer Fellowship in Housing and Community Development
- Robert S. Walmsley Fellowship for promising students from South Africa
…and many more that are updated each year.
Your goal with your Harvard application is to position yourself as a perfect fit for one (or multiple) of these offerings. The big question is: how do you do that?
Let me show you…
The 4 Key Pillars of a Competitive Harvard MBA Scholarship Application
Getting into Harvard alone is incredibly challenging. But landing a scholarship on top of that requires checking four crucial boxes that admissions officers carefully evaluate:
- Astounding Academic Brilliance
- Highly Impressive Professional Portfolio
- Captivating Essays that Prove Your Worth
- Stellar Extracurricular Excellence
Let’s look at some real-life examples of how past international students at Harvard nailed each of these pillars.
1. Astounding Academic Brilliance
Jayanti might not be a household name (yet), but her academic prowess was enough to make Harvard’s head spin.
Originally from India, Jayanti graduated at the top of her class from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, one of the most elite universities in the country. Her classes were no joke either, focused on the cutting-edge of computer science and artificial intelligence.
But it was her perfect 340 GMAT score and ingenious graduate thesis (published in the IEEE’s top journal) that sealed the deal. With that level of academic excellence, it’s no surprise that Harvard awarded her a highly-coveted Board Scholarship.
2. Highly Impressive Professional Portfolio
Professionals considering an MBA often fear that their work experience will pale in comparison to the Mark Zuckerbergs and Sergey Brins of the world.
But you don’t need to be a tech billionaire to impress the Harvard admissions committee. You do, however, need professional achievements and leadership skills that leap off the page.
Take Matias for example. Born in Badalona, Spain, this visionary co-founded a social enterprise startup focused on aiding Venezuelan refugees. Not only did his nonprofit help over 7,400 displaced families, but Matias also took on leadership roles within the company.
He wasn’t an ivory tower academic either. Matias pulled off these accomplishments while working full-time in investment banking. Between his entrepreneurial mindset and social impact, Harvard couldn’t resist making him a scholarship offer.
3. Captivating Essays that Prove Your Worth
Jayanti and Matias’ resumes were stellar, no doubt. But to truly stand out amongst the thousands of Harvard applicants, they needed to bring their personal stories to life.
And that’s exactly what this Brazilian student (let’s call her Sofia) did with her essay that covered overcoming obstacles.
Sofia grew up in an impoverished household where money was always tight. Despite their financial woes, her mother always made education a top priority. She inspired a voracious love of learning in young Sofia that blossomed into dreams of becoming an MBA.
But life threw a curveball when Sofia’s mother unexpectedly passed away during her final year of undergraduate studies. Instead of floundering, Sofia used that devastating loss as motivation. She juggled working two jobs to support herself through school while maintaining an exceptional GPA.
It was that grit, resilience, and passion for knowledge that wowed the Harvard admissions team. When combined with Sofia’s proven leadership skills from managing those jobs and student organizations, the decision was a no-brainer.
Essays are one of the few opportunities to showcase genuine passion and personality. Done well, they can make you memorable in a crowded sea of exceptional applicants.
4. Stellar Extracurricular Excellence
It may shock you to learn that extracurriculars aren’t just for undergrads. Admissions officers look for future MBA students to demonstrate leadership and initiative outside of the classroom or workplace.
Prateek took that to heart during his time working as a consultant in Bangalore, India.
Despite climbing up the corporate ranks, Prateek still found time to volunteer as a mentor for local high school students. In fact, he helped launch a hugely successful program that coached over 100 disadvantaged teens on applying to university.
On top of that, Prateek also organized a regional sustainability conference that drew in thousands of attendees from across India. Not only did this showcase his ability to make an impact, but it also highlighted his commitment to pressing global issues like climate change.
Harvard loved Prateek’s impressive accomplishments and enthusiasm for paying it forward. They were more than happy to award him a generous Board Scholarship to make his MBA goals a reality.
Now that you understand the key pillars admissions teams value, let’s talk about how you can successfully tick all those boxes.
Step-By-Step Harvard MBA Scholarship Process For International Candidates
There’s no single path to scholarship success at Harvard. Every applicant will take a slightly different route based on their unique background and qualifications.
That said, following a proven process can maximize your chances for earning life-changing funding as an international candidate. Here are the strategic steps to follow:
Step 1: Pinpoint Your “Story” And Unique Competitive Advantages
Harvard’s admissions team reads thousands of impressive applications from qualified international applicants each year. What will make your story memorable and different?
Maybe it’s your deep passion for building renewable energy companies to lift communities out of poverty. Or perhaps you overcame immense financial or personal hardship on your journey toward an MBA.
Whatever your unique angle is, you need to craft a compelling narrative arc that strings together the various accomplishments on your resume. This creates a cohesive through-line that gives Harvard an intriguing window into your character and greatest strengths.
Simply being great on paper isn’t enough. You need to uncover and drill down into the specifics on what makes you special.
Step 2: Research And Map Out Funding Opportunities
With your overarching story in mind, now you can match up your background and interests with Harvard’s funding opportunities. Go through their full list of scholarships and take detailed notes on the:
- Eligibility requirements you already meet
- Application criteria you excel at
- Any potential gaps in your candidacy
Don’t just go after the biggest scholarships like the MBA Board Scholarships. Smaller niche fellowships can also be great funding sources with less competition.
For example, the Harvard MBA Admissions Fellowships are ideal if you can demonstrate significant economic disadvantages. And the HBS Forward Fellowship is perfect for anyone focused on sustainability/climate change.
Step 3: Strategically Craft All Application Components
Now comes the heavy lifting of actually applying.
A successful Harvard MBA scholarship application has several key components you need to painstakingly put together:
- Exceptional GMAT/GRE scores
- Transcript/academic records
- Compelling essays
- Glowing letters of recommendation
- Resume highlighting key leadership roles
- Interview performance (if invited)
While all of these matter, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of standout essays. Too many applicants treat these as an afterthought. Big mistake! Your essays are likely the only chance you’ll get to showcase your personality and passions beyond just academic/test scores.
So craft an outline that highlights your unique selling points from step one. Then iterate and refine your essays until they truly bring your journey and scholarship worthiness to life.
Step 4: Apply Extra Effort Toward Recommendations And Interviews
Don’t take your foot off the gas quite yet. While stellar essays form the backbone of your application, Harvard will also scrutinize your other application materials.
Your resume and transcripts speak to your proven accomplishments. But recommendation letters and interviews showcase who you are as a person beyond just the stats. They help fill in personality gaps that Harvard admissions officers crave.
Set up calls or meetings with your recommenders well in advance. Provide them with helpful “brag sheets” that outline your strengths, achievements, and scholarship goals. The more insightful anecdotes and examples they can pack into their letters, the better.
If you make it to the interview stage, this is your chance to shine. Harvard is looking for intellectual curiosity, emotional intelligence, and authentic passion. Use the STAR method to tell compelling stories that reveal times you embodied those must-have leadership qualities.
Step 5: Submit And Keep Your Fingers Crossed
After months of hard work, the final step is submitting your Harvard MBA scholarship application. As tempting as it is to get this done weeks or even months early, I don’t recommend that. Every year, Harvard updates their specific essay prompts and requirements.
So set a calendar reminder to submit your materials just before their stated deadline. That way, you can craft the most up-to-date submission possible without sacrificing quality.
Then comes the hard part – waiting. But while the admissions process can feel agonizing, try to preoccupy yourself with other goals and projects during this time. It will make those admission decision emails feel like they arrive that much sooner.
And when they do…
Bonus: What to Do After Getting Into Harvard’s MBA Program
You did it! After weeks, months, (or maybe years) of tireless work, your dream of attending Harvard Business School has finally come true. And not only did you get in, but you also secured a generous scholarship to help fund this incredible opportunity.
Congratulations! Now the real fun begins.
I want to leave you with a few helpful tips for what comes next after clicking that fateful “enroll” button:
Tip #1 – Bask In The Glory…Then Refocus
Your initial reaction might be stunned silence followed by overwhelming feels of joy or redemption. That’s perfectly normal. In fact, you should absolutely take a moment to soak in this life-changing achievement.
But don’t bask for too long or let complacency set in. Earning a Harvard MBA is simply the first leg of a marathon towards greater career success. Start thinking now about how to maximize your HBS experience and connections for future job prospects.
Tip #2 – Apply For Additional Funding If Needed
Maybe your initial Harvard scholarship application didn’t yield your dream financial aid package. That’s okay! There’s always the option to re-apply for additional funding once you’re an enrolled student.
Look into secured loans, work-study programs, and unique funding opportunities you might now qualify for. Every little bit of extra financial assistance helps when attending a world-class institution.
Tip #3 – Research Housing And Travel Details
Speaking of dollars and cents, don’t underestimate the costs of actually moving to the Boston area and living on campus. Housing around Harvard can get expensive quickly if you’re not prepared.
Start locking down living accommodations as early as possible. Explore nearby neighborhoods like Somerville for more affordable (relatively speaking) apartment options.
You’ll also want to plan travel logistics like flights, transportation from the airport, setting up local banking, and adjusting to life in New England. The sooner you hammer out these details the smoother your transition will be.
Tip #4 – Networking, Networking, Networking
The Harvard alumni network is one of the most powerful in the world. Start connecting with current students, professors, and local HBS alums in your industry ASAP.
Attend regional alumni club events. Join relevant student organizations. Build your network of mentors and contacts even before arriving on campus. You’ll gain invaluable insider knowledge while positioning yourself for career success post-graduation.
Tip #5 – Study Up On the HBS Experience
Harvard’s curriculum, teaching methods, and overall approach to business education is unique. Do your due diligence and dive into the HBS case study method, FIELD requirements, and classroom expectations.
The academic rigor and fast pace of an HBS MBA will be no joke. Students who prepare themselves early on will have a big leg up over their peers once classes finally begin.
The Road Goes Ever On
Getting into Harvard’s MBA program (with scholarship funding no less!) marks the start of an amazing journey for international students. One that is sure to be challenging yet equally rewarding when you emerge with that prestigious degree.
Remember, your application process perseverance has already revealed an inner drive to maximize your potential. Keep that same energy and you’ll be among the HBS alumni ranks who shape industries and move the world forward.
The road ahead is long, but nothing worth achieving ever came easy. With this guide under your belt, you’re more than prepared to make it happen. So stay focused, keep learning, and conquer your MBA (and life) goals!