For the first time in more than a decade, Harvard Business School has updated its essay questions.

In this much-anticipated series, we sit down with HBS alum and longtime SBC consultant Yvette to talk about each of these questions and share suggestions, tips and strategies regarding how best to approach these new essay prompts.

In this segment, we tackle the first question:

Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

In this episode, we discuss:

• What this question is REALLY asking (and what it isn't),
• One possible way to structure your essay response,
• How to decide which experience(s) from your own life to share (and the importance of sharing what you LEARNED),
• Specific things you should do when answering this question,
• Possible pitfalls you should avoid when answering this question, and
• How this essay fits into your larger application

This essay is a MUST for anyone thinking of applying to HBS. Special thanks the many SBC consultants and former admissions officers who shared useful advice and guidance that informed this episode.

Perhaps more than any MBA acceptance pair, many applicants dream of being admitted to both the Stanford Graduate School of Business (the GSB) and Harvard Business School (HBS).

In this three-part series, two GSB + HBS dual admits -- host Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn -- sit down for a series of VERY candid conversations about gaining admission to these two schools.

• In the first segment, our hosts start by sharing some important context for how this podcast should be used (and how it shouldn't). Afterwards they share their personal takes on what types of students tend thrive in each environment.
• In the second segment, our host are more data driven, with Dawn and Chandler reviewing successful applicant profiles from each school.
• In this final third segment, Dawn dives deep into what some call the "unicorn" of the MBA applicant world... those applicants who are fortunate enough to earn admission to both programs.

This episode is a must-listen for any applicant applying to either of these schools.

Perhaps more than any MBA acceptance pair, many applicants dream of being admitted to both the Stanford Graduate School of Business (the GSB) and Harvard Business School (HBS).

In this three-part series, two GSB + HBS dual admits -- host Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn -- sit down for a series of VERY candid conversations about gaining admission to these two schools.

In part one, Chandler and Dawn start by sharing some important context for how this podcast should be used -- and how it shouldn't. To that end, will listening to this podcast ensure that you get into both of these schools?

No. But we can assure you that listening to this podcast will help you think about how you as a unique applicant can apply most thoughtfully to each of these schools... potentially increasing your chances of admission significantly. In part one Dawn and Chandler also share their personal opinions about what type of students flourish in these somewhat different MBA environments. This episode is full of behind-the-scenes information based on the speakers' unique experiences as well as information they've each gathered over decades of working with applicants applying to both schools.

Part two of this series (episode 212) will be more data driven, with Dawn and Chandler reviewing successful applicant profiles from each school. In the third and final episode of this series (episode 213), Dawn will dive deep into what some call the "unicorn" of the MBA applicant world... those applicants who are fortunate enough to earn admission to both programs.

This episode is a must-listen for any applicant applying to either of these schools.