HBS Managing Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Chad Losee
Over the past three years heading up admissions at HBS, he’s helped
shaped the exceptional classes, overseen a shift to two admissions
rounds, welcomed an inaugural cohort of MS/MBA students and taken the
time to talk about
interviews, financial aid and more—to mention just a few.
Read on for Losee’s insights into HBS, their admissions and what actions applicants can start taking now.
What would you say to someone who’s applying next year and just getting started in the MBA application process now?
Invest to learn more about two things: 1) the business schools
you are considering and 2) yourself. First, take time to visit schools
virtually or in person. You want to be in an environment in which you
can thrive in and out of the classroom. For instance, if you’re
considering Harvard Business School (and I hope you are!), if learning
by the case method doesn’t resonate with you, other programs might be
better. In addition to exploring our
website and watching
videos on the academics here, you can experience the case method by visiting a class on campus.
Second, take time to invest in the self-reflection journey. What are
you good at? How do you want to make a difference? What kind of work do
you find meaningful? People who find the application process most
rewarding are those who use it as an opportunity to learn about
themselves.
As you get into the application itself, share with us what you’ve
learned. An authentic, clear voice about where you are on your
leadership journey will resonate more than writing about what you think
schools want to hear. After completing your application, ask yourself or
a close friend or family member, “Could this application also be for
someone else?” If so, it probably isn’t personal enough and you likely
need to do some more introspection.
It’s important to keep in mind that we consider all the elements of
the application to get to know you and never look at just one piece by
itself.
What’s the one thing MBA candidates should know about selecting a recommender?
Recommendations matter. Pick two people who know you well, will
advocate for you, and can give share specific examples to help us get
to know you.
What’s your program’s most exciting change, development or event coming up in the year ahead?
HBS and the Harvard Paulson School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences (SEAS) recently launched a new joint master’s degree MS/MBA
that has been very successful in attracting outstanding candidates in
his first cohort. The program, which confers an MBA and a Master of
Science in Engineering Sciences from SEAS, is completed in four
semesters over two years.
Designed to train future founders and leaders of technology ventures,
the MS/MBA program will provide a strong foundation in general
management, build design skills, and extend students’ understanding of
engineering.
Of the big trends in business education right now (tech,
globalization, analytics), what are you doing or innovating in one (or
all) of these spaces?
HBS continues its efforts to build a deep understanding and
expertise in global business practice and innovation around the world.
We’re constantly refreshing and expanding our global curriculum – 54
percent of cases produced in FY18 were global – and evolving the list of
Field Global Immersion (FGI) locations year-to-year. FGI is a
semester-long first-year MBA course that culminates with student teams
traveling to global markets around the world, requiring them to develop a
new product or service concept for a global partner organization.
Africa is one particular area of focus, a region that is assuming an
increasingly vital role in the world economy. This year 246 students
will be going to Africa— to Accra, Dar es Salaam and Cape Town
specifically – for the FGI course. The school also opened the newest
regional office, the Africa Research Center in Johannesburg, South
Africa. HBS now has a network of fourteen research centers around the
world. The Africa Research Center plays an important role in helping HBS
develop and strengthen relationships with business and academic leaders
across sub-Saharan Africa, while our Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) Research Center based in Istanbul, plays this same role for North
African countries.
A new Short Intensive Program (SIP) taught in January 2019 called
“Africa Rising: Understanding Business, Entrepreneurship, and the
Complexities of a Continent,” also focuses on this region.
HBS supports graduates who want to make a difference in emerging
markets with the Global Opportunity Fellowship (GO: Africa), which
supplements the income of MBA graduates who go to work in Africa
following graduation, designed to bridge the gap between a recipient’s
annual salary and $100,000 USD. The goal is to attract top talent to
Africa and expand the school’s global impact.
What would you like to highlight about your post-MBA career placement success?
HBS Career Professional Development works individually with
students to develop their career vision and identify opportunities that
meet students’ unique career goals, resulting in opportunities with over
300 organizations for the Class of 2018. HBS has 50 career coaches
mapped to every industry and geography globally to support students
while they are at HBS and after they have graduated (for the rest of
their careers).
