The HBS Post-Interview Reflection

In my recent post about the HBS interview, I mentioned that HBS asks applicants to write a 300-450 word reflection within 24 hours of the interview (this means exactly 24 hours after your interview, not simply end of day the day after). Let's dig in on what they might be looking for from you and how to tackle it.

Are there questions you wish you had answered differently?

The HBS post-interview reflection is a generous acknowledgement that you might be replaying your interview and thinking about all of the things you wish you had expressed differently. Did they ask you for your opinion on something, and you came up with additional thoughts on the topic coming out of the interview? Did they ask you about a specific experience, and you shared part of the story and later realized you omitted something important? The reflection is a perfect opportunity to share what is on your mind now that you have had a chance to think more deeply about the question.

Are there key points to your candidacy that did not make it into the interview?

Given the interview is only 30 minutes (though they amazingly pack a lot of questions into a very narrow timeframe), there are inevitably points that you did not get a chance to share. So, let's think about the key points in your story that may not have made it into the interview. You probably know from your essays and other interviews which strengths, experiences, values, and interests are central to your candidacy. Some of my applicants make a checklist of the points they want to be sure to express, then run that checklist right after the interview to see what did not come up, so they can share those points in the reflection.

What highlights from the interview would you like to reiterate?

Also consider what you most enjoyed about the interview, and the parts where you felt you showcased your story particularly well. The post-interview reflection is a nice opportunity to underscore for your interviewer those highlights. Many of my applicants come out of the interview and jot some quick notes down while the questions and key points are still top of mind. Then, they walk away to decompress and come back and pull together all of these highlights, gaps, and points to correct.

As you draft, keep in mind that this is not expected to be as polished as your application essays. Think of this as using a highlighter in a book. You are drawing out the most important points, but not writing the book over again. You should re-read your reflection a couple of times, and then submit. There is no need for heavy editing. This is certainly not a creative writing exercise, and the school knows that you only had 24 hours to write. Also, remember that HBS already knows your story from your essays and interview, and they are just giving you a chance to revisit some points one last time, and in their words “close out the HBS application process” (per the video on this page).