u/Traditional_Appeal98

HBS admit from last year here. Posting because when I was applying, I looked for honest reviews of Sandy and mostly found his own Poets&Quants columns. So here's one data point for those of you interviewing for HBS.

I paid $1,000 for a one-hour session. Within the first few minutes it was clear he hadn't read the background I'd sent.

He asked how I'd introduce myself to my section. I gave a lighthearted, humorous answer I'd tested with friends and mentors. His immediate response: "What the F### was that." No explanation of what didn't work or what to do instead. Just that, and we moved on.

I'm fine with blunt feedback. I came from consulting and have had my work torn apart plenty. But tough and rude are different things, and at $1,000 an hour I expected tough plus substance.

Epilogue: I got in. On day one at HBS we did section intros, and I used essentially the same intro he dismissed. People laughed, and several classmates reached out afterward to say it was one of the most memorable.

His brand is brutal honesty, but it didn't help when it was not paired with actual preparation. If you're spending this kind of money, make sure whoever you hire actually reads your file first.

One more note: as far as I know he's never worked in HBS admissions.

Later,I worked with another consultant and I disregarded EVERYTHING that Sandy told me for my actual interview last October. Now I'm happily at HBS.

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

What were some words of wisdom that they said many years ago which you were skeptical of, but turned out to be right....

Hey all,

I’ve been admitted to HBS and am currently weighing whether to request a deferral. I’m aware that HBS is pretty strict and generally doesn’t grant deferrals for personal or career exploration reasons.

That said, I have a sense that spending one more year exploring my direction (particularly to better refine my post-MBA goals) could help me make more intentional use of the HBS experience once I’m there.

So two questions:

1. Has anyone had success getting a deferral approved in cases like this, or is it effectively a non-starter?
2. If I do request a deferral and get rejected, how does that impact my chances if I reapply the following year as a past admit? Is there any stigma or signal that works against you? I suppose it's not an auto admit.

Appreciate any perspectives.

To those who posted “incoming MBA class of 20XX” on social media, have you noticed that your surface area of luck has increased leading up to your matriculation? (E.g., more people reaching out to you, increase in inbound opportunities, etc.)

The more specific the better (e.g., high floor, river facing, multiple windows, specific building names appreciated)

Thank you!