Max Deferral of HBS 2+2 Program
I'm a senior in college planning on applying to HBS's 2+2 program. I have a quick question about the deferral process, though. I'm going to work at an investment bank post-college that has a 3-year analyst program instead of two, and I'd also want to get some pre-MBA PE experience before hypothetically going to HBS so that I'd have the option of recruiting for post-MBA PE roles. So, all in all, it'd appear that I'd have 5 years of work experience before hypothetically attending HBS. However, the website mentions that admits can only defer their admission for a maximum of four years post-graduation. Is it worth it then, in my case, to even apply and go through the process? Are exceptions made to this four year deferral rule? Or, in my case, if I hypothetically attended HBS directly after three years of my banking analyst program, would I still be able to recruit for PE roles after business school?
It's a good question. Unfortunately, HBS does not grant exceptions to the max 4 year deferral window. I know because I asked. I was accepted to the 2+2 program and I was in a very similar situation to you. My firm also has a 3 year analyst program and I want to do Pre-MBA PE as well so I asked HBS if they would let me defer for 5 years. They gave a hard 'under no circumstances' no.
Ultimately I decided to recruit for PE as a first year to do 2 years as an Analyst before 2 years as a PE Associate, and then HBS. Yes I'm leaving my analyst program early, but if my Post-MBA goal is PE (which it is) and most Analyst programs are 2 years anyway I don't see why I would stick around as an Analyst for a 3rd year when the 2+2+2 path gets me closer to my goals faster and is generally viewed favorably by Post-MBA employers.
If you want to do PE longer term, I would not recommend going to HBS after 3 years in banking. Post-MBA PE jobs are ultra competitive, and even coming from HBS you will have a very difficult time making the jump to PE without any Pre-MBA PE experience.
Got it, would you say it was hard to recruit for PE in your first year coming out of a 3-year analyst program? My understanding is that my firm looks down on recruiting for PE right so early.
No not really. I was having 30 min headhunter calls during the first few months of my first year and just never told my firm. Recruiting kicked off on a Sunday, I got my offer on day 1, and I was right back in the office on Monday. I told my staffer a week later and he was disappointed, but understood the situation I was in with 2+2. I've since gotten top ratings and will be leaving with a good reputation, so it hasn't been a huge issue for me. I think being able to credibly say, "Hey, I would love to stay for 3 years if I could but I want to do PE before HBS and this is the only way I can do it" gives you a fair amount of cover. People have to respect that thought process IMO
Thanks for the help! I was thinking of simply forgoing the admissions process because it did appear quite limiting with that 4-year constraint, but I guess I will just apply and see first before deciding (unlikely I'll get it anyways). Thanks again!
If you're going to apply to HBS, it's worth throwing an app in to Stanford as well. Many people would take Stanford GSB over HBS these days, and GSB lets you defer for 5 years.
Ah I was unaware of the 5 year policy for GSB, thanks for sharing (I couldn't find anything on the website). If I went to any other school in the world I would definitely apply to GSB, but I actually attend Stanford for undergrad haha, so I'd really like to throw my hat towards another institution for MBA and have the chance to reapply to HBS in a few years should I not get in.
Can someone share more info on the 2+2 program. What is your undergrad background? Is a top FT offer necessary? Overall, is it more selective than applying regular admission?
My younger brother is a junior studying Finance and he is looking into this program.
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