Harvard Business School (0/5)
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| View all reviews for MBA in USA | | Discuss Harvard Business School | The Harvard Business School is consistently recognized as one of the top business schools in the U.S.
Harvard employs a learning process known as the case method. The case method is an interactive approach to business study that brings reality into the classroom. The Harvard Business School faculty works with a variety of organizations to research and write more than 350 new cases each year, ensuring that the curriculum stays up to date.
The MBA Program focuses on general management skills. During the first year of the program, all students are required to take the same course of study. The required curriculum includes, Finance, Financial Reporting, Marketing, Technology and Operations Management, Business Economy, Strategy, and Negotiation.
During the second year of study, students may choose from a wide range of curriculums that span all aspects of business.
The Executive Education Program employs an intense interactive learning experience for students. Strongly employing the case method, this program also puts an emphasis on group dynamics, mixing lectures with team projects and presentations.
Executive Educations offers a variety of programs including, General Management, Financial Management, Strategy, Marketing, Technology and Operations Management, Social Enterprise, Personal Development, and more.
The Harvard Business School campus is located in Allston, across the Charles River from the main Harvard campus in Cambridge. Many of the buildings have red-brick exteriors, as do many buildings in Harvard Yard. HBS maintains a number of facilities, including a sports center and The Class of 1959 Chapel, that are dedicated for the exclusive use of its community. A series of underground tunnels connects the basements of nearly every building on the campus, with the noticeable exception of the more recent student housing facilities that are SFP (Soldier Field Park) and OWA (One Western Avenue) buildings. Spangler Hall is widely considered HBS’ main building with student lounges, meeting rooms, administrative offices and dining facilities. Most classrooms are located in Aldrich and Hawes, most of which are 100-student “amphi-theatre” rooms with approximately five rows in a half circle. This design facilitates the teaching of the case method. Baker Library was reopened in 2005 after several years of renovation. The new building features student study spaces as well as faculty offices. The fitness center is located in Shad Hall, across from Morgan Hall, which houses the majority of the faculty. Shad Hall is also the location of the Computer Lab for Experimental Research (CLER) where many business research studies are conducted. Closest to Charles River are MacArthur Hall and Baker Hall, which accommodate the Executive Education programs, and several student dormitories.
MBA students at Harvard are graded on a relative curve. In most courses, the grade consists of roughly 50% class participation and 50% final exam or paper. In a few cases (primarily in the RC year), there may be a few brief exercises or a midterm that typically account for no more than 20% of final grade in a given course. The top 15–20% of the class receive “1s” (instead of A’s), the middle 70-75% receive “2s”, and the bottom 10% receive “3s”. If a student receives more than a certain number of “3s” in the first semester of the Required Curriculum, he receives an academic warning. The student is offered help, in the form of academic counseling and tutors to improve his academic performance. The fact that most MBA students at Harvard have been at the top of their classes in undergraduate schools and high schools makes it more competitive. However, it is said that the relationships between students are not as cutthroat as rumored and that it is quite a friendly and collaborative learning environment.
Students can join one or more of the more than 75 clubs on campus. The clubs invite speakers to campus, organize trips, social events, and help forming bonds between students of similar interests. The Student Association is the main interface between the MBA student body and the faculty/administration. It is led by a four-person Executive Committee (2 Co-Presidents, CFO and COO). The decision power rests with the Senate, which is composed of one senator from each section (a total of 10), the Executive Committee, and various committees made up of section officers. Intramurals are also a major part of the student life. Basketball, flag football, volleyball and soccer are the main intramural sports that are offered.
The HBS Rugby Football Club is the only extramural sport on campus, competing locally against New England clubs and worldwide against fellow MBA teams throughout the year.
Contact Details
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, Massachusetts
02163
1-617-495-6128
admissions@hbs.edu
