Services & Publications

HBS Mock Interview and Post-Interview Reflection Support

Harvard Business School’s (HBS’s) notoriously challenging interview process begins with a 30-minute interview conducted by a member of the admissions team who has read your entire application in advance and customized their approach to your interview accordingly. HBS interviewers typically also research certain components of candidates’ applications more deeply and explore who they are beyond their provided profile. This makes the HBS interview unlike any other business school interview.

The school further differentiates its interview process by asking interviewees to submit a written Post-Interview Reflection (PIR) within 24 hours of completing their interview. This submission is essentially your “last word” with the school, so you want to ensure that it conveys precisely the tone and information you want the HBS admissions committee to use in its ultimate evaluation of your candidacy.

We at Gatehouse Admissions know so much about the HBS interview because members of our team have been in the room—and not only our HBS MBAs on the team. Brooke Wheelan and Laura MacLean have collectively conducted more than 2,000 HBS interviews during their time with the HBS admissions team. In addition to coaching the rest of the Gatehouse Admissions team on the intricacies of the HBS interview process, Brooke and Laura also conduct mock interviews themselves. Gatehouse Admissions offers Harvard Business School applicants the most realistic experience possible outside of the actual HBS interview.

What’s included in the Gatehouse HBS Mock Interview service?

As a client of our HBS Mock Interview service, you will receive the following:

• Access to Gatehouse Admissions’ Interview Training video series, led by Liza Weale, founder of Gatehouse Admissions. Leveraging more than 20 years of coaching in strategic communication, Liza breaks down the core types of questions typically asked in business school interviews and models how to approach answering them. The training series will take two to three hours to complete in full and will be highly valuable as foundational preparation for HBS—or any other MBA interview, for that matter.
• Gatehouse Admissions’ proprietary HBS Interview Preparation Pack which includes full question flows as reported by past Gatehouse clients and strategic guidance from Brooke and Laura based on their experience as HBS interviewers.
• A 30-minute virtual interview that simulates the HBS interview approach. Before your mock interview, your Gatehouse Consultant will study your application in depth and develop questions specific to your candidacy.
• A subsequent 30-minute session with your Consultant, during which you will receive strategic feedback and guidance.

What’s included in the Gatehouse Post-Interview Reflection Support service?

As a client of our Post-Interview Reflection service, you will receive the following:

• A 15-minute strategy session with your Gatehouse Consultant after your actual HBS interview to plan out your Harvard Business School Post-Interview Reflection (PIR).
• One review of your PIR draft, offering high-level, strategic feedback.

Read more about HBS’s interview, including FAQs and preparation tips from Brooke and Laura, here.