The decision to attend graduate school – and business school in particular – is one of many paths a Harvard graduate can follow. In truth, many students don’t know what to do after college, and apply to schools in the hope that “the answer” awaits them there. Others reach graduate school after years of employment or volunteer work. Too often, students simply don’t have a clear idea of what “business school” or any graduate school entails.

In an effort to help students clarify the options available to them, the Office of Career Services hosted a panel of Harvard College alumni this past fall to discuss the “myths and realities” of applying to and attending business school. The collective experience of the panel included three teachers, two consultants, two entrepreneurs, and others; their travels spanned three continents. Together, the panelists shared critical wisdom that can help you make the best decision.

The best decision, the panelists agreed, begins with following your passions and exploring the disciplines and opportunities that most appeal to who you are. Ben Wells (COL ’04) joined the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program (UTEP) late in his time at Harvard, ending up in a charter school after graduation. Oddly enough to him, teaching prepared him well for business school, demanding that he improve his speaking and organizational skills. “Don’t feel like you need to go into consulting or banking,” Ben assured the audience. “Pursue your passion now – it will work to your advantage in applications.”

Likewise, Hallie Hartman (COL ’03) moved to Washington, D.C., after graduation to pursue jobs in law or education. She worked in the headmaster’s office of a private school for a few years, where she became interested in how the school ran as a business. It was there, Hartman explained, that she realized she needed more business experience. “Follow your passions now!” she exclaimed. “Change jobs, explore different opportunities – learn more about yourself before applying.” Describing business school as “the ultimate reset button” to learn new skills, Hartman credited her time in school with enabling greater insight and performance in her later work.

As a current second-year student at HBS, Megan Leahey (COL ’06) agreed, saying, “I’ve been much more effective in class because I had job experiences before coming in and because I had matured mentally and emotionally.” After three years of consulting, Leahey applied both to business school and to a “dream job” at Google. Receiving an offer from Google just two weeks before her application decisions, Leahey took the opportunity. “Being on the operational side was very different than what I expected,” she said. “It helped me realize what I wanted out of a job.” These experiences enabled her to take full advantage of business school.

Kate Smith (COL ’02) and Matt Noble (COL ’02) each graduated without even considering business school as an option, but nevertheless ended up there years later. Kate first worked for a private school in D.C., like Megan, but then transitioned to work with PricewaterhouseCoopers when she realized she wanted to do business. Matt, on the other hand, took a job as a legal assistant but quickly realized he didn’t want to pursue law; he then did informational interviews in consulting but came to the same conclusion. Both made the leap to business school when they felt the decision was the appropriate next step. Kate pursued a joint degree at HBS and HKS so she could “apply my skills to something I care about.” Now a second-year student at HBS, Matt applied to school after working in a few different business ventures. “I felt I needed broader skills,” he explained. “I needed a way to ‘pull my head up,’ so to speak.”

All panelists agreed in the importance of attending business school with thought and intention. It will be important, they said, for applicants to present a “coherent story” about their life and their work. “Be honest and direct,” Ben suggested. “Don’t try to spin anything – just talk about your career goals.” Matt agreed. “[These schools] don’t need to see what you’re going to do with a business degree,” he explained. “They just want to see how business school fits into your path.”

Indeed, the importance of “story” highlights one central difference between applications to college and applications to business school. Panelists also emphasized the importance of well-written and thoughtful essays, as well as careful research into each prospective school so that you might tweak your application to match a school’s mission and focus. Ultimately, if you “think as an individual” and define yourself well, your prospects will be high and your business school experience will be extraordinary.

Good luck!

—Nicandro Iannacci, ’13