The Harvard Business School MBA Post-Interview Reflection

If you’ve just had your Harvard Business School interview, congratulations! Don’t close your tabs and stow away your laptop just yet, though. Within 24 hours of your interview, you’ll need to submit a Post-Interview Reflection, a brief email note that gives you one final chance to speak directly to the admissions committee.

The HBS post-interview reflection is part thank-you note, part self-reflection. But given that you only have a day to draft and send it, it’s important to get it right. This isn’t a formal essay (and Harvard says so explicitly). 

Here are our top 5 tips to write a strong HBS post-interview reflection (with an example!):

Step 1: Understand What HBS Wants

Harvard makes it clear: this is not another essay. They want something informal, honest, and reflective, like a note you’d write after a great meeting.

When you log into your application portal after the interview, you’ll see the reflection prompt:

“What was the highlight of your interview and why did this resonate with you? Is there anything else you would like to share now that you have had time to reflect on your interview?”

The admissions team wants to know:

• What stuck with you from the conversation and why.

• How you think about experiences and insights in real time.

• Whether you can articulate your thoughts with clarity and authenticity.

  
  

Step 2: Take Notes Immediately After the Interview

As soon as your interview ends, find a quiet spot and jot down everything while it’s fresh: what questions you were asked, what you nailed, what caught you off guard, and what you wish you’d said differently.

Don’t filter yourself. Capture the details: did your interviewer seem especially interested in a particular story? Was there a moment that felt energizing or memorable? Did you forget to mention something crucial about your career story or impact that you'd like to mention now?

Writing these notes right away will give you raw material for your reflection, and help you spot the key themes worth expanding on.

Nanako graduated with a joint MBA and MPA/ID (Masters in Public Administration, International Development) from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. Request a mock interview with Nanako.

Meet Nanako

Step 3: Write Your Reflection

Like we said above, HBS does NOT want a perfect, manicured essay. So write as if you’re talking to a mentor or colleague. Keep your tone natural, direct, and warm, and avoid long, formal sentences or overly polished phrasing. HBS expects only 300-450 words maximum for the post-interview reflection. 

A good structure looks like this:

1. Introduction: Briefly thank your interviewer and share how you felt about the conversation.

2. Body: Discuss what stood out to you, what went well, and anything you’d like to clarify or add.

3. Conclusion: End on a forward-looking note. Express why the HBS experience excites you and how you see yourself contributing to the community.

   
   

For example, you might reflect on a question that challenged you to think deeper about leadership, or share an insight that reminded you why HBS’s case method fits your learning style. The goal is to add depth, not rehash the interview.

Step 4: Don’t Just Summarize

A common mistake applicants make is turning the reflection into a blow-by-blow recap of the interview. Resist that urge! 

Ask yourself:

• What was the most meaningful part of the conversation, and why?

• Did a question reveal something about how you think or lead?

• What did you learn about HBS (or about yourself) during the exchange?

The best reflections read like thoughtful self-observations, not transcripts. A touch of vulnerability can go a long way too. Maybe you struggled with a question about failure but later realized how much that story says about your resilience. Expand on that point, it makes your note more human and memorable.

Step 5: Review

With just 24 hours to submit, your reflection should feel spontaneous. Do not over-edit! Give yourself time for one final read-through, preferably after stepping away for a few hours. Read it out loud to check if it sounds like you.

Before you hit submit, make sure your reflection:

• Includes specific references to your interview (so it’s clearly not pre-written).

• Feels genuine, warm, and self-aware.

• Leaves the reader with a strong sense of your enthusiasm for HBS and your readiness to contribute.

  
  

And finally, don’t try too hard. A good reflection reads like a thoughtful note from someone who has had a great conversation, and is keen to stay in touch with their interviewer. 

Zack completed his MBA at Harvard Business School and graduated “With Distinction” (top 10% of the class). Request a mock interview with Zack.

Meet Zack

HBS MBA Post-Interview Reflection Example

Here's a strong example of the HBS post-interview reflection, using the structure we discussed above:

Dear AdCom,

Thank you for considering my application and taking the time to speak with me. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation this morning, and hope it gave you a clearer picture of who I am and what drives me. After we spoke, I reflected further on one of the questions you asked me: “how do I lead and inspire others?”. At that point in the conversation, you already had an overview of my career milestones and experiences, but this question really touched upon the core of my motivation to study at HBS: I want to be a leader who takes calculated risks to do what is right, and ensures everyone has a voice.

In that vein, a highlight of our conversation was when you asked me about the challenges I faced when I decided to point out a data encryption bug in one of our major clients’ new digital payments platform, only weeks before launch. While I touched upon the risks I faced, I also wanted to briefly share what I gained. Besides the client firm signing an additional two-year engagement to manage their entire digital transformation roadmap worth $4.5 million to the firm, it gave me the opportunity to refine my leadership and build the courage to act with integrity when it counted. Now, almost one year later, I look back on this experience as a pivotal point in my career because it helped me to decide that I want to move beyond project delivery and into a broader strategic role, and embed responsible decision-making into my long-term vision. So the risk was absolutely worth it.

Sitting in on the Leadership & Organizational Behavior class today, I was thrilled to see the vibrant dialogue between HBS students. I particularly enjoyed the constructive disagreement between Prof X and Student X on hierarchy and agility within the sustainability space. I can’t wait to contribute my own ideas and experiences to this class, and grow as a leader. 

Thank you again for the opportunity to share my story today. I had a wonderful time visiting and interviewing at Harvard Business School and hope to see you next Fall to continue our conversation about zero-waste living!

Best,

Name

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