Harvard Business School Class Profile – Class of 2014
Baker Library, Harvard Business School
On June 11, 2012, HBS provided its preliminary class profile for Class of 2014. Please note that the numbers given below are subject to change and the final numbers would only be available once classes begin in September. Furthermore, this is not an exact apples-to-apples comparison as the numbers for the Class of 2012 and Class of 2013 are actual numbers whereas the numbers for the Class of 2014 are still preliminary numbers.
Admissions
| Admissions | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 | Class of 2014 |
| Enrollment | 876 | 905 | 925 |
| Growth Rate | 3.31% | 2.21% | |
| Applications | 10,386 | 9,331 | 8,963 |
| % Admitted | 10% | 12% | 13% |
| Yield | 89% | 89% | 90% |
Source:
Numbers for Classes of 2012 & 2013 taken from here
Preliminary Numbers for Class of 2014 taken on June 11, 2012 from here
There has been a 4% drop in the number of applications from 9,331 to 8,963, which is still lower than the 10% drop last year from 10,386 to 9,331. It demonstrates an interesting trend and one can only guess what the drop is reflective of – perhaps, global trends, which would have affected the number of applicants from International Students.
Class Composition
| Class Composition | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 | Class of 2014 |
| Women | 36% | 39% | 40% |
| International | 34% | 34% | 32% |
| Countries Represented | 69 | ||
| Average Age | 27 |
The important statistic to note here is the drop in the percentage of International Students from 34% to 32%.
Educational Background
| Educational Background | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 | Class of 2014 |
| STEM | 33% | 36% | 34% |
| Economics/Business | 23% | 21% | 43% |
| Humanities/Social Sciences | 43% | 42% | 22% |
| Other | 1% | 1% | 1% |
In terms of educational background, there is a significant change with the number of applicants from business backgrounds having doubled from 21% to 43%. This pool has directly eaten up into the humanities and social sciences seat. This may be a function of the applicant pool and/or a preference by Admissions at HBS. Regardless, it is a significant change one must note.
Pre-MBA Industry
| Pre-MBA Industry | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 | Class of 2014 |
| Consulting | 22% | 21% | 20% |
| Consumer Products | 7% | 6% | 6% |
| Energy / Extractive Minerals | – | – | 4% |
| Financial Services | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Government, Education & Non-Profit | 7% | 8% | 9% |
| Healthcare / Biotech | 6% | 6% | 7% |
| High Tech / Communications | 6% | 9% | 9% |
| Industrial / Heavy Manufacturing | 9% | 14% | 7% |
| Military | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Other Services | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| PE / VC | 18% | 13% | 16% |
| Unspecified | 1% | 1% | – |
Here, two numbers stand out in my view. Firstly, the manufacturing seats have halved from 14% to 7%. Secondly, there has been a rebound in the PE/VC candidate pool from 13% to 16%. Do note that this is still below the numbers we saw for the Class of 2012. Nevertheless, if you are working in PE/VC and are looking at HBS as your top choice, you can regard this change as being favorable.
