Harvard’s Widener Library. Courtesy photo
Harvard Business School announced today (March 18) it will be delaying its application deadline for the 2+2 MBA program amid the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Originally set for April 2, 2020, HBS will pushback the deadline for applications to June 1, 2020, at noon Eastern Time. Decisions will now be released at July 28, 2020, also at noon Eastern Time.
“Over the past few days, we have heard from many college seniors planning to apply to Harvard Business School through our 2+2 deferred admissions process,” a blog post on HBS’s website announcing the change said. “The spread of COVID-19 has upended your last year in college: teaching has gone virtual and many of you have moved and had to say goodbye on short notice. We are sincerely sorry about the disruptions to your senior year.”
According to the blog post, the decision was made based on testing centers being closed in many places across the world and recommenders being overwhelmed with the chaos of many universities frantically moving online. “In short, we understand that getting your application over the finish line is difficult with everything going on,” the blog post said.
SITUATION IS ‘STILL FLUID AND MAY CHANGE’
Harvard said it doesn’t anticipate having to change the application deadline again, but also said, “the situation is still fluid and may change.” HBS also acknowledged it was aware the decision might be disappointing to applicants that already have their application materials submitted and were hoping for an earlier decision.
“This was not a decision that we made lightly — we understand that the change will be a disappointment for some who were hoping to have their final decision earlier in the summer,” the post said. “We apologize to those of you for whom this change is an inconvenience.”
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