Word is out: Harvard Business School releases round 1 interview invites today, Oct. 1, with a second wave going out on Thursday, Oct. 4.

If you, along with many of our clients, are among the fortunate few to receive an invitation to interview, it’s a tremendous validation of your hard work and talent. Yet having a flawless interview is no guarantee of admission at ultra-competitive HBS.

The HBS interview is famed for its specificity and intensity – from its 30-minute time limit to the post-interview reflection due within 24 hours. Not only are all interviews conducted personally by the Admissions Committee, it’s the only M7 school besides MIT Sloan where your interviewers will have read your full application.

Earlier this year, Fortuna’s Karla Cohen (former Harvard Business School Associate Director) defined the key differentiators that make the HBS interview unique, along with six specific tips for making the best possible impression: Ace the HBS Interview: An Insider’s Advice.

Our Fortuna Admissions team also offers dedicated HBS Interview Prep sessions. In this HBS-specific prep package, you’ll learn the key differentiators that make the HBS interview distinctive, what its Admissions Committee is looking for and how to make the best possible impression with your limited time. We’ll also facilitate a post-interview debrief and brainstorm ideas with you for the written reflection. You can sign up now through our a la carte admission coaching page.

Fortuna Admissions is composed of former admissions directors and business school insiders from 13 of the top 15 business schools.