Too common to get into HBS?

Hey guys, I'd like to pick your brain.

First of all, my background is like below.
- Target School: HBS
- Ethnic: Asian male (neither Chinese nor Indian)
- Work experience: Joined mid-cap PE right after undergraduate
(Previously targeted 2018 matriculation w/ 2.5 year work experience but decided to wait one more year after getting some advice here and from several seniors: common opinion is 2.5 yr is too short for both admission and post-mba job)
- Goal: Relocation (NY or HK)
- GPA: Cum Laude
- GMAT: Not yet taken

I know gmat score is one of the most important criteria but considering plenty of time to prepare it, I'm pretty confident in the score.

So, besides GMAT score, is there anything I can prepare for HBS? I heard that getting into HBS requires some edges but my background seems too ordinary...

Thx

 

Any unique personal stuff such as sports, businesses, hobbies etc? Top universities love great grades but if all you did was revise, then it's not as impressive. They want people who can get those grades and still have other impressive stuff going on in your life.

Absolute truths don't exist... celebrated opinions do.
 

It's great (impressive stuff) but not a unique selling point. A USP would be "I got scholarship and these amazing grades, I also have this personal -insert cool activity here-". I don't really know you but I know you're clearly an intelligent person, show them that you're more than just book smart.

Anyways, this is just an opinion of mine, I'm not technically gifted so I resort to extracurricular activities in order to stand out (It's helped so far).

Absolute truths don't exist... celebrated opinions do.
 

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