Archive · 7 Jun 2025
Buffett: Harvard Rejection Was 'Luckiest Thing'
Imagine being told you couldn't go to your dream school.
That happened to Warren Buffett, a very successful investor, when he was rejected from Harvard.
However, he says it was the best thing that could have happened!
Because he didn't go to Harvard, he went to Columbia Business School instead.
There, he met someone who greatly influenced his investing career, and he met his wife.
It also led him to receive a scholarship by default when nobody else applied.
In essence, his journey took an unexpected turn, but it led him to a very successful and happy life.
Warren Buffett was rejected from Harvard Business School.
Buffett attributes the rejection as the 'luckiest thing that ever happened to me'.
He later attended Columbia Business School and met Benjamin Graham.
Buffett reflected on his experience during a 2003 speech at the University of Nebraska.
He recalls receiving a scholarship before the Harvard application.
- Who
- Warren Buffett, investor
- What
- Buffett was rejected by Harvard Business School and later reflected on the experience.
- When
- Buffett spoke about it in 2003 and when he was around 19 years old.
- Where
- Harvard Business School, University of Nebraska, Columbia Business School
- Why
- He believes it led to positive outcomes in his career and personal life.
- Subject
- Warren Buffett's Harvard Rejection
- Harvard Decision
- Rejected
- Subsequent School
- Columbia Business School
- Notable Encounter
- Benjamin Graham
- Scholarship
- $500 Nathan Gold Scholarship