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May 23, 2024

UC Berkeley Haas MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024 – 2025], Class Profile & Podcast Episode 547 with Eric Askins

While the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, has made it very clear that applicants need outstanding academics to get in, the program will not compromise its values to maintain it high stats. Haas’s four Defining Leadership Principles are taken very seriously by the school’s administration and admissions team. You will need to show that you share and live by those principles if you are to receive serious consideration as an candidate. The four principles are as follows:

• Question the Status Quo
• Confidence Without Attitude
• Students Always
• Beyond Yourself

Keep those principles very much at the forefront of your mind as you prepare your Haas application.

Ready to get to work on your Haas application? Read on. 

Haas application essay tips

• Haas application deadlines 

Haas class profile

Don’t miss our admissions straight talk podcast interview with eric askins, executive director of full-time mba admissions at uc berkeley haas. he reveals why prospective applicants are encouraged to focus in their applications on their overall story and narrative, and how they can demonstrate their ability to handle the academic rigor of the program. askins also encourages candidates to engage with students and alumni to learn more about the program and its opportunities. listen via the link below, or click the image to read the full transcript..

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Haas Essay #1

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

This essay question is not just an opportunity for the admissions committee to gain an authentic perspective of an activity that is important to you, it’s a key to unlocking a deeper understanding of your character and values. It’s a chance for you to share what motivates and energizes you and why. Beyond what matters to you, this question seeks an answer to why the activity fills you with a sense of being on top of the world. There are no limitations on the areas of your life you can explore for the answer. However, considering the broader application, there are specific areas that serve to highlight your professional experience and academic achievements. This essay is your chance to showcase a side of yourself that might not be immediately apparent in your application, providing a more comprehensive view of your interests and motivations. 

Paint a picture of a specific experience by describing it in a way that will take the reader into the experience with you and convey why the activity has had an immense impact on you. You might, for example, explain how you feel when you save a life as a volunteer emergency medical technician – from the adrenaline rush of immediately arriving on the scene to the elation and relief you feel when you know your quick thinking and actions have saved a life, your gratitude for the training that had provided you with the necessary tools, and the humility that renews your commitment to making a difference in this way. Alternatively, you could share your experience leading a community effort to save stray dogs from certain death. For a dog lover, this activity is emotionally rich and deeply fulfilling. Driven by empathy, it might be sad, considering the extreme challenges a stray dog faces, but knowing your act of kindness and commitment to help such animals provides you with optimism for the life they have yet ahead. This fulfillment drives the cycle of advocating for stray animals and continued participation in these activities.

Your aim is to reveal important aspects of your character and values and highlight the unique contribution you can make to the Haas community. The reader will understand the difference you will make as a member of the next MBA class, bringing your unique perspective, experiences and skills to enrich the community. 

Haas Essay #2

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (300 words max)

In this year’s goals essay, Haas has clarified that applicants should consider their short-term goal one they would achieve three to five years post-MBA. The position you desire immediately after graduation isn’t necessarily at play here. Thinking about the short-term goal differently than your post-MBA goal means that while considering what you want to do immediately after the MBA program, you must focus on the steps you’ll follow toward your long-term goal. Of course, you want to speak about industry and function in your answer and the developmental milestones you have achieved since graduation.

To write this essay well, you must first understand and share Haas’s four Defining Leadership Principles (as presented on the Haas website): 

• Question the Status Quo: We thrive at the epicenter of innovation. We make progress by speaking our minds even when it challenges convention. We lead by championing bold ideas and taking intelligent risks.
• Confidence Without Attitude: We make decisions based on evidence and analysis, giving us the confidence to act with humility. We foster collaboration by building a foundation of empathy, inclusion, and trust.
• Students Always: We are a community designed to support curiosity. We actively seek out diverse perspectives as part of our lifelong pursuit of personal and intellectual growth. There is always more to learn.
• Beyond Yourself: We shape our world by leading ethically and responsibly. As stewards of our enterprises, we take the longer view in our decisions and actions. This often means putting the collective good above our own interests.

I recommend one of two approaches:

1. Start by describing your long-term goal, and then explain how your short-term goal (three to five years post-MBA), combined with a Haas MBA education, will help you achieve it once you gain a few years working toward your goals.

2. Start by describing your short-term goal (three to five years post-MBA) and build toward your long-term goal, explaining how a Haas MBA education would be the catalyst to achieve both goals.

With respect to your short-term goal, you must convey your understanding of a given career path – that is, how the role you take post-MBA will progress within the first few years to prepare you to achieve your short-term goal in three to five years. As for your long-term goal, consider the big problems you want to solve using business tools. 

Regardless of how you start your essay, be sure to address how Haas’s four principles align with your goals. Since the school gives you room for only 300 words and you need to discuss how Haas’s resources will enable you to become a better leader, you can focus on just one or two principles. You will have an opportunity later in Haas’s video essay to elaborate on the principle that “resonates most with you.”

Discuss how Berkeley Haas’s curriculum and resources can help you achieve your goals. For example, you could explain how the program’s strong focus on entrepreneurship could help you launch your own business, or how its commitment to social impact could help your future company solve some of the world’s most challenging problems.

Also, explain how Berkeley Haas’s unique culture could help you develop into a better leader. For example, you might discuss how Haas’s emphasis on collaboration and teamwork could help you build stronger relationships with your colleagues, or how its commitment to diversity and inclusion could help you become a more inclusive leader.

Finally, summarize why Haas excites you most and how you will grow personally and professionally by earning an MBA from its program.

Haas Essay #3

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

Candidates seeking consideration for mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships. (300 words max)

Berkeley Haas has expanded this essay by providing more context in the initial part of the prompt and adding specific direction for candidates interested in being considered for mission-aligned fellowships at the end of the prompt. The essay’s core remains the same as it was last year, asking the applicant to describe an experience related to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. To provide the space for a candidate to respond to both the core part of the essay and potentially to the mission-aligned fellowship opportunity, Haas has doubled the word count maximum to 300 words.

To craft your response to this prompt, we suggest beginning by discussing the importance of inclusion. Then, provide evidence to support your claim by using the STAR format (explained in our guidance for Haas’s video [Essay #3]). Regardless of your answer, make sure to explain how inclusion can help create a sense of belonging for everyone and how diversity helps make both teams and organizations stronger. 

Haas Video Essay 

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles . Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. 

Please review the Defining Leadership Principles in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

Berkeley Haas has joined other MBA programs in asking applicants to submit a personal video. Executive Director Eric Askins shared the rubric for the video essay on the Admissions Straight Talk podcast, Episode 547. According to Eric, the admissions committee will use your video introduction to assess two specific things: your understanding of Berkley’s Haas culture and your business communication skills.

By using a video, Haas accomplishes several things:

• The admissions committee is able to see and hear the applicant in action. They get to assess how well you know Berkeley Haas through your discussion of one of its leadership principles: the one that is most meaningful to you.
• The committee will analyze your communication skills as you talk about how you have put the leadership principle to use in your personal and professional life. Videos cut down on the resources the school needs to conduct interviews.
• Each member of the admissions committee can review the video, and the team can then discuss it, whereas they must rely on just one person’s opinion and notes with a one-on-one interview. The video makes the process more comprehensive and universal.
• It can make the admissions process more personal for the committee.

As for how you should approach the video, you’ll need to start by identifying which principle you want to address. Review the school’s list, and keep in mind any that you have already discussed in your written essays for the school. 

When the time comes to record your video, briefly introduce yourself to the committee in 30 seconds or less . Remember, you have only two minutes for the entire video! Explain why you are interested in attending Haas. The adcom wants to get to know you, so include a little color in your background, and don’t mention things they can learn from your resume or other parts of your application.

Then, note the leadership principle that resonates most with you, and explain why it is meaningful to you. The entire defining principle segment of your video should take 45-60 seconds.

Next, describe how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. Use the STAR format to do this:

S = Situation (the background)

T = Task (the goal)

A = Action (how you solved the problem or enhanced an issue)

R = Result (what the quantifiable outcome was)

Do not exceed two minutes!

Here are some other tips to keep in mind:

• Be yourself: The admissions committee wants to get to know the real you, so be yourself in your video. Don’t try to present yourself as someone you’re not.
• Be natural: Don’t try to memorize your lines or read from a script. Just act and speak naturally.
• Be positive: The admissions committee wants to see that you’re excited about attending their school. So be upbeat and enthusiastic – and don’t forget to smile!.
• Be concise: Keep your video short and to the point – no more than two minutes.
• Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse over and over again for your video before you record and submit it. Practicing will help you feel more comfortable and confident in front of the camera. Most of my clients do 10-30 takes.
• Invest time: Take the time to make a well-crafted video that showcases your best qualities.
• Use good lighting: Light the room well. Consider using a circle light if you have one. 
• Reduce distractions: Make sure there’s not a lot of outside or background noise.

Haas Optional Essays

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Haas Optional Information #1

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

Berkeley Haas is committed to diversity and inclusion, fairness and equity, leadership and innovation, and of course, social impact. The adcom wants to understand the challenges you have faced, the obstacles you have overcome, and the injustices you have defeated to get to where you are today. 

For example, were you raised in a single-parent household? If so, how did that influence your decisions later in life? Are you an immigrant or an international student whose parents arranged your marriage when you were just 2 years old? Have you had to work to help your family thrive since you were 10 years old? Are you a first-generation college student, and if so, what does it mean for your family to see you go to graduate school? While these situations might have affected your grades or test scores, the key to this essay is demonstrating that despite your circumstances, you have beat the odds.

If you have not faced obstacles in your life, describe your commitment to working toward a more just and equitable society. How did this kind of thinking develop in you? Did you discuss social issues at the dinner table? Did you march against (or for) Dobbs? Have you composted and recycled your garbage since the age of 7 in hopes of leaving a better climate for your children and your children’s children? Did you foster animals during the pandemic (yes, animals deserve fairness, too)? Do you advocate for legislation that will help the elderly or infirm? Have you started or are you active in an nongovernmental organization that educates children who can’t afford a formal education?

As you answer this essay question, consider the following:

• Your involvement in community organizations that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging
• Your efforts in the workplace to create a more inclusive environment
• Your belief that everyone deserves to feel welcome and respected, regardless of their background or identity

Haas Optional Information #2 

This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

Haas’s optional essay #2 allows you to ensure that the admissions committee does not have to guess the reasons behind any of the following situations (or a similar one):

• You had terrible grades in your first year at university (Perhaps your parent became ill, and you flew back and forth to care for them, or you worked 30 hours a week to make ends meet.)
• You received a subpar GMAT or GRE score (Maybe you are not a great test taker and can prove it with your inadequate ACT or SAT score and your 4.0 GPA. Or perhaps you were initially premed and realized after volunteering at a hospital that medicine is not your thing.)

If you have multiple explanations, take care to not sound whiney, lest they be viewed as excuses. Instead, discuss how you have rebounded from poor grades or can demonstrate how you will perform well in grad school courses, because you have taken additional coursework and received As.

Supplemental Information

The information below details specifics about what applicants are to share as part of this section. When speaking about extracurricular and community involvement, think quality over quantity and provide those activities that you are passionate about and in which you were deeply involved. This information provides insights into how you might be involved when you join the Haas community. The admissions committee will evaluate both the depth and quality of your involvement, and how you fit with the defining principles of the school.

• If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.
• Name of organization or activity
• Nature of organization or activity
• Size of organization
• Dates of involvement
• Offices held
• Average number of hours spent per week
• List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.
• If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.)

For expert guidance with your Berkeley Haas MBA application, schedule a free consultation with an Accepted expert!. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Berkeley Haas’s MBA program and look forward to helping you, too!

Haas application deadlines

Source: Berkeley Haas’s online MBA application .

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Berkeley Haas directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the UC Berkeley Haas MBA Class of 2025 (data taken from the Haas website ).

Class size: 244

U.S. minority: 47%

Underrepresented minority: 13%

Female: 41%

LGBTQ+: 14%

Veterans: 7%

Average years of work experience: 5.8

Middle 80% range of years of work experience: 3.4-9

International: 47%

Countries represented: 39

Average undergrad GPA: 3.64

Middle 80% range undergrad GPA: 3.3-3.91

Undergraduate majors:

• Engineering: 23%
• Economics: 18%
• Business/Commerce: 13%
• Social Sciences: 11%
• Finance: 8%
• Arts/Humanities: 4%
• Math/Physical Sciences: 3%
• Natural Sciences: 3%
• Computer Science 2%

Average GMAT score: 733

Median GMAT score: 740

Middle 80% range GMAT score: 680-770

Average GRE Verbal score: 161

Median GRE Verbal score: 162

Middle 80% range GRE Verbal score: 155-167

Average GRE Quant score: 163

Median GRE Quant score: 165

Middle 80% range GRE Quant score: 157-170

Pre-MBA industries:

• Consulting: 24%
• High Technology/Electronics: 20%
• Financial Services: 16%
• Consumer Products/Retail: 6%
• Health/Pharma/Biotech: 5%
• Military: 5%
• Not-for-Profit: 5%
• Government 4%
• Entertainment 2%

As the former executive director of admissions at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School and assistant dean of admissions at Georgetown’s McDonough School and the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School, Kelly Wilson has 23 years’ experience overseeing admissions committees and has reviewed more than 38,000 applications for the MBA and master’s programs in management of information systems, computational finance, business analytics, and product management. Want Kelly to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources

• Leadership in Admissions , a free guide
• Four Tips for Displaying Teamwork in Your Application Essay s
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants

How to Get Accepted to UC Berkeley Haas Full-time MBA Program [Episode 547]

UC Berkeley is number four on Accepted’s MBA Selectivity Index . It’s matriculating students post a stellar GMAT and GPA. They enjoy proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, not to mention the California weather. It sounds like a dream, but how do you get in? Well, let’s ask Berkeley Haas’ Executive Director of Full-time MBA Admissions.

Welcome to the 547th episode of Admissions Straight Talk , Accepted’s podcast. Before we join our wonderful guest, I have to mention something. You’ve seen the stats that most people have a great return on their MBA investment, but what about you? Are you going to see that return? We’ve created a free tool that will help you assess where the MBA is likely to be a good investment for you individually. You’ll not only get an assessment, but the opportunity to calculate different scenarios. Again, it’s all free. 

It gives me great pleasure to have back on Admissions Straight Talk Eric Askins, executive director of full-time MBA admissions at UC Berkeley Haas. Eric has a lot of experience in higher ed and admissions. He became the senior associate director of admissions at Haas in 2018 and assumed the role of executive director in 2020. Prior to coming to the left coast, he served in admissions at Fordham’s law and business schools and at The New School.

Eric, welcome back to Admissions Straight Talk. [2:06]

Linda, thanks so much for having me back. Great to be here.

My pleasure, and great to have you. Now, I’d like to start with some general questions about the Haas program and then move into more admissions-related questions. To start, can you give an overview of the Haas full-time MBA program, focusing on the more distinctive elements for those listeners who are probably not that familiar with it? [2:12]

Sure. I’d be happy to. Here at the Haas School of Business, let’s start at the very top, we’re located in beautiful Berkeley, California, just across the bay from San Francisco, a couple short minutes away from Silicon Valley, and really what we often say is that we’re at the heart of what’s next, and what that means is that we’re at the heart of innovation culture. If you were to take the region that we’re located in and put it in the context of global economies, we are in the fifth largest economy in the world. Hopefully, I don’t offend any of you German listeners, but we are on track to overtake Germany to be the fourth largest economy in the world just in terms of all the activity that’s happening.

That’s one of the things that makes Haas unique. Oftentimes, we’re seen from the lens of this is a school nestled in Berkeley, which is this amazing campus. There’s a community of Nobel Prize winners here, the inventions that come from here, but more than that, the focus is on how do people achieve their success while also making an impact on the world? I think one of those things that we captured, this would be the identity of the schools, it’s a little bit of what you asked, was our defining leadership principles. I mean, this has been the core of how we talk about the school over the last, I think it was codified maybe 11, 12 years ago now.

I was just thinking that. [3:44]

Yeah. Yeah, so over a decade, we’ve been talking about the school from the framework of these defining leadership principles, so what are they? They’re a core philosophy that we have about what makes great leaders great leaders. One of the things that makes you a Berkeley leader, one of these great leaders, is that you are pushing boundaries. You’re questioning the status quo. You are developing a sense of confidence, but you’re doing so without pushing others to the side. You’re focused on always learning, always being a student and, beyond all things, you’re thinking beyond just yourself, and that’s really captured in the community here.

I remember talking to your predecessor when those principals were codified, and I was amazed at how well they really captured the ethos of UC Berkeley Haas. They were so succinct and meaningful. I mean, over the years, I’ve seen various branding changes at different schools, and sometimes I think they’re very meaningful and sometimes I think they’re window dressing. I was very impressed, and I have continued to be impressed with the four defining principles at Haas. [4:20]

Linda, one of the things that’s really spoken to us, that it isn’t simply a marketing window dressing or anything along those lines, so when we made a big announcement about them and then, at the 10-year mark where I was already here, we made a sort of a, “It’s been a decade since we’ve launched these.” We had some wonderful feedback, including from a Haas alum, I want to say a 1960s Haas alum, who said, “These aren’t new. We’ve been talking about these in some sense or another since way back when I was at the school.” We’ve got a lot of feedback from our alumni. I think we spoke maybe more succinctly, but the concepts were always here. It’s one of the reasons that the school has lasted. I don’t know if you know this, we’re in our 125th year-

No, I didn’t know that. That’s really impressive. [5:41]

Yeah. We celebrated our anniversary on September 13th. This is a school founded by Cora Jane Flood, one of the only business schools founded by a woman, especially 125 years ago. We’ve just been very proud of all that we’ve accomplished in those last little bit, and we’re looking towards the next 125.

Well, congratulations. Happy birthday. We’ve talked about Berkeley’s past. What’s new? [6:03]

Oh, well, that’s always a great question to answer. What’s new? Now, if we were talking about what’s new in the world today, I think you’re going to find there’s a connection to what’s new at Berkeley Haas. What’s new in the world today? What’s new in the world today? Generative AI. They’re probably the number one topic here especially when we talk about schools that have a touch to the technology sector. Anybody who’s been doing this long enough understands the technology sector has ebbs and flows. It peaks in one, it valleys in another period of time, but the next growth peak appears to be around Generative AI. It’s one of the things that we’ve been working on for years.

Actually, October 8th, I believe, just coming up, we have an AI summit. It’s not our first AI summit. We’ve been doing this for a good long time, but what I love is that we are so connected that we’ve got the folks from IBM Watson, we’ve got the folks from Google, we’ve got the folks who are coming through to talk about what is happening in the world of AI today. The coursework has been there. The coursework will continue to be there, but that coursework has a Berkeley flavor, ethics and AI. It’s one of the biggest courses that we have in this space right now. We need to be talking about that, and we have been. In fact, I won’t plug too many things here because I don’t want people googling and all that stuff, but if you get a chance, our Center for Equity, Gender and Leadership built a playbook maybe 2019, 2020 around ethics and AI. Right now, it’s one of the most downloaded things on our website.

One of the things about being on the cutting edge is sometimes you’re talking about something before people are ready to hear it. That’s AI, but what else are we talking about? We’re also talking about sustainability in business. Now, we have been, again, for several years. Dean Anna Harrison joined us in 2018. She came with three key initiatives. It was innovation, it was inclusion, and it was sustainability. I think that we’ve continued to hit on all those three topics along with all the other things that we do, but within the sustainability, I don’t think there’s another business school that’s doing five topic areas within sustainability, including energy, including agriculture, including corporate accountability, real estate and finance. Oftentimes, when people think about sustainability, it’s hard for them to “What box do I put this?”

What does finance have to do with it? [8:22]

Sustainability and impact finance is one of the courses that people are most interested within the sustainability sector here at Haas, exploring exactly what it means to invest in sustainable business and how to see that grow. At the end of the day, the most powerful sustainability person in any organization are their leaders. It’s the CEO. It’s the CFO. We want to make sure that anybody who comes through our program is getting that level of exposure so that they can be tackling what is probably one of the greatest challenges in the world in front of us, which is climate change, which is how do we grow and continue to thrive without harming the environment around us and actually to go back and maybe fix some of the damage that we’ve already done.

One of the things I noticed in preparing for our call today was something called the Applied Innovation course requirement at Haas. I don’t remember that from the last time we spoke. Can you touch on that a little bit and tell us what it is? [9:06]

Sure. Absolutely. Applied Innovation is the language that we use to describe experiential learning. We launched Applied Innovation coursework. It might be two decades old now. We weren’t one of the first.

Experiential learning I know it’s been there for a long time. You just changed the name. [9:34]

Well, what we did is we focused a little bit on what it is that we actually want to come away with, right? You want to apply what you’re learning, and you want to apply it towards growth and change. Within Applied Innovation, that’s over 20 courses within that subset. You’re required to take at least one, but I know students who’ve taken more than one, have taken two, some have taken three. This is a great place for you to test the hypothesis.

A lot of the learning happens in the ivory tower separated from business, and that’s not what we’re looking for here. We want to make sure that our students have the opportunity to go in market and test these ideas, and so you’ll see that there’s a variety of different courses within Applied Innovation. They include courses like international business development where you have an opportunity to take a consulting project at a global scale, and that includes going in-country to deliver your results. Whether that means implementation, whether that means presentations to leadership, that’s part of that course. It’s probably one of the most popular of our Applied Innovation courses, but then, depending on where you’re looking for, if you’re in a niche market, you may find an Applied Innovation opportunity exists there for you as well.

We’ve got clean tech to market that’s focused on bringing sustainable ideas into the marketplace with a technology focus, social sector solutions, strategic and sustainable business solutions. You’ll find a number of these across the gamut, and what they are is your opportunity to go do work within the context of the actual business space with the guidance of faculty and your group projects and your group work.

What don’t people know about Berkeley Haas that you would like them to know, perhaps a common misconception that you’d like to dispel? [11:09]

Sure. I know that many people find the school’s using a ranking index, something along those lines, and in the rankings, one of the things that actually makes us stand out as unique is that we’re among the smallest business programs in our tier. Top 10, top 20 schools, I think we might actually be the smallest, and sometimes there’s a little ebb and flow with some of the other schools. I don’t always know, and that’s on purpose because we want to build a really strong community with individuals who are connecting with one another. If all you know about us is this, you think, “Well, this is a small bespoke program,” and ultimately, if you dig up just that one surface level deeper, we are located in the heart of one of the major research institutions in the globe.

Our students have the opportunity to take advantage of that, including courses outside of the business school at the School of Public Health even if you’re not doing a joint degree, at the engineering school, arguably the top engineering school in the world, at the high school, at the law school, at the School of Public Policy. If you want to take courses with Robert Reich, you can do so. This is all in the field of opportunity for our students, and that I think is this incredible information exchange. It’s also incredible that you’re connecting into that network.

The joke here is once you’re Berkeley, you’re Berkeley for life, right? Like the Mafia, you can’t get out. This is part of your history forever, but it isn’t just Berkeley Haas and the 50,000 alumni that are connected in that community. It’s Berkeley writ large and the half a million alum in that community. That’s your network, and that oftentimes gets lost because we talk about our corner of campus, but it’s the whole campus that our students have access to.

You have the intimacy of the small business school, but backed by this major research. It is the largest UC campus, I believe, isn’t it? [12:57]

It is the largest UC campus. It is oftentimes-

It’s 30,000 total. [13:09]

Yeah, and it’s oftentimes ranked the number one public institution in the globe.

In preparing for the call, I was reviewing the required core curriculum at Berkeley Haas, and I was struck by the number of classes devoted to both analytics, quantitative side and communications so you’re developing and working and exercising both sides of the brain, I guess. Indeed, business requires quant jocks and leadership, which involves communication, listening, teamwork skills, all that. Is that intentional? Can you elaborate on that a little bit? [13:14]

Absolutely. One of the things that I think we pride ourselves on is that we are educating for the pace of change. The job that you came in to potentially pursue two years ago may not even be here two years from now. That’s the pace at which the world is changing. What’s important for us is to make sure that every student coming through our program has the core and foundational skills to be a leader and to be a successful leader in any industry vertical, in any job function. For that to happen, we need to make sure that that core foundation exists.

I know that there are other schools who choose different models. Some have a more of a choose-your-own-adventure model where you can really narrow in into one specific area. We do give you that opportunity to take advantage of the elective coursework here, but not before we establish a strong foundation which I think puts our students in the exact best position to be able to pivot and adjust to a world that is constantly changing.

Speaking of constant change, one of the things that is changing dramatically is testing admissions. You have the GMAT, the GMAT Focus, the GRE, which now has a shorter GRE. They’re required at this time by Haas. Is there any thought to expand the number of tests that you’ll accept, allow for test waivers, or go test optional? There is a comment -the writing sample component is required, but the GMAT Focus doesn’t have a writing requirement. How are you dealing with all this change, this kind of change that’s right in your basket? [14:43]

Yeah. It’s a great question to ask. Now, I’ll start, Linda, by saying I actually am in support of the changes to the GMAT, the GMAT focus and the changes to the GRE. I think the testing agencies have heard that they need to be more applicant focused. They need to be leaning into what the applicants need in order to succeed. We don’t want the testing agencies to become gatekeepers of great talent that doesn’t reach us in the business school universe.

At the same time, we have to understand that there’s a significant amount of academic rigor in our core coursework, and we need to make sure that the students who come through are going to be successful, so we do need measuring sticks. We do need benchmarks, so where do we land with this world of ever-changing testing landscape and the need for a level of consistency? The way our team operates is we don’t actually evaluate individual application components and then weight them because how do you weight the GMAT versus the GMAT focus versus the new GRE versus the old GRE? Certain schools are taking the EA or any number of other testing-

GMAT, DAT, LSAT. It’s a whole alphabet soup of possibilities. [16:25]

At some point, you have to ask yourselves if you are taking a test that doesn’t cover the material, what is the value to the school? I don’t want to go too deep into that section. What instead I will talk about is what we’re doing. What we are doing is we have a set of competencies that we’re looking for within our evaluative process. One of those competencies includes demonstrated ability to handle the academic rigor of our core. That demonstrated ability, that can show up in your testing, but it can also show up in your undergraduate performance. It could also show up in your professional journey. Because we’re taking that lens, it allows us to then think about these pieces from their actual value components.

I’m not interested in the fact that a GMAT score on the old GMAT is 720 and the concordance tables tell you that in the GMAT focus it’s a 655, and what does a 655 mean versus a 720? It is meaningless. These numbers are in the air. What I am interested in is what is your percentile score on the specific quantitative piece of that? Does that suggest that you will be able to handle the rigor of our core? If that’s not on the GMAT, I’m also going to look at the GRE. Maybe it exists there. If it doesn’t exist there, maybe it exists within your undergraduate performance, maybe the last three years you’ve been working as a data analyst, and that’s where I’m going to see the strength of your skill and ability is. I’m not going to say that one carries more weight than the other. I’m looking for evidence.

This is the dad joke, corny bit of my story. We’re the admissions office. The goal is to admit. We’re not the deny office. We say that’s the financial aid office. That’s the joke. Our focus is on finding evidence in your application that allows us to admit you, and it can exist in a lot of different places. To summarize, I’m in support of any testing agency that’s going to be applicant focused, that’s going to be delivering content that’s useful to the applicants in order for them to succeed, shorter tests. It sounds like a great way to stop them from being the gatekeepers that potentially they have been in the past. For us to receive the most number of qualified applicants or interested applicants that allow us to engage with them meaningfully in all the aspects of their application, any obstacles we can reduce I’m in favor of, but I do think that we still need points of evidence to understand the student’s journey.

Now, going back to one question I had in the last question, there is a comment in that the writing sample component is required, but the GMAT Focus doesn’t have a writing requirement. Will applicants be asked to provide some other writing sample or is it just going to be their essays? How is that? Are you going to remove that comment from the site? I mean, what’s going to happen with that? [18:47]

Sure. We’ve explored that a little bit. The writing section, the AWA section of the GMAT I believe is provided in sort of a raw score format for us as well as an opportunity for us to understand a little bit more about their background. We have writing components within our application. We have the ability to look for those strength areas. That piece of the puzzle, once that disappears from the overall submission, we will backfill because, again, it’s not based on application elements, it’s based on competencies. Within those competency structures, we’re going to look for the pieces that we do have.

Makes sense. [19:48]

One thing I’m actually really excited for, Linda, hopefully I’m not preempting your question, is some of the new things that we’ve brought into this ecosystem, including our video essay. Is that okay for me to talk a little bit about that?

Please go ahead. [19:57]

One of the things that we looked at was what are the challenges to people submitting an application? What are we learning from these pieces of the application, and what could we shift and move around? One of the things is, and I think a lot of schools have this, they have two or three bespoke essays. It’s unique enough and clever enough that you can’t cut and paste the other school’s essay into our essay. We really want you to think about us, and is that a benefit to the evaluative process or is that simply another hurdle or obstacle to the applicant?

We took a close look at what we were doing, but we turned one of our essays into a career goal statement. The career goal statement is it does not need to be unique to Berkeley. It can be. It does not need to be. Theoretically, what you’re looking to do isn’t going to change dramatically by the schools, that you’re going to fit the schools to your journey, not the other way around. That’s probably a best fit for candidates, to fit the schools to their journey and not the other way around. That piece will stay static. We have our “alive” essay. We love our “alive” essay. This is an essay that gives us an understanding of who the student is.

That is custom to Haas. [20:56]

That’s our personal statement. That’s our way to get to know who are you as an applicant. We want to know you. We want to understand how you’re going to show up as a student. We’re going to imagine you in our ecosystem. We love that piece of the puzzle, and then we understood that there was this question that we often got asked. Where do I tell you about Berkeley? Where do I tell you that I love Berkeley? What we didn’t want to see was shoehorning in of a list of courses. Somewhere in the application, I’m going to put a list of courses to show you that I read your website, so we thought what was valuable to us? Linda, you brought it up at the start of this podcast. What was valuable to us is our defining leadership principles? What does it mean to be a leader? How do you think about leadership? How do you engage with these principles?

We thought we’d give a place for students to do that, prospective students to do that, but a place where they didn’t have to sit down and write a whole long thing and try and cut and paste the mission statement from our website and adjust it, ChatGPT it and all the rest of the things that people could do. We wanted an honest engagement with the topic. What we did is we stood up a video. We’re calling it a video introduction. It’s 90 seconds to two minutes. We’re not asking for a prepared speech. Tell us in a sentence about you and then pick a defining leadership principle that’s meaningful to you and engage with it a little bit.

Now, I don’t want to have people be nervous about this, so I’ll be very honest, with the rubric on the other end is we’re judging your understanding of our culture, one of our culture forward pieces, our defining leadership principle. We’re also paying attention to your business communications skills. That’s it. That is the one, two-piece of that whole puzzle. It doesn’t matter. We’re not interested in language skills in this regard. We’re not interested in how you present. You don’t need to be in a suit and tie for this. This is simply an understanding of who you are as an individual, one to two sentences. Here’s this thing about us. We want to know that you know who we are as an institution. Tell us in a sentence or two about it.

I know a lot of the video essays, I’m talking about other schools now, they are assessing the applicant’s presence and poise, but you just said that’s not what this is about. [22:58]

One of the things that’s really important to us is that we don’t use simple disqualifiers, but a simple disqualifier would be, “Oh, well that room is messy,” or, “Well, they didn’t think to put on a tie,” or, “We’ve got normative understandings of what presentation should be.” Those are disqualifiers that are not based in your ability to succeed in the program.

They can also be taught. [23:37]

Now, the student’s communication skills are. Can you articulate a point clearly? That will matter to us. I think, presence, it’s a bit of a gray area, and we don’t ever want to be in the disqualifying business.

Again, it’s an admissions office, not a declining office. Right? [23:52]

Yeah. Exactly. It’s corny, but it’s true.

I think it’s a perspective. On some level, you say you don’t want the test to be gatekeepers, on some level you are a gatekeeper. While I know you want to be in the admissions business, in the end, you have many more applicants than you can admit. [23:59]

Which is true.

I get the focus. I understand what you’re saying, but there is a numerical component to this. [24:18]

I can see the point. It’s true.

Now, you’ve talked and emphasized and we’ve discussed Haas’ four principles as exemplifying, epitomizing the culture and values of Berkeley Haas. Obviously, the video essay asks people to discuss one of those principles that really resonates with them. Do you want to see evidence of all four values in the application or are you willing to admit people who are open to perhaps considering the values and having them inculcated? I’m sure you want some identification, but is it important that all four be present? [24:27]

I don’t see the four as truly being independent ideas ultimately. Questioning the status quo is about a mindset of curiosity. Confidence with that attitude has a lot to do with curiosity of others, wanting to hear what they have to say and making space for them. It’s also a curiosity frame and, going beyond yourself, there’s a curiosity of what matters to others. There’s lots of different through lines and themes within these. These are not four independent ideas.

Humility? [25:39]

Humility is very much a part of all of those pieces as well, right?

Yes. [25:44]

The ability to understand that maybe somebody else has something else to bring, the fact that you recognize that you have more to learn, all of these, they’re ultimately through lines that give us an understanding of the core characteristics of the student. I don’t need you to itemize. Don’t give me a list of the seven ways in which you X in which you are different or beyond.

Show X, right? Show principle one. Show principle two. Right. Don’t do that. Don’t do that. No. That’ll come out a little forced anyways. 

What’s the most common mistake you see applicants making in their applications [26:07].

Generally speaking, and this is going to be one of those answers that I don’t think is satisfying to a lot of folks, I think there’s a moment in time when students decide that they want to pursue business education at this level when they have an idea in their head, and that idea tends to be their most authentic version of what they want to explore. Then they go ahead and they attend an information session and they get a piece of advice, and then they talk to somebody else and they get a piece of additional advice, and then someone says use this format or use this structure or use these other pieces, and the finished product, if it looks markedly different from the initial idea, I think there’s a loss there.

How do you solve for that, because you do have to refine your work and you do have to bring your best work forward? This is the one that’s always difficult because all of us admissions folks say, “They should be authentic.” Be authentic to that moment. How can you be authentic while also being polished, while also being these things? I think really the piece of advice I would give is to be mindful of that. It’s to be mindful of that original idea because that’s the reason to reinvest in yourself, to take two years out of the workforce if you’re pursuing a full-time program to not only not earn money for two years, but also spend money during those two years because it puts your finances in a deficit in most cases, potentially taking on loans. It’s a risk, and you chose to pursue this journey because something, some moment, whether it can be pointed to as a pivotal inflection point in life or whether it was a slow accumulation of ideas, there’s came a point in time where it tilted and you said, “Yes, I’m going to pursue this.”

That there, that’s to me the most powerful thing that you can deliver to an admissions office. Those get massaged and they get formatted and they get layered, and someone says, “Well, I know that you want to change the world, but if you just wrote that you wanted to be a consultant, you’ll get in.” They get modified away. For those people who hold onto that little nugget, that’s gold in an admissions office because we can see it. It resonates because then it carries through. There’s echoes throughout the application in the journey if it has a meaning.

Also in the interview. [28:34]

I know I’m up here in the little woo woo space, but it’s-

No. It’s much easier to be enthusiastic about something you genuinely believe in, and that comes through in your writing. It comes through in your interview to be sure. It might come through probably in the video if you’re genuinely enthusiastic about something as opposed to just making something up. It can’t be faked. [28:38]

Totally agree, and I will tell you, Linda, that this is not advice that ends at the application stage.

Of course. [29:01]

This becomes the story of how you network with the students that you share the space with. This becomes the story that when you attend a speaker series and you wait afterwards to chat up the speaker that, if you’ve got something powerful and exciting to talk about, they’re going to remember you. If you’re into the workforce and you’re starting, you’re trying to secure that summer internship, it’s going to be the thing that’s passionate and exciting when you’re at the other end and you’re looking to settle in that first job and when you realize that that first job isn’t going to get you where you want to go because the real value of the MBA is lifetime, right? It really doesn’t show up till four or five years when you end up in the C-suite. This kernel is going to carry you through the whole way or the enthusiasm behind it.

Now, you started out, you didn’t start out, but you certainly mentioned very early on in the interview artificial intelligence and ChatGPT and, obviously, Berkeley is a leader in that. What about applicants using it? [29:46]

Good question. I think I’ve gone on the journey that a lot of my peers have gone on. The first piece of this journey was, well, I hope our fraud software can catch it. I think a lot of the world has gone on this journey with us where you stop and then you say, “Well, this is a tool. This is a tool like the calculator is a tool.” I think that’s probably the common thread I’ve heard. I’ve already had typing in an email and I’m getting suggested next three sentences. This is where we are. The tool exists.

I am still going to suggest that there’s no tool that’s going to tell me your career goals. Now, that tool might help you articulate those career goals a little bit better, but those goals will have to be yours. There’s no tool that’s going to tell me the moment that made you feel alive or why it gave meaning to you. It may be that that tool helps you frame your thoughts, put those pieces together in a way that’s cohesive. If English is not your first language and you’re trying to organize your thoughts in a way that would give you the tools to succeed, it could very well be that this is a really useful tool to organize, but those core thoughts have to be yours.

I think that’s key here, and I don’t think that we’re going to move on that concept, but those core thoughts and ideas have to be yours, and then if you’re going to use the tool, I hope that you use it well. Maybe the thing you’re demonstrating to me is your expertise in the use of the tool because I will, and we have seen already, poorly framed and poorly worded things that don’t really seem to capture the individual. This is probably the first year that we’re starting to see that.

That makes sense that this is the first year you’re seeing it. I’ve played with it a little bit. I’ve said this before on the podcast. If you use it blindly, you’re going to produce drivel, very generic and not very meaningful. If you use it either to edit your work, perhaps to generate some ideas or to help you structure an essay, but the ideas are your own, perhaps it has value, but you’re still going to spend a significant amount of time on it. [31:39]

Well, you should. Yeah.

Yeah, or you say, “I might as well just write the thing.” [32:09]

I’m one of those folks that believes the magic happens in the editing. I know other people think it happens in the writing, so the idea generation. I think it’s the moment where you come back and say, “Oh, well, now I see how those pieces should fit together.” With that in mind, I understand that the tool may be used.

We have a statement at the bottom of our application. We haven’t changed it. We’ve had it for a while. It says, “The work product seen here is mine and mine alone.” I think folks should be able to answer that honestly. The work product here is mine and mine alone. Now, if that means that they used the tool to take their ideas and put it on paper and then they reorganized it to reflect the story that they wanted to tell and they feel that that is theirs, they were the producer of the ideas, they were the producer of the finished product, they use an intermediary tool the same way you might use a spellchecker or a grammar checker, I’m going to have to just accept that that’s the world that we’re in today. I don’t think there’s any magical tool that solves that one yet. Generative AI is probably the best tool to catch generative AI, but I’m going to focus on the content. As long as the content is strong, I think that that’s going to be in the candidate’s best interest.

Switching gears again, can you touch for a minute on the Accelerated Access admissions program at Berkeley Haas? Who is it for? How can one get in? It was brand new when we last spoke. Have has any of the earlier deferred admits matriculated yet at Berkeley Haas? [33:20]

Yes, they have. Okay, so let’s go-

A lot of questions, I know. [33:39]

… through all those pieces. What is the Accelerated Access program? The Accelerated Access program is a deferred enrollment program here at Berkeley Haas. It is geared for people in their graduating year of undergraduate or graduate school if they did not have more than one full year of work experience in between. This is a pre-experience application focused on folks who are completing their academic journeys and who are committed to going to professional life for two to five years– that’s typically the window of time – for them to gain experience in the world, but to want to get that application admission early, right? This is the time when they’re the best test takers usually because they’re still in their academic space. Oftentimes, this is where they can lock in a future opportunity. Maybe that safety net allows them to take the other job.

I was going to take the two-year consulting stint, but I’ve locked in an admission to a top business school. I’m going to join the robotics startup. That’s not a random example. That’s an example of somebody who did in fact do that. That’s who this is for. It’s for somebody who is certain that business school is in their future, who is going to be strong academically.

I’ll put that out there in front. We have fewer application components, so we’re going to have to look for our competencies across the limited amount of things that you have to offer, so probably a heavier weight on undergraduate performance, standardized testing, internships, extracurricular activity within your experiences there. Those are going to be the pieces of the puzzle that are useful for us.

We are traveling the globe with a member of my team, Verse Gabrielle, who’s out there talking about accelerated access. We’ve gotten into a little consortium with a couple of other business schools so that we can make the most value in the delivery of this content so that we are in front of folks with a sampling, and they can pick which schools.

Of all the deferred programs? [35:35]

Yeah. It just started this year. I’m really excited to actually see what campus recruitment looks like for the MBA in this context. In terms of the other part of your question, what does it look like for those students who matriculated? We matriculated seven in this incoming class.

So that’s the first one. [35:52]

The first set coming through.

That makes sense just judging by, again, time that’s elapsed. [35:56]

Yeah. Two of them ended up in some profiles that we put out into the world so you can actually see some of the journeys for these students. We thought it would be really valuable, as we shared profiles with other media outlets, that we included people who had this type of journey, to see how it looked a little bit different and how they navigated the experience. I think that they complete and total fit with the program. They’re not outliers. They don’t sit outside the experience. In some cases, because they’ve been engaged with the admissions office and the school for three-plus years before they got to campus, they were fully onboarded by the time they got here. They were the best student ambassadors on day one.

It’s been a wonderful experience to be able to actually reach people at this different point in time in their lives. To be fair to those people who’ve been in the professional life, you’ve had a chance to test a couple of hypotheses, figure out what works, what doesn’t. These students, they kind of read as all potential. They blue sky a lot. I can do anything. I can do all these things. We watched them crystallize the idea over the two, three-year time before they get to campus. What a great journey for us in the admissions office to be able to watch them grow into the MBA candidate and then go from there.

How many students are you admitting every year through the accelerated MBA program? [37:14]

It’s going to vary based on application volume. Primarily, we want to be sure that we are giving an equal probability each year to candidates who apply and also being mindful of how we want to balance the class coming on the other end. It’s been somewhere around 20 in that window of space. Again, we’re a small program and we don’t want to overwhelm when students come through. They have different entry points.

You don’t really know what year they’re going to enter. [37:47]

Yeah, between two and five years, so there’s different entry points for those students depending on when they’re ready. We have a student who’s most certainly going to go to full five because they’re in the midst of building something really unique and then they’ll come join us. We get somebody who was ready after two and they really were ready after two. They had done what they needed to do to put themselves in the best position to succeed. In this particular case, it was in the food and agriculture sustainability side. It’s going to be unique to the individual.

Now, you’ve given tons of advice in the course of this interview, but what advice would you give to someone thinking about applying now? They want to matriculate in 2024. They’re probably in the middle of the process. They probably didn’t submit round one. They’re aiming for round two. What should they be doing? What should they be thinking about now as they listen to this podcast? [38:16]

Sure. I’ll put two things out there. The first is that they don’t over-invest in application elements and they focus on the whole story. This has been my message to the whole podcast, but I really do believe that if you hyper-focus on the tests or you hyper-focus on some other aspect of the application, you miss the opportunity to share a bit more about your whole journey. What’s the narrative? What are you hoping to accomplish? What community do you want to serve? What problem do you want to solve? These are the bigger questions that I really want to understand about the candidate.

The other thing is there’s members, myself, my admissions team, we’re all here to answer these questions. We’re here to support people in this journey, and we have a really robust community of student support, so not just for our program, but for any program. Reach out and see if you can connect with the students. I think that’s one of the most valuable things. It has two pieces. The first is they successfully navigated our application process, so they may have interesting things to say about what should be in a strong application.

The second is they’re actually experiencing the experience that you’re looking for. What does the student experience look like? What does on-campus life look like? Are faculty approachable? Are the things that you’re learning valuable for you? What type of speakers come to campus? How often are you getting to connect with industry outside of your campus community? All of those questions are questions that could be answered and, in particular, are set up with our student ambassadors is that they are the go-betweens. They are available if you want to ask them a question. If you want to ask something very specific like, “I’m really interested in understanding about how climate and finance interact, and I’m looking to talk to somebody specifically who understands that context in a certain part of the world,” we may have that pathway for you.

You can speak to somebody like Arno, one of our second year students who actually just spoke to a Belgian newspaper about his climate finance journey. These really unique pieces, they seem niche, but there may actually be somebody doing that, and so ask it. We may be able to put you in touch with exactly that right person.

Now let’s look a little bit further ahead. What advice would you give someone thinking ahead to a fall 2024 or fall 2025 application? They’re not part of the accelerated access program, but they do know that they want to go for an MBA and they’re thinking seriously about pursuing that MBA at Berkeley Haas. [40:47]

I think the first thing to do is to really crystallize why you want an MBA. Before you’re thinking about, “What do I need to do to get into an MBA program,” you’re going to want to have a really strong narrative for, “What I want to do when I come out of an MBA program.” What do I want to accomplish?

I know I’m repeating myself, but what do you want to see beyond that? It’s not just at grad, right? I will tell you that every stinking ranking and survey out there is going to focus on what does it look like at grad or three months past graduation. That’s not where the value of an MBA kicks in, right? I’m not going to throw rankings out there because I’ve been digging on them all day, but if you think about what are the frameworks for some of the strongest rankings, they’re around what does it look like four or five years out, not just compensation.

What is your position within the organization? What are you able to actually change about the world based on your level? That happens four or five years out. That’s the part of the story that we want to work back from, and then understand, okay, now I know what I want to achieve or I know what I want to engage with. I think I have a sense of what that journey’s going to look like post MBA. What do I need during the MBA to get there and then what do I need to get into an MBA program? What are the pieces there? If that’s a clear narrative all the way through, it just carries so much more weight. It has a lot more value. It has the value of being true and authentic to what the student wants to accomplish. Yes, there’s going to be a lot of work in putting together an application, but if you know your story, then it’s just about putting the pieces together.

Two comments, I frequently advise applicants that that post-MBA goal, and I’m usually talking about the immediate post-MBA goal, but I do agree completely that there should be a longer vision because the cost is high and the payoff has to justify it. I refer to that as the North Star. It should just guide you. It should guide you in the school you choose, the program you choose. Maybe it’s not an MBA. Maybe it’s a different program. The schools you choose to apply to, the schools you ultimately choose to attend, the courses you take, the things you get involved in.  Yes, it can evolve. Of course, it can evolve. My goodness, at 25, you don’t have to feel locked into a profession. That’d be true at  28, whatever, 30 even. You don’t have to be locked in.

That’s one point just in support of yours. the other point is i got my mba and, for a variety of reasons, i don’t really think i started using it and really getting value out of it until 14, 15 years later. it’s just how my life worked. now, i did not pursue the typical, the traditional mba path, well, certainly not at that time, but i’m glad i got it. it just took a while for it to pay off for me. anyway, just a couple of points there. , what about reapplicants do you have any pearls of wisdom for reapplicants [45:52].

Well, I’ll start with the fact that the data that we have suggests that reapplicants have a higher rate of admission than candidates who are applying in the first round out. Why is that? I think part of the reason is you’ve had a chance to really think about what are the strengths and where are my areas of growth and how I might focus on my areas of growth.

Now, because of the volume of applications we receive, we’re not able to give direct feedback to candidates who don’t get in in the first pass. What we are always able to do is engage with people who are applying this year, whether they can sign up to Q&A session. Most of this is available both in-person and virtually so that there’s an opportunity to connect with us no matter where you are within the globe. You can ask questions about the forward piece. You have the benefit of actually having a foundation that you can build on. Right?

Again, back to the idea that the magic happens in the editing. Like, okay, I’ve done it once. I know where I can tweak, where I can adjust, where I can change. The biggest miss is when reapplicants don’t tell us what they’ve been doing since the last application. You’ve got another year around the sun. What have you accomplished? Have you leveled up within your professional journey? I mean, sometimes the updated resume will tell us a little bit about that. Have you refined your goals? Have you explored more and different opportunities to test some hypotheses and rethink some of your journey?

These are all really valuable to us, and then of course, we should speak plainly. We’re also looking for evidence of your ability to do well in the program. If you think that that was the area of growth, the first submission, then other evidence. Now, you can’t go and change an undergraduate journey that’s typically fully baked by the time you apply, but you can take graded short courses. You can demonstrate other places where you’ve shown that you can succeed when it comes to the academic component of the application process.

Great advice. I think the saddest thing is when the reapplicant comes to me and says, “I know it was my GMAT score, so I retook the GMAT. I got a much higher score. My essays were great. I’m not going to change them at all.” That makes me sad. [46:13]

Yeah. There’s so much opportunity there.

Exactly, and like you said, I’m not joking, that does happen. I’m sure you sometimes see those applications. You’re showing little initiative. Yes, you studied before and you got your higher GMAT. Okay. Great. You’re not showing what you did in the past year. You’re not showing any growth whatsoever, and you are demonstrating a certain laziness and lack of commitment to the process, so don’t do it is the bottom line. [46:31]

I’m going to both agree with you and slightly disagree, Linda.

Okay. Go ahead. [47:01]

I will agree with you. I would love to see folks who are making those levels of commitment. I don’t always call it laziness. I think sometimes folks don’t have a full understanding of the process. I think folks who engage with you, they’re getting the benefit of their knowledge. Those who engage with us get the benefit of ours. Those who are operating out there independently, they may not know that they’re missing a great opportunity. Hopefully, those listening on this line, if you know somebody else who’s applying and doesn’t know this, share this message along.

Sounds good. I’ll be kinder next time. 

Okay. what would you have liked me to ask you [47:30].

Sure. I think one of the challenges that we face here at Berkeley is that we’ve done really well in some spaces and, in some corners of the market we’re known for these one or two things. “Well, Berkeley is really great in the tech sector because, look at their access, a third of their students go into tech,” or, “Berkeley is really great in the entrepreneurial sector. According to PitchBook, there’s only three programs at the top, and it’s Stanford, Harvard and Berkeley,” or, “Berkeley’s really great in the sustainability space. No other school is doing five different sustainability topics,” but we’re also the second most placed students into consulting, the third most place students into finance. When it comes to our finance students, the number of students who end up in internships on the West Coast, we top all other schools in that space. We are a great school for a lot of different things.

When I was looking back and thinking about what are we going to talk about with 125 years worth of history here, the technology sector doesn’t go back 125 years. What’s been sustaining the school this entire time, what’s the common thread really is that we’ve been educating for the pace of change. The world keeps changing, and we want to make sure that people are prepared for that. That hits in all sectors, and so we would love for people to know that about the program, not to put us in a little corner, but if you’re interested in a topic and you didn’t think Berkeley was that, come find out. Maybe it is.

Eric, I want to thank you so much for joining me today. This has been delightful and highly informative. Where can listeners and potential applicants learn more about Haas’ full-time MBA program? [48:59]

Absolutely. The easiest thing to do is visit the Haas MBA website .. Come check us out. Once you land on that page, there’s a lot of resources that’ll put you in a lot of different places. I would encourage you to go to the events section because you’ll get an opportunity to see all the different places that we are in the globe as well as all the different things that we do virtually. No matter where you are in the world, you can get a connection to our community.

More great advice. Thank you. [49:37]

Relevant Links:

• UC Berkeley Haas MBA
• Accepted’s MBA ROI Calculator
• UC Berkeley Haas Expands Deferred MBA Program
• When Should I Plan to Apply to Grad School? NOW!!!

Relevant shows:

• From the Military to Haas MBA – podcast Episode 223
• University of Michigan’s Ross MBA Program: Everything You Need to Know – podcast Episode 479
• UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions According to Dean Alex Lawrence – podcast Episode 215

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Berkeley Haas MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Looking to ace your Berkeley Haas MBA application essays? Our comprehensive guide provides an overview of the essay prompts, valuable tips, and real examples to help you craft compelling and impactful responses.

Posted March 1, 2024

Featuring Matt P.

Planning Your MBA Application

Starting friday, september 6.

12:00 AM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA program is highly regarded for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on leadership development. As part of the application process, prospective students are required to submit several essays that provide insights into their experiences, goals, and values. In this comprehensive guide, we will take a closer look at the UC Berkeley Haas MBA essays, providing an overview of the application process, offering expert tips for each essay prompt, and providing examples from successful applicants.

UC Berkeley Haas Application and the Role of Essays

Before diving into the essay prompts, it is important to understand the significance of the essays in the UC Berkeley Haas MBA application. While your academic and professional backgrounds are essential components of your application, the essays allow you to showcase your unique personality, aspirations, and fit with the Haas program. The admissions committee wants to gain a deeper understanding of who you are beyond your resume and test scores. Therefore, investing time and effort into crafting compelling essays is crucial to stand out from the competition.

When it comes to the UC Berkeley Haas MBA application, the essays are more than just a requirement. They serve as a platform for you to express your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in a way that cannot be captured by your academic records or work history alone. Through the essays, you have the opportunity to paint a vivid picture of your journey , highlighting the defining moments that have shaped your personal and professional growth.

One of the key aspects that the admissions committee looks for in the essays is authenticity. They want to see the real you, not a polished version that you think they want to see. This means being honest, vulnerable, and genuine in your writing. Don't be afraid to share your failures, setbacks, and challenges, as they can often be the most powerful sources of personal growth and resilience.

Another important element to consider when writing your essays is the alignment between your goals and the Haas program . The admissions committee wants to see that you have done your research and understand how Haas can help you achieve your aspirations. This requires a deep dive into the program's curriculum, faculty, clubs, and resources. By demonstrating a clear connection between your goals and what Haas has to offer, you show the admissions committee that you are not only a good fit for the program but also have a well-thought-out plan for your future.

Furthermore, the essays provide an opportunity for you to showcase your leadership potential and ability to make an impact . Haas values individuals who are not only driven to succeed personally but also have a desire to contribute to the greater good. Whether it's through your professional experiences, community involvement, or extracurricular activities, highlight instances where you have taken initiative, influenced others, and created positive change.

Lastly, don't underestimate the power of storytelling in your essays. Instead of simply listing your achievements or qualifications, use anecdotes and narratives to bring your experiences to life. This will not only make your essays more engaging but also allow the admissions committee to connect with you on a deeper level.

In conclusion, the essays play a crucial role in the UC Berkeley Haas MBA application. They provide an opportunity for you to showcase your unique qualities, demonstrate your fit with the program, and highlight your leadership potential. By investing time and effort into crafting compelling essays that are authentic, goal-aligned, impactful, and well-told, you can increase your chances of standing out from the competition and securing a spot at UC Berkeley Haas.

UC Berkeley Haas Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

• Prompt 1: Tell us a six-word story that reflects a memorable experience in your life-to-date.
• Prompt 2: Share a time when you questioned an established practice or thought within an organization and how your perspective changed as a result.
• Prompt 3: Describe a situation where you had to work with others to achieve a common goal. What did you learn from the experience?
• Prompt 4: Describe a leadership experience and how you created a positive impact.
• Prompt 5: Briefly describe your most significant professional accomplishment. Explain why you view it as such.

Each of these essay prompts presents a unique opportunity for you to demonstrate your abilities, values, and personal growth. It is crucial to approach each prompt thoughtfully and tailor your response to showcase your fit with the Haas MBA program. Let's delve into expert tips for each essay prompt to help you craft compelling essays.

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List of Expert Tips for Each Haas Essay Prompt

Essay prompt 1: tell us a six-word story that reflects a memorable experience in your life-to-date.

1. Be concise and impactful: With only six words, every word counts. Craft a story that leaves a lasting impression and conveys a significant aspect of your life.

2. Reflect on personal growth: Choose a story that showcases personal growth or transformation. Highlight how this experience has shaped your values or perspectives.

3. Show authenticity: Use this opportunity to reveal your authentic self. Be genuine and avoid generic or cliché stories.

Essay Prompt 2: Share a time when you questioned an established practice or thought within an organization and how your perspective changed as a result

1. Choose a relevant example: Select a situation that demonstrates your critical thinking skills and willingness to challenge the status quo.

2. Highlight your adaptability and openness to learning: Describe how your perspective evolved and what you learned from this experience.

3. Connect with Haas values: Emphasize how your new perspective aligns with the innovative and inclusive culture fostered by the Haas MBA program.

Essay Prompt 3: Describe a situation where you had to work with others to achieve a common goal. What did you learn from the experience?

1. Highlight collaboration and teamwork: Narrate a story that showcases your ability to work effectively in a team and achieve shared goals.

2. Show self-awareness: Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses in a teamwork setting and discuss how you have grown as a team player.

3. Discuss your learnings: Clearly articulate the valuable lessons you gained from this experience and how they will contribute to your success in the Haas MBA program.

Essay Prompt 4: Describe a leadership experience and how you created a positive impact

1. Define leadership in your context: Start by defining what leadership means to you and how you have embodied it in a specific situation.

2. Highlight your ability to influence: Describe how you inspired and motivated others to achieve a common goal.

3. Show the positive impact: Quantify and emphasize the positive outcomes of your leadership actions. Discuss how you left a lasting impact on individuals or organizations.

Essay Prompt 5: Briefly describe your most significant professional accomplishment. Explain why you view it as such

1. Choose your most impactful achievement: Select an accomplishment that showcases your skills, resilience, and impact within a professional setting.

2. Provide context: Clearly explain the significance of the accomplishment and the challenges you overcame to achieve it.

3. Reflect on personal growth and skill development: Discuss how this achievement has shaped your professional journey and why it holds great value to you.

UC Berkeley Haas Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

While understanding the tips and strategies is essential, studying real-life examples of successful Haas MBA essays can provide valuable insights. At Success Admits, we have compiled a collection of UC Berkeley Haas essay examples with detailed analysis. These examples will help you understand how successful applicants approached the essay prompts and how they effectively communicated their stories.

UC Berkeley Haas Essay FAQs

1. How long should each essay be? As per Haas guidelines, each essay should be limited to a maximum of 350 words. It is important to be concise and impactful within this word limit.

2. Should I answer all the essay prompts? While it is not mandatory to answer all the prompts, it is generally recommended to provide responses to as many prompts as possible to give the admissions committee a broader understanding of your experiences and abilities.

3. Can I reuse essays from other MBA applications? While you can draw inspiration from previous essays, it is crucial to tailor your responses specifically for the UC Berkeley Haas MBA application. This ensures that your essays align with Haas's values and mission.

By following these tips, studying successful examples, and devoting sufficient time for reflection and revision, you can craft compelling UC Berkeley Haas MBA essays that enhance your chances of admission. Good luck with your application!

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2024-2025 Berkeley Haas MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Admit expert.

• July 29, 2024

Berkeley Haas has been at the vanguard of addressing inclusivity in business schools and beyond, seeking to foster a community that reflects genuine plurality in every sense of the word. 

As a result, Haas seeks individuals who display self- and situational awareness, which encourages them to be both introspective and genuine in their writings – and requires them to conduct research that goes beyond a website review.

Berkeley Haas has one of the smallest classes among top-tier MBA programs with around 250 students admitted every year. The class of 2025 consists of 244 students with an average GMAT score of 733 and an average work experience of 5.8 years

Getting into such a highly selective MBA program requires you to ace every component of your application, particularly the essay section.

In this article, we’ll look at the Berkeley Haas essay prompts for the 2025 intake and present their analysis to help you write essays that impress the Berkeley Haas MBA admissions committee.

Berkeley Haas MBA essays 2025 intake

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (300 words max)

Essay 3 (Video)

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four  Defining Leadership Principles . Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life.

Please review the  Defining Leadership Principles  in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

Essay 4 (Experience with Diversity, Equity or Inclusion)

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

Candidates seeking consideration for  mission-aligned fellowships  may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships (300 words max)

Optional Information

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Optional Information #1

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

Optional Information #2 

This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

Supplemental Information

• If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.
• Name of organization or activity
• Nature of organization or activity
• Size of organization
• Dates of involvement
• Offices held
• Average number of hours spent per month
• List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.
• If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.)

Berkeley Haas MBA essay 2025 analysis

The admissions committee wants to know how your decisions have been affected by outside factors and what drives you. The committee that decides who gets into the MBA program looks at more than 2,000 applications every year. The essays help them choose people who will be good in the classroom and will be able to reach their career goals after they get their MBA.

Here are some tips on answering this UC Berkeley Haas MBA essay question.

Go Beyond your job and grades

Your response to this essay question should demonstrate your level of enthusiasm for the topic at hand. The admissions committee at UC Berkeley wants to make sure that you can be a valued member of their community in addition to having good academics and a professional job.

You can write about a sport that has always played a key role in your life, or you can discuss your broad involvement in community activities. 

This essay question has no right or wrong answer. The essay should not, however, appear as if you have written on something merely because you were assigned to do so. Make it clear how much you enjoy the activity and how it makes you feel when you are a part of it.

Use anecdotes to back up your claims.

To fill a relatively small MBA class, the UC Berkeley Haas admissions committee must go through a large number of applications. 

Your essays for the UC Berkeley Haas MBA program will have a good chance of being one of a kind if you follow these simple guidelines. Many applicants, whether they’re involved in community service, sports, the arts, or something else, may submit essays that sound a lot like yours. 

Anecdotes that indicate your personal engagement in the topic you’re writing about are essential if you want to build a compelling argument for yourself.

Using examples from your own experience might help you establish a personal connection with your audience. You can use these examples to demonstrate to the admissions committee your potential value to the UC Berkeley Haas community.

Think of ‘Why’ over ‘What’

Your ability to recall and share personal examples from your own experiences while performing an activity that piques your interest is commendable. In order for your reaction to have the desired effect on the reader, you must be able to explain why you are experiencing the burning sensation while performing whatever action you have chosen.

This MBA essay’s ‘why’ section might assist you in revealing your innate abilities and qualities. Undertake you feel better at ease because of the work you do in the community? Do you participate in this sport because it gives you such a rush of adrenaline? Do you have the ability to lead a team of people to complete challenging community service projects? Something must compel you to care so much about it. You must identify the source of your inspiration and the impetus for your actions.

• Start by introducing what truly excites you – whether it’s a sport, travel, or hobby that makes you come alive.
• Dive into why this passion ignites such a strong response, whether it’s the rush of adrenaline, a sense of purpose, or the joy of self-discovery.
• Conclude by summarizing your ongoing dedication to this pursuit, emphasizing the positive impact it has brought to your life.

How will an MBA help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals? (300 words max)

Essay 2 Analysis

This question demands a comprehensive coverage of your short and long term goals within tight space constraints. It’s beneficial to review other essays, observing how they craft narratives despite word limits. By identifying common writing patterns, you can devise strategies for your own response. The essence of a successful essay for this question lies in preparedness, effort, and shaping a clearly defined outline.

How to write Essay 2

Focus on transitions.

Establishing effective linkages between your short-term and long-term goals is crucial to create a flow of ideas and a coherent thought process in your MBA application.

When discussing your short-term goals, lay down a foundation that paves the way for your long-term aspirations.

View your short-term goals as integral stepping stones toward your future. Emphasize the significance of these short-term objectives as valuable experiences that are essential for achieving your long-term ambitions.

As you transition to your long-term goals, draw the connection by highlighting how your short-term achievements and skills will contribute directly to your larger vision.

Conclude your discussion on long-term goals by emphasizing the pivotal role that pursuing an MBA plays in your journey. 

Create markers

The standard MBA application question about your short-term and long-term goals, utmost clarity in your responses is essential. Not only due to word limits, but also for demonstrating your consideration, efficient articulation, and a well-defined trajectory. Include explicit markers in your answers, specifying your desired location, envisioned role, and areas of focus. Evade vagueness by providing clearly outlined information that leaves no room for ambiguity.

• Start by outlining your short-term goals, briefly introducing your current job role, and explaining the origins of these aspirations.
• Elaborate on the significance of your short-term goals as essential stepping stones and valuable life lessons that will equip you for the journey toward your long-term objectives.
• Transition to your long-term goals, providing a clear outline of their importance and the broader impact you aim to achieve through their realization.
• Conclude by discussing the benefits an MBA will bestow upon your pursuit of these goals, highlighting the  role it will play in your path toward achieving your long-term goals.

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles. Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. (Not to exceed 2 minutes.)

Video Essay Analysis

The video essay condenses to approximately 300 spoken words within a two-minute span.

To excel, conduct thorough research on the defining principles. Prioritize not only refining your delivery, eye contact, and presentation skills, but also crafting a concise outline of your content.

It’s advisable to script your essay instead of improvising or relying solely on keywords. This approach minimizes retakes caused by errors or subtle issues that may go unnoticed during impromptu delivery. Writing down your essay aids in time efficiency and ensures a polished performance.

How to create the Berkeley Haas MBA Video Essay

Embody the ‘defining principles’.

Among the four defining principles, ‘Question the Status Quo,’ ‘Confidence Without Attitude,’ and ‘Beyond Yourself,’ your video essay provides an avenue to showcase your affinity for one of these principles. After identifying the principle that resonates with you, illustrate how you’ve embodied it by surmounting challenges or instigating a movement.

Pinpoint an event and outline the strategic steps you initiated to drive its progress. Uncover the intrinsic significance of both the chosen principle and the project, illuminating the underlying reasons for your commitment. For instance, if ‘Question the Status Quo’ strikes a chord, delve into why challenging established norms holds personal value.

Remain concise

The brief time allotted aims to assess your ability to deliver a compelling ‘elevator pitch.’

Your task is to convincingly present yourself as a strong candidate with well-organized thoughts and ideas. Opt for a focused approach, avoiding radical departures or excessive verbiage.

Eliminate filler words like ‘umm,’ ‘ohh,’ and ‘ahh’ that may crop up due to nerves. Rehearse diligently to refine your delivery. Prioritize information directly related to answering the question, omitting unnecessary details.

Can you please describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace? (300 words max)

Essay 4 Analysis

This question aims to uncover your abilities as a team member, specifically your ability to enhance team dynamics by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

It seeks insights into your approach to self-education on DEI, facilitating discussions, creating an inclusive space for all members, and devising strategies to embed DEI principles in your endeavors. These aspects offer insights not only into your personal identity but also into your teamwork capabilities.

When discussing your experiences, choose to highlight initiatives such as established policies, corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, or extensive philanthropic volunteering engagements. This aligns with the question’s exploration of your awareness of justice and belonging. To ensure cohesiveness, focus on activities that have been ongoing for several years and that you are genuinely passionate about. Construct a narrative that delves into your motivation, intentions, and future aspirations. Illustrate these points through anecdotes while ensuring you address the aforementioned aspects.

How to write Essay 4

Research thoroughly.

Take the time to read about DEI and delve into common practices within workspaces. Create a list encompassing key ideas, words, and phrases associated with DEI. Building this database of knowledge empowers you to discuss the topic with greater precision, highlighting your familiarity with its nuances and mechanisms. This initiative demonstrates your dedication to going beyond the basics of DEI, showcasing a deeper level of involvement that enhances your resume.

Please read this article to gain a deeper understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) .

Common DEI Practices

• Representation and inclusion
• Unconscious bias training
• Affinity groups
• Mentorship and sponsorship programs
• Flexible work arrangements
• Diversity recruitment strategies
• Inclusive leadership training
• Employee resource groups
• Accessibility and accommodations
• Cultural competency workshops
• Employee surveys and feedback mechanisms
• Diverse interview panels
• Transparency and accountability
• Intersectionality awareness

Framework for Essay 4

• Start by highlighting the specific attributes of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) that resonate with you. Explain why integrating DEI principles is significant for both your personal and professional spheres.
• Detail the actions you’ve undertaken to advance DEI. Whether through organizing events, engaging in volunteering activities, or implementing strategies within your workplace, emphasize how you’ve actively pursued DEI goals.
• Conclude by briefly outlining your future intentions for sustaining and expanding these efforts across all aspects of your life. Highlight how you plan to carry forward your commitment to DEI in all your future endeavors.

Optional Questions

Please bear in mind that this MBA essay is entirely optional, so there is no need to feel pressured into making a big deal out of something little in order to add extra content to your application. Spend some time thinking about it, and then explain to the admissions committee how the events brought up in their questions or in other scenarios impacted you.

Haas is interested in uncovering the less obvious variables that have had a greater impact on the lives, opportunities, decisions, and character of candidates. 

Overall, Haas is aiming to acquire a better grasp of the background from which a candidate has evolved, both professionally and personally. 

This includes both the candidate’s past experiences and their current ones. 

In case you go ahead and answer these optional questions, remember that these questions encourage you to reflect on your mindset and the extent to which you are able to bounce back from challenges. 

The most important part of this essay is that you rapidly set the context, and then you expand on how you dealt with the circumstance, as well as how much you matured as a result of it.

It is essential to keep in mind that you should steer clear of engaging in a “blame game” and instead concentrate on determining the factors that led to your actions. 

The most crucial thing for you to do is to give an explanation (or account) for your actions and briefly comment on the reasons why the scenario was challenging for you. After all, overcoming adversity to achieve one’s goals is an essential component of resilience.

Optional Essay 2

You should think carefully about how to answer this question because writing an essay that isn’t required gives the person reading the applications more work to do. 

This is a good place to talk about special circumstances that have affected your academic or professional background, to talk about weaknesses in your application, or explain why you chose an unusual recommender. 

The wording of this question is broad enough that you may also choose to talk about a part of your background that isn’t shown in other application components.

However, you will need to show good judgment in doing so, which means that the information should be of a kind that makes a real difference to your application, and you should sum up the information as briefly as possible.

In the UC Berkeley Haas MBA essay section, in addition to the two required essays, there are a number of essay-type questions that you can choose to answer or not. 

The supplemental essays can help you show more about who you are, what you’ve done, and where you come from. Check out the UC Berkeley Haas MBA application’s optional essay questions:

• Offices Held
• The average number of hours spent per month

If not applicable, enter N/A.

• List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree. If not applicable, enter N/A.
• If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission).

These essay questions can be looked at from two different points of view. First, you can either answer all of the questions or only the ones that apply to you.

For example, if you haven’t sent a letter of recommendation with your UC Berkeley Haas MBA application or if you’ve ever been put on probation or suspended for disciplinary reasons, you can answer only those questions. 

Or, you can choose to answer the questions to help the admissions committee learn more about you. For example, you could talk about an accomplishment that you couldn’t discuss anywhere else in your application or the part-time jobs you had in high school or college.

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Berkeley MBA Blog

Be vulnerable: A Berkeley Haas student shares his MBA essay tips

Deciding that the MBA application essay was truly a chance to reveal himself as a whole person—beyond his resume and test scores—Brad Shervheim dug deep and made himself vulnerable; It paid off. Brad shares his MBA essay insights in conversation with Eileen Jacob, associate director of admissions for Berkeley Haas MBA Programs for Working Professionals.

Listen to the podcast:

Or read excerpts from the conversation:

Eileen: Hi everyone, I'm Eileen Jacob, the Associate Director of Admissions for our MBA Programs for Working Professionals. Today we're talking about writing your essays for your application to either the Berkeley Haas MBA for Executives or  the Evening & Weekend Berkeley Haas MBA Program .

I'm joined today by one of our current students, Brad Shervheim.

Eileen: Okay. Brad, your first year on the program is well underway. Looking back, can you talk a little bit about why you wanted to pursue your MBA?

Brad:  I've been an individual contributor as an engineer for over nine years. So, getting an MBA will help me with my short-term career goals of breaking into management. My long-term career goals are to potentially pivot into a new role in sales, as a sales director or sales executive or to completely pivot into finance.

Eileen:   Great. You also addressed another short-answer question about your fit with the culture here at Berkeley Haas—through the lens of the Defining Leadership Principles. which is another essay question for applicants.

Brad:   For that, I wrote about questioning the status quo. I actually grew up in Southern Minnesota in a rural town. My family is mostly blue-collar workers, and the status quo would've actually been for me to graduate from high school and start working immediately. But I was the first person in my family to go to college.

Eileen: Can you talk a little bit about how you felt about the essay portion of the application?

Brad: I think of the essays as an opportunity to differentiate yourself. I really appreciated the fact that I could write something and have someone understand more about me than just the stats on my resume or the check-boxes, etc.

Eileen: That's exactly the purpose of the essays, and t here really isn't a "right" answer. We want people to show their personality and share their story and what they're passionate about. And  this year, to get more detail about people's personal stories, we've changed the main essay question to ask for a six-word story.  

Brad: What exactly is the six-word story?  

Eileen: I think the six-word story was originally credited to Ernest Hemingway, where his friends challenged him to write a novel in six words. It does require some out of the box thinking. And then, after putting the six words together, applicants have a chance to elaborate on what their six-word story means to them.

Brad: So it's kind of writing a haiku and then explaining why it's important to you.

Eileen. Yes, and we hope it's a fun way for our applicants to share a little bit more about themselves too.

Brad: Is there a specific topic that you want applicants to cover with the story?

Eileen: We hope that the other parts of your application cover your academics and your work experience and that the six-word story and your essays in general round out who you are. We don't have any expectations of what the topic should be. 

Brad, can you talk a little bit about your process for developing an idea and crafting your essay?

Brad: I wanted to express who I am at a deeper level. So, I thought about my family. I thought about my education. I thought about my career. But what stuck out to me the most, was my childhood and some of the difficulties I had to overcome in my life.  For me it was volunteering in my community and becoming a board member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, because mental illness runs in my family.

I tried to be as vulnerable, as much as I could in the essay and share those things that were really personal to me. It was even difficult for me to have people review my essay and proofread it, because I didn't want everyone to learn that much about me. But it was, I think, even more compelling.

Eileen: I'm so glad that you shared that, Brad. Thank you, because that's the goal. We would hope every applicant can put that depth of thought and reflection into the process and ensuring that their genuine voice comes through.  How long would you advise candidates to prepare when they're putting their essays together?

Brad: I actually spent several months on my essay. Basically once a week or so, I would spend maybe 10 or 20 minutes just adding items that I had thought of to that essay, and it slowly built out to however many words were required. Then I started editing and slowly iterating on it until it was a final product.

For proofreading the essay, I reached out to peers who had gone through an MBA program themselves. It was great to get a second pair of eyes, because I thought my essay was perfect—and my friend sent back a fully marked up draft. He found all kinds of ways where I could more clearly communicate and convey my ideas.

Eileen: That's what we generally advise candidates to do, because someone who knows you well can really make sure that your personality is coming through. It's also always good to have an extra set of eyes proofread before you submit the final essay.

Thank you so much, Brad, for sharing all of your advice today and more about the process that you went through when writing your MBA essays.

Brad: I'm really glad to have shared my experience.

Looking for more application tips? Check out our guide to crafting your best MBA application ,  our podcast on preparing for business school entrance exams , and our podcast on choosing between an executive or evening and weekend MBA program . We can also help you banish the GMAT blues with our free ebook .

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Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Details & Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

Berkeley Haas has officially kicked off the 2024-2025 MBA application season by announcing its essay questions for the 2024-2025 application cycle. If you are looking for an MBA program with a small class size and close-knit community,  Berkeley Haas  may be a great choice for you.

In a statement introducing the 2024-2025 Berkeley Haas Application, Berkeley Haas shared the following:

Our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles — Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. We encourage you to reflect on your experiences, values, and passions so that you may craft thoughtful and authentic responses that demonstrate your alignment with our principles.

Below, you will find Personal MBA Coach’s advice on tackling the Haas MBA essay prompts.

Tips to Master Berkeley Haas 2024-2025 MBA Essays, Video Essay, and Application

Berkeley haas mba essay prompts, berkeley haas mba essay 1:  what makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why (300 words maximum).

Berkeley Haas has left its first essay question unchanged. This is a great essay to tell the admissions committee a bit more about your story . With this short essay, get right to the point. Make the most of this opportunity to talk about your true passions and what really drives you.

For some applicants, this may be their job (but tread cautiously here). If your job is what truly drives you, be sure that you have a strong reason and can illustrate passion as you write. Extracurricular work also could fit well but be sure it is an area where you have emerged as a leader and/or have added substantial value. Be succinct and speak from the heart.

A strong essay will include a balance of “what” and “why.” While this is not the time to brag about accomplishments, an ideal answer will show something you have done to set yourself apart.

Berkeley Haas MBA Essay 2: What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-mba, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (300 words max).

Despite changing the wording of the second essay slightly, Berkeley Haas has retained the classic “goals” essay it added last year. (Find out more about the most common MBA essay types and how to address them  here .)

With only 300 words and directions to include both short-term and long-term goals along with how a Haas MBA will help, there is a lot to cover with limited space! Many schools allocate 400 or 500 words to their “goals” essays. This means you have to make every word count!

Often with a goals essay, we recommend that applicants cover their past successes before sharing their goals. However, with such a short essay, there is very little space, so you will need to set the context for your goals succinctly.

Next, you should share both your short-term and long-term goals. While this new wording invites candidates to think about their long-term goals a bit more broadly, Personal MBA Coach recommends that these goals should be ambitious yet achievable! For more on how to develop compelling goals, check out this  blog  and video.

Finally, let the Haas admissions committee know why you need an MBA (and specifically a Haas MBA) to achieve these goals. To answer this question, think about your skills gaps—both technical and leadership—and what offerings at Haas will help you to address these gaps. Take the time to research Berkeley Haas’s offerings. Personal MBA Coach suggests being specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus and carefully articulate how each will position you to achieve your career aspirations.

Berkeley Haas MBA Essay 3: One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported. Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace.

Candidates seeking consideration for  mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships.   (300 words max).

With this short essay, Berkeley Haas continues the trend among business schools to require a DEI essay in its MBA application. For some applicants, this will be easy to answer. However, if an example does not come to mind easily here, remember that it is ok to think of diversity broadly.

As you approach this essay, we recommend focusing on a few examples and using them to show the reader the type of classmate you will be!

Berkeley Haas MBA Video Essay Prompt

The berkeley mba program develops leaders who embody our four defining leadership principles . briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. please review the  defining leadership principles  in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. you will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes..

This year, Berkeley Haas retained a video component in its MBA application. For many years, Berkeley Haas has pressed candidates to define successful leadership. Instead of asking about leadership in an essay, Berkeley Haas has incorporated this leadership prompt into its video.

At 2 minutes, this video is longer than many other MBA videos. However, candidates have a lot to cover. In addition to introducing themselves, candidates should reflect on Haas’s four leadership principles and pick just one.

These four principles are:

• Question the Status Quo
• Confidence Without Attitude
• Students Always
• Beyond Yourself

Personal MBA Coach recommends that candidates consider the qualities they believe that successful leaders embody and why they believe these traits are important as they select a principle from this list.

Next, think about how you personally have begun to demonstrate this principle, including a few short examples.

As Personal MBA Coach generally advises, you should not include a laundry list. Instead pick a limited number of stories that you can easily explain from your personal and professional life.

As with all videos , we recommend that you write out bullets and not a full script so that your style appears more natural. Keep in mind that one of the key objectives of a video essay is to evaluate how you will contribute in class and how you will perform in a job interview.

Optional Berkeley Haas Essay Prompts

Berkeley Haas also has two optional essays.

Optional Essay 1: We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

Many applicants will not answer this question. Personal MBA Coach recommends that applicants use optional essays sparingly. If your answers to these questions are not unique, there is a good chance you should skip this essay.

Optional Essay 2:  This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

For this second Haas optional essay, answer only if you have specific or extenuating circumstances to explain. Read more on our approach to optional essays here .

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UC Berkeley Haas MBA Essays for the Class of 2027

Are you interested in the full-time MBA program at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business ? Then let the brainstorming begin! Here are the updated Haas MBA essays and deadlines for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

UC Berkeley Haas MBA Essays

Required essay #1.

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

Required Essay #2

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations.

(300 words maximum)

Required Essay #3

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

Candidates seeking consideration for  mission-aligned fellowships  may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships. (300 words max)

Video Essay

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four  Defining Leadership Principles . Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life.

Please review the Defining Leadership Principles in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

Optional Essays

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Optional Information #1

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

Optional Information #2 

This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

Supplemental Information

If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.

List, in order of importance, significant community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each using the format below:

• Name of organization or activity
• Nature of organization or activity
• Size of organization
• Dates of involvement
• Offices held
• Average number of hours spent per week

List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.

If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.

For more information on applying, please visit the Haas School admissions website . If you need guidance on your Haas MBA essays and application or wish to discuss your business school plans, don’t hesitate to reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help!

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

Haas at Twilight image by Flickr user Wayne Hsieh (CC BY-NC 2.0)

If you have an interview coming up, you will want to review SBC’s interview prep services . The key to interview success is practice and we provide you with all the tools you need to do just that.

• Leverage our video platform to practice, view yourself and improve
• Work with our experts for live rehearsal and feedback
• Download a guide for lists of practice questions, tips on how to prep and overviews of interview formats
• Experience a real group interview before your big day

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Focus on the why in mba applications.

When applying to business school, many applicants focus on crafting their perfect resume, highlighting their accomplishments, and showcasing their impressive roles. They spend countless hours refining the “what” of their story—the achievements, the promotions, ... →

2024-2025 Berkeley Haas MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jun 7, 2024

• Who is Berkeley Haas looking for?
• How should I answer Berkeley Haas essay questions?
• Get into the Berkeley Haas MBA
• Haas Application Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on September 6, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

With its location in the heart of Silicon Valley and relentless focus on challenging the status quo, Berkeley Haas is at the top of many innovators’ list of dream schools. 

However, as the number of people seeking to break into tech – and the attraction of attending an MBA in the heart of Silicon Valley – grows every year, getting admitted to Haas’ small MBA class is harder than ever. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Berkeley Haas admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Berkeley Haas MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Haas application your best shot. 

1. Who is Berkeley Haas looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @berkeleyhaas on Instagram)

“The Berkeley MBA Program develops innovative leaders who know how to put new ideas to work, and to do so responsibly. By leveraging the innovative energy that’s ever-present in Berkeley Haas culture and in the business ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Area, the program teaches you how to seize opportunities, challenge conventional wisdom, and act creatively.” Berkeley Haas Admissions 

Every year, Haas pores over thousands of applications to hand-pick 244 students to take part in their prestigious MBA program. There is no “standard” student at Haas, yet the average admitted student does tend to have 5.8 years of work experience and either a median 740 GMAT or Q165/V162 GRE score . Diversity is also a strong point for Haas, with its Class of 2025 containing 41% women, 14% LGBTQ+, 16% US minorities, and 47% international students. 

In addition, Haas also looks for candidates who possess the following traits:

Haas’s defining leadership principles are as follows:

In addition, Haas is extremely dedicated to diversity and inclusion and has numerous resources on campus to ensure that diverse students not only find their way at Haas but that they also have all the tools and support they need to reach their personal and professional goals. 

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Berkeley’s new admissions essay questions. 

2. How should I answer Berkeley Haas essay questions

2. how should i answer the essay questions, 2.1. essay 1 tips.

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum) 

Before starting to write your essays, we suggest you take the time to watch the videos with essay tips prepared by the Haas staff, as the videos give great insight into how to best answer the questions. 

Retained from last year, this question seeks to get to know the person behind the CV. 

First of all, it is important to pay attention to the wording of this essay. Haas asks you what makes you feel alive when you are doing it , which implies that the best answer to this question will be an activity and will be an activity you are currently involved in . Using your Stanford “What Matters Most” here in a copy/paste format will not work, as that essay is much more based on values, and this essay asks for actions. On the other hand, if you do have an activity you’re passionate about, this essay should not be difficult to write! 

When choosing your theme for this essay, we suggest focusing on one “thing” that makes you feel alive, as 300 words is likely not enough room to write meaningfully about multiple examples. Furthermore, since Haas’ second essay asks you for a professional example, we would suggest choosing something from your personal life for this essay in order to show the admissions committee more about what makes you you .

Along these lines, try to think about choosing a theme/activity that provides the admissions committee with valuable insights into your personality and background. 

For example, last year, a client wrote a short essay for Michigan Ross on the topic of “making a difference” that discussed his passion for his volunteer work providing electricity to remote communities in the Brazilian Amazon. 

After speaking about how he got involved and exactly what the project works to accomplish, he discussed how a quote from a member of one of the communities thanked him for giving him the chance to safely make his way home from work at night. 

This quote brought a level of personal engagement with the client’s theme that went far beyond, “I am passionate about volunteering,” and, instead, took his reader right there to the Amazon to feel his passion. 

For this reason, we suggest you focus on strong storytelling here (a condensed version of the STAR methodology will work very well here) and end with the result you obtained or lesson you learned. If you can think of a way to connect this passion to your time at Haas, make sure to add this. 

TOP TIP : Don’t worry if you think your passion isn’t “unique” enough. Showing how this passion developed and why it’s so important in your life is much better than an essay on a very unique but unsubstantiated theme. 

2.2. Essay 2 Tips

What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (300 words max)

Berkeley Haas’ second essay changed dramatically this year, from a leadership-driven essay to one that directly asks about goals and how Haas will help you reach them. 

In this essay, you have a big task. In 300 words , you need to discuss:

• Context for your goals
• Your specific-post MBA goals
• Why you believe an MBA is necessary to reach these goals
• How a Haas MBA will help you reach these goals

Each of these elements must be included and must build off of each other. 

First of all, many candidates think they do not need to specifically state their goals, or that it’s better to leave “their options open.” If you are applying to elite business schools, however, you must have and present absolutely clarity about your goals. 

TOP TIP : If you’re having trouble figuring out what your post-MBA goals are, we’ve prepared this post to help you decipher this essential part of the application process! 

However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For this reason, we suggest starting your essay with context. 

For example, a client last year initially started his essay by saying: 

“I want to become a Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”

While interesting, it’s better to give a little bit of context to help these goals come to life. Check out the final version of the same essay’s introduction:

“In the 1970s, the phrase “think global, act local” came into use, suggesting that to have global impact, one must be active locally. With this mindset, I focused my career on Brazilian multinational companies to start creating global change at home. While at Company 1, I led a diverse global team, which showed me that clear communication is essential. I later accepted a finance position at a real estate company where I learned how new technologies can impact traditional local industries and that leaders must adapt to these trends to maintain competitiveness. Most recently, I joined Company 2 to participate in its daring globalization plan. At Company 2, I have learned how challenging it is to formulate effective global strategies to thrive in diverse markets. I have also developed management skills since becoming Financial Coordinator, learning how important establishing a culture of collaboration is to providing stability for organizations.

I now seek to take the next step to becoming a “global” leader by becoming Business Development Director at a Brazilian company pursuing globalization, giving me the experience to assume my long-term goal of CEO of one such company.”

Second, you should clearly demonstrate why you need an MBA. 

An MBA is not a catch-all degree that serves a purpose for all career paths. As such, you need to demonstrate that the goals you have set for yourself require the additional training an MBA can provide. 

Be thoughtful about this particular section. If you don’t need to improve in any meaningful way, you might be presenting the argument the admissions committee needs for why you can’t actually benefit from an MBA. 

Furthermore, if you show fluffy or unsupported reasons you need to hone your skills, you’ll also likely see your application tossed aside in favor of an applicant who was able to clearly demonstrate how they plan to leverage their time at business school. 

Third, add how Haas can specifically help you grow in the areas you’ve identified. Mentioning that you want to go to Haas because of its ranking or location in California will not cut it here. 

Instead, show that you have done significant, thoughtful research into Haas’ curriculum and into how opportunities outside of the classroom can help you grow. If you have space, it’s also highly recommended that you mention how you can contribute to the community. 

End with a winning conclusion statement that reinforces your personal brand and ties the whole essay together.  

Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Berkeley Haas MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Berkeley Haas essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join ! 

2.3. Essay 3 Tips

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

Candidates seeking consideration for mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships. (300 words max) 

At Haas, diversity is a core value . This means that at Berkeley Haas, you’ll constantly interact with people who think and act differently than you do. 

Succeeding in such an environment requires a great deal of adaptability and flexibility, as well as a willingness to learn from those who are different. This type of environment, however, is not for everyone, which is why Haas seeks to gauge how you respond to diversity in this essay. 

We suggest you start by considering the brand you are presenting to Haas and examine which examples about diversity you can share that will add value to the stories you told in the rest of your application. 

The wording of the question makes it clear to me that this is not the place to write an essay that gives a superficial nod to diversity. For example, perhaps you held a 1-hour training session for the only woman on your team. Though this technically does fall under the category of promoting diversity, it just doesn’t convey the image that DEI is a topic that you resonate with and have actively promoted.

Then, make sure you narrow this list down to your single best story . In a 300-word essay, you won’t have time to fully explore multiple examples, so limit yourself to one excellent story. 

Finally, write from the heart. Share the context, show why you took action, and tell us both the outcome of the story and how it changed you. Equally as important, avoid shaming or blaming others involved in the situation. If you have an example that fits this question, you’re well on your way to a “small but mighty” admissions essay. 

TOP TIP: For short essays especially, using a tight STAR-format example is key! 

2.4. Essay 4 (Video) Tips 

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles . Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. 

Please review the Defining Leadership Principles in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

Considering the short amount of time you have to make an impression on Haas, your goal with this essay is to introduce yourself to your classmates, and the best introductions usually contain a killer story. 

To start brainstorming which topics you might want to include.

Since you’ll have Essay 1 to share a unique side of your life (personal or professional) and will have Essay 2 to talk about your career, anything is fair game here. As such, consider what else you are telling the admissions committee throughout your application and what else you could share that would add value to their picture of who you are and what you bring to the class . 

So think about what makes you YOU beyond what the school has already learned about you in your CV, letters of recommendation, and other essays. 

However, given the prompt and the short time limit, we suggest that you choose one story for your video. 

Once you’ve settled on the perfect example, figure out how to connect it with one of Haas’ four principles. Though your story might connect to numerous of the values, choose one . 

In the essay itself, you want to make this connection clear. As such, if you choose “Beyond Yourself,” make sure your story directly relates to an experience where you, “take the longer view in our decisions and actions. This often means putting the collective good above [your] own interests. ”

When it comes to structuring the video, I would suggest that you start out stating which of the 4 principles you most identify with, then launch into the exemplifying STAR story . At the end of the video, if you have space, I would suggest dedicating a few words to how you will continue to embody this value at Haas in some manner (perhaps contributing to a club or within the larger community). 

TOP TIP : Write out your script before recording. This allows you to make sure that your ideas flow well and that your example is being told effectively. 

No matter where you record, check your sound quality and lighting to make sure you will be easy to see and hear. 

Finally, we suggest you write a script and practice recording yourself several times to get just the right take. Usually, clients are able to comfortably fit about 320 words of content into 2 minutes. After recording yourself a few times, you may want to send a few options to friends, family, or trusted advisors to get their take on which clip to send. The most important thing is to show Haas your winning personality and why you fit in with their school’s culture! 

Make sure your video submission does not exceed the 2:00 limit. 

2.5. Optional Essay Tips

Supplemental Information about Recommender Choice

If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A.

In some cases, it’s not always possible to ask your current supervisor for a letter of recommendation, and that’s just fine! 

For example, many of our clients who work in investment banking fear they may receive a low bonus or even lose their jobs if they share their MBA plans with their current employer. 

Or perhaps you’ve recently started a new job and haven’t had the chance to build rapport or a strong list of achievements with your new supervisor. 

These are all valid reasons for choosing alternative references. If you do find yourself in one of these situations, make sure you write this essay and that you keep it short and sweet. 

I recommend starting out with sharing the reason why you aren’t able to ask your supervisor for a recommendation. This doesn’t need to be a STAR-format story or a long, complex discussion of your relationship. A sentence or two should do here. 

Then, I suggest you decide a bit of space to discussing why you chose the recommenders you did and what they bring to the table. For example, “I chose Carolyn Hobbs for my recommendation, as she managed me for 3 years until my promotion this May. I feel she can provide a complete picture of my strengths, weaknesses, and development as a professional.”

With both aspects included, the essay is ready.

TOP TIP : Keep the essay to under 100 words if you can. If you need more space to explain, consider if the information you’re adding is strictly relevant. 

Optional Information #1 (The official application is not open as of June 6, 2024. This was the question used in previous years and should give you a solid idea of what to prepare).

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

What is the highest level of education completed by your parent(s) or guardian(s)? 

• Did not complete high school
• High school diploma or equivalency (GED)
• Associate’s degree (junior college) or vocational degree/license
• Bachelor’s degree (BA, BS)
• Master’s degree (MA, MS)
• Doctorate or professional degree (MD, JD, DDS)

What is the most recent occupation of your parent(s) or guardian(s)?

• Skilled worker
• Professional

If you were raised in one of the following household types, please indicate.

• Raised by a single parent
• Raised by an extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)
• Raised in a multi-generational home
• Raised in foster care
• What was the primary language spoken in your childhood home?

If you have ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate.

• Extended family member (grandparent, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, cousin)

Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on other hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements, and impact.

(300 words maximum)

Optional Essay #2 This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

Although the first optional essay seems quite extensive, the bullet format actually makes it quite straightforward for you to highlight important personal factors that have influenced your personal and professional journey.

Haas makes it clear that they want clear, direct information, so make sure you simply answer the questions and provide any additional clarifying information in the first 300-word section. If you don’t have any extenuating circumstances of note, feel free to leave the essay blank. 

In the second optional essay, you’re not given a word count, but the focus of the question is clear: explain any relevant circumstances you feel the admissions committee must know to fairly evaluate your profile. 

Do not include another essay you wrote for another school and truly consider if you need to submit this essay at all, as it will not apply to all applicants. If you do choose to write it, make sure you focus only on weak spots and also discuss what steps you have taken or took to rectify the weaknesses. 

We have written extensively on the topic of optional essays here . 

3. Get into the Berkeley Haas MBA program

Are you almost finished with your application but are still worried your essay is not quite perfect enough to send? 

At Ellin Lolis Consulting, our goal is to add more value to your application than you ever thought possible by giving you the tools and positioning you need to write outstanding essays that help you gain admission to a top MBA program. 

In the words of our client Kelsey, who was admitted to Berkeley Haas:

“There comes a point in the application process when the feedback that peers and mentors have given just isn’t enough to ensure that the essays are perfect and polished. It was at that point in my process that I contacted Ellin for her editing services. 

I was so impressed with Ellin’s eye for detail and her ability to help me refine my points without losing my voice in the essays. Elle understands the specific characteristics that each top MBA program is looking for. As a result, her feedback was excellent and gave me the confidence I needed to finalize and submit my applications the next day. 

I would recommend Ellin’s service to anyone applying to competitive MBA programs. She provides individualized attention and an understanding of the process that is unparalleled in the market.”

If you’re struggling to put your core values into words, or aren’t sure you’ve really nailed the brief for Berkeley Haas, let our award-winning editors use their expert storytelling abilities to help you transform your essay from average to attention-grabbing and land a Haas interview. 

After all, you don’t get into a prestigious business school without standing out!

4. Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2024-2025 season. You can access the Berkeley Haas application here . 

Berkeley Haas Round 1 Deadlines

Application Deadline : September 12, 2024

Interview Notification : Ongoing

Decisions Released : December 12, 2024

Berkeley Haas Round 2 Deadlines

Application Deadline : January 9, 2025

Decisions Released : March 27, 2025

Berkeley Haas Round 3 Deadlines

Application Deadline : April 3, 2025

Decisions Released : May 8, 2025

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Haas MBA Essays: Tips for 2024-2025

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, behavioral essays, etc. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for Haas School of Business. 

The Personal Statement Essay

• What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (text box, 300 words maximum)

The Career Goals Essay

• How will an MBA help you achieve your short-term and long-term career goals? (300 words max)

The Video Essay

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four  Defining Leadership Principles .

• Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which leadership principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life. (Not to exceed 2 minutes.)

The Diversity Essay

• Can you please describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace? (300 words max)

Optional Essays

• Optional Information #1: We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.
• Optional Information #2: This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

Finally, Berkeley Haas also asks applicants for supplemental information , which include some additional prompts .

Looking for Last-Minute Essay Help?

MBA Deadlines are fast approaching…

Did you know that Menlo Coaching can help you with your MBA essays on an hourly basis?

Our five-hour package starts at $2,500, and you can work with our MBA admissions consultants on anything you like, including:

✓ Essay and Resume Edits

✓ Recommender Support

✓ Application Form Reviews

✓ Interview Preparation

Applying to UC Berkeley Haas

In this program, students are encouraged “to take risks and make mistakes.” They are looking for students who are moved to create. Through the story you relate in your essay, the admissions council is looking to see if you reflect the same values that the school does. Berkeley Haas is looking for students who are looking to develop their emotional intelligence and eager to use rigorous analysis. The best way to represent that you possess those qualities is through the type of essay you choose to write. 

Like we touched on earlier, schools are looking for the right fit for their campus community, just as you are searching for the school that aligns best with your goals. In the personal essay, this is your chance to show Berkeley Haas the values that drive you both as a person and as a student. These values tell the admissions council what you prioritize, the moral code you live by, and, most importantly, who you are as a person.

Berkeley Haas is looking for applicants who want to contribute to a larger purpose. The program is dedicated to students completing their own research and analysis in order to make decisions. They encourage intelligent risks. 

In these essays, you can talk about almost anything; typically, applicants will write about relationships in their lives, or times when there was a hardship they had to overcome. Be warned, though: there are some topics to avoid, and we have outlined a few things to watch out for in this article . 

You’re not the only one hoping you’ll have a job after you’ve graduated with your MBA. Admissions committees are looking for students who are motivated and clear in their intentions so that when they get a job post-grad, they’ll be more willing to speak positively of their experience in the program. And, of course, in the hopes that their alumni will earn enough money to become a donor to the school one day.  

There are three aspects to the career goals essay: 

• What you want your future profession to look like.
• Why an MBA is necessary to advance your career.
• Particularly, why a degree from Berkeley Haas will be most beneficial to you and your job plan. 

Your aspirations need to be convincing, ambitious, and realistic. Berkeley Haas is looking for applicants who have meaningful goals grounded in their past experiences, and it’s important that you relate that notion in your essay, however it applies to your experience in life. 

Berkeley’s MBA video essay specifically pertains to their defining leadership principles, meaning that you will need to consider how your strengths as a leader reflect the values sought after by Haas.

But in terms of practical steps to take when recording, here is our advice:

• Practice—but don’t memorize:  it’s always clear if someone has memorized what they intend to say in a video essay verbatim, and this can make your content seem staged and inauthentic. If you find that you’re repeating the same speech over and over again, change the first sentence. You’ll be surprised at how this will throw you off!
• Make sure that your setting is appropriate:  you want to make sure that your lighting is good and that there are no empty tequila bottles in the background.
• Speak slowly and clearly:  clear diction can make a big difference when it comes to reviewing your video essay.

If you are interested to know more about what Haas looks for in its students and, indeed, their video essays, you can head to our page on  Berkeley Haas admissions basics .

The Behavioral Essay (Diversity)

To make it simple: the behavioral essay is meant to show the team at Berkeley Haas that you have developed some sort of leadership skills, what your values are as a leader, and how you are going to most benefit from their development programs in terms of your experience with and exposure to DEI, justice, and belonging.

The admissions committee is looking for applicants that are self-reflective. Whether it’s through a setback you’ve experienced, or how you dealt with situations that have gone awry, the school is looking for students who are resilient and able to learn from their mistakes.

Do not overexaggerate (or underexaggerate!) the situations you decide to write about. Be honest about what happened; the Haas School of Business is looking for genuine people to join their campus community, and they are less likely to admit an applicant who has overinflated their prior experiences. 

Last but not least, make sure to describe what you learned and how you implemented this in a subsequent situation. This is an expected element of the behavioral essay, even if it’s not directly written in the prompt. The school is looking for applicants who will act with humility, and have confidence without attitude. Prompts that deal with these topics can be daunting, especially when they require you to write about a weakness you have or a failure you’ve experienced. 

Optional Essay

An unusual aspect of the Haas application is that they have two optional essays: one traditional optional essay, in which you can elaborate on or clarify any element of your application you feel requires further consideration, and an additional family information essay, in which you can expand on your family background and any unusual life circumstances that could fortify your overall application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by the optional essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

Supplemental Information

Finally, UC Berkeley’s Haas MBA program has some additional prompts pertaining to your application. Here you will have the opportunity to detail activities that enhance your MBA profile as well as explain any peculiarities in your application.

Supplemental Information Prompts 2023-2024

1. If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain. If not applicable, enter N/A. (text box, no word limit)

2. List, in order of importance, up to five significant community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Include the following information for each using the format below:

• Name of organization or activity
• Nature of organization or activity
• Size of organization
• Dates of involvement
• Offices held
• Average number of hours spent per month

If not applicable, enter N/A. (text box, no word limit)

3. List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree. If not applicable, enter N/A. (text box, no word limit)

4. If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.) (text box, no word limit)

Writing strong, coherent, genuine stories is an essential part of your MBA application. These essays are meant to help you stand out among many other applicants, so it is worth your time to do the work and write about situations unique to your life and that you truly learned from.

Wrestling with Haas’ MBA admissions essays? Let our seasoned consultants alleviate the stress by providing expert guidance on essay crafting. Explore our MBA consultants and take your application to the next level.

Related Articles

• UC Berkeley Haas MBA Program Overview
• MBA Essay Tips From 3 Top Admissions Consultants
• How to Get Into MBA Programs at Top Business Schools

Application Requirements

Our students demonstrate professional achievement, academic aptitude, and leadership potential and come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.

The Berkeley Haas MBA for Executives admissions team takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, seeking to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences.

Berkeley MBA for Executives Application

The first step is creating your Application Portal through our secure online system. Your Portal will be your guide through the admissions process from the time you begin your application through the time you submit your enrollment deposit.

• You will complete the application, upload all required documents, monitor the status of your application, and receive your application decision through your Portal.
• You may enter, update, and save information in your application any time until you’ve submitted your application.
• Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the date of the application deadline.
• Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make changes to your application, but be sure to monitor your Portal for updates on your application status.
• We will send you a confirmation email upon receipt of your application and supplemental materials.
• Be sure to remember the email address you use to create your account. All communications regarding your application will go to this email address.

Reapplying to the Berkeley MBA Program

If you've previously applied to any Berkeley MBA program, including the MBA for Executives Program, you still need to create a new application. See our information for Reapplicants .

International Applicants

If you received your undergraduate degree outside of the United States and/or are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, see our information for International Applicants .

University Transcripts

• We require copies from all institutions you have attended or are currently attending. However, we only require official or original transcripts from the institution where you were awarded your bachelor's degree.
• Transcripts must arrive in a sealed envelope as issued by the school.
• If the institution provides official electronic transcripts, they can be emailed directly from the institution to: [email protected]

You must upload to your application copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs you have attended or are currently attending since graduating high school/secondary school.  

You must also list each of these schools in the Academic History section of the application.

Do not send transcripts for seminars, ESL classes, professional development courses, computer certifications, etc.

U.S. Transcript Submission

Transcripts must arrive in a sealed envelope as issued by the school. Transcripts may be sent directly by the issuing institution or by the applicant (still sealed), together with other supplemental materials to the following address:

Berkeley MBA for Executives Program Admissions Haas School of Business 430 Student Services Bldg. #1910 Berkeley, CA 94720-1910

Non-U.S. Transcript Submission

Please see our information for international applicants .

Employment & Resume

To review the progression and milestones of your career, we ask that you provide us details of each of your professional roles since you have finished your undergraduate studies. Please break out each of your positions separately and provide dates and details for each position. You may upload a current resume through the online application. We prefer chronological resumes no longer than 2 pages, in PDF format. Learn more about how we review your professional experience.

Standardized Tests & Quantitative Readiness

As one way to evaluate potential success in the program, we require all applicants to submit official results from one of the following standardized tests:

• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Executive Assessment (EA)

We view all three tests equally and there are no minimum scores to apply to the program. For those not familiar with the Executive Assessment, the EA is specifically designed to evaluate the business school readiness of seasoned professionals. The assessment focuses on skills that are critical both at work and in an MBA for Executives program: higher order reasoning, critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving. The test is administered by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC).

We will accept official scores for GMAT, EA, or GRE exams taken October 2019 or later for 2024-2025 applicants. These scores must also be verifiable with the testing agency. The testing agencies keep the scores for five years from the date the test was taken so you must submit your official scores to us directly from the testing agency prior to them expiring. We will keep your test score reports on file for two years.

All applicants must provide self-reported scores as part of the application, in addition to ordering your official score report with our institution codes. When requesting your official results, please use the following institution codes:

• EA Institution code: N2V-PT-85
• GMAT Institution Code: N2V-PT-85
• GRE Institution Code: 0667

The Haas Quantitative Readiness Course

Bolster your application and prepare for mba coursework.

The optional QRC provides a no-cost option for demonstrating academic readiness and prepares you for the rigors of MBA coursework. The virtual course is self-paced and includes online support from an instructor.

Who should take the course?

The QRC is for MBA applicants who have limited experience using quantitative skills in their academic or professional background and would like to provide more evidence of academic readiness to support their MBA candidacy. It also benefits incoming students who would like to brush up on and/or enhance their quantitative skills in preparation for their MBA.

Note: If you are taking UCB Extension Math for Management, you do not need to take this course.

QRC Course Format and Cost

• The course videos and instructor access are offered free of charge . You may complete the course or portions of the course by watching the videos at your own pace with online support from the professor.
• Your QRC registration is valid for 12 months. If you enroll at Haas, you will be granted access to the materials until you graduate.
• The course is divided into 7 modules:
• Math Fundamentals for Business Part I
• Math Fundamentals For Business Part II
• Statistics Part I
• Statistics Part II
• Finance Part I
• Finance Part II
• Microeconomics
• Each module is intended to take about one week to complete; however, it is possible to go slower or more quickly depending on your experience with the topics and how much time you invest each week. You may also accelerate through the first two modules by testing out of them.

To Enroll in the Course

• Applicants must start an application  
• Select the ‘Essay’ tab where you can indicate you are interested in the QRC course and complete the request to enroll.
• If you have already submitted your application, you may use this link to log into your portal and complete the request to enroll.

Preparing for the Executive Assessment

Join the Haas MBA for Executives admissions team and guest, Eric Chambers of GMAC, makers of the GMAT and the Executive Assessment (EA), to learn how to prepare to take the Executive Assessment . During this discussion, you will learn about the test content, structure, and resources to help you prepare in under four weeks. He’ll also walk through practice problems from each section. You’ll leave ready to conquer the test.

Test Waiver Options

Applicants with a PhD with evidence of strong quantitative skills or an advanced medical degree, as listed below, are not required to submit Standardized Test Scores. While optional, they are recommended.   

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Applicants with a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university in Business, Economics, or a STEM field with a GPA of 3.4 or greater, are not required to submit Standardized Test Scores. While optional, they are recommended. To see if your major qualifies as a STEM degree, please complete the STEM major worksheet here . 

Applicants who are UC Berkeley alumni are not required to submit test scores, however they are highly recommended for those with limited quantitative coursework. Find more details in our   Test Waiver FAQ here .

English Language Proficiency Exams: TOEFL/IELTS

Applicants who received their degrees in countries other than the U.S., UK, Australia, English-speaking Canada, or Singapore are required to take the TOEFL exam or the IELTS exam.

• Tests taken before June 2023 will not be accepted.
• Review our International Applicants page for information on ordering these scores

If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic coursework with grades of “B” or better in residence at a recognized US institution at your time of application. You must submit an official transcript from the US institution.

The following courses will not fulfill this requirement:

• Courses in English as a Second Language
• Courses conducted in a language other than English
• Courses that will be completed after you apply
• Courses of a non-degree or non-academic nature

We’re looking for honest, thoughtful responses that help us get to know you; there truly is no one “right” answer to our essay questions. While you should answer each question thoroughly, you should not exceed the specified lengths.

Essay 1 - Personal Story

To help admissions get to know you please share something about yourself that may not be evident in other parts of your application. Examples might include information about your family, culture, hobbies, and lived experiences. Please avoid professional topics. (400 word limit)

Essay 2 - Professional Statement

Please summarize your primary area of professional expertise or knowledge. What do you do, and what are you known for? (150 words)

Letter of Recommendation

We require one letter of recommendation that addresses your management and leadership potential. Your letter of recommendation provides the admissions committee with outside perspective on your leadership to date and the impact you've made at work.

• It is recommended, but not required, that your letter be from your current direct supervisor.
• The letter will be submitted through our online system.

An interview with the Admissions Committee is required for applicants before admission to the program can be offered.

• The interview is approximately 30 minutes long and will be with a member of the Admissions Committee.
• During the interview you will have the opportunity to ask specific questions as well as help us better understand your career, background, and interests.
• For greater accessibility, you will have the opportunity to interview virtually or in person.
• The mode of your interview will have no impact on your admissions decision.

Scheduling your Interview

For your convenience, you can choose to schedule your interview before or after you submit your application.

You can find information about scheduling your interview in the Interview section of the application . You will need to have completed the "Personal Data" section of your application and have your current resume uploaded before you interview. After that, you may schedule your interview by clicking the button in the Interview section.

Non-refundable Application Fee

A $200 non-refundable application fee is required and payable by credit card within the online application.

Fee waivers are available for:

• Nonprofit / Public Service Employees . Employees of nonprofit and public service are eligible for a fee waiver.
• U.S. military service members . U.S military service members (active, veteran, or honorably discharged). Please include documentation of service or certificate of eligibility. (Do not submit a copy of your military ID.)
• Participants in the Summer Institute for Emerging Managers & Leaders (SIEML) program .
• Applicants who hold citizenship in a country on the African Continent .

Application

Make it manageable. In just five minutes, you can  create your login , input your basic information, or jot down some essay ideas.

There truly is no one "right" answer. We just want to get to know you better.

Transcripts

Ask ahead. It can take schools two to three weeks to mail a transcript.

Entrance Exams

Prepare well for the GMAT, GRE, or EA. Berkeley EMBA student Manoj Thomas discusses his test prep experience in this podcast.

Give your recommender enough time. As a professional courtesy, you should aim to request your letter 3-6 weeks ahead of the application deadline.

Six Fears Students Face when Applying for an MBA (and How to Overcome Them)

Applying for an MBA can call up lots of emotions, from insecurity about being compatible with the program, to worry about the cost, to uncertainty about the return on investment. Read on to learn more about the fears that keep students from applying for an MBA and find out how to squash them.

Learn More & Apply

The Berkeley Executive MBA is a prestigious program designed for executives looking to earn their MBA. Learn from world renown faculty and join a cohort of accomplished peers. All this in the heart of Silicon Valley and on a schedule that respects the rest of your life.

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Evening & Weekend MBA Program

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Our students demonstrate professional achievement, academic aptitude, and leadership potential and come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.

The Evening & Weekend Berkeley MBA admissions team takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, seeking to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences.

All interested candidates are encouraged to start an application .

The Berkeley MBA Application

The first step is creating your Application Portal through our secure online system. Your Portal will be your guide through the admissions process from the time you begin your application through the time you submit your enrollment deposit. 

• You will complete the application, upload all required documents, monitor the status of your application, and receive your application decision through your Portal.
• You may enter, update, and save information in your application any time until you’ve submitted your application.
• Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the date of the application deadline.
• Once you submit your application, you will not be able to make changes to your application, but be sure to monitor your Portal for updates on your application status.
• We will send you a confirmation email upon receipt of your application and supplemental materials.
• Be sure to remember the email address you use to create your account, you will need to use this address for all communications regarding your application.

Reapplying to the Berkeley MBA Program

If you've previously applied to any Berkeley MBA program, including the Evening & Weekend MBA Program, you still need to create a new application. See our information   for Reapplicants .

If you received your undergraduate degree outside of the United States and/or are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, see our information   for International Applicants .

University Transcripts

• We require copies from all institutions you have attended or are currently attending. However, we only require official or original transcripts from the institution where you were awarded your bachelor's degree.
• Transcripts must arrive in a sealed envelope as issued by the school.
• If the institution provides official electronic transcripts, they can be emailed directly from the institution to:   [email protected].

You must upload to your application copies of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs you have attended or are currently attending since graduating high school/secondary school.  You must also list each of these schools in the Academic History section of the application.

You can also learn more about how to provide transcripts and about the academic performance review process . 

Employment & Resume

To review the progression and milestones of your career, you may provide us details of each of your professional roles since you have finished your undergraduate studies. Please break out each of your positions separately and provide dates and details for each position. We also ask that you upload a current resume through the online application. We prefer chronological resumes no longer than 2 pages, in PDF format.  Learn more about how we review your professional experience.

Standardized Tests & Quantitative Readiness

All applicants are required to take the GMAT, GRE, or EA exam. We will accept official scores for GMAT, GRE, or EA exams taken as early as   October 2019   for 2025 applicants. These scores must also be verifiable with the testing agency. The testing agencies keep the scores for five years from the date the test was taken so you must submit your official scores to us directly from the testing agency prior to them expiring.

Berkeley Haas keeps test score reports on file for two years, and there is no minimum acceptable score. Learn more about how we review your test score . 

The Haas Quantitative Readiness Course (QRC)

Bolster your application and prepare for mba coursework.

The optional QRC provides a no-cost option for demonstrating academic readiness and prepares you for the rigors of MBA coursework. The virtual course is self-paced and includes online support from an instructor.

Who should take the course?

The QRC is for MBA applicants who have limited experience using quantitative skills in their academic or professional background and would like to provide more evidence of academic readiness to support their MBA candidacy. It also benefits incoming students who would like to brush up on and/or enhance their quantitative skills in preparation for their MBA.

Note: If you are taking UCB Extension Math for Management, you do not need to take this course.

QRC Course Format and Cost

• The course videos and instructor access are offered free of charge. You may complete the course or portions of the course by watching the videos at your own pace with online support from the professor.
• Your QRC registration is valid for 12 months. If you enroll at Haas, you will be granted access to the materials until you graduate.
• The course is divided into 7 modules: 
• Math Fundamentals for Business Part I
• Math Fundamentals For Business Part II
• Statistics Part I
• Statistics Part II
• Finance Part I
• Finance Part II
• Microeconomics
• Each module is intended to take about one week to complete; however, it is possible to go slower or more quickly depending on your experience with the topics and how much time you invest each week. You may also accelerate through the first two modules by testing out of them.

To Enroll in the Course 

• Applicants must start an application  
• Select the ‘Essay’ tab where you can indicate you are interested in the QRC course and complete the request to enroll. 
• If you have already submitted your application, you may use this link to log into your portal and complete the request to enroll.

Test Waiver Options

Applicants with a PhD with evidence of strong quantitative skills or an advanced medical degree, as listed below, are not required to submit Standardized Test Scores. While optional, they are recommended.  

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

Applicants with a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university in Business, Economics, or a STEM field with a GPA of 3.4 or greater, are not required to submit Standardized Test Scores. While optional, they are recommended. To see if your major qualifies as a STEM degree, please complete the STEM major worksheet here . 

Applicants who are UC Berkeley alumni are not required to submit test scores, however they are highly recommended for those with limited quantitative coursework. Find more details in our Test Waiver FAQ here . 

We’re looking for honest, thoughtful responses that help us get to know you; there truly is no one “right” answer to our essay questions. While you should answer each question thoroughly, you should not exceed the specified lengths.

Essay 1 - Personal Story 

To help admissions get to know you please share something about yourself that may not be evident in other parts of your application. Examples might include information about your family, culture, hobbies, and lived experiences. Please avoid professional topics. (300 word limit)

Essay 2 - Professional Statement

Please summarize your primary area of professional expertise or knowledge. What do you do, and what are you known for? (150 words)

Learn more about what we look for in your essays .  

Letter of Recommendation

• It is recommended, but not required, that one letter be from your current direct supervisor.
• The letters will be submitted through our online system.

Learn more about  what we look for in Letters of Recommendation.

Video Interview

Our video interview allows us to get to know you beyond your written application. The video format provides the opportunity to ensure each candidate receives a similar interview experience, which aids us in reducing unconscious bias. Applicants will complete two short video questions. One question will be based on your desire to attend Haas and the other will give us a chance to get to know you better. For each question, you will have 1-2 minutes of response time. After you receive the link you have SEVEN days to complete the video interview. This due date may be after the application deadline depending on when you submit your application. The video interview has a unique and separate deadline which will be shown in the email that includes the link to the video interview platform.

Learn more about our video interview process and review our Frequently Asked Questions . 

Non-Refundable Application Fee

A $200 non-refundable application fee is required and payable by credit card within the online application.

Fee waivers are available for:

• Nonprofit / Public Service Employees. Employees of nonprofit and public service are eligible for a fee waiver.
• U.S. military service members.   U.S military service members (active, veteran, or honorably discharged). Please include documentation of service or certificate of eligibility. (Do not submit a copy of your military ID.)
• Participants in the   Summer Institute for Emerging Managers & Leaders (SIEML) program.
• Applicants who hold citizenship in a country on the African Continent.

You will apply for a fee waiver within the application. Requests for a fee waiver must be received at least three (3) business days prior to the application deadline for which you are applying.

English Language Proficiency Requirement (If applicable)

Applicants who received their degrees in countries other than the U.S., UK, Australia, English-speaking Canada, or Singapore are required to take the TOEFL exam or the IELTS exam.

• Tests taken before June 2023 will not be accepted.

Review our International Applicants website   for information on ordering these scores

If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic coursework with grades of “B” or better in residence at a recognized US institution at your time of application. You must submit an official transcript from the US institution.

The following courses will not fulfill this requirement:

• Courses in English as a Second Language
• Courses conducted in a language other than English
• Courses that will be completed after you apply
• Courses of a non-degree or non-academic nature
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