The Berkeley MBA – Online Admissions Chat
September 18, 2009
Chat with Berkeley MBA Admissions Team
Peter Johnson, Director of Admissions
Cindy Jennings-Millette, Associate Director of Admissions
Kara Hayman, Assistant Director of Admissions
Wendell Tull, Assistant Director of Admissions
Jeff and Katie, Moderators
Katie_Moderator
Welcome to the Berkeley MBA Admissions chat. My name is Katie, and Jeff and I will be moderating the chat today. Joining us will be Peter Johnson, Director of Admissions, Cindy Jennings-Millette, Associate Director of Admissions, and Kara Hayman and Wendell Tull, Assistant Directors of Admissions. Please send us your questions!
Kara_Berkeley
Good morning and thank you for your interest in the Berkeley MBA Program at the Haas School of Business. My name is Kara Hayman and I am Assistant Director of Admissions. I look forward to answering your questions.
Pete_Berkeley
Welcome!
Cindy_Berkeley
Good morning everyone!
Jeff_Moderator
Good morning everyone, please send us your questions!
Wendell_Berkeley
Good morning everyone! My name is Wendell and I am one of the Assistant Directors. I look forward to chatting with you!
vy
Hello, I did my undergrad in Computer science outside USA, after undergrad I came to US and pursued one year-30 credit MBA in general management, I have 3+ years of work experience. Am I eligible to apply for HAAS finance program or HAAS does not accept candidates who already have a US MBA degree?
Kara_Berkeley
vy, the University prohibits the awarding of duplicate degrees. If you already have an MBA from another university and it is considered equivalent, you would not be eligible for admission.
vy
Can you tell us the importance of extracurricular activities in the admission process?
Wendell_Berkeley
Extracurricular activities are important to us because it shows us that you are involved in your community outside of work and school. It also gives us an idea of how involved you might be as a student here at Haas. So it's very important!
Avinash
Are Haas applications evaluated on a rolling basis or are just the interviews awarded on a rolling basis?
Kara_Berkeley
Avinash, all applications are reviewed within each round. For example, all round 1 applicants will receive their admission decision by Jan 27. Interview invitations can start going out about 6 weeks after the round submission date and can go out all the way up until the notification deadline for the round.
Pete_Berkeley
Maria, Finance is typically one of the top 3 industry areas that our graduates go into post-MBA. For spring 2009 graduates, that percentage has fallen a bit. For a complete breakdown of our 2008 graduates, visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/careers/employmentreports.html. The 2009 breakdown will be available on our site in early October.
Jonathan
Hi, many thanks for organizing this! I have a question about the weight of the GMAT vs. GPA the overall application. I have a 3.9 GPA from top 50 undergrad and scored a 650 on the GMAT my first try. If the test is really the only thing I feel is a weak point in my application (solid work experience, taking evening quant course, etc.) does it make sense to go ahead and apply? I'm not stellar at standardized tests and feel I'd be better served by focusing on my round 1 application rather than putting off apps until round 2 to study to retake.
Cindy_Berkeley
Jonathan Thanks for your question. It is true that the GMAT is only one part of the admissions criteria. We take a holistic review process, and it sounds like you have strengths in other areas that can help combat a lower GMAT score (more specifically, a strong academic performance.) Still, I always suggest that applicants submit the application when they feel it is the best that it can be. So, if you feel you might be able to improve the GMAT you can retake. But if you feel that this is the best score you can reach, then I encourage you to apply.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi everyone, as a reminder we have current 2nd year MBA students in the "Ask Students" room waiting to answer any questions you may have about the student experience.
Gabriel83
Good morning. What's the average percentage of International students accepted per class?
Pete_Berkeley
The percentage of international students in each incoming class is usually around one third. (Fall 2009 was 30%; fall 2008 was 39%). It varies based on the quality of the applicants.
Lauren
I had a question about one of the essay questions. In the question asking what have you done to get to know Berkeley - are you interested in knowing who we talked to specifically (names of students, alum, admissions, etc) or more broadly just what we have learned in researching?
Wendell_Berkeley
Many times applicants do choose to tell us specifically who they have spoken with so that we know that they are seriously interested in Haas. We do also want to know what research you have done about the program. Typically you would articulate that in your essay.
inaki
Good morning! First of all, thanks for your help. Do you expect more application this year than any previous year?
Pete_Berkeley
Inaki, applications for fall 2009 entry were up 7% over the previous year. For fall 2010, I expect that application numbers will be similar to fall--we're not seeing any indicators at this point that it will increase.
ahalvers
I have a PhD in physics and am looking to pair that with an MBA. Of course, my background is a lot more academic than industrial, which could be viewed as both a strength and a weakness of my application. Would you recommend emphasizing my academic work or focusing on my job experiences before and after grad school?
Cindy_Berkeley
ahalvers, I would suggest focusing on your leadership and team strengths. This could be professionally, academically, or extracurricular. I also would focus on what your post-MBA goals are and how this relates to your previous experience. And finally, how an MBA will help you achieve those goals.
Gabriel83
How easy or how difficult it is for an international student to apply for HAAS finance programs?
Kara_Berkeley
Gabriel83, are you referring to financial aid options for international students? If so, please visit our financial aid website for more information: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/finaid/internationalstudents.html. You can also contact the financial aid office directly for more information.
wolfort
Hello, my question is similar to the one that Jonathan asked. I have taken the GMAT and feel that I might be able to improve by about 40 points overall from my first score, however it would mean that I would miss the first round. How much of a difference exists between 1st and 2nd rounds?
Cindy_Berkeley
Historically, we've admitted similar numbers in R1 and R2. My best piece of advice is to apply when your application is strongest.
emilyt
Hi. When submitting an application, do I need to make sure my recommendations have already been submitted, or is it better to submit my application as soon as my part is complete, even if the recommendations haven't been submitted yet?
Jeff_Moderator
Hi emilyt, you do not need to wait for your recommenders to submit their recommendations in order to submit your application. When you feel your application is ready to submit and is complete from your end you can submit. Note, we will not begin reviewing until after the deadline and after we receive the recommendations, if there happens to be any delay in the recommendations we contact them, and you, with reminders.
Jianxin
Haas enrolled 39% international students in class of 2010. Do you have any advice for international applicants? More specifically, I am an applicant from China. In your experience as an Adcom member, what are the weaknesses of Chinese applicants which are reflected from their short answer, essays, and recommendation letters? Thanks.
Pete_Berkeley
Jianxin, that is a difficult question to answer in this format, but generally speaking, a challenge for all intl applicants is often English skills--not so much in the written application, but in the interview. We expect students to be ready to participate fully in classroom discussions, etc. Beyond that issue, some candidates do not explain their professional experience as well as we would like.
botla
What percentage of the admitted students have experience less than 3 years?
Jeff_Moderator
Hi botla, we don't have a breakdown exactly for that but I can say that about 80% of our students have 2 years or more experience. The median years of work experience is 5 and that has been consistent for the last few years.
rahuluce
hi... it seems most of my questions have been answered.. but I still have some more.... I got my engineering degree from an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), where we follow the 10 scale cgpa system and eventually we usually don’t end up getting good grades though in the qualifying examination we are actually in top 0.5%. Would you able to help me with the accepted cgpa's from IIT? I have a GMAT score of 700, and got some decent work experience throughout my professional career, in quantitative finance. Many thanks.
Cindy_Berkeley
rahuluce, I'm afraid that I don't have stats for accepted cgpa's from IIT;'s. But I can say that we receive applications from all across the world and are familiar with the variety of different grading scales. We do take into account the rigor of the academic institution you attended, and the rigor of your major when reviewing a GPA. Again, the review process is a holistic one, so GPA is only one factor among many.
korkoiq
My Question: Hello I'm a senior and I will be graduating in July, can I go ahead and apply for the 2010 MBA program?
Wendell_Berkeley
Korkoiq, if you look at our current profile in regards to the average number of years of work experience an applicant has, post undergrad, you will find that our average student has about 5 years of experience. Typically a student has a minimum of 2 years of work experience when they apply so in order for your application to be competitive I would recommend that you have at least two years of experience prior to applying.
Jianxin
I am 32 years old with a Ph.D. Do you any advice for such kind of applicants whose age largely exceeds the median age of enrollment and who has an advanced degree? How should such kind of applicants show themselves in the short answer and essays to attract your attention from thousands of applicants? Thanks.
Pete_Berkeley
Age is not something that we consider in the application process, and in the fall 2009 incoming class, we had an age range from 25-40. For all candidates (including those with advanced degrees), it is important to clearly explain why you seek and MBA and why at this point in your career.
Allison3
I have a question concerning your nonprofit electives. How many classes do you offer in the program and could you take strictly NPO classes to fulfill your electives?
Kara_Berkeley
Allison3, there are quick a few elective courses within the nonprofit specialty area. For a list of courses, visit http://nonprofit.haas.berkeley.edu/courses.asp. The courses offered may not fulfill all 30 of your elective units.
Ashish
Hi, my question is regarding the JD/MBA program. I am from a technical background, so how would my application be judged for this program? Is a bachelor's degree in law compulsory?
Cindy_Berkeley
Hi Ashish, Regarding the JD/MBA, you will be applying separately to the JD program and MBA program. I can't comment on the JD admissions process, but for the MBA admissions process we are looking for progressive work experience, leadership potential. We are not looking for one certain background but diversity in our class. However, we do look closely at post-MBA and LT career goals, so you would need to tell us why you are interested in an MBA/law degree and how this relates to your previous work experience.
akhargon
Hi: when writing essays for the application, can we write them as if they're all being read by one person as a larger piece (so that we can assume prior knowledge if we want to reference something from another essay)?
Kara_Berkeley
akhargon, Absolutely. Your application will be read in its entirety by at least 2 readers so you are welcome to reference other essays.
Justin
Based on a previous response, it seems as though applying late round 1 wouldn't necessarily be any more/less advantageous than applying early in the same round.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi Justin, no there is no advantage or disadvantage to applying earlier or later as long as it is before the round deadline. Note, we do recommend not waiting until the last minute, to help avoid rushing with any last minute problems or questions. Also, our system may naturally slow down if a lot of people are trying to submit everything on the last day.
jcook
How would you say the post-MBA career path differs for HAAS grads versus other top MBA programs?
Pete_Berkeley
JCook, the only significant difference in post-MBA career paths is that the Berkeley MBA is less focused on a single industry area than some MBA programs. Although our top three industry areas for graduates are consulting, technology, and financial services, which is not uncommon, we also have many students going into Real Estate, Health Mgt/Biotech/Pharma, Energy, and some pursuing entrepreneurial ventures.
botla
Hi. What percentage of the current students have less than 3 years of experience?
Pete_Berkeley
Botla, 10%
Whit
Hi there... I live in Washington DC and was curious to know what % of students are accepted state by state?
Kara_Berkeley
Whit, the locations of our admitted students vary from year to year. Many students come from outside of CA and 30% of our class is international. State/residency is not a factor in our admission review and decision.
Chris
Hi. I was wondering if you could speak to opportunities to explore an interest in product design at Haas.
Cindy_Berkeley
Hi Chris, We have a course that Sara Beckman teaches called New Product Development. Through this class, a couple of our students designed a product; and now have launched the company based on this product. (The co. is called PACT if you want to research more.) Similarly, students often work on products (with other grad students at UC Berkeley) for various B-plan competitions.
elaine
Concerning a recommender, would a recommendation from a CEO carry more weight, or a direct supervisor that know your work better?
Wendell_Berkeley
Elaine, a letter of recommendation from a direct supervisor tells us more about you and your performance on the job. So I would submit the letter from the super.
YJ
Hi. Since I could get all the general information on Haas through website, podcast, and info session, I'm like to dive into specific questions. Among experiential learning programs, I'm especially interested in 'bridging the Divide.' But it seems that there were no programs in 2008. Is there any reason for that? And can I expect to participate in that program once I joined the Haas next year, hopefully.
Pete_Berkeley
YJ, although we have a number of experiential learning programs, the Digital Divide Program has ended.
Daniel C
With regard to GPA and GMAT score, is more weight given to one or the other when reviewing applications?
Pete_Berkeley
Daniel C, no, they are both important.
NT-bschool09
Hello, and thank you for having us! My question is: for those of us with non-business or engineering majors, how is the rigor of our major (apart from the rigor of our institution) evaluated?
Cindy_Berkeley
We look at a couple of things. Did you challenge yourself - and take a variety of different courses? We also look at the rigor/level of the courses that you took.
Katie_Moderator
Thank you for all the great questions! Your questions are put into a queue to be answered, do not be alarmed if we do not respond to you immediately. It is best if you send one question at a time and please do not resend your questions multiple times. They will not be answered more quickly and it may slow us down.
Cesar
I have a question: I have 3 years of work experience but almost 2 of them were as an intern, officially I graduated last year. Can I count my previous 2 years as effective work experience for the application?
Wendell_Berkeley
Cesar, we typically like to see a minimum of two years of full-time work experience post undergrad.
Gabriel83
What's the percentage of students that get a job before finishing the MBA?
Pete_Berkeley
Gabriel83, we collect career data at two specific points--at graduation, and 90 days after graduation. (This is the standard for all MBA programs that are part of the MBA Career Services Council, which is virtually all of the top 20 schools). That number this year was 74%, as I recall, and the Career Services Office will release the final 90 day numbers and breakdown in early October.
Cesar
Hello, thanks for giving us this opportunity! I have a question, I checked that other universities stopped requiring the TOEFL to applicants with English as non-native language. What is the position of Berkeley on this? Will you keep requiring this?
Kara_Berkeley
Cesar, The UC, Berkeley Graduate Division requires that all applicants who received their degrees from countries in which the official language is not English submit official evidence of English language proficiency through submission of the TOEFL or IELTS exam. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and most European countries. Only applicants who have completed a full year of US university-level coursework with a grade of B or better are exempt from this requirement.
ES
Could you please breakdown the number of applications and acceptance rate of each round? Which rounds is it best to apply in?
Jeff_Moderator
Hi ES, I'm afraid we don't publish detailed breakdowns of this information. I can tell you that overall we had over 4000 applications last year and that we made offers to almost 450. In general the pool will get more competitive as we go through the season, purely because we will begin filling slots with each round. That said, we do make offers each round and a strong application is a strong application no matter what round it is submitted in.
Justin
How common are people (like me) who are pursuing a corporate social responsibility emphasis becoming? Is it still a particularly unique feature of an application?
Cindy_Berkeley
We have applicants who are interested in a variety of different things - including CSR - due to our strong program in this area. However, I would not say that it is a unique feature of our application. For many applicants, this is not an interest and that's OK.
Prakash
Hi, I have an average undergraduate GPA of 3.3 but have a good post graduate GPA of 3.9. But I see that the school admission website highlights undergraduate GPA. Is the post graduate GPA considered for admissions? What is the relative importance of undergraduate vs. postgraduate GPA?
Kara_Berkeley
Prakash, we consider both your undergraduate and graduate academic performance in review of your academic aptitude. While we ask for your undergraduate GPA specifically in your application, be sure to track your graduate education in your education history and submit your academic records. Your graduate performance will certainly support your ability to perform within graduate level coursework.
inaki
What is latest average IBT TOEFL score for international students?
Jeff_Moderator
Our average IBT is 110, with 80% of the students scoring between 105-117
ES
Could someone please talk about the CSR program at Berkeley?
Pete_Berkeley
ES, the CSR program at Berkeley is encompassed under the umbrella of the Haas School's Center for Responsible Business (CRB). There is a great deal of data at http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/responsiblebusiness/. We have courses in CSR, speakers series, projects that students do for companies looking to expand their CSR strategy, etc. Please visit the site I list, as this is much too broad a question to answer in this format.
Avinash
As an international student I will not be able to visit Haas. Does that put me at a disadvantage? Although I am applying for a FT MBA I have been gathering most of my information from EW MBA students. Does that put me at a disadvantage? Thanks
Pete_Berkeley
Avinash, not being able to visit does not put you at a disadvantage, but you should be communicating with FT MBA students to gather information. Although the EW program is quite similar, the student populations and non-course opportunities are quite different.
Lawrence
Hello. When answering the essay questions about accomplishments or leadership, how important is it to write about work experience versus extracurricular or college activities?
Kara_Berkeley
Lawrence, you want to strike a good balance with the examples you use in your essays. Your leadership example should demonstrate your strengths and could come from either professional or extracurricular experiences.
Ashish
thx a lot for your response Cindy. In your MBA program, do I have option to take elective courses in the field of law or international relations?
Cindy_Berkeley
Ashish, you can take up to 6 units outside of the Haas School of Business courses. However, you can take more than that with approval of student services if it fits with your career/academic goals.
korkoiq
I'm a senior and I would like to apply for the Fall 2010 MBA program. I will graduate in July. Do I have a chance as an applicant? Should I go ahead and apply with my present transcripts?
Kara_Berkeley
korkoiq, most of our students have between 3-8 years of post-undergraduate full-time work experience prior to coming into the Full-time MBA program. You should have at least 2 years of post-university experience before coming into the program. Without that, your application would be at a competitive disadvantage.
Daniel
Hi! I'm an east-coaster and I wanted to know about how easy/difficult it is to get east coast jobs and internships as a Berkeley student
Cindy_Berkeley
Daniel, We have many companies that recruit students for internships and east coast jobs. Every year, we have students who move to the E.Coast for their summer internship or full-time job. You might also want to pose this question to some current students who worked on the E.Coast over the summer. Contact the HSA at hsa@haas.berkeley.edu and they can help.
Steph
Speaking of recommendations from supervisors, I am a consultant who works in a "matrix" organization - I work on tons of different projects with different supervisors. I was planning to submit a recommendation from my career manager, who does not supervise me on specific projects, but he supervises my overall progress and watches my performance against goals, etc across the organization. Would this be "close enough" to a direct supervisor, or would you prefer I give a recommendation from someone who has interacted with me on 1-2 projects only?
Wendell_Berkeley
Steph, based on what you have described I think a letter from your career manager would be fine. Now if you had the same supervisor on multiple projects, you might include a letter of recommendation from that person as well. Thanks!
David P
My apologies, I was stuck in the 'chat foyer'! My question is: given that the financial returns of a career in finance are likely to substantially reduce in the coming years (either through regulation or lower banking profits), and the large investment required for an MBA, how has, or will Haas react to this changed environment?
Pete_Berkeley
DavidP, we have no plans to directly react to the potential situation you mention. An MBA is a general management degree, and historically, the value proposition has been strong whether you work in financial services or not.
inaki
For the application, do you need original transcripts from the University in paper, or is it possible to send a photocopy or scanned version and, once admitted, send the originals?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Inaki, for the initial application review, we accept uploaded scans of transcripts and photocopies. Details about transcript requirements can be found in the online application instructions.
Ismael
Hi, good evening from Paris, I have a question about transcripts; My undergraduate school does not transcript my grades (in a 0 to 20 scale) into a US standard. Is a translation from French to English language OK?
Kara_Berkeley
Ismael Ghozael, you do not need to try to convert your grading scale to a 4.0 scale. We are able to review your academic records and how your university awards grades on the scale used. You do want to submit your academic records in both French and English so an official translation into English will be necessary for review.
Justin
I will be visiting campus in early October and wanted to make sure that the student who offered to take me to her class can, in fact, do so without going through the admissions office. Of course, she would confirm it with her professor first.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi Justin, students often give tours and introductions to prospective students. For class visits, however, we ask you to go through our office as we have made specific agreements with professors about which classes and how many people can visit. Independent visits can cause disruptions. If you have a special request, however, about a class visit, I encourage you to also contact our Haas Student Ambassadors at hsa@haas.berkeley.edu who can help with arrangements.
BW
I'm interested in becoming a better general manager and one of the areas that I'm seeking from an MBA program is how to be better at persuading others to see things my way. Are there any classes, events, programs at Haas that can address getting better at the soft skills?
Pete_Berkeley
BW, yes, there are many. Leading without formal authority (ie through persuasion) is a key skill of successful leaders. The opportunities most directly related to this will be in our Leadership Development Series, which includes workshops open to all students in areas like "Executive Presence", "Power and Politics in Organizations", etc.
Lauren
For those of us with a business undergrad degree, is it encouraged to try to test out of core classes or preferred that we take the core regardless of prior education / professional experience?
Cindy_Berkeley
Lauren, It's really up to the individual. There are some students who prefer to waive out of the courses because they are interested in taking a number of electives - and this adds to the breadth of their academic experience. There are some who believe they need the refresher - and it's always really fantastic for those students who don't have that background to learn from people like you who have this background!
Jeff_Moderator
Hi everyone, as a reminder, 3 current second-year MBAs are fresh from their summer internships and ready to answer your questions in the "Ask Students" room.
David P
I also have a second question if I may; I am 32 and have worked in industry (airlines) and finance (investment banking) for the past 9 years, and I have found that some schools are trying to reduce their average class age (which is odd because to me, one of the main benefits of an MBA is the sharing of experience) - is Haas also trying to lower its class age?
Pete_Berkeley
David P, thanks for asking this question. We are NOT interested in taking students with less experience, and the corporate recruiters who come to our campus have been very clearly against this trend. (I believe this is one of the main reasons that some schools that have been taking MBA students directly from undergraduate programs suddenly have 2+2 programs and similar initiatives).
lyonmf
Do you prefer a number of perspectives/relationship types for recommenders - such as a professor from 3 years ago instead of multiple, more recent, supervisors - or do you prefer multiple professional recommendations? How do you view 'other' recommendations, such as volunteer experience co-workers or coaches?
Cindy_Berkeley
lyonmf, We prefer professional references only. We discourage academic references. We use these letters to help us evaluate your professional experience. We'd prefer one from a current supervisor - if possible. You may only submit 2 letters. If you are offered a place on the waitlist, you will be given the opportunity to provide additional letters to add to your application.
Tyler
Hello, can anyone talk about the application 'lifecycle' once we submit? Just curious to know how the applications are reviewed and eventually whittled down to the class of 2012. Thanks!
Kara_Berkeley
Tyler, all round applicants are reviewed together. For example, once we receive all Round 1 applications on Oct. 20, we will start reviewing them in a random order and you will receive confirmation that your application has moved on for review within 4-6 weeks from submission. Interview invitations start going out about 6 weeks after the round submission deadline and can go out all the way up until the notification deadline for the round. All applicants within each round will receive their admission decision by the notification deadline for that round.
kimberly
What percentage of those accepted have work experience (vs. entering soon after college graduation)? Can you explain the demographic of the average class from a work experience perspective?
Wendell_Berkeley
Kimberly, virtually all of our admitted students have a minimum of two years of post undergrad full-time work experience. The average student admitted into our program has about 5 years of work experience coming in. This data is all online at http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu Thanks
John Poon
Hi, what are the opportunities at Haas to connect and work with local VC's and entrepreneurs?
Pete_Berkeley
John Poon, there are many--the Entrepreneurs Forum (a monthly gathering of Bay Area entrepreneurs sponsored by our Lester Center for Entrepreneurship), the business plan competitions, our Mayfield Fellows Program, the Berkeley Entrepreneurs Lab, etc. Please visit our website to review additional information at http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/main/.
lyonmf
Do you prefer a number of perspectives/relationship types for recommenders - such as a professor from 3 years ago instead of multiple, more recent, supervisors - or do you prefer multiple professional recommendations? How do you view 'other' recommendations, such as volunteer experience co-workers or coaches?
Cindy_Berkeley
In regards to the second part of your question, we would prefer professional references from those who have worked closely with you and have supervised your work in some capacity. We discourage co-worker/peer refs. Volunteer experiences usually don't have the breadth of a professional reference who has worked closely with you 40+ hrs a week. However, volunteer reference may be a good choice for a 3rd ref if one is on the waitlist.
boy09
Hello Sir/ Madame, I have taken my GMAT and currently working in my own business of export and import which involves various countries with varying products. My main concern is the recommendation part. My supervisor in strict terms would be my father. So, I would like to ask you, that if you were to come across a profile, then what type of people would you find "worthy" and "suitable”, measured by their designation, to write my recommendations. Since in my case it would be a subjective matter unlike the service industry where there are different layer of supervisors which make the recommendation part a bit easier. Please advise!!
Kara_Berkeley
boy09, in this case, you will want to obtain your recommendation letters from those with whom you have had substantial professional experience. You could obtain a rec letter from a major client(s) or perhaps a colleague who led a project team you worked on.
rahuluce
Apologies, if I missed out on the response for my earlier query... would a job change at this juncture into some startup impact my application in any way? I intend to apply in the first round.
Pete_Berkeley
Rahuluce, not sure what you are asking. Our evaluation of professional experience will look at everything that you've done professionally. Unless you are making a dramatic, unexplained transition, I'm not sure why it would be an issue.
Jeff_Moderator
If you haven't had a chance yet, I encourage you to explore our new website. Aside from a new look and feel, there is additional information about academics, career opportunities, the Berkeley community and more: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/
kelly
Do you put any specific quota for prospective MBA students? For instance, specific percentage for international students, specific percentage from different industries?
Kara_Berkeley
kelly, the simple answer is no. We do not have set percentages. The strongest candidates are selected for admission.
HansL
Hi, thank you for this opportunity. I'm from Germany and when I went to university (graduated 2003), most schools including mine did not offer separate undergraduate and graduate degrees, but usually combined "diploma" degrees which are equivalent to a Masters. Is this a problem in the application process compared with US applicants? Should I point this fact out?
Cindy_Berkeley
HansL, Thanks for your question. It is hard to evaluate academic credentials without more information, and reviewing these documents. I suggest that you contact the admissions office at 510-642-1405 if you have questions about your degree equivalency or official transcripts. Thanks!
Jeff_Moderator
Our fall 2010 brochure is online and available. You can request a copy be mailed to you or view it as an online flipbook here: https://ssl.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/inquiry/
Timothy
Hello. Haas has a small class size compared to other MBA programs. Does this mean the alumni network is much smaller as well? Or do you see other factors that make Haas's alumni network strong? Thank you.
Pete_Berkeley
Timothy, it’s true that the FT MBA alumni network is smaller than schools that graduate 900 every year. At the same time, our network tends to be much tighter, including not only the FT MBAs, but the Exec MBAs and other grad programs at Berkeley. Because of the culture here, our students and alumni tend to have closer connections to each other and to the institution.
elaine
Are applications weighed against others in their round or against a general metric?
Cindy_Berkeley
elaine, we look at applications in comparison to the overall pool.
Andres
Hi! I would like to know if you can share with us how many students from Spain are currently enrolled. Do you have any kind of quota per country? Thanks.
Kara_Berkeley
Andres, we do not have specific quotas per country. Our current first year class is made up of 30% international students with students from Spain. I do not know exactly how many students we have in total from Spain between the first and second year classes but it's a good number. You are welcome to email our Haas Student Ambassadors to connect with some of our current students from Spain: hsa@haas.berkeley.edu.
botla
I have experience of 3 years in supply chain management with Manhattan Associates, I wanted to do my MBA in supply chain management. Is this experience sufficient to pursue an MBA, or would it be better if I wait for another year?
Cindy_Berkeley
botla, Thanks for your email. It's really hard for me to evaluate your work experience based on just the # of years of work experience. It's not just about the quantity but the quality of your experience. We look at the progression of your work experience over time (promotions, leadership potential) as well as your letters of recommendation to evaluate your work experience.
Katie_Moderator
Transcripts of this chat will be available on our website within 2-3 weeks. Please check back!
Jeff_Moderator
The Berkeley MBA Admissions team is still traveling. Come visit us at a fair or information session in Latin America and across the United States in September and October. We'll also be in Europe in November. Check out our schedule here: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/offcampus.html
Andres
What percentage of your MBA students go on to work in Western Europe right after finishing their studies? Do recruiters from Europe visit the campus?
Pete_Berkeley
Andres, some firms recruit specifically for positions in Europe, generally consulting firms. For the first position post-MBA, 4% of our graduating class in 2009 went back to Europe. In the past couple of years, about half of our students from Europe have remained in the US for the first post-MBA job, but that was a decision of choice.
Justin
Can you please elaborate on the difference between the Short Answer Question 3 about "Why Berkeley?" and the Required Essay Question 2 where it asks us to describe how Berkeley can help us achieve our career goals? I don't want to be redundant in my answers and the questions seem to overlap so much.
Wendell_Berkeley
Justin, in the required essay question 2, I would focus on what you know about our curriculum and how you will apply what you learn to move forward in your desired career. In regards to "Why Berkeley" you can spend more time talking about Berkeley as a place and maybe our location being popular for MBA's because of the corporations we have in our backyard.
Justin
Where can I find the rules about whether I can apply as a CA resident? I grew up in the Bay Area and went to high school in Piedmont but have not lived in CA since I graduated from High School.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi Justin, residency is determined by the Berkeley Registrar's office. Here is a link to their pages on the subject and how they determine residency for tuition purposes: http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Default.aspx?PageID=residency.html
BW
What about the networking opportunities with fellow students? Is the class broken down by sections? Is there a reason why Haas' class is relatively small compared to other elite programs?
Cindy_Berkeley
BW, The fact that our class size is 240 gives you numerous opportunities to network, and to get to know your classmates very well. This is one of the reasons why our students enjoy Haas so much - and why it remains one of the smallest among the top 10 programs! During the first year, for the core classes, the 240 students are broken up into 4 groups of 60 so your core classes at max are 60 students.
boy09
I graduated in Bachelors Of Commerce from India. Along with my graduation I pursued and successfully completed my Indian CFA. In addition to this, I also completed my Masters in Finance through long distance learning course. My 2 questions are: 1> Since I was working full time during my masters as it was a long distance learning program, will my work experience during that period count?? 2> How do you/most universities in US value the Indian CFA ? Thank you very much.
Kara_Berkeley
boy09, yes we would consider your full-time work experience during your distance learning program. We value all CFA exam experience as an indicator of additional professional finance experience.
David P
One more question, if I may - whilst my work experience is highly quantitative (CFA, finance etc), my GMAT quant score is only in the 51st percentile (total 640) because I'm not good at Algebra (which seems to completely dominate the GMAT quant section); would admissions look through this (i.e. realize I am quantitative given my CFA and work experience), or purely focus on the GMAT score?
Cindy_Berkeley
Hi David, as we mentioned before, the application review process is a holistic process so we will look at everything together in evaluating your application.
Kara_Berkeley
NguyenHoa, the TOEFL is not required if an applicant has completed at least a full year of US university-level coursework with a grade of B or better. Applicants who have received their degrees in the US, UK, Australia, or English-speaking Canada are not required to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam.
Maria
Hi, thanks for holding the chat. I have one question. What are the opportunities at Haas to work in Corporate Finance area in leading companies?
Pete_Berkeley
Maria, traditionally, finance is one of the leading areas that our students enter after graduation. For students graduating in 2008, 23% went into finance roles (the final numbers aren't out yet for 2009 graduates). For a complete breakdown, visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/groups/careercenter/employment_reports.html. Historically, graduates doing corporate finance have worked for consumer product, healthcare, or technology companies including Apple, Johnson & Johnson, Kendall Jackson (wine), etc.
westie
Hi, this is a perspective student from Tokyo. If I may clarify your answer to Tyler's question: are you saying that no matter how early or late you submit the application, it does not matter as long as submit it for the same round?
Wendell_Berkeley
Westie, that is correct! Early or late is immaterial, within the same deadline for that round.
BrianInDC
Good morning. I'm planning on managing a family run business in Berkeley after I get my MBA. Is it safe to assume that the San Francisco Bay Area has one of the highest concentrations of Haas alumni and that Haas alumni are well represented in the business community in the area?
Pete_Berkeley
Brianin DC, yes, like all MBA programs, many of our alumni choose to remain in the greater Bay Area, which is one of the top 2 desired destinations for MBA graduates from all US programs. Although only 30% of our class usually comes to us from CA, 65% usually take their first post-MBA job here, but it's a matter of choice.
YL
Is it acceptable to have both recommendations come from the company or organization as long as both are supervisors?
Wendell_Berkeley
YL, I assume you mean both recommendation letters coming from the same organization. Yes it's fine to have letters from the same organization, and yes, we do prefer supervisors. Thanks.
TaliaV
I have not applied yet, but am afraid I won't have enough work experience to be viewed as competitively as others, even though I graduated summa cum laude. Is it wiser to wait another year and gain more experience before applying, or to try and then reapply the following year? How does is re-application viewed in the eyes of admissions?
Kara_Berkeley
TaliaV, most of our students have between 3-8 years of post-university work experience prior to coming into the program. You should have at least 2 years of post-university full-time work experience to be competitive within the pool. Reapplicants are reviewed in the same way as all other applicants. The difference as a reapplicant would be to clearly present all of the ways your application has changed/improved since the previous application.
YJ
My question goes out to Mr. Johnson, at the info session, you've stressed the concept of "Leading Through Innovation." Is Haas looking for the proven applicants who'd actually shown this quality through their career? Or is it a goal or mission of Haas toward its students?
Pete_Berkeley
YJ, we look for applicants whom we feel have demonstrated some of the skills necessary to be this type of leader, but our purpose is to help our students to develop these skills.
Chris
I understand career progression is an important aspect of application evaluation. However, I transitioned out of a role in management consulting to help run an early stage start-up company. The company has had some success but is still small and does not have significant revenue yet. I feel as though the experience has challenged me a great deal and believe the company has real growth potential. Would this experience be viewed as a positive growth experience from the standpoint of career progression? How can I best communicate the value of that experience from the standpoint of career growth since an early stage start-up does not have the brand credibility that a large corporation does?
Cindy_Berkeley
Hi Chris, besides career progression we also look at the breadth of an applicant's work experience, leadership potential and team skills. In your case, it sounds like this experience at the start up has been a time of professional growth for you in expanding the breadth of your experience. Your job in the application process is to explain to us why you made this move, and how has this recent experience added to your overall professional experience and how it relates to your long term career aspirations. Especially, if this is a smaller and relatively unknown start-up you (and your refs) will need to tell us about this experience and how it has strengthened your experience.
Pete_Berkeley
Everyone, be sure to meet with us when we visit your area. For a list of our fall information sessions, visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/offcampus.html.
Avinash
I have a management degree already Master of Management Studies from BITS, Pilani India. Does this disqualify me from applying to the Haas MBA
Cindy_Berkeley
Although we do not accept applications from those that have already completed an MBA degree it is difficult to say if this particular degree is equivalent to a US MBA. Please call the admissions office at 510-642-1405 to discuss.
Kara_Berkeley
rahuluce, please stick to the application requirement of two recommendation letters when submitting your application. Informal recommendation letters from members of the Haas community who know you well are fine but are not part of the formal app process.
Jamie A
Hello, do you have any advice for applicants who attended lesser well known undergraduate degree programs? Also, does your strive for diversity incorporate not just professional backgrounds, ethnicity, nationality, but also undergraduate programs? Thank you.
Wendell_Berkeley
Jamie A, we accept applicants from a wide array of undergraduate institutions. So don't feel as though we would not give you the same consideration just because you went to a university that was not as well known. And yes diversity does include the different types of programs that our students come from.
lyonmf
If we have taken the GMAT this year and reported our score to Haas at the test center, but do not intend to apply until fall 2010, will your office retain our score, or must we pay at the time of application to have the score re-sent to your office?
Katie_Moderator
Hi, You only need to officially report your GMAT score to us once.
HansL
Hi. I'm wondering about the supplemental question in the application package regarding courses to demonstrate quantitative proficiency. Is this an optional question or would you expect even somebody with a strong quant background in undergrad studies and work experience to take (or intend to take) courses to demonstrate quantitative abilities?
Cindy_Berkeley
HansL, It is certainly optional to take additional quant courses. This really applies to individuals who may not have had a strong quant background in undergrad or professionally. However, we do want you to answer the question and list the courses you have taken and other professional opportunities you have had that demonstrate strong quant proficiency.
Adam Harden
I'm currently a third-year law student at the University of Texas. I was initially interested in pursuing an MBA/JD degree, but I would like to complete my MBA at a university that is more finance-intensive. Would my application be viewed in a light similar to most MBA/JD applicants, or would my lack of full-time work experience critically injure my application? Thanks for your response.
Kara_Berkeley
Adam Harden, applicants to the MBA/JD program are reviewed by both the MBA and JD admissions committees. The MBA review process will focus on your professional post-university full-time work experience. Your application would not be as competitive without at least 2 years of work experience.
rahuluce
It was mentioned that a third recommendation is encouraged if it comes from haas alum/students or profs.... would it be advisable if it comes from Haas MFE program alum/student who was my college senior/junior?
Pete_Berkeley
rahuluce, an additional recommendation is allowable if it comes from a Haas alum, current student, or faculty member. The value of it, like all letters of recommendation, will hinge on how well the person knows you professionally and their experience working with you. You are the best person to judge which person is in the best position to write a good recommendation.
Gabriel83
on October 10th I am going to Berkeley MBA information session here in Mexico City. What can I expect from it?
Kara_Berkeley
Garbiel83, glad to hear you will join us for our Mexico City information session. You can expect an opportunity to network with admissions representatives and alumni. There will be a presentation about the Berkeley MBA program followed by a panel discussion from our alumni.
Justin
Does the admissions office frown upon phone calls from people like previous professors or academic deans to supplement the letters of reference?
Cindy_Berkeley
Hi Justin, We discourage phone calls. We prefer to hear about your professional experience through completion of the letters of recommendation from your supervisors. We discourage academic references (in general) for we are using the letters of recommendation to evaluate your professional experience.
aspirant 2010
Will I be able to visit a class on November 2?
Jeff_Moderator
HI aspirant 2010, you check availability and register for class visits on our website: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/visitation.html . If you have any questions you can also ask them to our Haas Student Ambassador team at hsa@haas.berkeley.edu
Prakash
I am intending to apply for Evening & Week-end MBA program at Haas. In case if required, will it be possible to change to a full time program at a later point in time?
Kara_Berkeley
Prakash, there are cases when EW students transfer into the FT program. It is on a case-by-case and space available basis. Please visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/EWMBA/newtransfer.html for more information.
boy09
I am Director in my Company. Currently we are having a joint venture for certain product line with another company. Will a recommendation from Director or equivalent level person from that company with whom I have been having plans, meetings etc, be considered a valuable recommender?? Next person who I think professionally has seen my work will be the bank's chief manager. These people, though, have analyzed my professional work, but since they do not supervise my day to day activity, will most of the recommendations in my case be considered weak as compared to other cases which you come across?? I hope you understand the anxiety which I may be having and thus, be supportive. Thank you.
Wendell_Berkeley
boy09, if you don't have someone that supervises you at your current firm then I would get a letter from the director of the joint venture you are working with. So to reiterate if you don't have a direct supervisor I would then get a letter or letters from Director's that can evaluate your work and what you contributed to the projects you worked on. Thanks.
Andres
is there a record of past chat sessions? Are you posting this one anywhere?
Katie_Moderator
Please check back on our website in a couple weeks for transcripts of today’s chat.
Natalie
If you have a GMAT score just below Berkeley's 80% range, will a very high math score and not as strong verbal score look at as an advantage or disadvantage?
Cindy_Berkeley
Natalie, We do look at both the verbal and quant score in our review of the GMAT. But again, the GMAT is just one part of the overall review process so we will evaluate both your verbal and quant skills in other ways as well.
Kara_Berkeley
Cesar, while we value any internship work experience you have had, we are focusing primarily on your post-university full-time work experience.
ABlankenheim
I am interested in the upcoming Diversity Workshop being held at Berkeley. I understand there is a recruiting element to it, as well as a focus on the competitive advantage that diversity creates for businesses. Will some of the admissions professionals at this chat be there?
Wendell_Berkeley
ABlankenheim, simple answer to your question is YES! Thanks!
Allison
You mentioned earlier that the average applicant has about 5 years of experience. Knowing this, should a younger applicant with 2.5 years of experience approach the essays or application process any differently?
Cindy_Berkeley
Allison: I wouldn't say that you should approach the essays or app process any differently. We are evaluating the quality of your professional experience (not the quantity) based on career progression over time, leadership potential and team skills.
boy09
Berkeley MBA is highly valued in corporate sector. The stats speak for themselves. But on the other note, Sir, do you provide any sessions / advices to intl. students regarding the chances of not getting the H1B visa, despite graduating from one of the best university in the world, due to the huge number of application and limited work visa. More importantly, though I don’t remember precisely, but the H1B visa application begins approx 3 months before a MBA student graduates. Thus, most applications are filled by engineering students and people from other profession. Thus, leading to further difficulty for international students. I know you must be very updated with this issue. So please give us your esteemed suggestions. Thank you
Pete_Berkeley
Boy09, that is a rather complicated issue to discuss in this forum. I do not recommend that any international student attend a US graduate program if their sole focus is gaining an H1B. It's fine for that to be one of the goals, but we encourage students to have a Plan B. Chances of obtaining an H1B rely on many factors that neither a student nor the school can influence, such as the state of the economy and hiring, specific skills needed in the workplace, and the willingness of a company to do the necessary legal paperwork to apply for an H1B for a candidate. As you noted, the application process starts before school finishes, and actually, a student may not apply for an H1B prior to graduating. All students on an F-1 student visa who finish their studies have a year of work authorization under the practical training provision after completing, and most apply for an H1B during that window.
TaliaV
How important is it to answer the "supplemental questions" portion of the essay? Is it viewed as negative not to answer some/all, including the optional essay?
Kara_Berkeley
TaliaV, there are a few instances where N/A is an acceptable and appropriate answer - the question will indicate when N/A as acceptable. The optional essay is just that - optional. It's fine if you choose not to answer that question.
Kaushal Kumar
is there a program where in someone can visit the campus/class during the weekends?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Kaushal, Unfortunately our visitation program is only available during the week. For more information, please see the visitation program page of our website: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/visitation.html
ES
How does Haas view two different GMAT scores from an applicant, do they weigh the higher score or do they look at the test history as a whole
Kara_Berkeley
ES, we will review the test history but will focus primarily on your highest GMAT score.
Timothy
Thanks for answering my previous question Pete. Here is a question regarding student activities on campus. Do MBA students at Haas typically get involved in social clubs and organizations from the rest of Berkeley, or do they tend to participate in business school clubs only? Also, does the MBA course workload allow students to participate in a good amount of club activities?
Pete_Berkeley
Timothy, it's a mixture. We have over 40 clubs that are MBA-specific, so there is a lot of variety within the program. Many students participate in organizations that cut across departments, however, such as BERC (Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative) or country and area-specific clubs.
vivian deng
How do you view the "GAP" between job-changing?
Cindy_Berkeley
Vivian: This is a hard question to answer without more information. Certainly, whenever your experience a "gap" in your work experience we want to know what you did during this time. If you were looking for another job due to a layoff -- this certainly is understandable. It also depends on how long this gap is, as well as how you spent your time.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for joining us. The chat will be wrapping up in a few minutes. We greatly appreciate your questions. We apologize if we didn’t get to all of them. Please check back on our website for transcripts of today’s chat and for future chat dates.
jacky
Hi, I'm interested to pursue management consulting professional post-MBA in Hong Kong. How well has Haas done previously to help grad to obtain internship & interview at top consulting firms in Hong Kong?
Cindy_Berkeley
Jacky. I would consult the employment report on the career services website which lists this specific info. This year's info should be posted in October: Employment Reports: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/careers/employmentreports.html
YJ
Now I'm finalizing my resume for application. As for education information, do in-house career development courses/trainings given by the company count? The courses that are normally not that long, like a week or so.
Pete_Berkeley
YJ, you can list those if you feel they are significant, but remember to focus on those that are significant rather than providing a long list of everything large or small in impact.
vivian deng
Can I make the appointment for an interview when you have the information session in Beijing in the week of November 29 (your schedule)? Or just wait for the interview invitation after my application?
Kara_Berkeley
vivian deng, interviews are by invitation only so you are not able to request an interview. Please wait to see if an interview invitation is extended and then we will work with you to coordinate the logistics.
Andres
How family-friendly do you think your MBA program is?
Wendell_Berkeley
Andres, our program is very family friendly. We have students who have kids and who bring their significant others with them. We have a tremendous support mechanism for partners as well. It's a club committed to the partners of students that are in the program. You will find that information on our website. Thanks!
Casey Bi
How does Haas look upon younger applicants? If you are less than 3 years out of school, can you (and are you encouraged) to talk about your undergraduate experiences?
Pete_Berkeley
CaseyBi, we don't focus on age at all, however we do look closely at experience. For students admitted over the past few years, the middle 80% of work experience tends to be 3-7 years. With 3 years, you would be at the lower end of that range, so it is particularly important to talk about your progress during that time. It is also recommended that you share significant undergraduate experiences, such as leadership activities, etc.
Gabriel83
Where can we find the transcript of the chat?
Jeff_Moderator
Gabriel83, we will post the transcript on the chat page. You can see past transcript links on the right hand column at our site: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/chat.html
Pete_Berkeley
Ahalvers, the economic downturn has made it more challenging for graduating students than in the recent past, but salaries have remained steady, and our employment rate seems to have stayed pretty healthy. Career Services will release the final data in early October, and you will be able to judge it for yourself.
Arun
How do you view short tenures at companies? (As a result of better opportunities becoming available and switching to another company.)
Pete_Berkeley
There's really no single answer to that question--the important thing is to explain why you chose to make these transitions.
Natalie
How does Haas view older applicants, say 10 years post school?
Kara_Berkeley
Natalie, we are focusing on the quality and depth of the work experience so the number of years is not our focus. The middle 80% range of work experience for our first year students is between 3-7 years, with some students having more than 7 years. Ultimately, we would look for evidence of leadership, progression, etc. in review of your experience.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for joining us for the prospect chat. The chat is wrapping up. We greatly appreciate your questions; we apologize if we didn’t get to all of them. We will be sending a transcript of this chat out in the next 1-2 weeks. The speakers will continue to address questions already in their queue, but we will not be forwarding additional questions.
Cindy_Berkeley
Since our alumni do help us at recruiting events all over the world, and do the majority of our interviews, we try not to take too much of their time. Therefore, we usually don't offer this service for prospective students. Since there is no alumni chapter in Denver - please call the admission office to discuss at 510-642-1405. Here's a list of our chapters:http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/groups/alumni/connect/chapters/contact.html
YJ
If any of you can give a piece of advice to applicants who received corporate sponsorship, what would that be? Any previous mistakes from that type of applicants will be greatly helpful to me.
Pete_Berkeley
YJ, my advice is to take the application process seriously. A mistake I've seen from sponsored students is that they assume that because they are sponsored by a particular company, they will definitely gain admission and so they don't need to put any effort into the application. If you are applying to top 10 programs, I can assure you that this isn't true.
aspirant 2010
can a high grad GPA (3.9) make up for a low undergrad GPA of 2.8?
Kara_Berkeley
aspirant 2010, we will review both your undergraduate and graduate academic performance. A stronger graduate GPA can in some cases balance out a lower undergraduate GPA.
Pete_Berkeley
Thanks again for participating, everyone.
Kara_Berkeley
Thank you everyone and best of luck in the admissions process.
indus
I have a 3 year undergraduate degree from an Indian University. Is that sufficient or is a 4 year degree compulsory?
Cindy_Berkeley
indus: I'm afraid that the Graduate Division requires a 4 - year degree. If you have further questions, please call the admissions office at 510-642-1405.
Wendell_Berkeley
Natalie, getting a letter of recommendation from a former supervisor is quite acceptable. We have applicants that don't want their current supervisor to know that they are applying to a full-time program, so they ask former supervisors for letters of recs. Thanks!
Wendell_Berkeley
Thanks everyone for all of your questions! Good luck!
ellenchen
My undergraduate degree was obtained in one of Chinese University, nevertheless, I earned a master degree from an Australian university. Also, I have lived in Australia for 7 years and currently I am an Australian citizen. Do I have to provide a TOEFL result while applying for your MBA program?
Katie_Moderator
If at the time of application you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at an English-speaking university (US, UK, Australia, or English-speaking Canada), you do not need to take a standardized English proficiency test. More TOEFL specific information can be found on our website and the Graduate Division website http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/index.shtml
Cindy_Berkeley
Thanks for your questions! Go Bears!
Katie_Moderator
Thanks for joining us everyone! We wish you the best during your application process.
