The Berkeley MBA – Online Admissions Chat
January 20, 2009
Chat with Berkeley MBA Admissions Team
Peter Johnson, Director of Admissions
Stephanie Fujii, Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Corinne Kang, Associate Director of Admissions
Cindy Jennings Millette, Assistant Director of Admissions
Kara Hayman, Assistant Director of Admissions
Lee, Shobha, and Katie, Moderators
Cindy_Berkeley
Thanks for chatting today! My name is Cindy Jennings Millette, Assistant Director of Admissions for the Full-Time MBA Program. I'm ready to answer your questions!
Stephanie_Berkeley
Welcome! My name is Stephanie Fujii and I'm the Senior Associate Director of Admissions. We're looking forward to answering your questions today!
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
Let me add my welcome, too! We look forward to your questions!
tara simon
When interested in the MBA/JD concurrent degree, is it possible to not be accepted to both schools?
Lee_Moderator
Hi Tara -- it is possible to be admitted to only one program in the case of the JD/MBA only, since the application and admission processes are totally separate.
HomerJ
Good morning. Given that there are 4 application rounds at Haas, is there a substantive difference in Round 2 vs. Round 3? Thank you.
Cindy_Berkeley
If you have a strong application it shouldn't matter when you apply. We recommend you apply as early as you can.
barcelona
Compared with previous year, how did the number of applicants increase in 1st and 2nd rounds this year?
Pete_Berkeley
Barcelona, we normally don't release those numbers until later in the process, as applicants tend to misinterpret the meaning. What I can tell you is that Round 1 was up significantly, but Round 2 only slightly. After Round 3 comes in at the end of the month, I'll share a more complete analysis on our admissions blog.
Nishan Boyadjian
My long-term career goal is to create my own nonprofit enterprise. Is there a way to have a double concentration, or at least take multiple electives in both the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership and the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship?
Kara_Berkeley
Nishan - Yes, you can take elective classes in both nonprofit and entrepreneurship. The curriculum is flexible so you can choose your coursework to meet you career path needs.
asto
How many seats are left in the third round?
Stephanie_Berkeley
asto, we don't reserve seats in each round. At this point we are in the process of making decisions for Round 1 applicants, so we are only just beginning to fill the class. We have always made a good number of offers in the first three rounds -- the only exception is round 4 since by the final round we have already filled most of our class. (But we have still made offers in Round 4!) Basically -- a strong application is a strong application, and the numbers of offers we make in each round depend on the strength of the round.
Razore
Hi all, my question will be about switch of career fields. I was an auditor in PricewaterhouseCoopers for 2 years and now I will be redirecting my career to marketing and innovation which has always been a dream of mine. Would such a switch cause a negative influence or positive influence on the evaluation of my application? Thanks.
Pete_Berkeley
Razore, we have many career switchers in our applicant pool and in the class. In and of itself, it is not a bad thing. It is important for the applicant to be able to explain why they seek the career transition (i.e. how much do you know about marketing, and what have you done to move in that direction) in order to present a strong application.
carmelite
How much experience do your applicants from non-profit backgrounds generally have?
Cindy_Berkeley
Most of our students have an average of 5 years of work experience. The range for the middle 80% is between 3 and 8 years. No matter if you come from a non-profit background or consulting background - we are generally looking for applicants with strong professional experience. What is most important is not the quantity but the quality.
Abhi
Hello everyone! I think the question on everybody's mind is how competitive is Round 3 this time in comparison to last year
Pete_Berkeley
Abhi, since our Round 3 deadline is not until the end of the month, we have no idea! One of the challenges with online applications is that the majority of applicants wait until the last day to submit.
Aswani
What kind of steps do you expect the applicants to take to learn about the Haas MBA program? For those of us on the east-coast with full-time job commitments, will it be a disadvantage if we cannot visit the school in person before applying?
Kara_Berkeley
Aswani - We understand that not everyone is able to visit the campus. While visiting is the best way to really get to know the Berkeley MBA community, there are many additional ways to learn about the program. Visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/learnmore.html for additional suggestions.
VEGAN
Hello, Thanks for organizing this chat, I was wondering if you can provide some insight into the questions concerning leadership, "1. Give an example of a time when you displayed leadership." I am an engineer with limited experience leading teams and groups.
Kara_Berkeley
Vegan - Leadership can be displayed through many different kinds of examples. Consider your experience to date and when you have had to exhibit leadership within your role, even if you have had limited team lead experience.
Why creativity is so important at Haas?
Stephanie_Berkeley
YungChieh, you will have heard a lot about Haas' focus on innovation and creativity. This focus comes from what we've heard from our stakeholders (recruiters, alumni, students, faculty) about our Berkeley MBA students and the Berkeley MBA experience. We're interested in hearing how applicants think about/demonstrate these qualities to understand how they will fit into our program.
ChiaShun
Hi everybody. I'm a Taiwanese applicant. I only got 660 GMAT and I'm considering taking the test again. I can get better score, however I won't be able to submit by the third deadline. Is there any available space for 4th round applicants? Or is it better for me to just apply in the third round? Thank you.
Corinne_Berkeley
ChiaSun - My advice would be to submit when you are confident that you are putting forth the strongest application you possibly can. We don't reserve any set number of seats in any given round. A strong application is a strong application in any round!
Ning
Hi there, I am wondering if Haas allows its applicants to defer entry, say 2 years, once they are admitted.
Pete_Berkeley
Ning, as a general rule, we do not allow deferrals. Rarely, we will make an exception, typically due to a serious medical situation.
sungwon
In the instruction it says "All official academic records must be issued in the original language and accompanied by English translations prepared by the issuing institution. " Does this mean I have to send two documents – a copy in my own language and a copy English - for each record?
Lee_Moderator
Hi Sungwon -- that is what we require. We need a transcript in the original language, a transcript in English, a degree certificate in the original language, and a degree certificate in English. If you have additional questions about what documents are required, you may want to contact the MBA Admissions Office.
Sally
Do you recommend Berkeley's MBA program for people looking for career change or is it more for experienced managerial personnel? Thank you!
Cindy_Berkeley
We have students in our program who are looking for a career change - to a new industry or function. However, we do have other students who are interested in staying in the same field, but broadening their business skills.
Poonam
Hi, I wanted to know normally what percent of students are admitted in round 3.
Pete_Berkeley
Poonam, there is no fixed percentage of students who will be admitted in any round--it is a result of how many applicants there are, how competitive they are, etc. We are just preparing to release Round 1 decisions next week, so we would have no way to know what that number might be like this year.
Gemma
Are international students able to apply in all four rounds?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Gemma -- yes, international students can apply in all of our rounds. The one thing to consider as an int'l student is how long it will take to obtain your visa -- since we don't notify Round 4 applicants until May 19th, you just want to make sure that there is enough time to obtain your visa so that you may arrive in time to get settled, etc.
Tom
Berkeley's application asks for "direct number supervised" for every position in your employment history. For me, the answer is zero across the board, because in my line of work it is very difficult to get into a management position where you're directly supervising anyone if you don't have an MBA already. But I feel as though my MBA prospects might be hurt without having such management experience. Can you reconcile this catch-22?
Kara_Berkeley
Tom - You do not have to have direct supervisory experience to be a competitive candidate. We understand that many roles do not have direct supervisory responsibilities. With that, be sure to provide examples of the types of leadership roles you have had within your organization.
zst
Is the deadline Jan 30th midnight EST or midnight PST?
Katie_Moderator
Hi zst, the deadline is midnight on January 30th, Pacific Standard Time.
k early
Could you describe in some detail the student culture at Haas? Also, what in your mind differentiates the Haas student body from that of other leading business schools?
Corinne_Berkeley
Kearly - Some words I would use to describe the student culture is passionate, collaborative, and forward-thinking. One of the factors that set Haas apart is the student-driven culture. It's exciting to see how the culture and community changes each year as a result of the new clubs, conferences, electives, and other initiatives that are started by the students. This would also be a great question to ask our current students in the "Ask Students" room.
Eric
It seems that very few got admission from mainland China in past several years. Is there any increase this year?
Pete_Berkeley
Eric, we offered admission to a number of students from China in the past few years, so I'm not sure where your information comes from. Keep in mind that unlike some MBA programs which are enrolling 800+ students, we have a class of 240 each year, of which 33-39% are typically international.
HAAS2009
Hi, thanks for setting up this chat. I am an applicant from India. My undergraduate transcripts state that the medium of education during my four year degree was English. I have also spent the last six years in a professional capacity in the USA. Can I request a TOEFL waiver?
Katie_Moderator
Hi, unfortunately the TOEFL requirement is education based, and if you received your degree from India you are required to take the TOEFL. This requirement is set forth by the graduate division and we cannot make an exception.
Ivan
Could you talk about scholarships? Who will be eligible? Do apps in round 4 have any opportunities? Thanks!
Stephanie_Berkeley
Ivan, we have two Haas specific scholarships -- the Haas Merit scholarship and the Haas Achievement Award. We begin awarding these in Round 1 and continue to award them until the money runs out....so for scholarships, it is important to think about applying as early as possible. There are also a number of non-Haas funded scholarships that are available. We have a database listing some of these on our website.
Luca
Hi, I have already submitted my on line application but not sure if transcripts will arrive before the 30th of January. Will I be still considered for round 3? Thanks
Lee_Moderator
Luca, if your documents are postmarked by January 30, your application will be considered within the third round, as long as they arrive in a timely manner.
barcelona
Thanks Peter. I am a salesperson. Which is better for letters of recommendation? (1) current supervisor and previous supervisor, both employees of my company or (2) current supervisor and client.
Pete_Berkeley
Barcelona, either of those individuals is ok--you should choose based on who you feel is best positioned to write a strong letter. It also helps to have recent experience with you, as your skills have likely developed over the years you have been working.
Poonam
Hi, I am from India. Do I need to submit any sponsorship related document or proof while submitting my application?
Lee_Moderator
Poonam, we do not require any sponsorship or financial documents with our application.
DianaK
I am interested in the food industry, particularly in the wine sector. Being so close to Napa and the wine region, do you have any courses or projects on that area?
Cindy_Berkeley
We do offer a wine class which discusses various topics about the wine industry. You might want to visit the student room to see if they have had the opportunity to attend this class - or others.
shasta
I am a re-applicant. Do I need to re-send my transcripts and scores? Will letters of recommendation from the previous year be considered in addition to the new ones that I provide?
Katie_Moderator
If you applied in the last 2 years, you do not need to re-send your transcripts and scores (unless you have taken more courses or re-taken a test) because we will still have them on file. If you applied more than 2 years ago please re-send us your documents.
HomerJ
How flexible are electives? Can I take courses at another one of UC Berkeley's colleges?
Stephanie_Berkeley
HomerJ, 60% of the courses you take are electives, so the curriculum is very flexible. We do not have concentrations or majors, either, so it is really up to you to craft your course of study. You are allowed to take around 2-3 courses outside of the business school for credit towards graduation. There are also a number of courses cross-listed with other graduate schools (e.g., the law school) which don't count as outside courses.
Cls11
Can you comment on the percentage intake of students who are in early 30s? Can you also comment on the age range of the students?
Cindy_Berkeley
The age range for the class of 2010 is 24 - 38 years old. The average age is 28. Here's the class profile:
StijnS
Hi. I've received a masters degree at a Belgian university. With respect to the application, I wondered if the official transcripts and certificates really need to be sent in a sealed envelope by the university or can I send the information myself too?
Lee_Moderator
StijnS, We require original documents issued by your school and prefer that they arrive in sealed envelopes so that there can be no question about their integrity. If your school does not issue documents in sealed envelopes, send what they issue. Note that we are not able to accept as valid copies that you have made.
Kevin
If I am interested in the Management of Technology certificate, is it better to apply to the MBA program or the engineering program? What will increase my chances?
Kara_Berkeley
Kevin - This is a difficult question to answer. You should, of course, determine which program best meets your career needs. An MBA student can pursue the MOT certificate through elective courses - visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/academics/certificates.html for more information.
Umang
Hello, I understand that seats are not reserved. Can you share historical data on placements in each round?
Pete_Berkeley
Umang, it varies greatly from year to year. Typically, the largest numbers of offers come from Rounds 2 and 3, which are usually the largest in size.
marianne
how does Haas view prospectives without big-name firm experience?
Corinne_Berkeley
Marianne - When we evaluate work experience, we're looking at the quality of your work experience, rather than the size or name of your firm. Many of our students come from smaller companies or startups, and they're able to add an extremely valuable perspective to the class!
zst
I am a permanent resident and my previous degrees are from a university where the language of instruction was entirely English. Do I have to take the TOEFL?
Katie_Moderator
Hi zst. The TOEFL requirement is education based, and depends on the country where you completed your undergraduate degree. Even if the language of instruction was English, you may still be required to take the TOEFL depending on which country the institution is located.
Orkun Kirli
I am sponsored by a company. Does this have a positive effect on my application?
Corinne_Berkeley
Orkun Kirli - Sponsorship by a company will have neither a positive nor a negative effect on your application.
Antonio Rivero
Berkeley asks for an official translation, but as I understand, doesn't accept a copy sent by mail. This complicates things for me. Can I send transcripts by mail?
Lee_Moderator
Antonio, we do accept copies sent by mail, but are not able to accept electronic copies of any documents. They must all arrive via the post.
Mark
Pete, does the school have a target mix of international vs local students?
Pete_Berkeley
Mark, a very rough one--we have a general goal of about 1/3 of the class being international. Last year, we had a very strong international pool, and our percentage increased to 39%, but it varies each year.
VEGAN
Hello, I am interested in meeting with an alum working in the Infrastructure side in developing countries. How can I make that possible?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Vegan, our current students are your best resource at this point. If you email our Haas Student Ambassadors (hsa@haas) they can connect you with students pursuing this area. Our alumni are available at recruiting events during the fall, but this time of year they are busy helping us interview candidates for selection (and so we are a bit protective of their time!) Should you be admitted to our program you would then have complete access to our alumni and our alumni database.
Abhi
How does Adcom judge a candidate's verbal skills? Is it just by TOEFL and GMAT, or do you also consider candidate's previous accomplishments in writing and speaking?
Cindy_Berkeley
In particular, we use the TOEFL and GMAT scores to evaluate English proficiency. However, we do also consider your English writing skills in the essays, as well as any classes/courses that you have taken.
Ruben
Hello, how connected is Haas to Silicon Valley? Do you have percentages of how many graduates end up working in a Silicon Valley company?
Kara_Berkeley
Ruben, The Management of Technology program is strongly connected to Silicon Valley. Visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/academics/certificates.html for more information about MOT. I encourage you to contact them directly for more information. You can also visit our career center site for employment information - http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/groups/careercenter/index.html.
Fahad_Saleem
Do the Haas Admissions place any importance on international experience?
Cindy_Berkeley
We do value international experience.
Determined
Hello - how does Adcom evaluate/consider applicants with medical disability? Do you recommend disclosure of medical details within the application to better address academic/professional aptitude? Thanks.
Pete_Berkeley
Determined, this is a personal decision, really. If an applicant discloses a disability, we consider it in the context of whether or not specific accommodations would be needed, etc. We don't discriminate against candidates who are disabled, and as long as it is possible to accommodate a particular disability, it is neutral. If the disability impacted a candidate's academic and professional experience, it might be helpful to address this in the application.
Mani
Hello, I turned in one of my two transcripts before the second deadline and will be turning in the second one this week. Will both of these be matched to my application automatically or should I attach a note when I send in my second transcript?
Lee_Moderator
Mani, we will get them both to the right place.
fangli
Hi, if one of my recommender will not be able to submit his recommendation before the 30th, will my app still be considered for the third round?
Lee_Moderator
Fangli, if the letter arrives shortly after the deadline, it will be acceptable. We will notify you before we move your application to round four.
soheil
My GMAT score is 640 but I feel that my application in general is strong and brings diversity to the class. Do you think it is a no-no for me to apply, as the website mentions that 80% are in the range of 650 and 750? Or would you still recommend I apply?
Kara_Berkeley
Soheil - The profile is a good start to gauge your competitiveness in the application process. There are applicants admitted with scores lower than 670 and higher than 760. The GMAT is only one piece of the application review process - overall, you want to submit your most competitive application so consider the strength of the other elements of your application.
barcelona
Can I choose a joint or dual degree after entering Haas? Or do I have to decide before applying?
Lee_Moderator
Barcelona, if you are interested in a concurrent degree, you should apply to the concurrent degree. You may be able to add the second program, but there is no guarantee that you will be admitted to the concurrent program.
Fahad_Saleem
Hello from an unusually cold Dubai. I have a couple of questions to ask, but I'll start with one related to the curriculum. Although I've gone through the site in detail, I'm still a bit fuzzy about how the elective courses can be chosen and the number of programs one can enter. For example - MOT, IBD to name a few I'm interested in. Also, how are the student initiated courses chosen? What I need to know whether a student is allowed to choose among these and how many can one enroll for.
Stephanie_Berkeley
Fahad, 60% of the courses you take are electives, so the curriculum is very flexible. We do not have concentrations or majors either so you can select whether you want to focus in-depth in one area (e.g., finance, MOT) or whether you want to take a variety of classes across disciplines. We do have certificate programs in a few areas (global mgmt, health mgmt, entrepreneurship, MOT, real estate) which are like a minor in undergrad. You have to take a number of courses in these areas to qualify -- so it really depends on how much variety you want. IBD is an elective course you apply for; for MOT, you could pursue the certificate or you could simply sign up for courses in this area and supplement them with other electives. Student-initiated courses are selected the same way. Every student has 1,000 points to bid on their elective courses each semester beginning in the spring of your first year.
RazoRe
My GPA is better in the last two years of my college years. How does this influence the decision of the adcom about the application? Say, if my GPA is about 2 in the first two years and 3 in the last two years, would I still have a chance for admission? Thanks.
Cindy_Berkeley
We do take into consideration any improvement to your GPA over time. However, we also do look at the overall cumulative GPA. The average GPA for those admitted last year was 3.54, and the range was between 3.3 - 3.87. You are more competitive if your GPA is above a 3.0 - but keep in mind that GPA is only one element of the application.
HomerJ
I have several transcripts from different schools. I had the schools each send the transcripts directly to Haas. I later read on the admissions webpage that all of the transcripts should be mailed together in one envelope.
Katie_Moderator
Hi Homer, it is acceptable if the institutions send the transcripts directly to us.
ji
Good morning. I understand that the application emphasizes high quantitative skills. Does the core curriculum require high quantitative skills? If so, is it higher than the GMAT quantitative level?
Corinne_Berkeley
ji - Good morning! The curriculum at Haas, particularly the core curriculum, is quantitatively rigorous. We want to make sure that all of our admitted students have a baseline level of quant proficiency so that they are set up to succeed academically. Quant coursework, the GMAT, and any on-the-job quant all help us evaluate quant proficiency.
Nancy
I know that traditionally Haas has attracted a relatively older / more experienced class than other schools of your caliber, but last year your average age dropped by a full year. Is the shift due to a change in philosophy or other factors?
Pete_Berkeley
Nancy, I'm not sure that we are attracting a different pool than similar schools, but we are making different decisions. We do not accept candidates who do not have significant work experience, although some other leading business schools will. We don't consider age in the application process, so the age varies--but keep in mind, that it is an average, and also a rounded average--since it isn't meaningful to people to say 28.4 or 28.8, those numbers would result in an average of 28 or 29, but are just months apart. In other words, the drop of a year is probably not as significant as it might appear. We have not changed philosophy about the work experience of our applicants.
SBuch
Could you give an example of an application that really jumped out to you? What has made a lasting impression on you in the past?
Kara_Berkeley
SBuch - there isn't one answer to this question. All elements of your application are reviewed equally - academic aptitude, professional experience and personal qualities, including your recommendation letters - so each application is unique. Overall, you should consider providing a variety of examples throughout the application to help the admissions committee get a better sense of who you are professionally, through extracurriculars, etc.
Nancy
I understand that first-year students can waive core curriculum by passing an exam similar to a course's final exam. When does that testing take place?
Cindy_Berkeley
The waiver exams are offered usually the Friday before the semester begins.
beta
Hi, I am going to apply to round 3. Is there any difference in the probability of being accepted if I had applied in the prior rounds?
Pete_Berkeley
Beta, in some years, if we have made a large number of offers in rounds 1 and 2, it may statistically decrease the number of offers we can make in Round 3. In the past five years, however, there has been no significant decrease for Round 3. As we tell applicants directly, however, chances in Round 4 are much lower.
Mark
Lee, if I send my originals, can I have them returned to me? I have gone through this process with my school and they are only willing to recommend that I have my certificates certified by a justice of peace.
Lee_Moderator
Mark, please send an email describing your circumstances to mbaadm@haas.berkeley.edu for a full reply.
alkeyes
Hi, I'm Adolph. I am interested in a MBA. I earned a MPA at Southeastern Univ in 1994 but never took the GMAT. Is it a requirement since I already have a MPA?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Alkeyes, yes, the GMAT is required of all applicants.
zst
Regarding TOEFL again. I have received my degrees from a University in Turkey where the medium of the university was English. Now I am a permanent resident and have been living in US for more than 5 years. Should I take TOEFL?
Katie_Moderator
Hi zst. If you completed your degrees in Turkey you are required to take the TOEFL.
Poonam
Hi. My TOEFL is scheduled to be on the 23rd of January and the official scores may not reach you by 30th Jan. However, I will have the scores to enter in the application form. Will my application be considered?
Lee_Moderator
Poonam, we will review your file with self-reported scores and verify the scores later in the admission process.
Nextstep
I am interested a potential change of programs. I am currently in an MBA program but for a myriad of reasons I would like to move to Berkeley. Has HAAS ever dealt with students switching MBA programs? I spoke with someone about units and I am aware that my current units would not transfer.
Kara_Berkeley
Nextstep - There have been students who have been admitted to the program that were enrolled in a different MBA program. It is important for you to share why you want to change MBA programs. You are correct that we do not accept transfer units.
Vijesh
Hi katie, am a 3 year degree holder from India, have 6.5 years of work exp, and a CFA level 2 candidate. I will have also completed one year in the Masters program that am currently pursuing. Would I be treated on par with a 4 year degree holder?
Cindy_Berkeley
I'm afraid that I'm unable to determine your eligibility or chances for admission without a complete application. There are many factors that we consider including GMAT, GPA, institution you attended, essays, work experience, etc.
Chris
Hi again. Just to confirm, are there any documents that MUST be sent via mail as part of the application process, or can all documents, such as resume, transcripts, etc. be uploaded?
Lee_Moderator
Chris, transcripts must be sent via post. We are not able to accept electronic transcripts.
Nas
If an applicant has strong writing skills and not equally strong Math skills, which is clearly reflected in the GMAT, does the applicant review process consider undergrad degrees when looking at scores? Or is the GMAT score evaluated pretty objectively?
Pete_Berkeley
Nas, in our review process, which is holistic, we look at both of those pieces of information (GMAT quant subscore and UG quant courses). It is important for you to provide evidence that you have sufficient quantitative skills to be successful in the core courses, so in addition to the quant subscore, we look at your transcripts for courses in statistics, calculus, college algebra, etc.
Linda Y.
Are full time and part time applicants considered in separate pools? Or do you compare the lists and consider them for only one of the two programs?
Lee_Moderator
Linda, the full time and part time programs are completely separate -- they have different deadlines and application pools. You are not permitted by university regulation to apply to both at the same time.
Matt Werner
Dear Admissions Committee, I am applying to the Haas MBA, specifically for the courses taught in Nonprofit and Public Leadership. I have been working in the nonprofit sector, and I am aiming to move in the near future to the position of development director of an international nonprofit. I was curious if there is someone who could help me while at Berkeley develop a fundraising/marketing plan for the nonprofit that has a unique angle to it, and also who would be best to contact at Haas to follow up on the Nonprofit and Public Leadership aspects of the Haas MBA program. Thank you, Matt
Kara_Berkeley
Matt - You should contact the Center for Nonprofit and Public Leadership for more information - http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/nonprofit/index.asp .
Annie Muto
Hello, I'm applying to the MBA/MPH for round 3. I've done a lot of due diligence and visited, but I'm curious if there are there any qualities and characteristics that stand out or are common among Haas admitted students; have they overcome adversity/demonstrated ingenuity/given to their community/accomplished great strides thus far in their careers? I know it can be a bit different for every school.
Stephanie_Berkeley
Annie, I would say that the most common characteristic I have noticed about our students is their passion! You've probably heard a lot about the collaborative environment, and I think that's something else found in our students -- they value working together and helping each other succeed. As you've talked to our current students during your research, I would be curious to hear what you've noticed about our students. I would say all of our students reflect some of the qualities/accomplishments you've mentioned but we try to enroll a diverse a class as possible -- so accomplishments and experiences come from different areas.
itsmehills
What effect would a DUI have on acceptance and how should I disclose assuming a background check will happen?
Cindy_Berkeley
I would suggest that you be open and honest in your application.
johnson
I have only three years of work experience, but I have a masters degree in engineering. Does having a masters degree hurt or help my chances of getting in?
Pete_Berkeley
Johnson, it doesn't have a significant influence. A master's degree in another field does provide evidence of your ability to successfully complete studies in a graduate program, but it is not a requirement. It certainly doesn't hurt your chances.
Jess
if we intend to take qualitative refresher courses before enrollment but after our application is submitted, how should applicants address this in the application?
Cindy_Berkeley
You may indicate that you are planning to take this qualitative refresher in the optional essay.
Rene R
Hello, another quick question: Who is the right contact person to find out whether Berkeley has received all my transcripts?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Rene, When we set up your application file we will contact you via email to confirm that we have received all your documents. If there is something missing, we will let you know and give you an opportunity to get the missing materials to us.
Luca
what is the time gap between a submitted application and the eventual notification of missing documents?
Lee_Moderator
Luca, it could be as long as a day or two -- or it might be a few weeks. We have a very large workload that all arrives on one day, and it takes us some time to work through it.
Daniel Romano
Although I guess diversity in the class in one of the objectives, engineers coming from consulting and banking seem to be more in number. Is there any preferred profile? Or is it just that the experience in those sectors is more valuable?
Pete_Berkeley
DanielRomano, professional diversity in the class is an objective, but there isn't a particularly preferred profile. I also don't agree that experience in consulting or banking is considered more valuable than other industries, at least not in our admissions process. (Also, applicants coming to us from banking are rarely engineers -- they typically have economics, finance, and business undergrad degrees).
Umang
All this talk of transcripts and certificates is a bit confusing. If we studied in the States, we only need to send official transcripts and our official GMAT score report, correct?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Umang, I understand how the transcript requirements can sound confusing! You're right, if you studied in the States you only need to send us an official transcript from each institution you attended and GMAT scores.
Nico
Hi, I'm a computer engineer with 8 years IT experience and 2-3 years management experience in an international NGO, which is the (new) direction I want to take. Is my age (35 y.o.) a problem? I know I'll be (biologically) older than most students. It is not a problem for me, but is that a major minus point for my application?
Corinne_Berkeley
Nico - Absolutely not! Age is not a factor we consider in the admissions process. In fact, the age range for our current first-year class is 24-38.
Marco2402
Hi, I completed my undergraduate degrees in Italy (all courses taught entirely in English) at a Berkeley partner school (Bocconi). Also I completed an exchange semester at the University of Minnesota with a GPA of 3.9. Do I have to take the TOEFL in this case as well?
Lee_Moderator
Marco, the work you did at Bocconi is not recognized by our Graduate Division as applying toward the TOEFL. You are required to have successfully completed a full academic year of coursework at a US school in order to waive the TOEFL, so your semester at U MN is not sufficient.
YungChieh
I am interested to assume leadership position in Haas's student clubs, and is there any qualification for being a club officer?
Stephanie_Berkeley
YungChieh, all of our club leadership positions are elected positions, so if you're interested in a leadership position, you will "run" for that position -- qualifications will be those that your classmates feel make you the best fit for that role. It could be previous experience, their knowledge of how you contribute (from group projects), how much you've been involved with that club during your first semester, etc.
Juan
I am interested in Real Estate and Entrepreneurship certificates. Given that, is it realistic to also apply for the IBD Program? (I don't want to be a consultant, but I would like the international experience.)
Kara_Berkeley
Juan - Many of our students have balanced coursework in addition to participation in the IBD program. There is a spring course to take to prepare for the IBD program and then execution of the project for 3-4 weeks over the summer. Visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/HaasGlobal/IBDindex.htm for more information. You may also wish to contact the Haas Student Ambassador team for more information on how to balance these - hsa@haas.berkeley.edu
Linda Y.
How closely do you monitor the length of the essays? I am about 6 - 10 words over in some of the answers but really feel that they are succinct already.
Shobha_Moderator
Linda, your essays will not be disqualified for going over the word count, but you can consider this an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
daniel bar
Good morning (evening here in Israel) :) Can you please elaborate on the financial aid / loans that Haas has to offer these days?
Pete_Berkeley
Daniel Bar, we offer over $3.2 million dollars in financial aid each year, most of it in merit scholarships and achievement awards. We will actually have more money in scholarships and grants this year at Berkeley--these are not directly impacted by the state of the economy. As for loans, those for US citizens and permanent residents under the government-sponsored program (Direct Lending) have not changed at all. Private loans (those beyond the $20,000 per year available in federal loans) are still available, but have more stringent credit requirements. At the moment, non-US citizens need to have a co-signer, although we are in negotiations over new programs at this time.
Caroline
I majored in Economics. Where the application asks for classes that demonstrate quantitative abilities, should I list all courses taken for my major?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Caroline. The admissions committee is mainly looking for whether you have taken calculus, statistics, and/or any upper-lever mathematics courses.
shasta
Last year I was offered an interview, and quite simply it was terrible, or rather I was terrible - nervous and not at all myself. I am quite sure that this impacted the final decision. In the re-applicant essays they ask you to discuss how you have strengthened your candidacy but not a lot about my candidacy has changed (in terms of scores, etc) since they were already strong. Do you have any recommendations?
Kara_Berkeley
Shasta - The optional essay to describe how your candidacy has changed should be used to explain any changes since your previous application. If you believe you have improved your interviewing skills, you might include this information along with specific examples to support.
Andy Wu
How has the California budget deficit affected the admission of in-state residents to the Haas program?
Pete_Berkeley
AndyWu, the CA budget situation has not impacted our mix of in-state vs out-of-state residents in any way. At the undergraduate level, the UC system is considering the appropriate mix, but this is completely unrelated to us.
Mark
Katie, I did my undergraduate in Australia but am currently in Singapore. Is it acceptable that I have copies certified by a practicing lawyer here in Singapore? This is the school's recommendation.
Katie_Moderator
Hi Mark, Please request to have your institution in Australia send us official copies of your transcript. We only accept photocopies attested as official by the issuing institution.
Elizabeth
Hi, when you talk about the different kinds of leadership, could you please provide some examples of what you would consider in that definition?
Corinne_Berkeley
Elizabeth - We've see compelling examples of leadership from professional, extracurricular, and personal situations. However, it's really up to each candidate to determine how he or she defines leadership and chooses to present it in the application.
Praneeth
Are degree certificates required of US graduates as well? The application instructions section seemed to suggest that this is indeed required in addition to a transcript.
Shobha_Moderator
Praneeth, US graduates do not require a degree certificate.
Abhi
Could you please tell us the acceptance ratio of international students from last year?
Pete_Berkeley
Abhi, I don't have that information at my fingertips. As I recall, it was quite similar to the US acceptance rate, which was 12%.
JRNY
If my quant GMAT score is low can it be offset by an academic and work record of aptitude in quantitative areas? Or is there a score so low on the GMAT that it would indicate an inability to handle the coursework?
Cindy_Berkeley
We take into consideration many factors when reviewing quantitative proficiency. Besides performance in quantitative classes (like stats and calculus), we do look closely at the quantitative section of the GMAT. The minimum requirement is a grade of B or better in a basic calculus or statistics class. If you have not taken such a class, or performed poorly on the quantitative section of the GMAT, you might want to consider taking one of these quant classes at your local university or college to strengthen this part of your application.
barcelona
When do you hold interview sessions for third round applicants?
Kara_Berkeley
Barcelona - interview invitations start going out to applicants about 4-6 weeks after the round deadline and continue to go out all the way up until the notification deadline for the round. As a round 3 applicant with an application deadline of Jan. 30, interview invitations will likely start going out in mid March.
J
Pete, you mentioned Haas does not accept candidates without significant work experience, can you quantify this? 2, 3, 4 years, etc?
Pete_Berkeley
J, it is unusual for us to seriously consider an applicant with fewer than 2 years of full-time work experience.
Sudhir Bhaskar
Do most students in the nonprofit/social entrepreneurship majors have prior work experience in the sector or are there a lot of students coming from for-profit backgrounds?
Corinne_Berkeley
Sudhir - It's a mixture. We have students going into nonprofit/social entrepreneurship careers who have backgrounds in both the private and public sectors.
J
How competitive has the application pool been thus far? Is it more than in prior years?
Pete_Berkeley
Although the application volume is running ahead of last year so far, the quality of the applicants seems to be quite similar.
PatN
How hard is it to start a new club on campus?
Stephanie_Berkeley
PatN -- there are a number of requirements that need to be met to start a club. It is not extremely difficult, but there's enough involved that the MBAA (student gov't who provides financial resources) and the administration want to make sure that the club members are serious about creating something that will benefit the community. For more information you can email the Haas Student Ambassadors and they can connect you with the VP, Clubs.
Aswani
Do you accept PDF files of original mark-sheets from India as transcripts? I attended graduate school in USA and been here since 2001, as the universities in India require original documents before they can issue an official transcripts. This can be cumbersome considering the travel involved.
Lee_Moderator
Aswani, we are not able to accept PDF copies of transcripts as original for the purpose of admission. If they are the only thing you can provide, we can use them for review -- but we must have attested copies before making an offer of admission.
david
Hi, how should I report my AWA score of the GMAT if I do not receive the AWA score by third round deadline of 1/30/2009? I took the exam recently but the AWA may not be graded for as long as 20 days.
Katie_Moderator
Hi David, please leave the AWA portion blank when you self-report your GMAT score. We will receive the official AWA score from GMAT after it's been graded.
Takashi
I will bring my wife to study at Haas. Is there a dorm for family?
Pete_Berkeley
Takashi, UC Berkeley has an entire complex (University Village) for students with families, which is very popular. More information is included on the University web site.
Chris
Hello. I noticed on the program website that there are no prescribed activities for the summer between the 1st and 2nd year. I'm assuming most students take internships, but are there other ways students fill this time?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Chris, almost all of our students have summer internships. The few exceptions are typically students who are getting married or students who are working on their own entrepreneurial ventures.
RazoRe
In my GMAT score my math is relatively higher than my verbal. Would the adcom consider the fact that I am an international applicant when evaluating my GMAT scores since English is not my native language? Thanks.
Cindy_Berkeley
Yes, we do consider this when reviewing GMAT scores. It is common for international applicants to score somewhat lower on the VP section of the GMAT - but we also look at other factors such as your TOEFL score and English writing skills to evaluate English proficiency.
schmatz
Kara, what about early career candidates with average GMAT scores?
Kara_Berkeley
Schmatz - we are looking at all factors of your application to determine how competitive you are. It's possible that work experience that falls outside of the middle 80% range (3-5 years) could still be competitive depending on the rigor of the experience, evidence of progression and leadership, etc. We look at the GMAT score in conjunction with your academic records so you will want to consider how strong your academic aptitude is between the GMAT and your GPA.
Abhi
What is the verbal score on the GMAT that Haas considers competitive for a candidate from India?
Pete_Berkeley
There isn't a single verbal score--it all hangs on the entire application, as the verbal score isn't the only thing we consider. For most candidates from India, we are also looking at TOEFL scores, essays, etc.
Orkun Kirli
Do you accept anyone with no work experience?
Corinne_Berkeley
Orkun - While we do not have a minimum requirement for years of work experience, it is extremely rare for an applicant with no work experience to be able to successfully demonstrate the qualities that we're looking for in a candidate.
isil
Hi, I took GMAT at the beginning of the January and I didn't have a great result. I am scheduled to take it again. Should I submit my application on round three and indicate my new GMAT appointment or should I wait for the round 4?
Lee_Moderator
Isil, the adcom cannot consider results from tests taken after the deadline for which you apply unless you are placed on the waitlist.
ani
Would not holding offices in any community or professional organization be considered a major shortcoming?
Cindy_Berkeley
Not really. It helps when you demonstrate leadership or any sort of community involvement. Haas is a very student-driven culture and we are looking for students who plan to be involved at Haas!
Umang
Do many of your FT students work while going through the program? Is that discouraged?
Pete_Berkeley
Umang, we highly discourage students from trying to work during the first year, which is very difficult. A number of students each year work part-time during the second year, some as Graduate Student Instructors for undergraduate courses.
Cls11
I work with a small size company and we follow a flat hierarchy although the work experience is very rich and diverse. I am not sure how should I demonstrate my career growth in terms of hierarchical progress when such a structure doesn't exist in my organization. Can you please comment?
Kara_Berkeley
Cls11 - there are many ways to explain your growth and increased responsibility to demonstrate your progression through your essay responses. Your recommenders may also highlight this progression as it occurs within your company.
Dev Kapoor
I have a close family friend who completed his MBA at Haas and he wants to write a "letter of support" on my behalf. Is this something that is done and, if so, what is the process for doing so? Thanks.
Pete_Berkeley
Dev, alumni and current students are welcome to write an additional letter of recommendation that can be e-mailed to mbaadm@haas.berkeley.edu.
meys
On the application, where it says Annual Sales under Employment History, is that the annual budget of the employee/company/organization?
Kara_Berkeley
meys - we are asking for annual sales of the entire company.
beta
Do you give more importance to the verbal or quantitative grades in the GMAT?
Corinne_Berkeley
beta - We consider the verbal and quantitative subscores in the GMAT equally.
Christopher W
Hello, I am aiming to apply to the Round 3, 1/30, deadline; however, I will be writing the GMAT that same morning. If I submit my application and supporting documents and send my GMAT scores immediately after the exam, would that be sufficient time to meet the deadline?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Christopher, you should receive your GMAT scores the same day you take the test. After you take the test, enter your self-reported scores (minus the AWA score) and submit your application. Please be sure to request to have your official scores sent to us.
Sbuch
If I have taken the GMAT several times (3) do you take all scores into account, or just the highest score?
Katie_Moderator
The Admissions Committee looks at the highest GMAT score.
knightm
How does Berkeley evaluate applicants from non-quantitative backgrounds, with such a strong emphasis on this area? How does Berkeley keep the class diverse if the majority of their class is in the upper 80% of quant skills?
Pete_Berkeley
knightm, we have many applicants from highly diverse career backgrounds with strong quant skills. It doesn't necessarily matter if you are working in a highly quantitative position before business school, but you need to show evidence that you have sufficient skills to succeed in the core curriculum, which requires solid skills in statistics and algebra.
Nas
Is it ever the case that an applicant is accepted contingent that they take precourse work such as more quantitative focused classes like calc, stats etc ? Or should that coursework occur before the application is submitted?
Pete_Berkeley
Nas, no--we do not grant conditional admission because something is 'missing' in a candidates profile. Our process is far too competitive for that to be necessary or wise.
Steve.L
I applied for the EWMBA before a year ago but not the full-time MBA. Now I am applying to the full-time MBA. Am I considered a first time applicant or a reapplicant?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Steve. Because the EWMBA and full-time MBA are separate programs, you would be considered a first-time applicant to the full-time MBA program.
Mark
I am very interested in moving into venture capitalism. Can someone elaborate on the intimacy of HAAS relationship with the VC industry in the area?
Corinne_Berkeley
Mark - Haas shares a very close relationship with the VC community and has a number of programs to encourage that partnership. One in particular is the Haas Venture Fellows program, which gives Haas students hands-on experience with VCs in the bay area. You can learn more about this and other programs online at http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/fellowships/hvf.html
Lance
I am a US citizen and resident who received undergraduate and graduate degrees in the US, but also received an MA in the UK. Will the official transcripts be sufficient, or will I need to obtain a degree certificate from the UK school, which I have found to be extremely difficult?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Lance. Official transcripts are sufficient, as long as the degree conferred and the date it was conferred are indicated on the transcript.
Dan
The highest percentage of "selected industry experience" is that coming from consulting, and of the selected undergraduate majors, engineering has the highest percentage. Is it that because the majority of the applicants (not correlated) come from these majors and experience? Does it mean there might be more competition among people with those profiles?
Pete_Berkeley
Dan, I see what you are looking at. Both of the factors you mention are accurate, although not necessarily related. The candidates coming from engineering aren't necessarily those with consulting experience, for example. Those factors do not correlate to a higher acceptance rate, but we typically see many applicants who have engineering background and many applicants who have consulting experience. I would be careful not to read too much into those statistics, which are a reflection of what happened in a particular cycle rather than a conscious consideration on the part of the admissions committee.
Han
I did undergrad at a US university and have been working in the US for the last 4 years but I'm not a permanent resident. Will I be considered a local or international applicant?
Lee_Moderator
Han, we really don't make a distinction between US and international applicants for any admission purpose. Since you are not a permanent resident, you cannot be considered a California resident for tuition purposes.
MarkV
Can you describe examples of Haas strategic plan initiatives that you believe are having the greatest impact on the experience of Haas MBA students? If it is too early to judge, perhaps you can say what impact you expect the initiatives to have over the next two to three years.
Pete_Berkeley
MarkV, some of the initiatives that I think are having a significant impact at the moment are the increasing scope and popularity of the Haas@Work program, the new structure of the leadership core courses, and the additional electives related to clean energy technology.
Ian
One of my recommenders had an emergency and can no longer do it. Is it possible to switch to a different provider?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Ian, yes it is possible. Please send an email to mbaadm@haas.berkeley.edu requesting the change, or you may call the Admissions Office at (510) 642-1405.
soheil
Hi I have two questions. 1) Should the documents be posted as well or is online submission enough? 2) Please let me know how you evaluate GPAs from abroad; for example mine of 14/20 from University of Tehran is quite competitive there, however is not as good compared with others.
Kara_Berkeley
Soheil - You only need to submit the application through the online process - you do NOT need to print the application and send by mail. You do, however, need to submit your academic records in paper format through the mail - we do not accept academic records online. For more information, visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/requirements.html. We evaluate your academic performance in relation to how your specific university awards grades, rankings, etc.
Sbuch
Do you announce acceptances via post or email?
Pete_Berkeley
Sbuch, we announce it by phone, e-mail, and letter.
JRM
Hi, One of the essay questions for the Full-Time program asks, in essence, how our career progression thus far has contributed to what we would plan to do with a Berkeley MBA. I am wondering the best way to answer this question if we are eyeing a shift in career trajectory. For example, for someone who works in finance but is really interested in social entrepreneurship, possibly within the broader finance field, but potentially also as it relates to something entirely different such as food policy. What is the best way to make what you've done so far jive with the idea of a fundamental "career shift"?
Cindy_Berkeley
We are looking for applicants to have a good idea of their career goals and why they want an MBA now. Even if you plan to make a career switch, it is important for you to discuss what your short term and long term goals are. With those applicants who are making a career switch, it is important to validate why you want to make the switch and how your past experience relates to your new career. Do you have transferable skills? What are you involved with currently that relates to this new direction?
Mark
Lee, would you require the actual certificates of undergraduate degree or would the transcripts suffice?
Lee_Moderator
Mark, it depends on where you went to school. Please send a detailed question to mbaadm@haas.berkeley.edu
shasta
How do letters of recommendation work for reapplicants? Should I have two new individuals write me letters? Will last year's letters be re-reviewed as well?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Shasta, reapplicants have the option of submitting up to 2 new letters of recommendation. When reviewing your application, the admissions committee will look at your letters of recommendation from last year.
Eyal
What are the most active clubs at Haas? What is the best way to begin contributing to them?
Stephanie_Berkeley
They change depending on the interest of our students! And I would imagine that each club would tell you they're the most active...even if it is a smaller club, the students involved are incredibly passionate about that area so I guarantee they're organizing the activities and experiences that will help them make the most of it. As a student, you have the ability to impact your experience here. After the first 3 weeks of class there is a club fair where new students can talk to club members and figure out where they want to focus their time. From then, you jump in and get involved with the various club activities and events that take place throughout the semester. At the end of the first semester, elections are held for club leadership positions. The challenge is narrowing it down to only a few clubs!
Jon
As an applicant with a humanities degree and having spent the last five years running a small business, I'm concerned about my quantitative experience. I've taken a statistics course in the past few years, but how else can I demonstrate my math skills? How much does would this factor into the consideration of my application?
Kara_Berkeley
Jon - We are looking at both quantitative coursework and your GMAT subscore to determine your quantitative proficiency. If you do not have much quant coursework or professional quant experience, your GMAT quant subscore should be strong to reflect your abilities.
joe
Hi, I'm a second-year law student in different school, is it possible to pursue an ad hoc MBA/JD degree with my law school and Haas?
Lee_Moderator
Joe, we offer a concurrent JD/MBA with an integrated curriculum and a shortened time-to-degree to students at Berkeley Law and Hastings. We do not offer that sort of program to students from other schools, and you cannot create an ad hoc program.
Simon C
Will there be places this year in Round 4 given the dramatic increase in applicants?
Pete_Berkeley
simonc, although statistical chances of admission in Round 4 are typically lower, we have never had a year in which we did not take some candidates from round 4, and I don't expect that to change this year.
Tee
What is the average GMAT score for accepted students?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Tee, last year our average GMAT was 714, but it is more important to focus on the competitive range (the middle 80%) which was 670-760.
MrBerkeleyProspect
How is the "Clubs/Organizations" section used to evaluate an applicant?
Kara_Berkeley
MrBerkeleyProspect - we are trying to get a sense of who you are outside of your professional profile and how you might contribute to the Haas community as a student. While some applicants are involved in many extracurricular activities, some are involved in a meaningful few. Ultimately, it's how meaningful the involvement is to you and your level of involvement that are most important when evaluating this section.
Maggie
I am temporarily living out of state, but vote in California and have a California Driver's License. I am trying to determine if I am a California resident for the application's purposes. Thanks!
Katie_Moderator
Hi Maggie, all residency questions must be answered by the Registrar's Office http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Default.aspx?PageID=legalinfo.html
Linda Y.
I am going through the interview process to become a US Citizen (am currently a perm resident) should I let Haas know as soon as my status changes, or can I send an update later on.
Lee_Moderator
Linda, citizenship status does not affect the admission process. If you are offered an interview or placed on the waitlist, that would be a good time to update your information.
Gemma
I am a career switcher looking to get into the marketing field. Outside of showing transferable skills in my past work experience and speaking to professionals in the industry are there any other things you could recommend I do to strengthen my research in this field before submitting?
Corinne_Berkeley
Gemma - Highlighting transferable skills and speaking with professionals in your target field is certainly a great start! In addition, you might consider getting involved with an extracurricular activity in a capacity that relates to your career goals, perhaps a marketing role with an organization. The more you can do to demonstrate your knowledge of and genuine interest in your new field, the better.
Fahad_Saleem
I am very fascinated with the concept of "Leading through innovation" and understand that it applies to a very broad definition. My question is whether mentioning innovation in technology (by means of work experience) is a positive inclining toward Haas' innovation concept.
Stephanie_Berkeley
Fahad, we have no judgments as to the type of innovation you describe. We are most interested in learning about how you think about innovation/how you have been innovative.
Steve.L
I have submitted application in R2. However one of my references has his email address changed due to their corporate change, but his phone number is not changed. I am very worried that when Adcom contacts him via email they will receive a rejected response. What can I do to update my reference contact?
Lee_Moderator
Steve, send an email to mbaadm@haas.berkeley.edu and let us know what happened -- we will place that in your file.
cgu
Hi, understood that Haas put a lot of weight on work experience. Does that mean people with less than 2 yr work experience are discouraged to apply? What if they have a legitimate reason, ie. planning to enter an emerging business after MBA where opportunities are diminishing fast?
Pete_Berkeley
cgu, since we do not have a minimum work experience requirement, anyone can apply, but unless she or he is able to show significant work experience, I would discourage an application. By significant, we are referring to responsibilities, what the candidate has learned, etc.
Mark
Would the mailing address for transcripts and certificates accept couriers from say, DHL or UPS?
Lee_Moderator
Mark, it's certainly fine to send documents via a courier service -- that also lets you know we received the packet.
Simon
I have taken calculus and other upper level math courses for my undergraduate major, but have never taken a statistics course. How would that affect my application?
Cindy_Berkeley
We ask that you take a basic calc or stats class, at a minimum, with a grade B or better. But we also look at how you performed on the quant section of the GMAT. If you scored below the 70th percentile on the GMAT, I would suggest that you consider taking a stats class.
J
Is coursework primarily done individually or in teams?
Stephanie_Berkeley
J, for your core classes, the majority of the coursework is done in teams. There will almost always be a group component to your classes but the degree varies depending on the course. For example, in marketing you have a group case write-up for your mid-term. In accounting, you will have a few group problem sets but more of your work will be done individually.
knightm
Does Berkeley look at all scores for GMAT? I know they consider the highest, but if there is a big jump between 2 scores, is that considered?
Kara_Berkeley
knightm - while we are primarily evaluating your highest GMAT score, we do review all test scores in the review for change in performance.
RazoRe
if I am not admitted in the third round do I still have the opportunity to apply in the next round, with improved GMAT of course. Thanks.
Lee_Moderator
RazoRe, the Round Three decisions are not announced until April 28. The Round Four deadline is March 11. You would be free to apply next year, for Fall 2010 admission, of course.
Ty
If there is a disparity between my GMAT quant score and verbal score, should I discuss the reason for my lower quant score and highlight the statistics, algebra, and calculus classes I have succeeded in? If so, where is the appropriate place to do so, the optional essay?
Katie_Moderator
Hi Ty, if you would like to discuss this, the optional essay is a good place to do so.
Eyal
I have an engineering background and haven taken very few business related courses - macroeconomics, finance, accounting etc. Does this hurt my application at all?
Corinne_Berkeley
Eyal - Not having done business-related coursework does not negatively affect an application. However, for applicants coming from a non-business background, such as engineering, we'll want to see evidence that you've had at least some exposure to and understanding of business fundamentals. This could be through professional or extracurricular involvements.
Sudhir Bhaskar
To what extent are Haas students able to take courses outside of Haas? Is there an approved courselist?
Corinne_Berkeley
Sudhir - Students are able to take 2-3 electives outsides the business school and still have those credits count towards the MBA degree. On top of that, students are free to enroll in courses outside of Haas without having the credits count towards the MBA.
Jon K
HI Admissions . How do I best intimate in my application that Haas is by far my number one choice and that I will definitely enroll if accepted? Also, how should I best communicate the fact that I have a significant other who is applying for admission to another program at Berkeley.
Pete_Berkeley
Jon K, I guess the best way to indicate this is to show that you know what the Berkeley program is about and how it meets your needs. Simply stating that it is your first choice in and of itself isn't usually very convincing. Also, you are free to mention the significant other in your application, but know that this is not a factor that would influence our decision in one way or another.
Andy Wu
I am unsure of the number of employees or annual revenue at my previous employer. How should I fill out that out in the application?
Kara_Berkeley
Andy Wu - your employer may be able to provide this information to you. Please be as accurate as possible when reporting these numbers.
Rene R
I would like to describe an important event/experience which took place in 2004 in one of my essays --- would that be ok or do you prefer more recent examples, i.e. from the last 2-3 years?
Kara_Berkeley
Rene R - more important than recency is relevancy of your examples. If you feel that your example is relevant and can convey your intended message, please feel free to share it.
soheil
How do you evaluate the masters degree grades? Especially if they are extremely better than the bachelor's one and are from a better known schools?
Cindy_Berkeley
We take masters degree grades into consideration; however, we focus more on the undergraduate grades. If you show improvement in your graduate education, of course, this is viewed favorably.
Jon
How does that acceptance rate for applicants with a small business managerial background compare with the acceptance rate for applicants with a financial services/consulting background (all other things being equal)?
Corinne_Berkeley
Jon - I don't have exact numbers for you, and that's mainly because we don't divide our applicant pool along those lines. We're looking to admit a strong class from a diverse range of professional backgrounds! We evaluate the quality of a candidate's work experience within the context of their background, whether that's small business or big business.
Ty
Hi, I'm debating between the MBA with graduate certificate in healthcare vs. MBA/MPH dual degree. Any advice?
Cindy_Berkeley
I suggest that you talk to Kristi Raube in the MPH program; or maybe to our Haas Student Ambassadors about this. It really depends on your specific career goals going forward and your professional experience until now.
Matt Werner
As part of the University of California system, does the Haas School of Business give preference to applicants who are California residents and who plan to work in California after they earn their degree?
Kara_Berkeley
Matt - Residency is a factor that is used for tuition assessment but NOT a factor we consider in the review of your MBA application for admission.
Joanna Keh
Are all accepted applicants interviewed?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Joanna, yes, it is very rare for us to make an offer of admission without an interview.
Takashi
Hi, I am an attorney at law. And I would like to combine my legal knowledge and business theories in Haas. So I am wondering if I can participate in some law classes. Is it possible?
Corinne_Berkeley
Takashi - absolutely! The Haas curriculum is flexible in allowing students to enroll in some non-business school courses and still have the credits count towards completing the MBA degree. Many of our students take law courses to enhance their business education.
Caesar
Hi - Does AdCom consider the working hours of applicant while looking at the amount of extracurricular activities? As an example, one might not have many extracurricular activities because he/she works 80-90 hours per week.
Cindy_Berkeley
We do consider this.
Berk
in my country clubs at high schools and universities are not as common as the US education system. Is fewer extracurricular activities a weakening part for internationals?
Cindy_Berkeley
No. We do understand that there are varying degrees of extracurricular involvement in different countries, and we do take this into consideration.
Linda Y.
How many candidates (or what percentage) are typically placed on the waitlist every year?
Kara_Berkeley
Linda Y - we do not have a set percentage of students placed on the waitlist each year. This varies depending on the competitiveness each year.
Nazy
Hi there, would you say, due to the poor economy, the number of applications you've received so far has increased significantly?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Nazy, so far we have only received applications for 2 of our 4 rounds. While applications are up so far (and we do expect them to be up overall), it is too early to gauge the magnitude of the increase. It could be the case that people are simply applying earlier...
Alissa
Is there any guidance you can share on is preferable for length, level of detail, etc of the resume that is included in the application?
Corinne_Berkeley
Alissa - there is no standard format for the resume submitted for the application. Approach the resume as you would for any professional interview in a business setting.
rwebb
Cindy, you mentioned that you require a grade B or better in a calculus class. I did not receive a B or better, but received an A in a statistics class. I intend to take a calculus course in the next few months, but it will not be included in my application. Am I automatically out if I didn't receive a B or better in calculus?
Cindy_Berkeley
No. Quant proficiency is only one element of the application. To review quant proficiency, we look at a number of different things including quant grades, GMAT QP, and quant experience at work. Please just note that you are taking a class, and we will consider this with your application.
Pete C
If asking a current supervisor for an LOR is not advisable for me, yet I want to have a recommender address my recent work, could I have a current client write a recommendation? e.g., CFO of a client company with whom I've worked closely.
Stephanie_Berkeley
Pete C, yes. Just make sure to explain why your current supervisor has not written a recommendation (Supplemental Question 1).
Caroline
I re-took a calculus course for a better grade. Should I list both quarters the class was taken and both grades?
Stephanie_Berkeley
Caroline, although we will see your transcript, yes, please list both classes.
haas_applicant
Is my GMAT score compared with the entire pool of applicants or with those who have the same background as mine (industry, nationality, work experience)?
Cindy_Berkeley
The entire pool.
D
So, if I understand correctly, if your overall GPA isn't stellar, but you have a good quant record from undergrad, you could still be considered competitive?
Corinne_Berkeley
D - There are a number of other factors that could make a candidate competitive, but if you are focusing on the quant aspect, a low GPA can be balanced with a high GMAT score as well as a strong quant record in undergrad.
Jon
As a follow up - what would be considered "strong" for a GMAT quant subscore? If I plan to take one or two courses between now and the fall start of the program, should this be mentioned and will it affect the consideration of my application?
Cindy_Berkeley
Please mention that you are taking these classes in your application. We don't have a minimum QP score because we are reviewing many different factors when looking at quant proficiency. A strong score would be 80 QP or above.
Dev Kapoor
I didn't perform as well on the Quant section of the GMAT as I would have liked. However, I have a generally more quantitative background (equity research work exp, MS in accounting/finance). Can you comment on how this scenario may be viewed by the application committee? Thanks.
Cindy_Berkeley
We definitely consider quant work in your professional experience in addition to your GMAT score.
Caesar
What is the cutoff time of years of work experience? Is it the time the application is submitted or the applicant is accepted?
Cindy_Berkeley
We ask for number of years of post-university work experience until July 2009.
Cindy_Berkeley
Thanks for your questions. Go Bears!
Stephanie_Berkeley
Thank you all for your questions today. Good luck!
Kara_Berkeley
Thanks you for your questions! Have a wonderful day.
Corinne_Berkeley
Thanks for joining us today!
