The Berkeley MBA – Online Admissions Chat
November 25, 2008
Chat with Current Haas MBA Students
Morgan Eckles, MBA Class of 2009
Craig Klemp, MBA Class of 2009
Shobha Kazinka, Moderator
Shobha_Moderator
Welcome to the Berkeley MBA Student chat. My name is Shobha and I will be moderating the chat today. I would like to introduce Craig Klemp, a 2nd year MBA student, and Morgan Eckles, a 2nd year MBA student. Please send us your questions!
Morgan MBA09
Hi all. My name is Morgan and I am a second year student pursuing product marketing in the high tech sector. I am a bit of a career switcher, having worked in banking and marketing previously (but never tech). I worked for 7 years in Boston prior to Haas, moved out here with a partner, and hope to stay in the Bay Area after graduation. At Haas, I am active on the MBAA (student government) as the VP of Admissions and am also a member of the Marketing, Technology, WIL and Redwoods Club. Happy to answer any questions about the Berkeley MBA from the student perspective!
Craig MBA09
Hi everyone! I am a current 2nd year student at Haas. I'm from the Washington D.C. area and went to undergrad at the University of Virginia where I studied business and government. After graduation, I spent four years in the DC area in a couple of finance roles – first in a rotational program at Lockheed Martin followed by a venture capital firm focused on homeland security investments. I chose to attend Haas based on its impressive students, intersection of general management, entrepreneurship and technology, the small class size and of course the Bay Area. At Haas I'm involved with the Haas Student Ambassador program, Haas Venture Fellows, Consulting Club, Entrepreneurs Association and Berkeley Board Fellows program. I worked for L.E.K. Consulting this summer in their San Francisco office.
mbandel
Can you please comment on your personal experience, based on the work-load and team work oriented approach at Haas?
Craig MBA09
Hi mbandel. The Haas curriculum has a sizeable percentage of group work; in fact, every class has some element of it. In your first semester at Haas, you are assigned to a study group, in which you do all of your group work for your fall classes. I really enjoyed the experience - I was able to learn from classmates with very different backgrounds and also got the chance to know some individuals that I might not have otherwise.
Yong
how about career placement this year in face of financial crisis
Morgan MBA09
Great question. This is definitely a challenging time, but our career services office is working especially hard to bring companies on campus. I would say that overall companies probably aren't extending as many full time offers in the fall as they have previously, but most have committed to interviewing and said they will be revisiting budgets and headcount after the New Year. I think this is common across all schools right now. the good news is that our alumni network has been fabulous and is really coming through with leads/networking.
mbandel
How does it feel to form part of such a small and prestigious program?
Morgan MBA09
It feels great! No, but seriously, Haas is a fabulous place and the people here are really what make it so special. We don't sit around and pat ourselves on the back each day, but there is definitely an energy/vibe about the Berkeley/Haas campus that is truly unique
pkatta
I am very interested in coursework that deals closely with companies and projects integrated with companies. Have you found ample amount of opportunities like this in your tenure at Berkeley? Been able to work closely with technology companies? What about international exposure in this area?
Morgan MBA09
There are lots of opportunities to work directly with companies, all part of our Leading Through Innovation approach. These include Haas@Work, Berkeley Solutions Group, all of the Speaker Series courses, Case Competitions etc. Additionally, since most classes are a combo of case and lecture, we frequently have company executives come to classes as visitors or speakers.
Brian
From your point of view as an attending student, what are some of the areas where Haas stands out from other b-schools?
Craig MBA09
Hey Brian. From a career perspective, Haas is an outstanding general management program, with other specific strengths in Entrepreneurship, CSR/non-profit, Technology, Finance and Marketing. More importantly, I believe Haas' culture stands out from other schools - the program is heavily student run, and it's a collaborative culture where people work closely together in class but also hang out in other settings as well.
mbandel
Morgan, what are the classes that you have enjoyed the most?
Morgan MBA09
Without a doubt, Leadership Communication (a core class focusing on persuasive speaking skills) and Negotiations (a highly applicable course on negotiating effectively in personal or professional settings). I also really enjoyed the core Micro and Accounting courses, amazing professors
Park
Hi. Craig. thanks for being here with us. Regarding IBD, can students choose clients? Or are projects assigned by professors?
Craig MBA09
Students cannot choose specific clients as part of the IBD program, but they can request specific areas of interest and regions of interest in the application process.
Craig MBA09
A nice aspect of the Haas curriculum is that you do not have to declare a concentration and can shape your elective curriculum as you choose. Generally, students take 60% of their course load in electives, which can include classes in other UC Berkeley departments.
mbandel
Morgan, how has your interaction with professors been? when arriving to Haas, did you know exactly what you wanted to concentrate in?
Morgan MBA09
Professors are very approachable and eager to engage with students. For example, my Micro professor last year held extra review sessions before the final (in addition to the sessions the GSI held) for a small group of people who needed extra help. The professors also partake in a formal lunch program, and are often guests at social events on campus as well. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to concentrate in, but I knew I wanted to get more of a general management skill set with a slight focus on marketing. That has since morphed into strategic marketing/tech
Megan
Craig, I read that you are in the Consulting Club. Can you talk a little more about that and what is involved?
Craig MBA09
The Consulting Club is a student-led club whose mission is to provide students interested in entering the consulting industry with relevant resources (in addition to the resources offered by Career Services). They put on a firm night that attracts the top management consulting firms, host case interview workshops, and assist students with resume and cover letter preparation.
pkatta
Morgan, did you find the ability to career switch particularly easy at Berkeley. What I mean, were there ample resources at your disposal to assist you with your career switch?
Morgan MBA09
Definitely! Because Berkeley has such a strong general management curriculum and focus on leading through innovation (teaching skills that will be useful now as well as 5, 10, 20 years from now), we attract many career switchers. I don't know the stats, but I'd say more than 50% of any given class changes professions. As a result, the careers services office is well equipped to help us and we actually start the recruiting/prep process really early in the school year (as in, during Orientation Week!)
Leic
Could I apply for this round 2 and freeze up for 2010?
Shobha_Moderator
Deferrals are granted only very rarely, usually for medical reasons.
Jaisang
Do you have any specific class which you felt you could learn both knowledge and how to apply it into real-world problem? Especially, I'm interested in those linked with high-tech companies.
Morgan MBA09
There are several classes where this is possible, as many encourage (or require) a project with an outside company. One such class is Marketing Research, where there is a semester long project with a company of your choosing (examples of projects this semester include Google, Facebook, NorthFace). Also, the Entrepreneurship class is excellent because it allows you to develop a business plan in a team of 4 people, and also brings in a guest speaker virtually every class (mostly from tech companies) to talk about their entrepreneurial ventures (including the founders of Google Earth, among others)
Hi Craig.. I met you one month ago while visiting campus and attending an info session. Since I am already working on my application I was wondering what factor you think was key to be accepted.
Craig MBA09
Hey Luis - it's good to hear from you. The Admissions criteria page (http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/index.html) provides a good starting point as to the key points. Personally, I think it's important to spend an appropriate amount of time thinking through and writing the essays as they are the only way, outside of a potential interview, to communicate your interests and passions to the Admissions Committee.
Shruti Doval
Hi, Can one pursue more than one certificate program? I am specifically interested in MOT and Entrepreneurship programs.
Morgan MBA09
It is possible, but you wouldn't have room for any other electives other than those required of the programs. I can't say I know of anyone doing two certificates, but if it's really something you're passionate about then it is an option. You can still get the benefit of the classes without having to get the formal certificate. That would give you more flexibility and allow you to take advantage of all the other great courses at Haas.
Eric Higgins
Is it difficult to balance the 'intern search' with the course load in the first quarter? When do students usually get started with the intern process?
Craig MBA09
The internship search really picks up in the second semester so you have time to adjust to the being back in an academic setting. Certain industries such as banking and consulting start interviewing at the beginning of the 2nd semester so it's helpful to start prepping in your 1st semester. The larger question is how you juggle all of your activities - academics, career, extracurricular, and social - and this is the key to succeeding in b-school. Knowing your priorities before you start will help you navigate this time management challenge.
Megan
I also read that McKinsey has recently teamed up with Haas for a non-profit consulting program. Have either of you been involved in those projects? Are they mostly local Bay Area projects or do they involve travel?
Craig MBA09
Hi Megan. I did not take Social Sector Solutions, but I do know that all of the participating firms were Bay Area non-profits.
will
I'm trying to get a sense of the personalities on campus. Morgan, Craig, how would you describe your best friend(s) at Haas?
Craig MBA09
That's tough to pinpoint because everyone comes in with very diverse backgrounds. But overall I would say that they are fun, friendly, smart, down to earth, and truly want to get to know their classmates inside and outside of the classroom.
oodo
Hi, All, As I knew, Berkeley is strong in high tech, what else is its strength? Or could it differentiate from other schools in CA?
Morgan MBA09
You can get more detail on this from the Berkeley brochure, but we are also very strong in Entrepreneurship, Corporate Responsibility, Real Estate and Global Management. In general, 97% of Berkeley grad programs rank in the top 10 so you also have access to some incredible programs in the greater community
pkatta
What was one item that really stood out in your mind about Berkeley when you may have been deciding between admission into multiple schools
Craig MBA09
Sorry, forgot those of you that entered after the start can't see my intro. I chose to attend Haas based on its impressive students, intersection of general management, entrepreneurship and technology, the small class size and of course the Bay Area.
Lyn H Lewis
Hi Craig- how might I be able to see chat responses, such as yours, from before I signed on?
Shobha_Moderator
Lyn, while our software does not allow you to see posts that were made before you entered the room right now, we will be posting a transcript of this chat on our website within the next week or two.
s
Who are some of the current profs that you've enjoyed working with to date?
Craig MBA09
My favorite professors to date were Steven Tadelis (Microecon), Suneel Udpa (Accounting), Rashi Glazer (Marketing), Terry Taylor (Operations), Vinnie Aggarwal (Business & Public Policy).
David
Can you describe the course selection process? Is there ever a problem with one class being very popular and filling up very quickly, making it difficult to take?
Morgan MBA09
In the fall of your first year you take all core classes, and no electives. In the spring semester you take some core, and 2-3 electives. Thereafter, everything is an elective. Each student is awarded bid points, and we use those points to bid on our desired classes. We have access to historical surveys/evaluations and also conduct info sessions with professors to get a sense of the classes and gauge our interest. The bidding process is usually 2-3 rounds. Every year there are a handful of classes that bid out, but the good news is that the administration anticipates this so the same courses are usually re-offered the following semester or in some cases the capacity is increased
bulers_manila
you mentioned full-time offers are harder to come by. is the case the same for internships?
Morgan MBA09
Most internship recruiting happens in the spring, so I think it's too early to tell. That said, I would surmise that internships should be fine...most companies want to hire smart talent on a temp basis, and relatively speaking interns are very cost effective for them. So, I'd expect internship recruiting to be unaffected
Alejandra
Hello, I'm Alejandra from Monterrey, Mexico... Craig, Morgan, could you tell us a little bit about the Center for Responsible Business?
Craig MBA09
Hi Alejandra. The Center for Responsible Business provides classes, experiential learning opportunities such as Social Sector Solutions, and other programs for students interested in entering the fields of CSR and social entrepreneurship. To learn more, please visit their website at http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/responsiblebusiness/
disa-indonesian
How do you see the quantitative approach in Haas overall program? Is it majorly used?
Morgan MBA09
The core classes prepare you most of the quant skills you'll need down the road. Micro, Macro, Stats, Accounting, Corp Finance and Marketing give you the foundation for any electives you'll take thereafter. Certainly, some courses are more quant focused than others (obviously finance and real estate), but even the "softer" classes like Marketing electives require quant skills for pricing, break-even analysis etc.
NY.candidate2009
i have 530 gmat...2 years non profit experience and masters in math...and international background..what thoughts?
Shobha_Moderator
NY, it's really hard to make predictions about an application without being able to see the whole application. A prospective student is more than just a handful of numbers; your application helps to tell a story about you. You may want to take a look at our current student profile at http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/community/classprofile.html to see how you compare in those respects, though.
Park
How much is the average housing cost around your school? One bedroom will be good enough for my family.
Morgan MBA09
A one bedroom that would be large enough for a family would probably run $1,400-$1,800. Studios can be had for under $1,000. If you have a family, you can also look into housing at UC Village which is operated by the greater UC Berkeley community and is less expensive
s
What kind of exercises do you do in the Entrepreneurship program?
Craig MBA09
The Lester Center of Entrepreneurship offers a wide range of classes and other programs. Classes include the gateway Entrepreneurship class where you work with a team of students to build a business plan and present it to a panel of VCs/entrepreneurs at the end of the semester, as well as a host of other electives. Programs include the Berkeley Business Plan Competition, Haas Venture Fellows, Mayfield Fellows Program, and Life as an Entrepreneur speaker series. To learn more, please visit http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/main/index.html
LZ
What percentage of MBA students have children? How does that affect life at Haas, both for classroom and extracurricular activities?
Morgan MBA09
About half of the students come to school with a partner, but probably only 10% have children. That said, partners and families are a big part of the Haas community and are welcomed at most events. Our Partners Club is a great way for families to stay involved, meet others in their situation and get connected with the MBA experience
Yash
Thanks for this chat. Can you comment on Haas alum network resources, for example, is there an alum database MBA students can access to contact alumni. How helpful are alum in supporting each other and so on...
Craig MBA09
Hi Yash. I have been very impressed with both the size of the alumni network as well as its responsiveness. You have access to all Haas alums (FTMBA, EWMBA, executive program, undergrads) and also alums from the rest of the enormous UC Berkeley network. I reached out to 5-6 alums through the database last year when asking for consulting informational interviews, and I found them all to be very responsive.
Pooya_N
Good Morning from Melbourne, Australia, Morgan and Craig and thank you for hosting this chat. I have read a lot about the supportive culture of the school, just wondering what your experiences have been like. How do you find your fellow students?
Morgan MBA09
The collaborative culture is one of the primary reasons I chose Haas, and you can feel it every day on campus. We have a grad non-disclosure policy, which helps to foster this collaborative environment. For example, students frequently share "cheat sheets" before exams, study in large groups, etc. I was also part of a group of 10 students all interviewing for the same summer internship, and prior to the interviews we were talking about/sharing potential questions/answers. This kind of stuff happens all the time here!
Jaisang
How many clubs do current students join usually? I'm interested in more than 4 clubs including Tech., Consulting, and soccer. Enough time allowed?
Morgan MBA09
Certainly. Most students join 6-8 clubs I'd say, but are active in 3-4. You could certainly do all of the above
Jaisang
How can I be selected for IBD? Is there any specific requirements?
Craig MBA09
Typically about 80 students are admitted to the IBD program. There are no specific requirements - you simply submit a resume and an essay about what you are passionate about.
Megan
What surprised you most when you started at Haas?
Morgan MBA09
What surprised me most...how busy you are! Honestly. Grad school is very different from undergrad. You hit the ground running on Day 1, and even have homework due before the first class. I was amazed at just how quickly things get started.
Ankit Parikh
Do you think if an application took the GMAT 4 times, but ended up with a score of 710, the amount of times will be held against him or her?
Shobha_Moderator
Ankit, no, the number of times you take the GMAT will not be held against you.
Avi
How many chances do you have to participate in experiential learning classes? (labs, consulting projects, etc)
Craig MBA09
Hi Avi - the experiential learning opportunities are nearly unlimited. Please explore the Haas website to learn more about all of these programs: Haas@Work, International Business Development, Social Sector Solutions, Berkeley Solutions Group. You can also choose to take an independent study, which often takes the form of experiential learning.
TM
Craig and Morgan, do you feel that you transformed yourself during your school life at Haas? If any, in what respects do you think so?
Morgan MBA09
Definitely. Business school affects everyone differently, and this is a great question to ask. Personally, business school has made me a much more confident person and given me the tools to "create my own adventure". Haas in particular encourages students to take risks, but to do so in a supportive environment. The support/encouragement from peers, professors etc is really incredible here and I've been able to grow as a leader both inside and outside the classroom
Fish
Do you have any classmates from government/non-profit backgrounds (or specifically, universities) and if so, do they have a more difficult time either fitting in with other students or keeping up with academics (as compared to students from financial, IT, or consulting backgrounds)?
Morgan MBA09
We have students from all sorts of backgrounds, including many without financial/quant skills. By and large, everyone is able to ramp up in the first semester and we have a 2 week "Math Camp" prior to Orientation for students who need extra help in stats, accounting and corporate finance. You'll see that students here are eager to help each other out, and we are put into study groups of 5 people, so there is a lot of teamwork involved to make sure everyone stays on track
s
Do you get enough sleep with the course load?
Morgan MBA09
Ha, great question. This is different for every person and you figure out what works best for you once you get here. I tend to be someone who would rather stay up late and get up early during the week so that I can have my Saturdays and Sundays free. That said, I probably sleep 5 hours a night (I also like to workout, so that cuts into the sleeping time). But, this is not necessarily the norm and most people find the routine that works for them.
Drew
Hi. What's the difference between the job description part of the employment history section of the application and what I show on my uploaded résumé?
Shobha_Moderator
The job description section ensures that we can learn certain information about your work experience, and gives you a chance to elaborate further on your positions. It is all right if this information duplicates some of what's on your resume. Your resume allows you to present yourself as you would to a potential employer, so you can include more information than just work experience.
Lyn H Lewis
How much does the culture of the city of Berkeley color the character of Haas? When I visited a few weeks ago, I saw undergraduates in lots of body paint, and guys on the street who look like they've been there since the 60s. I went to the University of Chicago- so this felt like it might be a lot different than my previous educational experience. :)
Craig MBA09
Hi Lyn. Berkeley is a little bit different than my undergrad (University of Virginia) so I can relate. Between the large amount of time you spend at Haas and the opportunity to live in and explore other parts of the Bay Area, you can spend as much or as little time in the surrounding Berkeley community as you choose. I think you will find it rewarding, however, to get to know a city that has had such a large impact on this country relative to its size. I live in North Berkeley, which has a great mix of upscale restaurants and boutiques, and certainly breaks the Berkeley stereotype.
juan
Craig, Morgan, could you tell us a bit about life at Berkeley outside academics. Do you live in Berkeley or SF? Do you need to own a car?
Morgan MBA09
About 80% of students live in Berkeley or Oakland. It is really nice to be near campus, especially in your first year when you'll have lots of late night and early morning meetings. I'd say 50% of students have a car, but it's not necessary if you live nearby. The public transportation (bus and BART) is pretty good, and most people get around on foot or bike
ankMBA
with the relatively small class size at Haas, do you feel that there are fewer recruiters that visit campus?
Craig MBA09
Hi ank. I don't know the exact number of recruiters, but it's very large relative to our class size, and I don't think the small class size is a limiting factor. We have all of the typical professional services firms, as well as a wide range of large corporations, mid-size firms and startups, recruit on-campus and through job postings.
Isabelle
Morgan, I saw that you are focused on Marketing. What made you chose Berkeley for this specialty over other MBA programs?
Morgan MBA09
I really liked the opportunity for experiential learning (case competitions, guest speakers, working with companies), the small class size (opportunity to get really involved and wear many hats) and access to firms in Silicon Valley (since I wanted to switch into tech).
ShresthaP11
what is the climate of California? Does it snow out there?
Morgan MBA09
it doesn't snow in the bay area, but tahoe (and snow) are just 2-3 hours away. the weather here is great year round, and allows you to really take advantage of our surroundings...hiking, biking, running, sailing, skiing etc. highly recommended!
disa-indonesian
Do you guys still have time to have fun at weekends due to overly-hectic schedule? What do you usually do for leisure time?
Craig MBA09
Hi Disa - I always make sure to free up time on the weekends to explore the Bay Area (no Friday classes helps). Outside of class I hang out with friends in Berkeley, explore San Francisco, head to Wine Country, hike in Marin, and during the winter spend a lot of time skiing in Lake Tahoe.
Avi
How has Berkeley's proximity to the Silicon Valley impacted your experience? (Coursework, lectures, projects, etc)
Morgan MBA09
it's been great, and we leverage it all the time. Many guest speakers come in from the valley, and we also take career treks down to firms like google, yahoo, adobe, cisco etc to meet with executives and tour the campus.
obi
what are the most popular classes that students take in other schools at UCB?
Morgan MBA09
i'd probably say that language classes are the most popular, but students also take courses at the law school as well as the school of public policy
AaronS
While B-Schools release avg. age of students that can be skewed by those who are well outside the mean. What is the avg age of students in your classes, ignoring the outliers, and how does that affect the environment?
Craig MBA09
The median age, which excludes outliers more than the mean (I learned something in Statistics class!) of the Classes of 2009 and 2010 is 28. This means most students have at least 4-5 years of work experience, which I believe helps the learning experience.
s
Are you anxious to get back to the working world?
Morgan MBA09
Ha, not necessarily! Business school and Berkeley in particular, has been truly incredible. I've often joked about how I could extend this experience for another year or two! It will be nice to start making a pay check again, and also to start applying many of the skills I've learned in the classroom. But I would love to stay here for as long as possible!
Lyn H Lewis
Some people have told me that Haas' greatest subject-matter strength is its focus on entrepreneurship. Would you agree? If there were one other area that really shines- what might that be? (VC? tech? non-profit?)
Craig MBA09
Entrepreneurship, including VC, is certainly a strength, but I believe Haas does well in a variety of other areas, including but not limited to finance, tech, non-profit/CSR, energy and healthcare.
Tushar
Hi Morgan, I'm looking to transition from a CRM implementation and project management role into technology marketing, preferably at a software or consumer technology major. What courses does Haas target for such a profile? Is there a trend in the kind of students these firms prefer, in terms of background?
Morgan MBA09
Hi, there are certainly other students who are making similar transitions. I'd encourage you to look at the MOT (Management of Technology) certificate and the courses offered in tech/marketing. They are listed on the website. Some examples include Customer and Biz Dev in High Tech Enterprise, Managing the New Product Development Process, Quality Improvement: Strategy, Processes and Customers
s
What's the difference between Berkeley and Stanford MBA? Do you work with those folks?
Morgan MBA09
There are a lot of differences, too many to list. I'd encourage you to visit both schools and talk to students from both programs. We don't interact with them specifically, but often cross paths at conferences, career events or case competitions.
bulers_manila
what's a grade non-disclosure policy?
Morgan MBA09
Grade non-disclosure: each year, students vote on whether or not grades can be disclosed to recruiters during on-campus recruiting. Students have been voting on (and passing) this for 18 years running. It allows/encourages students to take courses outside of their comfort zone and not stress out as much about grades. Also encourages collaboration
AaronS
If you could change one aspect of your Haas experience so far, what would it be?
Morgan MBA09
I want it to be longer! Honestly, I wouldn't change anything. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true. I came to Haas ready to take advantage of every opportunity that crossed my path, and I think so long as you have a positive/open mind then you can get everything out of this experience that you want to.
Park
When should I decide my specialty? Can I change it during the program?
Morgan MBA09
Haas is a general management program, and students are not required or expected to pick a specialty. You can pursue a certificate if you want, but this is totally up to you. Students will tend to focus their electives in certain areas (such as non profit, or marketing, or tech) but again, that is a personal decision
s
How long does a typical business plan take to complete?
Morgan MBA09
It totally depends on how well you've developed the idea. I suppose you could write one in a couple of days if you had to. In the Entrepreneurship class here we write one over the course of a semester. It is an iterative process on which we get continual feedback
Drew
Is there ever a problem with popular classes reaching maximum capacity and preventing MBA students from joining?
Craig MBA09
Each semester there are a couple of classes that "bid out" due to popularity - in the case of the coming spring both Pricing and Power & Politics were extremely popular among 2nd years, and 1st years did not have a chance to bid on them. Given that you have two years to bid on classes, however, students tend to take almost all of the classes that they want.
Justin617
Do you find a lot of students are making total switches in their careers? I am interested in the MOT program, but don't come from a typical tech background...
Morgan MBA09
yes and yes. You can certainly get into tech without a technical background. The MOT certificate could help lend some credibility to your resume, but is not required by any means. I did not have a tech background and interned at Google for the summer. I'm currently pursuing only tech positions for full time (without the MOT certificate).
Shobha_Moderator
Please visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/visit.html to see the various options available to Haas visitors.
obi
what are some of your favorite classes? what was memorable about that class?
Morgan MBA09
My favorite classes have been Leadership Communication (core class), Negotiations and Creativity and Innovation in Marketing
Andrew P.
Would you say that the culture at Haas is more competitive or collaborative?
Morgan MBA09
Collaborative, definitely
STulsi
Hi, my question popped up earlier, but didn't get a response. ::: How do you pick your classes and professors? Is there a bidding system, especially in the first year? I would also like to learn more about what students think about professors, and who the Stars are? Could you tell me how to go about it?
Craig MBA09
Hey STulsi - you may have been out of the room during my response to a similar question. There is a bidding system for electives - you start using this for the spring semester of your 1st year. Popular elective professors include John Morgan, Teck Ho, Cameron Anderson, Vinnie Aggarwal, and Henry Chesborough, among others. You can explore the bios here: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/directory.html
STulsi
Does the Haas teaching style lean more towards Cases or Lectures? Are there a lot of classroom debates?
Morgan MBA09
it is a combination of both. Most courses include both cases and lecture. I don't think I've had any class that was either/or
ShresthaP11
Craig, Morgan, could you tell us if Haas provides apartment/ housing for the students?
Craig MBA09
UC Berkeley offers some student housing through the International House and UC Village (targeted toward married students and families). The majority of students find private housing in the surrounding Berkeley communities, and given that it's a college town, there are a wide range of options.
Loren
I'm thinking about continuing to live in SF while being at Haas full time. Any thoughts on how this may or may not work?
Morgan MBA09
Certainly possible, and some of our classmates did the same. I'd say about 10% of any class will live in San Francisco, so they often commute together. It requires a bit more effort to be engaged in some of the social activities, and may cut into your sleep (since many classes meet at night or you'll have study group meetings late), but certainly possible
Luis
Hi moderator. Regarding my resume... how long should it be?.. I´ve heard one page is the professionnal standard?... How does it work for Haas admissions officers?
Shobha_Moderator
Luis, your resume should be similar to the professional resume you would use when applying for a job. One page is not a hard limit, but you should use your best judgment in how to present yourself concisely and effectively.
Daniel
I believe that to enter Berkeley you consider yourself as potential leaders. In the time you've been studying how has the school enhanced you leadership abilities along with meeting your expectative?
Craig MBA09
Haas has exceeded my expectations in this area. I have honed leadership abilities through specific classes such as Communications and the core Leadership class, but also through taking on leadership roles in various student clubs.
Avi
Craig, Morgan - How have you taken advantage of the opportunities for global experiences at Berkeley?
Morgan MBA09
I haven't taken any courses abroad (but definitely look into IBD), but we do travel a lot as a group. We get 5 weeks off during winter break, so many students get together and travel to far off places of the world. Last year I went with 10 students to Patagonia for hiking/kayaking and this year I'm going to Peru to hike Machu Picchu. The school also organizes educational or career treks - including Hong Kong, Japan, India, Brazil, Israel etc. Some of these are for course credit, others are just for experiential learning
boris
is Haas adjusting its curriculum (case studies, class discussions, etc) to better relate to current financial crisis?
Craig MBA09
Hi Boris. I'm sure that professors are starting to tailor future classes to account for this timely topic. In the short-term, we've had a number of speakers and panels on the topic of the financial crisis. And in my current finance-related elective, we discuss it practically on a weekly basis.
bulers_manila
since entrepreneurship is one of the major strengths, how many of your classmates aren't looking for jobs, and are instead planning to start their own business?
Craig MBA09
I'm not sure of the number in my class, but 17 students from the Class of 2007 and 15 students from the Class of 2008 pursued their own business ideas after school.
AaronS
How often do students place out of core classes is they have past experience and does Haas support this?
Shobha_Moderator
You may waive out of core courses at the discretion of the faculty, but you must replace the waived course with another class.
Saif
Morgan, I would like to know what makes Haas unique from other B-Schools? Why did you choose Haas?
Morgan MBA09
It's the energy, the culture, the vibe that you feel the minute you step foot on campus. Haas is a small community, among the smallest of the top business schools with just 240 students per class. As a result, we are all actively engaged in the program and wear many hats, so to speak. We take a personal interest in making this school a better place, and are eager to give back and get involved. Bottom line, it's the people. We're active, energetic, and passionate about our community and bringing out the best in our colleagues.
Rubi
How much experience sharing takes place between students? To what extent are you benefited from your classmates?
Craig MBA09
This happens on a regular basis typically through informal conversations. I have spoken to countless classmates with consulting experience as I contemplate entering the industry, and I've had a number of meetings with current 1st years interested in pursuing venture capital (my prior job).
Morgan MBA09
There are so many things to do here in Berkeley. San Francisco is just 10 miles away, Napa is 30 miles, Tahoe is a few hours. Lots of outdoor activities - hiking, biking, running, sailing, skiing that can be done practically year round. On campus we are involved in many clubs and responsibilities include conferences, case competitions, forums, events etc. Of course, there are all the social events that students put together, as well as campus wide events such as speakers, sports (football mostly!) etc.
Liz
What is Haas's relationship with the big consulting firms (McKinsey, Bain, etc)?
Craig MBA09
Similar to all of the top business schools, the big consulting firms recruit at Haas every year. We also have a wide range of smaller and industry-specific consulting firms come to recruit.
ShresthaP11
hey Morgan, are there electives for finance and strategic management?
Morgan MBA09
yes, there are plenty. You can see a full list online, but there are easily 20+ electives for that field
Gianna
Where do a lot of the MBA students reside? Is there Grad Housing?
Morgan MBA09
Most students (80%) live near campus (within a 10 minute walk or drive). There is no official grad housing, except for UC Village which is an option if you have a family. Most people rent apartments, or sometimes a group of students will go in on a beautiful house together
disa-indonesian
Do you guys happen to know any Indonesian that currently study in Haas?
Morgan MBA09
Yes, we have a handful.
Drew
I'm interested in BERC. What kind of multi-disciplinary projects are students in that program working on?
Craig MBA09
Hey Drew - check out the following link to learn more about BERC: http://berc.berkeley.edu/. In addition to the various programs, they put on an annual symposium (last year's keynote was the green-focused VC John Doerr). The club is an umbrella organization with members from a number of UC Berkeley grad schools, and it's benefitted from the recent BP donation of $500 million to UC Berkeley and the Berkeley Labs for clean energy research.
Shobha_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for all your questions. I apologize if we did not get to all of them. We will not be forwarding any more questions, but our guests will continue to answer the questions in their queues.
Shobha_Moderator
Check back on our website within the next week or two to find a transcript of this entire chat, where you may find answers to your questions.
JoeA
How much interaction have you had with the Haas alumni association and what has been your take on it?
Morgan MBA09
Alums are great! I've been reaching out with several alums to network for career purposes, and they've been incredibly responsive. We also have several formal alumni events, including a career networking event in the fall and the spring, plus mixers both on and off campus to encourage networking. Alums are also actively involved in prepping students for careers, and frequently come back to campus to conduct mock interviews, information sessions etc. They are highly accessible on a formal or informal basis and incredibly helpful!
Alhanie
Hi, is there much opportunity for language study? I would like to focus some of my time on learning other languages
Craig MBA09
Hi Alhanie. Haas students can take up to 6 credits, no questions asked, at other UC Berkeley grad classes as well as undergrad language classes. I have a friend who is currently taking Portuguese since she is planning to move to Brazil upon graduation.
Luis
Shobha... regarding the first 6 questions of the application. What is the maximum length in words? I've found some of them easily to be answered but some others requires me a long question... for instance, "explaining all my gaps" since I´ve made a career switch before mba
Shobha_Moderator
Luis, there is no hard word limit on those questions because different applicants will have different things they need to explain. Use your best judgment for length; the essays are a chance for you to showcase your ability to write professionally, balancing information with conciseness.
Angie Peluse
how quickly after admission will we find out about interviews?
Shobha_Moderator
Interview invitations begin going out a few weeks after the deadline of a round and continue to be sent until the notification deadline.
Craig MBA09
I believe Haas has a strong international business offering. Companies come to Haas to recruit for many international job positions, and programs such as the Global Management certificate and International Business Development can give students applied experience. See the Clausen Center for International Business's website for more info: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/HaasGlobal/
Morgan MBA09
Students are often challenged to get at the root of problem, not just to answer questions on the surface. We are encouraged to use laddering (asking why, why, why) to approach issues from the inside out. I also think that the focus on experiential learning and engagement with companies in the classroom fosters innovation and creativity.
Morgan MBA09
I have not heard this to be true, and know of a couple classmates in fact who are non-US citizens and worked in consulting this summer (one for BCG, the other for Deloitte).
Craig MBA09
Haas has many project-based consulting courses in its elective offerings, but students can also work with professors on consulting projects for independent credit.
Shobha_Moderator
we look at all parts of the application. While we want applicants to be able to demonstrate quantitative proficiency in order to ensure we choose people who will succeed at Haas, verbal communication is very important in business as well. All parts of the GMAT are important.
ShresthaP11
where can the students work during their internships?..are they allowed to work outside california?
Craig MBA09
Students can certainly work outside of California for internships - we had classmates travel all across the country and world last summer to pursue their careers of choice.
Craig MBA09
Haas has an outstanding finance faculty performing cutting edge research as well as a strong Masters of Financial Engineering program. In addition to the typical Finance core classes and electives, Haas has a unique offering around alternative asset classes such as private equity and venture capital.
Craig MBA09
Alright everyone, I'm off to class. Thanks for attending the session, and apologies to those people whose questions I didn't get to. Good luck with the application process!
Shobha_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for joining us. The chat is shutting down now, as our student speakers both have to be off to class. We appreciate your questions. Check back on our website in the next week or two for transcripts. Go Bears! Return to the Chat Homepage
