What is the difference between the Full-time, Evening & Weekend, and the Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA Programs?
The main difference between the programs is the profile of the students. The full-time students generally have about 5 years of work experience, Evening & Weekend students generally have about 8 years of work experience, and Berkeley-Columbia Executive MBA students generally have about 12 years of work experience. All programs are competitive. Compare the programs here.

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What is the best way for me to learn about the Berkeley MBA program?
Besides looking carefully over the website, we recommend visiting the campus. During your visit you can have lunch with a student, attend an information session, and attend a class.

We also participate in and periodically sponsor events for potential students in locations around the world.

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What is the structure of the Berkeley MBA program? How long does it take?
The full-time Berkeley MBA program is a two year full-time degree program. The Berkeley MBA curriculum is anchored by twelve required core courses which students complete in the first year, including leadership, finance, accounting, operations, micro- and macro-economics, strategy, organizational behavior, data and decisions, leadership communication, marketing, and business ethics. The core courses, which make up about 40% of a typical student’s course of study, are deliberately designed to build upon one another and provide a common foundation for all the students in the program. Elective courses comprise 60% of the Berkeley MBA curriculum, meaning that students begin to customize their own course of study very early in the program.

Students take classes Monday through Thursday. Fridays are usually spent attending discussion sessions, career services workshops and other curricular and extra-curricular activities.
For further details about the curriculum, please visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/curriculum.html.

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What is the size of the first-year class?
Our goal is to enroll 240 students in the Berkeley MBA Program each August. Each entering class is divided into four groups of 60 students. In the first semester, all students in the cohort take the same core classes. The cohort system provides a support system for first-year entering students.

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Do you post transcripts of your online chats?
Yes. Please visit our Online Chats for more frequently asked questions and answers!

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Financing Your MBA

What type of scholarship and financial aid are available?
Over 70% of Haas students receive some form of financial assistance, which can include scholarships, loans, and assistantships. In 2006-2007, the Haas School awarded over $2.06 million in scholarships to domestic and international students.

The two largest scholarship programs are the Haas Merit Scholarship and Haas Achievement Award. Haas Merit Scholarships are awarded to the most outstanding applicants overall; all MBA applicants are routinely considered for these awards, and no special application is necessary. Haas Achievement Awards are awarded to applicants who have achieved success in spite of significant economic, educational, health-related or other obstacles; applicants for these awards must be sure to answer an optional essay question on the application for admission. Haas Merit Scholarships and Haas Achievement Awards cover either 50% or 100% of tuition and required fees for both years of MBA study.

The most common form of financial assistance is student loans, largely from programs supported by the U.S. Federal Government. Further details about federal loan options are available on our website. International students are not eligible for this loan assistance, but may apply for limited loan support through our private loan programs. Haas does not fully fund any students, and we encourage all students to plan carefully to ensure adequate financing.

On our website you'll also find information about a Scholarship Database where you may search for scholarships offered by the Haas School of Business as well as scholarships provided by a number of external organizations for which Berkeley MBA students are eligible.

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What opportunities exist for me to work off-campus in order to finance my MBA education?

Due to the rigorous nature of the MBA curriculum, students in the full-time MBA program are not able to work off-campus during their first year. In some cases, second-year students have worked up to 10 hours per week, usually by continuing to work for the company at which they held their summer internship. More common is the opportunity for second-year students to serve as graduate student instructors (GSIs). Nearly 30% of our full-time MBA students serve in this role, which partially reduces their rate of tuition and also provides them with a small monthly stipend.

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When should I apply for financial aid?

Federal financial aid, in the form of loans, is available for MBA students who are either US citizens or US permanent residents. To apply, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. You can complete the FAFSA any time after January 1st, and we encourage you to file it prior to being admitted to Haas to help eliminate any processing delays. The UC Berkeley federal school code is 001312. Berkeley has a priority filing deadline of March 1st. Please complete the FAFSA prior to this date.

International students are not eligible for federal loans. Private loan programs are available to international students, either with or without the use of a co-signer.

If you want to be considered for scholarship opportunities outside of the Haas Merit Scholarship and Haas Achievement Award, start researching now. The Scholarship Database provides information about scholarships offered by external organizations and internal resources for which Berkeley MBA students are eligible. The information is searchable by category, text and application deadline.

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Applying to the Berkeley MBA Program

How many people apply to the Full-time MBA Program each year?
The program receives approximately 3,000 applications in a typical year. In recent years, we have received as many as 4,500 applications and as few as 2,200 applications. On average, we receive approximately 3,200 applications a year.

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What are the application deadlines?
There are four application deadlines for fall 2009:

Round 1: For applications that are complete and submitted by November 4, 2008, decisions will be sent on January 28, 2009.

Round 2: For applications that are complete and submitted by December 9, 2008, decisions will be sent on March 18, 2009.

Round 3: For applications that are complete and submitted by January 30, 2009, decisions will be sent on April 28, 2009.

Round 4: For applications that are complete and submitted by March 11, 2009, decisions will be sent on May 19, 2009.

Note: the GMAT and TOEFL must be taken on or before the designated deadline. Your complete online application must be submitted prior to midnight Pacific Standard Time the evening of the deadline. In addition, all supplemental materials must be postmarked on or before the deadline date.

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In which Round should I apply? How important is it to apply in Round One?

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, provided that you do not sacrifice the quality of your application to do so. If you find that you need more time to revise your essays or to retake the GMAT, for example, you should definitely take the extra time to do so. Do note, however, that we make most of our offers of admission from Rounds 1, 2, and 3. Only a small number of Round 4 applicants are offered admission each year.

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Can I waive my application fee?
U.S. citizens or permanent residents who demonstrate financial need are eligible to request a waiver of the application fee. We do not process fee waiver applications through the MBA Admissions Office. To request a waiver, please complete the online form and submit it with the required supporting materials by February 6, 2009 to the Graduate Division Office.
Please let admissions know if you have applied for a fee waiver. We are unable to process your application until we receive notice from Graduate Division that your fee waiver has been approved.

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Where do I send my supplemental application materials?
Full-time MBA Admissions
Haas School of Business
University of California, Berkeley
430 Student Services Bldg #1902
Berkeley, CA 94720-1902

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Should I call to confirm that my transcripts have arrived? What about my official test scores?
Please refrain from contacting the admissions office to verify that we have received your official transcripts or test scores. You will receive an email once your application has been initially reviewed for completeness, approximately 3 - 6 weeks from the deadline for which you applied. If anything is missing, we will send you an email outlining the missing documents.

While we require official GMAT and/or TOEFL test scores, we initially review your application based on your self-reported score, which you indicate on your online application.

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If I have received multiple bachelor's or master's degrees, which GPA do you consider?
The admission committee reviews your entire academic record; however, the committee focuses more heavily on your first bachelor's degree.

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If I have already completed MBA classes at another university may I waive some of the classes or transfer credit?
We do not transfer MBA credit from other universities, so any work that you had completed at other institutions will not count toward a degree at UC Berkeley. You may waive out of core courses at the discretion of the faculty, but you must replace the waived course with another class.

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How can I reactivate my application if I have applied previously?
Please see the reapplication instructions.

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Test Scores

What are the average GMAT scores and GPAs of admitted applicants?
Over the past 5 years admitted applicants had an average GMAT score of approximately 700, while the range for the middle 80% was typically 660 to 760. On average admitted applicants had an undergraduate GPA of 3.5. The middle 80% GPA range was typically between 3.2 and 3.8. There is no minimum cutoff for either GMAT or GPA. For a profile of the current class, please visit community_02.html.

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If I have taken the GMAT multiple times, which score does the admissions committee consider? Does the Admissions Committee average the scores?
No. The admissions committee considers the highest score.

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What are the institution codes for the GMAT and TOEFL?
The code to have GMAT scores sent to the Full-time program is N2VPT47. The code to have TOEFL scores sent to the full-time program is 4833. Be sure to list department code 02 as well when ordering TOEFL scores.

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How long are my GMAT and TOEFL/IELTS scores valid?
For fall 2009 admission, we accept official scores from GMAT tests taken aon or after October 1, 2003. For fall 2009 admission, the TOEFL or IELTS exam must be taken on or after June 1, 2007. There are no exceptions to these dates.

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What is the required TOEFL or IELTS score for international applicants?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered in three formats, paper and pencil, computer-based, and internet-based. If you take the paper and pencil version, your score must be at least 570 out of 677. If you take the computer-based test, you must earn a score of at least 230 out of 300. And if you take the internet-based version, you must earn a score of at least 68. For detailed information about the TOEFL please visit the TOEFL web site at http://www.toefl.org/.

While TOEFL is preferred, you can submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) designed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and administered by the British Council worldwide.

To register for the IELTS, consult the IELTS Web site or contact the office of the test center where you plan to take the test. You may also write the British Council, Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street, Manchester, M1 6BB, U.K. or email the Council.

You are responsible for providing us with an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS. Remember to order the TRF when you register to take the test.

Your most recent overall BAND score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

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Can I substitute the GRE for the GMAT?
No. The GMAT is required of all applicants. While we routinely receive applications from prospective students who have advanced degrees that required sitting for other high-level standardized tests, such as PhDs, JDs or MDs, the requirement to take the GMAT is never waived.

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Recommendation Letters

What about recommendations? Whom should I ask to write them?
We prefer that both letters come from a current or former employer. Select individuals with whom you have had considerable professional interaction such as your supervisor or a major client. The title or status of those you select is not important. What does matter is how closely your letter writers have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities and interpersonal skills in an organizational context. For this reason, we discourage academic references. Letters of recommendation from co-workers, someone you have supervised, or personal and family friends are inappropriate and can be detrimental to the review of your application.

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What if my recommender doesn't speak English well?
It is acceptable to obtain the recommendation in the native language of the author. The original letter and an English translation completed by a professional translator should be provided.

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Interviews

Is it necessary to have an interview? When should I expect to receive an invitation to interview?
Interviews are conducted solely at the invitation of the admissions committee, and only after the initial review of your application. Therefore, we ask that you please refrain from contacting us to request an interview. Receiving an invitation should be taken as a sign of interest on the part of the admissions committee and few applicants will be admitted without an interview. Interviews are offered both with current students on campus and with alumni in cities around the world. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified via email anywhere from 4 weeks after submitting your application up to the notification deadline.

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Eligibility Questions

Am I eligible to apply to the MBA program if I received a bachelor's degree from India?
Minimum academic requirements for international applicants are a 4-year bachelor's degree or a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree). Recognized 4-year basic or first degrees from India include B. Tech., B. Eng., B. Eng. (Hons), B. Sc. in Engineering, B. Pharmacy, and BSc. in Agriculture and Forestry. Other recognized basic or first degrees from India include B.D.S. (4-5 years); B. Arch. (5 years); B. VSc. (5 years); LL.B. (5 years integrated course or 2-3 years following a bachelor’s degree); B. Tech. and the M. Tech. (5 year dual degree program awarded by the Indian Institute of Technology); Bachelor’s of Medicine Bachelor’s of Surgery (M.B.B.S); and Postgraduate Diploma (PGDM) awarded by the International Management Institute of New Delhi (2 years full-time or 3 years part-time). A Postgraduate Diploma (PGDM) awarded by the Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad (IIM), Bangalore, Calcutta, Indore (IIMI), or Lucknow (2 years beyond bachelor's degree) is a recognized second degree. A PGDM in Industrial Engineering awarded by the National Productivity Council (2 years beyond bachelor’s degree with first class) is also recognized as a second degree.

A Postgraduate Diploma in business technology awarded by the Centre for International Management (16 mos) is an unacceptable first degree. Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Associate of Institute of Cost Works Accountants, Associate of Business Management, and Associate of Institute of Engineers are NOT acceptable as substitutes for a four-year degree. You are ineligible to be admitted with only a 3-year bachelor's degree; therefore, you would need to complete a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree) or other acceptable degree in order to apply.

If your degree is not listed above and you are interested in applying to the Berkeley MBA program, we suggest that you complete an application. Eligibility with regard to the degrees equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree cannot be determined in advance of filing an application. The Graduate Division reserves the right to review the official academic records of all applicants whose undergraduate degrees were earned outside the US to determine whether the academic credentials presented for a foreign institution are comparable to the US bachelor’s degree.

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Are there prerequisite requirements for the Haas MBA?
There are no specific prerequisite requirements for the Full-time Haas MBA Program. However, the admissions committee does look for evidence of quantitative proficiency in all applicants. We strongly recommend that all applicants complete, at a minimum, a college-level mathematics or statistics course. The Evening & Weekend MBA does have prerequisite requirements, which are described in detail in the Evening & Weekend MBA web pages.

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Am I eligible to apply if I already have an MBA degree from another university?
University policy prohibits the awarding of duplicate degrees. We are unable to consider your application if you have an MBA or comparable degree from an institution of higher learning.

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What if I just completed my undergraduate program and do not have full-time work experience?
Although not a formal requirement, virtually all of our students have two or more years of professional work experience following the completion of their bachelor's degrees. For each incoming class, typically the middle 80% worked between 3 - 8 years by the start of classes.

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Is there an age limit for applying to the Full-time MBA Program?
Absolutely not. We do not consider age as an admissions criterion.

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Online Application Questions

I'm having trouble accessing the Online Application. What is the problem?
You must have a Login Account to access the Online Application and you must have your internet browser set to accept cookies. To get a Login and Password you have two options:

Complete a "Request Program Guide" form. After creating your login account, return to the Online Application opening page and click on "Apply Online". You will be sent to a site that asks for your Login and Password. Click the "register here" link and you will be sent to a site that asks you to re-enter and confirm your name and date of birth. After you enter this information you will be given a username and a password. We will also send you an email with this information. You can change your password to something more easily remembered by clicking the Password link on the Admissions menu.
If you do not want to receive a copy of our paper Program Guide, click on Login/out on the Admissions menu. You will be sent to a site that asks you to enter and confirm your name and date of birth. Click the "register here" link. You will be asked to enter some basic information. After entering this information, you will be sent back to the site where you can re-enter and confirm your name and birth date. After you enter this information you will be given a username and password. We will also email you this information. You can change your password to something more easily remembered by clicking the "Password" link on the Admissions menu.

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My recommender is unable to write and submit my recommendation by the deadline. How can I change my recommender?
If you have not yet submitted your application, please phone the admissions office at 510-642-1405, and we will delete your recommender for you. You may then add your new recommender information.

If you have already submitted your online application, we will have to manually enter your new recommender information. Please phone the admissions office directly. The admissions office is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 4 pm Pacific Time.

Please note that we cannot delete a recommendation that has already been submitted.

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My questions are not answered here.
If your questions are not answered in our Program Guide or application, please feel free to contact us Monday through Friday at 510-642-1405 between 9am - 4pm.

Message Boards
If you are unable to reach us during our office hours, please post your question on our Message Boards.

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NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT
The University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and University policy, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.

Inquiries may be directed as follows: Sex discrimination and sexual harassment: Nancy Chu, Title IX Compliance Officer, 1-510-643-7985. Disability discrimination and access: Ed Rogers, A.D.A./504 Compliance Officer, 1-510-643-5116 (voice) or 1-510-642-3172 (TTY). Other inquiries may be directed to the Academic Compliance Office, 200 California Hall, #1500, 1-510-642-2795.

CAMPUS SAFETY
In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Act, the University maintains a reference guide of safety information and procedures, annual campus crime statistics, and emergency-disaster preparedness information. For a copy of this report, Safety Counts, Call (510) 643-6442, E-mail , or Write the Police Department Campus Safety Programs, University of California, Berkeley, Police Department, 1 Sproul Hall #1199, Berkeley, CA 94720-1199. The report is also posted on the UC Berkeley Police Department web site.