Full-time MBA Program
The Berkeley MBA – Online Admissions Chat
December 7, 2007
India Chat with the MBA Admissions & Students
Pete Johnson, Director of Admissions
Corinne Kang , Associate Director of Admissions
Aanand Krishnan, MBA Class of 2008
Aneesh Krishna, MBA Class of 2008
Jeff_Moderator
Welcome to the Berkeley MBA chat. My name is Jeff, and Lee and I will be moderating the chat today. Joining us is Peter Johnson, Director of Admissions and Corinne Kang, Associate Director. We also have Aneesh Krishna and Aanand Krishnan, two current MBA second-year students. I would like to give the speakers all a moment to introduce themselves. In the mean time, please send us your questions!
Corinne_Berkeley
Hello and thank you for joining us today! My name is Corinne Kang and I am the Associate Director of Admission for the Full-time MBA program. As one of the members of the Admissions Committee, I review applications, interview candidates, and make admissions decisions. I look forward to answering your admissions questions today on the chat!
Aanand MBA08
Good evening, this is Aanand Krishnan, 2nd year full-time MBA. I went to BITS Pilani for my bachelors and UC Santa Barbara for my MS. I worked in Silicon Valley here for 5 years in various roles (R&D, Product Management etc) before joining Haas. After Haas, I will be working in finance (investment banking) in the US.
Aneesh MBA08
Good Morning everyone. My name is Aneesh Krishna. I am a 2nd year student at Haas. Prior to coming to Haas I worked for IBM's consulting practice in Singapore. After Haas I plan to do consulting. I am also a Haas Student Ambassador, co-president of the Berkeley Solutions Group and a Consulting Career Coach.
Pete_Berkeley
Hello everyone! Welcome to our chat this morning. A special thanks to all of our staff (and Aanand and Aneesh) who are making this chat possible—which required being in the office at 6:30 am California time.
samy
Is it a problem for international students to go on IBD?
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Samy - IBD is open to all students, and many of our international students have participated in the program! You can read some testimonials from some of the student teams who have done IBD in recent years by visiting this site: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/HaasGlobal/students.htm
argus
When are interview calls likely to be sent and will they be conducted in India?
Pete_Berkeley
We just began sending interview invitations for Round 1 applicants, and we will continue sending them until shortly before the response date of January 29th. It will be possible to interview in India, although likely only in Mumbai during Round 1.
devesh
Being a software developer, I want to understand what particular specialty I should look at Berkeley to enhance my career as I have done projects in various domains?
Pete_Berkeley
Devesh, there are a number of specialization areas at Berkeley that may be relevant, depending on what you intend to do post-MBA; perhaps the Management of Technology Program, or operations.
Raj
How strong is the alumni network in India? Would they be participating in the interview process?
Pete_Berkeley
Raj, we have a very large network of Indian alumni; unfortunately, most of them have not returned to India. They will be conducting many of the interviews in India, which is our normal practice all over the world. (We have trained alumni interviewers in 90 cities).
Raj
How suitable is the program for mature applicants/career switchers?
Aanand MBA08
Raj - There are people from all age groups here at Haas. I'm a career switcher myself - from technology to investment banking. Haas opens the doors to so many career opportunities that it is up to you and your level of interest to choose the career option that works for you.
vishy
I am interested in knowing more about the community activities that students indulge in while at Berkeley.
Aneesh MBA08
There are several such activities at Haas. Even during our orientation week, we volunteered 3 hours of our time on various community activities in the Bay Area. In addition, we have something called Challenge for Charity (C4C). Under this umbrella 8 west coast schools compete on raising money for charity and it ends off with a C4C Olympics at Stanford. There are several activities conducted to raise money. You could also sit on the Board of a non-profit under the Board Fellows Program. There are several others, this is just a sample.
Raj
How suitable is the program for mature applicants/career switchers?
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Raj - The Berkeley MBA offers a variety of different opportunities for both career switchers and career enhancers. Because of the flexibility of the curriculum of our general management program, students are able to focus in on their particular interest area during their two years at Haas.
Aanand MBA08
Following up on that. I'd say from my experience that a large portion of the students in the program are looking to switch either industry or function, or both.
Anuj
And is GMAT score important? How much score is required by Berkeley?
Lee_Moderator
The GMAT is only one of the many factors the Admissions Committee considers in evaluating each application. There is no minimum requirement set for the GMAT, but the middle 80% range for students admitted last year was 650-760.
Sidd
The Dinner Conversation Short Essay, I believe, is a question that Berkeley has been asking every year. What exactly is the admissions department looking for in the answer? The personality, I guess, is not as relevant as the line of conversation that the applicant hopes to have with the personality. But should the essay have absolute clarity into what questions and how the conversation would progress?
Pete_Berkeley
Sidd, you are correct that the "why" is more important than the "who", but there are many ways to successfully answer that question, and part of the process is for you to answer in the way that you find most relevant. Like other short answer questions, it is intended to give you the opportunity to tell us more about what is important to you.
Sidd
Berkeley has a lot of top schools like Comp Sc. Engg, Law, and health care vertical. Is it easy to combine courses from these diverse fields into the full-time MBA program? Or should one apply to a joint-degree program for these?
Aneesh MBA08
You have the option of doing one of the 3 dual degree programs at Haas: MBA/MPH; MBA/JD and MBA/MA. In addition, you are allowed to take up to 6 credits in any other UC Berkeley school. You could exceed that with approval. Depending on how much exposure you want, you could chose a dual degree program or just take electives in those schools.
Ali
Hi, Can anyone tell me more about the Berkley Certificate in Entrepreneurship through the Lester Center of Entrepreneurship as well as if there are opportunities to do internships with VC through this program?
Aanand MBA08
There is a new venture fellow program through the Lester Center. Students apply and get selected into this fellowship. Besides that some of my classmates also did their summer internships at VC firms. I took a course called venture capital this semester where we did everything from evaluating new entrepreneurship opportunities to valuing a start-up, setting up a term sheet etc. I interview two top VCs from Silicon Valley as part of this class. We also had a capstone project that essentially simulated the work that an associate at a VC firm would do. Please check http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/ for more details.
argus
How many Indian students are there in the current class? How many of them went directly from India?
Pete_Berkeley
Argus, there are 10 Indian citizens in the first year class, and as I recall, 4 of them came directly from India.
Sidd
Does Berkeley have a concept of a mid-decision date by which applicants can expect interview calls or implicitly understand their applications have been rejected?
Lee_Moderator
Sidd, interview invitations can be issued up to the notification date, so there really is no "mid-decision date" here.
Sidd
Does Mgmt of Technology course, which allows students to earn extra credits and a certification at the end of MBA, also have a scheme of electives? Does it allow students to choose the courses they think would support their area of specialization or are the courses pre-decided?
Pete_Berkeley
Sidd, MOT, like all certificates, does not involve extra credits, really--it represents completion of a particular group of electives. As is the case with most certificates, a few specific courses are required, and then an additional number of credits chosen from a group of potential electives.
Sidd
With the flexibility in choosing courses and specialization, is there a body that helps students choose the right specializations and other electives that support the chosen specialization?
Aneesh MBA08
This happens both formally and informally. The student website has advice on which electives are best suited for each profession. We do not have specializations in the 2nd year so these choices mainly depend on what you want to after you graduate. Further, the MBA Association (student government) seeks feed from outgoing students and passes that on to current students. The industry clubs such as Consulting, Finance, Marketing, etc also hold such sessions.
narsi
Hi do you think the Berkeley program would be a good fit for people with lot of experience (~10)
Pete_Berkeley
Narsi, we have a number of individuals in our full-time program who have 10 years or more of experience, although not as many in the 3-7 year range. It depends in part and what you want/need to get from the program. Are you changing career fields, or staying in the same field? What is the opportunity cost for you to step out of your career for two years of study, etc.?
Aanand MBA08
narsi - I know people in the program who have many years of work experience in my class, similar to yours. You will find that opportunities are aplenty. The more difficult part is making up your mind about which career to pursue!
Ali
What is the percentage of students who have relatively less work experience - 3-5 yrs range?
Jeff_Moderator
In general our students tend to have at least 2 years work experience. Median experience for the fall 2007 class is 5 years. 3-5 years is in the competitive range.
jiten
I want to do management consulting after an MBA. How is HAAS best suited to help me switch careers? I am now into financial accounting and control.
Aneesh MBA08
I feel Haas provides excellent opportunities to do so. I wanted to switch from IT consulting to management consulting and I felt that there were several opportunities. Getting a management consulting offer requires lots of hard work, but the opportunities are here for you to exploit. Almost every top consulting firms recruits on campus.
Deb_India
I'm in a service industry working as mechanical design engineer and I'm interested in International Business. Since I'm not involved in any business related work, how do I present my application to you so that it best befits your requirements??
Pete_Berkeley
Deb, I would encourage you to discuss those opportunities that you may have had to demonstrate that you are developing leadership qualities--team and project lead activities, etc.
BrewDeck25
In context, for applicants outside US, is IETS equally acceptable as TOEFL? If so is there a minimum cut off on that?
Lee_Moderator
The IELTS and TOEFL are both acceptable, with the TOEFL being more usual. Your most recent overall BAND score on the IELTS must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.
argus
What, in your opinion, are the negatives of Haas?
Aneesh MBA08
I sometimes feel that we are short on space. Getting a room for a group discussion can be challenging sometimes. This is the only negative I can think of. Everything from academics to career services to administration has exceeded my expectations.
Raj
If interviews are expected only in Mumbai in first round, what happens to those who may be invited but might not be able to visit Mumbai?
Pete_Berkeley
Raj, those individuals may have to wait until the second round, during which we plan (depending on the applicant pool) to have interviews in other cities as well. As a general rule, we very rarely offer admission without an in-person interview.
chatter123
I am a finance professional focusing on PE opportunities post-MBA. Given the strong focus on high tech, biotech in your school, would it be a good fit for me?
Corinne_Berkeley
chatter123 - High tech is only one of the many strengths of the Berkeley MBA program. Our finance program is also consistently top-ranked, and in fact, almost 30% of our students enter the finance industry post-graduation!
vishy
Does Berkeley have a system in place for handling undergraduate grades from India [ percentage to GPA ]?
Lee_Moderator
Vishy, our evaluators are trained to understand many different grading systems, and we have all the experience of Berkeley's Graduate Division to draw upon in unusual cases.
samy
How is the housing scene for students at Haas?
Aanand MBA08
samy - most students who are admitted end up living in shared houses. There's a Google group that was formed after we were admitted - we used that email group to get in touch with each other. Some students also choose to live alone (like me). Housing is always tight in a student town like Berkeley but it’s not a real issue. For those of you with spouses/families, the UC village is also another option to look into: http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/universityvillage.html
Saket
I am very interested in Social Responsibility and nonprofit management concentrations. I want to know whether it is possible for a student to have two MBA concentrations (one in nonprofit management and another in CSR)
Pete_Berkeley
Saket, it is possible--keep in mind that a specialization simply represents completing courses in a certain field--you don't have to formally apply to take courses in a particular area, so it is not like an undergraduate major.
Saket
My official transcripts may take some time to reach you. Is it possible to submit scanned copies of transcripts through email before the deadline?
Lee_Moderator
Saket, we strongly prefer that we have attested transcripts from your school -- scanned copies are not really an acceptable substitute.
Subhash
Will the scholarship essay be a part of the total application package? I am asking this, with regard to the repetition of ideas between the 'most significant accomplishment' and Haas achievement award essay. How do I go about it?
Pete_Berkeley
Subhash, the Haas Achievement Award essay is part of the total application package. Since the HAA is designed for individuals who have overcome a significant hardship or challenge, it usually doesn't address the same issues as the "significant accomplishment" essay, although I suppose it is possible.
Raj
Is it possible for someone to take on the Management of technology (MOT) even though he may not have any formal technical knowledge?
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Raj - the courses offered in the MOT program are open to all MBA students, so prior technical knowledge is not a prerequisite.
Sandeep
Hi, as per my communication with Kathy from the Berkley Business Week Forum, I understand that graduates from a few colleges from India can be given a TOEFL waiver. I am a graduate from "Birla Institute of Technology. Mesra Ranchi" Does my University come under that list? And do I need to apply separately for a TOEFL waiver?
Lee_Moderator
Sandeep, we do not grant TOEFL waivers to applicants from India.
jiten
As I live in India, I am unable to visit B schools and distinguish 1 from the other. All the top schools look great on their websites. How do you suggest I search and identify the best fit school for me, given your experience in the admissions committee?
Aneesh MBA08
I was in the same boat as you. Although I was not living in India, I was in Singapore at that time and visiting schools was difficult. I would suggest talking to current students is the best way to find out about schools. Every school has some sort of program through which you can connect to current students. If you have friends in those schools, that will help too. For Haas, feel free to email hsa@haas.berkeley.edu. The only issue right now is that school is closed from the 15th of Dec till 22nd Jan. So the best time to connect with current students would be after that.
samy
Given that Hass does not give loans for full cost of attendance, how have international students typically manage to raise the money?
Pete_Berkeley
Samy, all students (both international and US) finance their education through a variety of sources--scholarship assistance, loan assistance, and family funds. Even if we offered full loan funding for our program, I think it would be a bad idea for someone to finance a US MBA program entirely from loan funds, as you would start your post-MBA career with a significant amount of debt.
Kartik
Does Haas have a minimum requirement in terms of Work experience?
Pete_Berkeley
Kartik, we do not have a formal minimum requirement, although it is very rare that we offer admission to someone with less than 2 years. The quality of the experience is more important than the quantity, but we don't see many candidates with strong enough experience in less than two years.
Raj
Is there a mentorship program at Haas? Formal or informal?
Aneesh MBA08
Hi Raj. After you get admitted you are assigned a mentor by the Admissions team. Most people continue to use the same person but also add on a number of unofficial mentors. Students at Haas are more than willing to help. As a 2nd year, I spend a lot of my time with 1st years helping them with various issues.
Amrit
The MBA admissions committee asks to list only paid work experience in the application. All other voluntary work is to be listed elsewhere- in supplemental and optional essays. I work for a NGO and a private concern but don't draw any salary as the salary offered was minimal and I decided against drawing a salary. Will the number of years as work experience in this region ( I write to you from Jabalpur Central India) for a NGO and private concern be discounted ? This is a regular full time job that I work for and NGO work is out of my interest and passion for the field.
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Amrit - Similar to any type of work experience (regardless of whether it's in the private or public sector), we're assessing more than simply the number of years of work experience. We are also looking at your role and responsibilities, demonstrated leadership, impact on the organization, etc., when evaluating your work experience.
argus
Aneesh and Aanand: What makes Haas unique from other B-Schools? Why did you choose Haas?
Aanand MBA08
argus - great question. Haas is unique in many respects. First of all it’s a top business program with great professors, career services and a top class student body. The smaller size of the program (among the smallest top b-schools) is very helpful because you get to know your peers very well. The student body here is extremely collaborative which makes your b-school life such a pleasure. Berkeley is also in the "golden lode" of Silicon Valley which is a hotbed for innovation. In addition, it’s amazing to be a part of one of the world's truly great universities ---- I had the good fortune of choosing among some top b-schools here before coming to Haas. I had no hesitation choosing Berkeley and I’m convinced that I made the right choice.
Aneesh MBA08
Hi Argus! For me it was a combination of several factors. Firstly, the collaborative culture at Haas. Students go out of their way to help each other in all settings: personal, professional, academic. There are students who spend a whole day creating summaries for a course and then mail it out to 240 students! Secondly: the career opportunities. I feel the career center is on top of their game and they provide us with more help than we can handle. Lastly, I liked the structure and rigor of the curriculum.
Ali
Is there any other direct email ID other than Haas Student Ambassadors [hsa@haas.berkeley.edu] that can be used to connect with current students?
Jeff_Moderator
No, this is the best way to connect.
Pete_Berkeley
Devesh, we offer student loans as well as over $2 million in scholarship assistance each year. You should understand, however, that the primary responsibility for paying the costs of university education is with the student and family.
Amrit
My Undergrad Institute will not issue an official degree certificate. I have arranged to send you a copy of the degree certificate. I can present the official degree if selected. Will the copy of degree certificate be considered in lieu of an official degree certificate?
Lee_Moderator
Amrit, many Indian schools will attest a copy of your degree certificate as true, and that is acceptable.
argus
Are any applicants accepted without an interview?
Pete_Berkeley
Argus, no--we do not offer admission without an interview.
Sandeep
I have a question regarding transcripts - Does the transcripts need to reach by the Round 2 deadline so that the application would be considered complete for R2?
Lee_Moderator
Sandeep, the transcript needs to reach us soon after the deadline to allow time for a complete review of your file. Please arrange for them to arrive as soon as possible.
Avinash
How important are community activities? Is lack of community activities in the recent past a huge negative?
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Avinash - we consider community and extracurricular activities to get a sense of an applicant's passions and interests. It is also an indicator of how likely that candidate is to get involved with and contribute to the community and culture at Haas. The depth of involvement in the activity (for example, have you taken on a leadership role?) is more important than the number of activities.
Amrit
How is it possible to take up courses in liberal arts and blend them with technology at Haas? Can you mention some such courses? For instance, courses which concentrate on sociological issues and the allied business angle?
Aneesh MBA08
Hi Amrit. I am not aware of such courses, but you can take electives from any other UC Berkeley school. I would encourage you to visit the websites of those schools to see what courses they offer.
praveer
Does the admission process has any special consideration for persons with special achievements in the professional fields and extensive experience?
Pete_Berkeley
Praveer, almost all of the students who have been admitted to our program are considered to be leading young professionals in their fields.
Nikhil
I wrote TOEFL in November, but haven't received my scores yet. Can I apply for Round 2 without my TOEFL scores and send them to the Admissions Committee once I get them?
Lee_Moderator
Nikhil, if you have completed the test before the deadline, you can send in your application with the TOEFL scores area blank. Your file will be made incomplete and you will receive an email asking for your scores. Respond to that email giving your scores and your file will be complete -- assuming that there is nothing else missing.
Deb_India
What about financial aid? I would really need some; do you have tie-ups with financial institutes to provide such aid to HAAS students? Do they require a guarantor of an U.S. origin?
Pete_Berkeley
Deb, we have loan programs for international students that do not require a US co-signer as well as those which do. The interest rates are better if you have a US co-signer.
Srini
Do you have any idea of the percentage of students who got placed in the same firm where they did their internship?
Jeff_Moderator
We have lots of numbers about placement and industries on our website under the career services section. See here: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/after_haas.html
Deb_India
As I mentioned earlier, I'm attached to a refinery (RIL, Jamnagar, India). I do not have much exposure to extracurricular activities, though I'm interested in NGOs. How do I substitute the same for a robust application?
Aneesh MBA08
Hi Deb_India. I don't think you need to have worked for an NGO to demonstrate interest. Talk about any association you have had with an NGO and what inspires you to work with them.
Sachin
Is it allowed to start a business while studying at Haas?
Aneesh MBA08
Yes, several of my classmates are in the process of starting their own businesses. These two years are the best time to do so especially because the opportunity costs are so low.
Saket
I have good English speaking abilities. Somehow I scored only 23/30 in speaking section of TOEFL. My overall TOEFL score is 111. Besides that I scored 720 in my GMAT (85% in verbal). The speaking section score of 23/30 does not reflect my true abilities. Is there anyway to prove that to the admissions committee?
Pete_Berkeley
Saket, if you are invited for an interview, you will have that opportunity. The interview is a significant factor in our determination of a candidate's English skills.
Kapil
I wanted to know about the on campus recruitments, average salary packages, percentage of foreign student placements, etc.
Jeff_Moderator
The best place for the most current career placement statistics and full employment reports including internships is online at http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/after_haas.html
Deb_India
Regarding financial aid: When does the pay-back period start; is it right after the course is over, or this a buffer as well?
Lee_Moderator
Deb, the best answers to financial aid questions will come from finaid@haas.berkeely.edu -- please email them your questions.
chatter123
Could you also highlight some of the resources available at Haas for those interested in a career in PE/VC (non-tech)?
Corinne_Berkeley
chatter123 - The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation houses a wealth of resources available for those interested in PE/VC, none of which are limited to technology. A short list includes the Venture Capital Investment Competition, Business Plan Competitions, and the New Venture Fellows Program. You can find detailed information about these opportunities, including a list of suggested courses for those interested in PE/VC, at this site: http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/interestedvc.asp
Srini
Which one would you name as the 'flagship' dept of Haas?
Aneesh MBA08
I would not say we have one flagship department at Haas. We have several strong departments: Marketing, Economics, and Finance seems very strong to me in terms of research and how many books the faculty have written. Entrepreneurship, Non Profit Management, and corporate Social Responsibility are strong areas as well.
Aanand MBA08
nidhi - there is no cut off in terms of work experience. The admissions office looks at your entire application which includes many different aspects.
Deb_India
How do you guys assess the legitimacy of the applicant's work experience? I ask because I fear my organization may be hostile to giving out LORs.
Pete_Berkeley
Deb, all of our offers of admission are conditional based on passing an employment verification process, which is conducted by an external organization. (Kroll Background Services). This is not directly related to the letters of recommendation, however.
Sachin
Is there accommodation on campus? If yes, then what help can an international married student expect to receive to help settle down?
Aneesh MBA08
For married students you can get very reasonable housing in the University Village. This is about 5 miles away from campus but a very good neighborhood. Most married students stay in the UC Village.
vishy
With so many great candidates applying, I feel it must be a real challenge for the admissions committee in their selection process. Are there any specific attributes that the committee tries to look for in a candidate?
Pete_Berkeley
Vishy, that is a difficult question to answer in this format. Essentially, we look for (1) solid academic preparation; (2) strong professional experience; (3) clear focus and goals; (4) good leadership/team skills.
Deb_India
How important are LORs from an under-grad institute?
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Deb - We strongly prefer that both LORs are from professional sources, NOT academic ones. So LORs from undergrad are not important...
arpan
Jeff, is TOEFL a necessary requirement for students from IIT, India?
Lee_Moderator
Arpan, I'm not Jeff, but...the TOEFL (or IELTS) is required for all students educated in India. At this point in time, there are no exceptions to this requirement based on the undergraduate institution.
Avinash
What facilities does Haas provide students to explore career choices, based on their strengths and interests? Are there examples of students who have figured out what they want to do/changed direction after arriving at Haas?
Aanand MBA08
avinash - Great question. The Career Services does a great job of helping you decide. Right from the 2nd week on campus, firms from different industries come to Haas ... you can go to all the presentations which usually will include Haas alums from the firms as well. In our first semester we had a career management conference where we were essentially forced to think about all the career options we could pursue! I know several of my classmates who chose their career opportunities after they got here. At the end of the day, the decision is yours, but you'll find that Career Services, Haas alums, 2nd years and even your own classmates are a great resource for helping make that decision.
chatter123
Aneesh and Anand, is either of you from a non-tech background? And how many of the 10 Indian students in your class have a non-tech background?
Aneesh MBA08
Both of us have a tech background. I am not sure about the other Indians, but I don't think as an Indian you have to have a tech background to get in.
Raj
Would you like to comment on the internship opportunities in India?
Pete_Berkeley
Raj, I am not really able to comment on that. We have internship opportunities all over the world, and I am not specifically familiar with those available in India, although our Career Services office has more complete information on this topic.
Sachin
Aneesh, Anand - How has Haas culture contributed to your thought process and overall way of looking at the world?
Aneesh MBA08
The culture is very collaborative and extremely involved in the community. I think I have become more aware of issues such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Non-profit, etc. Of course I have gained immensely from an academic and professional standpoint.
Rahul Mishra
Hi, I have around 5 years of experience. Will my extracurricular activities at school and college level still be considered during selection process?
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Rahul - Absolutely. We evaluate all applicants against the same criteria, regardless of number of years of work experience. A candidate's involvement during college is oftentimes an indicator of how involved that candidate might be during their two years at Haas.
Vijay
Do you accept percentage based CGPA instead of 4 point based, or it needs to be converted to US standard grading.
Lee_Moderator
Vijay, Our evaluators are trained in many different grading systems, so we ask that you do not try to convert or interpret your school's grades as though they were on a 4.0 scale. Please see the application instructions for more detail.
samy
What have been the most common short falls of unsuccessful IT-Indian-male applicants?
Pete_Berkeley
Samy, I can tell you that the most common deficiencies in many applications (and not just from IT backgrounds) are lack of leadership experience, lack of breadth, or unclear/poorly thought-out career goals.
Deb_India
Aanand/Aneesh, where do I see myself after taking up Entrepreneurship? What scope does the U.S. offer me?
Aneesh MBA08
Several of my classmates have started their own firms. 18 out of 240 students from the class of 2007 started their own companies. How successful they would be, time will tell. But in the Bay area you have excellent access to VCs.
Amrit
While at my undergrad (IITB) I took three advanced engineering mathematics courses focusing on DEs, calculus, limits etc. Do I need to take extra courses to demonstrate mathematical aptitude? If so which courses would you recommend?
Pete_Berkeley
Amrit, we look at overall preparation in quant. methods. The courses you list may be helpful, but we will also be looking at your GMAT quant score, of course. If you are taking an additional course, I would suggest statistics.
BrewDeck25
Is there an elective on logistics management, humanities and or probability theory available in the core curriculum?
Aneesh MBA08
The core curriculum is mandatory and does not have any electives. However, among the list of electives I think there is something available in logistics. For humanities and probability theory you might want to check with other schools at UC Berkeley.
arpan
I started a company. Will an advisor who was not formally involved with the company work as recommender?
Pete_Berkeley
Arpan, if he or she knows enough about your work to comment in detail, yes.
Kapil
I have got 6 and a half years of work experience, I had taken GMAT but got a low score, so I will be giving GMAT again in January. Is it a good idea to apply now to meet the deadline and send you the GMAT scores later?
Jeff_Moderator
Your GMAT test must be taken prior to the deadline of submission in order to be considered. If you are retaking the GMAT, your application will need to be considered in a later round with a deadline after your test date.
Deb_India
Corinne, do you consider LORs from clients/third party??
Corinne_Berkeley
Deb - we do consider LORs from a client or third party. If you are not able to provide a LOR from your current direct supervisor, however, we ask that you use the relevant supplemental question in the application to share with us your reason.
jiten
What do you enjoy best about student life at Haas? Do you guys get to sleep enough?
Aanand MBA08
jiten - sleep is usually something of a precious resource, especially in the first year! I think everyone has their own take on what they enjoy most about being here at Haas. I enjoy working with my enormously talented and friendly classmates more than anything else.
Srini
‘Good leadership and team skills’ does not necessarily mean that it should come from the work front right? It can also be in the form of sports...is that so????
Corinne_Berkeley
Hi Sachin - Yes, leadership can come in many forms, both professional and extracurricular. However, more weight is placed on demonstrated leadership in a professional setting.
Sachin
How important is LOR from current supervisor??
Pete_Berkeley
Sachin, it is important to have letters from individuals who have enough experience working with you to provide solid answers to the questions we ask, and they should generally be at a higher level than you in the organization. Although we prefer supervisors, it isn't always possible.
Goel
Aneesh: Do companies bias there selection procedures based upon the rank and profile of the b-school?
Aneesh MBA08
That’s a difficult question for me to answer. I don't think that is the case, but this is a question only the firms can answer.
Ali
How large is the Haas Alumni Network and how easy or difficult is it to get access to industry leaders/experts/alumni?
Aanand MBA08
Ali - great question. When I wanted to pursue a career in investment banking I didn’t have any background in it. Haas alumni in investment banking and finance were incredibly receptive and helpful and a critical part of my success. The alumni database is an easy way to get a hold of alumni. You'll find that Haas alumni are willing to go out of the way to help you. In addition, we frequently bring our alumni on campus to talk to students about their experiences - through classes, seminars etc.
Srini
Apart from class rooms and text books, do people at Hass get the opportunity to listen to guest lectures from the senior patriarchs of top organizations?
Aanand MBA08
srini - Absolutely. Haas does a fantastic job of brining both alumni and other industry leaders on campus, including as guest speakers in your classes.
Goel
How does HAAS view work experience with a conventional energy sector company operating as a design centre in India. Employees don’t get many opportunities for promotions or leadership in first 4 years of their curriculum because it’s a flat organization.
Aneesh MBA08
Hi Goel, I think at Haas we value all types of experiences. Talk bout what you did, what challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Even if you did not have a formal leadership role, I guess you would have informally taken a lead role on some occasions. Those instances could be just fine.
Raj
Aneesh/Anand, can you tell us about the program rigor? Is it more than, say in BITS, or in IIT?
Aanand MBA08
raj – I’d say education at Haas is quite different from an undergrad program at say BITS or IIT etc. it is a combination of class work, group projects etc. and the onus is on the student to make use of the plentiful opportunities to learn. The student body is very collegiate and we help each other prepare for exams, interviews etc. What is also great is that my classmates at Haas are not only very smart and accomplished - but they also have unique backgrounds and skills. I’m learning from them as much as I am learning from the professors.
ram1971
What about the availability of loans and scholarships at Berkeley? Is it easy or difficult?
Lee_Moderator
ram1971, questions about financial aid are best addressed in email. Please write to finaid@haas.berkeley.edu and they will respond.
whirlwind
Is Berkeley famous for any particular elective? Is it better for marketing/sales or finance?
Pete_Berkeley
Whirlwind, our program is well-known for a variety of courses and electives. Unique or well-known electives include New Product Development, International Business Development, and Brand Management. As far as marketing vs. finance, they are both specialization areas in which both the Wall Street Journal and US News Graduate Schools of Business rank us in the top ten, so I'd say they are both quite strong.
Rahul Mishra
If I have been doing extra curricular activities (developing a small set of low cost flats ) to generate more money for me and in the same time helping the society to get those at costs below the market rate, with better quality than others in the surrounding, will such activities help in boosting my application to get selected.
Aanand MBA08
rahul - what you are doing is interesting. You should highlight whatever you think is appropriate in your application.
samy
Aneesh/Anand, did you Indian students take loans from Indian banks before going there?
Aanand MBA08
samy - I did not. I was working in the US before joining Haas. I’m not sure if other Indian students did.
arpan
Is Haas wary of applicants who want to start their companies after graduation?
Corinne_Berkeley
Arpan - Entrepreneurship is one of Haas' many top-ranked specialties, and approximately 5-10% of students start their own businesses after graduation!! From an admissions perspective, if you are planning to start your a company after graduation, it is important that you are able to lay out your vision/goal in your application so that we understand the feasibility of your entrepreneurial venture.
Saket
How is the Haas concept of innovative leadership different from leadership in general?
Pete_Berkeley
Leading through Innovation, our tag line, is related to the fact that we teach leadership with a specific focus on how to organize, manage, and lead organizations in which innovation is valued, recognized, and included as part of the organizational mindset. This is quite different than simply teaching you how other companies have been led in the past or giving you a case study of something that a company has done.
arijit
Hi Aneesh....what are the specializations available at Haas?
Jeff_Moderator
From technology to entrepreneurship, from global management to real estate and health care, Haas has many different specializations. See here for more information: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/specialties.html. If you have a question about a specific one or about Aneesh's or Aanand's specializations, please send it.
Srini
If Operations management is what I want to do, would you suggest Haas as the best place (or one of the best places??)
Aneesh MBA08
I haven't compared Haas to other schools on this dimension so that is difficult to tell. You certainly have opportunities here.
Ali
Pete - But suppose if you had changed jobs to start your own venture which didn’t go very well. Does it still hamper your candidature?
Pete_Berkeley
Ali, again, it's all about the quality of the work experience. If you had an entrepreneurial venture that failed, we might be interested in learning how aware you are of why it failed and what lessons you may have learned for the future.
Avinash
Aneesh/Anand, how much emphasis do recruiters place on experience prior to MBA? To what extent can one make up for lack of relevant experience through courses during MBA?
Aanand MBA08
avinash - Great question! Many students at Haas including myself came here to change careers. Career services, courses, Haas alumni, company presentations, Haas 2nd years, your classmates etc- are all great resources to learn about an industry that you are interested in, but don’t have prior experience in. most recruiters recognize this as well -and they welcome career switchers. At the same time, it’s always good to highlight things in your past that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for.
BrewDeck25
Corinne-About financial assistance, are there options outside RA or TA?
Corinne_Berkeley
brewdeck25 - There are many financial aid opportunities available to students. In addition to GSI positions (Graduate Student Instructor, which is similar to a TA), there are also scholarships and loans available. The two main scholarships include the Haas Merit Scholarship and the Haas Achievement Award. Our financial aid website provides much more detailed information on both the scholarships and the loans: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/mba/finaid/
arpan
Can you elaborate more on collaborative frame work? What do you exactly mean by the term "collaborative"?
Aanand MBA08
arpan - from my own personal perspective, I’ve learned from my very smart classmates almost as much I’ve learned from my courses. Students here recognize the importance of teamwork and help each other out in so many ways - both in class and outside.
Vijay
Is there any upper age limit for admissions or any issues for mid aged students during the course?
Pete_Berkeley
Age is not something that we consider in the admissions process. We generally have a pretty wide range of experience and age levels, however, and in this year's first year class, we have new students ranging in age from 24-41.
Indian
I have heard that for Indian students, a minimum GMAT score is around 720. Is it true?
Lee_Moderator
We do not collect statistics (like GMAT score) for Indian students separately.
BrewDeck25
About non profit schemes, are there anything available for international applicants to field for causes?
Aanand MBA08
brewdeck - There is a very active center for Non-Profit and Public Management here. A number of my classmates are interested in the sector - the Board Fellows program which allows you to participate in the functioning of a nonprofit, including board meetings.
Avinash
Lee, does Haas have a process in place to provide feedback to students who were denied admission? How does the success rate of re-applicants compare with that of first-time applications?
Lee_Moderator
Avinash, we are only able to provide feedback to a limited set of applicants -- those who have been denied after being interviewed or placed on the waitlist. People are admitted every year who are re-applicants, but I can't give you any exact numbers or percentages.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for joining us. The chat will be wrapping up in a few minutes. We greatly appreciate your questions. We apologize if we didn’t get to all of your questions. Please check back on our website for transcripts of today’s chat and for future chat dates. The speakers will continue to address some questions already in their cue, but we will not be forwarding additional questions.
Kartik
Does Haas ask for all the GMAT scores that one has taken exams for? IF I submit the scores of my 2nd GMAT exam, does Haas insist of providing the scores of earlier exams as well?
Lee_Moderator
Kartik, we consider your highest GMAT score.
Sachin
Apart from the 2 Professional LORs, can a Berkeley Alum send a separate LOR?
Corinne_Berkeley
Sachin - A Berkeley Alum can send an informal recommendation, and it will be added to that applicant's file for consideration in the admissions process.
Avinash
Has Haas offered interviews in Bangalore in the past? Will interviews be offered in Bangalore for round 2?
Pete_Berkeley
Avinash, we have offered them in some years past, and whether or not we do this year will depend on how many applicants in Bangalore are selected for an interview.
arijit
yeah...I mean I have done my bachelor of technology in IT...can you tell me which MBA specialization would be best suited for me considering the future scenario?
Aneesh MBA08
This is a decision you have to make after weighing a number of factors such as your interests, career goals, background, etc.
arpan
Do you want recommenders to back the stories written in essays or should they instead focus on providing additional material?
Corinne_Berkeley
Arpan - A strong recommendation should include detailed examples that support and add to the material already provided in the essays. Rather than simply summarize and restate the information that is already provided in the essays, a recommender should provide their candid assessment of the applicant, in relation to the evaluation criteria, within a professional setting.
Jeff_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for joining us; we really appreciate you joining us online. Good luck with your applications and career choices. The chat is now wrapping up. Please check back on our website for transcripts of today’s chat. Go Bears!
Aneesh MBA08
Thanks a lot for participating. Please feel free to email hsa@haas.berkeley.edu should you have more questions. Good Luck!
Corinne_Berkeley
Thanks for joining us on today's chat! Best of luck in your applications!
Pete_Berkeley
Thanks again for participating, and best of luck with your applications and career plans!
