Full-time MBA Program
The Berkeley MBA – Online Admissions Chat
September 18, 2007
Chat with Current Haas MBA Students
Adrian Durbin, MBA Class of 2008
Michael Badalov, MBA Class of 2008
Lee_Moderator
Welcome to the Berkeley MBA chat. We’ll be starting soon. My name is Lee and Jeff and I will be moderating the chat today. I would like to introduce Adrian Durbin and Mike Badalov, Haas Student Ambassadors. Please send us your questions!
laura troy
Could you please tell us a little bit about why you ending up choosing Haas over other b-schools you applied to?
Adrian MBA08
Hi Laura. I chose Haas after visiting here as an admitted student. I really enjoyed visiting a couple classes and interacting with current students. I really got a great feeling about the school. I would strongly advise you to visit all of the schools that you get admitted to.
Saurabh_Oz
Hi all, Saurabh here from Australia! Just important things first (sort of), Adrian, do you get much time to play golf during semester? I am a golf nut too, and on your profile it says you love it as well. So how much do you get to have a hit?
Adrian MBA08
Hi Saraubh from Australia! I didn't get to play golf a TON during my first semester because I was so busy with school, but by the spring I was able to get out there a decent amount. I think as a general rule, you have more free time during second year, so I expect to be on the course even more this year!
sdavis
Sorry this question is so formal, but for the student ambassadors: What do you suggest we pay close attention to in our work experiences prior to starting the MBA program?
Michael MBA08
Hi, SDavis. In your work experience, I would recommend that you focus on delivering a clear message about your career progression and professional development while at your current job. It's important for the admissions office to see a good progression.
Leon (NY)
HSA: I am planning to attend both the Lunch with Students and Information Session this Friday. I am interested in applying to the dual degree MBA/MPH program. Would you know if at least one of the HSA's who will be available for lunch is in the MBA/MPH program? Thanks.
Michael MBA08
Actually, Leon, both of the HSA's doing the information session this Friday (Adrian and Ali) are in the MBA/MPH program. You can get some details during your time with them. Hope this helps!
laura troy
Was there anything specific about the Haas program you found particularly appealing
Adrian MBA08
Laura, as a matter of fact, yes, I was interested in health care and I am now in the MBA-MPH program here at Haas. I was also very attracted to the relatively small size of the school. I think the small size helps foster a strong sense of community - something that definitely exists here.
Leon (NY)
Are students required to declare a major? Or, is the program general management -focused?
Michael MBA08
Leon, the program here is a General Management curriculum. While we are NOT required to declare a major, we can choose certificate programs to focus on during our studies (such as Management of Technology, Real Estate, Global Management, Energy, to name a few).
Saurabh_Oz
Hi Mike, so you went to Melbourne University? I am currently living in Melbourne and wondering how the day-to-day culture is different between Melbourne and at Haas?
Michael MBA08
Hi Saurabh_Oz! That is a good question. One of the reasons that I liked living in Australia was the easy-going nature of the people that I met. This is similar to my classmates at Haas. People are extremely nice, genuine and driven at the same time. This fosters an air of collaboration and desire to work together both personally as well as professionally.
silversky
What don’t you like about the Berkeley mba program? How responsive is the administration to fixing your concerns?
Adrian MBA08
Silversky, the administration is very responsive to students' concerns. For example, a few years ago the administration changed the curriculum so that first year students could take electives (as opposed to solely core curriculum classes). I'm trying to think of something I don't like about the program here, but there truly isn't anything substantial. I guess sometimes it's annoying to walk up all of the hills in Berkeley!
Mihir Gandhi
Why, specifically, did you apply to Haas? And how did your reasons/motivations for applying change through your time there?
Michael MBA08
Hi, Mihir. I applied to Haas because I wanted to change my geographic location, for one. I grew up in Chicago and went to Northwestern, so I wanted to get out of the Midwest and have a different experience in business school. The more I think about my decision to move to the Bay Area, the more I realize that I did the right thing.
Raj Sodhi
is there anyone online from the MFE program that has young kids?
Lee_Moderator
Everyone on-line right now is from the full-time MBA.
Saurabh_Oz
Mike and Adrian, just wondering being from an IT background…did you have many students from the IT industry at all?
Michael MBA08
Yes, in fact there are quite a lot of folks from high tech and about 25% of our graduating class ends up in high tech.
laura troy
How would you describe your program peers?
Adrian MBA08
Laura, I think the Haas program is comprised of highly intelligent, motivated students who are looking to make an impact on the world, regardless of what field they may be interested in. Students here are very friendly and very collaborative, too.
Michael MBA08
There is a center for Non-Profit and Public Management. A large number of our classmates are interested in the sector and opportunities such as the Board Fellows program allow students interested in the field to participate in Bay Area non-profit board meetings.
chris.holinger
Adrian, how much help has the school offered to help you find internship opportunities?
Adrian MBA08
Chris, the career services organization (CSO) at Haas is extremely helpful. They offer a TON of services, from resume help to career counseling to interview practice. Many students are career switchers who sometimes need some additional guidance, which is readily available.
chek
Do you socialize much with fellow students outside of the classroom/business school?
Michael MBA08
Hi Chek, thanks for your question. Yes, there are weekly and monthly activities that are designed as "Social Mixers" and take place outside of the Academic setting of the business school. Events such as Bar of the Week and Consumption Functions are such examples.
sri
Hello Mike and Adrian: I am from Toronto, I will have had 9 yrs of work experience by fall 2008, as a mother and older applicant , I am curious to know what % of the class is married with kids and what support structure Haas provides for them
Adrian MBA08
Sri, I'm not sure of the exact percentage of students with kids. I know that approx. 50% are married or in a serious relationship. In terms of support, many of the students with kids live in university housing that is specifically designed for people with families.
flyingk
Michael, Are most of the tech companies that recruit at Berkeley looking to hire positions in the Bay Area?
Michael MBA08
flyingk -- As a general rule of thumb, companies (tech and non-tech) try to recruit with a specific office in mind. However, if they come across a candidate that demonstrates aptitude that can be used in a variety of settings, they would be open to providing you with alternatives. Hope this helps.
nubi
Are any of the current students trying to establish a startup? What resources have they been using and how has the MBA program helped?
Adrian MBA08
Nubi, there are a lot of students who are looking to start their own businesses. In the class that graduated in May, 18 students are doing exactly that (out of a class of only 240). There is a center for entrepreneurship here, and the school also offers incubator space for people who need desks/office/etc.
John Thorrington
Hi Michael, I met you last week at an HSA informational session. I know this is a tough question, but how much time, on average, do students have to dedicate to their studies per week?
Michael MBA08
Hi John, yes, I hope that you enjoyed the info session! You are right, it is tough to estimate an average amount of time dedicated to class work/studies but a good rule of thumb that I had last Fall (when taking all core classes) was 4 hours of class per day + about 2 hours of group meetings + about 2 hours of independent study. Again, tough to estimate overall but it was a busy semester, as you could imagine.
Alexis
Do you think it is important to know what direction you want to go in after Business School when applying?
Adrian MBA08
Alexis -- Good question. It is important to convey to the Admissions Committee that you have thought about where you are in your career/life and why getting an MBA is the right thing for you to do (at this point). While you may not know EXACTLY where you want to be in 2 years, it is important to be able to articulate where you think you will be and how an MBA will help to get you there.
slsu
Hi, this question is for Michael. I had sent you an inquiry regarding the IBD program, and I was wondering how often students in the MPH/MBA program participate in the IBD program, given that their schedule seems fairly rigorous?
Michael MBA08
hi slsu -- Good question. Adrian, the other HSA moderator today, is an MBA/MPH student and he participated in the IBD program. Since this is an extra class in the spring semester and 3 weeks in the summer (usually right before your summer internship would start) it makes the balancing act a bit easier to handle.
Erik
Adrian, with that said, is teamwork an area that Haas emphasizes or is work more singular in nature?
Adrian MBA08
Erik, teamwork is hugely important here. Virtually every class has group projects, and even when you take exams individually, you usually spend a lot of time studying with your classmates.
Paola
At what point do you have to choose your specialties?
Michael MBA08
Paola - We do not have to declare/choose our specialties at Haas, given that it’s a General Management program. We do have the option of pursuing Certificate Programs (in areas like Real Estate, Energy, Healthcare, etc) should we so choose.
Bao
Adrian, what do you see as the pros and cons of a duel degree MBA-MPH?
Adrian MBA08
Bao, I think the MBA-MPH program is great, but it's definitely not for everyone. Getting a second degree will give me more credibility with some of the things I may want to do later in my career, but there's obviously an opportunity cost associated with staying in school longer. Send an email to the HSA account if you want to talk more about it. You can also find info on the website about the program.
Zach
Would you say Haas teachers focus more on stimulating your creative thinking or refining your understanding of proven business theory
Michael MBA08
Zach -- professors here try to use a good mix of the case method, the lecture method and group work/projects. Some subjects (like Marketing) lend themselves quite well to the case method while topics like Accounting, for example, are more straightforward when taught. I hope that this answers your question.
balki
Will this chat transcript be available somewhere online?
Lee_Moderator
The chat transcript will be available on our website in about two weeks!
erinmichelle
How high is your level of stress during the program (for the Full-time MBA) and how much time outside of class is spent studying or working in projects?
Adrian MBA08
Hi Erin, I think the level of stress really depends on the individual. Business school is a LOT of work, and there are definitely times when it can feel a bit overwhelming. Luckily, people develop strong friendships with their classmates very quickly, so you never feel like you're in it alone.
Yudith
Does HAAS have a one year MBA program?
Lee_Moderator
Haas has a two-year full-time mba, an evening and weekend MBA, and a joint executive MBA with Columbia -- but these are all longer than one year. Please visit our website at http://haas.berkeley.edu for more information
Katie
Do you know much about the certificate in real estate?
Adrian MBA08
Katie, send an email to the HSA account and we can put you in touch with someone who is doing the real estate certificate (since neither of us knows much about it).
liza mirkovskaya
Mike, I’m from the former soviet union, how does having been born in a different country affect your admissions and the way the admissions look at GMAT? I came to the states when I was 15 (6 years ago)
Michael MBA08
Hi Liza -- Our class always has a strong international representation and being born in a different country puts you neither at an advantage or a disadvantage in the admissions process.
Lee_Moderator
Check out our admissions Podcasts on our home page at http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu for information on Haas, tips on the online application and more.
ERIC
What are some things you wish you had known prior to applying or enrolling?
Michael MBA08
ERIC -- One concrete thing that I would do differently is to have taken my GMAT and done my application in distinct time periods. I did both within the span of one month and it was a very grueling endeavor. If you can separate these two portions of your application process, I would highly recommend it.
Lee_Moderator
Want to hear more from admissions and current students? See our Blogs at http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/blogs.html
Leon (NY)
How much of what you learned at the Career Management Conference and Career Development Workshops, do you feel truly enhance your chance of getting the internship you just had the past summer?
Michael MBA08
Leon - One of the advantages of the CMC is that it occurs in the downtime between Fall A and Fall B. Its a very concentrated two-day period where you are encouraged to think of the best approach to marketing yourself as a potential employee in industry X, how to make sure that your resumes and cover letters reflect that and how your interviewing skills (which are also worked upon) convey this desire to the recruiters.
AChiou
Can you describe one of your favorite/interesting group projects from the 1st year at Haas?
Adrian MBA08
AChiou, one of my highlights from first year was going to Ghana for my IBD project. I worked with 3 classmates to help improve the operations of the Ghana School Feeding Program, a government run free lunch program in Ghana. It was a phenomenal experience.
fountain
Michael, is professional work experience in the field of our undergraduate major required for admission? I have about 10 years of work experience in retail, banking and office work, but I have a degree in public relations.
Michael MBA08
fountain -- good question. My undergraduate degree was in Industrial Engineering and my work experience was supply management and IT consulting. While it is not imperative that you work in your "professional" field, what IS important is that you show the admissions committee your career progression.
Erik
I am planning on visiting Berkeley in early October (coming from Virginia/DC and to CA for the first time) and wondered if you have a "Top 5 Things to do on your Berkeley visit" list? I would like to make the most of my visit.
Adrian MBA08
Erik, I would make sure you visit campus, go to a class, and sit in on the Haas information session. I'd also walk around campus and check out the interesting characters on Telegraph Ave. You should also go into SF, of course (about 20 minutes away), and see the sites there, like Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you like the outdoors, you can go hiking, or play golf or go surfing...there are literally a million things to do here. I came from the east coast and could not be happier...
balki
Do you have suggestions for older applicants (30+)? Do you look at anything specific in such an applicant’s profile?
Michael MBA08
Hi Balki -- our median age at Haas is 29 and the middle 80% range is 24 - 38. There is no real different consideration as the Admissions Committee looks for professional experience and ways in which you can make the class more diverse and interesting during, for example, case discussions.
Adrian MBA08
John, yes, we have very good ties with east coast recruiters. The career services office has a full-time account person based in NY who deals directly with east coast recruiters. The bottom line is that if you want a job back on the east coast, you'll be able to get one. You’ll have to do more traveling than the people who want to stay on the west coast (obviously), but that shouldn't be a huge deal.
chris.holinger
Michael, I'm from Chicago and have planned a trip to the Bay Area to come visit the campus... who should I contact about getting a tour, discussing my interests and speaking with students/professors?
Michael MBA08
Chris, excellent question. Please have a look here for information regarding visiting Haas: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/visitation.html
PChan
Adrian or Michael, Many people have said that they have gained a great deal from networking with their fellow students and campus organizations. I wanted to know whether or not there are any additional advantages from the Full time program vs Weekend/Evening program.
Michael MBA08
PChan -- the two programs are similar in many ways and different in many ways, as you can imagine. Personally, I chose to do the full time MBA program because I had no desire (nor necessity) to juggle a full-time job and a full academic load. However, some folks are supporting families or have other circumstances that prevent them from pursuing a full time MBA. It’s a matter of personal preference, really.
liza mirkovskaya
If I only have one year of work experience related to the business/marketing, but over five years of working in the education area, how does that influence my chances of getting in?
Adrian MBA08
Liza, the Admissions Committee will look at the whole of your experience, so don't be worried about only one year of "business" experience. I worked in politics for most of my career before coming to school. They will want to see that you had increased responsibilities and demonstrated leadership potential. That is more important than the type of organization you worked for.
fountain
Michael, are you currently working (at which company if so)? Do have managerial experience?
Michael MBA08
fountain -- I am currently full time in the MBA program but my summer internship was at Safeway, in the Marketing Strategies group.
Ryan Baker
What percentage of accepted applicants had public accounting experience, were/are CPA's?
Michael MBA08
Ryan -- while I cannot give you an exact percentage, I know that a good amount of my classmates waived out of the core accounting class on the basis of having a CPA.
RaviMenon
Who are the top recruiters at Haas?
Michael MBA08
RaviMenon - the top recruiters last year were Apple, Google, Yahoo, McKinsey, BCG, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Genentech, J&J, amongst others.
sri
I am planning to visit Haas on October 11, I see there is no registration required for most sessions - do we just come in and meet with ambassadors or do you recommend connecting with someone particular prior to the visit?
Adrian MBA08
Sri, you should sign up to attend a class, and also show up to the info session and lunch with students if possible (no sign up necessary). You'll gain a lot from all 3 things.
erikasnider
How would you describe the atmosphere among students? Is it competitive or collaborative?
Michael MBA08
erikasnider - Great question. The atmosphere at Haas is very collaborative and its something that we take a lot of pride in. In fact, it was one of the deciding factors in my decision to come here for the full-time MBA program.
Adrian MBA08
Leon, students aren't assigned a specific career counselor, but each of the career counselors has a particular expertise, so it often makes sense to meet with that person. For example, last year I met with the person who focuses on health care. But I could have met with anyone I wanted (and you can meet with them as many times as you need to).
Michael MBA08
Anaal -- IBD for me was a fabulous experience. While it was a lot of work (like any consulting - style project), the reward was very tangible. My client, in Finland, was very friendly and my team really enjoyed working with him and his associates. Since it was a marketing strategy assessment project, it tied in very well with my desire to go into retail marketing after graduating from Haas.
Michael MBA08
Andrew_Russakoff -- Good question. About 25% of our graduating class takes jobs in the Financial Services industry both in the Bay Area as well as in NYC. In fact, the two biggest geographic concentrations of Haas alums are San Francisco and New York City.
Saurabh_Oz
Apart from the reputation of Haas, is there anything else that separates the graduates from Berkeley from grads of other MBA courses?
Adrian MBA08
Saurabh, I recently heard our Dean say that recruiters describe Haas students as highly talented but without attitude. And I think that's right - the students here are very bright and motivated, but also thoughtful and not arrogant, which is definitely something I appreciate.
Paola
What cities do the job recruiters mainly represent?
Michael MBA08
Paola - Recruiters come to Haas representing many firms and many office locations. If you have a question about a specific city, I can try to answer that.
humpteed2001
Is there anything that you wish you knew earlier about Haas, once you started attending classes?
Adrian MBA08
Humpteed, I guess I wish I knew how intense the first year would be! I absolutely loved it, but it is all-encompassing. Some of my non-Haas friendships suffered a bit as a result.
nubi
After joining HAAS, what elements surprised you the most, what is good thing or a bad thing?
Michael MBA08
nubi - thanks for your question. The thing that was the most pleasant surprise to me was the level of exposure that I have to the administration of this school. Being a smaller program, I feel like I have the ear of the administrators pretty much when I need it. Everyone has been extremely supportive and super responsive through a variety of issues that have come up over the last year that I have been here.
EC
If you are invited to the interview portion of the application process, where would it take place?
Lee_Moderator
If you are invited to interview, you may be invited to one of our Super Saturday interview events, or you may come to campus to interview, or you may interview in your city. We try to arrange something that is convenient for you.
NYC
Adrian, are you pursuing the mba/mph route? Is there a significant advantage over the health care certificate?
Adrian MBA08
NYC, there is a lot of info about the MBA-MPH program available online. But, I can tell you that most people who join the program feel there is a significant advantage to obtaining a second degree (usually because of their career interests). It's not for everyone, though, since there is obviously a big opportunity cost to staying in school for an extra semester.
liza mirkovskaya
What exactly is IBD? Is it a requirement to graduate from the program
Michael MBA08
liza -- IBD = International Business Development Program. You can find more information on it here: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/HaasGlobal/IBDindex.htm
ram
How important is it to get a recommendation from a current supervisor?
Adrian MBA08
Ram, if you don't get a recommendation from a current supervisor, the Admissions Office will ask you to explain why that is the case.
EC
Seeing how the school is located in the west coast, how often do the students have the opportunity to interact with industry professionals?
Michael MBA08
EC - Being in the middle of San Francisco, Silicon Valley (and other areas of the bay), we have a lot of opportunities to interact with industry experts in fields such as technology, professional services, healthcare and the public sector.
erinmichelle
Can you please describe some of the management in health care coursework you are doing? I am currently a pharmacist and curious how my ideas for my career can be enhanced by this MBA program.
Adrian MBA08
Erinmichelle, there is a pharmacist who is a 3rd-year in the MBA-MPH program. I can put you in touch with her if you'd like. Send an email to the HSA email account (hsa@haas.berkeley.edu) and mention this chat. I'll direct you to her from there.
Tom
Adrian or Michael, do you know anyone in your class that is currently pursuing a MFE and MBA concurrently?
Lee_Moderator
Tom, we don't offer a concurrent MBA/MFE -- all concurrent programs must be approved by the Academic Senate and that's a complex process.
RomuloQueiroz
Hi, I am really interested in studying "innovation management". Berkeley has started with the motto "leading through innovation" last year. Do you feel that this motto is already a reality in all courses?
Michael MBA08
LTI (Leading Through Innovation) has a lot of traction at Haas and is the go-forward brand of the school. Programs such as Haas@work, Peers@Haas and the incorporation of LTI elements into the core curriculum classes (such as strategy) is quickly becoming a reality here.
Leon (NY)
Could you briefly discuss Haas's Corporate Social Responsibility? For example, how do you feel Haas's focus in this area show through its curriculum, its culture, etc.?
Adrian MBA08
Leon, CSR is a big focus here. You should check out the website for the Center for Responsible Business. There are numerous classes and consulting opportunities in that field - as well as a lot of students interested in it, so it is a noticeable part of the culture here.
Lisa
Does Haas offer exchange programs with schools abroad?
Michael MBA08
Lisa - great question! In addition to exchange programs in London, Barcelona and Columbia (the school), Haas offers treks to places like Israel, China and India, just to name a few. Last year, for spring break, I went to Shanghai with a group of 20 first/second year MBA students.
Melissa
Do you have enough free time to work a part-time job? For example, waitressing part-time?
Michael MBA08
Melissa - While this decision is fully yours, typical advice from both admissions as well as current students would be to try and avoid this kind of situation if at all possible. Your life pretty quickly centers around the MBA program, especially in the core-centric Fall semester of your first year.
Zach
How would you characterize the bridges available to work with Berkeley's other Schools?
Adrian MBA08
Zach, every Haas student can take up to 6 credits (about 2 or 3 semester long classes) at other Berkeley schools, no questions asked. If you want to take more, you can apply for special permission. It's one of the great attributes of being at Berkeley, where almost all of the graduate programs are ranked in the top 10 in their respective field.
JKhor
Is there a site where I can get in touch with an alumni (or student rep) living in the Southeast Asia region?
Lee_Moderator
We do not put applicants into contact with alumni due to concerns for their privacy. If you write to the Haas Student Ambassadors at hsa@haas.berkeley.edu, they will put you in touch with current students from Southeast Asia.
geodesic
What according to you makes Haas unique?
Michael MBA08
geodesic -- In my opinion, the size of the program (240 students per class) coupled with the truly collaborative nature and attitude of the student body make the Haas MBA a unique experience for me.
Saurabh_Oz
You mention Haas having a smaller program. What do you mean by 'smaller'? Smaller class sizes? If so, how many students are we talking per class?
Adrian MBA08
Saurabh, I was referring to the size of the entire class, which is 240 students. Our class sizes range from 1 (independent study) to 60.
Tom
Do you happen to know Berkeley's policy on deferment?
Lee_Moderator
I assume that you are referring to deferred admission -- deferrals are not usually granted except for health reasons.
Michael MBA08
humpteed2001 - Career Services is quite instrumental in helping you both in the preparation of your job search (resumes, cover letters, interview coaching, etc.) as well as in identifying industries and employers that would be good potential fits with your future work goals.
EC
What's the breakdown of American vs. international students?
Lee_Moderator
EC, this year's incoming class was 39% international.
C.K.
Hi Both, how do you demonstrate "leadership" in your application package?
Michael MBA08
C.K. -- This is a very good question and it really depends on your definition of leadership (and how you view/picture a successful leader). For example, you can explain your leadership in the workplace (such as managing a team of X co-workers in the delivery and execution of Y project) or you can talk to your leadership in non-profit foundation that you are involved with outside of work. It really depends on the kind of message you want to send and how you want to present yourself as an applicant to the MBA program. Hope this helps!
erinmichelle
Everyone, thank you for your comments. This was very helpful!
PAULREDONDO
Any disadvantage from going to CAL as an undergraduate?
Adrian MBA08
Paul, most years, Cal is the first or second most represented school at Haas. Lots of people get in from Cal undergrad...!
Michael MBA08
Romulo - Neither Adrian nor I are pursuing the MOT certificate but another HSA is, and she does not have a tech/eng. background.
Adrian MBA08
erinmichelle, ethics is a required course during the first year, and it's taken in the spring. We study several specific business cases where ethics were at the forefront of the decision making process.
Lee_Moderator
Hi all! Thank you for joining us. The chat is now wrapping up – I will not be sending on any more questions to Adrian or Mike. We appreciate your questions. This is the first chat of our application season. Please check back on our website for transcripts of today’s chat. Go Bears!
Lisa
Do students usually live on campus for the first year? Is driving necessary around Berkeley?
Michael MBA08
Lisa - good question. Yes, most first years, especially out-of-towners choose to live close to the Haas campus. Given the amount of meetings and classes, this is usually the advocated strategy. Driving is not necessary, but as you can imagine, things like getting groceries on a weekly basis could be a bit of a chore w/o a car.
ram
Are there any good On Campus housing available at Berkeley?
Adrian MBA08
Ram, most students live in off campus housing but there is a limited amount of on campus housing available.
chek
What will be your most lasting memory of studying at Haas?
Michael MBA08
Chek - My most lasting memory will definitely be all the friendships that I have made and my interactions with the administrators of this program. Both, I hope, will provide a lot of long-term benefits both personally as well as professionally.
MLiu
do you know from personal experience or from that of your classmates, what qualities they felt compensated for a lower GMAT score in their admission to Haas?
Adrian MBA08
MLiu, the GMAT is one aspect of the application. If someone has a lower GMAT score, then they will need to be relatively stronger in another area (such as work experience, essays, recommendations, etc). There are many people with extremely high GMAT scores who get rejected every year in favor of people with lower GMAT scores, who happen to stand out in other ways.
Shipra Kaul
Does the MBA program offer any/many courses related to the Media sector? Have any of you, the students, happened to take them and what are your thoughts on the instructors for these courses?
Michael MBA08
Shirpa - The Digital Media and Entertainment Club (DMEC) is highly focused in this area. While neither Adrian nor I have pursued coursework in this area, there is definitely a large focus in this space with things like the >play conference: http://www.playconference.org/
ram
Adrian / Michael, What would you say is the best part of being at Haas?
Michael MBA08
ram - I think that I can speak for both Adrian and myself when I say that being an HSA is the best part of being at Haas :)
Tom
Has Haas been able to contribute/fund any student led/managed venture funds or entrepreneurship projects this past year? If so, how easy is it to ask for capital from the school?
Michael MBA08
Tom - One thing to keep in mind is that Haas is part of the public UC Berkeley system. There was a microfinance class that invested $25k in a portfolio last year. Students were responsible in choosing and implementing this investment strategy.
Adrian MBA08
Paul, I would recommend asking people who really know you and what your leadership qualities are. Don't worry about the person's title - the Admissions Committee is solely concerned with hearing from someone who knows you and has worked with you.
Lee_Moderator
Bye, all -- that's all the questions we'll have time for today! Thanks for chatting with Haas...
Adrian MBA08
Thanks everyone! Mike and I enjoyed chatting with you. Good luck with your applications!
