Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Questions
Financing
Your MBA
Applying
to the Berkeley MBA Program
Test Scores
Recommendation Letters
Interviews
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Eligibility
Questions
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Online
Application Questions
My
questions are not answered here.
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General
Questions
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 have 8 years of
work experience, and Berkeley-Columbia Executive
MBA students have 12 years of work experience.
All programs are competitive. Please see the following
link for more information: http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/theberkeleymbacompared.html
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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. For further details
about our on-campus visitation program, please
visit http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/visitation.html.
We also participate in and periodically sponsor
events for potential students in locations around
the world. Visit https://ssl.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/events
for further details.
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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 60% of Haas students receive some form of
financial assistance, which can include scholarships,
loans, and assistantships. Over $1.5 million in
scholarship aid is awarded each year, and 17%
of the fall 2006 entering class received a scholarship
of some kind.
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.
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. For information about federal loan
programs, visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/MBA/finaid/
For details about private loan programs, please
visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/MBA/finaid/prvtmba.htm
On our website you'll also find 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. For
more information about graduate student instructorships,
visit http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/gsi.
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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. For more information,
refer to http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/MBA/finaid/prvtmba.html.
Fall 2008 application information will be posted
as soon as possible (after Dec 1, 2007).
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
2007:
Round 1: For applications
that are complete and submitted by November 5,
2007, decisions will be sent on January 29, 2008.
Round 2: For applications
that are complete and submitted by December 11,
2007, decisions will be sent on March 19, 2008.
Round 3: For applications
that are complete and submitted by January 31,
2008, decisions will be sent on April 30, 2008.
Round 4: For applications
that are complete and submitted by March 12, 2008,
decisions will be sent on May 14, 2008.
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 8, 2008 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: http://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/fall2008.html#reapplcation
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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 650
to 750. On average admitted applicants had an
undergraduate GPA of 3.5. The middle 80% GPA range
was typically between 3.16 and 3.84. 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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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 scores valid?
For fall 2008 admission, we accept official scores
from GMAT tests taken as early as October 2002.
For fall 2008 admission, the TOEFL exam must be
taken no earlier than June 2006. There are no
exceptions to these dates.
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What
is the required TOEFL 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/.
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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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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 the fall 2006 entering
class, 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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