Consortium Candidates

Applying through The Consortium

At Berkeley Haas, we believe that diversity enhances individual learning and improves organizational performance, and we are committed to increasing the representation of historically underrepresented minorities in business education. 

Berkeley Haas partners with The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management who recruits qualified U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents who can demonstrate a commitment to The Consortium's mission of enhancing diversity in business education and leadership by helping to reduce the serious underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in both member schools' enrollments and the ranks of management.

Fall 2025 Consortium Deadlines

Round 1 Round 2
Online Application Submitted October 15, 2024 January 5, 2025
Tests Taken October 15, 2024 January 5, 2025
Decision Posted December 12, 2024 March 27, 2025

Haas Consortium Process

Consortium Application

We encourage qualified candidates to apply to the Berkeley MBA program through The Consortium. If you apply as a Consortium candidate, you are not required to complete the Full-time Berkeley MBA program application. Applicants who apply using The Consortium application undergo the same evaluation process as applicants who apply directly to the Berkeley MBA.

Consortium Fellowships

Candidates who apply and are accepted through The Consortium are considered for full-tuition, merit-based Berkeley Haas Consortium Fellowships and benefit from ongoing professional development opportunities. Applying via the Consortium does not preclude applicants from being awarded other Haas scholarships.

Essays

In addition to completing the essays required by The Consortium, applicants must also respond to the required Berkeley Haas supplemental essays.

Required Essay

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words)

Statement of Purpose (required for joint degrees)

The statement of purpose is intended to give you the opportunity to submit a tailored narrative which will describe how your education, experience and professional career objectives align with your interest in the joint degree program. (300 words)

Video Essay

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles. Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life.

Please review the Defining Leadership Principles in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording. You will be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording. Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

Consortium applicants will record the Video Essay after their application is received by Berkeley Haas.

Interviews

You may be invited to interview with Berkeley Haas during the application review cycle. Interviews are by invitation only and are offered through prerecorded video, and remotely with a current student or alumni. Learn more about the interview process.

Concurrent Degrees

You may apply to the MBA/MPH program through The Consortium. You should indicate your intention when completing The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MPH program must complete a statement of purpose for the joint degree. Please note that for fellowship recipients this only covers the first two years of the two and one half year MBA/MPH program.

You may apply to the MBA/MCS program through The Consortium. You should indicate your intention when completing The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MCS program must complete a statement of purpose for the joint degree. Please note that for fellowship recipients this only covers the first two years of the two and one half year MBA/MCS program.

You may also apply to the MBA/MEng program through The Consortium application. You will be prompted to indicate which College of Engineering department when completing The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MEng program are also required to provide a statement of purpose. 

Berkeley Haas does not accept applications for the JD/MBA joint degree through The Consortium. To apply for the JD/MBA concurrent degree, please apply directly through the Berkeley Haas application.

Consortium Orientation Program (OP)

All incoming Consortium members are required to attend The Orientation Program (OP) the summer prior to matriculation. This five-day event brings together new Consortium students, second-year students, alumni, as well as representatives from member schools, sponsoring companies and strategic partner organizations. OP features workshops, social activities, networking and professional development programming.

Consortium FAQs

In which round should I apply?

Apply when you are at your strongest. 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. If you apply in Round 1, we will review your application earlier, so you may receive an interview invitation and/or admission earlier. The Consortium determines the application deadlines so that you can plan accordingly for submitting your Consortium application to all member schools for which you wish to apply.

Am I at a disadvantage if I apply through The Consortium?

We encourage all applicants who can demonstrate their commitment to The Consortium's mission to apply via The Consortium. There are many benefits to Consortium membership, as well as the opportunity to apply for The Consortium Fellowship. Consortium applications are reviewed in the same way as the rest of our pool, although the deadlines are slightly different.

If I retake the GMAT or GRE after The Consortium application deadline, will you consider my new score?

The GMAT or GRE must be taken on or before The Consortium application deadline for the round in which you apply. Updated scores can be emailed to us up to two weeks before our notification deadline.

What if I am a reapplicant?

Both Berkeley Haas and The Consortium keep application materials from the previous two application cycles. If you applied more than two years ago, you are required to submit an entirely new application. Reapplicants who applied in the last two years must submit a new application that includes all required data forms and essays, an updated résumé, one mission support recommendation, and the application fee. You may re-use the following items: GMAT or GRE score if not expired, professional recommendations, and transcripts.

As a reapplicant to Berkeley Haas, we strongly recommend that you use the optional essay (on the Berkeley Supplemental Application) to outline how you have improved your candidacy since your last application. The Admissions Committee will be looking for substantive change in your qualifications. We also recommend that you provide updated professional recommendations which may highlight your most current professional achievements, as well as speak to how you have enhanced your candidacy since you last applied. If you have taken the GMAT/GRE and TOEFL again, ask to have the new official scores sent to The Consortium and note your new score on the Test Score section of the application.

If I apply through The Consortium and am denied admission, am I still eligible to apply to the Berkeley Full-time MBA Program through one of its subsequent application rounds?

No. If you are denied admission to the Full-time Berkeley MBA program after applying through The Consortium, you are not eligible to apply to the Full-time program within the same academic cycle.

Is it necessary to have an interview?

Once the Admissions Committee has reviewed your Consortium application, you may be invited to interview. Receiving an invitation should be taken as a sign of interest on the part of the Admissions Committee. Interviews are offered through prerecorded video, and remotely with a current student or alumni. Interview invitations generally start going out four weeks after the application deadline, and continue to go out on a rolling basis up until the notification deadline. You will be notified by email if you are invited to interview.

I was admitted through The Consortium and did not receive a Consortium Fellowship. Am I still eligible for other Berkeley MBA Scholarships?

Yes, you are eligible (and encouraged!) to apply for any of our MBA Scholarships

I am interested in applying for a concurrent degree program (JD/MBA, MBA/MEng, MBA/MPH). Can I still apply through The Consortium?

JD/MBA: The JD/MBA concurrent degree applicants are not eligible to apply to the JD/MBA program through The Consortium. To apply for the JD/MBA concurrent degree, please apply directly through the Berkeley Haas application.

MBA/MEng: If you are applying to the MBA/MEng concurrent degree program, you should indicate your intention and specify which of the seven departments you would like to join. Applicants to the this program must provide a statement of purpose. MBA/MEng applications must be submitted by the final MBA deadline. Applicants will be considered for admission to one or both departments. Applicants who are admitted to only one of the two programs may enroll in that program.

MBA/MPH: You may apply to the MBA/MPH program through The Consortium. You should choose the MBA/MPH option when completing the Berkeley Haas section of The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MPH program are required to submit a statement of purpose. Please note that for fellowship recipients this only covers the first two years of the two-and-a-half year MBA program.

MBA/MCS: You may apply to the MBA/MCS program through The Consortium. You should choose the MBA/MCS option when completing the Berkeley Haas section of The Consortium application. Applicants to the MBA/MCS program are required to submit a statement of purpose. Please note that for fellowship recipients this only covers the first two years of the two-and-a-half year MBA program.

As a recipient of a Consortium Fellowship, am I required to maintain a minimum grade point average while a student? What if I am a Consortium Member (and not a Fellowship recipient)?

Whether a Consortium Fellowship recipient or Consortium Member, you must remain in good academic standing (i.e., 3.0 GPA or higher) while a student at Berkeley Haas.

I am a recipient of a Consortium Fellowship and would like to defer my acceptance for a year. May I defer my Consortium Fellowship as well?

Deferrals are very uncommon for the Berkeley MBA Program. In extreme circumstances, they may be granted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Director of Admissions. Deferral of a Consortium Fellowship is also reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

VIDEO: Consortium student webinar

Hear from current students about the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management and what they have to say about Haas.

Planning to apply through the Consortium?

Reach out to our student Consortium Liaisons.