HAAS School of Business
(University of California Berkeley)
QUICK FACTS
- Location: Berkeley, CA, USA
- Program Length: 2 years
- Program Cost: $164,118
- Average GMAT score: 729
- Acceptance Rate: 13.2%
- Average Work Experience: 5.6 years
Employment Reports (2022)
- Received an Offer: 93.8%
- Accepted an Offer: 92.8%
- Median Salary: $152,831
- Median Signing Bonus: $33,418
- % receiving Signing Bonus: 73.4%
RANKINGS
- #7 Financial Times 2023 MBA Ranking
- #9 USNews - Executive MBA
- #1 USNews - Part-time MBA
- #11 QS Global MBA Rankings 2023
- #7 Financial Times 2023 MBA Ranking
CLASS OF 2024
- Total Enrollment: 247
- Women: 46%
- Average GPA: 3.64
ABOUT
The Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, is the second oldest business school in the United States. Haas emphasizes producing innovative ideas and knowledge within the business world. Each year, around 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students attend the Haas School of Business, meaning students graduate into a broad alumni community spanning the globe. Located in the ecosystem of the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, students are never in want of new learning opportunities and areas of professional growth.
In an ever-changing world, the Haas School of Business takes into account what students need in order to excel in the professional world. Focusing on ‘new thinking for a new economy’, Haas teaches students the skills, critical thinking, and adaptability needed to thrive in the economic world. Creating a tight-knit community within the Haas School of Business, students can flourish in small classes, create strong ties with fellow peers and faculty, and develop on a personal and professional level.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
- Round 1: September 14th, 2023
- Round 2: January 4th, 2024
- Round 3: March 28th, 2024
APPLICATION PROCESS
Transcripts
Applicants must submit undergraduate and graduate transcripts from institutions they attended. The admissions committee looks for a GPA of around 3.0, although there are no minimum requirements for the application. Most important for the applications is their quantitative proficiency, as Haas faculty assume that students have a mastery of basic quantitative material. Applicants whose transcripts are in a language other than english, must submit a translated version of their transcripts. Admitted applicants must submit official transcripts.
GMAT or GRE
The GMAT or the GRE must be taken by all applicants. There is no required minimum score. The Admissions Committee at Haas focuses on the quantitative score when making an admissions decision.
Foreign Language Requirement
Applicants must submit a TOEFL or IELTS test score i they received a degree from an institution whose primary language of instruction is not English. However, applicants with degrees from the following countries (regardless of instruction language) must submit an English language test score:
Bangladesh
Burma
Europe (non-U.K.)
India
Japan
Latin America
Middle East
Nepal
North Africa
Pakistan
People’s Republic of China
Southeast Asia
Taiwan
2 Recommendations
Two letters of recommendation, at least one from the applicants’ direct supervisor or current supervisor are required and the other from an individual who can speak directly to the applicants’ professional experiences (ie major client or further supervisor). It is vital that applicants DO NOT submit applications from co-workers, someone who had been supervised by them, relatives or person/family relations. No more than two letters may be submitted.
Essay Description
The admissions committee at Haas utilizes the essays to assess candidates’ compatibility with the programs and community. Admitted applicants come from a broad range of backgrounds and industries.
The culture at Haas is distinguished by its four principles:
1) Question the Status Quo
2) Confidence Without Attitude
3) Students Always
4) Beyond Yourself
Essays should reflect applicants’ experiences, values, passions, and their ability to fit into the program.
What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words max.)
The definition of successful leadership has evolved over the last decade and will continue to change. To become a successful leader, what do you need to develop? (300 words max.)
To better understand the applicants and their background, the admissions committee allows applicants to submit an optional essay. Please respond to the following:
1. What is the highest level of education completed by your parent(s) or guardian(s)?
2. What is the most recent occupation of your parent(s) or guardian(s)?
3. If you were raised in one of the following household types, please indicate:
– Raised by a single parent
– Raised by an extended family member
– Raised in a multi-generational home
– Raised in foster care
4. What is the primary language spoken in your childhood home?
5. If you have ever been responsible for providing significant and continuing financial or supervisory support for someone else, please indicate (child, spouse, sibling, parent, extended family member, other).
6. Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on other hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements, and impact (300 words max).
Resume
Successful applicants have real-world business experience. At least 2 years of professional experience is expected for those who apply. Resumes showcase an applicant’s professional experience and interests. Applicants should provide a rich overview of their experiences.
Interview
Interviews are conducted by invite only. Interviews take place through prerecorded videos or online with current students or alumni.
Application Fee
With the submission of the application, a $200 fee is due.
Justin’s Experience: 710 on the GMAT and Berkeley Haas MBA
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PROGRAM STRENGTHS
Innovative Leadership Development
Haas emphasises their ability develop innovative leaders. Graduates of Haas have learned to engage with bold ideas while talking intelligent risks. Students learn to be decision makers who take into account evidence and analysis when developing solutions to global challenges. In order to develop these skills, students take classes in general management fundamentals, effective teamwork, and by working with teams and leading teams.
Experiential Learning
Berkeley Haas allows hands-on experience for their students. 25 years ago, Haas has shifted their MBA experience into hands-on learning. Students have access to strong networks with leading firms and organizations in and around Berkeley. Students take at least 1 applied innovation course, where they can work on team projects in the area of corporate innovation to global consulting work. There are 20 applied innovation courses including; International Business Development, Social Sector Solutions, People Development, and Hedge Fund Strategies.
STUDENT LIFE
The development of leadership skills is core to the Berkeley Haas experience. Because of this, student life at Haas keeps leadership principles at their core. Haas provides opportunities for students to take risks, make mistakes, and grow from their experiences. Students at Haas organize conferences, plan trips, and compete in team-building competitions. Students have the ability to engage in numerous areas of interests. This includes building leadership skills while creating lasting relationships, engaging with the alumni network and sharing passions
MBA PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Program Brief Overview
Combining analytic rigor and human understanding is at the core of Haas’ Full-Time MBA program. Full-Time MBA students at Haas develop as leaders in order to have innovative impacts. The curriculum at Haas is interdisciplinary and offers students the chance to learn about business from multiple perspectives. Leaders at Haas are grown by focusing on teamwork and general management fundamentals. Students graduate as leaders who can focus not only on innovative avenues and development, but also have the ability to lead ethically, responsibly, and selflesssly. There are 12 required courses for Full-Time MBA students, and the rest of the curriculum allows students the freedom to focus their academics on their goals and interests.
Fall Semester Mandatory Classes
- Data and Decisions
- Leading People, Leadership
- Communication
- Economics for Business
- Decision Making
Spring Semester Mandatory Classes
- Macroeconomics in the Global Economy
- Operations
- Applied Innovation
- Elective
Grading Scale
The Haas School of Business uses a standard grading scale with grade points ranging from 4.0 (A+) to 0.0 (F) for their courses. This grading scale is similar to the common system used in many educational institutions in the United States.
FEATURED PROFESSORS
David A. Aaker
David A. Aaker is the “Father of Modern Branding”. He is marketing professor Emeritus at Berkeley Haas. His innovated work has defined fields of brand equity and the building and managing of brands and portfolios.
He is well published with over 100 articles and 18 books published on the theory and practice of marketing. At the moment, Aaker is the Vice Chair at ‘Prophet’ and in 2015 he was inducted into the American Marketing Association Hall of Fame.
Aaker’s research areas include Storytelling, Branding, Brand and Brand Building, Brand Portfolio Strategy, and Global Brand Management. He received his BA in Management, at MIT, his MA he earned at Stanford in Statistics, and he earned his PhD at Stanford University in Business Administration.