Berkeley Haas
Why Haas?
At Haas, everything starts with a mindset. The school's Defining Leadership Principles — like "Question the Status Quo" and "Confidence Without Attitude" — aren't just slogans. They shape the classroom, guide the conversations, and influence how students approach everything from case discussions to startup pitches. Berkeley's culture rewards curiosity, humility, and a willingness to challenge norms, making it a natural home for people who want to think deeply and act boldly.
Its West Coast location also means Haas sits at the center of innovation. With close ties to the Bay Area's startup ecosystem, students are never far from the next big idea or investor meeting. Whether you're joining a fintech venture, diving into sustainability, or exploring social impact, the proximity to Silicon Valley, combined with Berkeley's academic rigor, gives Haas a unique edge for those looking to build, lead, and rethink what business can be.
🎓 MBA Class Profile (Class of 2024)
Key Demographics
- Enrolled Students: 291
- Women: 39%
- International: 37%
- U.S. Minorities: 39%
- Average Work Experience: 5.5 years
Academic Profile
- Average GPA: 3.67
- Average GMAT: 729
- GMAT Range: 690-760
- Average GRE (Verbal): 162
- Average GRE (Quant): 161
💼 Employment Statistics
Job Placement
- Employment Rate: 93% (within 3 months)
- Median Base Salary: $165,000
- Median Signing Bonus: $35,000
- Received Job Offers: 91%
Top Industries
- Technology: 32%
- Consulting: 26%
- Financial Services: 18%
- Sustainability: 10%
📝 Essay Tips
Essay #1
Video Essay: What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (1–2 minutes)
🎯 What Haas is Really Looking For in This Essay
1. A Window Into What Moves You
Haas does not want a résumé summary or a leadership monologue. They want to see your core joy, drive, or curiosity. This is about what lights you up from the inside, not what looks impressive on paper.
Tip: The best answers are specific and personal. Think less "I love helping others" and more "Mentoring first-generation college students reminds me of my younger self: unsure, but full of possibility." That extra layer is what turns a nice answer into a powerful one.
2. Story First, Lesson Second
This is a video. Tone, energy, and pacing matter. Haas wants to hear your voice come alive, not just your words. Instead of explaining why something matters, start by showing us a moment. Pull the listener in.
Tip: A short story. A moment when you felt it is the fastest way to grab attention. Then, in a sentence or two, explain what that moment revealed about you and why it continues to matter.
3. Show You Are Reflective, Not Scripted
Haas values introspection. They are looking for people who understand themselves, not just those who know how to perform well. This video is a test of both self-awareness and authentic expression.
Tip: Write a script if you must, but do not sound scripted. Keep the tone natural, warm, and conversational. If it feels like a rehearsed TED Talk, it will land flat. If it feels like a confident, vulnerable conversation, it will shine.
4. Values Alignment Without Saying the Word "Haas"
Even though this is not a traditional school fit essay, what you choose to talk about and how you talk about it will reveal how well you fit with the Haas culture, which prizes humility, resilience, and big-picture purpose.
Tip: Choose something that hints at the Haas Defining Leadership Principles like questioning the status quo, going beyond yourself, or being a student always. You do not need to name them. Just live them.
❌ Common Pitfalls
- • Picking something that sounds impressive but feels impersonal
- • Over-explaining instead of telling a vivid moment
- • Delivering in a robotic or over-polished tone
- • Giving a generic or cliché answer without emotional stakes
Essay #2
What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals? (300 words max)
🎯 What Haas is Really Looking For in This Essay
1. A Clear and Earned Career Vision
This is your professional roadmap. Haas wants to see if you have thought critically about where you are going and why. They are testing your ability to connect your past, present, and future into a coherent, credible arc.
Tip: Start with your "why" before diving into job titles. What problem do you want to solve? What change do you want to drive? Once we feel your purpose, the goals will feel more grounded and less like a checklist.
2. Ambition That Matches Haas Values
Plenty of applicants have bold goals. What Haas cares about is whether your ambition aligns with their culture. Are you working toward something meaningful? Something that serves others or challenges norms? They are not looking for prestige chasers. They are looking for values-driven builders.
Tip: Make your long-term goal show vision. It should not just be a promotion. It should be a mission. Whether it's transforming an industry, elevating a community, or creating something new, let it reflect your values and broader impact.
3. Haas as an Essential Ingredient
This is not just a career essay. It is also a "Why Haas" essay in disguise. If Haas could be swapped out for any top MBA program, your answer is not strong enough.
Tip: Mention specific programs, classes, people, or ecosystems at Haas that directly support your path. Go beyond naming a course. Show that you understand how that experience will equip you, whether it is by building your confidence in a new industry, giving you hands-on learning through applied innovation, or expanding your network in the Bay Area.
❌ Common Pitfalls
- • Giving generic job titles without explaining the motivation or industry context
- • Skipping over how your pre-MBA experience prepares you for the short-term goal
- • Making Haas feel like a convenient option rather than a thoughtful choice
- • Failing to connect your long-term goal to a broader mission or deeper personal drive
Essay #3: Distance Traveled
At Berkeley Haas, we consider "distance traveled" as the contextual information that helps us understand the unique circumstances, challenges, or influences that have shaped your personal and professional journey. We invite you to share aspects of your background, personal circumstances, or significant experiences that have meaningfully impacted who you are today and how you've reached this point. Please tell us how these experiences have influenced your perspectives, decisions, and aspirations, and how they contribute to the person you are becoming. (300 words max)
🎯 What Haas is Really Looking For in This Essay
1. Context Over Credentials
This essay is an invitation to step outside your resume. Haas is asking, "What don't we know about you yet, but should?" Maybe it's an immigration journey, family responsibility, identity, loss, relocation, financial strain, or growing up as an outsider. Or maybe it's a personal battle no one could see on paper.
Tip: The focus is not on making your story sound dramatic. The focus is on honesty. The most compelling answers share how your environment or experience shaped you, not just what happened to you.
2. Reflection, Not Resume Expansion
This is not a second goals essay. This is about identity, mindset, and meaning. Haas is looking for applicants who have done the inner work. People who have wrestled with tough moments, learned from them, and emerged more intentional in how they move through the world.
Tip: Show how your story shaped your values, voice, or decisions. For example, how a childhood challenge led to resilience in team settings, or how caring for a sibling taught you empathy that now shapes how you lead.
3. Vulnerability with Purpose
This is a place to be real, but not just for the sake of it. The point is not to make the reader feel sorry for you. The point is to help them understand what forged your perspective, and why it matters for the community you hope to join at Haas.
Tip: End with forward momentum. Share how this part of your journey influences who you are becoming and the kind of impact you hope to make. Haas wants to admit people who are self-aware, mission-driven, and still evolving.
❌ Common Pitfalls
- • Rehashing your resume or achievements in disguise
- • Framing hardship as a stand-alone story without showing what it taught you
- • Using abstract language without personal specificity
- • Focusing only on what happened to you, not how it changed you
🎤 Interview Tips
Unique Interview Feature:
Haas interviews are typically conducted by alumni and tend to focus heavily on values, self-awareness, and cultural fit. Interviewers are often probing for authenticity, humility, and alignment with Haas's Defining Leadership Principles. The tone is friendly but reflective, and the questions often explore how you engage with others and navigate ambiguity.
| Common Questions Unique to Haas | Prep Tips |
|---|---|
| How do you plan to contribute to DEI at Haas? | Be specific and personal. Reflect on past actions you've taken to support DEI and connect those to opportunities you see at Haas whether it is clubs, initiatives, or community work. |
| Tell me about the biggest professional risk you've taken, how it turned out, and what guided your decision. | Choose a story where the stakes were high and your decision-making was intentional. Highlight what you learned regardless of the outcome, and how it shaped your approach to leadership. |
| Tell me about a time you were proved wrong, how you felt, and what you learned. | This question tests humility and growth mindset. Don't shy away from vulnerability. Show how you changed your thinking and used the experience to become a better teammate or leader. |
| Tell me about a time you influenced someone to collaborate on a project outside of their scope. | Focus on your ability to build trust and find shared purpose. Highlight your communication, empathy, and ability to motivate others without formal authority. |
Note: For a full list of potential interview questions, check our MBA interview guide.
📅 Application Deadlines
| Round | Application Deadline | Decision Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 11, 2025 | December 11, 2025 |
| Round 2 | January 8, 2026 | March 26, 2026 |
| Round 3 | March 31, 2026 | May 7, 2026 |
Note: All deadlines are at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Haas conducts interviews by invitation only after reviewing applications.