Here Are Some Tips To Submit A Strong Application For Berkeley Haas

With the MBA application season in full swing, scores of prospective MBA candidates are in the midst of preparing their business school applications. Here below, we focus on Berkeley Haas and how you can ‘Crack The MBA’ by submitting a strong application that will improve your chances of getting accepted into the business school. We touch down upon topics such as Academics, Professional Experience, Essays, Letters of Recommendation and Interviews. 

Read on!

Academic Aptitude

Berkeley Haas is looking for candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds, diverse interests, industries and passions. Resist the urge to label yourself into a particular category because that’s not how the admissions committee is going to be looking at you. The admissions committee wants to get to know you, your purpose, your motivations, your goals, and your objectives. They take a holistic review of the application and no particular component weighs more heavily than the other. To gauge your academic aptitude, they’ll be looking at your test scores, your undergraduate transcripts, your essays, letters of recommendation, the interview and your work experience.

Professional Experience

Work experience is very important in Berkeley’s evaluation. The school takes into consideration both the quantity and the quality of that work experience. In terms of quantity, they’re looking at mostly three to seven years of work experience for successful applicants. Rarely does Berkeley admit individuals with less than two years of work experience after their undergraduate degree. But if you have nearly or less than two years of work experience, the admissions committee will look at other aspects of your application that’ll help them understand how you’ll be a dynamic contributor to the culture and classroom at Berkeley Haas. 

In terms of quality, Berkeley also looks at career progression. You want to make sure both in your resume and on the online application that you indicate each role you’ve had in your current job. In terms of leadership, there’s a lot of different ways for you to demonstrate leadership at your role. Managing a team, coming up with something innovative and seeing it to fruition, are all good examples of leadership. 

You also want to make sure that you indicate the impact you’ve had on your organization, as it helps the Admissions Committee in creating a diverse class with diverse professional backgrounds and interests. You don’t have to be from a traditional background to be a successful applicant, but the richness of your background and your work experience is something that’ll set you apart.

Essay Tips

In order for your application to stand out from the others, be authentic. Tell your story, not what you think the Admissions Committee wants to hear, but the one that is true to yourself. Do some self reflection and really think why you want to get an MBA. Understand the program and talk to people to understand how Berkeley is a good fit for you and how you align with their culture and community.

Berkeley is looking to get to know you better, as a person and as a professional and as a leader. They hope to understand what motivates and inspires you, and what circumstances and experiences have shaped who you are today and your career goals for the future. Focus on telling a story that’s you and not something that the Admissions Team wants to hear. 

The most memorable essays are the ones which show a candidate’s true character. Business school is not about perfection; it’s about growing, it’s about transformation and it’s about the messy middle. Don’t be afraid to show a little vulnerability, be that in your essays or elsewhere in your application.

The essay is the only part of your application on which you have complete control over. Be thoughtful and purposeful on what you choose to share with the admissions team. What is the purpose of your essays? Are they there to reinforce something you have already shared elsewhere in the application or do you need your essay to help round out your application story and fill in the gaps. Take a step back and see how the essay fits in with your resume, your recommendation letters and extra-curricular activities. 

For more tips on essays, you can also check out Berkeley’s Essay Workshop recordings here.

Letters of Recommendations

Berkeley Haas requires two letters of recommendations and these should come from those who have worked most closely with you in a professional context. These could be current supervisors or former supervisors. In instances where you’re an entrepreneur, or working in the family business or applying in confidence, it is acceptable to submit letters of recommendation from a major client or a colleague or a peer who has worked closely with you on a project.

Sit down with your recommenders in advance and talk to them about your MBA dreams, your ambitions, your career goals, and give them six to eight weeks to write these letters. Ask your recommenders to fill out the Berkeley Haas recommendation form and answer the questions. The Admission Team wants to know about your strengths and weaknesses and how you fit the defining principles, especially confidence without attitude. 

Interviews

Interviews at Berkeley Haas are done by invitation only after the initial review of your application. With interviewers all across the world, you can decide to interview with an alum off campus or with a current student on campus. 

1. Come prepared for the interview. Have a list of questions that you’ve reviewed that could be asked and make sure you know how you would answer them. Practicing your interview with a friend will help you get some excellent answers. 
2. Dress appropriately for the interview. Wear business attire and be on time for the interview. 
3. Don’t be afraid of silence to reflect so as to provide the most thoughtful answer to the interviewer’s questions. 
4. Answer the question that is being asked, rather than trying to provide your own agenda. Make sure that you let the interviewer lead, and answer the question directly asked by the interviewer. 

For more information regarding Berkeley Haas’ MBA program, you can head over to their website.