Calling Haas(Berkeley) Applicants(2015 Intake) Class of 2017

Haha you flatter me. Sorry, was just venting my frustration. All good! I support all lawyers who want to not do law anymore.

Waitlisted. Frustrated. Seems that the ADCOM is reserving the right to evaluate a significant chunk of R1 applicants against R2 applicants. Seems that R1 advantage is marginal if any. Makes me want to go to Fuqua to spite them. Maybe it's because I turned Cal down for undergrad...touché. Well, there goes a first round deposit that I was hoping to not have to spend. This is not cool Haas, not cool at all.

Vent over...on to the waitlist strategy. Damnit.

Oh man! A lot of you guys have better GMATs and GPAs than I. This is going to be a really nerve-wracking wait...

I PM'ed you, but I see bml1105 and bayareaapplicant are in the same boat so I'll offer the same condolences and offer to chat to each of you anytime about the JD--> MBA app process. I got into a bunch of top programs last year (couldn't make it work financially) and seemingly took the local JD ticket for Haas (sorry guys, wish there was room for a JD Mafia ). Happy to pass along some advice regarding the process if you decide to perhaps take a second crack at it next year or just are curious generally. In any event, I think everyone will ultimately be happy and satisfied by the end of the process!

Congrats to everyone who got admitted, and for those who didn't don't let it destroy you, there will be other opportunities and other schools to apply to in the future

With some sadness, I'll be rejecting my offer at Haas, so that will hopefully free up 1 spot for someone on the waiting list. I love the school though, did a 1 semester exchange there during undergrad and it was the best time of my life, so I'll call them to thank them for their confidence in me and gracefully reject the offer.

All the best to everyone!

I don't think you waitlisters should be too hard on yourselves. I think someone a few posts above mentioned this, but a friend of mine (at Haas now) thought that more folks get WL in R1 because yes-schools know they are going to see a TON of people come through in R2. I think for a program so small, it makes sense to look at the full picture of applicants. That said, there is always hope for getting off! I'm applying R2 and while I feel good about my application, Haas is just so small and competitive! Best of luck to all of you.

Looks like you got it! Me as well...

Hey all - current Haas Student here. I'm in the EWMBA, so I'm sure it's different, but the admission process is the same from what I understand. When I applied last year, I also got Waitlisted, then accepted in the following round. Don't get too dejected on the WL. Stay in touch with the Adcom. Do what they suggest to improve what your application looks like. Focus on making sure they know the entire story of you - personally, professionally, academically. Retake tests if you need to, definitely get an additional letter of recommendation from someone who knows you well and (maybe more importantly) can write a very compelling narrative about you.

Hi Atlasdrum, thanks so much for this message! The adcom said they do NOT give feedback, so how would we know what weaknesses they perceived in our candidacy? So you definitely suggest getting an additional letter of recommendation? What about visiting campus, or writing a letter of continued interest?

Thanks again!

When I applied, they told us that they wouldn't give us feedback until after the application process was closed and all decisions went out. But they did give us general suggestions like "retake test, additional letter, etc." Did they do the same for you?

I did several things, retake my GMAT (got the same score the second time) and got a third letter. I can't be sure, but I have a feeling that third letter did it. I was also engaged, did a class visit, got to know the people in the office, etc. So try to take a good, objective look at your application from a third person's perspective. Ask yourself, what do I think the weakness of the application is? Is it my test? My essays? Is it my GPA? Is there someone that can write a letter or recommendation that will add to the color of my personal and professional story? And finally, go back over all of the Haas website and brochure information. Read really carefully about what kind of student Haas looks for. What is important to the school in constructing a class? Think beyond the academics and focus on the culture and the defining principles as well. Chance are, everyone who applies is academically capable of succeeding in the program, so they have to look beyond just academics when deciding who would comprise an amazing class. Does your application tell a story about yourself that aligns with what you think they are looking for?

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write a quick note in case there are any rejected applicants out there who are considering applying again next year. Last year I was rejected without an interview. This year, I'm incredibly happy to say that I was accepted and will matriculate this fall. The biggest changes in my application:

1) I re-took the GMAT and brought my score from a 700 up to a 730
2) I devoted a lot more time to volunteering. I think it's worth noting that my volunteer commitments spanned several years, I simply increased my involvement with the same nonprofits. I think admissions can see right through a 6-month commitment leading up to application season...
3) More work experience. I was on the younger side of applicants last year. I will have 4 years of post-college WE when I matriculate vs 3 years.

Re-applicants can get in, and (at least in my case) it was worth the wait. Good luck wherever you all end up. I'm sure you'll do great things wherever you go to business school!

Hi everyone,

I took the opportunity to create a new thread to discuss overall waitlist strategies in the link below. It's called Waitlist Strategy: It's Admission Purgatory but not Admission Hell

waitlist-strategy-it-s-admission-purgatory-but-not-admission-hell-191736.html#p1470290

I hope people share their input and get through this process together!

didn't you get accepted to UCLA too?

That's a very good point! Please place same more input if you have any on the waitlist topic thread I created

Posted from my mobile device

I'm a round 2 applicant... just got an invite for an "MBA Super Saturday Interview Day"... at the risk of sounding like a complete idiot, is this the same as an interview invite? The e-mail further states that if I can't make it to the "Super Saturday" event, e-mail back so they can schedule me for an interview off campus with an alum... so I'm thinking yes.

I started to stress out since I didn't receive this but apparently only people who live outside of the Bay Area/haven't visited campus yet get invited. https://www.facebook.com/haasmbaadmissi ... 3279316851

So...does that mean those of us who don't live in the Bay Area should be stressed if we do not receive this email?

Do any R1 applicants have any insight?

cowabungaman7 : When is the super saturday weekend ?

Yes! My bad. That was an important detail that I forgot to mention. The e-mail specifically mentions: "Super Saturday is primarily designed to provide U.S. applicants who reside outside the Bay Area the opportunity for an on-campus interview during a weekend."

The event is on February 21st, and the agenda is posted here: https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/SSFAQs.pdf

That's pretty much all I know. I initially thought this was a generic e-mail that all applicants got... but I guess not. Yes, I am an idiot. Cool