Calling all Berkeley-Haas Fall 2009 Applicants

I have a question on Essay #1...



Is the adcom looking for a specific event/action or could it be, for example, a lifestyle choice. I would like to talk about how I wish I would have gotten involved in volunteering at a younger age, but not sure if they want a more specific mistake/regret scenario.

We didn't get this question last year, but I would approach it the same way as any essays. You can talk about a lifestyle choice, but just make sure you support it with concrete and specific examples, and why you would have changed it. That is the meat of the essay.

Hi kryzak,

I had a quick question regarding the average age of students at Haas. I am currently 28/F/Taiwanese-American, and had thought about applying this year. I wouldn't be able to make R2 (still pending on taking the GMATs), and had contemplated R3, although I'm not sure how that would fare given this year's competitive pool.

I'm interested in pursuing a career in non-profit technology. I worked 5 years in corporate IT (systems developer/project manager) for a large pharmaceutical company, and I just finished a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer in NYC (working with the anti-hunger community via soup kitchens/food pantries --- I know, huge change from pharma!). I've just signed on to be an independent systems consultant for a non-profit IT consulting org next month.

Will it hurt if I push back another year?

Hi there,

Round 3 is generally more competitive, but with your pretty unique experience and goals, I think you could probably make a good case and have a good chance of getting an interview. Of course, moving it back one year (and getting more non-profit experience) will definitely help (and won't hurt) your chances. Berkeley's average age is somewhere around 28, and there are quite a few of us 30+ people here (over 15%).

hope that helps!

Oh yeah of course, I just reiterated it on the board because a lot of people focus too much on the GMAT score. So it just served as proof that yes, the whole package is what matters most.

I think it ended up around 11.7% this year.

I'm pretty much set w/ my essays but am really struggling to come up with something for short essay #1 about what my biggest regret is. Anyone care to share what they wrote?

Great place to address whatever is the weakest part of your app I think rather than the optional essays. Obviously don't write it about 'I wish I had done better on my GMAT' but maybe for example out of work extra curriculars once you graduated college. I know a lot of people who didn't do much for that when they started their 1st job out of work because they (understandably) wanted to see how much of their schedule work would take up before committing to anything else. Easy to then transition into the out of work activities you've done as you got more settled.

This is spoken from a 27-year old's perspective so if you are younger forgive me if the above doesn't help much.

I uploaded this scrappy footage I took of Haas when I visited campus last year. Sorry for the shakiness...there was some event going on and I didn't want to look like a total tourist. Anyway it should give you a look at the campus if you haven't seen it yet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw28AdJpaX0

Seasick....so, so, so seasick.......

Okay maybe I should title the video "walking Haas in a drunken stupor"...since who knows, maybe this is how it will look to most students at some point anyway?

Hi,

Thanks for the information. I guess I'll have a better assessment when I visit campus next week!

Do you happen to know of anyone in the MOT program? I am trying to see if I can speak to one of their students during my visit.

Thank you!

Well, I'm not technically *in the program*, but I attended (and currently attend) several courses that go into the certificate. Feel free to PM me with questions, and/or we can meet on campus if time allows.

Hi slsu,

Also let me know when and where you'll be on campus. I may have 10-15 minutes to meet up too.

But braindancer would probably be a much better person to speak with since he's taking those classes.

Hey all-

pretty much got all my essays done. The only one I have left is:

(Optional). If you wish to be considered for a Haas Achievement Award (for individuals who have achieved success in spite of significant economic, educational, health-related and/or other obstacles), please use this space to address the obstacles you have overcome. (750-word maximum)

My question is - how many students normally receive this award each year? Just a couple, or a decent amount of the program? As a peace corps volunteer Im thinking about applying for this but don't want to spend the time cranking out a huge essay if it only goes to 1 person who came from some war-torn nation or grew up paralyzed from the waist down. I don't say the above in a condescending tone, just wanted to state that I'm sure there'll be a couple more deserving people than I.

Another app question while Im at it:

>>
'Sponsorship

Check here if your MBA education will be funded by an organization other than yourself, your family, loans, or an employer, such as Fulbright, Muskie, etc. Do not check this box if your source of funding is yourself.
<<

Confused about this one. I plan on applying for Federal loans, does that mean I should check the box?

Sounds like you check the box.