Haas EWMBA Class of 2017 - Calling All Applicants

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Is this the right thread to discuss Haas EWMBA applications for 2014 (classes starting in Sep 2014)?

If so, the deadlines in the OP needs to be updated:

Deadlines and Decision Schedule:

Round 1   
Applications submitted by*  - November 20, 2013 
GMAT,GRE taken on or before  November 20, 2013 
Decision received  February 7, 2014

Round 2 
Applications submitted by* - January 21, 2014
GMAT,GRE taken on or before January 21, 2014 
Decision received  April 4, 2014 

Round 3
Applications submitted by* - March 20, 2014 
GMAT,GRE taken on or before March 20, 2014 
Decision received  May 30, 2014 

Is this the active forum for those currently applying to the EWMBA? I see a ton of views (586), but only 1 reply. I'm a surprised at how inactive the feed is in mid-November, just a couple weeks before the first deadline! Last year the forum was active far earlier.

Perhaps it would help to edit the title of the forum to match past years - if that's possible? In the past, for EWMBA, it appears they were titled:
"Haas (UC Berkeley) EWMBA XXXX - Calling All Applicants" where XXXX is the four digit year folks are applying to begin vs. the year they will graduate. So this year's forum would be "2014." Agree with saintforlife that the applicant profiles, deadlines, etc. at the top need updating as well.

Hope everyone's applications are coming along well!

@Bing85

Yes I agree.

Are you a R1 or R2 applicant?

I was very surprised too at the activity.

I rather prefer the year of joining the program instead of graduation. Perhaps there is a format for the title names which the mods use.

Anyway I am glad to see some responses. I was initially planning to be a R1 applicant but with my struggles with GMAT& work schedules now it looks like I will be a R2 or worse R3 !

Mostly I will opt for the weekend cohort.

What about you guys?..Where are you with your apps? .

Also any advise on an inexpensive and good essay review services?

Good luck!

I am a reapplicant. I was waitlisted in R2 last year and ultimately did not get into the program.

Based on my feedback conversation, this year I'm aiming to re-write my essays to show a bit more personality, amplify my work accomplishments, and clarify my goals. Unfortunately for me, I applied last year with a GRE score that was solid, but which is now expired. Hopefully the AdCom appreciates that I'm investing a significant amount of time in studying for and taking the GMAT - something I had never really planned on! Given that my busiest work season is June - October, I'm just beginning to study for the GMAT and hope to take it the first week of January. I'll apply R2 if I feel good about the score, R3 if I think it warrants a re-test to show my commitment and abilities.

No suggestion on essay review or admission consulting services per Hulk's request. There wasn't much discussion of using them on last year's forum, though at last year's Women's Workshop I was astounded to hear that "the majority of applicants use an admissions consulting service." That said, I think services are likely of most help when you're in an over-represented pool and need a rockstar thought partner on how to make your application stand out. Or, perhaps for those who feel writing is not their strength. If you fall into the latter, I'd highly encourage having friends who have been successful in graduate studies proofread for you before shelling out cash to a service. I have a few friends who are excellent writers (in philosophy, MPA, and political science graduate programs) and they were very helpful in ensuring my essays were strong and well-written. I did learn via feedback that Haas prefers more personality, not less in essays, so err less on professional and more on personal and genuine if you ask me!

Thanks Bing85 for the detailed explanation.

So based on your feedback session do you think HAAS cares less on numbers (especially low GMAT/GRE )?

I am struggling with this GMAT preparation!

I wouldn't say Haas doesn't care about numbers based on my experience. While my GRE was on the lower side, it was still within their median range. They told my explicitly that it would strengthen my application to improve it, though it wouldn't be mandatory. They noted there was strength in my undergrad GPA and accomplishments at a "very good school" (their words). Plus, I know that while my GRE wasn't ideal, I scored very highly in Quant, and simply did poorly on Verbal. Verbal was likely offset by my career, interview, essays, AWA score, and extracurriculars, where I showed communication is actually a top strength for me.

Numbers matter. Career matters. Personality matters. Everything matters. They are trying to produce a class that both exemplifies their core values and is highly-qualified. Beyond those, they want a class that is diverse in every way to enhance peer-to-peer learning and networks. I'd focus on proving that you are qualified with the quantitative aspects of your application, and proving that your are a strong fit for Haas specifically with the qualitative (essays, interview, etc.).

Just checking in while I procrastinate studying for mid-terms.

Changed the thread title for you.



Numbers matter. Get a 700 on your GMAT.

You generally get one weak point on your application, not two. the GMAT score is the one thing that you can most easily change about your profile. So, if you didn't get a 700, take it again and get a 700 or above. They only look at your highest score. So, your second attempt should be lower pressure as you effectively have a floor on your GMAT score.



Once you've passed the basic profile screening, this is the most important thing they're going to look at. You must fit the type of graduate Haas is trying to produce. Eat, sleep, and breathe the four principles.



Don't worry about missing R1. Of the people in my cohort, I'm the only one I know that actually was admitted in R1. They put the vast majority of R1 applicants on the wait list to evaluate in R2. Try to make R2 if you can though.

Just submitted my application for R1! Re-applicant from last year. Hope it works out this time around . Anyone else submitted their applications for R1?

@2Times

Did you had any feedback session with HAAS adcom last year? If so, would you mind sharing it with us?

@casach: Yup, I did have the feedback session with Adcom. The feedback was pretty generic. I think the main take away was that being an engineer I needed to show how I stood out from the rest and they mentioned that my goals were not clearly articulated during my interview. Hope that helps.

Thanks!

Looks like being an Engineer is a curse when it comes to B-School application! Lets see what happens.

Only really at the part-time program at Haas (~1/4 of the class is an Engineer from India, and the University of Mumbai is one of the top 3 undergrad schools in the class). At full time programs it's usually consultants and bankers that have the same issue.

Just work at showing the adcom how you're more than just an engineer and you'll be fine.

hey all,

I wanted to offer my services. I'm a current EWMBA student at Haas. I remember being in your shoes during the application process, which was a bit daunting and confusing at some points =)

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks @atHaas! and @Packet82! - Really appreciate it.

On another note:

My heart stopped once, when I saw my email - The subject said HAAS EWMBA.... I thought it was from adcom!!.

I better change my gmatclub email settings. Its too early to feel this way!

it gets worse. When the adcom called to offer me a spot in the class, they hung up on me

Really though, all you'd get at this point (assuming you've applied in R1) is an email asking you to sign up for an interview. Those didn't start going out last year until a couple weeks after the deadline for R1 had closed.

Do guys have any idea, based on what criteria they filter out 20% . I was told that adcom does interview 80% of the applicants.

I've heard anywhere from 2/3 to 3/4 of the pool gets interviewed. If they think you're a relatively interesting candidate, they'll interview you. If you haven't made any case for why you should be attending the school, they won't give you an invite.

I got an interview invite for an interview in December. Anyone else got the same? I had submitted my application back in early September when it opened.