Calling all Berkeley-Haas Fall 2009 Applicants

For Archival Purposes:

It has not been posted on the website yet, but I got a handout from school. Here are some vital stats for those of you interested in applying.

So as expected, Acceptance rate dropped to near all time lows, yield has gone up close to 5%, GMAT inched up. GPA *range* went up, even though the average went down.

Surprisingly, 5% more came from consulting, 3% fewer from Financial Services, and 3% more from Banking.

Class of 2010:
Application Received: 3779
Offers of Admission: 442
Entering Class Size: 241
Yield: 54.5% (compared to around 50% last year)
Acceptance Rate: 11.7% (compared to 14% last year)

UG GPA Average: 3.54 (compared to 3.57 last year, I guess we got more stupid )
Mid 80% GPA range: 3.30 - 3.87
Avg GMAT: 714
Middle 80% GMAT: 670-760
Countries Rep: 36
Women: 30%
International: 39%
US Minorities: 33% (African, Hispanic, Native, Asian, East Indian/Pakistani Americans)
Median WE: 5 years
Middle 80% WE: 3-8 years
Median Age: 28
Age Range: 24-38

Class of 2009 (last year):
https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/community_02.html
Applications Received 3,276
Enrolled Students 239
Women 31%
Minority Students 34%
International Students 39%
Countries Represented 34
Median Age 28
Age Range 23-40
Median Years WE 5 years
Average GMAT 710
Range of Middle 80% 660-760
Average UG GPA 3.57
Range of Middle 80% 3.25-3.83

awfully quiet in here... how are you all doing with the essays and apps? It's fun to see lots of prospectives come into our classrooms these days. I'm one of the class and lunch escorts, and hopefully will get a spot either interviewing or doing more later in the season. Definitely post here or PM me if you're thinking of coming on campus.

Ok, back to my 3 midterms and 2 homework sets this week (which is why I have so few posts these days!)

Hello!

I'm about 75% sure about Haas Rd 1. The biggest reason for that other 25% is that I went to Berkeley for undergrad, and while I LOVE Cal and its community, I really want to experience living in a different city, especially because I want to ultimately end up back in California anyway. I currently work in the bay area and still come to Berkeley to hang out very often. But, right now, Haas is the only Round 1 I can make, and all others will be Round 2 - Kellog and Anderson are on my list for sure, and thinking about adding one more possibly. So...

How do I plan on deciding on Haas Rd 1? For starters, by visiting next Monday (9/22)!! I've signed up for OB (MBA205) 2-4pm, and I definitely plan to have lunch there and attend the info session as well.

I'm really hoping to meet a current student who also went to Berkeley for undergrad to hear their thoughts..

Anyway, hopefully I can meet you there!

Hey there!

Awesome! The OB class you're sitting in might not be the most interesting. The one on Tuesday morning/afternoon is usually better (my professor). The Econ class at 9am/2pm on Monday is usually VERY good, highly recommended if you can switch into that.

I went to Cal undergrad, lived in the Bay Area since, go into the Berkeley area every 2-3 weeks, and still ended up here. I was debating Kellogg and Anderson (sounds like we have the same list) and finally decided that it made no sense (for me) to go to a different school/area just for the sake of it, if my future is back in the Bay Area. The alumni network you can form here is invaluable.

Anyway, I'll PM you my email so we can connect. We all have Econ midterms Monday night, so most people will seem a little stressed on Monday.

I know quite a few Cal undergrads (some even business majors) who ended up coming back to Haas (and choose Haas over other schools like Kellogg). I can introduce you to them.

K

Hi Kry,

I am finishing up my Columbia ED application and about to move onto Haas application. My dilemma is whether to apply for 1RD or 2RD. If possible, I would like to see the outcome of the CBS application before submitting applications to other schools. I have a graphic design background and currently work as art director at a network. Would applying 1RD make a huge difference in chance even with my non-traditional background? Hope my question makes sense.

Thanks!

hey sng,

as for R1 vs R2, one can never be sure, but you definitely have an advantage with R1 at a small school like Haas. Though with your non-traditional background, R2 shouldn't be as bad for you as the more common backgrounds. If you really want to wait for the ED decision, then R2 should be ok. But since R1 and R2 people do not have to decide until mid-April to commit, and your interviews won't be until mid-January for R1, you can just apply and skip the interview and withdraw if you get into ED.

Let me know if that helps!

Hey kryzak,

Thanks for your posts so far - they've been really helpful! I'm trying to find time to visit Haas, but it's difficult with my work schedule. As of now, I was planning to make a visit on Friday, 10/3/08. I looked at the Haas calendar and noticed there are no events, and I realized that the opportunity to sit in on classes is only offered Mon - Thurs.

How important is it that I sit in on a class? I live in the bay area, so getting to campus is not difficult, but finding time on a weekday is. Right now Fridays are the best for me

Thanks in advance!

Hi timothyhuang,

Unfortunately, we do not have any classes on Friday. All our classes are M-Th, as you found out. Class visits are just one aspect of getting to know the school better. It's mainly there for you to see what an MBA class is like, how the students interact with the teacher and each other, and to speak with some students before or after the class. You can still have a great campus visit by doing the lunch with students (noon-1pm) and the infosession (1-2pm), which I believe happen daily. Then you can always try to find some people in the courtyard area (the weather has been amazingly lately, hasn't it?) to chat with. Most of us are very very friendly and helpful and would love to talk to an prospective (unless there's a midterm coming up, like today, haha ).

Hope that helps! If you need more help, just drop me a PM and we'll talk more. On some Fridays I'll be on campus and can also chat with you then (besides the highly recommended "lunch with students" and "infosession").

Cheers,
K

just wanted to drop in and say hi - I'm still alive despite a month+ of not posting

Lots of stuff have happened in my personal life and some work related stuff - but I'm finally just about done with all that and can bring my focus back on apps and posting on here.

Delaying all my apps to R2 except for Haas

Will visit soon (probably 2nd week of Oct).

Welcome back JasonC!! Glad you are still doing Haas early! Just let me know when you're coming on campus. I've met one person from here already, and I can definitely spend some time chatting with you too.

rhyme : Chicago GSB = kryzak : Haas

keep it up guys!

How does Haas view military applicants? I'm in the AF now and work with a lot of defense contractors and would like to make the jump post-mba to technology investment banking, especially in a aero/defense group.

Haas definitely welcomes military people, just like all the other top schools. You have to tell your story convincingly (on how you plan on going from AF to IB in defense) and show a good fit with Haas.

In my cohort alone, we have 4 former military people (out of 60). The stats may tell you what % of the entire class is military. I do know on top of military, there is also another 2% of aerospace/defense (I'm one of them), so roughly 5 people.

Hey Kry.

I live in Bay Area. I am planning to attend the lunch with student and attend the info session in the HAAS Campus. If I can I meet you on some particular day then I would scedule my visit on that day. Please let me know. Thanks

Vignesh

Thanks. There are a few ibanking firms that recruit at Haas for their aero/defense groups (i.e Jefferies Quarterdeck, etc) that I plan to target. I also have an engineering background and work in the testing & development of military technology.

Any tips on how to tell my story more convincingly?

vignesh: I'm somewhat free Monday 10/6 and I'll be a lunch escort on 10/9 Thursday. So either of those two days will be good. On Monday, I would recommend signing up only for the Econ class visits (I'm in the morning one). On Thursday, both Econ and Organizational Behavior (I'm in the morning one) classes are good.

This goes to everyone else too, if you want to come on those two days, I have the most time to chat with you either at lunch or some other time.



swbluedevil: If you have any finance background at all, talk about that. If not, then I would first start with demonstrating your mastery of the aero/defense industry (using relevant work experience). Then talk about your passion for finance (make sure you show examples of where you demonstrated finance passion or interest, such as extra classes you took, extracurricular activities, or work related finance stuff), and combine the two into a near term and long term career goal. Since I don't know your detailed background good enough, I can only suggest the above.

The key to good essays and a good story is using examples from your past. The "show, don't tell" motto should be ingrained in everything you do with the applications. if you follow that golden rule, you should do well.

Is there a Veterans Club at Haas? I tried searching for it, but came up with nothing. I'd definitely like to get in touch with a couple of vets at Haas. Also, any insights on how ibanking recruiting is going so far?