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(4.8) |
The EWMBA program at Haas is awesome at times and has drawbacks other times.
The biggest drawback is the curriculum. Some of the mandatory "core" classes are of great questionable value. For example, the "Applied Innovation" class which is supposed to teach design thinking and encourage students to come up with a product prototype, has unclear objectives and I came out feeling like I wasted an entire semester for nothing. There is also a "Data and Decision" class which teaches elementary statistics. It should be made optional for the curriculum.
That being said, learning is a secondary objective in business schools. Networking is key and the student body is truly great. Everyone is in the same boat (working and studying), so the camaraderie is present everywhere. Everyone tries to help however they can and I feel I came out with many more friends as well as a strong network for whatever I need in the future.
Recommended classes:
Financial Information Analysis - Panos
Negotiations - Holly Schroth
Building Trust-Based Relationships - Rajiv Ball
Power and Politics - Srivastava
Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
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The smaller class size ensured you built great relationships with a very diverse group of students. Everything is student-led which created an incredible culture and allowed student as leaders to prioritize what they wanted out of the experience. Proximity to the Bay Area tech scene meant there were endless opportunities to visit and bring interesting leaders to campus. Career services is mostly helpful to those looking to go to large organizations, so the students work together to network and prepare for interviews with start ups. The collaborative culture made that possible. The broader UC Berkeley also offers incredible classes for undergrads, law students and public policy students which you have access to.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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I believe most of the MBA programs are similar, and everyone has its own characteristics. Haas is great for its location, connections with the Bay Area, connections with other schools at UC Berkeley, and distinctive culture based on values such as collaboration and honesty.
Classes are great too, I guess this is consistent across every business schools; there is plenty of choice for every subject, the workload is fair, and the curriculum is flexible enough to help everyone make his or her own path.
The program is also improving every year: whilst increasing the class size, it's also increasing the average gmat and the % of women/internationals, definitely helpful to maximize the learning experience.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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Overall, my experience as both an applicant and student within Berkeley's #1 ranked EWMBA program has been stellar thus far. The program covers the exact same materials as the full time program, is taught by the same professors/lecturers, and takes place entirely on the Berkeley campus. Given that the program packs the full time MBA academic experience into an evening and weekends program, it is definitely rigorous and very intensive. I do not feel at all like I am getting a light version of the MBA experience, and I have also been able to participate in all clubs, speaker series, events, and other social outings as any full time student would be able to. Additionally, Berkeley Haas clearly does an outstanding job selecting students for both programs, as everyone I have met is both intelligent, passionate, considerate, and supportive. Ultimately, the academics, students, setting, location, curriculum, and teachers are all top notch. The only downside for some is that working full time and getting your MBA simultaneously can be a tremendous workload, but for those that like a challenge or are used to a significant workload, there isn't a more highly ranked part time program! Go Bears!
The professors, classes, and curriculum are all stellar!
Job placement and recruitment are stellar as well!
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Berkeley-Haas is a very unique school. It only admits those who believe in its core values; and that's why its one of the hardest schools to get in. And if you are in, then you will have a great two year experience. Just be ready to be changed dramatically, not just academically (intellectually) but also personally. For instance, the Story Sloan, where students share very personal stories with their classmates, will definitely help you see things from a different perspective, regardless of who you are.
My suggestion to future applicants, read the core values/principles: And if you can resonate with them and explain how you live those principles every day of your life, then definitely apply. Otherwise, you wouldn't have a chance at Haas regardless of your GMAT/GPA/Career.
I believe the school can do better in terms of professors. Although we have some very amazing, world-known professors, there are only a few of them. And if you do miss taking their class due to huge demand, you have missed your chances. So having a few more exceptional professors will definitely add to the overall school value.
Honestly, if you come to Haas or any other top 10-15 business school, you will get the job you want, of course as long as you do the work. For instance, if you go to Haas, and you want to work for big tech (Google, Facebook, Oracle, Amazon, etc) you will get a job at big tech. The same goes with consulting. You will get a consulting job, now will it be MBB or other consulting, depends on how much work you are willing to put in.
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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Joined: Nov 20, 2013
Posts: 138
Kudos: 33
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700 Q44 V42
730 Q48 V44
Business school is going by in a (wonderful, intense) blur. I recommend taking some time to reflect on what you want out of b-school and your career before school starts. As soon as August comes around, you will be too busy to do any real reflecting.
Haas is an extraordinary place to be part of. If the school's values match with your own, b-school at Haas will be the best time of your life.
Culture is everything here at Haas. Admissions takes it seriously, as do the students. One huge benefit of having a small class with truly humble, smart students, is the level of trust we place in each other (and our Alumni place in us). I would trust every single one of my classmates with an assignment or a job, and that is a big deal.
Finally, every school talks about its collaborative environment, but Haas actually delivers on this front. The curriculum and grading is designed so we are encouraged to work together vs compete.
Good luck in your b-school search!
Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
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Rants:
- budget totally screwed. Lots of unexpected expenditures (having never traveled abroad before B-school sucks)
- time management is a pain. LOTS of things happening; wherever you are, you're missing something cool elsewhere.
- being 'second-tier' sucks. I want HBS's 800-pound-gorilla feeling.
- career office is struggling to sell us, but I feel they could do much better job.
- most clubs are totally disorganized.
- some professors are booooooring.
- some classes are too basic - looks like same class at Wharton has a 3 times longer syllabus.
- some classmates are retarded. (just a few though.)
- my study group was full of hardcore 4.0 maniacs.
Raves:
- my study group was full of hardcore 4.0 maniacs. With some skill, it eases things up.
- LOTS of collaboration and positive attitude. People are incredibly laid-back.
- most people are damn smart. Some are totally razor-sharp.
- looks like MUCH less stress, pain and frustration than other schools.
- most times, I sleep stable 7-8 hours, work out 3 times a week and travel the roundabouts on weekends.
- LOADS of interesting things to learn. Marketing class was awesome.
- LOTS of clubs - which, being quite disorganized, are an excellent opportunity to exercise your leadership skill.
- 5-week break ROCKS! I'm pretty much idling for 2 weeks now, and will idle more. :-P
Overall: if you don't want to stress your a$$ off, West Coast is your spot. The smell of pot is the most characteristic thing about these places, if you know what I mean, ;)
1) Well, there is no factual support of us being a second tier, but it's pretty much obvious for everyone that we're not H, not S and not W. By far. And even not Chicago, Columbia, or MIT. Everyone keeps telling us "prepare super-hard, as you have to win against those branded guys". All the major companies (I can only talk consulting, didn't pay attention to other stuff) do recruit here, and invest quite a lot of time, so I can't say we're treated as crap. It's mostly internal perceived second-tierness. :) You can't just think "okay, I'm from a cool school, go hire me fast". Not gonna happen.
2) Career office could do more to prepare us for battle. The single introductory "case practice bootcamp" was put together by Consulting club. The advanced one I had to put together myself. (Not alone, but that's not the point). There is some activity, like mock interviews and career advising sessions with hired professionals, but I feel it is totally not enough.
3) For clubs - they're just chaotic :) No one really controls what's going on there, which is good for independent action, but bad when people just don't do anything. Given the overcommitment of many active people, it often happens that they are elected to leadership positions but don't have enough time to actually drive things. (It's not the same for all clubs though.)
P.S. I've painted it black somewhat; it's not my point, most of things are really awesome :) I just specifically highlighted several things that could be better.
Overall BSchool experience (4.0)
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Very meaningful experience - strong academics, with high work load, as you would expect from a top tier EMBA program. You should expect to have your days stretched as you juggle work, family and school commitments.
My class was full of thoughtful and accomplished individuals across a wide range of functions. Berkeley-Haas is known for tech, but that did not mean that my cohort was overly tech focused. Median age was in the late 30's, spanning 30 to a little over 50 (I believe). Lots of real life experience in this group that made the classroom experience very interactive and much deeper as a result.
At a programmatic level, the immersion weeks were excellent - Silicon Valley Immersion provides a total inside view on the valley, startup culture and access to founders and funders with the superb Toby Stuart. Our international immersion focused on emerging markets in Brazil ranging from sports marketing (run up to the Olympics) to entrepreneurship and great access to folks from Google Brazil's CEO to BNDES to individuals running startup accelerators etc. Washington DC was a tour de force with Laura Tyson - amazing access to policy makers, lobbyists, staffers etc (won't name drop here, but suffice to say the Berkeley network really opened doors).
The academic foundations were great and provide a very solid business school education. Two threads emerged of particular note. The first is leadership - Berkeley-Haas lives by its defining principles and encourages a rigorous evaluation of one's own capabilities and challenges, starting with the Leadership Communications immersion with Mark Rittenburg, the Leading People course with Dana Carney, Trust Based Relationships with Rajiv Ball and the excellent Exec Leadership course taught by Jenny Chatman. It's something of a hidden strength for Haas. The second if entrepreneurship and new venture funding. Between Toby Stuart and the excellent Maura O'Neill who teaches wildly popular electives on new venture finance students get an A-grade exposure to what it means to be an entrepreneur, and through face time, lectures, field-immersions, role play, case work etc, etc. it's possible to really gain a deeper dive into what it takes to build a successful startup.
I came into the program as an "advancer" - ie. staying with in my field looking to further my career by building in formal business training. I achieved that goal with room to spare, more interestingly though I came out feeling very interested in the possibility of leading my own company. It's a bit of a cliche, but I can't think of a better word - it's a transformative experience.
Advice for future applicants is pay attention to the defining principles, they really do mean a lot at Berkeley-Haas. If you find those meaningful, Berkeley-Haas can be an amazing fit. Dean Rich Lyons is a phenomenal leader for the school and he has successfully enshrined an underlying culture that feels quite different to other schools. I can't think of a better place to help you become the best "you" possible.
Make the most of the time you have there - many opportunities exist to mix and exchange ideas with students from other programs within Haas as well as other schools within UC Berkeley.
The professors are very accessible and enjoy teaching EMBA, again make the most of the help and perspective they can bring to both the course work but also your work.
On campus recruiting is open to EMBA, but the Career Management Group at Haas is adept at working with more experienced hires (i.e. EMBA's) who may be looking for more senior positions.
The entrepreneurial network is also very strong, but Haas goes a lot deeper than just tech and entrepreneurship.
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