Applying to the Berkeley Haas MBA program is a significant step in advancing your career and personal growth. One of the most crucial components of your application is the essay section.
The essays give you a unique opportunity to share your story, showcase your achievements, and demonstrate why you are a perfect fit for Berkeley Haas. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the essay prompts, practical tips, and a proven framework to help you craft winning essays that will capture the attention of the Berkeley Haas MBA admissions committee.
Berkeley Haas MBA Essays
Required Essay #1
“What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why?” (300 words max)
What Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Committee Seeks from This Essay
The Berkeley Haas MBA admissions committee is on a mission to uncover the passions that drive you. This essay prompt asks you to dive deep into what excites and motivates you, revealing an authentic aspect of your personality that isn’t necessarily tied to your professional achievements.
By asking what makes you feel alive, the admissions team is looking to understand what ignites your enthusiasm and how this passion shapes who you are.
Berkeley Haas values its four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. When writing your essay, consider how your passion aligns with these principles.
While your answer should be grounded in authenticity, weaving in one of these values can demonstrate a strong cultural fit. Remember, the goal is to provide new insight into your candidacy, so select a topic that highlights a unique aspect of your personality, one that balances the themes covered in your other essays.
Framework to Write a Winning Essay
To craft a compelling essay, follow a structured approach that ensures you cover all critical aspects while maintaining a natural and engaging flow.
1. Identify Your Passion: Reflect on activities that make you lose track of time and enter a state of “flow.” Consider hobbies, interests, or even professional tasks that invigorate you. This could range from community service, artistic pursuits, sports, or intellectual endeavors. Ensure that this passion is something you engage in regularly and with genuine enthusiasm.
2. Create a Vivid Introduction: Start with a compelling anecdote that captures a moment when you felt truly alive. Use descriptive language to draw the reader in. For example, “As I stood on the edge of the cliff, the world beneath me blurred into insignificance, and the rush of adrenaline was a reminder of my love for rock climbing.”
3. Explain the ‘Why’: Delve into why this activity resonates with you. Discuss the emotions it evokes and the fulfillment it brings. Perhaps rock climbing gives you a sense of accomplishment and peace, or maybe it challenges you in a way that keeps you mentally sharp. Explain the deeper connection you have with this passion.
4. Connect to Haas Principles: Although the essay should focus on your personal passion, subtly link it to Berkeley Haas’s principles. If rock climbing teaches you resilience and problem-solving, tie it to “Question the Status Quo.” This shows that your passion isn’t just a pastime but also a source of personal growth that aligns with Haas’s values.
5. Illustrate Its Impact on Your Life: Highlight how this passion has influenced your life and character. Discuss any relevant experiences or lessons learned. For instance, “Coaching young climbers has taught me patience and the importance of mentorship, skills I apply in my professional life as well.”
6. Conclude with Future Implications: Wrap up by explaining how this passion will continue to play a role in your life, especially during your MBA journey and beyond. Indicate how the skills or lessons derived from this activity will contribute to your success at Berkeley Haas and in your future career.
Tips for Writing
1. Be Authentic: Choose a passion that genuinely excites you. Authenticity is key; don’t select a topic just because you think it will impress the admissions committee. They can tell when an essay lacks sincerity.
2. Show, Don’t Tell: Use descriptive language and vivid anecdotes to illustrate your passion. Rather than saying, “I love photography,” describe a moment when you captured a perfect shot and the emotions it evoked.
3. Maintain Balance: Ensure this essay complements your other application materials. If your other essays focus heavily on professional achievements, use this essay to highlight a personal interest or extracurricular activity.
4. Be Concise: With a 300-word limit, every sentence must count. Avoid unnecessary details and focus on conveying your passion and its significance succinctly.
5. Proofread: After drafting your essay, have someone who knows you well review it. Ensure they can see your enthusiasm and the themes you’re trying to present. A fresh pair of eyes can catch errors and offer valuable feedback.
6. Reflect on the Broader Picture: Think about how this passion reflects your overall narrative. How does it tie into your personal and professional development? How does it enhance your application?
Required Essay #2
What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals? Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations. (300 words max)
Understanding What the Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Committee Seeks
The Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley is renowned for its culture of innovation, diversity, and social impact. When the admissions committee evaluates your essay, they are looking for clarity, coherence, and a strong alignment between your career goals and what the Haas MBA program offers.
The key objective of this essay is to understand your career trajectory and how a Haas MBA will bridge the gap between your current capabilities and your professional aspirations.
Haas increased the word count for this essay last year, allowing applicants to provide a more detailed narrative. This indicates the committee’s interest in understanding the nuances of your career plans and the specific ways Haas can support you. This year, they have refined the prompt to emphasize the importance of explaining how Haas, in particular, will help you achieve your goals. Your task is to illustrate not only your ambitions but also why Haas is the perfect place to achieve them.
Framework for Writing a Winning Essay
When writing your career goals essay for Haas, start by envisioning your long-term career aspirations. Think about the problem or industry you want to impact significantly. This vision will provide a compelling context for your narrative.
- Begin your essay with a brief introduction to your long-term career goal. Paint a vivid picture of the professional future you aspire to and the impact you aim to make. This could span a decade or more and should reflect broader professional aspirations.
- Next, describe your short-term goals. These should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA and act as stepping stones toward your long-term vision. Specify the role, industry, and key responsibilities you aim to undertake immediately after graduation. Connect these goals to your current experiences and skills, highlighting any gaps that need to be filled by an MBA.
- After establishing your goals, delve into why you have chosen this career path. Was there a pivotal professional experience, a personal passion, or an epiphany that directed you towards these goals? The more significant the change you aim for, the deeper your reasoning should be. If you’re shifting fields, explain the trigger moment that made you realize your post-MBA goals.
- The final and crucial part of your essay should focus on how a Haas MBA will help you achieve these goals. Identify the specific resources, courses, clubs, and experiences at Haas that align with your professional needs. Mention particular faculty members whose research interests resonate with your career plans, or student clubs that can provide valuable networking opportunities and practical experiences.
Discuss how you will contribute to the Haas community. Haas values collaboration and leadership; showing how you plan to engage with and give back to the community will strengthen your application.
Tips for Writing Your Haas MBA Essay
- Be Authentic and Specific: Generic goals won’t impress the admissions committee. Be honest about your aspirations and make sure they are specific and realistic. Detail the roles and industries you are targeting and explain how they fit into your overall career trajectory.
- Research Thoroughly: Demonstrate your genuine interest in Haas by researching its unique offerings. Mention specific courses, faculty, student organizations, and other resources that are pivotal for your career goals. The more tailored your essay is to Haas, the better.
- Show a Clear Progression: Ensure that your short-term goals logically lead to your long-term aspirations. The admissions committee wants to see that you have a well-thought-out plan and that an MBA from Haas is a crucial step in this progression.
- Highlight Your Unique Qualities: Haas values diversity and innovation. Show how your background, experiences, and perspectives will add unique value to the Haas community. Highlight any unique qualities or experiences that set you apart from other candidates.
- Connect with Haas’s Values: Align your goals and personal values with Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles—Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. This alignment shows that you are a good fit for the Haas culture.
- Keep It Concise and Focused: With a 300-word limit, every sentence should add value. Avoid unnecessary jargon or overly complex sentences. Be clear, direct, and stay focused on answering the prompt.
Berkeley Haas MBA Essay 3: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
What the Admissions Committee Seeks
The Berkeley Haas MBA program places a strong emphasis on developing leaders who value diversity and foster an inclusive environment. With this essay prompt, the admissions committee wants to understand your personal experiences and exposure to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging.
They are looking for candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to these important principles, either through community involvement, personal experiences, or in the workplace.
This essay is an opportunity for you to showcase your alignment with one of the core values of the Haas program. The admissions team wants to see that you will contribute to and enhance the diverse, inclusive community at Haas.
Framework for a Winning Essay
When approaching this essay, consider the following framework:
- Reflect on Your Experiences: Begin by reflecting on the experiences you have had that relate to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. This could include volunteer work with community organizations, personal experiences navigating different backgrounds and perspectives, or initiatives you have led in the workplace to promote a more inclusive environment.
- Select a Meaningful Example: Choose one or two specific examples that best demonstrate your engagement with these important issues. Provide details about the context, your role, and the impact you had. This could be a time when you advocated for greater representation, facilitated dialogue around sensitive topics, or worked to create a more welcoming space for underrepresented groups.
- Explain the Significance: Discuss why these experiences were meaningful to you and how they have shaped your perspective. Reflect on the lessons you learned and how they have influenced your values and approach to leadership. Explain how these experiences have prepared you to contribute to the diverse community at Haas.
- Connect to Haas: Finally, make an explicit connection between your experiences and your fit with the Haas program. Discuss how you plan to continue your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at Haas, whether through involvement in student organizations, participation in diversity-focused programming, or leveraging the resources available to further develop your skills as an inclusive leader.
Tips for Writing
- Be specific and authentic: Use concrete examples to demonstrate your experiences and the impact you had. Avoid generic statements and instead share personal, meaningful stories.
- Highlight your growth and learning: Reflect on how these experiences have shaped your perspective and prepared you to be a champion for diversity and inclusion.
- Tie it back to Haas: Clearly explain how your background and commitment to these issues align with the Haas program and how you will contribute to their community.
- Keep it concise: Remember the 300-word limit and focus on conveying your most impactful experiences and insights.
Berkeley Haas MBA Video Essay
The Berkeley Haas MBA program is seeking students who embody their four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. Through the video essay, the admissions committee wants to understand how you personally connect with and exemplify one of these core principles.
Framework for a Winning Video Essay
1. Understand the Defining Leadership Principles
Start by thoroughly reviewing and understanding Berkeley Haas’ four Defining Leadership Principles. These principles define the program’s culture and the type of leader they aim to develop. Reflect on which principle resonates most with you and your personal or professional experiences.
2. Introduce Yourself
Begin your video by briefly introducing yourself – your name, background, and current role. This sets the context for the admissions committee.
3. Explain the Principle You Connect With
Clearly articulate which Defining Leadership Principle you have most embodied and why it is meaningful to you. Provide specific examples from your life that demonstrate your alignment with this principle. This is the core of your video response.
4. Illustrate How You’ve Exemplified the Principle
Go into detail about a time when you put this principle into action, whether through a professional project, community involvement, or a personal endeavor. Walk the admissions committee through the situation, your thought process, and the impact you had.
5. Connect It to Your MBA Goals
Conclude by explaining how continuing to uphold this Defining Leadership Principle will be important as you pursue your MBA at Berkeley Haas and beyond. Showcase how you will contribute to the program’s culture and community.
Tips for a Compelling Video Essay
- Be Authentic: This is your opportunity to showcase your genuine self, values, and experiences. Avoid scripted responses and aim for a conversational tone.
- Highlight Specific Examples: Use vivid, concrete examples to illustrate how you’ve lived out the principle, rather than speaking in broad generalities.
- Keep It Concise: The video should be 1-2 minutes long, so practice your response to ensure you cover the key points within the time limit.
- Prepare, but Don’t Over-Rehearse: Outline your main points, but don’t memorize a script. You want your response to feel natural and spontaneous.
- Showcase Your Communication Skills: In addition to the content, pay attention to your body language, eye contact, and vocal delivery to present yourself in the best light.
Optional Essay
When applying to the Berkeley Haas MBA program, you’ll encounter optional essay prompts designed to help the admissions team gain a deeper understanding of your unique background and qualifications. These essays are an opportunity to provide context or address any aspects of your application that may require further explanation.
Optional Essay #1: Contextualizing Your Achievements
The admissions team at Berkeley Haas takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications. They seek to understand not just your achievements, but also the challenges you’ve faced and the experiences that have shaped you. This optional essay invites you to share insights into your life’s journey, particularly focusing on how adversity or unique circumstances have influenced your personal growth and professional aspirations.
Key Points to Address
- Contextual Challenges: Reflect on any hardships or unusual life circumstances you’ve encountered. How have these experiences shaped your character and resilience?
- Personal Growth: Discuss the skills and qualities (such as grit or perseverance) you’ve developed as a result of overcoming challenges.
- Impact on Goals: Explain how these experiences have influenced your career goals and your vision for the future.
- Authenticity Matters: Be genuine and honest in your reflection. The admissions team values authenticity and wants to understand your journey in your own words.
Note: Answer this essay only if it genuinely adds value to your application. If your experiences align with this prompt, seize the opportunity to showcase your personal and professional development.
Optional Essay #2: Providing Additional Context
This section is reserved for addressing any aspects of your application that haven’t been covered elsewhere. It’s particularly useful for explaining employment gaps, academic inconsistencies, or any other relevant details that could benefit from further explanation.
When to Use This Essay and Helpful Tips
- Addressing Gaps: If there are gaps in your employment history or academic record that require context.
- Clarifying Issues: Use bullet points for clarity when explaining any aberrations in your application.
- Action and Reflection: Focus on factual explanations without embellishment. Describe any actions you’ve taken to mitigate past issues or challenges.
- Key Advice: Keep this essay concise and factual. Avoid flowery language and focus on providing clear, actionable insights that enhance the understanding of your candidacy.
Supplemental Information: Providing Essential Details
In addition to the optional essays, Berkeley Haas requires supplemental information to complete your application. This includes details on your community and professional involvements, as well as full-time and part-time work experiences during your studies.
Final Thoughts
Writing compelling essays for Berkeley Haas MBA admissions requires introspection, clarity, and authenticity.
By understanding the essay prompts, following the provided tips, and utilizing the suggested framework, you can create essays that highlight your unique experiences and aspirations. Remember, the goal is to present a narrative that not only aligns with Haas’s values but also distinguishes you as a candidate who is ready to make a significant impact. Take your time, be genuine, and let your true self shine through each word.