Berkeley Haas Essays and Tips (2007-2008):

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 1

If you could have dinner with one individual in the past, present, or future, who would it be and why? (250 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 1 Tips

I am certain that you do not lack for people whom you admire or whose position you covet: a famous personality from any field of human  endeavor from any time in history, or even a lesser known personality whom you have good reasons to admire. Given the multitude of choices, the decision making process about who to choose would be crucial.

Choose an interesting person who is relevant to your value system and/or career goals. Choose a person who might be recognizable by the Haas admissions committee. Choose a person whose life and work can be used to highlight your own best traits and your qualities. There are millions of beautiful people who have lived in this world. If you choose the right one, 30% of your work for this essay is done. Simple?

Extremely critical is the last word of the question - WHY? The "why" hides the truth about why you are writing this essay in the first place. It can reveal your personality, passions, vision and strengths, in ways that can make the Berkeley admissions committee sit up and take notice of you (in a good way!). Do not forget that the ultimate hero of the story in this essays as well is actually YOU. Consider the essay package as a whole and use elements in this essay that complement stories, examples and ideas elsewhere in your Berkeley Haas application package.

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 2

Tell us about your most significant accomplishment. (250 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 2 Tips

You have several accomplishments in your roster - personal, professional and academic.

The choice of achievement for writing this Berkeley Haas essay should be based on the general importance of the achievement, the extent of your contribution to its success and what the story tells about you. Your leadership skills, initiative and teamwork are three qualities that the incident could reflect on.

As usual keep in mind that this essay is part of a bigger package. Write accordingly. For example, there is a bigger leadership essay that shortly follows, so choose the achievement carefully. Also, within the context of your Berkeley Haas essay package this should be "your most significant accomplishment" - see that there are no contradictions there.

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 3

At Haas, we value innovation and creativity. Describe an innovative solution you have created to address a specific challenge. (250 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 3 Tips

Good question!

This is a rare chance, since almost no other Business School application exclusively devotes an entire essay to your creativity and innovation.

Use this opportunity from Berkeley Haas to specifically address your creative side with examples that highlight your out-of-the-box thinking. The scenario of the "specific challenge" should be used to give a sense of urgency or a personal tone to the essay. Choose from your personal or professional life.

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 4

What steps have you taken to learn about the Berkeley MBA program, and what factors have influenced your decision to apply? (250 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Short Essay 4 Tips

Key Essay Tip: If possible, especially if you are based in USA, visit Haas. Berkeley Haas takes campus visits seriously and being in USA and not visiting, is in my book a straight 25% off for this essay.

Regardless of whether you visit Haas or not, this essay does require some investment of time and effort.

The Berkeley Haas essay seeks answers to these questions: How serious are you about seeking admission at Berkeley Haas? What kind of online and offline research have you done so far about Haas? Have you talked to current Berkeley Haas students or alumni? Have you visited Haas or any of the fairs or receptions hosted by them? How can you show that your Berkeley Haas application a reflection of your specific interest in Haas and not just another applications to lower the odds.

Berkeley Haas Required Essay 1

Give us an example of a situation in which you displayed leadership. (500 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Required Essay 1 Tips

Recollect and write about an experience that witnessed you in a leadership position. Select the example based on the extent of your contribution to the team's success and what the story tells about your leadership skills. Choose an experience that is not only a definite success in the context of team objectives but also effectively underlines your leadership skills. The incident can go back in time but should preferably have occurred in the last 2-3 years.

Berkeley Haas Required Essay 2

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How do your professional experiences relate to these goals? Why do you want an MBA from Berkeley at this point in your career? (1000 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Required Essay 2 Tips

This is a straightforward career progression, career goals and "why this Business School" essay.

And you cannot complain about lack of space either!  As we keep saying in our mba essay tips the recommended length of the essay is an important guide to its importance. The task here is to clearly delineate your career development in the context of your short-term and long-term goals, while also linking the Berkeley Haas MBA with your past, present and future. Finding and expressing a logical, credible link between the three phases is the key to this essay.

"Why Haas" is an important part of the question and so is "Why Haas now"; answer both parts of the question. Usually "Why Now" is much easier to handle if you try to think of why not 1-2 years earlier or 1-2 years later. Remember that you can blend in non-career aspects that are relevant to your story since your career is intricately connected to your personal life and personal goals.

Goals, even more than other essay topics, are more a matter of credibility, logic and realism than anything else. If you can add passion as well, you have the recipe for a beautiful and effective essay.

Go for it!

Berkeley Haas Optional Essay 1

Please feel free to provide a statement concerning any information you would like to add to your application that you haven’t addressed elsewhere. (500 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Optional Essay Tips

Use the Berkeley Haas optional essay if you need to describe at length an extraordinarily positive contribution or quality that CANNOT be accommodated in the other essays. Maybe there in as a particularly important aspect of your personality, career or life that you want the Haas admissions committee to know about. In that case you can consider writing the optional essay.

Use the Berkeley Haas optional essay to explain shortfalls in your application which you feel are truly detrimental to your candidature. Areas of underperformance (academic or professional) or events which stick out (gaps in your resumes or second MBA) or application issues (reapplications) can be commented on if you have explanations that are intelligent, interesting and credible.

Berkeley Haas Optional Essay 2

If you wish to be considered for the 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. (500 word maximum)

Berkeley Haas Optional Essay Tips

While applying for a scholarship is almost always advisable (you have little to lose and something to gain), writing the Scholarship essay is not. Write a scholarship essay that ties in with your application and essay package, without contradicting any part of what you have already written about yourself. Since the scholarship process is separate from the admissions process in most schools do not be afraid of repeating information that defines your strong candidature.

Please present an honest, believable and robust picture of your economic, educational, health-related or other handicaps and tell them how you have triumphed over them so far.

Go for it!