What are the essay prompts for Berkeley Haas MBA?

The essay prompts for the Berkeley Haas MBA program are designed to help the admissions committee understand your passions, goals, and experiences. Here's a breakdown of the current essay questions:

1. Required Essay #1:

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why?

(300 words maximum)

In this essay, Haas wants to know about activities or experiences that energize and excite you. It's an opportunity to showcase your passions beyond your professional life. Think about moments when you felt truly engaged or fulfilled, whether it's through a hobby, volunteering, or a personal project. Explain what the activity is and delve into why it resonates with you. This helps the admissions team see a more personal side of you and understand what drives you.

2. 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 maximum)

Here, you're asked to outline your career objectives and how Haas fits into your plans. Start by clearly stating your short-term goals—what position or role you aim to secure shortly after graduating. Then, discuss your long-term aspirations, which might include broader ambitions or leadership roles you hope to attain in the future. Be specific about how the Haas MBA program's resources, culture, or network will support you in reaching these goals. This demonstrates that you've thoughtfully considered how Haas aligns with your career trajectory.

3. Experience with Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion:

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging, whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

(300 words maximum)

This prompt seeks to understand your engagement with diversity and inclusion. Reflect on times when you've interacted with or advocated for diverse groups or initiatives. This could be through community service, workplace programs, or personal experiences. Share specific examples that highlight your commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. If you're aiming for mission-aligned fellowships, this is also a space to discuss your dedication to those missions.

4. Video Essay:

The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who embody our four Defining Leadership Principles.

Briefly introduce yourself to the admissions committee, explain which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you, and tell us how you have exemplified the principle in your personal or professional life.

Please review the Defining Leadership Principles in advance and take time to prepare your answer before recording.

Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes.

In this video essay, you'll introduce yourself and discuss one of Haas's Defining Leadership Principles that aligns closely with your values or experiences. The principles are:

• Question the Status Quo
• Confidence Without Attitude
• Students Always
• Beyond Yourself

Choose the principle that resonates most with you and provide a specific example of how you've demonstrated it in your life. This is your chance to showcase your personality and values in a dynamic format. Ensure you're concise, genuine, and that you clearly convey your message within the two-minute limit.

5. Optional Essays:

The admissions team takes a comprehensive approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences.

We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate.

Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Optional Information #1:

We invite you to help us better understand the context of your opportunities and achievements.

This section allows you to provide additional context about your background. You might discuss your family's educational background, any significant responsibilities you've undertaken, or challenges you've faced. This helps the admissions committee appreciate the context in which you've achieved your accomplishments.

Optional Information #2:

This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application.

This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc.

You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate.

Use this space to address any aspects of your application that might need clarification. For instance, if there's a gap in your employment history or a lower grade in a particular course, explain the circumstances here. Providing this context can help the admissions team understand your overall narrative better.

Remember, these essays are your opportunity to share your story, values, and aspirations with the admissions committee. Be authentic, reflective, and ensure you answer each prompt thoroughly within the given word limits.

To know more about details, you can check out this : Berkeley Haas MBA Essays