About The School
The Berkeley Haas mission is “to develop leaders who redefine how we do business.” Its distinctive culture is framed by four principles: Question the status quo, confidence without attitude, students always, beyond yourself. Haas aims to cultivate innovative leaders who know how to put new ideas to work and to do so responsibly. By leveraging the energy that’s ever-present in the innovative business ecosystem of the San Francisco Bay Area, the program emphasizes how to seize opportunities, challenge conventional wisdom and act creatively. Quips the website, “our entire culture is about fresh thinking. This is Berkeley, after all.”
Anchored in a rigorous general management curriculum, the program aims to impart multidimensional leadership skills that can be applied in any type of organization, including global firms, startups, nonprofits, or graduates’ own entrepreneurial ventures. Haas links its courses and programs across disciplines at Berkeley and puts a premium on flexibility, allowing students to customize a program of study to their interests and design their own electives.
Strengths And Specializations
Nonprofit/Social Responsibility, Entrepreneurship, Technology, Innovation, International Management, Healthcare, General Management, Organizational Behavior
Incoming Class
Number of Applicants: 3,821
MBA Class Size: 291
Tuition: $123,012
Post-MBA Careers
Sector: Technology/Telecom (31.7%); Consulting (24%); Finance (13.7%); CPG Retail (8.2%)
Top Recruiters: Adobe, Amazon, Bain & Company, BCG, Cisco, Deloitte, Facebook
Avg salary: $125,572
Salary Increase: 104%
Employment in 3 months: 86%
| MBA Rankings | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BusinessWeek | 13 | 13 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 6 | ||
| Financial Times | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 7 | ||
| Forbes | 13 | 14 | 14 | 8 | – | 9 | – | ||
| The Economist | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 10 | ||
| Us News | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Admissions
Avg. Age: 28
Avg. GPA: 3.66
Avg. GMAT: 726
Int’l Students: 42%
Female Students: 43%
Deadlines for 2019-2020: R1: Sep 26, 2019, R2: Jan 9, 2020, R3: Apr 02, 2020
Sources: Berkeley Haas, BusinessWeek, Financial Times, US News, MBA50
Essays
In July, 2019, Berkeley Haas released new required and optional essay questions:
Essay #1
What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why?
Essay #2
At Berkeley Haas, we are redefining leadership. We value different opinions and perspectives, recognizing that we always have more to learn about others’ lived experiences and histories. We encourage speaking up and listening, and courageously use our power to address barriers and drive change for positive impact.
Tell us how a Berkeley Haas MBA would enhance your leadership profile, incorporating specific examples.
Optional Essay
In addition to the two required essays, candidates who wish to tell us about how they have responded to hardships or unusual life circumstances are encouraged to complete the optional essay. This information will provide context to your opportunities & achievements and contribute to our holistic review of your application.