If you are interested in earning your MBA from “a top-ranked institution whose reputation opens doors worldwide,” then it might be worth applying to Berkeley Haas.
The MBA programs that Haas offers are some of the best globally, and they are known for being well-rounded and innovative. Especially if you’d like to take a part time route for your MBA, Berkeley Haas is the right place for you.
Read on to learn more about the aspects of this business school that set it apart from others, and how you can apply and get accepted into the prestigious Haas part time MBA program.
Overview of the Haas Part Time MBA Program
Below is a quick overview of the Haas part time MBA program.
Flexible Schedule Options
Haas’s part time MBA option is often referred to as the Haas Evening & Weekend MBA Program because this degree allows for students to opt for classes on weeknights or Saturdays.
The general intent behind Haas’s part time MBA is to “[make] the academic experience convenient and accessible for working professionals.” This route is the best option at Haas for those trying to maintain their job while pursuing an education and expanding their network, making it worth it.
This program typically takes students three years to complete; however, you can complete it in as little as two and a half years.
The Haas Curriculum
Haas claims that their part time curriculum “steeps you in different ways of thinking and in multiple perspectives and reinforces your growing knowledge with experiential learning.”
To graduate from this program, all part time students must take a minimum of twenty-two core courses and twenty elective courses. There are thirteen core courses that all part time MBA students are required to take at the beginning of their MBA experience at Haas.
These courses are intended to provide students with a cumulative understanding of “the analytical tools and essential knowledge to lead successfully.” These core courses cover general business fundamentals such as accounting, marketing, and finance.
Elective Options
Once this foundation has been established and the core courses have been completed, you have plenty of options for customizing your learning path with a vast range of elective courses that allow you to “achieve [your] goals and feed [your] passions.”
To make choices easier for their students, Haas has compiled a selection of courses called Prime Electives, which “are those classes that are essential courses regardless of career path and help all students develop into business leaders/managers.” This group of electives includes courses such as Power & Politics, Corporate Finance, and Asset Management.
Eligibility and How to Apply
If Haas’s MBA program is something you’re considering applying to, below we’ll cover their eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Application Requirements
If you are interested in applying to Haas’s part time MBA program, you must go through their online application portal and create an account. This account will allow you to upload all of the necessary documents that Haas’ admissions committee requires from all applicants.
You must submit transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs that you have attended, or are currently attending.
Haas also requests a current resume, no longer than two pages, that lists work experience chronologically. All applicants must also submit scores from the GMAT or GRE exams.
Haas also requires two letters of recommendation, and applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure that one of these recommendations comes from their current or most recent direct supervisor.
Application Essays
All applicants must also submit answers to two essay questions. Haas encourages applicants to answer each of these questions thoroughly while staying within their specified word limit.
The first essay question typically requires you to explain aspects of your identity that you believe define you. You should “share a facet of your identity or story that is essential to who you are.”
The second essay typically requires you to reflect on what the meaning of leadership is. You should write about “[w]hat…you need to develop to become a successful leader.”
Video Interview
You are also expected to complete a video interview in place of an in-person interview where you are asked to answer two brief questions. Haas’ intent behind the video interview is to ensure that “each candidate receives a very similar interview experience, which aids [them] in reducing unconscious bias in [their] admissions process.”
The purpose of the interview is to help the admissions committee get to know you better. Each question will allow for one to two minutes of response time. The first question is typically based on your desire to attend Haas, and the second is usually focused on leadership.
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International Applicants
International applicants must complete some additional requirements on top of the standard application procedures; their academic records must be submitted in their original language, as well as in English.
If you received your degree in a country other than the U.S., U.K., Australia, English-speaking Canada, or Singapore, then you are required to take the TOEFL exam or the IELTS exam, and you should submit your results with your application.
Students must get a minimum score of 90 on the TOEFL exam or an overall BAND score of 7 on the IELTS exam to be eligible to apply to Haas.
However, if you have already completed at least one year of full-time schooling at a recognized U.S. institution, and you have overall grades of “B” or better, you do not need to take a standardized English language proficiency test. Instead, you must submit an official transcript from the U.S. school that attended.
Reapplication
Anyone who has submitted an application to Haas within the last two years will be considered a reapplicant unless their application was incomplete or withdrawn. Reapplicants must submit all of the same documents as everyone else.
However, instead of answering the first of the two application essay questions, reapplicants must complete and submit a separate reapplicant essay question.
For this topic, reapplicants must explain “how [they] have improved [their] candidacy since [their] last application to the Berkeley Evening & Weekend MBA Program.” They must also explain why they are “now interested in attending the EWMBA Program.” This essay has a 350-word limit.
Once you’ve applied and (hopefully) get accepted, you’ll need to pay tuition. The Haas part-time MBA cost is $3,708 per unit. Loans and scholarships are available to those who need it.
Program Benefits
If you’re not convinced yet that Haas’s part time MBA program is outstanding, check out the benefits of the program below.
Seminars in International Business (SIB)
Haas’ Seminars in International Business (SIB) have been designed to expose part time MBA students to the culture, history, and business environment of numerous foreign countries.
The seminars grant students the opportunity to travel with other members of their cohort to various locations around the globe for in-depth studies of these destinations.
Each course begins with a pre-session at Haas, followed by a one-week study tour of the region, and is concluded with a post-session at Haas. Each of these courses also requires students to complete a project given out by the faculty leader in charge of the course.
These programs refrain from focusing on specific industries because their goal is to “develop a broader perspective of how business is conducted in a particular region of the world.” By the time a student has completed one of these programs, they will better grasp how business environments can vary from one culture to another.
International Business Development (IBD) Program
Students can also take advantage of Haas’ International Business Development (IBD) program, which “connects project clients with talented Berkeley Haas MBA students in order to tackle strategic business problems.”
Students get opportunities to gain “hands-on experience in international management consulting” with international clients, across various industries, on a wide array of strategic consulting projects. This is the perfect chance for real-world application of the business principles that you’ve picked up from your core classes.
Other Opportunities for International Interactions
Haas also has other opportunities for learning about international business environments and practices for students who cannot participate in Haas’ SIB or SBD courses.
Once you have completed your core courses at Haas you can participate in the International Exchange Program; you can earn ten credits at one of Haas’ partner schools in Spain, France, Hong Kong, or the Netherlands as an exchange student.
Alternatively, students who’d prefer to stay in California, but still want to reap the rewards of global interaction, can use the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM). It “leverages resources from 30 leading global business schools, bringing students together to explore how business is done in countries at every stage of their development.”
You can participate in online classes or participate in a global network week event at a member school. These courses allow you to earn valid credits while connecting to students from other international cohorts to participate in lectures, discussions, and collaborative team projects.
Further Experiential Learning Opportunities
There are also more than a dozen other experiential electives included in the part time MBA curriculum. Haas feels that experiential learning is “the best way to demonstrate the real-world impact your classroom learning and freshly honed skills can have.” Haas has several relationships with leading organizations locally, in the Bay Area, and other far-off locations worldwide.
These relationships translate into opportunities for Haas’ students to participate in team projects; Haas@Work is one project-based course, which allows teams of Berkeley MBA students to work closely with top executives at leading firms such as Cisco, Disney, Clorox, Wells Fargo, Visa, and Panasonic.
An All-Star Faculty
At Haas, you learn “from professors who are exploring the next new thing in organizational, financial, and management practices.” Part-time students learn from the same faculty members who teach full-time and executive programs courses.
Haas’ faculty is made up of global business leaders that will provide you with lectures, simulations, and case studies that make for classes that are “as varied as the real world of business.”
Learning from Haas’ diverse group of faculty members will allow you to watch cutting-edge research and development unfold right before your eyes.
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Level of Competition
A Diverse Cohort
Haas “strive[s] to build a class of students distinguished by their self-awareness and their inclusive, collaborative approaches, as well as diverse in industries, aspirations, and backgrounds.”
Haas’ most recent cohort is of comprised of:
- 37% women and 63% men.
- The average age of these students was between 27 and 38.
- On average, this cohort had roughly seven years of post-university work experience.
- In terms of background experience, the most common industry was high-technology/electronics.
The rest of the cohort was pretty evenly divided between several industries ranging from biotechnology, to general management, to consulting.
Top Tips on How to Get Into Haas Part Time MBA Program
Below we’ll cover some top tips to help you get into Haas Business School as a part time student.
A Holistic Admissions Approach
The admissions committee at Haas “takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications, seeking to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences.”
The more work experience you have before applying, the better of a position it will put you in when the next cohort is being decided upon by the admissions staff.
However, if you have some gaps in your application that you’re worried about, such as lack of work experience, you can potentially make up for this by finding ways throughout your application to create an MBA profile for yourself that highlights desirable traits you possess.
Your biggest opportunity to convince the admissions committee that you are worthy of acceptance into this program lies with the essay questions and video interview portions of the application.
Highlighting Your Best Attributes
The essay questions are meant to help Haas’ admissions committee “learn about who you are as a person and how you will fit with [their] community,” so take the MBA essay as an opportunity to shine some light on what makes you, you.
Try your best to be thoughtful and genuine with your responses to Haas’ prompts because it will be apparent if you merely give them what you think they want to hear. Take time to reflect on the experiences, values, and passions you would like to share with Haas.
Making an Impression
It is vital that you pay meticulous attention to the video interview questions and answer them confidently and clearly because you will not have an opportunity to re record your answers. You must make sure that you fit everything you want to say into a concise and impactful answer.
However, Haas “prefer[s] that candidates provide authentic answers versus rehearsed or read from notes,” so try not to overthink your answers too much.
The purpose of these video interview questions is similar to the intent behind the essays- to show Haas that you are a good fit for their community and have the leadership potential they are looking for.
Choosing Wisely
Another part of your application that demands careful attention is your recommendation letters. Be sure to choose your recommenders wisely and, if possible, try to contact them in advance to give them a heads up about the recommendation that you require so that they have plenty of time to write you a thoughtful letter.
Keep in mind that one of the recommendation letters should be coming from a current direct supervisor of yours. If you cannot do this, you must explain why in the Supplementary Data section of the online application portal.
Your second letter should come from either a former direct supervisor or someone you’ve had significant professional interactions with. The title or status that your recommender has is not essential.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions that might answer any further questions you might have.
1. Does Haas Have Minimum Score Requirements for the GMAT, GRE, or E.A. Exams?
The Haas admissions committee does not have any minimum score requirements for the GMAT, GRE, or E.A. exams. For Haas’ part time program, students admitted typically have scores that range between 640 and 740 on the GMAT.
2. How Long Does It Take to Complete Haas’ Part Time MBA Program, and When Does It Start?
Haas’ part time program is designed to be a three-year program spread across six fall and spring semesters. However, students have opportunities to accelerate the program and complete it in two and a half years if they take on a heavier course load or if they take summer courses. The program begins in late July.
3. What Are the Scheduled Times for Classes in Haas’ Part Time MBA Program?
Students participating in Haas’ part time program can either attend classes two evenings a week or attend classes once a week, on Saturdays. The weekday classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The Saturday classes are held from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the first three semesters and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the remaining three semesters.
4. When and How Can I Choose My Class Schedule?
When you apply for Haas’ part time MBA, you must select an evening or weekend schedule. Haas is ordinarily able to accommodate these requests. The school establishes cohorts based on these requests.
5. How Much Time Do Haas’ Part Time Students Typically Spend on Schoolwork Outside of Class?
Generally, students can expect to spend an average of about two hours per week on additional reading, homework, and team projects for every hour spent in class. For the first two semesters of core classes, this typically adds up to about sixteen hours of work to be done outside of the classroom each week.
6. How Can I Learn More About Haas’ Part time Program?
Haas’ website has lots of handy information about their part time program, as well as other details regarding the school's campus.
Haas also recommends that anyone interested in applying to one of their programs should join them for a virtual or in-person event. There are frequent information sessions that are hosted for this very purpose.
Conclusion
If you would like to undertake an MBA without having to pause your working career for a few years, then a part time path might be the best option for you.
Part time MBA programs often include most of the benefits of a full-time program, with the added benefit of having a class schedule that works around your busy timetable. If you have decided that this route best suits your needs, then Berkeley Haas demands your consideration.
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