Tips for Haas’s 2024-2025 Essays

With roughly 500 MBAs enrolled, the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business is a tight-knit B-school community. The Haas admissions committee seeks out applicants who can demonstrate how they’ll fit into and contribute to its school culture and community.

Melisa Prevost, an admissions consultant at Stratus Admissions Counseling, recently shared strategies to acing this year’s Haas essays and offered insights into how to demonstrate a strong fit with the business school.

ESSAY 1

The first Haas essay prompt asks applicants the following:

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

In other words, this essay is asking about what you’re passionate about and why. Prevost recommends starting with a quick story about a memorable experience that illustrates what makes you feel alive. The rest of your essay should explain why this passion is important to you and how it aligns with your overall application narrative.

“Although your activity does not need to be directly tied to your goals, it should enhance your application,” Prevost says. “You want to be explicit about how this passion will support you in the pursuit of your goals. You could also communicate how your story has influenced you or helped you gain perspective. After you have written your essay, have someone who knows you well read it — and make sure they pick up on the themes you are trying to present.”

ESSAY 2

The second Haas essay prompt asks applicants the following:

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)

A good way to approach the goals essay is to start with the end in mind. Prevost recommends a three-step process to writing this essay. First, start with what problem you want to solve long term in your career. Then, outline your initial post-MBA role as a step towards that goal, along with your aspirations for the first three-to-five years after graduation. You’ll want to be sure to clarify why you’ve chosen this path and how Haas can help you reach your goals.

“Was it a professional experience? Are you wanting to pivot to a personal passion? The larger the change, the more in-depth your reasoning needs to be. And finally, identify how Haas can help you achieve these goals. Where do you need to grow? What resources at Haas might help you get there? And how will you get involved in or contribute to those clubs, centers, and/or experiences to give back to the Haas community?”

ESSAY 3  

The third Haas essay prompt asks applicants the following:

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?

Candidates seeking consideration for mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships. (300 words max)

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the Haas community. This essay is about how you’ll contribute to creating inclusive environments at Haas. When writing this essay, Prevost says, think about the tight-knit community at Haas and how you’ll make the most of the business school’s diverse and inclusive culture.

“Think about times when you have worked with others that are different from you,” Prevost says. “In addition to the obvious examples of geography and background, you could consider times when you’ve worked across generations or various working styles, or when you’ve helped others contribute their best to a group. Given that 300 words is pretty short, be sure to spend enough time describing your actions while ensuring that you fully explain the situation and result.”

Sources: Stratus Admissions Counseling, P&Q