Mastering The Berkeley Haas MBA Interview

Scoring a slot to interview at Berkeley Haas is a big win. After all, only about one in five applicants are accepted to this top MBA program. 

As a former Associate Director of Admissions at Berkeley Haas and as an admissions coach with Fortuna Admissions for the past seven years, I have some insights to share on how to make the most of this golden opportunity to interview.  I’ve summarized some of my top tips below on how to master the Haas MBA interview questions. 

Book your free 30-minute consultation now to learn how Fortuna’s admissions experts can help you ace your interviews.

What to Expect from the Berkeley Haas Interview 

Haas offers a couple of options for your interview. You can choose:

• An in-person or virtual Zoom interview with a second-year student or with an alum (admissions staff do a limited number of interviews)
  
  OR
• A Zoom-based virtual interview, plus video responses to five prerecorded questions (through the Kira Talent platform). This gives the admissions committee another opportunity to see how you think on your feet.

If you go the Zoom and video route, you may want to check out my colleague Judith Hodara’s article on virtual MBA interview tips.

Understanding of Haas Principles

Whichever format you choose, to respond effectively to the Berkeley Haas interview questions, you need a deep understanding of the program’s four Defining Leadership Principles* (DLPs). Be prepared to express how they connect to your professional and personal life. The principles are a strong differentiator for Haas that reflect the school’s orientation to leadership development. The four principles are: 

1) Question the status quo

2) Confidence without attitude

3) Students always, and;

4) Beyond yourself

Berkeley Haas Interview Questions to Anticipate

The standard Haas interview questions revolve around conveying your story, your career plan and your unique goals. Know your resume and application inside out; you should be able to answer questions about your career experiences clearly and in a focused manner. 

Practice aloud until you feel comfortable, and you can deliver a smooth response without searching for words or struggling to express yourself. Furthermore, the key to success is not just thinking about answers to standard questions, but training yourself to give natural, informative and confident answers.

Most Common MBA Interview Questions:

• Tell me about yourself or walk me through your resume.
• Why an MBA?
• What are your career goals?
• Why this MBA?
• What will you contribute to the school’s community?
• Provide examples of your leadership/teamwork experience.

I have found that other types of Haas interview questions typically fall into the following categories. I’ve also included a small sample of questions by category asked to previous candidates. Remember that the interviewer will ask follow-up questions and probe your responses, so be ready to go into further depth on any topic.

1. Career background and professional skills-related questions

• Walk me through your resume/walk me through your career progression.
• What is a professional accomplishment you are proud of?

2. School-related questions

• Why choose the Haas MBA? And how can you provide evidence that you know what makes UC Berkeley Haas unique? 
• What can you contribute to a program like this?

3. Career goal questions

• What are your short- and long-term career goals?
• In your ideal world, what would be your MBA internship, post-MBA job, and your job in five years?

4. Behavioral questions (be prepared to give specific examples)

• Give an example of when you demonstrated leadership. 
• Tell me about a time when you led a project and morale was low. How did you handle the situation?
• Tell me about a challenging time.

5. Personal characteristics questions

• Which of the four principles resonates with you the most and why? 
• Could you describe two weaknesses you will address through your MBA? 

6. Opinion or thought-provoking questions

• What do you think is the biggest change/transformation happening in your industry today?
• What is something you learned from something you read recently?

7. Leadership example questions

• When you are in charge, how do you manage your team? 
• What is your leadership style?

8. Extra-curricular questions

• What role do you feel you play outside your professional life, for example, what role do you take on in your circle of friends? 
• What do you do for fun?

9. Diversity, equity, and inclusion-related questions

(Note: candidates should be prepared for at least one question about diversity, equity and inclusion and how it plays out in their professional lives.)

• Give an example of diversity involvement you would bring to Haas.
• Please share a time when you promoted diversity and inclusion, whether at work or through volunteering.

10. Other

• What other schools have you considered or applied to?
• Is there anything else you would like to share?
• Do you have any questions for me? 

Final Thoughts

For more advice on the format and structure of Haas MBA interviews, see my related blog on the Fortuna website. And remember, Berkeley Haas considers itself a program for leaders. In your interview, remain confident, calm and flexible, demonstrating that you share the school’s values and leadership attributes

With intentional preparation and a clear understanding of what to expect, Berkeley Haas applicants can approach their interviews with confidence, knowing that they are well-positioned to make a compelling case for their acceptance at one of the world’s leading business schools.

Want More Advice?

Practice is critical, and professional feedback makes your practice pay off. Fortuna coaches have insider insights into what interviewers ask and what business schools are looking for, so we excel at interview prep. We have sat on the other side of the table, interviewing candidates on behalf of the top business schools, and know what it takes to stand out. Book your free 30-minute consultation now to learn more about how we can help ensure you shine on interview day. 

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Fortuna Admissions expert coach Sharon Joyce is former Berkeley Haas Associate Director of Admissions. For more free advice from Fortuna Admissions in partnership with Poets&Quants, check out these videos and articles. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation.