Jose Avalos

University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

“I’m goofy, pensive, and curious, and try to learn something new every day!”

Hometown: San Jose, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy concocting my own spicy Mexican chili powders.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Political Science

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: New Haven Public Schools, 5th-grade bilingual teacher

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: The most fulfilling aspect of being a teacher is watching your students grow academically and personally. During my second year as a teacher, one of my students struggled mightily in math, yet she always appeared outwardly positive in class. One day, her mother called me, revealing that her daughter was coming home crying every day because she was unable to complete her homework by herself. This was a shock to me since this student always seemed upbeat in class despite her academic troubles. After some strategic planning with the mother, we agreed that her daughter would join my after-school tutoring program. By the end of the school year, the student grew two grade levels in math and would habitually pester me for extra math homework!

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My Haas classmates have all been equally welcoming, humble, and brilliant. All have accomplished incredible things in their professional careers, yet they all carry themselves with an air of humility.

Berkeley Haas is founded on four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. Which pillar resonates most with you and why? The pillar that resonates with me the most is Students Always, since I believe in the importance of constant self-betterment. Whether it be reading a book, listening to a podcast, or writing in a journal, I don’t believe we should stop learning when we leave the classroom. To be cheesy, I’ll cite the great Marcus Cicero, who sums it up well: “A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The main factor in choosing Haas was the clarity of the school’s mission. Although many MBA programs are founded on a specific mission, I’d argue most do an incomplete job of communicating that mission to students and staff. I initially assumed that Berkeley Haas was the same, but when I arrived on campus and found the four Defining Leadership Principles etched on the building and listened as students and staff constantly referred to them, I knew Haas was different. The Principles definitely play an instrumental role in creating the culture at Haas.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’m looking forward to making life-long friends and learning about what motivates and drives my classmates.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? I don’t think there were any out-of-left-field type questions during the admissions process. However, I think it’s important for candidates to internalize how they will contribute to a school’s culture and make that clear to each school.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  Having worked as an educator and in other leadership roles in the education/nonprofit sector for the past four years, I’m pursuing an MBA to primarily gain a strong foundation in business principles and to pursue my budding interest in finance.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I also applied to UCLA Anderson and Yale SOM. However, I’d advise prospective students to apply to at least four or five programs!

How did you determine your fit at various schools? The main driving factors that informed my decision were culture and location. I wanted to attend a school with an ethos of curiosity and humility. All the schools I applied to fit the bill, but Berkeley Haas pulled at my heartstrings a little more. Having worked in New Haven for four years, I knew it was time to make my way back home to the Bay Area.

For students evaluating school culture, I think it’s important to chat with current students and alumni. I recommend reaching out to students on LinkedIn. Of course, nothing beats actually visiting campus and meeting with staff and maybe sitting in on a class. For finding a community to discuss schools and general MBA news, I’d recommend exploring Poets & Quants and Clear Admit.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? During my senior year of college, I was weighing the pros and cons of joining Teach For America in Connecticut or pursuing a public policy role in government. I ultimately decided that I’d have a larger, more meaningful impact by working directly with students. The decision was difficult because I was going to move across the country and leave my family behind, but the mission of the work dispelled most of my fears. Working with over 100 students and dozens of passionate educators definitely expedited my growth professionally and personally.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? In ten years, I see myself managing an EdTech company that partners with both private and public sector organizations to make learning fun, simple, and intuitive.