The Haas EMBA essay questions reflect the importance of fit with the program. This fit includes being a mature, self-aware person who is open and will engage productively and meaningfully with the Haas EMBA cohort. Keep on the radar screen as you conceive and draft your essays Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles: “Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself.” Don’t view these principles as elements you “check off” as you write but, rather, holistically: together they create a culture and values that you can reflect back in your own unique way.
UC Berkeley Haas EMBA application essays
Haas EMBA career goals question
Embedded in the application, Haas asks a question about your career goals in the next 3-5 years. (150 words)
Be specific – what position, what company/industry, where, what you will be accountable for. Also, add a sentence or so about what impact you’d like to achieve during this time. Don’t make it just about what you hope to learn and how you hope to grow – talk about the footprint you want to leave at this phase of your career.
Berkeley EMBA essay #1
Describe a facet of your identity, background, or story that is essential to who you are. (350 words max)
This adcom wants to get to know you in a deep way – this question minces no words; it gets right to the essence of what makes you tick. Be strategic but not overly so in selecting a topic – okay, that really does sound like a contradiction! What I mean is: DO think about what essential formative experience or factor will shed new, relevant light on your candidacy and/or will reflect a valuable dimension of experience for Haas. But DON’T make this strategic lens the only consideration; DO “listen to your gut” – if a topic rises to the surface immediately on reading this question and seems to be the “natural” answer for you, it probably means you should go with it – that naturalness and power will inform your essay for the better. And you can still be strategic in how you present the story. I suggest a simple structure: describe the “facet” as part of a story, and then at the end, add a short reflection on its continued meaning and relevance in your life.
Berkeley EMBA essay #2
At Berkeley Haas, we believe that bringing together students with diverse backgrounds, mindsets, and life experiences fosters new and creative thinking. Welcoming these different ways of thinking is the heart of inclusion. Tell us about how you will contribute to our diverse and inclusive community. (250 words)
Here too, use example and anecdote to convey your message. There is no one formula regarding what is “best” to present; you could well discuss professional, social, and/or other types of perspectives. The key is to root your chosen points in your experience through anecdote. Be sure to clarify how the described way(s) of thinking will contribute to the Haas community and that you are not bound by them but rather are enriched by them.
Berkeley EMBA optional essay #2
Is there any other information that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee in considering your application? If the application already represents you well, do not feel obligated to answer this question.
Take that last sentence seriously – address any issues that require explanation, such as lack of supervisor recommendation, gap in resume, etc. Only add additional information if it is truly essential to the adcom’s understanding of your candidacy. And if you do add something, make it short.
For expert guidance with your UC Berkeley Haas EMBA application, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Packages, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to top EMBA program and look forward to helping you too!
Berkeley EMBA application deadlines for 2019-20
| Submission Deadline | |
| Round 1 | December 3, 2019 |
| Round 2 | February 5, 2020 |
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too. Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• Why MBA, a free guide to writing about your MBA goals
• School-Specific EMBA Application Essay Tips
• How Do You Deal with Criticism? MBA Admissions Committees Want to Know
