On this page, we have gathered useful information to prepare you for your Berkeley Haas MBA interview.
A crucial step in winning admission to top MBA programs is acing the interview. But not all MBA interviews look the same and taking the time to understand how each individual MBA program approaches their interview is an important aspect of a successful interview.
Quick Facts
Whom does Haas interview?
Haas will invite an applicant for an MBA interview at their discretion. Do not contact Berkeley Haas for an interview. Should an applicant receive an invitation, they can be assured that the admissions committee has taken an interest in their profile.
Who conducts the interview?
Interviews are done at the preference of the applicant with either a currently enrolled student or with one of the many alumni worldwide. Jump ahead to read more about the Berkeley Haas interviewer.
How long is the interview?
Expect the Berkeley Haas MBA interview to last thirty to forty minutes. Jump ahead to read more about the interview length.
The Ultimate MBA Admissions Checklist
Our free, comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to shop for an MBA admissions consultant.
Where is the interview held?
At present, all Berkeley Haas MBA interviews take place remotely or via pre-recorded video. However, with campuses opening up again, it’s possible that interviews won’t all take place online. We will be sure to update this page if Haas’ stance on remote interviews changes. Jump ahead to read more about the Berkeley Haas MBA interview location.
What is the format?
Haas uses a blind interview format. Jump ahead to read more on the format.
Video essays
There is no video essay in the Berkeley Haas MBA application.
Haas Deadlines & Decision Schedule
Berkeley Haas has three application rounds for its MBA admissions cycle each year. Deadlines can be found on Berkeley Haas’s Admissions Page.
Interview invitations for MBA applicants are extended 4 weeks after the application deadline, and continue on a rolling basis until the deadline for your application round. You will be notified by email if you are invited to interview. Remember, an interview will only be offered by Berkeley Haas if they feel that you are a strong candidate after your application has been reviewed.
Detailed Overview
Drawing from Menlo Coaching’s extensive client database of first-hand reports from Berkeley interviews, this section offers the most up-to-date information on the Berkeley Haas MBA interviews. We also include useful samples of Berkeley Haas MBA interview questions at the end of this page, to help prepare you for a successful interview.
Interviewer profile
Interviewers are either currently enrolled students or alumni. Our clients report an even split between first and second year students from the two-year program. An alumnus could range from a recent graduate to a graduate from ten years ago. Alumni generally are more focused and to the point than current students, but both tend to take a friendly approach to the interview.
Interview style
For the most part, interviews with both students and alumni are described as relaxed, informal, and even enjoyable. If you get the chance to interview, you can expect typical questions about work experience. There is also a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Virtually all interviews had a question regarding experience with diversity and/or inclusion either in a workplace setting or outside of it.
Contrary to what is often the case at a top tier business school, Berkeley Haas applicants report an informal tone in the Berkeley interview. In their interview experience, less emphasis is on career goals when determining if the applicant will be a good fit, compared with other MBA admissions interviews.
One client was surprised at this lacking emphasis on professional goals in the interview, reporting that the interviewer was concerned more with personal growth and values. Another client commented that there were not any “gotcha” style questions. Interviews appear oriented towards the personality and collaborative capabilities of applicants, asking questions geared towards understanding whether the applicant is the right cultural fit.
Length
The average duration of the interview is around 30 to 40 minutes, although the interview may go over an hour depending on how you and your interviewer engage with each other. This flexibility reflects the casual tone of the interview process.
Some clients report that the interviewers read off a list of prepared questions, and their adherence to this list can lengthen the interview. After the prepared questions, there is time given for you to ask some questions. Interviewers are more than willing to answer these questions in detail, which may cause the interview to go over the allotted time slot.
Location
According to Berkeley Haas admissions, all interview will take place via prerecorded video or be conducted remotely for the upcoming application cycle.
For the time being it would be prudent to prepare for a video interview. As with any virtual business engagement, applicants should make sure that they have a high-speed wired Internet connection, good lighting, and that they point their computer camera at eye level.
The interview will likely begin with the interviewer introducing themselves, perhaps some small talk, and then a list of questions that has most likely been provided by the admissions committee. After introductions, expect around 6 or 7 questions, during which the interviewer may take notes.
After these inquiries it is time for you to ask your own questions of the interviewer. One of our clients also used this remaining time to add some information about their experiences that wasn’t covered by the questions. Virtually all of our clients describe their interviews with Berkeley Haas as informal and friendly, so you should be ready to talk about yourself and engage in conversation.
Berkeley Haas Interview Sample Questions
This section lists a number of possible Berkeley Haas MBA interview questions. Working with sample questions such as these when applying to the Berkeley Haas MBA program is an important step towards a successful interview. Like the details in the section above, these interview questions are sourced from Menlo Coaching’s client database of first-hand interview reports.
Do expect to be asked about your leadership style, work experience, your current role, how you have promoted diversity, and what your long term goals and short term goals are. These subjects can vary and we advise you to spend some time reading through examples of interview questions to get a feel for the Haas interview style.
You can use the questions below to conduct mock interviews that mimic an actual conversation. For best results, however, consider seeking expert help via Menlo Coaching’s interview prep service.
Samples of Berkeley Haas MBA interview questions
- Walk Me Through Your Resume/Tell Me About Yourself.
- Why Go Back to School? Why MBA?
- Tell Me About a Challenge That You’ve Faced and What Lesson(s) You Learned from It.
- What Clubs and Activities Would You Get Involved With?
- How Do You Show Humility in Your Work?
- Tell Me About a Time You Used Data to Persuade Others or Inform a Path Forward.
- What Would You Bring to The Haas Community?
- How Do You Manage Conflict or Difficult People at Work?
- Provide an Example of Fostering DEI at Work or in the Community.
- How Would Your Coworkers Describe You?
- Questions for the Interviewer
If you’re looking for guidance on how to answer questions like these with confidence, you can find detailed breakdowns for MBA interview questions here.
We hope you have found the tools to support the interview section of your MBA application journey. We wish you good luck on your Berkeley Haas interview!
