Berkeley Haas MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples (2025-2026)

Applying to the UC Berkeley Haas MBA program involves showcasing your unique experiences, aspirations, and alignment with Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles. The essays play a critical role in helping the admissions committees understand who you are beyond your academic record and professional resume. Here’s a robust guide to the Berkeley Haas MBA essays, complete with actionable tips, strategies, and examples.

As an MBA admissions consultant and proud Haas alum, I know what it takes to write essays that resonate with the Berkeley admissions committee. I’ve coached 100+ clients into top MBA programs like Haas, Wharton, Sloan, and Stanford, helping them craft authentic, values-driven applications that stand out.

With firsthand experience at Haas, I understand how critical these essays are – not just in showcasing your accomplishments, but in demonstrating how you embody Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles. In this guide, I’ll share practical tips and strategies to help you approach the Haas MBA essays with confidence and clarity.

Why the Essays Matter in the Berkeley MBA Application

The Haas School of Business admissions team uses essays to evaluate your fit with the program and assess how your unique experiences and perspectives will enrich the community. Strong essays provide insight into your motivations, aspirations, and alignment with Haas’s culture, making them a critical component of your application.

Read: How to Write a Powerful MBA Essay—With Examples & UC Berkeley Haas — MBA Program & Application Overview

Over my nearly 10 years of coaching applicants to Haas and other top MBA programs, I have seen that Haas often seems to have more flexibility with who they admit. While some other programs may be unwilling to overlook a low test score or GPA, Haas may place more weight on other aspects of an applicant’s profile. I have had multiple “diamonds in the rough” clients admitted to Haas, and in some cases it has been the only school they were admitted to despite Haas’ extremely competitive admit rate. While anecdotal, this underscores that Haas is laser focused on “fit” as well as who the applicant is beyond their stats and scores – aspects that are most effectively conveyed in essays.

I’ll now break down how to highlight the most important qualities that all top MBA admissions committees (including Haas) are looking for in essays, and most importantly how to demonstrate you are a match for Haas’ unique culture and values.

1. Demonstrating Authenticity and Introspection

The admissions committee is looking for MBA applicants who are self-aware and grounded in their personal values. A well-crafted set of essays reveal:

• Self-Awareness: Are you introspective? Do you understand what drives you, what you’ve learned from past experiences, and where you’re headed?
• Unique Voice: Avoid writing what you think the admissions team wants to hear; instead, share what genuinely matters to you through thoughtful and authentic responses. Additionally, write in an engaging and conversational style with lots of “I” statements. Overly formal and impersonal writing won’t win you any points, and will surely bore your audience.
• Vulnerability: “Perfect on paper” applicants aren’t all that interesting because it’s difficult to relate to them and they may come off as hiding something (after all, no one is perfect). By discussing challenges and setbacks – and how you overcame them – you can show that you are a real person and help the admissions committee get to know you on a deeper level. I once had a client start an essay with “I am a failure.” That kind of vulnerability gets the readers’ attention and makes them want to read more!

Expert Tip: Spend several weeks exploring who you are, what your formative experiences have been, and what makes you tick. Enlist the input of trusted friends and family members. When drafting essays, use specific, vivid anecdotes that highlight your values and character. Avoid generalizations and instead focus on moments that shaped who you are today and how these have influenced your broader professional aspirations.

2. Showcasing Leadership Ability

Leadership is a cornerstone of the MBA experience. Through your essays, the admissions team evaluates:

• Your approach to leadership – Do you inspire, influence, or mentor others? Have you taken the initiative to drive change or improve outcomes?
• Impact – How have your leadership actions benefited teams, organizations, or community organizations? Admissions officers want to see tangible results.
• Leadership goals – What leadership skills do you seek to develop in business school and how will you do it? How will you leverage your leadership strengths to contribute to the MBA classroom and community?

Expert Tip: Highlight leadership experiences from various aspects of your life—professional roles, community involvement, or personal endeavors. Describe measurable outcomes when possible.

3. Emphasizing Fit with the Berkeley MBA Program

As alluded to earlier, the Defining Leadership Principles are absolutely essential to Haas. These are much more than marketing taglines – they are the ethos of Haas students, faculty, and curriculum. Over the past several years, Haas had a video essay question on which Defining Leadership Principle resonates most with you. Despite that prompt not appearing in the 2025-2026 application, you should be strategic in implicitly demonstrating how you embody them throughout your essays. Here’s some food for thought on each:

• Question the status quo: Located a stone’s throw from Silicon Valley and part of a world class research university, innovation is part of Haas’ DNA. Have you designed a new process or program at work? Spoken up when you had an out-of-consensus option? Do you want to bring a new idea to life via entrepreneurship? Haas values those who think differently, whether on a big or small scale.
• Confidence without attitude: Haas aims to attract genuinely kind people who are also great leaders. How have you been an effective, yet humble leader? When have you created inclusive and respectful environments? How have you elevated the success of a group above your own personal desires?
• Student always: Intellectual curiosity is a must to succeed in today’s rapidly changing business environment. How have you taken initiative to obtain new knowledge and skills, and what actions will you take in the future? What captures your imagination and why? Haas actually walks the walk on facilitating lifelong learning, regularly offering courses that alumni can audit.
• Beyond yourself: Haas seeks to cultivate business leaders who think big and aspire to make a broad impact. How have you contributed to a greater goal at work or in your community? In discussing your career goals, touch on the impact you hope to have on your organization, industry, and society. You may also want to note how you’ll positively impact the Haas community.

Beyond embodying the Defining Leadership Principles, Haas wants to see that you’ve done your research and understand how its unique offers align with your goals. Your essays should illustrate:

• Strategic use of Haas resources – Mention specific courses, faculty, programs, or clubs that will help bridge the gap between your current skills and future aspirations. Haas is a leader in entrepreneurship, applied innovation, and sustainability, among other areas, and unique offers such as Cleantech to Market or the Haas Impact Fund can be key differentiators, depending on your career goals.
• Mutual value – Admissions officers want to know not just what Haas can do for you, but also what you’ll bring to the Haas community in terms of your unique experiences, perspectives, and contributions.

Expert Tip: Avoid generic statements like “Haas is a prestigious school.” Instead, mention resources like the newly opened eHub (Entrepreneurship Hub) or the Diversity Symposium and explain why they’re meaningful to your career and personal growth.

UC Berkeley Haas Essay Prompts (2025–2026)

• Required Essay 1 (Video Essay): What Makes You Feel Alive When You Are Doing It, and Why?
• Required Essay 2: What Are Your Short-Term and Long-Term Career Goals, and How Will an MBA from Haas Help You Achieve Those Goals?
• Supplemental Information: Distance Traveled - We invite you to share aspects of your background, personal circumstances, or significant experiences that have meaningfully impacted who you are today and how you've reached this point. Please tell us how these experiences have influenced your perspectives, decisions, and aspirations, and how they contribute to the person you are becoming. (300 words max)

Essay 1 (Video Essay): What Makes You Feel Alive When You Are Doing It, and Why?

Haas has had this essay prompt for several years now, however for this admissions cycle they have turned it into a video essay. I personally think this is a win-win for applicants and the admissions committee alike! Speaking about something you are passionate about is likely to be easier than writing a descriptive essay about it, and is also a natural way to showcase your enthusiasm and let the admissions committee see who you are beyond your painstakingly polished written materials.

Starting with the content component, this essay challenges you to share a deeply personal or professional aspect of yourself by identifying an activity or passion that energizes you. This isn’t about professional accomplishments or goals – it’s about what excites and fulfills you as a person. As with most MBA essays, the explanation of the “why” is more important than the “what,” and requires some serious self-reflection to nail.

I often have clients ask what the right kinds of topics for this essay are, thinking that the admissions committee is actually looking for something specific that they aren’t mentioning. However, the only “right” answer is something that is authentic and that has a strong “why” that reveals something new or deeper about you as a person. It’s important to:

• Showcase Genuine Enthusiasm: Choose an activity that genuinely excites you, not one you think will impress the admissions committee. Authenticity is crucial.
• Provide Rich Context: Share specific examples of how this activity is integrated into your life to convey relevant information about its significance to you. Avoid broad statements and focus on vivid, personal anecdotes.
• Reflect on Personal Growth and Values: Explain how this activity shapes your outlook, values, or decision-making. Reflect on its deeper significance to your personal or professional life.

Step-by-Step Guide to Content

Identify A Passion:

• Think beyond professional achievements and choose a passion that resonates with you.
• Examples: Playing jazz piano, mentoring underserved students, designing intricate woodworking projects, or solving complex puzzles.

Show, Don’t Tell:

• Use a vivid narrative to draw the reader into your experience, ensuring your story is filled with thoughtful and authentic responses.
• Example: “I can still feel the crisp morning air as I lace up my shoes for the annual charity run, each step driven by the stories of those we support.”

Explain the “Why”:

• Highlight the emotional, mental, or physical benefits this activity brings.
• Example: “Coaching high school debate has taught me patience, empathy, and the power of communication to uplift others.”

Example Structure #1

Example Structure #2

Per the Berkeley Haas application, video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes. You have two (2) attempts to record your video essay. You will also be able to test your audio-visual connection before recording.

Tips on Delivery

In a video essay such as this, delivery is just as important as content (and perhaps stresses applicants out even more). First thing’s first – relax. With only two attempts at recording allowed, there won’t be many video essays that are “perfect.” Once again, authenticity is the key. If you show you personality and enthusiasm, and come off as someone who would make an interesting and dynamic classmate, you’ve won half the battle.

Here are some quick do’s and don’t’s:

• Don’t read from a script: I know it can be tempting given the comfort a script provides, but nothing is more boring to watch. The admissions committee changed this prompt to a video essay this year because they want to hear you speak from the heart, not read a perfectly crafted essay to the camera.
• Do have a very short outline of your main points handy: This will provide you with reassurance and back-up in case you freeze or go blank (it happens to all of us sometimes!) I suggest writing them on sticky note and putting it on your screen, so as not to avert your eyes when speaking.
• Do speak directly to the camera on your computer: “Eye contact” in video essays (and video interviews) is extremely important to engage the viewer.
• Do practice: This seems obvious, but practice by recording yourself speaking off the cuff. This will help you get more comfortable with the content, format, and timing.

Essay 2: What Are Your Short-Term and Long-Term Career Goals, and How Will an MBA from Haas Help You Achieve Those Goals? (300 Words)

This prompt requires you to articulate a clear and logical career trajectory while demonstrating alignment with Haas’s resources and values. It’s important to define clear, ambitious, and achievable goals:

• Short-Term Goals: Specify your immediate post-MBA role, type of company (or examples of target companies), and industry. This goal should make sense in the context of your previous work experience and demonstrated personal interests – it should not be something out of left field, no matter how interesting a completely different path might be to you.
• Long-Term Goals: Show that your goals encompass broader professional aspirations with societal or global impact. Long-term goals often go beyond a major leadership role, and may also encompass things like being an industry thought leader, starting an industry or affinity-oriented initiative, or advising start-up companies.
• Paint a Vivid Picture: Part of what makes a great career goals essay is demonstrating that you have a strong grasp of what your post-MBA target role entails. Don’t just say you want to be a product manager at an AI company. Look at job descriptions and conduct informational interviews with people in that role to understand what the job might look like. Use your findings to elaborate on your high-level short-term career goal by describing what – in an ideal world – you would be doing in the role and what impact you would hope to have on the organization through that work.
• Demonstrate Logical Progression: Identify areas of development (ex. advanced financial modeling, marketing strategy, negotiations) that you’ll need to make the jump to your goals. Ideally highlight a mix of hard skills, soft skills, and hands-on experiences/industry exposure that you can gain from a Haas MBA. Ensure your short-term goals naturally lead to your long-term aspirations.
• Show Alignment with Haas: Reference specific Haas resources, courses, faculty, or extracurriculars that align with your areas of development and goals. Long-term goals do not need to be quite as specific given that they are so far out, but the more description you can add to round out your overall career vision, the better.

Step-by-Step Guide

To craft a compelling MBA goals essay, start by articulating clear short- and long-term goals. Be specific about the roles and industries you are targeting. For example, a strong short-term goal might be: “Post-MBA, I aim to join a leading consulting firm specializing in climate strategy.” A well-defined long-term aspiration could be: “My ultimate goal is to establish a nonprofit that partners with corporations to scale sustainable solutions.” These goals should demonstrate ambition while remaining grounded in your background and interests.

Next, highlight school-specific resources that will help you achieve those goals. At Haas, for instance, you might say: “I’m eager to test real-world applications of sustainable technology through Haas’s Cleantech to Market program.” Referencing programs, clubs, or centers that directly support your goals shows that you’ve done your homework and have a clear plan for leveraging the MBA experience.

Finally, address any skill gaps you need to fill. A thoughtful approach might include: “While I have strong analytical skills, I lack the advanced financial modeling expertise, which I will develop through electives such as Corporate Financial Reporting.” You can also add, “I also seek to gain a strategic understanding of the non-profit world through offerings from the Center for Social Sector Leadership, such as Business Models for Social Impact and the Net Impact Club.” By acknowledging your growth areas and tying them to specific academic offerings, you present yourself as a self-aware and goal-oriented candidate.

Example Goals Breakdown

Supplemental Information: Distance Traveled (300 words max)

Haas has always taken a keen interest in the unique background and experiences that have shaped each applicant. Here, they invite you to “share aspects of your background, personal circumstances, or significant experiences that have meaningfully impacted who you are today and how you've reached this point” and “tell [the admissions committee] how these experiences have influenced your perspectives, decisions, and aspirations, and how they contribute to the person you are becoming.”

First off, everyone should answer this question! Not doing so would be a missed opportunity to show the forces that have shaped you and the unique perspective you would bring to the Haas community. Some topics to consider writing about include: family, culture, religion, hometown / local community, role models, hardships (health, socioeconomic, or otherwise), and gender or sexual orientation.

Previous iterations of this section have specifically asked if you were raised by a single parent, someone other than a parent, or in a multigenerational household, and whether you are responsible for providing significant and continual financial or supervisory support for anyone else. If either of these scenarios applies to you, you will definitely want to discuss.

Once you’ve decided on which to aspect/s to write about, be sure to address all parts of the prompt, including how these experiences have influenced you and contributed to the person you are becoming. As with any good MBA essay, the “why” is the most important part!

Optional Essay: Addressing Unusual Life Circumstances (300 words max)

The optional essay is your opportunity to proactively address any unusual circumstances in your application that might raise questions for the admissions committee. Be transparent and direct – acknowledge the issue in your personal or professional life and provide concise, relevant context. Common topics include employment gaps, low grades, underwhelming test scores, or legal matters such as a DUI. The goal is not to make excuses, but to offer clarity and insight into your journey.

Beyond simply explaining the situation, it’s important to highlight the steps you’ve taken in response. If you’re discussing academic concerns, such as a low GPA or GMAT score, be sure to point out how you’ve demonstrated quantitative ability through your professional experience, coursework, or certifications. This shows the committee that you’re capable of handling the rigor of the Berkeley MBA program.

Finally, keep the tone constructive and forward-looking. Emphasize what you learned from your unusual life circumstance and how it helped you grow personally or professionally. A well-written optional essay reflects maturity, self-awareness, and resilience – qualities that are just as important to business schools as your academic or professional record.

Example Optional Essay Outline

UC Berkeley Haas MBA Deadlines: 2025–2026 Application Cycle

Staying on top of application deadlines is essential for ensuring a smooth MBA admissions process. Below are the key dates for the 2025–2026 Berkeley Haas application season, along with tips for each round to help you strategize effectively.

Berkeley Haas Round 1 Deadline

• Application Deadline: September 11, 2025
• Interview Notification: Ongoing
• Decisions Released: December 11, 2025

Key Considerations for Round 1:

• Potential Competitive Advantage: Round 1 is ideal for fully prepared candidates, as it provides access to the largest pool of seats and scholarship opportunities. The key words here are “fully prepared” - if you haven’t had time to put together your strongest application, it is best to wait until Round 2.
• Earlier Results: Applying in Round 1 typically gives you the chance to know your result by mid-December (unless deferred to Round 2 or waitlisted), which gives you time to apply to other programs in Round 2 if need be.

Berkeley Haas Round 2 Deadlines

• Application Deadline: January 8, 2026
• Interview Notification: Ongoing
• Decisions Released: March 26, 2026

Key Considerations for Round 2:

• Most Popular Round: This round typically sees the highest number of applications. It’s a great choice if you need more time to refine your materials or improve your GMAT/GRE scores.
• Balanced Competition: While there’s a larger applicant pool and the admissions committee will have already seen several applicants in your “bucket” (demographic, field of work) from Round 1, there are still significant opportunities for acceptance and scholarships. Admissions committees will nearly always tell you that there is advantage to applying in either Round 1 or Round 2.

Berkeley Haas Round 3 Deadlines

• Application Deadline: March 31, 2026
• Interview Notification: Ongoing
• Decisions Released: May 7, 2026

Key Considerations for Round 3:

• Limited Availability: Much fewer seats and scholarships are available, making this round not ideal for most applicants.
• Ideal for Specific Scenarios: Apply in Round 3 if you have a compelling reason, such as significant career progress or a personal milestone that strengthens your application. On the flip side, explain any unusual circumstances or challenges that pushed your application to Round 3.

Expert Tips for All Rounds

1. Plan early – Start preparing your application materials 4–6 months before the deadline to avoid last-minute stress.
2. Leverage resources – Engage with Haas alumni, attend info sessions, and connect with current students to gain insights into the program. The Haas application specifically asks for how you’ve learned about the school and who you’ve talked to.
3. Tailor each component – Ensure every part of your application—from essays to interviews—reflects your alignment with Haas’s values and culture.
4. Meet deadlines – Submitting your application early within a round can demonstrate proactiveness and ensure smoother processing.

Key Takeaways

• Use the essays to show who you are by sharing personal stories and examples of leadership that align with Haas’s Defining Leadership Principles.
• Clearly explain your career goals, both short-term and long-term, and connect them to specific resources at Haas.
• Highlight the personal experiences that have shaped your perspective and actions.
• Bring your whole self to the application process - Haas really wants to understand your unique journey.
• Plan your application timeline carefully and aim for earlier deadlines while making sure your application is strong and tailored to Haas.

Emily L. is a top MBA admissions consultant and proud Berkeley Haas alum with years of experience helping applicants gain admission to leading programs like Haas, Wharton, Sloan, Kellogg, Columbia, and more.

As a former student of Haas and a Leland Top 50 Coach, Emily offers deeply personalized and strategic guidance across the entire MBA application journey. Her coaching style focuses on authentic storytelling, aligning applicants’ experiences with program values, and overcoming challenges like low GPAs or nontraditional paths.

Emily specializes in helping candidates bring the Haas Defining Leadership Principles to life in their essays. Book a free intro call with Emily and take the next step toward writing compelling, values-driven responses for your Berkeley Haas MBA application.

FAQs

Is Berkeley Haas a good MBA?

• Yes, Berkeley Haas is considered one of the top MBA programs globally. It is known for its focus on leadership, innovation, and sustainability, as well as its Defining Leadership Principles. The program offers access to world-class faculty, a collaborative community, and strong ties to industries like technology and finance, particularly in the Bay Area.

Does Berkeley Haas offer the MBA in other formats?

• Haas also has a top-ranked Evening & Weekend MBA (EWMBA) program for working professionals, which offers a very similar curriculum to the full-time program. The majority of EWMBA students are local and attend class on campus several times a week, however there is also a “Flex cohort” that mostly attends classes remotely. Haas also offers an Executive MBA (EMBA), where students study on campus for roughly one long weekend per month. The full-time, EWMBA, and EMBA programs confer the same Berkeley Haas MBA degree.

Is Berkeley Haas hard to get into?

• Yes, Berkeley Haas is a highly selective MBA program, and gaining admission is competitive. The admissions committee looks for MBA applicants with strong academic records, professional achievements, and a demonstrated alignment with the school's Defining Leadership Principles. Candidates must convey their fit with the Haas MBA culture through thoughtful and authentic responses, especially in the Berkeley Haas MBA essays, where your values and aspirations should shine clearly.

Do Haas MBA readers also look at your general UC application PIQs?

• Yes. While the Berkeley Haas MBA program operates independently from undergraduate admissions, the admissions committee does have access to your UC application and will review your Personal Insight Questions (PIQs). However, the primary emphasis is placed on your Berkeley Haas MBA essays, video essays, and any optional essays you submit. These materials are your core opportunity to convey relevant information about your professional life, values, leadership potential, and fit for the Haas School. It's important to avoid copying and pasting PIQ content—your MBA application should stand on its own with thoughtful and authentic responses that reflect your growth and broader professional aspirations.

What should I write about in my Berkeley Haas MBA essays?

• The Berkeley Haas MBA essays are designed to reveal your values, aspirations, and alignment with the school’s Defining Leadership Principles. You should draw from both your personal or professional life to illustrate key qualities such as innovation, inclusion, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Use the essays to demonstrate how your broader professional aspirations will be shaped by the MBA program and how you’ll contribute to the inclusive environment at Haas.

Should I submit the optional essay to Berkeley Haas?

• Yes, if you have unusual life circumstances, employment gaps, or academic aberrations, the optional essays provide space to convey relevant information that may not fit elsewhere. For instance, if your undergraduate or graduate studies were interrupted or your grades don’t reflect your true ability, you can highlight supplemental coursework, promotions, or achievements in professional organizations that demonstrate your capabilities. The admissions team appreciates context, particularly when candidates seek consideration for unique challenges or backgrounds.

What topics are appropriate for the Berkeley Haas optional essay?

• The optional essay is ideal for explaining gaps, academic aberrations, or hardships or unusual life circumstances. This may include a serious illness, employment dates that don’t follow a linear pattern, or familial responsibilities (e.g., caring for a child, spouse, sibling, parent, or extended family member such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew). It’s also a space where you can mention if English is not your primary language spoken or if your junior college or university studies were affected by systemic barriers.

Does Haas value community involvement?

• Absolutely. The Berkeley MBA program develops leaders who are deeply engaged in extracurricular and community involvement. You’re encouraged to share your impact in significant community or professional organizations, especially in efforts tied to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. Whether you've worked with community organizations or led initiatives promoting equity in your workplace, this aligns with the school’s mission to develop leaders who make a difference.

Can I reference family or personal identity in the Berkeley Haas MBA essays?

• Yes. If your identity—such as your national origins, family background, or lived experience as a member of an underrepresented group—has shaped your values or goals, it’s encouraged to share this. The Haas MBA values applicants who contribute to an inclusive environment, and your experience as a member, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew in a multigenerational or multicultural household can powerfully illustrate your leadership style and empathy.

How does Berkeley Haas use the video essay?

• The video essay is your chance to create an audio-visual connection with the admissions team. It helps them get a sense of your personality, communication style, and presence beyond the written application.

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