1. Fall 2006 Application Deadline & Decision Schedule

Round:	Online Application submitted by:	GMAT and TOEFL taken on or before deadline:	Decisions beginning:
One	November 4, 2005	November 4, 2005	January 30, 2006
Two	December 12, 2005	December 12, 2005	March 20, 2006
Three	January 20, 2006	January 20, 2006	April 24, 2006
Four	March 10, 2006	March 10, 2006	May 22, 2006

2. Fall 2006 Essay Questions

Listed below are the supplemental questions, short answer questions, required essays, and optional essays that you will need to provide when completing the Fall 2006 application.

Supplemental Questions:

1. If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, please explain; otherwise, enter N/A.
2. List in order of importance all community & professional organizations and extracurricular activities in which you have been involved during or after university studies. Indicate the nature of the activity or organization, dates of involvement, offices held, & average number of hours spent per month.
3. Please explain all gaps in your employment since earning your university degree.
4. List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies, indicating the employer, job title, employment dates, location, and the number of hours worked per week for each position held prior to the completion of your degree.
5. If you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended or required to withdraw from any college or university, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (An affirmative response to this question does not automatically disqualify you from admission.)

Short Answer:

1. What is your favorite quote, and why is it meaningful to you? (250 word maximum)
2. Tell us about your most significant accomplishment. (250 word maximum)
3. At Haas, we value individual differences. Beyond nationality or citizenship, what makes you unique compared to other MBA applicants? (250 word maximum)
4. If you have visited Haas, please let us know what about your visit made the most lasting impression on you. If you have not visited Haas, what steps have you taken to familiarize yourself with our MBA program? (250 word maximum)

Required Essays:

1. Give us an example of a time when you displayed leadership. (500 word maximum)
2. What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How do your professional experiences relate to these goals? Why do you want an MBA from Berkeley at this point in your career? (1000 word maximum)

Optional Essays:

1. (Optional) Please feel free to provide a statement concerning any information you would like to add to your application that you haven’t addressed elsewhere. (500 word maximum)
2. (Optional) If you wish to be considered for the Haas Achievement Award (for individuals who have achieved success in spite of significant economic, educational, health-related and/or other obstacles), please use this space to address the obstacles you have overcome. (750 word maximum)

3. Application Materials Checklist

4. Admission Criteria

Professional Experience

The quality of an MBA program is immeasurably enhanced by the real-world business experience that students bring to the classroom. For this reason, virtually all of our students have two or more years of full-time professional work experience following the completion of their undergraduate degree. Recruiters tell us they prefer candidates with at least three years of experience, and the average amount of professional experience of admitted candidates is approximately five years. In reviewing applications, we are particularly interested in the progression and milestones of your career, as well as your supervisor’s assessment of your value as an employee and potential as a leader.

Academic Aptitude

Your past academic performance provides us with an indication as to whether you will be able to handle the academic rigor of our program. With this in mind, we review all academic records closely. Candidates may apply to the program if they hold the equivalent of a four year US bachelor’s degree and have not obtained an MBA or comparable degree from another institution. In reviewing your transcripts, we take into account your choice of coursework, the rigor of your undergraduate major, the competitiveness of your academic institutions, and your grade point average (GPA). Although we do not have a minimum requirement, a GPA of B (3.0) or better is generally the standard for serious consideration. For the fall 2004 entering class, the median undergraduate GPA was 3.51. In addition, in order to help us evaluate your mathematics proficiency, we specifically look for and strongly recommend a university-level statistics or calculus course with a grade of B or better.

GMAT Exam

All candidates are required to take the GMAT exam prior to the deadline for which they are applying. While there is no minimum acceptable score, the median GMAT for the fall 2004 entering class was 700, and 80% of the class scored between 650-750. We are especially interested in your performance on the quantitative section as an indication of your mathematics proficiency. For fall 2006 admission, we accept official scores from exams taken as early as October 2000.

TOEFL Exam

Applicants who received their degrees in countries other than the US, UK, Australia, or English-speaking Canada are required to take the TOEFL exam. This includes applicants with degrees from Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and most European countries. Only applicants who have completed a full year of US university-level coursework with a grade of B or better are exempt from this requirement.

The TOEFL exam must be taken prior to the deadline for which you are applying. Your most recent score must be at least 230 for the computer-based exam, 570 for the paper-based exam, and 89 for the internet-based TOEFL. The average TOEFL score of admitted applicants for fall 2003 entry was 277. For fall 2006 admission, we only accept official scores from exams taken during or after June 2004. To have your exam results sent to Berkeley’s Full-time MBA Program, list institution code 4833 and department code 02.

Letters of Recommendation

We require two letters of recommendation and prefer that at least one come from a current employer. Select individuals with whom you have had considerable professional interaction, such as your supervisor or a major client. The title or status of those you select is not important. What does matter is how closely your letter writers have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities and interpersonal skills in an organizational context. For this reason, we strongly discourage academic references. Letters of recommendation from co-workers, someone you have supervised, relatives, or personal and family friends are inappropriate and can be detrimental to the review of your application. Please do not submit more than two letters, and if you choose not to obtain a letter from your current supervisor, be certain to explain why.

Interviews

The Admissions Committee conducts interviews of applicants by invitation only, and we ask that you please refrain from contacting us to request an interview. Receiving an invitation to interview should be taken as a sign of interest on the part of the Admissions Committee, and few applicants will be admitted without an interview. Interviews are offered both on-campus and in cities around the world.

5. Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. How many people apply to the Full-time MBA Program each year? The program receives approximately 3,000 applications in a typical year.

2. What are the application deadlines? There are four application deadlines for Fall 2006:

Round 1: For applications that are complete and submitted by November 4, 2005, decisions will be sent beginning January 30, 2006.

Round 2: For applications that are complete and submitted by December 12, 2005, decisions will be sent beginning March 20, 2006.

Round 3: For applications that are complete and submitted by January 20, 2006, decisions will be sent beginning April 24, 2006.

Round 4: For applications that are complete and submitted by March 10, 2006, decisions will be sent beginning May 22, 2006.

Note: the GMAT and TOEFL must be taken on or before the designated deadline. Your complete online application must be submitted prior to midnight Pacific Standard Time the evening of the deadline. In addition, all supplemental materials must be postmarked on or before the deadline date.

3. Where do I send my supplemental application materials? MBA Admissions Haas School of Business University of California, Berkeley 430 Student Services Bldg #1902 Berkeley, CA 94720-1902

4. What are the average GMAT scores and GPAs of admitted applicants? Over the past 5 years admitted applicants had an average GMAT score of 700, while the range for the middle 80% was typically 650 to 750. On average admitted applicants had an undergraduate GPA of 3.5. Please keep in mind that these are only averages, and are not required to apply or to be admitted. For a profile of the current class, please visit http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/MBA/community_02.html.

5. If I have taken the GMAT multiple times, which score does the admissions committee consider? Does the Admissions Committee average the scores? No. The admissions committee considers the highest score.

6. What are the institution codes for the GMAT and TOEFL? The code to have GMAT and TOEFL scores sent to the full-time program is 4833. Be sure to list department code 02 in addition to institution code 4833 when ordering TOEFL scores.

7. When are my GMAT and TOEFL scores no longer valid? For fall 2006 admission, we accept official scores from GMAT tests taken as early as Octobe 2000. For fall 2006 admission, TOEFL tests taken before June 2004 will not be accepted even if your score was previously reported to Berkeley. There are no exceptions to these dates.

8. Can I substitute the GRE for the GMAT? No. The GMAT is required of all applicants. While we routinely receive applications from prospective students who have advanced degrees that required sitting for other high-level standardized tests, such as PhDs, JDs or MDs, the requirement to take the GMAT is never waived.

9. If I have received multiple bachelor's or master's degrees, which GPA do you consider? The admission committee reviews your entire academic record; however, the committee focuses more heavily on your first bachelor's degree.

10. Should I apply for Round 1? Applicants are encouraged to apply in the earliest round possible. However, we also encourage you to apply only when you are able to submit the strongest application possible. Although there is no particular preference given to applications submitted in Round 1, applications are reviewed in the order received, and it is possible that many of the offers of admission will be made from Rounds 1 and 2.

11. What about recommendations? Whom should I ask to write them? We prefer that both letters come from a current or former employer. Select individuals with whom you have had considerable professional interaction such as your supervisor or a major client. The title or status of those you select is not important. What does matter is how closely your letter writers have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities and interpersonal skills in an organizational context. For this reason, we discourage academic references. Letters of recommendation from co-workers, someone you have supervised, or personal and family friends are inappropriate and can be detrimental to the review of your application.

12. What if I just completed my undergraduate program and do not have full-time work experience? Although not a formal requirement, virtually all of our students have two or more years of professional work experience since the completion of their bachelor's degrees. Over the past 5 years our admitted applicants had on average 5 years of post-university work experience.

13. If I have already completed MBA classes at another university may I waive some of the classes or transfer credit? We do not transfer MBA credit from other universities, so any work that you had completed at other institutions would not count toward a degree at UC Berkeley. You could potentially test out of core courses, but that is at the discretion of the faculty and would not expedite your graduation, as all of our students must complete the same number of units.

14. What is the required TOEFL score for international applicants? The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is administered in three formats, paper and pencil, computer-based, and internet-based. If you take the paper and pencil version, your score must be at least 570 out of 677. If you take the computer-based test, you must earn a score of at least 230 out of 300. And if you take the internet-based version, you must earn a score of at least 89. For detailed information about the TOEFL please visit the TOEFL web site at http://www.toefl.org/.

15. Am I eligible to apply to the MBA program if I received a bachelor's degree from India? Minimum academic requirements for international applicants are a 4-year bachelor's degree or a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree). Recognized basic or first degrees from India include B. Engineering (in Engineering only), B.Sc in Engineering, B. Tech, B. Architecture, B. Veterinary Medicine, B. Agriculture, B. Pharmacy or a masters degree in a non-engineering field. Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Cost Works Accountants, Associate of Business Management, and Associate of Institute of Engineers are NOT acceptable as substitutes for a four-year degree. You are ineligible to be admittted with only a 3-year bachelor's degree; therefore, you would need to complete a master's degree (2 years after your bachelor's degree) in order to apply.

A Postgraduate Diploma (PGDM) awarded by the Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, and Lucknow (2 years beyond bachelor's) is recognized as a basic or first degree.

16. Are there prerequisite requirements for the Haas MBA? There are no specific prerequisite requirements for the full-time Haas MBA program. However, the admissions committee does look for certain qualities in applications received, which are described in the admissions information section web pages. The Evening & Weekend MBA does have prerequisite requirements, which are described in detail in the Evening & Weekend MBA web pages.

17. Am I eligible to apply if I already have an MBA degree from another university? University policy prohibits the awarding of duplicate degrees. We are unable to consider your application if you have an MBA or comparable degree from an institution of higher learning.

18. Is it necessary to have an interview? When should I expect to receive an invitation to interview? Interviews are conducted solely at the invitation of the admissions committee, and only after the initial review of your application. Therefore, we ask that you please refrain from contacting us to request an interview. Receiving an invitation should be taken as a sign of interest on the part of the admissions committee and few applicants will be admitted without an interview. Interviews are offered both with current students on campus and with alumni in cities around the world. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified via email anywhere from 4 weeks after submitting your application up to the notification deadline. We will not begin to interview round 1 applicants until January.

19. How can I reactivate my application if I have applied previously? If you have submitted an application to the program within the past two years, you are required to complete and submit the following portions of the application: Personal Data I and II; Test Scores; Employment section, including a current resume; Education section; and $175 application fee. In addition, you must send a current transcript for any new coursework. Be sure that your test scores meet current test date requirements. Applicants to the concurrent degree programs should contact the admissions office to determine their requirements for reactivation. Assuming that an application was complete at the time of submission, you will need to answer the short answer question 1 and essay question 1, which are new to the fall 2006 application. In addition, if you would like to be considered for a Haas Achievement Award, please answer essay question 4. Updating any other application materials is optional, although the admissions committee does note the effort that candidates put into their reapplication. We strongly recommend that you submit a statement outlining how you have improved your candidacy since your last application, as the admissions committee will be looking for substantive change in your qualifications. You can use the optional essay to provide this information. In addition, you are encouraged to submit one or two new letters of recommendation.

20. I'm having trouble accessing the Online Application. What is the problem? You must have a Login Account to access the Online Application and you must have your internet browser set to accept cookies. To get a Login and Password you have two options:

1. Complete a "Request Program Guide" form. After creating your login account, return to the Online Application opening page and click on "Apply Online". You will be sent to a site that asks for your Login and Password. Click the "register here" link and you will be sent to a site that asks you to re-enter and confirm your name and date of birth. After you enter this information you will be given a username and a password. We will also send you an email with this information. You can change your password to something more easily remembered by clicking the Password link on the Admissions menu.
2. If you do not want to receive a copy of our paper Program Guide, click on Login/out on the Admissions menu. You will be sent to a site that asks you to enter and confirm your name and date of birth. Click the "register here" link. You will be asked to enter some basic information. After entering this information, you will be sent back to the site where you can re-enter and confirm your name and birth date. After you enter this information you will be given a username and password. We will also email you this information. You can change your password to something more easily remembered by clicking the "Password" link on the Admissions menu.

6. Estimated Costs for 2005-2006

The following financial aid estimated costs are for the nine-month academic year 2005-2006. However, University fees are subject to change and you should expect them to rise during the second year of the MBA program. This information is current as of March 9, 2005.

CALIFORNIA RESIDENT BUDGET
UC Registration Fees	$24,561
Graduate Student Health Insurance	$1,100
TOTAL FEES	$25,661
Rent & Utilities	$8,996
Food	$4,614
Transportation	$1,338
Personal	$2,898
TOTAL LIVING COSTS	$17,846
Books & Supplies	$2,500
TOTAL RESIDENT BUDGET	$46,007

NON-RESIDENT BUDGET
UC Registration Fees	$24,561
Graduate Student Health Insurance	$1,100
Non-Resident Tuition	$12,245
TOTAL FEES	$37,906
Rent & Utilities	$8,996
Food	$4,614
Transportation	$1,338
Personal	$2,898
TOTAL LIVING COSTS	$17,846
Books & Supplies	$2,500
TOTAL NON-RESIDENT BUDGET	$58,252

In 2004, US News and World Report ranked the following Haas School areas of study in the top ten nationally:

• Finance
• Management
• Marketing
• Entrepreneurship
• Nonprofit

Top-ranked graduate and undergraduate programs, and internationally recognized research faculty, run through the Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics.

The Clausen Center for International Business and Policy, through its International Business Development program and other endeavors, keeps Haas active around the world.

Health care programs and research are making the most of California’s cutting-edge managed care, IT and biotech industries.

Through the Center for Responsible Business and core ethics classes, the Haas School is a leader in business ethics, corporate responsibility, social entrepreneurship, environmental management.

The Nonprofit and Public Management Program recognizes that Haas students will be leaders--not only in business but also in our communities, in our governments, and in our world.