Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 9:56:30 AM)
First I want to welcome you all to Accepted.com's Haas waitlist chat.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 9:56:37 AM)
I also want to give a special welcome to Jett Pihakis and Pete Johnson, Haas's Directors of Admissions.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 9:56:44 AM)
Thanks to everyone for joining.
c3 (Feb 15, 2006 9:57:32 AM)
Do you typically wait until the summer months to use the waitlist, or is it realistic to assume some of us will be admitted in the next month or two? Do you wait to see the entire applicant pool before you use the waitlist?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 9:58:00 AM)
We will not wait until the summer to review the waitlist. In fact, we review the waitlist periodically throughout the cycle. We will next review the waitlist in late March, so you could receive a final decision at that time or at some later date as well.
vailrider (Feb 15, 2006 9:58:39 AM)
Pete: Is the waitlist more of a "pull" or a "push" process i.e. are we taken off the waitlist for effort or because someone else dropped off of the accepted list and we are "pulled" into their spot?
HWL (Feb 15, 2006 9:58:50 AM)
Jett: How many people get off the Round 1 waitlist in a typical year?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 9:59:07 AM)
Vailrider, it is more of a pull process. In the earlier part of the cycle, we are reviewing the waitlisted candidates with each round and at the end of the process, after Round 4 decisions, then we pull individuals if a place becomes available.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 9:59:20 AM)
HWL, in past years, we have taken approximately 50% of waitlisted candidates.
nyamawaki (Feb 15, 2006 9:59:39 AM)
Pete: How important is age in your decision? Can experience outweigh lack of age?
waitlist-me-softly (Feb 15, 2006 10:00:25 AM)
Jett: How does Haas evaluate the waitlisted applicants?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:00:44 AM)
WMS, we evaluated waitlisted applicants the same way we evaluated the entire applicant pool. It is a very holistic process where we review the entire application. We will look for any new materials that have been submitted, of course, and we always look to see if the waitlisted applicant has interviewed. Interviews are very important.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:00:53 AM)
Pete: I intend to submit an additional statement outlining some accomplishments and updates to my file since I submitted my application. One of these updates is my intention to enroll in a math class to enhance my quantitative skills. (I do not come from a strong quantitative background.) Due to potential scheduling conflicts, I may have to drop the class at a later date. Will it be problematic if I state that I am enrolling in this class, and then am forced to drop it? I have no intention of being dishonest with the admissions committee, but also wish them to be aware that I am making every effort possible to enhance my candidacy.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:00:53 AM)
Nyamawaki, age is not a factor in our decisions at all. We certainly consider experience, but it's the quality of the experience that is most important, not the quantity.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:01:44 AM)
Kts, as long as you clearly communicate your situation to us, changing what you are doing is not in and of itself a problem. Please understand that enrolling in a course is a good sign, but most interesting to us would be results of that course, even if it is mid-term grades or something of that nature.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:01:50 AM)
Jett, what if the waitlist applicant has not yet interviewed, should he or she do so?
morgan (Feb 15, 2006 10:02:04 AM)
Pete: What sort of additional information would Haas like to know to supplement our applications: more in-depth information on topics we've already written about in our application, or new information about what we've been through/learned since we've applied?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:02:14 AM)
Yes, Linda, the waitlisted applicant should definitely schedule an interview if they have not interviewed already.
Darcie Deranick (Feb 15, 2006 10:02:29 AM)
Jett: Can you describe the process of selecting waitlisted applicants in further detail?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:02:43 AM)
Darcie, it is very difficult to describe, to be honest. We truly evaluate the entire application holistically. So it's just a matter of the admissions committee reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of a candidate, looking to see how the applicant compares with applicants who apply in later rounds, etc. I wish I could be more specific, but honestly this is an art and not a science.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:03:03 AM)
Morgan, new information is definitely useful, but it isn't really necessary to provide more information about issues discussed in your application unless you feel that you didn't have the opportunity to fully explain those issues.
Vetes (Feb 15, 2006 10:03:32 AM)
Pete: I recently interviewed, now what happens to my application?
Toby (Feb 15, 2006 10:03:54 AM)
Jett: For what reason would you wait-list an applicant for a second consecutive year? What additional information are you typically looking for, if there is a typical situation on which you can comment?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:04:19 AM)
Toby, there isn't any one reason why we would waitlist a candidate for a second year. My guess is that the applicant, while very strong, is still not quite at the level of those applicants who have been offered admission to date.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:04:19 AM)
Vetes, after we receive the written interview assessment from the interviewer, it is placed in your file, and will be reviewed when we again revisit the waitlist, which as Jett mentioned, will be toward the end of March.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:04:27 AM)
Can you tell us how many people are on the waitlist?
HWL (Feb 15, 2006 10:04:35 AM)
Pete: Given that applications were up 40% for Round 1, did the waitlist number also go up?
Eli Yered (Feb 15, 2006 10:04:43 AM)
Jett: Why do you take the path of wait-listing some of the applicants before they got an interview?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:04:45 AM)
At this point in time, there are 90 applicants on the waitlist, Linda.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:05:18 AM)
Great question, Eli. Basically, those candidates who are waitlisted without being invited to interview have written applications that are not quite as strong as those applicants who are invited to interview. It's really that simple.
clarkkent (Feb 15, 2006 10:05:21 AM)
Jett: I heard a rumor that if an applicant is accepted into a UC program, all following applications are waitlisted. Is this true? For example, if I got accepted into UCLA, I may be waitlisted with Haas, correct?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:05:26 AM)
HWL, no--we don't have a set percentage of the pool that we select for the waitlist, so the size of the application pool isn't directly related to the size of the waitlist.
jstone (Feb 15, 2006 10:05:36 AM)
Hi Pete, I was just wondering what the difference is between a candidate who was waitlisted without an interview and a candidate who was waitlisted after getting an interview. Also, would someone who was waitlisted without an interview and then who interviews be considered differently? Thanks.
vailrider (Feb 15, 2006 10:06:52 AM)
Jett: If half of the waitlist got in last year, what percentage of the other half of the waitlist just didn't make any effort or indicated they were going elsewhere?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:07:02 AM)
Clarkkent, this is entirely untrue. In fact, we don't even know what other UC schools you get admitted to. This makes no difference to us in the process. None at all.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:08:04 AM)
Jstone, typically, we interview when we wish to gain more information about an applicant. If we interview someone prior to placing them on the waitlist, it means that we needed more information before making that decision. If we placed someone on the waitlist prior to an interview, it means that we felt that was the appropriate decision even before having the interview.
nyamawaki (Feb 15, 2006 10:08:11 AM)
Pete: When does the largest bulk of applicants usually get off the waitlist?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:08:20 AM)
Vailrider, the 50% statistic that I cited earlier refers to 50% of the population who expressed interest in remaining on the waitlist--so all of them are interested in Haas.
morgan (Feb 15, 2006 10:08:31 AM)
Jett: How important is the interview? I am in East Africa and there are no alumni available to interview with.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:09:22 AM)
Great question, Morgan. While we do have some interviewers in Africa, we don't have as many there as we do in other regions of the world. We will not penalize an applicant who does not have access to an alumni interviewer. Only applicants who COULD interview, but don't, are penalized in the process.
Toby (Feb 15, 2006 10:09:39 AM)
Jett: If interviews are very important, what is the rationale behind putting an applicant on the waitlist and then asking for an interview AFTER one has already been waitlisted?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:09:54 AM)
Nyamwaki, there isn't a specific time. As Jett noted earlier, we review the waitlist again at the end of each round. Based on the other applications that have been reviewed since the original waitlist decision, we may take some candidates off the waitlist by offering them admission--others we will release because we realize that we have a number of stronger waitlist candidates who came onto the list from subsequent rounds.
HWL (Feb 15, 2006 10:10:06 AM)
Pete: What is a good length for the additional statement/essay?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:10:35 AM)
Toby, this is actually a bit complicated and a difficult question to answer briefly, but I will give it my best shot. We invite people to interview based on the quality of their written application. Those with the strongest applications get invites to interview. Those whose applications aren't quite as strong are waitlisted, which means that they are simply invited to interview a bit later in the process. Being waitlisted simply means that we have not made a final decision on your application, that's all.
Greg (Feb 15, 2006 10:10:48 AM)
Jett: Is there any way to find out where the application may be "lacking" so that we might be able to address specific concerns highlighted by the initial application?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:11:22 AM)
HWL, one page should normally be sufficient, but it's hard to give an ideal length without knowing the content. I can say that it doesn't help to write an excruciatingly long letter when a concise paragraph could have conveyed the same information.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:11:34 AM)
Thanks Pete. Should I communicate that I have dropped the class when I must drop it, or only after I have been admitted?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:12:51 AM)
KTS, you should communicate when you have dropped it, if that becomes necessary. Although dropping the class won't hurt your application, not having the additional evidence to support your quant preparation won't help either, so keep that in mind.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:13:16 AM)
Greg, we don't provide feedback to waitlisted candidates during the review process. Rather, we provide all waitlisted applicants the same set of options for improving their application. These are the options that were listed in your waitlist communication. If a waitlisted candidate is not offered admission, we will provide feedback over the summer months so that an applicant can hear the specifics of their situation.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:13:55 AM)
I hope that this chat is helping to clarify the process a bit--we know that being on the waitlist can be very nerve-wracking.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:14:25 AM)
You are providing excellent information!
RGD (Feb 15, 2006 10:14:52 AM)
Pete: To provide the committee with further evidence of my quantitative abilities, I am enrolling in a stats class at a local university. However, it does not begin until March and I won't have my grade until late May or June. Will the Committee need to see my grade in order for this effort to count?
Guest (Feb 15, 2006 10:15:02 AM)
Hi Jett. What are the strongest steps I can take to get off of the waitlist?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:16:27 AM)
Guest, these steps are outlined in the waitlist communication that we send to all waitlisted candidates.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:16:28 AM)
RGD, we will still review your application whenever we review the waitlist, but if you feel that your quantitative preparation is a weak point, having some type of grade (even if it is only a mid-term grade) is more substantive.
Greg (Feb 15, 2006 10:16:47 AM)
Jett: What's the latest date at which a candidate might be pulled off the waitlist?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:17:20 AM)
Greg, the latest date is mid-August, but that's very unlikely, especially for round one candidates, we try to make our final decisions earlier in the process. Round One waitlisted candidates will be reviewed again in late March. At that time, some will be admitted, some will be denied, and others will remain on the waitlist until we review the Round 3 applications. Basically, waitlisted candidates are being compared to those who apply in later rounds.
jstone (Feb 15, 2006 10:17:49 AM)
Let's say I was waitlisted without an interview. I interviewed last week. Is it possible for you too look at my application before someone who was waitlisted after interviewing?
nyamawaki (Feb 15, 2006 10:18:57 AM)
Pete: Do we submit our supplementary to the same address as in the application process, and should we wait to send everything we plan to send in one pack?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:19:23 AM)
Jstone, basically, all waitlisted applicants are reviewed at the same time, regardless of whether they interviewed before or after the waitlist decision. In the case of Round One, this review process will be in late March.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:19:33 AM)
Nyamawaki, you can send the supplementary items to the same address. It isn't necessary to bundle them all in one packet.
reicho (Feb 15, 2006 10:19:46 AM)
Jett: You mentioned earlier that you next review the waitlist in late March. To all of us who might have already been accepted at other schools, this might be too late. Is there any way to speed up the process in such a case?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:20:17 AM)
Reicho, a wonderful question! Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to speed up the process. We are very cognizant of the fact that you are under pressure from other schools, but we simply have to finish our review of Round 2 applications before we can review the Round 1 waitlisted applications.
nyamawaki (Feb 15, 2006 10:20:20 AM)
Pete: what percentage of overall applicants are usually waitlisted? Do you reserve seats for waitlisted applicants after all three rounds are concluded?
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:20:35 AM)
The questions and answers in this chat are excellent!
RGD (Feb 15, 2006 10:20:51 AM)
It appears that about 1/3 of the current wait list is now in this chat room.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:21:00 AM)
Ny, the percentage varies each year--we don't have a fixed number or percentage that we are looking for. We do not reserve a certain number of seats for waitlisted candidates.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:21:47 AM)
Jett, how do you feel about applicants putting down a deposit at a school that accepted them, waiting to hear from the wait listing school, and then withdrawing from the school where they put down the deposit?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:22:01 AM)
One quick note to all: Please note that it is really a POSITIVE sign to be placed on the waitlist. Truly, this is a good thing. Most applicants are denied admission so please know that the admissions committee is impressed with you, most certainly. And many of you WILL receive offers of admission.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:22:17 AM)
Jett -- good point.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:22:28 AM)
RGD, you're right--technically, it should be about 1/3, but I suspect we have some chatters who are not on the waitlist but just want to know what will happen if they are!
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:23:09 AM)
Linda, this is something that happens frequently, and we in admissions know that and understand that.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:23:18 AM)
Pete: At what point are candidates dropped from the waitlist? Is it somewhere in the review process where they are determined to be unqualified? Or is it only after all spots have been filled/all offers of admission accepted?
vailrider (Feb 15, 2006 10:23:40 AM)
Jett: Given what you have seen of Round 2 application quality/quantity so far, can you comment on the chances of Round 1 "waitlisters" compared to last year? Is it going to be tougher to make the jump this year?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:24:25 AM)
Vailrider, it's really tough for me to say at this point, I'm just not sure.....but if I had to put money on it, I'd say that there won't be much of a difference between this year and last year in terms of odds. Odds for waitlisted candidates, that is. We are up significantly in applications, so a smaller percentage will be offered admission. But we waitlist such a small number of applicants that the odds of being admitted off the waitlist will probably be similar to past years.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:24:59 AM)
KTS, we will likely drop some candidates in late March. We try not to have a huge waitlist--it's not fair to applicants, and it doesn't serve any purpose for us. When we place another batch on the waitlist from Round 2, we may decide that, given the total waitlist size, some candidates are unlikely to be competitive enough to ever come off, so we release them.
Toby (Feb 15, 2006 10:25:33 AM)
Pete: If I interviewed last year and have now been invited to interview again in connection with this year's waitlist, what is the ultimate purpose of my interview? What new information is the adcom hoping to obtain?
Darcie Deranick (Feb 15, 2006 10:26:31 AM)
Jett: What percentage of those that are waitlisted without an interview are eventually admitted into the program?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:27:38 AM)
Darcie, we consider all waitlisted candidates to be in one category, regardless of whether they interviewed before the decision was made. So the only stat I can share is that approx 50% will be admitted, if this year is like past years.
LeoWanderley (Feb 15, 2006 10:27:45 AM)
Hi Jett, I´m from Brazil. How much time does Haas take to inform the waitlisted candidates whether they were accepted or not?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:28:26 AM)
Toby, I would imagine that some things in your professional life have changed since last year's interview, or perhaps you didn't interview as well as you could have last year--there are many possibilities. The fact that you didn't get an offer last year doesn't necessarily mean that there was something we were looking for in the interview that didn't appear--it may just have meant that in that pool, there were other applicants that we felt were stronger overall.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:28:46 AM)
Jett, I think Leo is worried about visa issues if he is informed of acceptance at the last minute.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:29:04 AM)
Do you stop accepting international applicants from the waitlist earlier than domestic applicants? Do you stop accepting applicants from outside the Bay Area earlier than applicants in the Bay Area?
rickjashnani (Feb 15, 2006 10:29:44 AM)
Pete: What are some steps we can take other than the personal statement, the additional letter of recommendation, and the interview?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:30:06 AM)
LeoW, waitlisted candidates could be offered admission as early as late March, or as late as August.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:30:08 AM)
Linda, yes--although we will keep a few individuals on the waitlist up until the end of July, we typically don't keep candidates who would need visas after June.
jstone (Feb 15, 2006 10:30:26 AM)
Pete, I talked to a current student who was admitted off the waitlist in mid-February. But from what I understand now you will NOT review any waitlisted applications until the end of Round 2. Is this true?
Tiger14 (Feb 15, 2006 10:30:51 AM)
Jett: Are the number of Round 2 applications as high as those in Round 1?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:31:29 AM)
Rick, if you felt that your GMAT or TOEFL were not as strong as they could have been, you can also retake the exams. (I don't know who you are, so I don't know that this answer would apply to you--don't take that as direction in response to your specific application!)
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:31:33 AM)
Linda, for US citizens on the waitlist, we do not give preference to those in California until the very, very end of the process (e.g. if we need to take someone at the last minute.)
nyamawaki (Feb 15, 2006 10:31:50 AM)
Pete: Will we still have time to apply for financial aid and housing if we are accepted in late August?
Darcie Deranick (Feb 15, 2006 10:32:04 AM)
Jett: How many waitlisted candidates do you expect to officially admit in March?
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:32:10 AM)
Thanks Jett.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:32:35 AM)
Tiger14, we actually have more Round Two applications than Round One applications, which is normal. We also have more Round Three applications than Round Two applications.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:32:38 AM)
JStone, that is correct--we did review the Round 2 waitlist candidates a little earlier last year.
RGD (Feb 15, 2006 10:32:58 AM)
Jett: Does an additional letter of recommendation need to cover all the same questions as the two submitted with the original application, or can it be narrower in scope and go into greater depth in a few areas about the applicant?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:33:28 AM)
Darcie, we don't have a set number that we plan to admit off the waitlist in late March.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:33:43 AM)
Pete, do waitlist applicants have a better chance as reapplicants to Haas if they are not accepted from the waitlist?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:34:19 AM)
RGD, an additional letter can be narrower in scope and go into greater depth in a few areas about the applicant. Great question.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:34:25 AM)
Nyamawaki, financial assistance for someone coming off the waitlist will most likely be student loans, which can be applied for even after classes have begun. As for housing, there may be housing available at that time--keep in mind that most of our students do not live in campus housing anyway.
clarkkent (Feb 15, 2006 10:34:35 AM)
Jett, does Haas differentiate between the waitlisted applicants from Round 1 and Round 2, etc.? Meaning, there are some advantages of applying early, so does this rule apply for the waitlist as well?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:35:15 AM)
Another note to all: Please don't bombard us with new letters of rec. One or two more is adequate. More than two new letters becomes burdensome.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:35:18 AM)
Pete: Do some of the options we have weigh more heavily than others? For example, are additional letters of recommendation as significant as the interview?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:35:32 AM)
Linda, hard to say--anyone's chances of getting an offer depend on the strength of their application relative to others in the same year's application pool. Someone who does not get an offer from the waitlist this year and who reapplies next year will be weighed against next year's application pool.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:35:36 AM)
I assume that quality of the recommender also counts, Jett, right? Someone who knows the applicants and knows Haas well can provide a better recommendation than someone who doesn't know Haas and doesn't know the applicant well.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:36:18 AM)
Clarkkent, the key advantage is that those who are on the Round One waitlist will tend to get their final decision before those who are on the Round Two waitlist.
wlcand1 (Feb 15, 2006 10:36:34 AM)
Jett: Does it help to give explanation for weakness while submitting additional material?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:36:47 AM)
Thanks for asking that, Linda. The answer is a resounding YES!
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:36:48 AM)
Kts, it depends on the content of the additional information. For example, if one of the weaknesses of your application was that the recommenders said very little, a strong additional letter could be key. On the other hand, if an additional letter provides a similar set of information, it may be less compelling than a great interview. In any event, if a waitlisted candidate has the ability to interview and chooses not to, I would not view that in a very positive light--it calls into question the applicant's motivation.
Darcie Deranick (Feb 15, 2006 10:37:37 AM)
Jett: Do all Round 1 waitlisted applicants receive some kind of update in late March (either accepted, denied, or further waitlisted)?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:38:14 AM)
wlcand1, do feel free to explain any weakness that you feel is relevant.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:38:36 AM)
jett: How much is "up significantly" in applications? Is that 40% figure that someone cited earlier accurate?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:38:51 AM)
Darcie, yes. Everyone will receive some update in late March.
Eli Yered (Feb 15, 2006 10:38:55 AM)
Hi Pete: Was there an increase in the number of applicants this year? Was there a higher level in the applications in comparison to last year?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:39:27 AM)
KTS, we are now up 30% in applications, but we still have one more deadline to go, so that figure may change.
RGD (Feb 15, 2006 10:39:47 AM)
Jett: I understand that late March is the first time the Committee will review the wait list. If I am not accepted at that point, will I join Round 2 waitlist candidates? And if not accepted upon the second review, join Round 2 & 3 waitlist candidates, etc.?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:39:51 AM)
Eli, yes--as of the Round 3 submissions, our applications are up significantly compared to last year. We'll see what Round 4 brings...
vailrider (Feb 15, 2006 10:40:11 AM)
Jett - my application was aimed at a particular specialization within Haas. Could my waitlist decision have something to do with a particular department trying to build the best class possible, for that department?
nyamawaki (Feb 15, 2006 10:40:24 AM)
Pete: When deciding on a supplementary recommendation should we ask someone who has a very important job and who knows us personally, if we don't have a direct manager?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:40:44 AM)
RGD, this is correct (unless you happen to get denied, which is also a possibility.)
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:41:22 AM)
vailrider, this specialization issue would NOT impact your decision. You have nothing to worry about there.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:41:23 AM)
Ny, with all recommendations, it is most helpful to have a letter from someone who knows you well enough in a professional setting to provide useful information, regardless of their title.
Q-man (Feb 15, 2006 10:41:37 AM)
Jett, since you will be reviewing the waitlist in late March, when will the accepted candidates on the waitlist be notified? Do they all get notified on the same date (from that review)?
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:42:01 AM)
Pete: If I take the GMAT again (because my score was below your averages) and do better on my total score, but just about the same (or slightly worse -- hopefully not!) on my quant percentage, will this be looked down upon? Are you more concerned with total scores or individual sections, especially for those of us without a strong quant background?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:42:10 AM)
Q-man, I don't have a specific date to share with you at this point. Sorry about that. Late March is as specific as I can be at this point.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:42:43 AM)
Jett: In regard to financial aid, should we file the FAFSA now, or wait until we have been admitted?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:43:14 AM)
I'd go ahead and file the FAFSA now.
rickjashnani (Feb 15, 2006 10:43:22 AM)
Jett: I am expecting a raise and increase in responsibility at work by April, but I don't know the specifics yet. Is it wise to communicate this information in a personal statement and qualify it as being tentative?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:43:31 AM)
Kts, having a stronger total score may be helpful--if the quant score is the same, it is neutral. Obviously, the best possible outcome would be a higher total score and higher sub-scores!
vailrider (Feb 15, 2006 10:43:44 AM)
Pete: How can we know what you see as our weaknesses if you can't offer us any feedback?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:43:53 AM)
Rickjashnani, I would not communicate something that is tentative. Once it happens, you can let us know.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:44:15 AM)
Jett: How detrimental can a lukewarm/so-so interview be? (i.e., one that's not negative in its feedback, but one that's not necessarily glowing, either?)
Darcie Deranick (Feb 15, 2006 10:44:35 AM)
Thank you for answering my questions.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:44:54 AM)
Vailrider, you'll have to determine that as best you can with the information available. Unfortunately, we simply don't have the resources to provide individual feedback to waitlisted candidates during the review of other rounds.
Greg (Feb 15, 2006 10:45:07 AM)
Pete: My previous letters of recommendation were from previous/current managers. Is there any advantage to submitting a recommendation from a peer (assuming they know me equally well as other possible recommenders)?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:45:21 AM)
Vail, in most cases, I think applicants know what elements are not as strong as they could be, whether it's test scores, quant preparation, etc.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:45:47 AM)
I also know of some services that provide that kind of feedback. ;-)
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:46:41 AM)
kts, the interview is one piece of the puzzle. It is reviewed along with all of the other elements of the application. With any interview assessment, we look for specifics to back up the interviewer's assessment, and our interviewers do a very good job of providing these specifics.
jstone (Feb 15, 2006 10:46:47 AM)
Jett: Any suggestions for helping us survive until late March? Thanks for answering my questions. 
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:47:46 AM)
Greg, there could be--if you have already submitted letters from current/former supervisors, then a letter from a peer might provide additional information of value. The most important factor is that the letter provide unbiased, substantive information that helps us to evaluate your strength as a b-school candidate.
RGD (Feb 15, 2006 10:48:04 AM)
Pete: If an applicant had an interview on campus, is there any benefit to an additional alumni interview?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:48:15 AM)
jstone, you ask the most difficult question of them all! I know the waiting game is difficult. To be honest, my best suggestion would be to throw yourself more so into your hobbies, things that you love, get more involved in the community, or take up yoga, see good films, whatever makes you happy and at peace. Try to stay away from forums where lots of people are commiserating about the wait---this can make the wait more painful, not less painful, in my opinion.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:48:21 AM)
RGD, not really.
Eli Yered (Feb 15, 2006 10:48:42 AM)
Thanks you Jett and Pete for your great answers
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:49:03 AM)
re: interviewers. Do alumni interviewers typically give feedback or are they responsive during an interview? Are they told to try to remain as neutral as possible, as they cannot evaluate our entire files?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:49:07 AM)
Eli, thanks to all of you for your great questions!
apoorva (Feb 15, 2006 10:49:44 AM)
Pete: How much of a hope does a waitlist from India have given Haas is not conducting interviews here?
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:49:55 AM)
Kts, we ask alumni interviewers NOT to give feedback, nor can they, really, since they don't see the application file--only the resume. As a result, they don't necessarily know what the issues might be for the adcom.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:50:40 AM)
Apoorva, we will be conducting interviews there later this spring. Information will be sent to all candidates when we have more details.
joe (Feb 15, 2006 10:50:43 AM)
Jett: Thanks for all of the info so far. Once we send in a personal statement, would any further updates be frowned upon / not accepted?
RGD (Feb 15, 2006 10:50:49 AM)
This has been a very helpful chat and provided very valuable answers. Thanks.
rickjashnani (Feb 15, 2006 10:51:10 AM)
Thank you so much for all your help. Providing resources like this and the interview really makes the waitlist process much more manageable. Being allowed to be proactive is really great.
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:51:35 AM)
Thanks Pete. So an interviewer who wasn't totally effusive/responsive is not necessarily a bad sign?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:51:40 AM)
Joe, you have to use your best judgment. You have to walk the fine line between showing interest, adding to your file, but not being overwhelming.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:51:41 AM)
Our pleasure--I know being on the waitlist can be very frustrating!
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:52:17 AM)
Kts, no, it's not necessarily a bad sign! In fact, I know that a least a couple of our interviewers would make very good poker players! :-)
kts (Feb 15, 2006 10:52:26 AM)
Jett: So you are saying that interviewers have been prompted on what to discern from each interviewee in particular? Interviewers don't have general questions or ask questions at their own discretion, right? Thanks.
reicho (Feb 15, 2006 10:52:33 AM)
Thank you Pete and Jett for your patience and thorough answers to all our questions.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:53:09 AM)
kts, interviewers DO ask questions at their own discretion but they always provide very specific comments about their perceptions.
LeoWanderley (Feb 15, 2006 10:53:21 AM)
Pete and Jett. I want to thank you for making this waitlist torture much more manageable.
apoorva (Feb 15, 2006 10:53:30 AM)
Do waitlisted candidates have any hopes of financial assistance from the school?
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:53:55 AM)
Thank you again all for participating today. Special thanks to Jett and Pete for taking the time to virtually meet with you, provide this information, and make this process as transparent and humane as possible.
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:54:12 AM)
Many thanks to all of you for joining us. This has been a real pleasure.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:54:19 AM)
Good luck with your applications!
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:54:27 AM)
And thanks even more for your incredible patience during this process. We know it's not easy. Rest assured that you all presented MUCH stronger applications than the vast majority of our applicant pool and we really appreciate your interest in Berkeley. GO BEARS!
HWL (Feb 15, 2006 10:54:40 AM)
Thanks, Pete & Jett. This was very helpful.
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:55:24 AM)
Apporva, most financial assistance for graduate students is in the form of merit scholarship and loan assistance. A candidate who is on the waitlist will be probably not be competitive in consideration for merit scholarships, so it is mostly loan money, which is available at almost any time.
Vetes (Feb 15, 2006 10:55:25 AM)
Linda, can you tell us an outsider's perspective on this? What are they looking for? What has worked? Is Berkeley more/less likely to admit a waitlisted applicant than other schools?
JettPihakisHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:55:47 AM)
Take care everyone. Bye!
PeteJohnsonHAAS (Feb 15, 2006 10:55:49 AM)
Thanks for logging in, everyone!
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:56:21 AM)
Pete and Jett gave excellent advice here today. They are saying that you should look at your application and evaluate it for weaknesses. Then update the adcom on recent developments, your interest in Haas, and any step taken to ameliorate those weaknesses.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:57:13 AM)
What has worked: Following those directions has worked in the past. Informed, intelligent contact has worked. Substance has worked.
Linda Abraham (Feb 15, 2006 10:57:45 AM)
Waitlisted applicants need accepted applicants to reject offers of acceptance after Round 3. They need to show they are better qualified than R2 or R3 applicants to gain acceptance.
Toby (Feb 15, 2006 10:58:26 AM)
Thanks Linda.
Darcie Deranick (Feb 15, 2006 10:58:33 AM)
Good luck to everyone in their goals. | 
