Berkeley Haas MBA Admissions Details & Essay Prompts: 2026-2027

The Berkeley Haas Full-Time MBA Application 2026-2027 is now open. Learn more about Berkeley Haas here to determine whether it is a strong choice for you.

When are the 2026-2027 Berkeley Haas MBA application deadlines?

Berkeley Haas MBA Round 1: September 10, 2026

Berkeley Haas MBA Round 2: January 7, 2027

Berkeley Haas MBA Round 3: April 1, 2027

What changed in the Berkeley Haas 2026-2027 MBA application?

This year, there were no drastic changes to the Berkeley Haas MBA application. However, Haas made slight updates to the required video essay and to the career goals essay, adding an element about adaptability. This is not a surprise given the emphasis placed on flexibility and adaptability at this year’s AIGAC conference.

What does the Berkeley Haas MBA application include?

Applicants to Haas must submit one required video and answer one goal related essay question. There are also two optional sections as detailed below.

• Berkeley Haas MBA Video Essay: Briefly introduce yourself, then tell us what makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why?
  Please share something about yourself that may not be evident in other parts of your application. We are looking for an authentic and introspective response that demonstrates how you will contribute to the MBA class and culture at UC Berkeley Haas.
  Video essays should last 1-2 minutes and may not exceed 2 minutes. You have two (2) attempts to record your video essay.

Last year, Berkeley Haas turned its long-standing and unique essay question into a video essay. Haas admissions directors were pleased with this change and have brought the video back this year, with one change. Haas is now explicitly asking applicants to introduce themselves before diving straight into answering the question.

Video essays are increasingly common in MBA applications, and this video gives applicants a great opportunity to tell the admissions committee a bit more about their personal story. After giving a brief introduction, make the most of this opportunity to talk about your true passions and what really drives you.

For some applicants, this may be their job (but tread cautiously here, particularly given the advice to tell adcom something new!). If your job is what truly drives you, be sure that you have a strong reason and can illustrate passion and cover elements of your work that is not already on your resume. Extracurricular work also could fit well but be sure it is an area where you have emerged as a leader and/or have added substantial value. Or perhaps you have a unique area of interest or expertise that you might be able to share on campus.

Be succinct and speak from the heart.

A strong story will include a balance of “what” and “why.” While this is not the time to brag about accomplishments, an ideal answer will show something you have done to set yourself apart.

While Haas does not explicitly ask applicants to discuss their contributions on campus, pay careful attention to this new feedback as you brainstorm your answer.

We are looking for an authentic and introspective response that demonstrates how you will contribute to the MBA class and culture at UC Berkeley Haas. 

This means it should be clear to the reader how your experiences and passions could benefit your peers.

A word of caution – we do NOT recommend you use AI to develop this video as Admissions Directors have shared how this can be detrimental to a candidate’s application.

• Berkeley Haas MBA Essay 2: What are your post-MBA career goals, and how will the resources at UC Berkeley Haas help you achieve them? How do you plan to remain adaptable as your career evolves? (300 words max)

While Berkeley Haas retained a more classic “goals” essay, it added an additional component on adaptability.

With only 300 words and directions to include both short-term and long-term goals along with how a Haas MBA will help and how you will remain adaptable, there is a lot to cover with limited space! Many schools allocate 400 or 500 words to their “goals” essays. This means you have to make every word count!

Often with a goals essay, we recommend that applicants cover their past successes before sharing their goals. However, with such a short essay, there is very little space, so you will need to set the context for your goals succinctly.

Next, you should share both your short-term and long-term goals. Personal MBA Coach recommends that these goals should be ambitious yet achievable! For more on how to develop compelling goals, check out this blog and the video below.

While Haas does not explicitly ask about a plan B, adding one could be an approach to addressing the adaptability prompt.

Finally, let the Haas admissions committee know why you need an MBA (and specifically a Haas MBA) to achieve these goals. To answer this question, think about your skills gaps—both technical and leadership—and what offerings at Haas will help you to address these gaps. Take the time to research Berkeley Haas’s offerings. Personal MBA Coach suggests being specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus and carefully articulate how each will position you to achieve your career aspirations.

• Optional: Berkeley Haas MBA Distance Traveled Essay:
  At Berkeley Haas, we consider “distance traveled” as the contextual information that helps us understand the unique circumstances, challenges, or influences that have shaped your personal and professional journey.
  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)

With this short essay, Berkeley Haas is looking to evaluate how you will contribute to the diversity of thought on campus. Admissions committees continue to seek a well-rounded student body and are looking for students who can add a unique perspective to class discussions. For some applicants, this will be easy to answer. However, if an example does not come to mind easily here, remember that it is ok to think of your uniqueness more broadly.

As you approach this essay, we recommend focusing on a few examples and using them to show the reader the type of classmate you will be!

Berkeley Haas also has another optional essay to explain extenuating circumstances.

• Optional Essay: This section should only be used to convey relevant information not addressed elsewhere in your application. This may include explanation of employment gaps, academic aberrations, supplemental coursework, etc. You are encouraged to use bullet points where appropriate. (300 words maximum)

For this Haas optional essay, answer only if you have specific or extenuating circumstances to explain. Read more on our approach to optional essays here.

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