HAAS MBA Essays

If you’re planning to apply to the Berkeley Haas School of Business, understanding the “Haas MBA Essays” is crucial. These essays are a vital part of your application and provide an opportunity to showcase your unique experiences, values, and career aspirations. The admissions team at Haas uses these essays to get to know you beyond your resume and test scores, focusing on how well you align with their defining leadership principles.

For the 2025-26 application cycle, Haas has released its deadlines, giving prospective students a clear timeline for submission. It is essential to stay aware of these deadlines to ensure your application is considered in your preferred round. Haas offers multiple rounds for submitting applications, allowing flexibility based on your readiness and preparation.

Haas MBA Application Deadlines

Application Round	Deadline	Decision Release
Round 1	September 11, 2025	December 11, 2025
Round 2	January 8, 2026	March 26, 2026
Round 3	March 31, 2026	May 7, 2026

Tips for Writing Effective Essays

• Be Authentic: Let your true personality shine through in your writing.
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use vivid examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points.
• Proofread Carefully: Ensure your essays are free of grammatical errors and typos.
• Seek Feedback: Ask friends, family, or mentors to review your essays and provide constructive criticism.

Example Essays

Variation 1

ESSAY:1 

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

When I was 9, my family bought a new oven accompanied by a recipe book. They allowed me to bake a dish with tomatoes, a chocolate bar, garlic, and other ingredients that sound equally awful together. They ate it with pride and praised my skills as a budding chef. Today, I remember that and laugh because even though I grew up in a home where it was rare to express affection, my parents’ encouragement of my cooking was clearly an act of love. Perhaps this is why cooking for others is my love language.

Soon, I was marshaling my siblings and cousins and delving into various recipes. Our “Cooking with Cousins” sessions evolved into cherished traditions, uniting us in mutual gastronomic explorations. Even though I had a rough start, over time and years of practice, I’ve learned to cook by collecting and preserving recipes from elders who have since passed away, and by refining them with my own flair. 

Over the years, I’ve expanded my palette and learned recipes from different cultures as well. Echoing Julia Child’s sentiment, “The more you know, the more you can create,” cooking became a canvas for my imagination. It introduced me to myriad cultures via their unique cuisines. Italy beckoned me last year, and I immersed myself in authentic cooking classes. Japan is my next destination on this culinary journey.

To many, cooking might be a mere pastime. But for me, it’s a lifeline to tradition, to family, a medium of expression, a canvas for creativity, and a domain of endless learning. It has expanded my understanding of the world, one ingredient at a time. Cooking rejuvenates me, allowing me to convey my deepest emotions and affections. Through each dish, I pour out love, sharing it with those dearest to me.

ESSAY 2: What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals? Short-term career goals should be achievable within 3-5 years post-MBA, whereas long-term goals may span a decade or more and encompass broader professional aspirations.(300 words maximum).

In the last 3 yrs, working closely on climate change mitigation has profoundly shaped my perspective. My most impactful project was a carbon credit certification program, where I collaborated with 100,000+ farmers to adopt sustainable agroforestry. The project increased farmers’ incomes by xx% while reducing carbon emissions by 50,000MT. It was a turning point for me—a realization that tackling climate change is not just an environmental but also a social imperative.

Post-MBA, my short-term goal is to work as a Program Manager/Officer with a leading think-tank/non-profit such as X Conservancy, AB Foundation, focussing on climate action and sustainable development. My Plan B would be to join an impact consulting firm such as The Bridgespan or Dalberg to drive strategic environmental and social initiatives. In the long-term, I aspire to return to X to lead climate-focused initiatives at organizations such as A or B Institute, shaping strategies to make X a leader in sustainability. 

To achieve my goals, I need a strong foundation in business and climate solutions, which the MBA/MCS program uniquely offers. Courses like Economics for Business Decision Making and Data Analytics will enhance my ability to design scalable, financially viable models, while MCS courses such as Carbon Accounting & Lifecycle Analysis and Climate and Energy Policy & Politics will provide technical expertise to quantify emissions and craft climate-resilient policies. The Net Impact Club and MCS Colloquium will connect me with leaders at the intersection of climate and business, while the MCS Capstone Project will offer hands-on experience tackling real-world sustainability challenges. Being in the Bay Area will also enable connections with organizations like Climate Breakthrough, while a 2.5yr dual program will foster connections with like-minded individuals – further advancing my mission to lead strategic initiatives that drive environmental and social impact.

Essay 3:

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace? Candidates seeking consideration for mission-aligned fellowships may use this space to reflect on their commitment to the mission of those fellowships.(300 words max)

One of my most significant initiatives on advancing gender equality involved strengthening a maternal health subsidy program that provided additional income to pregnant women in one of the poorest states of X.  I had the option to work on other programs, but I chose the maternal health initiative because pregnant women in these communities often struggle silently—yet supporting their well-being can significantly uplift both families and society.

Through my research, I learned that pregnant women in this state faced two primary issues in accessing supplementary income. First, it was challenging for them to enroll in the program as they had to travel long distances across hilly terrain, lacking safe, reliable, and affordable transportation. Second, even after enrolling, their eligibility could not be verified because of inadequate staffing. These hurdles left many women unable to access critical funds when most needed, undermining their well-being and that of their newborns.

As the Program Manager, I implemented three key solutions to address these challenges. First, I deployed a mobile-based application, enabling field staff to enroll women at their doorstep. Second, I convinced the administration to hire and train additional personnel to expedite verifications. Convincing the administration to spend additional money to hire additional staff for verification was challenging but I convinced them by showing the long term health and economic benefits to the state through improved health outcomes of women and children. Lastly, I developed a real-time dashboard that allowed government officials to monitor enrolments, verifications, and payments, vastly improving operational efficiency.

This initiative reduced average payment delays from 18mos to just 6mos, increased beneficiary enrolment by 40%, and provided subsidy benefits to 50K women. This project not only improved maternal health services but also demonstrated the transformative power of tech-driven solutions in advancing gender equality—making it one of my proudest achievements. 

Essay 4: Supplementary Essay:Please elaborate on any of your above responses. Alternatively, you may use this opportunity to expand on other hardships or unusual life circumstances that may help us understand the context of your opportunities, achievements, and impact. (300 words maximum)


I grew up in a middle-class family in the poorest state in X where opportunities were very limited. I studied in a low-income school plagued by teacher absenteeism and poorly equipped classrooms, where learning was a self-driven effort. Crime was an everyday reality in my neighborhood, making routine activities like walking to school or participating in extracurricular activities unsafe. These circumstances not only hindered academic and extracurricular growth but also made it difficult to dream big due to the lack of role models.

Yet, these challenges forced me to seek inspiration within myself, turning adversity into motivation. I decided to prepare for X’s biggest engineering exam despite numerous challenges: limited quality coaching, financial constraints, and a lack of local mentorship. However, I remained undeterred, channeling every ounce of determination. I borrowed second-hand books, created self-study schedules, relied on free online resources, and walked long distances to attend affordable seminars. These efforts paid off when I earned admission to XYZ, one of X’s most competitive technical institutes, with an acceptance rate of 2%. This achievement didn’t just transform my career—it reshaped my belief system. It instilled in me a deep sense of self-confidence, proving that I could carve a path for myself even in the face of adversities.

This self-belief has become the cornerstone in my journey. It has enabled me to tackle resource constraints and mobilize stakeholders in my work, from implementing carbon credit projects for 100,000+ farmers to addressing menstrual health challenges in backward regions of X. Applying to Haas is a natural extension of this belief in my ability to dream big. Through the MBA and the determination and persistence I’ve developed, I aspire to create opportunities for others who, like me, come from environments where possibilities are scarce, but the desire to succeed is limitless.

Variation 2

What makes you feel alive when you are doing it, and why? (300 words maximum)

Witnessing the tangible positive impact of our efforts makes me feel alive. Hearing a father’s joy of being able to celebrate his daughter’s birthday for the first time in XX years with the newfound financial opportunities withXYZ, filled me with a deep sense of satisfaction and joy, making me feel alive. Speaking with over a thousand clients in the last X years, I have come to cherish the joy and freedoms that our clients have expressed to me, filling me with immense pleasure to be part of their journey.

Growing up in financial adversity and wanting to change this for others, I was fortunate to identify an opportunity to build innovative products to drive financial inclusivity across the country. StartingXYZ, I embarked on a journey to make investment opportunities, which were earlier only accessible to high-net-worth individuals, accessible to everyone. Each day since has been a blend of technology, strategy, and creativity. It’s in these moments, when I’m knee-deep in data, dissecting market trends, or brainstorming with my team, each moment fills my life with new energy.

When I see first-time investors, who previously felt excluded from financial opportunities, successfully access them, it reaffirms the value of our endeavor. Knowing that we are playing a part in leveling the financial playing field, in making investment opportunities available to those who were once sidelined, is profoundly fulfilling. In this journey, the challenges are as invigorating as the successes. Each roadblock, each setback is an opportunity to learn, to grow, and to come back stronger. This relentless pursuit of innovation and impact – all in the service of driving financial inclusion – is what fuels my spirit. It’s a reminder that in the realm of technology, we have the power to create not just products, but pathways to a more equitable world.

Essay 2:

One of our goals at Berkeley Haas is to develop leaders who value diversity and to create an inclusive environment in which people from different ethnicities, genders, lived experiences, and national origins feel welcomed and supported.

Describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging whether through community organizations, personal, or in the workplace?

In college, I challenged the status quo by joining the cricket team consisting of 11 members, with me being the only girl. This decision wasn’t easy, as many people around me expressed doubt and discouragement. However, for me, the journey wasn’t about gender; it was about my passion for cricket and the desire to excel at the sport. I realized that my teammates were just players, and we shared a common goal: to play and win matches. During the final match, as I stepped up to bat, I could feel the judgmental stares from the audience. The pressure was intense, and at that moment, I knew I had to prove not only just my worth but also the worth of anyone daring to challenge norms. In the end, our efforts paid off as we secured the gold medal. For me, that medal stands as a reminder of the power of inclusion and the importance of breaking down stereotypes to achieve greatness.

This experience taught me an important lesson that when we concentrate on common objectives and respect each other’s contributions, differences become irrelevant.  It highlighted the power of passion and teamwork, where our collective dedication was what truly mattered. I have carried these insights into my role as a software developer, working in an industry similarly dominated by men. At xx, where my colleagues come from disparate and diverse backgrounds and faiths, I actively support diversity and inclusion efforts, understanding that they are crucial for innovation and growth. As I pursue my MBA at Haas in an environment that fosters collaboration, I envision working with diverse minds toward shared goals and greater achievements. 

Essay 3 – What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from Haas help you achieve those goals?

As a software developer at xx, I build solutions that transform customer experiences. In one project, I utilized machine learning to predict customer inquiries, reducing the manual effort required by agents and saving 2,500 agent hours globally each day. Witnessing this profound impact, I began to see beyond the code and became increasingly interested in the business aspects of technology. I was motivated to explore opportunities to scale the impact across the organization.

Beyond development, I led compliance initiatives for X and Y, focussing on protecting vulnerable customers. These experiences deepened my understanding of the evolving landscape of ethics and regulations in the industry. Now, I am eager to take on greater leadership responsibilities and transition to a Product Manager role at companies like xx or Amazon to amplify my impact and translate my technical skills into strategic product decisions, thereby elevating user experiences.

Haas’s strong focus on leadership development and its prime location in Silicon Valley makes it the perfect place for me to achieve these goals. I’m particularly drawn to Dr. Juliana Schroeder’s research on the importance of humanizing chatbots. I am keen on extending her research on the driving factors behind technological advancements in this nascent stage of the AI revolution. xx will be pivotal in my long-term entrepreneurial aspiration to develop enterprise software that will revolutionize how people communicate with businesses, streamline processes, and encourage strong ethical and sustainable AI practices.

I feel I am at the right level of maturity to fully benefit from and contribute to an MBA program. I want to play my part in ensuring that technology serves both people and the planet. Haas offers the ideal environment for me to grow. I look forward to joining Women in Leadership to build a strong network and gain mentorship.

The admissions team takes a holistic approach to application review and seeks to understand all aspects of a candidate’s character, qualifications, and experiences. We will consider achievements in the context of the opportunities available to a candidate. Some applicants may have faced hardships or unusual life circumstances, and we will consider the maturity, perseverance, and thoughtfulness with which they have responded to and/or overcome them.

Optional Information #1

I could not attend my dream college to which I was admitted due to financial hardship. Growing up, in the first 20 years of my life, I saw my dad for only four weeks a year. The rest of the time he spent working in the remotest parts of the country, while my mother single-handedly raised me and my younger brother. My father and mother come from a small village in X, and grew up in poverty. As a first-generation student, I was forced to figure things out on the fly, without any of the benefits of years of specialized coaching or prep schools to help me crack the competitive entrance exams. Despite this, I managed to gain admission to the xxx, one of X’s leading colleges in AI research for which I was passionate.

However, despite saving for over a decade, my family was still not able to afford the tuition. I was crushed. Without many choices left, I embraced an opportunity to study at a state college, which offered me a full four-year scholarship but had limited resources, but I decided to make the best of my situation. In my second year of undergrad, by showcasing my passion for AI,  I secured a competitive research internship at X Innovation Labs, where I was able to impress one of my managers, who invited me to work on a global team that was working on a submission for the Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Grand Robotics Challenge 20XX, which was my first exposure to cutting-edge AI research and gave me the foundation to start. From that moment I never looked back and dedicated years of sleepless nights that helped me move towards my goals of delivering a positive impact with technology and entrepreneurship.

Optional Information #2 

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.

1. I finished my undergrad in July 20XX and received my provisional degree certificate in Aug 20XX. On May 20XX I received my final degree certificate along with the rest of the graduating class of 2014 at a commencement ceremony.

2. While pursuing my MBA, my head of engineering will be taking over my day-to-day responsibilities so that I can be 100% focused on academics and the Haas experience and develop the skills I will need to lead XYZs global expansion.
3. I have a 2-month gap after my role at XYZ, which was a cooling-off period. During that time, I explored XYZs core idea before formally starting work.

Conclusion

Crafting compelling Haas MBA essays requires careful thought, planning, and self-reflection. By understanding Haas’s focus, addressing the key essay components, and following the tips provided, you can increase your chances of gaining admission to this prestigious program. Remember, the goal is to present a well-rounded picture of yourself that showcases your potential as a future leader committed to sustainability and positive impact.