Now that the interviews are over and we are all just waiting, “Why Haas?” Yes, deep down the prestige is great… but what really draws everyone to this program? It’s very realistic that in 15 days we could all be part of the incoming class!
@neilsola Are you a high school student graduating this year and planning to do cc or are you planning to apply to Haas this Fall from cc? I’m just asking because some of us may be able to help you more appropriately. Idk some of us did get the chance to do an internship while some didn’t.
@SocalSurfR I just checked the Berkeley undergraduate assist transfer page and I don’t see accounting anywhere. I could have sworn it was a prereq last year but I might be confusing it with UCLA Bus Econ and USC Bus admin.
@thi1998 I think @hopesolo said it best. Essays help the admissions committee see how we think and see the world in an introspective sense, and the interviews will help them see how we physically communicate our thoughts, especially under some pressure. So, the two combined shows a more accurate image of us. My interviewer mentioned that Haas really wanted to see if humility really resonated though our answers. They’re trying to avoid people that have bursting egos and aren’t team players.
@maseratiSB Haas appeals to me mostly because of the culture of learning and changing the world–basically their four principles. I think Berkeley in general has that culture engrained within the faculty and student body, but Haas really pushes it further. Even though the competitive nature at Haas is notorious, I am excited to be motivated by highly motivated peers which was personally hard for me to find at CC. Also, location. Being right by the Silicon Valley, the job prospects offered to graduates are right up my alley! What draws you to Haas?
@dianelee97 Wow your interviewer actually said they wanted to see if humility resonated through your answers? That’s like a golden nugget right there! Did they tell you this at the start or at the end?
@Ak1097 thanks for sharing that hahaha it was brilliant
@dianelee97 Accounting isn’t a pre-req. It is for many business programs but Haas requires you to take their accounting courses.
@briank82 That sucks…would I have to take the fundamental classes again? I am not looking forward to that…
Since we’re discussing interviews again, did you guys ask your interviewers any questions?
Here’s what I asked:
- How severe is the divide b/w transfer and continuing students at Haas?
Answer: It’s noticeable but doesn’t imply that the two groups dislike each other. It’s just because the continuing students already have their friend groups sorted b/c they’ve been their longer whereas transfer students bond with each other b/c they’re all in a new environment looking to make friends.
- Is the culture at Haas, that is defined by the 4 principles, visible or is it a work in progress?
Answer: Absolutely a work in progress. No one, during his time at Haas, embodied all 4 principles. He gave an example of how there were still people in class who dominated discussions, and some people who were straight up arrogant.
NOTE: He graduated from Haas in 2013
@hopesolo Yeah! My interview went really well, I was at the 4:00 time slot so he had no more interviews left for the day. We ended up talking for about an hour, and it was basically just me asking him questions about his job and Haas. I asked him off the record about the reason for the interviews, and he told me they just wanted to see how humble we were as we answered the questions. The way he said it made me think Haas explicitly told him to look for “confidence without attitude.” Also, the interviews are purely unbiased by our GPA, supplementals and resume since the interviewers aren’t able to see it.
@dianelee97 Wow that’s amazing! A whole hour??? Sounds like a really nice interview, congrats! And definitely making use of that full hour was a great opportunity.
It sounds like you both had alumni! I wonder how many others also had alumni or staff instead. (I actually spoke with staff)
@dianelee97 Yep. You’ll take UGBA 102A financial accounting and 102B managerial accounting. Both are required core classes.
A lot of transfers will already have done them for backup schools. But they gotta do em again.
@hopesolo he was actually a CCC transfer student too! I think I got really lucky since he understood where I was coming from. Was your staff member part of the Haas admissions committee?
@Ak1097 I asked my interviewer how the community is for transfer students, and he said it was an amazing tight knit community where everyone kind of helped each other, whereas the Cal students are generally more standoffish. If I get in, I’m definitely looking forward to that!
I don’t know why I’m still obsessing over my interviews… I’m on spring break so I have no coursework to keep my mind occupied 
I like how Cal day is scheduled 6 days before our admissions decisions come out.
@BLK I also like how the alumni scholarship application is due 4 days before decisions come out. Should I write 3 essays for this scholarship and hope that I get in? Or ditch it bc I’ll end up wasting time?
@BLK I’m going to finish my first year at CC this May and will apply this fall.
If I am taking calc 2 right now will haas reject me? I’m really worried. What if I get an A? Just I had to take it this spring…
@FutureHaasBear Why would they reject you?
No. They won’t reject you unless the rest of your application warranted you not being admitted or if you get a grade below what your provisional acceptance (should you get accepted) requires.
@FutureHaasBear I had a friend who got into Irvine’s business program under the condition that he would obtain at least a B in Calc 2. But then he got into Haas with no fuss over his choice to take Calc his last semester. I don’t believe taking the course in your last semester hurts you substantially (as evidence shows).
Hi everyone,
I know I am new here but I also applied as a transfer for this upcoming fall and always looked at these threads for some sort of guidance. I had an interview earlier this month and just received an update requesting for my winter grades. Do you think this means anything?
@stvnphm If you have the grades I can only assume this would be a good thing, another chance to show them your capabilities. Also, I think most CC’s are on the semester system so perhaps they’re doing this for quarter-based students bc the last time they recieved grades was in the supplemental.