UC Berkeley Haas School of Business MBA Essays: 2026-27 Prompts and Word Limits
The Berkeley Haas full-time MBA essay prompts for the 2026-27 cycle, quoted from the school, with word and time limits.
Essay overview
Haas lists the required, supplemental and optional essays for what it calls the "Fall 2026-2027 application cycle": one required video essay, one required written essay of up to 300 words, an optional Distance Traveled essay and an optional statement (300 words max each), and short-answer items. Haas states that its culture is defined by four principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. The prompts below are quoted from the Haas essays page.
Required Essay #1: Video Essay
Video essay (1 to 2 minutes)
"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. Applicants have two attempts to record.
Required Essay #2
300 words max
"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?"
Supplemental: Distance Traveled (optional)
300 words max
"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."
Optional Statement
300 words max
"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."
Other information (short answers)
- If you have not provided a letter of recommendation from your current supervisor, explain why (or enter N/A).
- List, in order of importance, significant community and professional organizations and extracurricular activities during or after university, with the organization name, its nature, its size, dates of involvement, offices held and average hours per week.
- List full-time and part-time jobs held during undergraduate or graduate studies, with employer, job title, employment dates, location and hours worked per week.
- Explain any academic discipline, probation, suspension or required withdrawal from a college or university (or enter N/A).
Sources
- 1. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Full-time MBA Essays
- 2. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Reapplying to the Full-time Berkeley MBA Program