Breaking down the 2012 short answers for haas

1. Breaking Down the
2012 Short Answers for Haas
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

2. Breaking Down the
2012 Short Answers for Haas
We’ve been getting a ton of questions about the always
daunting Haas application, specifically the five Short
Answer questions.
(For the Career Goals essay, you can track down our
very public thoughts on traditional career goals essays
and/or consider becoming a client of ours!)
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

3. Breaking Down the
2012 Short Answers for Haas
THE 4 PRINCIPLES
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

4. Before you can race to the Short Answers, you have
to really understand the Four Principles.
On the one hand, we are happy to see them front and
center, because the Four Principles are what make
Haas “Haas” and we we love Haas. We’ve known for
some time that the Four Principles should guide all
answers on a Haas application, not just one question
(last year it was Short Answer #3), so now everyone
else knows it to.
Alas, great essays are about knowledge + skill + hard
work, so we're okay with the playing field being leveled
on the first point.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

5. To take it a step further, what do the four principles mean?
Here is how Haas words it:
At Berkeley-Haas, our distinctive culture is defined by
four key principles — question the status quo; confidence
without attitude; students always; and beyond yourself. We
seek candidates from a broad range of cultures,
backgrounds, and industries who demonstrate a strong
cultural fit with our program and defining principles. Please
use the following essays as an opportunity to reflect on and
share with us the values, experiences, and accomplishments
that have helped shape who you are.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

6. Here is how we see it:
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

7. Question the status quo –
This comes from being such an innovative b-school. Tech
heavy, access to Silicon Valley, global in reach, caring about
social values.
This is our favorite principle for essay-writing because its all
about being innovative, taking a risk, stepping out in the void,
rising to face a challenge, leading, and so on.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

8. Confidence without attitude –
A byproduct of having the former CTO of Goldman as its
dean, Haas is all about proper preparation for making an
impact in the workforce. Rich Lyons (the dean) knows that
arrogance and swagger and “paper prestige” won’t get you
anywhere once you start sitting down with recruiters and then
go on to join a professional team.
This question is ideal for someone with rock star credentials
looking to show humility.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

9. Students always –
This is a nod to the student-friendly culture of Haas, but I’ve
always believed this is here more for them to show off than
for you to do likewise.
A brief mention somewhere – anywhere – in the application
is usually enough.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

10. Beyond yourself –
This is about social justice and making an impact beyond
your own life.
Most candidates will want to talk about the broader world and
making an impact, whether in a short answer or in the Why
Haas part of the career goals essay.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

11. So once you have that as your guiding
star, you can get into the essays.
SHORT ANSWER 1 -
What brings you the greatest joy? How does this make
you distinctive? (250 word maximum)
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

12. You don't have to prove how management consulting will
help you run a professional soccer team one day ... you have
to prove you love soccer and will devote your life to getting to
the place where you can run a team. Long-term goals are
not about drawing tight lines, they are about drawing
swooping arcs ... arcs back to WHO YOU ARE and WHAT
YOU LOVE. Admissions officers simply do not want to see
anymore "Short-term I want to be an investment banker and
then long-term I want to be an even more successful and
powerful investment banker" type goals.
So what we are starting to see is that the b-schools are
leading the horse to water and then making the horse drink.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

13. SHORT ANSWER 2 -
What is your most significant accomplishment (250
words)
Many see this as the kid brother of the famous HBS Essay 1
that asks for three accomplishments. Really, its more like a
relative of the old Ross Essay 2, which asked for a significant
accomplishment ... as well as leadership indicated and
impact on organization.
If you focus on those two things - as well as the guiding
Principle of "Confidence without attitude," you will likely have
a strong short answer here.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

14. SHORT ANSWER 3 -
Describe a time when you questioned an established
practice or thought within an organization. How did your
actions create positive change? (250 word maximum)
Well, we obviously have our "Challenge the status quo"
question. That's really all you need to know. Well, that and
how to nail an Impact Essay. (Hey, can't give it all away for
free:)
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

15. SHORT ANSWER 4 -
Describe a time when you were a student of your own
failure. What specific insight from this experience has
shaped your development? (250 word maximum)
"A student of your own failure..." Wow. Let's just translate
that to "Tell us about a time you screwed up and what you
learned." Done and done.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

16. Clearly, you can’t include all of that information. So what is most
critical?
It starts with understanding the tone and meaning of the question.
Why is Haas including this, of all things? It has to do with b
schools “getting younger” and the accompanying quest for maturity
- the need to measure a modicum of social intelligence. As
average ages dip, EQ seems to drop right along with it. By asking
a candidate to be introspective, humble, willing to admit failure ... it
can be very telling. (As an aside, this is why you don't want to duck
the question and prop up something weak.)
Our advice is to get right to it: About 100 words to describe the
situation and then about 150 words to talk about what you learned
and how you moved forward. Good luck - this is a tough task
indeed.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

17. SHORT ANSWER 5 -
Describe a time when you led by inspiring or motivating
others toward a shared goal. (250 word maximum)
Geez, Haas, how many questions do you need to ask?
Okay, for this one, let's comment on a broader trend, which
is that b-schools are tired of "so I picked up the biggest
shovel and boy did I start digging!" leadership examples.
Simply working your butt off is not really that impressive, yet
many candidates seem to mistake work ethic for leadership.
It's *part* of leading, for sure, but leadership is about so
much more than that.
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

18. Here's a list of leadership styles:
•Leadership through empathy (putting yourself in the shoes of
others and understanding what they need)
•Leadership through thoughtful solutions and persuasive
articulation of those solutions (the 1-2 punch of "persuading
others")
•Leadership through action (make no mistake, this is still good,
and often how you bring it home)
•Leadership through language (talking brilliantly)
•Leadership through charisma (charming the hell out of everyone
so that they go “this is our leader!”)
•Leadership through authority (the cheapest and weakest form of
“leading” is just telling people what to do because you are
authorized to do so)
MBA Admissions Consultant | http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/

19. If you are interested in becoming a client of Amerasia Consulting
Group, please email mba@amerasiaconsulting.com for information
on prices and services, or to request a free initial consultation.
http://www.amerasiaconsulting.com/