We are back in Berkeley, California, with Eric Askins, Executive Director of Full-time MBA Admissions at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business in this edition of our Admissions Director Q&A.
Eric is dedicated to recruiting exceptional global talent and focuses his efforts on the intersection of access and excellence, identifying and enrolling outstanding leaders from all backgrounds who will shape the future of business. Eric and his team partner with students, faculty, and staff to build a community defined by innovative leadership and academic rigor, ensuring that a Haas education is both world-class and within reach.
Check out our Q&A with Eric below for his insights into the MBA program, how to navigate the application, and his favorite aspects of life at Haas.
Clear Admit: What is the one aspect of your program that you wish applicants knew more about?
Eric Askins: This is an incredibly exciting time to be at Berkeley Haas. With our new Dean, Jennifer Chatman, who is herself a “Double Bear” (a Berkeley alum twice over!), there’s a palpable energy around what we’ll be offering in the coming year. Beyond our well-known strengths, I wish applicants understood the sheer momentum we have in key areas that will define the future of business: AI, sustainability, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
Under Dean Chatman’s leadership, we are not just adding courses in these areas; we are building integrated ecosystems. For example, we’re fast-tracking a formal AI certificate for our MBA students, ensuring they graduate with the credentials to prove their expertise. This isn’t just about learning the technology; it’s about understanding, as Dean Chatman says, “the human edge of innovation.” We’re preparing leaders who can think critically about where AI adds value and where it falls short. This focus on developing innovative leaders who are also ethical and collaborative is what truly sets Haas apart.
Clear Admit: Walk us through the life of an application in your office from an operational standpoint. What happens between the time an applicant clicks “submit” and the time the committee offers a final decision?
EA: Our evaluation is a deeply human-centered process, focused more on the people reviewing the application than on a rigid, step-by-step procedure. Once an application is complete, it is reviewed by at least two members of our admissions team, who each read it independently. This structure allows for multiple perspectives on every file. When our evaluations align, the application moves forward efficiently. However, when there are differing opinions, the application receives a third read to ensure a comprehensive and fair evaluation.
Candidates who demonstrate strong potential are invited to an interview, which adds another personal data point to their file. The final stage is a discussion with the full Admissions Committee. What’s special about this part of the process is that by the time a candidate is discussed in committee, they have often collected several advocates along the way. These team members present the candidate’s case, leading to a rich, holistic conversation before a final decision is made. It’s less of a mechanical process and more of a collaborative effort to build a diverse and dynamic class.
Clear Admit: How does your team approach the essay portion of the application specifically? What are you looking for as you read an essay? Are there common mistakes that applicants should try to avoid? What is one key thing they should keep in mind as they sit down to write?
EA: We’ve made some exciting updates to our essays to give candidates more ways to show us who they are. Our approach is to create a complete picture, combining a written essay on professional goals with a video essay that brings your personality to life.
Our long-standing prompt, “What makes you feel alive?” is now a video essay. This is one of my favorite changes because it’s a fantastic opportunity for you to show up authentically. The goal isn’t a polished, high-production video. It’s a chance for us to see your passion, your energy, and your personality in a way that words on a page can’t always capture. It’s a direct way to connect with the admissions committee.
The written portion of our application still includes the essential short-term and long-term goals essay. Here, we’re looking for clarity, ambition, and a thoughtful connection between your past experiences and your future aspirations.
Finally, we’ve introduced a new optional essay that invites you to share your “distance traveled.” This is an opportunity to give us the context of your life experiences. Have you overcome significant challenges? Are you the first in your family to pursue a graduate degree? This essay helps us understand the unique path you have walked and the resilience you have developed along the way.
The most common mistake is to create a persona you think we want to see. The one key thing to remember is that we want to get to know the real you. Be introspective, be genuine, and let your authentic self shine through in every part of the application.
Clear Admit: Could you tell us about your interview process? Approximately how many applicants do you interview? Who conducts the interview and what is the nature of the interview? Will your admissions interviews be in-person or virtual for the 2025-2026 admissions season?
EA: The interview is a crucial part of our holistic review, and we invite a significant portion of our applicant pool—typically between a quarter and a third—to participate. The interview is conducted by trained second-year students and alumni who have a deep understanding of our culture. To ensure an unbiased and fresh perspective, interviewers only have access to your resume.
Our behavioral interview is built around our four Defining Leadership Principles: Question the Status Quo, Confidence Without Attitude, Students Always, and Beyond Yourself. While we don’t share the specific questions in advance, the interview is a conversation where you’ll be asked to reflect on past experiences that demonstrate how you embody these principles. For each principle, you will be given a prompt that allows you to select the stories that best represent your experiences.
This structured approach allows us to gain a consistent and fair assessment of every candidate. It moves beyond a simple recounting of your resume and into a deeper exploration of your values and character. We want to understand not just what you’ve done, but how you’ve done it, and how you will contribute to and thrive in the unique, culture-driven community at Berkeley Haas.
Clear Admit: If your application features an impromptu video interview/video essay, how does it differ from the main interview? What should applicants know about this step in the process?
EA: Our video essay serves a very different purpose than an impromptu exercise. We recognize the value of those types of questions but our evaluation is designed to be accessible to those who process differently or need to take a moment to translate. The video essay is all about seeing your authentic self in action. It’s a chance for us to get a sense of your personality, your passions, and your communication style in a more informal setting. We found that the stories candidates shared were so much more powerful when we could see and hear the passion behind them. However, our biggest piece of advice is not to read from a script. We want to get a sense of the real you, not your ability to deliver a monologue.
Think of it this way: we want the kind of story you might tell a new friend at a cocktail party or during an informal chat at a networking event. It’s perfectly fine to have a few bullet points to guide you, but we want the conversation to feel natural and genuine. The goal is to be prepared, but not rehearsed. This is your chance to humanize your application and let your unique personality shine through.
Clear Admit: Is there anything in particular international students should keep in mind during the admissions process?
EA: We deeply value the global perspectives that our international students bring to the Haas community. My advice for international applicants is to be very clear and specific in your essays and interviews about why you are interested in Haas and how our program will help you achieve your career goals.
We encourage international students to apply in the earlier rounds to ensure a smooth transition. Timelines for securing a visa have been in flux lately and we want to ensure candidates have enough preparation time.
We have a vibrant international student community and numerous resources to support you, from the Berkeley International Office to our student-run clubs.
Clear Admit: What is your favorite spot on campus?
EA: That’s a tough question because the entire Berkeley campus is so iconic. But if I had to pick just one, it would be the view from the top of the Campanile, our 307-foot clock tower. It’s more than just a beautiful view; it’s a powerful symbol of our connection to the broader Bay Area innovation ecosystem. From up there, you can see the skyline of San Francisco, the hills of Marin, and the expanse of Silicon Valley. It’s a tangible reminder that when you come to Haas, you’re not just joining a business school; you’re plugging into one of the most dynamic economic and cultural centers in the world. It’s a place that inspires big-picture thinking and reminds our students of the scale of the impact they can have.
On a more intimate level, I also love our own Haas courtyard. It’s the heart of our community, always buzzing with energy. You’ll see students collaborating on projects, faculty holding office hours, and friends catching up between classes. It represents the close-knit, collaborative culture that is so central to the Haas experience. So, I guess I have two favorites: one for the grand perspective and one for the community connection.
Clear Admit: Is there anything else you’d like to highlight about your MBA program or admissions process?
EA: I want to reiterate that this is a pivotal moment for Haas. Under Dean Chatman’s leadership, we are doubling down on what makes us unique: our commitment to developing leaders who are not only innovative and entrepreneurial, but also deeply principled. Our Defining Leadership Principles are not just words on a wall; they are woven into everything we do, from our admissions interviews to classroom dynamics and alumni engagement.
Another key aspect to highlight is our deep integration with the broader UC Berkeley campus; the number one public university in the world. This isn’t just about proximity; it’s about access. Our MBA students can take coursework in any of Berkeley’s other world-class graduate programs. Imagine complementing your finance courses with a class at the School of Information on data privacy, or taking an energy policy class at the Goldman School of Public Policy. This ability to draw on the intellectual firepower of the entire university ecosystem is what prepares our graduates to lead at the intersection of business, technology, and social impact. It’s how we develop leaders who can truly see the whole picture and tackle the world’s most complex challenges. If you are a leader who wants to make a positive impact, there is no better place to be than Berkeley Haas.
