Evening & Weekend MBA Program
Application FAQs
How Long is the Program?
Where are Classes Held?
How Much Does the Program Cost?
Does This Program Award the Same Degree as the Full-Time MBA Program?
What Are the Application Deadlines?
Do You Offer Spring Admission?
How Many Students Apply and Enroll Each Year?
If I am Denied, will I be Offered Feedback?
Do I Have to Take the GMAT Before I Apply?
Do I Have To Take the TOEFL?
Will My Cohort Preference Affect My Chance of Admission?
What Are the Prerequisite Courses?
How Can I Fulfill the Prerequisites?
How Long is the Program?
The program is designed to be a three-year, six-semester (fall and spring) program. Students in the evening cohorts typically attend class twice a week, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., with a 45-minute break. Students in the weekend cohorts attend classes on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with two short breaks and a one-hour lunch. Students can accelerate the program by one semester by taking a heavier load of courses and/or by taking a summer course, but students must be enrolled for a minimum of five semesters.
Where Are Classes Held?
Evening cohort classes are held at the Haas School of Business on the UC Berkeley campus. Approximately half of the weekend cohort classes are held at a site in Silicon Valley, the other half at the Haas School in Berkeley.
How Much Does the Program Cost?
The Evening & Weekend MBA Program uses a per-unit pricing system. For fall 2008 fees, each unit is priced at $2,145.00*. You must complete 42 units to earn the MBA degree. Students typically take eight units in each of their first three semesters and six units in each of their remaining three semesters. The heavier load in the first few semesters will result in higher fees during the first three semesters. Using the $2,145/unit example above, a first-year student would take eight units each semester, for a total of $17,160.00 per semester. A student in semesters four through six would enroll in six units each term for a total of $12,870.00 per semester.
* Fees typically rise a small percentage each academic year, so the above figures are only approximate.
Does This Program Award the Same Degree as the Full-Time MBA Program?
Yes, Evening & Weekend and Full-time MBA students receive identical MBA degrees. Faculty in the Evening & Weekend MBA program are drawn from the same pool of faculty as the Full-time program.
What Are the Application Deadlines?
There are two application deadlines for Fall 2009. Applicants who submit completed applications by November 17, 2008 will be sent decision letters on approximately March 13, 2009. Applicants who submit completed applications by March 2, 2009 will be notified of their status around May 29, 2009.
Do You Offer Spring Admission?
No, we accept applications for the fall semester only.
How Many Students Apply and Enroll Each Year?
The number of applications we receive varies from year to year. In fall 2008, we received over 850 applications for the 240 seats available in the program.
If I am Denied, will I be Offered Feedback?
Due to the volume of applications, our feedback policy has changed. We will offer feedback only to those who had accepted a place on the waiting list and are subsequently denied. The feedback sessions will take place by phone over the summer.
Do I Have to Take the GMAT Before I Apply?
Yes, all applicants must furnish results from the GMAT* exam. The GMAT must be taken on or before the deadline for which you are applying. Those applying in the first round must take the GMAT on or before November 17, 2008 and those applying for the second round must take the GMAT on or before March 2, 2009. For fall 2009, we will accept GMAT scores taken as early as October 2003. If you take the GMAT more than once, we will consider the highest score, as long as that score falls within current test date requirements.
* GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. It is a standardized aptitude test required for entrance to the Evening & Weekend MBA Program. The test is administered by Pearson VUE and is offered year round. You may visit www.mba.com to register.
Do I Have To Take the TOEFL?
All applicants who received their bachelor's degrees in countries in which English is not the official language are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), including applicants from India and most European countries. Only applicants with one of more years of full-time academic study towards an advanced degree in a US institution, with grades of B or better, are exempted. TOEFL test dates are limited, so please schedule your testing date now.
Will My Cohort Preference Affect My Chance of Admission?
No, the admission decision will be made independently of your stated preference for either the evening or the weekend cohorts. If you are admitted to the Evening & Weekend MBA Program, we will then consider your preference and satisfy it to the extent possible.
What Are the Prerequisite Courses?
Prospective students must complete prerequisites in mathematics (college algebra or above; calculus is recommended) and statistics. Students without a background in financial accounting, microeconomics and macroeconomics are also strongly encouraged to take classes on their own to familiarize themselves with these topics.
How Can I Fulfill the Prerequisites?
The math and statistics prerequisites can be fulfilled in any one of the following ways:
- Applicants can take courses in college-level math and statistics. Courses can be taken at any accredited community college, college or university or UC Extension. A limited number of online courses are acceptable. View a PDF of approved courses in your area. Applicants must earn a grade of B or better in each course. These courses may be in progress at the time the application is filed, but must be completed by August 7, 2009 for fall 2009 applicants. Courses must have been taken within five years of August 2009 (between fall 2004 and summer 2009) and have a unit value equal to three semester units.
- Applicants may also opt to take and pass a waiver exam to demonstrate that they have the necessary quantitative skills. Waiver exams will be offered each year beginning in January.
- A third option exists for satisfying the college-level mathematics prerequisite only. Applicants who have scored in the 80th percentile or above on the quantitative section of the GMAT will automatically satisfy the prerequisite in college-level mathematics. We will accept scores from GMATs taken no earlier than October 2003.
- Please note that if you have not fulfilled the prerequisites by August 7, 2009, you will not be allowed to enroll even if an offer of admission has been made.
Please feel free to call us at (510) 642-0292 or send an email to ewmbaadm@haas.berkeley.edu, if you have any further questions.
