Planning for New Student Orientation Starts

The highlight of the year for the Admission Committee is the 3-day New Student Orientation occurs in August every year.

Typically the planning starts months ahead since the committee needs to conduct brainstorming followed by detailing out the logistics. Today is our first meeting, and the core planning committee composed of: Sharianne, Phil, Swati, Chris, and myself. Our contact in the Program Office is Siu Yung Wong (aka Mr. Wong), Siu Yung is the main person who makes the orientation happen.

The followings are the scope for the Admission Committee:
1. Assist in the selection and recruiting of a guest speaker for Friday night.
2. Organize and execute the Saturday night entertainment event.
3. Organize and execute campus tours. Recruit and train volunteers, plan detailed logistics.
4. Organize and execute student club workshop. Recruit club officers, plan detailed logistics.
5. Assist the Program Office staff in facilitating the overall flow of the event.
6. Serve as the student ambassadors during check-in, breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

There are lots of work ahead of us, however after today's first meeting, it is apparent that we have an extremely engaging and capable team that will make this orientation a great success!

Second Round Admissions Calls

The second round admitted students got the good news this past week. Admisssions Committee volunteers called to congratulate them, answer questions, and encourage them to attend the welcome reception. After the welcome reception, the next big project for the committee is preparation for orientation.

Q&A

Interviews for the second round applicants are still going on. We had another series of Saturday interviews. This time the interviewees were mainly from out of town. Many of the applicants planned to fly to the Bay Area for Saturday classes, while others planned to relocate if he or she is accepted into the program. Three of the applicants came in from Washington DC. All of them planned to relocate. It would be a hellish commute otherwise.

A number of the current EWMBA students were on hand to give tours of the Haas campus, introduce the prospective students to professors and answer any questions about the EWMBA program.

Some of the questions asked by the prospective students included:
"Are there any vegetarian restaurants?"
-Um, yes. Welcome to Berkeley.

"Can you explain the bidding system for classes?"
-They are for the elective classes. You need to get through the core classes first.

And the most popular question of the day,
"How much time do you spend on homework outside of class?"
-A lot.

The Ides of March

The second round application deadline has passed and the review process is underway. About 40 of the applicants for the Class of 2011 came in for interviews on March 15th. While that may not have been a good day for Julius Caesar, it may prove to be an auspicious day for some of the applicants.

Stacey, Sharianne, Philip and I acted as student ambassadors for the event. We gave tours of the Haas campus and answered any questions that the applicants may have had about the EWMBA program. The applicants asked many great questions and were very enthusiastic about EWMBA program.

I was that applicant sitting in the waiting room not too long ago. It was interesting to be on the other side.

I had a few thoughts about the interview process. This is not a job interview—it’s worse. The EWMBA application process is long and takes many steps. Applicants need to write several essays, get letters of recommendation and take the GMAT. After all that, only two-thirds of the applicants are invited for an interview. The interview is a chance for the admissions committee to get to know the applicant. This is the applicant’s chance to shine.

Here are some things to consider before an MBA interview.

• Be gracious.
• Ask questions. This is a good chance to interact with people from the EWMBA program.
• Wear a suit. Men should wear a tie. If you don’t own a suit, then buy one. It may even be considered as tax-deductible. There will be plenty of occasions when wearing a suit is required during the EWMBA program.
• Smile and say, “Thank you.”

2008 Admissions Committee

Stacey Fang
Committee Co-Chair







Chris Lin
Committee Co-Chair










Phil Liu
Executive Committee Member











Sharianne
Executive Committee Member










Diana Lai


Committee Liaison





Phil Xiang












Gilbert Lee












Lin Yang