It’s finally time. You’ve spent the past month thinking up the best ways to show your accomplishments. You’ve spent the past year-and-a-half prepping for this single day. You’ve given up the chance for guaranteed admissions in other business schools. All for a shot at Haas.
About a month ago, my flatmate James wrote an impressive piece on his thoughts on applying to Haas, and where your true motivations should lie. I wholeheartedly agree with his argument, and I encourage you to give it a quick read here.
Simply put, you should be motivated by your passions in life. The things you do and the decisions you make shouldn’t be reflective of how you want others to see you. If wealth and power are your motivators, you’ll never be content.
Follow your passions and be the best you can be. The rest will fall into place.
Don’t be afraid to take that risk. You already took the risk by applying to Haas, but keep in mind that even the most successful entrepreneurs failed many times before seeing success. Don’t be afraid to fail, and when you do, pick yourself back up. When you succeed, it will be the best feeling in the world.
Going with that thought, keep in mind that in the grand scheme of things, Haas is merely a means to an end and not the end itself. It is a tool and resource to allow you to achieve your passions, but it is not the only one.
There are countless other ways to do what you truly love, and the more resourceful you are, the more likely you will see success.
Next semester, you’ll hear back from the admissions office. But whether you get in or not, don’t let Haas applications define who you are – you are much more than that. You are smart, motivated, and have the potential to succeed in anything that you put your mind to.
Dream big, don’t let others tell you who you should be, and follow your passions in life.
Cheer on the applicants at randomtidbitsofthought.wordpress.com.
Thanks Glen! That was very helpful! Good luck to all Haas applicants this year!