The MBA Insider's Blog

Waitlist Guidelines

Our remaining Round 1 decisions were released last week, and we’ve received a number of questions from candidates who were placed on the waitlist.  For clarification on our waitlist policy this year, please read on.

• Your name will remain on the waitlist until a final decision is made on your application or you request your application be withdrawn.
• Waitlisted candidates (excluding those who withdraw) will be reconsidered for admission in subsequent rounds. 
• Specifically, Round 1 applicants will receive an update on your application status by the Round 2 decision deadline of April 4, 2012.  Some candidates may be offered the option of remaining on the waitlist for consideration in Round 3.
• Waitlisted candidates may send in updates to their application since the Round 1 deadline to wlmgr@anderson.ucla.edu.  This is completely optional.
• We ask that you use your personal judgment and discretion in submitting information that is relevant to your application.  Some examples include (but are not limited to): updated GMAT scores, promotions at work, and recent extracurricular accomplishments.
• We cannot give individual feedback to waitlisted applicants.
• Chances of being admitted off the waitlist are difficult to predict since the number of students admitted from the waitlist varies from year to year depending on the size/strength of the admit pool, number of admits who enroll, and other factors.

Before you rush to submit additional information to the waitlist manager, please keep in mind that:

• Every interaction we have with you moving forward can be a data point on your file – make sure your interactions are targeted and value-added
• This is the busiest time of year for most admissions offices
• Quality of information/communication count more than quantity

As always, we appreciate your continued enthusiasm for UCLA Anderson and thank you for your patience as we craft the Class of 2014.

Mid-January admissions update

Our office is on the home stretch finalizing Round 1 decisions, and we are also polishing up our iPad screens to gear up for some intense Round 2 file reading.  The next several months are going to be extremely busy for us, especially given that applications for the full-time MBA program are up again this round!  Not only are the numbers looking good, but the quality of the pool continues to impress us, and we're definitely looking forward to meeting more outstanding candidates as we craft the Class of 2014 . 

On that note, here's an update on what our applicants can expect over the next few months:

- Round 1 decisions: The rest of our R1 decisions will be released on the morning of Wednesday, January 25th (Pacific Time).  You can log into your online application for a status update then.  Admitted students will also receive a phone call from the admissions office (or an email if we are unable to reach you).

- Round 2 applications: The vast majority of R2 files will be released to the admissions committee after round 1 decisions are out.  Although the application deadline was a week ago, we want to make sure each R1 application gets adequate evaluation time by the admissions committee before focusing on R2.  Which takes us to our next item...

- Round 2 interviews: Interview invitations will be sent via email starting next month.  We anticipate most will take place throughout February and March, depending on how quickly the admissions committee can evaluate applications.  Please note that R2 is our heaviest round by volume, so even though we will devote our time and resources into file reading, it will still take time to go through each one.  We thank you in advance for your patience through this process!

- Cool happenings: We have some amazing executives coming up on campus this year, such as Vice-Chairman & CEO of McDonald's Corporation Jim Skinner and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki.   Off-campus, faculty member Jim Stengel will be a featured speaker at this year's TED Conference in Long Beach.  Stay tuned on Twitter and Facebook for updates on these and other upcoming events.

Hello 2012!

A happy new year to our readers!  2011 was an exciting year for us with lots of great changes, and 2012 is already off to a wonderful start.  The admissions team was busy reading files throughout the university closure period, and we arrived back in the office today ready to release many more round 1 interview invitations.  We are wrapping up our round 1 files and will continue to invite applicants to interviews over the next few weeks. 

With the Round 2 deadline just about a week away, we're also gearing up for the busiest time of the admissions cycle, as this is typically the round in which we receive the greatest number of applications.  Layer on top of these impending files all of our upcoming admit events, winter admissions events with Inside the MBA and The MBA Tour, plus tons of other ongoing projects and you can see that the life of an admissions officer is never boring.  But hey, that's what we love about this job :)  Remember to check Facebook and Twitter for quick application tips and updates in the days leading up to the deadline.

One last update - class visits for winter quarter will begin on Tuesday, January 17th and registration is now open.  Click here to sign up (select Category 04. Full-Time MBA: Class Visit and search in the date range desired).

As always, feel free to send us any questions/thoughts via the comments section below, email, or phone.

International Students Play “Big Role” at UCLA Anderson

Working as a marketing director in Mexico City, Ron Friedman decided it was time to earn an MBA – in the U.S. In addition to wanting to open new doors in his career and gain a better understanding of the marketing field, he also wanted to follow in his brothers’ footsteps by going to a top school in the U.S.

We asked Ron, who graduated last May and works as a senior brand manager for L’Oreal, to talk with us about why he chose to come to UCLA Anderson and to share some of his experiences as an international student. Here’s what he had to say:

“I decided to come to Anderson because it was the best cultural fit. I felt a different energy here that was very welcoming and vibrant. Also, Anderson is known for its collegial atmosphere and that fit both with my personality and also my line of work in marketing, which is more team oriented.

“After interviewing with an alumnus in Mexico City, I was admitted and my wife and I moved to LA. Immediately upon arriving, Anderson held a special Orientation program just for international students, which was really helpful. It turned out that around 40% of my class was from all over the world. We even have six other Mexican students as well as many students from throughout Latin America. Our study groups always included an international student or two so that we were exposed to American students and vice versa.

“As we got into the school year, I became president of the Latin American Business Association and we held a ton of academic and social events that focus on the Latin American region like a Brazilian Carnival party last winter. International students play a big role at Anderson and all students are impacted by and benefit from each of our cultures.

“On the academic and career side of things, there is a lot of support for international students. We can participate in programs to help with things like improving our language skills and we have our own staff member in the Parker Career Management Center who works with students who have international career interests or need assistance with Visa issues. The school really puts an emphasis on taking care of the international students.

“Living in Los Angeles was a great experience as well. With a big international airport, we could easily fly home to Mexico City, but we also had access to great restaurants and cultural events in the city. LA is a microcosm of the world and it’s easy for international students to find places of comfort that remind us of home.

“During the last two years, I’ve met an incredible number of interesting people and had so many opportunities both in terms of my career search and future endeavors. Coming here from Mexico was completely worth it – it’s been the best experience so far in my life.”

Holiday update from the MBA Admissions team

Happy holidays to all our readers!  We have a couple of updates to share with you:

Update #1 - Early decision release: The admissions office released a batch of admits earlier this morning.  We are still working hard reading round 1 files and interview invitations will continue go out until mid-January.  Applicants who interviewed but have not received a decision yet may still need to go through a post-interview evaluation by the admissions committee.  At this point, we are not planning to release many more early decisions, but all our remaining round 1 applicants will definitely hear from us no later than January 25th. 

Updates will be posted on the blog and our other social media channels, so please stay tuned!

Update #2 - University closure: The University, including the MBA Admissions & Financial Aid office, will be closed starting Thursday, December 22nd through Monday, January 2nd.  However, you can stay in touch with us during this time via:

- Email: Our team will respond to email inquiries at mba.admissions@anderson.ucla.edu, though responses may be delayed a day or two. 

- Social Media: We will continue to post news and updates from our staff and current students on Facebook, Twitter, The Student Voice blog, and the admissions blog so please check back often.

- Signing up for future events: Please sign up for a webinar or group info session, or meet us on the road in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco next month.

The admissions committee will continue to read files throughout this time (no break for us but that's okay :))

As always, we're happy to answer any questions you have - feel free to post a comment or shoot us an email.

Admissions Interviews

Can you believe we're approaching the end of 2011?  Admissions interviews have been taking place over the past several weeks, so I thought now would be a good time for a blog post on this topic.  UCLA Anderson's interviews are by invitation only, and we will contact you via email if selected.  Our website has detailed information on the admissions interview, and below I've addressed some common questions we receive about the process.

- When will the admissions office let me know if I'm selected for an interview?   We've prioritized file reading to get invitations out as quickly as possible.  Interview invitations will go out regularly until mid-January except during the university-wide campus closure from December 22-January 2.

- Where do interviews take place?  Either on-campus with current students or admissions officers, off-campus with alumni in cities around the world, or virtually via Skype with students or admissions officers. All interviews regardless of location are weighed equally, as all interviewers are trained on the same evaluation metrics.

- What sorts of questions should I be prepared for?  Questions revolve around your reasons for an MBA, career goals, interest in UCLA Anderson, and professional/personal experiences as outlined in your application materials.  As an interviewee, you should be prepared to provide insightful responses showcasing strong communication skills, demonstrating knowledge of our program, and ultimately expressing why you are a great fit for UCLA Anderson.  Also, remember that this is also an opportunity for you to learn more about us, so arrive with thoughtful questions for your interviewer too!

Receiving an interview invitation indicates that you made a pretty compelling case for yourself on paper, so continue the positive momentum by making an equally strong case in person. 

I hope this helps to clarify the interview process for our readers. Feel free to leave any questions or thoughts in the comments section below.   

iPads bring a paperless world to MBA Admissions

Our application process has gone completely paperless now, as we started evaluating candidates on our iPads.  Using new software from Matchbox we can zoom in on PDF's of everything submitted on-line to rate candidates on our metrics including academics, leadership, focus and personal skills.  It's fun to highlight evidence that proves the high quality of our applicants.

E-reading came along just in time to help us with our big increase in applications this year!

So far we have focused our reading on certain geographic areas and now we are turning our attention to the whole wide world.  Interview invitations will follow fast in the next few weeks as we read our way through the applicant pool.  No more piles o' files here though -- everybody just gets their turn on-screen.

Speed and depth in our evaluations are both enhanced with the new iPad tool.  Our admission committee members can share insights more readily than ever as we find the best people to join the UCLA Anderson family.  Brave pioneers are welcome here to help us shape this brand new era.

 

UCLA Anderson Spotlight: Dual Degree Student Finds Global Healthcare Opportunities at UCLA Anderson

After consulting in the healthcare field for several years after college, Shravya Kidambi decided that she needed an MBA to progress further in her career. She wanted to learn more about the area of healthcare as well as explore her long-term goal of working for a global healthcare nonprofit.

“I hoped to find a business school that offered plenty of hands-on learning opportunities and as many experiences as possible in the healthcare and nonprofit fields so that I could better determine what I enjoy and where I want to go after graduation,” she says. When she visited UCLA Anderson, she knew she had found the right place.

Not only did UCLA offer a concurrent degree program with Anderson and the School of Public Health, it also offered ample opportunities to explore her areas of interest in classes, clubs, volunteer programs, and internships.

Now in her last year of the concurrent degree program, Kidambi – who is originally from India but grew up in Abu Dhabi -- has taken advantage of many of those opportunities. On the club front, she’s served in a leadership role for the Healthcare Business Association and as copresident of Challenge for Charity, the largest MBA-run charitable organization in the world. Last year, Anderson students in the club volunteered over 5,000 hours and raised over $105,000 for the Special Olympics, Project Echo, and Junior Achievement.

She also volunteered to spend three weeks at UCLA’s Medical Center in the Radiation and Oncology Department where she analyzed clinic room utilization and patient wait times. Afterward, Kidambi began an internship for the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Executive Program, which gave her an opportunity to visit South Africa and Ghana to help teach strategy to managers at HIV/AIDS non-profits.

And through her Applied Management Research project (AMR) supervised by Prof. Victor Tabbush, she visited Tanzania where her team researched ways to address the need for more surgical staff in sub-Saharan Africa. “I talked to doctors in rural hospitals, government officials and patients about what has worked in terms of providing incentives for doctors and alternative ways to address the problem,” she says, noting that her team’s findings were presented at a surgical conference in Kenya.

This past summer, she went to Switzerland to intern for the World Health Organization, studying how establishing public-private partnerships can deal with health security issues such as the radiation leaks in Japan.

“If you know what you want to do and look for those opportunities at Anderson, you’ll find them,” says Kidambi. “Anderson is about trying new things, thinking outside of the box, and not always sticking to a pre-existing structure. I’ve had leadership opportunities, hands-on learning experiences, and internships all in the areas of healthcare and nonprofits   – I’ve gotten everything I hoped for out of this program and much more.”

Full-time MBA Round 1 applications are up

The MBA Admissions team is excited to announce that our Round 1 applications are up by more than 20% as prospectives worldwide recognize the growing value offered by the UCLA Anderson MBA program.  Innovations in our curriculum spark the interest of those looking for strong career preparation, while our exciting location and collaborative culture have enduring appeal.  Streamlining our application also helped as we make it easier for candidates to present their case to join the UCLA Anderson family.  With career outcomes for current students at a buoyant level, it is clear that we are a school on the move.

File reading is in full swing and interview invitations have started going out this week.  Although it is still relatively early in the application season, we are optimistic that the size and quality of our applicant pool will continue to impress us in Rounds 2 and 3.

We look forward to seeing your application!

Introducing our new Social Media Ambassadors

We are excited to announce a fresh group of students on The MBA Student Voice  and on the UCLA Anderson MBA Twitter feed.  Some are familar faces whom you might remember from last year and our summer blogger group, while others are brand new additions to the group.  These students, designated as our Social Media Ambassadors (SMA), will share their insights on business school to showcase what it's like to be an MBA student at UCLA Anderson.

 

Charlotte Baxter, Class of 2013 - blogger
Hi, I’m Charlotte Baxter, a member of UCLA Anderson Class of 2013. I moved to LA from Palm Beach, FL, where I own a home and lived with my fiancé and our cat. I grew up in Atlanta, GA, attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and worked at a bank in New York City prior to moving to Florida. For the last six years I was a Real Estate Developer of hotels in the top MSAs on both coasts, developing products such as Residence Inns in places like DC, Seattle, and San Diego. In my spare time I’m an avid marathoner and triathlete.

 
 
Matthew Camp, Class of 2012 - blogger
Matthew Camp is a second year MBA candidate at the UCLA Anderson School of Management with a focus on marketing and strategy.  Matthew was a Summer Associate at ZS Associates, where he will be returning as a Consultant after graduating from Anderson.  Matthew is studying abroad during the Fall 2011 quarter at FGV in Sau Paulo, Brazil.

 

Steven Chang, Class of 2013 - Twitter
Born and raised in Texas, I took the scenic route to an MBA -- working as a management consultant in New York before transitioning to a career in television as a writer in Los Angeles.  I landed at UCLA Anderson to revisit my interest in entrepreneurship.

 

 

Yael Davidowitz-Neu, Class of 2013 - Twitter
Yael Davidowitz-Neu is a first-year MBA student at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Prior to starting her MBA program, she worked for Google in a variety of roles including global sales strategist. She grew up in New York and lived in Boston and San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles.

 

Tara Egan, Class of 2012 - blogger
Tara is currently in her second year at UCLA Anderson, concentrating on nonprofit marketing and management. Before coming to Anderson she spent 4 years in marketing and sales at Ligne Roset, a boutique furniture company. Tara has also worked with several nonprofits, helping develop creative solutions to various fundraising, outreach, and marketing challenges. Over the summer she interned at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, evaluating and improving marketing and development strategies. Tara graduated with honors from McGill University with a B.A. in History and a minor in Economics.

 

Jesse Ferlianto, Class of 2012 - blogger
Jesse is a 2nd year student at UCLA Anderson with a concentration in Marketing and Strategy.  He previously worked in distressed investment banking with Alvarez & Marsal and Morgan Joseph, and interned in Chick-fil-A's marketing department over the summer.  Married to his college sweetheart, he's also a tennis player, swing dancer, musician, and board game enthusiast.

 

 

 

Dustin Goot, Class of 2012 - blogger
Dustin is focusing his MBA studies on product strategy and business alliances in digital media. He has 10 years’ experience in media, serving as a writer and editor before transitioning to online product management at such publishers as Hearst, Hachette Filipacchi and Time Out New York Partners. He has led projects to implement eCommerce capabilities, negotiate interactive gaming partnerships, craft custom digital marketing programs, establish content syndication partnerships and generally optimize a website’s functionality and revenue potential. Dustin oversaw a tripling of unique Web visitors at Time Out New York within 18 months. He has been published in Wired, MBA Jungle, The Real Deal and Sports Illustrated. At UCLA Anderson, Dustin serves on the board of the Entrepreneurship Association, as VP of Educational Programs, and the Entertainment Management Association, as VP of New Media & Gaming.

 

Connie Kim, Class of 2013 - blogger
I've worked as a broker and financial consultant for the last four years and now trying to venture into securities analysis or management consulting.  I also speak Korean and Japanese and consider myself a purveyor of all things related to Asian culture.  I'm definitely looking forward to blogging about my UCLA Anderson experience!

 

Babis Makrynikolas, Class of 2013 - blogger
Babis graduated from the American College of Greece and the Department of Banking and Financial Management at the University of Piraeus. He participated in the Erasmus Exchange program studying in the city of Gent, Belgium.  He also completed an internship with the Hellenic capital market committee and worked for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. After fulfilling his military service, he traveled to India to join the PwC Entrepreneurship Project.  After returning to Greece he co-founded Whiztech, a start up offering consulting services on web-based business models, web development, online marketing and social media. Currently he is an MBA candidate at UCLA Anderson and an editor-in-chief for the International Journal of Young Leadership. His main interests are technology, music and writing.

 

Willem Suyderhoud, Class of 2013 - blogger, Twitter
Willem is currently a first-year student at UCLA Anderson. Prior to arriving at UCLA, Willem worked as a television sports anchor and producer in Butte, Montana, Medford, Oregon and San Francisco. There, he went by his television name, Will Southwood. Suyderhoud was simply too difficult to pronounce. Willem decided to come back to school not because he wanted to go by his true name, but because he found himself increasingly drawn to television’s future and the role digital technology will play in it. He's excited to develop the business skill set that UCLA Anderson will provide and even more excited to share his experiences through social media.