The MBA Insider's Blog

Tips on Preparing Your Audio or Video Clip Essay

Here are some insights into why the UCLA Anderson MBA program's application for admission includes an essay that can be submitted via audio or video clip and how to approach this option.

Rationale
The reasons for offering the audio and video options are two-fold: 1) to respond to applicant requests for additional means to present themselves to the Admissions Committee before an interview and 2) to augment written essays with more multidimensional verbal and/or visual communication methods. Based on our experience last year, multimedia gave us additional insights into applicant personality, sense of humor, intonation, verbal skills, creativity, etc.

The Question
For those of you who have not seen our application essays, Question 4, listed below is the one that allows for audio or video (or written) response:

Select and respond to one of the two following questions:

a. Entrepreneurship is a mindset that creates new opportunities in established and new organizations.  Describe an instance in which you exhibited this mindset.

b. What is something people will find surprising about you?

Tips on Preparing the Audio or Video Clip

• submit a written essay if you prefer that option to an audio or video clip
• avoid the Shakespeare Syndrome: we are more interested in your ability to communicate cogently and clearly than in your ability to write like a future Nobel Laureate
• forget the Hollywood Lights: we are more interested in your ability to communicate cogently and clearly than in your ability to present like Elizabeth Taylor or Kirk Douglas
• listen to a few from audio clips from last year on our MBA home page to get a sense of what applicants submitted (and close your eyes; the animations associated with these clips were created after-the-fact by UCLA film students)
• learn from your predecessors, who enjoyed creating an audio clip once they got over the fear!
  

East-West Finance at UCLA Anderson

I participated on a panel hosted by the Private Equity Association of Los Angeles (PEALA) earlier this week, along with representatives from other top MBA programs, including Stanford, Harvard, Kellogg, and Columbia. Each of us panelists spoke about the finance curriculum and activities at our business schools. I was pleased to share just a few of the many offerings of UCLA Anderson, including:

• Top-ranked, World-Renowned, Finance Faculty: UCLA Anderson has four fomer presidents of the American Finance Association on faculty, was recently ranked #1 in the world for its Finance Ph.D. Program (you'll get to know these faculty as an MBA), and offers access to a wide variety of resources.  
• Fink Center for Finance & Investments: endowed by Blackrock CEO, Larry Fink, and his wife, Lori, the center hosts distinguished speakers in finance, global conferences (e.g., Alternative Assets Conference of '07, Global Finance Conference of '08), and other events.
• Student Investment Fund (SIF): alumni report that this fund regularly outperforms the market. Many students who have participated in this fund have gone on to work on Wall Street and assume positions in major financial institutions.
• Investment Finance Association (IFA): one of the largest organizations on campus, with 300+ current members and thousands of IFA alumni. The IFA hosts diverse events, including workshops in valuation and financial modeling, rountables in investment management and private equity, and events dedicated to corporate finance and women in finance.
• Diverse Finance Electives: select from more than 50 electives, with an opportunity to specialize in investment banking/investment management, corporate finance, and/or venture capital and private equity.

So, if you think we're strictly media and entertainment or not serious about finance, then get to know us. UCLA Anderson offers world class curricula taught by world class faculty across business areas.

Top 10 MBA Applicant Myths

Below is a list of the top 10 UCLA Anderson MBA Applicant Myths, many of which hold true for other MBA programs.

• It is better to apply in Round 1 than 2.  The chances of admission are comparable in both rounds. Round 3 is more selective and allows less time for international students to process visas.
• UCLA Anderson is a media & entertainment school. UCLA Anderson is widely recognized for its breadth and depth of curriculum across disciplines, including finance, marketing, accounting, general management, etc.
• UCLA Anderson looks for a set profile of candidate. We seek a diversity of academic, professional, geographic, and personal backgrounds. Our program accepts many students who have neither studied business nor worked in consulting or investment banking.
• There are minimums or cut-off scores for the GPA and GMAT. Both measures are evaluated jointly, along with measures of ability to handle quantitative coursework. The distribution of GPA and GMAT scores among admitted students is broad.
• Work experience is a pre-requisite for admission.  Candidates are evaluated on both demonstrated and potential leadership and management skills. 
• Candidates are assessed on their number and/or type of extra-curricular activities and community service. We seek well-balanced students who possess a broad perspective on life. Candidates may have less formal commitments that exhibit this balance.   
• Applications are pre-screened.  All applications are read in their entirety. Admissions decisions are made across multiple criteria; it is the rare candidate who is denied based on one area of an application. 
• Applicants are evaluated relative to others with the same professional or geographic background. Applicants are evaluated relative to the entire pool. There are simply too many ways to disaggregate and assess candidate profiles.
• I have a better chance of being admitted if I visit or interview on-campus. We are committed to fairness and equity and recognize that there are applicants who are unable to visit us for monetary and/or personal reasons.
• Foreign students are not eligible for fellowships. International and domestic students, alike, are considered for merit-based fellowships. .

 

For more details about each of these myths, please visit the section of the website that describes our applicant evaluation process.

The Role of the GMAT in the MBA Application Process

Let’s face it: most folks either love or hate standardized tests. If you perform well on them, you tend to love them; if you perform less well on them, you tend to hate them. Those who are fond of the GMAT are prone to accept score results as prima facie evidence of their ability to perform well in an MBA program, either reinforcing a track record of strong performance or making up for a not-so-illustrious academic record. (It is these kinds of applicants you sometimes see on the Business Week’s b-school forums, where they use their laser-like focus to compare and fret over 10 point differences in GMAT scores.

Individuals who dislike the GMAT test often view it as an arbitrary and inaccurate measure of their ability to perform in grad school.  A common refrain is: ‘I just don’t test well on standardized tests – my brain does not function that way;” or “Performance on standardized tests measures one’s ability to perform well on tests and not much more.”

As with many things in life, reality lies somewhere in between the two extremes of love and hate. The GMAT test, when considered along with one’s prior academic experience at the baccalaureate level and beyond, is an accurate predictor (at UCLA Anderson, at least) of how one performs in his or her first year in the MBA program.  Fortunately for most applicants, there is no exact cutoff or minimum at UCLA Anderson of either of these measures. The distribution of GMATs and GPAs that reflect an ability to perform well, as reflected in each year’s incoming class, is fairly broad.

Beyond these numeric measures of preparedness for an MBA lie such qualitative measures as leadership and teamwork skills, managerial experience, initiative, ability to learn and growth from mistakes, introspection, ability to articulate clear reasons for an MBA and career goals going forward, contributions (to school, work, and/or community), etc. It is here that the bulk of time of applicant evaluation is spent. Although less quantifiable dimensions, they are equally important.

So whether or not you love or hate the GMAT, you may want to temper your view. At the same time that the GMAT is not the quintessential measure of an applicant’s merits, it is a useful evaluative tool in the admissions process. A healthy dose of ambivalence just might be in order…..

Della Bradshaw of Financial Times Reports on MBA Application Audio Clip

UCLA Anderson MBA program ventured this year into new territory by allowing applicants to submit one of their essays via audio clip. Learn more by viewing the FT.com posting, "A word in your ear." Return here for more information later.

Last Minute Tips for Round 2 MBA Applicants

As the Round 2 application deadline for the UCLA Anderson MBA program approaches on Thursday, January 8, 2009, applicants may well find themselves the natural recipients of advice from many well wishers, including friends, classmates, colleagues, professors, alumni of different programs, and consultants. Much of this information may be conflicting or even erroneous. Below are 10 applicant myths we encounter of which everyone should be aware they advise others or apply.

Top 10 UCLA Anderson MBA Applicant Myths

•    Round 2 applicants are at a disadvantage relative to Round 1 applicants. The chances of admission are comparable in both rounds. Round 3 is more selective and allows less time for international students to process visas.
•    UCLA Anderson is primarily focused upon entrepreneurship and media and entertainment. The fact is that our program is widely recognized for its its world-class faculty and intellectual capital, which extend across business and management disciplines, including finance, accounting, strategy, marketing and non-profit management.
•    UCLA Anderson looks for a set profile of candidate. Our program seeks a diversity of academic, professional, geographic, and personal backgrounds. We accept many students who have neither studied business nor worked in consulting or investment banking.
•    There are minimums or cut-off scores for the GPA and GMAT. Both measures are evaluated jointly, along with measures of ability to handle quantitative coursework. The distribution of GPA and GMAT scores among admitted students is broad.
•    Work experience is a prerequisite for admission.  UCLA Anderson is an early-career friendly program. Candidates are evaluated on both demonstrated and potential leadership and management skills.
•    Candidates are assessed on their number and/or type of extra-curricular activities and community service. We seek well-balanced students who possess a broad perspective on life. Candidates may have less formal commitments that exhibit this balance.  
•    Applications are prescreened.  All applications are read in their entirety. Admissions decisions are made across multiple criteria; it is the rare candidate who is denied based on one are of an application. 
•    Applicants are evaluated relative to others with the same professional or geographic background.  Applicants are evaluated relative to the entire pool. There are simply too many ways to disaggregate and assess candidate profiles.
•    The chances of being admitted are greater if one visits the school or interviews on-campus. We are committed to fairness and equity and recognize that there are applicants who are unable to visit us for monetary and/or personal reasons.
•    Foreign national students are not eligible for loans or scholarships. International and domestic students, alike, are considered for fellowships.

Stay tuned for more tips, including advice on the interview, in the months ahead.

Tips on Selecting the Best Recommenders for Your MBA Application

Here are some tips for selecting individuals to write letters of recommendation on your behalf as part of your MBA application. Do not worry excessively about this part of the application, as it is just one of many areas we evaluate. Decisions are made across multiple criteria and it is the rare letter that is sufficiently strong or weak to decisively influence an admissions decision.

Do select your recommenders with the following in mind:

• We are more concerned with content that recommender title or pedigree.
• We value the perspective that others who know you well in a professional setting can share.
• Direct supervisors are generally best, although peers recommendations are a fine backup plan.
• The best recommenders are those who can directly assess the qualities and questions listed on the recommendation form.  

In general, it is best to avoid letters from:

• Relatives – even if it’your father for whom you work and who is your greatest critic
• Family friends– even if they are well-connected and influential
• Professors – unless you worked for them or they can address academic deficiencies; remember this is for b-school and not a PhD
• Family graduates of the program – nice to know, but we (and many schools) do not admit based on legacy. The program is also likely more competitive than when your relatives were admitted.
• College friends – okay, they can discuss your character and challenges you’ve overcome, but they are biased and have not always seen you in a work capacity
• Your minister or priest – we do seek applicants with values and do know how active you’ve been in your religion based on what you listed elsewhere in the application
• CEOs, COOs or CFOs - if they know you only by reputation or via third party sources
• Your psychiatrist – we appreciate individuals who have overcome traumatic life experiences, but the details are TMI. If you have recovered or dealt with such issues, there will be evidence of it elsewhere in your application.
• Anyone who doesn’t know you well – even the most glowing praise is faint in the absence of specific examples to back it up.

As you can see, the list of things to avoid is longer than the guidelines to follow. This should make your task of selecting recommenders easier rather than harder.

Thoughts on MBA Admissions Consultants

It is time to apply to business school. And you are worried about the competition. Your friend, Ricardo, has hired a consultant to help him prepare his b-school applications. He has successfully located someone who appears to know all the 'ins and outs' of applying, and has offered to help him write some 'winning' essays.   

Should you consider hiring your friend's consultant? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages?  On the plus side, there’s the general knowledge that consultants have of MBA programs. Some have even worked for an admissions office and are familiar with how candidates are evaluated.

On the downside, consultants can so finely tune your essays that your own personal voice is lost. Or, even worse, your essays may read like they were written by multiple authors.  Admissions staff reading your application will gain little, if any, insight into the true you. And they may question the authenticity of your work, calling your integrity and admissibility into question.              

While a consultant may seem like a quicker route to your MBA destination, he or she can be expensive and not without pitfalls. So, if you are do use a consultant, use him or her in an advisory capacity – as a sounding board and someone with whom to discuss your thoughts and ideas. If you are unable to find a suitable coach or choose not to use one, do not be concerned. All the resources you need to present the best application possible are readily available.

Virtual resources to guide you in your MBA preparation include the websites listed along the left-hand navigation bar of this blog; websites of individual business schools; mba.com, managed by the General Management Admissions Council (GMAC), an organization supporting business schools; and applicant and student blogs (don't forget to view our MBA Student Voice Blog, accessible via the right-hand navigation bar on this page).       

You may also learn about b-schools and the application process through campus visits (view our campus visit program),  attending forums such as The MBA Tour or QS World Tour where representatives of hundreds of schools from around the world are interested in meeting and talking with you, as well as receptions and other events sponsored by individual schools and/or groups of schools (view a list of our worldwide events).

As you prepare your application(s) to business school(s), keep this one thing in mind: most MBA programs select the best applicants to their programs rather than the best applications.  Spend less time on 'impression management' and devote more energy to letting us admissions officers get to know the genuine you.

Tips for Early Career (EC) MBA Applicants

Are you fresh out of undergraduate school or have fewer than 3 years of professional, full-time work experience? If so, then you would qualify as an early career (EC) candidate to a top MBA program like UCLA Anderson if you apply this year. Here are some tips to guide prospective ECs applicant.

If you conduct a quick preliminary search of weekly business magazines, business school discussion boards, and related online sources (e.g. Business Week's Business Schools section, BizDeanTalk blog, accepted.com), you'll find that many MBA programs express a clear interest in ECs. Your friends in business school may report otherwise. And a glance at MBA class profiles shows that programs seem skewed to individuals with 4-6 years or more of work experience. How can these seeming contractions be explained?

The fact is that many schools are strongly interested in, and do admit, ECs. The key is that we admit those individuals who are talented, motivated, have exhibited a track record of leadership and initiative, and have a clear sense of why an MBA makes sense for them at this point in their career . While these individuals may possess fewer years of formal professional work experience than the average candidate, many of them have gained significant skills through internships or entrepreneurial ventures.  Others may have served as leaders in community service and/or extra-curricular activities. The challenge for most business schools is not a willingness to admit ECS, but the ability to identify and attract such individuals.  (The same is true for groups like women and underrepresented minorities, whose representation in MBA programs reflects their limited numbers in the applicant pipeline rather than admissions policies.)

So if you are EC, we welcome you. We are every bit as interested in your potential and ability to give back to your academic, work, and local communities as what you have accomplished to date.  If you think you may be interested in an MBA, then we encourage you to fully explore various MBA programs, discover reasons why the degree might make sense for you, and reflect on your life and how you envision it unfolding in the years ahead. Once you have taken these steps, you will not only be better prepared to present a thoughtful and articulate application, but you will be better poised to take full advantage of the opportunities available to you during your time in business school.

If you feel that you are now ready for an MBA, share your introspection and knowledge of the degree with us in a cogent manner. My colleagues and I are open to persuasion.

Tips on the UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Interview

We will begin releasing interview invitations for Round 1 applicants the week of 13 Oct 08.  If you are invited for an interview, here are some tips to help prepare you.

PURPOSE

Interviews provide additional information about your candidacy to be included in the final review of your application. Interviews are not the deciding factor in your admissions decision, and are typically fairly consistent with information provided in the application.

    

FORMAT

Interviews are blind in order to reduce bias. Your interviewer will not have seen your application in advance of meeting you and will, therefore, have no preconceived ideas or expectations of you, your talents, abilities, etc.

   

Interviews may include behavioral questions. Questions may center on specific examples or detailed descriptions of events, projects or experience that demonstrate how situations you’ve faced in the past have been handled and what you learned from them. Behavioral interviewing holds that past performance predicts future behavior.

   

Interviews are conducted on-campus and off-campus. Instructions on how to set up an interview are provided at the time of invitation.

   

No advance preparation is required. Questions are straightforward and cover topics already addressed in your application, such as why you want an MBA, why you feel you are a good fit for UCLA Anderson (vice versa), what your short- and long-term career goals are, how you spend your spare time, about what you are passionate, etc. You will not be asked to analyze a case study or demonstrate your mastery of particular subjects.

   

GENERAL TIPS

All interviews carry equal weight. While interviewing on-campus allows you see the school up close, there is no advantage to interviewing on-campus or with an admissions staff member. Arrange the type of interview that is most convenient for you.

   

Interviews are dialogues or exchange between two people. Steer away from pre-rehearsed speech and over reliance on your résumé. We are interested in getting to know you as an individual, so follow the queues of the interviewer.

   

The exact length of the interview does not indicate how well the interview went. While we schedule 30 minute interviews, the actual length may vary a bit. Deviations from the schedule are random and unrelated to the candidate.

   

Do not expect the interviewer to give you feedback – literally or figuratively. Be careful to avoid any interpretation of verbal or non-verbal communication in the interview or afterward, as both may mislead you.

   

Interviews are not a popularity contest. The interviewer is assessing your fit and readiness for the UCLA MBA program - not whether or not the two of you would make good or best friends.

   

Relax, be genuine, and enjoy the opportunity for us to get to know one another.