MBA Insider's Blog

Assistant Dean Alex Lawrence in Washington, DC

Assistant Dean Alex Lawrence's next stop on his east coast swing was Washington, DC attending the QS MBA Tour and Consortium MAPS events last week.  We hope you had a chance to meet him during his trip!
 

The last leg of this East Coast visit is our nation’s capitol, Washington DC.  For a more efficient use of my time and ease of travel, I hopped on board an Amtrak train between New York and DC in the morning.  My next objective was the UCLA Anderson Diversity in the MBA Lunch event. I hosted a group of 2016 applicants interested in learning more about our full-time MBA Program. At Graffiato Pizzerianear the Verizon Center, the topics of conversation focused on the success of our Parker Career Management Center, the entrepreneurial courses, the Fink Center for Finance and Investments, andfellowship opportunities.  We said our good-byes at the end of the event knowing that I would see many of them at the Consortium MAPs event that night and/or the QS Tour event on Thursday. 

Later that evening, I participated on a panel discussing the MBA application’s letter of recommendationrequirement. And in particular, why an applicant should not write it on behalf of the recommender. UCLA Anderson values its partnership with the Consortium organization.  The school fair following the panel provided another opportunity to connect with more local residents interested in UCLA Anderson.

The next day, I used a Capital Bikeshare to ride to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library and work there instead of my hotel room. You know, leverage the great wifi resources, scenary, and do a little bit of research before the QS MBA Tour event at the National Building Museum. Along the way, I saw a few familiar sites but resisted the temptation to grab a DC slice of pizza. I must have spoken with nearly 30 people that evening interested in UCLA Anderson.  Many indicated they are either attending our November Embracing Diversity event, visiting the campus, having lunch with a faculty representative, and/or speaking with a current student about the MBA experience in Los Angeles.

So, now I am headed back to the West Coast but was able to snap an early morning photo of the Washington Monument before catching my flight. Next week is Chicago and Minneapolis. I’m looking forward to returning to the MidWest and join our awesome alumni at the Women in the MBA Lunch and information session in both cities. Stay tuned…….

Work Experience and Extracurricular Activities

Today’s application topic is all about work experience and extracurricular activities.  While UCLA Anderson does not require work experience to apply, the vast majority of students here have some level of full-time experience prior to starting the program (our class profile has more details).   

The admissions committee considers a variety of factors when evaluating work experience and extracurricular activities, among them leadership/managerial potential, readiness/fit for an MBA at Anderson, and ways an applicant can enhance the overall learning environment for their peers.  It's a lot of information to convey in a limited amount of application space, so it’s important that you take advantage of all the opportunities you have.  Be sure to completely answer all questions pertaining to work experience and extracurricular activities in the online application. (We really DO read everything!!)  Also, check that your resume is current and formatted properly so that we can quickly find important accomplishments like milestones achieved, leadership roles, and career progression.  Remember that the quality of your words, not quantity, is what matters so limit your resume to 1-2 pages.

UCLA Anderson values diverse perspectives in the classroom, and we welcome applicants from both traditional and non-traditional backgrounds.  Bankers and consultants are important to have in the classroom, but you won't learn much from your peers if they comprise your entire class.  Coming from a unique background can add a distinct point-of-view that can prove to be quite valuable in classroom discussions and learning teams.  If this applies to you, use it as a way to differentiate yourself in the application process - just be sure to make a strong case for an MBA and present focused career plans!

Extracurricular activities, especially those in which you held significant leadership roles, can help supplement your work experience, especially for those who we call "early career" candidates with less than 2 years of full-time experience.  In addition, this involvement helps us assess how you'll contribute in our network of clubs and other organizations, which is a very important part of the UCLA Anderson MBA experience.  Activities during and after college, inside and outside the workplace, are all taken into consideration.

For more on work experience and extracurricular activities, check out the Application Requirements section of our website.

Recruiting update from Assistant Dean Alex Lawrence

Assistant Dean of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Alex Lawrence is in the east coast this week meeting prospective students and alumni. Today he provides a sneak peek into his busy schedule during his stay in New York.

 

I always enjoy traveling to New York. Whether it be personal or business, I love the opportunity to return to the East Coast where I grew up and interact with the so-called “City that never Sleeps”. After a red-eye from LAX to La Guardia, I arrived in the city around 10am. A quick infusion of Starbucks products revived me in time to connect with The Riordan Programs alumni for lunch. Of course this is a special organization supported by UCLA Anderson for 26 years and one that is near and dear to my heart.  I brought them up to speed on my recruiting efforts and activities not only in New York but all over the country this month.  They are my eyes and ears for talent in the City…sort of like a special forces that can get me anything I need if/when I want it.

After watching (on my iPad NFL app) my beloved Cowboys lose to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, I hustled over to the QS World Tour event.  I shower/changed into my “uniform” with plenty of time to participate in a panel titled – “Successful Strategies when Applying to Business School”. It was a perfect platform not only to share the activities/habits of candidates who are competitive and successful, but a chance to showcase the UCLA Anderson brand too. It must have worked because the line at my career fair table that night was 15-20 people deep at all times until the event closed. I met some really talented candidates who had questions related to UCLA Anderson’s 6 Centers, partnership with the Consortium, other fellowship opportunities, the school’s tracks and specialties, culture of our students and the community, concerns about the recent NY Times article focused on gender equity, and at least ½ dozen more topics of interest. I talked to every one of those visitors because I want them to know who we (UCLA Anderson) are as an institution.

 

The next couple of days included some “ground work”. I hosted a Women in the MBA Luncheon with my friend Valerie (’97 alumna) targeting female MBA candidates. I returned the next day for our MBA Diversity luncheon at OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria. Reggie (’14 MBA candidate) joined me to answer the candidates’ questions about UCLA Anderson. Reggie really “knocked the ball out of the park” with his candid comments about the caliber of students, the power and influence of having a great career management team like the Parker Career Management Center directed by my colleague Dean Regazzi.  The next subway stop was meeting with another great Riordan alumna – Adrienne - who has always supported me. She provided ½ dozen names as potential recruits within the banking organization she works. Thanks Adrienne!

Washington DC is next on my travel schedule….I’m looking forward to the Consortium MAPs event, another Women in the MBA luncheon, and more “ground work” before returning to LA.

UCLA Anderson's MBA essay

This year we have reduced the number of essays for our MBA application from three to just one required essay. We anticipate that some of you may be feeling relieved that the application just got shorter, but we also know that some of you will be feeling a bit more anxious. After all, you will have fewer words to tell us about yourself and your post MBA plans. This post is intended to share with you our rationale for this change and give you some useful pointers to get you off to a great start. 

We reduced the number of essays to only one because we want you to concentrate your energy (and ours) on what matters most. The selected essay serves as an excellent proxy for a face-to-face interview before we have an opportunity to meet you in person, thus rounding off our assessment of the information your are providing on the rest of the application.

This year’s essay question is: What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals?

At first glance this question may seem overly simplistic but, if used correctly, the answer can provide the admission committee with lots of valuable information about you and enhance your application. Your essay will help us understand your plans (short and long-term). It also tells us about your self-assessment/awareness and your professional maturity. A good essay should address the path you intend to follow in our program and beyond; connect it to your passions and show some insights into areas you wish to develop. Thoughtful applicants will also look to identify any resources and tools the program may offer to help you achieve your goals. Examples may include classes, activities, clubs and other extra curricular opportunities.  The goal is to communicate that you are ready for an MBA and that you have a solid understanding of what is needed to make the most of your experience. And lastly, that you have a clear plan for your post MBA life.

Now that we have laid out the foundation for a good application essay, you may be thinking about how you will be able to stand out from the several hundreds or even thousands of essays that we will be assessing this season. The secret ingredient is “YOU.” Letting a little of your personality, style and passion show through while you speak candidly about your plans will help make your essay distinct and interesting. While we know that most people are not professional writers or even native English speakers, a little personality and specific details can make it more compelling. We suggest that you have friends or family read your drafts to confirm that others understand what you want to convey and that you are adequately answering the questions. It also goes without saying that you should proofread it carefully. A good admissions essay should not have grammatically or typographical errors. We also check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own work.

For those of you that may have additional situations to address such as an unexplained leave off absence from work, or a suboptimal academic performance during a particular time in college, you might consider using our optional essay to address those situations.

For more information on our essays (including optional and reapplicant essays) please visit the application requirements section of our website. 

Good luck and happy writing!

UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions and Financial Aid