MBA Insider's Blog

Instagram @uclaMBA #TuesdayTakeover: Carolyn Wright '19

Introducing you to today's Instagram #TuesdayTakeover student, Carolyn Wright! Carolyn will be taking over our Instagram account @uclamba for a whole day today to show everyone a "Day in the Life" of a UCLA Anderson student!

Check in throughout the day to our @uclaMBA instagram account to hear about a "Day in the Life" as a UCLA Anderson MBA!

---

Name: Carolyn Wright Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota Undergraduate Studies: American University - International Studies Pre-Anderson:  Dentons US LLP - Legal Recruitment Coordinator Post-MBA Goals CPG Operations

---

LEARN MORE ABOUT CAROLYN: 

Academic Specialization: Operations and Human Resources

Leadership@Anderson:

• Section Vice President of Alumni Relations
• Director of Business Development - Sports Business Association
• Admissions Ambassador Corps 1st Year Rep

Clubs@Anderson:

• Sports Business Association
• Women's Business Conection
• Anderson Wine Club
• Strategy and Operations Management Association

 

---
Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Core Qualities We Look for in Applicants

This blog post is part of our "Application Insider" blog post series that provides insider information, tips, and advice about applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program.

---

APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

CORE QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR IN APPLICANTS

 

As you progress in evaluating MBA programs and preparing your application, it's important to ensure your values align with a school. No two admits are alike, but at UCLA Anderson, our students all share certain values that we look for in order to build an open-minded, diverse and talented class.  Your work experiences, life choices and opportunities may differ coming onto campus but you will be united by your core qualities as future leaders: the desire to share success, think fearlessly and drive change.

When evaluating your application for these qualities, the admissions committee will review the various elements of your profile to see your strengths and contributions to the class in addition to areas for growth where you would benefit from our program and community. Maybe your GMAT score is not the greatest but your strong undergraduate grades show your academic potential better. Perhaps academics are not your strong suit but you have shown skill leading others in your workplace or community. Even if you haven't been to our campus, your essays clearly demonstrate the effort you've made to connect with our students and understand the unique combination of resources that will help you achieve your goals. Your past experiences and plan for the next two years give us a good idea of the type of community member you will be -- both at school and in the years beyond graduation.

As an applicant, you should take a step back and review your profile to see if it conveys our core qualities in the following areas:

• Academic Horsepower: UCLA Anderson is a rigorous school, and to think fearlessly and drive change, students first have to be grounded in business fundamentals through our core curriculum. Test scores (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS) are one measure of your potential academic success, undergrad grades are another, and better yet, you'd have strength in both. We also take into account the rigor of your undergraduate school and your major there, as well as other academic achievements, as we always look for the context of your accomplishments.
  
  
• Student Contribution: Sharing success means that we need activists who will create opportunities and changes that benefit all. So prior leadership on-campus during your undergraduate studies and/or in the workplace is a good sign, as is community involvement. All students need to add something special to the class, so we look for those who will bolster the diversity of voices here from different backgrounds, regions, and interest areas, perhaps through leadership roles in our Anderson Student Association (ASA) and 40+ clubs.
  
  
• Employability: Accelerating your career is one of the top reasons to do an MBA, so how prepared are you to achieve your goals? Transferable job skills to carry from past to future roles are key, and so are personal skills such as communication, coachability, interpersonal skills, and perseverance in the face of challenges. Your career progression to date is one indicator, as we like to see people taking on greater responsibility over time and driving change within their organizations. As always, we evaluate progress in the context of the time you had and in terms of a bridge to the future.
  
  
• Focus: Developing a compelling future plan is the hardest part of an MBA application, yet it is an element you can still change now (as distinct from the past). It all starts with doing your homework -- on yourself and on the school. Do you understand how the MBA is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform yourself professionally? Why is UCLA Anderson in particular a great place for YOU to thrive personally? We understand how plans can change once you get to business school and are exposed to more opportunities, but we have to know that you can focus and build a plan when needed to accomplish your goals, whatever they may become.

Through each of these areas, we can compile a complete picture of you and how your core qualities align with our community here at UCLA Anderson.

 

Check back for more "Application Insider" blog posts that will cover information and tips on the many aspects of applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program!

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Instagram @uclaMBA #TuesdayTakeover: Adam Spar '19

Introducing you to today's Instagram #TuesdayTakeover student, Adam Spar! Adam will be taking over our Instagram account @uclamba for a whole day today to show everyone a "Day in the Life" of a UCLA Anderson student!

Check in throughout the day to our @uclaMBA instagram account to hear about a "Day in the Life" as a UCLA Anderson MBA!

---

Name: Adam Spar Hometown: Princeton, New Jersey Undergraduate Studies: Cornell University - History Pre-Anderson:  Civic Entertainment Group and Americorps Post-MBA Goals Product Management in Entertainment Tech (VR/AR)

---

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADAM: 

Academic Specialization: Media & Technology

Leadership@Anderson:

• Admissions Ambassador Corps 1st Year Rep 

Clubs@Anderson:

• Anderson Technology Business Association (AnderTech)
• Entertainment Management Association
• Entrepreneurs Association
• Innovation & Design at Anderson
• Public Speaking Club
• Anderson Eats
• Anderson Surf Club
• Outdoor Adventures Club
• Jewish Business Students Association
• Admissions Ambassador Corps
• Ally of: Women's Business Connection, Black Business Student Association, Out@Anderson

 

---
Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Don’t Just Visit, Get the Full Campus Experience!

 

Now that our students are back from their summer internships and well-earned breaks, the campus is back to its usual level of energy and excitement. We invite you to preview the MBA experience by participating in our MBA Campus Experience program. Our Campus Experience offerings may include General Information Sessions (GIS), school tours, class visits, coffee chats, and lunches. These events are great ways to learn more about the MBA program, our culture and individual experiences through the recruiting process and club involvement.

• General Information Session (GIS)
  Learn about what sets us apart as a leading MBA program, pick up tips on how to successfully navigate the admissions process and get answers to your questions. Sessions are held generally on Mondays and Wednesdays (at 5:00 PM) and are hosted by a second-year student ambassador or an admissions officer.
  
  
• School Tour
  Stroll through our beautiful campus and surrounding grounds with a student ambassador to see how our students make the most of our world class facilities. Tours are offered generally on Mondays and Wednesdays during the academic year at 4:00 PM.
  
  
• Class Visit
  Join our students in an actual full-time MBA class and experience the collaborative environment among our students and faculty. Classes are generally held Monday through Thursday during the academic year (beginning the 2^nd week of the quarter) except for final’s week.
  
  
• Coffee Chat or Lunch
  Learn first-hand from a current student all about our culture and opportunities at UCLA Anderson. Grab your own favorite beverage or food and join the conversation. Student coffee and lunch chats are offered at varying times Monday through Thursday.

If you can’t join us in person on campus, remember that you can connect with us online at an Admissions Webinar hosted by a student ambassador or admissions officer on most Thursdays from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM and/or watch one our featured students on a Liveguide webinar session as they share highlights of their personal MBA journeys.  

 

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Reapplicants

This blog post is part of our "Application Insider" blog post series that provides insider information, tips, and advice about applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program.

---

APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

REAPPLICANTS

 

If you were unsuccessful in getting admitted into our MBA program, do not be discouraged! Sometimes there is just not enough room for all of the qualified candidates, or perhaps you needed a bit more time to strengthen the competitiveness of your profile.  The good news is that the applicant pool changes every year and you have additional time to improve your candidacy, so we highly encourage individuals to re-apply to our program. Every year, we accept a group of highly qualified re-applicants to our program, who go on to be very successful throughout the MBA program and into their post-MBA careers.  

When the Admissions Committee reviews re-applicant profiles, we want to see that you have taken this additional time to strengthen your candidacy. To do so, we recommend that you take an honest look at your prior application and reflect on where you can strengthen your profile. Some areas you may want to evaluate include: 

• Academics: While you cannot change your undergraduate GPA, if you feel your academic performance was sub par or that you didn't demonstrate your ability to handle quantitative work, you may want to consider taking additional course(s)...and perform well in those courses! The Admissions Committee will still be evaluating your undergraduate performance as a part of your profile, but additional coursework may help demonstrate your ability to handle the academic rigor of our program. 

• Test Scores: Many of our re-applicants use the additional time to re-take the GMAT/GRE to help improve their candidacy. The higher the score, the better, but look at our class profile GMAT averages and 80% range to help you evaluate whether or not you should take the test again -- also remember that we admit individuals below (and above) these averages every year.  Ultimately, if you believe you can do better on the exam, you may want to consider re-taking it if you believe it will improve your candidacy and is worth your time, energy, and money. Note that your standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS) remain on file if previously reported, though scores are still subject to expiration dates.

• Professional & Extracurricular Experiences: In the the time since your prior application, you should have had sufficient time to build upon your professional experiences (i.e., new skillsets, accomplishments, projects, etc.) and extracurricular activities (i.e., new leadership opportunities, volunteering, etc.). Make sure to highlight these in your application.

• Self-reflection & Research: Take the time to think about what you communicated in your previous application (especially in your essay) and ask yourself some of these questions: Have my post-MBA goals changed? Did I demonstrate why now is the right time in my career path to get an MBA? Do I have a better understanding of what UCLA Anderson's program has to offer me?  Was I clear in my goals and why I want to go to UCLA Anderson? Your re-application will be a fresh start for you, meaning it is definitely OK to have new goals if you feel they have changed. 

The good news is that the process to re-apply is streamlined for those who submitted a completed UCLA Anderson full-time MBA application within the previous two years (i.e., who applied for the MBA program start in 2016 or 2017 -- if you applied prior to the previous two years, you are considered a "new" applicant). You will only need to submit one new recommendation and you will be asked to respond to a different essay question, which is the following for this application season: 

Please describe your career progress since you last applied and how you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words maximum)

Here's an insider tip to consider as you respond to this re-applicant essay question and put together your application: The Admissions Committee member may reference your entire previous application to provide context, but do not assume that they will necessarily do so. This is a positive for you because you're essentially starting with a fresh slate. But this also does mean you need to communicate everything you want the Admissions Committee to know that you may have covered in your prior application, in addition to highlighting any updates and progress you have made.  

Ultimately, your reapplication gives you a fresh start and puts you on the same evaluation standards as first-time applicants, giving you absolutely no disadvantage to reapplying.

 

 

Check back for more "Application Insider" blog posts that will cover information and tips on the many aspects of applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program!

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Student Spotlight: Giselle Gorsky '18 - From Disney to Facebook (Live Webinar)

Tune in today, Tuesday, October 10 at 6:00PM PT for a LIVE webinar with a current UCLA Anderson MBA student! This week you will have the opportunity to connect with full-time MBA student Giselle Gorsky as she tells his career-switching story from marketing to technology, where she was able to leverage her MBA to land an internship at Facebook!

PROFILE:

• Name: Giselle Gorsky
• Class: Class of 2018
• Hometown: Rowland Heights, California
• Undergraduate & Masters Studies: UCLA - Philosophy
• Pre-MBA Experience: Disney ABC Television Group - Franchise Management Manager
• Summer Internship: Facebook - Client Solutions Manager MBA Intern
• Activities@Anderson:  
  • Vice President of Admissions - AnderTech Business Association
  • Entertainment Management Association - Member
  • Admissions Ambassador Corps (AAC) - Ambassador & Marketing Lead
  • Riordan MBA Fellow
  • Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) MBA Fellow
  • The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow

  

Register and view webinar here: UCLA Anderson Liveguide 

 

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Student Spotlight: Lauren Wolfen - From Retail to Marketing (UCLA Anderson Class of 2019)

This post is a part of the Student Spotlight series where we highlight a current Anderson student or alum to learn about his/her experiences at Anderson. 

---

LAUREN WOLFEN
UCLA Anderson Class of 2019

---

Name:  Lauren Wolfen UCLA Anderson MBA Class: Class of 2019 Hometown:  Los Angeles, California Undergraduate Studies:  Barnard College of Columbia University -  Psychology, Economics, Art History Pre-MBA Career:  Regional Director, West Coast - JOOR Post-MBA Goals: Brand Management

Q. Introduce yourself to your classmates!
A. Hi everyone! I’m Lauren Wolfen – native Angeleno, diehard Bruin, and new member of the class of 2019! I grew up at Pauley Pavilion cheering on our Bruins, and I’m excited to finally wear the blue and gold letters as a student. Prior to Anderson, I led the LA office for a B2B wholesale marketplace in the fashion industry. Here at Anderson, I’m looking to expand upon skills acquired on the job through the incredible classes, associations and clubs, faculty, and of course my fellow Ander-classmates.

Q. Why did you decide to attend UCLA Anderson -- #whyAnderson?
A. The thing that was and continues to be unique about Anderson is the incredible Ander-family that welcomed me with open arms from the first moment I met them. When I attended Access Anderson in the fall, Jenn Hyman (’14) said “Anderson helps you build the person you want to be." I can already feel the support of this incredible team helping me shape my short and long term next steps through preliminary career workshop work and coursework. It also doesn’t hurt that Anderson is a hub for the LA business scene.

Q. What are you most excited about at UCLA Anderson?
A. I'm really looking forward to Days on the Job (DOJ). When I was an undergrad student, I loved interning at different companies to get to know what their culture was about, and Anderson's DOJs seem like the perfect way to get a taste for many companies as I take my next career steps. I then want to work with Parker and my Anderson Career Team (ACT) to learn to craft a standout resume and cover letters. It will be invaluable to learn from my peers and those who have gone before me and landed their dream jobs at companies I also aspire to be a part of some day.

Q. What are some clubs that interest you?
A. I'm very excited about joining the Women's Business Connection and Marketing Association (MA). Having attended a women's liberal arts college for my undergraduate education, I saw the importance of women supporting one another in order to achieve our goals. I hope to be able to interact with the strong network of Ander-women (both current students and alumnae) to continue to learn from and help one another. I've also started to interact with members of the Marketing Association to learn about the recruiting process for summer internships. I've been so impressed by the positions the soon to be second years are holding this summer, and I can't wait to learn more when they're back on campus in the Fall. From what I hear, the MA helps to prepare you well for brand management interviews, marketing cases, and lots and lots of informational interviews. This first hand knowledge is invaluable as an incoming first year.

Q. What was one thing that surprised you about the application process at Anderson?
A. The Anderson Admissions Committee was so helpful and hands-on throughout the process, which made it much easier to approach the application. There were many opportunities to interact with the admissions committee members at all types of events (Forte, on campus, webinars) as they helped to demystify the application process. By the time I went to complete my application, I felt well prepared for the task, and it was exciting to get to tell the admissions committee #whyAnderson.

Q. What is a piece of advice you have for a prospective applicant?
A. Start your exploration process early and take advantage of every resource possible. What do I mean by this? When I had an inkling that I wanted to attend business school, I started to get my feet wet by checking out instagram accounts for the schools I was interested in -- including UCLA Anderson's @uclamba!. From there, I found out about great events both on and off campus from webinars with admissions committee members and current students, to local coffee chats, to on campus open houses and mixers. From there, there were natural connections to current students and alumni, and I got to have informative and interesting one on one conversations with members of the community. This takes time (hence starting early); however, these experiences helped solidify my decision to pursue my MBA at Anderson!

 

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Round 1 Deadline on October 6th!

This blog post is part of our "Application Insider" blog post series that provides insider information, tips, and advice about applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program.

---

APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

ROUND 1 DEADLINE

 

Our first application deadline of the season is on Friday, October 6, and we already have hundreds of applications flowing in for this Round 1. If you need a refresher on what you need to submit, please visit our Application Requirements page.  If you cannot make this October deadline, don’t worry – our biggest round each year is Round 2 with a January 5th deadline. As a reminder, read our previous Application Insider post that covered some of the pros and cons of applying in each round.

For those who will be applying in our first round, interview invitations will start going out next week, and the Admissions Committee will be taking the time in autumn to carefully assemble this first part of our next MBA class.  All Round 1 decisions will be released by mid-December.

If you are able to visit us on campus, please note that classes have just begun so we encourage you to sign up for a Campus Experience that features class visits, campus tours and more.  Registration is now open – RSVP soon since spots are limited! Even if you have already submitted your application, it's always a good idea to continue to gain a better understanding of our program. 

 

For those applying in Round 1, we wish you the best of luck! And to everyone, if you have any questions, we are here to help.

Check back for more "Application Insider" blog posts that will cover information and tips on the many aspects of applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program!

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Summer as an Entrepreneur: Phil Sprawls '18 (Instagram @uclaMBA #TuesdayTakeover)

Introducing you to today's Instagram #TuesdayTakeover student, Phil Sprawls! Phil will be taking over our Instagram account @uclamba for a whole day today to show everyone a "Day in the Life" of a UCLA Anderson student and his MBA summer experiences working on a entrepreneurial venture!

Check in throughout the day to our @uclaMBA instagram account to hear about Phil's "Day in the Life"!

---

Name: Phil Sprawls Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky Undergraduate Studies: Tulane University Mathematics and Spanish Pre-Anderson:  Mercer - Consulting Summer Internship: Entrepreneurship - Founder & CEO of Hansel

 

---

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHIL: 

Academic Specialization: Entrepreneurship and Social Impact

Leadership@Anderson:

• Wolfen Fellow
• President, Joint Ventures 

Clubs@Anderson:

• Entrepreneur Association
• Net Impact
• Joint Ventures

 

---
Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Student Spotlight: Eric Siegel - From Marketing to Management Consulting (UCLA Anderson Class of 2019)

This post is a part of the Student Spotlight series where we highlight a current Anderson student or alum to learn about his/her experiences at Anderson. 

---

ERIC SIEGEL
UCLA Anderson Class of 2019

---

Name:  Eric Siegel UCLA Anderson MBA Class: Class of 2019 Hometown:  Burlingame, California Undergraduate Studies:  Tufts University -  International Relations Pre-MBA Career:  Content Marketing Manager - Funding Circle Post-MBA Goals: Management Consulting

Q. Introduce yourself to your classmates!
A. Hello — I'm looking forward to spending the next two years together, learning from your past experiences, and creating new experiences together! Career-wise, I've worked in marketing for an established organic grocery delivery company in Boston and a FinTech start up in San Francisco and am excited to pivot into Consulting after Anderson.

Q. Why did you decide to attend UCLA Anderson -- #whyAnderson?
A. To me, UCLA Anderson represents an opportunity to learn alongside some of the most successful, innovative, and ambitious young business men and women in the country. It's a chance to pivot my career and maintain better control over its trajectory.

Q. What are you most excited about at UCLA Anderson?
A. I'm excited (and a little nervous) to get back into the classroom and hit the ground running. Getting ready to start prepping for case interviews and enter casing competitions, joining Management Consulting Association (MCA) and Strategy & Operations Management Association (SOMA), and also Net Impact. I'm also planning to participate in Joint Ventures, Anderson Eats, the Triathalon Club, and maybe the Outdoor Adventure club or Soccer Club.

Q. Why did you decide to pursue an MBA degree?
A. I feel like I sort of "fell in" to marketing and have been looking for an opportunity to be more intentional about the trajectory of my career. I'm hoping to get some experience in Management Consulting so I can eventually work with socially and environmentally responsible small businesses in the food industry.

Q. What is a piece of advice you have for a prospective applicant?
A. Use the application time to do some real self reflection. Understand *why* you really want an MBA and what you plan to do immediately after graduation and 5-10 years after. Don't let rankings get into your head too much — look for schools with proven records helping other students make similar transitions that you are hoping to make.

 

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow the Admissions Team @uclaMBA:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]