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:
ESSAYS
Here are the UCLA Anderson full-time MBA essay requirements for the 2018-19 application cycle -- as a reminder, in 2018, we made a change to the Short Answer Question for new applicants:
NEW APPLICANTS
- Essay Question: Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. How can the UCLA Anderson experience add value to your professional development? (500 words max)
- Short Answer Question: What are you passionate about and why. (300 words max)
REAPPLICANTS
Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two years (those who applied for the MBA program starting in 2017 or 2018). If you applied three years or more prior, then please answer the "New Applicant" questions.
- Reapplicant Essay Question: Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which 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)
OPTIONAL
As in previous years, we also have an optional question for those who need some additional space to explain extenuating circumstances that are not evident in the application. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to the optional question. The optional question can be answered by either new applicants or reapplicants.
- Optional Question: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to the Optional Question. (250 words maximum)
A Plan of Approach for the Essay Question
The essay gives you the opportunity to clearly articulate your career ambitions, highlight any past accomplishments that have readied you to this end, as well as touch on the various UCLA Anderson resources that will ultimately help you achieve your goals. You are presenting a case for why an MBA is imperative at this point in your career and, moreover, why an Anderson MBA, in particular, is right for you.
This is NOT a trick-question. In as clear and simple terms as possible, you can start by stating your short-term and long-term career goals. Particularly for the short-term goal, be sure to include both functional- and industry-interest and consider stating a few examples of companies you’d like to work for (if relevant).
If, in your evaluation, you are making a large career leap or aiming for niche and/or highly competitive roles, consider also speaking to a Plan B that is aligned with your Plan A career ambition. We, the admissions committee, like to see that you have an open-mind, that you can be flexible, and that you have a realistic understanding of where you currently stand and where you’d like to go.
Next, be specific when recounting career achievements and other accomplishments in extracurricular, volunteer, or academic settings — and of course, make sure they are relevant to your goals. Quantify the impact you have made, detail the skill you’ve developed, and connect the dots between how these values and experiences relate to what you hope to accomplish post-MBA. The operative word here is transferable skills. Again, even if you are making a large career leap, what foundation have you built already? What assets would future recruiters find attractive (in addition to your prospective MBA)?
Finally, this essay requires that you do homework on yourself (see above), as well as homework on UCLA Anderson, as a key component of the question is how the Anderson MBA will be a value-add in your career trajectory. In order to demonstrate that you have done your due diligence and that you have a genuine interest in attending Anderson, you must be able to speak to specific, relevant examples of “proper nouns” (things like courses, professors, clubs, conferences, specific programming, career and academic resources, etc.). Additionally, you should consider where you can potentially lead on our campus, as one of the hallmarks of Anderson is our student-led culture. (You can connect with our students and check out our Club Webpages for ideas.)
Strategies for Tackling the Short Answer Question
As mentioned, this is a new question this year. We are seeking to understand who are you on a deeper, more personal level. In fact, if the first essay question can be deemed the “professional” question in a word, this would be the “personal” question.
What gets you up and out of bed every morning? What inspires you to do what you do each day? When you think about what you are passionate about, there may actually be quite a natural link to what your career ambitions are. Your current career path and future career goals are the things you do/want to do (the “WHAT”) and your passion is the reason(s) you are motivated to do those things (the “WHY”).
If this career-purpose/personal-passion dichotomy doesn’t quite resonate with you, perhaps you can think about what your core values are. Are traits like curiosity, creativity, grit, compassion, or the like important to you? Is there a common theme in or a pattern to the major experiences you’ve had in life? Do you subscribe to a particular philosophy, way-of-thinking, or life-approach? Are you hardcore into a sport, art-form, hobby, craft, or activity?
Whatever the case may be, it is imperative to relate the passion back to you, and explain how it reveals something meaningful and insightful about who you are as an individual. Why is this passion critical to who you are and understanding you? Provide concrete examples, be genuine, and be clear.
The Purpose of the Optional Essay
This essay is truly optional and should only be used to describe any extenuating circumstances in your application or profile. Examples of such may be an extended gap in the resume, poor grades, a personal matter or family situation, and the like.
Please use your best judgment and discretion, and understand that no preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to this question.
Quick Tips on the Reapplication Essay
First and foremost, make sure you are highlighting what you have done since your last application to enhance your candidacy. List the specific action items and steps you took, as well as share any new achievements in and outside of work.
Second, make sure you are still clearly articulating your short-term and long-term goals! We want to understand if your goals remain the same, or if they have changed in any way (and if so, why).
Third, simply understand that, in most cases, the entire application does not need to be revamped or revolutionized. There were likely some strengths to your application the first time you applied, so don’t be concerned that not every single part of your reapplication is different from the first. (Continue to include your sustained strengths, and highlight new and improved differences.)
Parting Words (Read Before You Hit Submit!)
Have at least two people review your work. Ask someone who knows you well do the first read to ensure that your essays faithfully represent you, your values, and your goals. Ask someone you doesn’t know you very well do a second read to give you an objective perspective of how you may come across to the admissions committee. Last but not least, make sure your essays are clear, concise, and free of any spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Know that we understand that our MBA program may expose you to other professional opportunities that may, in turn, change your goals. Still, for the purpose of the essay, we need to know that you can set a goal, research the paths to get there, and develop a well-articulated plan on how you will leverage and grow your skills with an MBA from UCLA Anderson.
Good luck!
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!
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