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:
ACADEMICS
We mentioned in an earlier post that UCLA Anderson is a rigorous school and we expect that our students are able to master the business fundamentals of our core curriculum in order to be successful in their academics and eventually, their careers. However, equally important to each student being successful, we want all our MBA students to benefit from the rigorous academics here at UCLA Anderson and to help their fellow classmates learn as well. This is one way we “share success.” You will find that the Learning Teams you are in will be critical to your academic success. To ensure that all students are academically fit, we carefully screen all applicants to ensure that they can thrive here based on their past performance in school. We will analyze the whole undergraduate record and for those who also have prior graduate degrees, we examine those too. We will take a deep dive into your academic profile by determining the rigor of your undergraduate school, major, and coursework, your trends in grades, as well as other academic accolades to get a better sense of the context of your achievements. If you are an international applicant, we will evaluate your file based on your country’s own system. There is no need for you to convert GPAs into an American 4.0 scale, nor will we do that.
What we look for in each file is a record of above-average achievement, and if there are weak spots then we seek offsetting strong points (e.g., a trend of grades getting better over time, final two-years GPA, quantitative coursework). Quantitative coursework is a plus since the MBA program core is quant-based, but we aspire for academic diversity to add value into the classroom. You’ll see in our class profile that only 25% of the in-coming class have a business related undergraduate degree. Overall, the applicants we tend to like are those who consistently performed above their peers in similar schools and concentrations.
There are other ways to boost your academic profile if you feel that you need to enhance your undergraduate degree. Professional certifications such as a CPA or CFA, or a whole graduate degree, can help too. However, these are pretty industry specific and likely time consuming for most. You can also take classes in accounting, finance, and statistics at a local college and send those transcripts over. Although it won’t be counted towards your undergraduate GPA, we will look at as an additional data point. Just remember that the application review process is one that is holistic, so you do not need to only rely on the academic portion to be a successful applicant.
On a logistical note, please do not send us hard-copy documents unless we request them (generally this will happen along with an interview invitation). The scans you upload with the application are sufficient for our preliminary evaluation. Please see our application requirements website for more information on academic evaluations and other aspects of the application.
The academic environment at UCLA Anderson is fast-paced and challenging, and we welcome those who are well-prepared to come join in for the benefit of all!
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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