This post is a part of the Student Perspectives series - each post is written by a current UCLA Anderson student, and provides first-hand perspectives and experiences about being an MBA student at UCLA Anderson.
Welcome to a day in the life of a UCLA Anderson full-time MBA student! It feels like yesterday that I was sitting in your shoes researching the various MBA programs. I know how important it is to find a program that fits your personality and working style, while providing you with a platform to grow your career. I hope that this insider’s perspective of a typical day in my life at UCLA Anderson will give you an opportunity to learn more. While there is no typical day in fall quarter as a first year recruiting for consulting, I hope you enjoy learning about a day in the life at UCLA Anderson!
6:00am: I wake up early during the week (don’t worry, I get plenty of sleep on the weekends) to start my day with a light workout and breakfast. UCLA has a brand new grad student-only gym located close to my apartment, and I love taking advantage of these facilities. One thing I have learned is how important it is to take care of yourself during the busy fall quarter. Recruiting, club activities, class, and social events all compete for the limited time in the day, so it is important to take care of yourself during the busy fall quarter!
9:00am: I arrive on campus to meet with the members of my consulting IPT (Interview Prep Team) to practice our case interviewing skills. IPT has been a valuable resource for me as I prepare for consulting internship interviews in January. Each IPT team's structure varies depending on your career target, but IPT for me is a team of four first years recruiting for consulting that get together four times per week to practice case and behavioral interview questions. I am lucky to have four great team members who are all committed to each other’s success, and we push each other to improve daily.
2:00pm: At this point, class is done for the day, but the fun is just getting started! A group of my friends from the John Anderson Golf Club decide to hit the links down in Palos Verdes at a course with an ocean view to blow off some steam. Southern California has endless options for just about any outdoor sport, and the best part is you can partake year round with the great weather here! I am a Southern California native, so I may be a little biased, but I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else for my two years of business school.
7:30pm: I hurry home to meet with one of my teams to work on a group case. It’s been an amazing experience working with such smart, ambitious people with a diverse set of backgrounds. One of my favorite parts about UCLA Anderson has been the collaborative environment we encourage here. As business continues to become more globally focused, it will be important for future business leaders of all types to work together effectively and efficiently. Plus, it’s been amazing to learn about other’s experiences to broaden my horizons and help me become a more well-rounded person!
As you can see, UCLA Anderson is a diverse, collaborative, and social environment where every member of our community encourages each other to grow both professionally and personally. While each Anderson student’s personal experiences will certainly differ from mine, I am confident that one common theme holds true: we wouldn’t trade our experience at Anderson for anything. Thanks for following along, and stay in touch with us through your own personal journey!
Student blogger: Ryan Cameron
Hometown: Orange, CA
Undergraduate Studies: University of California, Los Angeles (Go Bruins!)
Pre-Anderson: Corporate Valuation and Investment Banking
Post-MBA Goals: Management Consulting
Activities @ Anderson: Management Consulting Association – Director of Education, Admissions Ambassador Corps – Director, Anderson Real Estate Association, Anderson Soccer Club, Anderson Craft Beer Club
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