MBA Insider's Blog

Student Perspective: Career Development@Anderson

About Kalyn: Kalyn’s career and education has allowed her to complete her bucket list item of living in a lot of different cities. A St. Louis native, Kalyn has called Chicago, Boston, DC, and SF home prior to moving to LA and joining the Anderson community. Kalyn is a first-year student who is excited to grow her career in the healthcare sector and continue giving back to the community through mentorship.

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Ranked by the Economist as one of the best career services offices in the world, The Parker Career Management Center fosters introspection and professional development from your very first week on campus.  Much of the recruitment process for first years like me involves a whirlwind of research, networking, informational interviews, cases and more. Figuring out where to start would be a challenging task, but Parker offers a host of personalized resources to guide us all through this deeply reflective process. Here are two of the resources I’ve found most impactful throughout my first few months of Anderson.

Parker Career Series

Upon arriving for summer quarter in August, first years get to preparing for the summer internship search early. This is truly a gift because by the time classes intensified, we already had much of the heaviest lifting required of recruitment completed. The Parker Career Series is a weekly course that lasts through the fall quarter. Led by Parker advisors who have deep industry knowledge and networks, the series demystifies the recruitment process by introducing students to key skills applicable to the summer internship search like resume writing, requesting informational interviews, crafting cover letters, and researching companies. The sessions are balanced between lecture and small group workshops in which students read each other’s resume and cover letter drafts, practice their 30-second pitches, and provide constructive feedback.

The Parker Series also introduces first years to their advisor. Each student gets assigned to an advisor based on their industry of choice. Students can set up one-on-one meetings with their advisor to get more personalized feedback and advice. My advisor is Emily Cruse (also an Anderson alum!) and I’ve been so grateful for our advising sessions because she has taken the time to get to know me and my target companies and cater feedback accordingly when we practice interview sessions.

Small Group Support: ACT and IPT

Anderson Career Teams (ACT) –  In conjunction with the Parker Career Series, first years also are required to participate in a small group Anderson Career Team (ACT) to further strengthen our recruitment chops. While the Parker Series provides a more general overview of career search skills, the best part about ACT is that students can join a group catered to their target career. There are ACT groups that focus on specific industries like consulting, technology, and investment banking. There are also ACT groups that are function-focused like corporate finance and marketing. Students are required to participate in one ACT group, and can join up to two. This can be a great option for someone recruiting for a specific industry and function (i.e. tech and marketing). ACT groups are led by second year volunteers who navigated the summer internship search the year before and are eager to share their wisdom with their first-year peers through weekly workshops.

Interview Prep Teams (IPT) – Upon completing the ACT sessions in the fall, first years can opt to participate in an Interview Prep Team throughout winter break and into winter quarter. IPT is also spearheaded by second-years who interned at the companies that first years will be interviewing with.  The second-year IPT coaches organize and lead interview prep sessions. Using their experience from their own interview process, they pretend to be interviewers and ask questions that they received, then provide feedback. The IPT coaches take their role (which is also voluntary) very seriously. I personally was lucky enough to get to practice interviewing with my coach who graciously made herself available over winter break.

Interview season is in full swing winter quarter. While the process certainly isn’t easy, Parker makes sure all of us go into interviews well-prepared for even the most unexpected question.

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Student Blogger: Kalyn Saulsberry ‘21

Undergrad: Harvard University, History

Pre-MBA: Program Manager, COPE Health Solutions

Leadership@Anderson: Director of Career Development, Healthcare Business Association; Director of Operations, Anderson Wine Club; Board Fellow, Net Impact

Student Perspective: Global Immersion@Anderson

About Kevin: Kevin Ma (‘20) is a 2nd year at Anderson with a background in management consulting. While at Anderson, Kevin has concentrated across many disciplines, including strategy, marketing, technology, and social impact. Outside of school, Kevin cares deeply about mentoring others, building community through food, and experiencing new cultures through traveling around the world. Read his post below on his latest travel adventure and how he got academic credit for the trip in the process!

Traveling is no doubt a privilege and an enriching experience - and while in business school, there are endless opportunities to do so. As the pace of globalization accelerates, one of my goals of attending business school was to broaden my perspectives to truly understand how to be an effective future leader of a global or multinational company. While I’ve achieved this goal in a multitude of ways during my time thus far at Anderson, including cultivating close friendships with international classmates and taking classes focused on global management, I took it a step further last month by participating in a weeklong Global Immersion experience in India with 40 of my classmates, led by Prof. Romain Wacziarg.

Managed through the Center for Global Management, Global Immersion is a two-quarter class that allows students to first learn about doing business in another country while on campus, and then transition into an in-country immersive experience of company visits, networking with local Anderson alumni, and cultural sightseeing. With 31 destinations across the globe, Global Immersion at Anderson is truly a unique opportunity to study abroad and witness the intersection of business, government, and society in action.

Prior to visiting Mumbai and Hyderabad, Prof. Wacziarg led us through a few interactive lectures focused on both the macroeconomic factors that have influenced India’s past, current, and future development as well as a deep dive into four key sectors in India: financial services, technology, entertainment, and biotech.
Once we touched down in India, we visited 15 companies in the span of a week, while overeating our fill of dosas, dal, and gulab jamun. In addition, we were able to attend a special lecture hosted by a professor from the Indian School of Business. Despite many infrastructure, inequality, and environmental challenges India faces, I was humbled and inspired by the country’s optimism for the future – especially given that half of India’s 1.3 billion people are under 20 years old. I also learned that many sectors like financial services are experiencing technology leapfrogging in India, and financial inclusion will be key to India’s future growth given the majority of the country’s population is still living in rural areas. 

Ultimately, my week in India has instilled in me a greater sense of empathy, a desire to return and explore more deeply, and a more inclusive approach to managing and leading global teams in the future. While Global Immersion has been a relatively short part of my Anderson experience, the experience has had a disproportionately large impact on me as I prepare to transition back into the workforce later this year.

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Student Blogger: Kevin Ma ‘20

Undergrad: UT Austin ‘14

Pre-MBA: Deloitte Consulting

Summer Internship: Commercial Strategy MBA Intern, American Airlines

Leadership@Anderson: VP of Career Development, Marketing Association; VP of Partnerships, Anderson Tech Business Association; VP of Admissions, Asian Management Student Association; Anderson Career Teams (ACT) Coach; Interviewer, Admissions Ambassador Corps

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Interview Tips

This 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.

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APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

INTERVIEW TIPS

Interviews are a crucial part of the application process. While interviews serve as an opportunity to meet you in person, learn more about your goals, and potentially, clear up any questions that we may have about your application, they are one of the best ways for you to demonstrate that you have a clear vision for your MBA and how you will enhance our community.

The first step to ensuring that you are prepared for your MBA interview is to understand the interview process. For UCLA Anderson specifically, our interviews are invitation-only interviews, which means that we first evaluate your application before deciding whether or not to extend an interview invitation. Staying true to our collaborative spirit, the majority of our interviews are conducted by second year student ambassadors. Our student ambassadors are our partners in the admissions process and we value the insight they provide in helping to select the next class of Anderson students.

Here are a few tips to make sure that you make a positive impression during your interview:

1. Be professional. Treat the interview as you would an employment interview. Be on time, dress professionally, and make sure that your resume is up-to-date. Remember to treat everyone that you meet with respect.
2. Be confident. Don’t forget that you can exhibit confidence through your body language. Sit tall with your shoulders back and remember to maintain good eye contact with your interviewer.
3. Engage. Remember that the interview is not one-sided, it is meant to be a conversation. Be prepared to share about yourself, engage in the conversation, and ask thoughtful questions. The interview is also an opportunity to learn from your interviewer.
4. Be clear. Be prepared to speak to why you are pursuing an MBA, your goals, and why UCLA Anderson is a good choice for you. Understand how your experience to date can help support your goals and how an Anderson MBA can help you fill any gaps or help you develop further. You should also be prepared to speak to how you can contribute to our community.
5. Be genuine. Be yourself and enjoy the conversation. The interview is an opportunity for you to showcase your personality, enhance your candidacy, and learn more about UCLA Anderson.
   
   

To learn more about our interview or the admissions process in general, I encourage you to review our Requirements and FAQ webpages.

 

-- Vickie Euyoque, Associate Director of MBA Admissions

 

 

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Student Perspective: How to Balance a Busy Schedule

About Thea: Having started her career in healthcare across Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Thea Whyte (‘21) decided to move to California to escape the cold and pursue her MBA at UCLA Anderson. In her free time she enjoys strolling the streets of Santa Monica, exploring the doughnut shops of West L.A. and taking the occasional meditation class.

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Talk to any MBA student and they will tell you how busy your first fall and winter quarters will be. Between recruiting, academics, and getting to know your classmates, calendars fill up quickly and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Here are some quick and simple tips for making sure you stay on top of everything! 

1. Stay Organized

As events and deadlines start to pile-up on your calendar, it becomes especially important to ensure your calendar is kept up-to-date. This will help you make sure you’re on-time to the appointments that matter (interviews!) and will act as a red-flag when you’ve over-committed yourself. Once you have a general idea of what your schedule looks like, to-do lists can serve as a great way of holding yourself accountable and prioritizing your work. With so many great opportunities across academics, social and recruiting, having an idea of where you need to focus your efforts each week will help you make sure you are managing your time efficiently. 

2. Practice Self-Care

While it may be counter-intuitive, the more responsibilities you find yourself bearing, the more important it is to take care of yourself. Simply blocking out thirty minutes a day for a run or starting your day off with a quick meditation can help make sure you are putting your best foot forward in all your commitments. Equally important is making sure you get enough sleep. Not only will you physically feel better but sleep will help you think more clearly so you can articulate all your great ideas in your next class. Most importantly, getting a good night’s sleep will help keep you protected during the inevitable flu season.

3. Lean on Each Other

Finally, your best resource when things start to feel like too much is each other. One of the most reassuring things about getting your MBA is that all of your classmates are in the same boat when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. This is the best time to check-in with your peers to see how they’re holding up and to not be afraid to ask for help if things are feeling like too much. One of Anderson’s three pillars is to share success - not just in the good times but also the bad. 

Getting your MBA can be an incredibly rewarding time. It’s the perfect opportunity to stretch yourself and grow into the leader you have always wanted to be. Taking care of yourself throughout the process will help you make sure you take full advantage of everything Anderson can offer. 

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Student Blogger: Thea Whyte ‘21

Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago

Pre-MBA: Consultant, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Leadership@Anderson: Director of Conference, Healthcare Business Association; Director, Admissions Ambassador Corps 

Visit Us! Sign up for a Campus Experience!

After a few weeks off for relaxation and travel, our students returned this week for the Winter Quarter. What makes this return different than prior years is that they did not only return to class, but they got to experience our brand new Marion Anderson Hall (MAH). MAH is open for you to visit as well! The Admissions Ambassador Corps (AAC) is back to work with our Campus Experience offerings, including Group Information Sessions (GIS), school tours, class visits, webinars, coffee chats and lunches. These events are all great opportunities to learn more about the MBA program, our culture, and individual experiences at UCLA Anderson. We encourage you to choose a day where you can access multiple experiences. This is the best way to immerse yourself into UCLA Anderson and really get a feel for the program. It's possible that on any given day, you can have a tour, coffee chat, and class visit. Here's a breakdown of what each experience entails:

Group Information Session (GIS)
Learn about what distinguishes our leading MBA program and how to successfully navigate the admissions process. This quarter, sessions are generally held 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. This quarter, tours are available Monday through Thursday. Times vary on the day, so make sure you choose the one that's best for you.

Class Visit
Join 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 week of January 13th).

Webinars
Join our student ambassadors and admissions officers as we discuss the UCLA Anderson MBA experience, the admissions process and answer your questions. These interactive sessions are offered on most Thursdays from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.

Coffee Chat
Hear from a current student all about our culture and the wonderful opportunities at UCLA Anderson. Grab your own favorite food or beverage and join the casual conversation.

We hope you will join us to learn more about the UCLA Anderson difference!

 

-- John Lee, Associate Director of MBA Admissions

 

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Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Follow UCLA Anderson:  Twitter and Instagram
Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Congrats, You’re In! Now What?

About Emily: Prior to Anderson, Emily Moore (‘20) lived in New York City and worked in Sports Marketing at ESPN. Emily is a second year student at Anderson and in her free time, she likes traveling, attending professional sporting events and trying new restaurants in Los Angeles. Read her post below to see how she decided on the program that fit her best!

To all of the UCLA Anderson Round 1 admits - congratulations on being accepted! I know a lot of time and effort went into the application process so you should feel excited that the process is over. But, if you are like I was two years ago, you might have a big decision to make. You might be deciding between multiple schools or even between Anderson and staying in your current job. I understand the dilemma and I’d like to provide my perspective. 

First, realize that business school is an amazing opportunity and that you really likely can’t go wrong among Top 15 schools. Second, because I am a second year student at Anderson and absolutely love it, I’ll be biased for a bit and tell you how I ended up at this amazing place. 

I’m originally from the East Coast - I grew up in Virginia, went to UNC Chapel Hill for college (Go Heels!) and moved to New York City where I worked for ESPN for almost four years before moving to LA for Anderson. I had a non-traditional background for business school (working in Sports Marketing at a media company), but I’m here to tell you that the non-traditional candidates can succeed in business school too! And all of my family and most of my friends were on the East Coast. I was ready for something new and I had an itch to go to California. I was deciding between Anderson and one school on the East Coast, but I ultimately landed at Anderson for four main reasons:

1. The first being that I have a very strong East Coast network (in Virginia, North Carolina and New York) and since I have high ambitions for my career, I thought no matter which coast I end up on, it will be beneficial to have a network on both.
2. The second is the career opportunities and The Parker Career Management Center specifically. At Anderson, students are encouraged to follow their passions - whether that is in technology, healthcare, real estate, entrepreneurship, entertainment and sports and/or if they want to pursue more traditional paths of consulting, finance or brand management. We have successful students and alumni in all of these areas! The career resources such as 1:1 advising, the alumni database and the interview prep teams are unmatched.
3. The third reason is there are so many benefits of going to graduate school in a city as diverse as Los Angeles. At Anderson, we have access to top executives that are weekly guest speakers in many elective classes and to alumni who live in the area. We also have amazing conferences and there is the potential for academic internships during the school year. There is so much to do in LA including, but not limited to going to the beach, hiking, checking out the arts scene, attending a sporting event, and eating at a new restaurant. And, I can be outside every day of the year!
4. The last reason, but also the most important one, is the people. Anderson has a diverse student body that is as ambitious as it is fun. There are so many of my 360 classmates that I genuinely love to hang out with on a regular basis. We have the collaborative culture of being in a small college town, but the exposure and access of being in a huge limitless city.

If you still have a decision to make, I encourage you to talk with as many current students and alumni from the school(s) to which you were accepted and ask them questions. If possible, I also encourage you to attend the admitted students weekends/days for all of the schools to which you were admitted. It’s a great way to meet both current students and potential classmates. Anderson’s Round One Welcome (AROW) is February 7th-8th, 2020 so I hope to see many of you there! I applied during Round Two in 2018 and was able to attend the A-Days (Anderson Days) in late April that year. That weekend solidified my decision to come to Anderson! 

Good luck to all of you who are making a decision and when in doubt, trust your gut!

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Student Blogger: Emily Moore ‘20

Undergrad: UNC Chapel Hill, ‘14

Pre-MBA: Sports Marketing at ESPN

Summer Internship: MBA Brand Management Intern, The Wonderful Company

Leadership@Anderson: President, Admissions Ambassador Corps; President, Sports Business Association; VP of Diversity & Inclusion, John Anderson Golf Club

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Round 2 Deadline Tomorrow!

This 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.

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APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

ROUND 2 DEADLINE

 

It's hard to believe that 2020 is already here and that our Round 2 deadline is only a day away -- January 8, 2020 at 11:59 PM (Los Angeles time)! For us on the Admissions Committee, we're gearing up for the busiest time of the admissions cycle, as this is typically the round in which we receive the greatest number of applications.  We will definitely keep everyone in the loop with any admissions updates on this blog, so keep checking in!

Not sure if you should apply in Round 2 or wait? For those who are not ready to submit by the Round 2 deadline, our Round 3 deadline is April 16, 2020 so you have a few more months to work on your application. Here's some more information about the pros and cons of applying in each round. 

If you are able to visit us on campus, we highly encourage joining us for a Campus Experience program that includes class visits, campus tours, and more.  Our programming for Winter quarter will begin on Monday, January 13th and registration is now open -- click here to learn more and RSVP (spots are limited!).  Additional campus experience spots will be added over the next few weeks so keep checking back. 

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] or call our office at (310) 825-6944.

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