MBA Insider's Blog

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

Top 10 Applicant Questions

 

You may have a lot of questions about the MBA application process -- but good news is that your questions are likely ones that many applicants have! To help, we have compiled a list of our top Frequently Asked Questions we receive from prospective applicants to help you on your MBA information-gathering and your application journey!

Question 1: How can a prospective student learn more about the UCLA Anderson MBA program?
UCLA Anderson offers many group information sessions, student chats, webinars, and more throughout the week so prospective students can get to know us first-hand. To sign up, you can visit our Admissions Events webpage to register for events that work for your schedule. If you are signed up to receive our information emails (if not, sign up here!), we will send out information about upcoming programming and special admissions events. Please note that some of these events have capacity limits so sign up to secure your spot.  More events will be added at the start of the new year too. 

Question 2: Can I be connected with a current student?
Yes and we highly encourage it! You can reach out to our current students through our Connect with Our Students portal. Here, you can submit a question to student and also get access to a database of students representing our 50+ clubs so you can find someone with specific career goals, interests, and backgrounds. These students have volunteered to be connections for prospective MBAs like you!

Question 3: Is there a minimum GMAT/GRE score or GPA required for admission? 
There are no minimum test scores or GPAs required to be admitted. Many factors are considered in our holistic decision process. Admissions decisions are not made solely on the basis of grades and test scores. However, you may want to note our average and range of scores in our most recent class profile and ensure that your GMAT or GRE score (including Writing Assessment) represents your ability. If you do not believe your score reflects your ability, we recommend that you consider retaking the test if you are able.

Question 4: Do you offer a GMAT/GRE waiver?
We do not offer waivers for the GMAT/GRE exam requirement. All applicants must submit either GMAT or GRE scores (only current UCLA School of Law JD or UCLA School of Medicine MD students have the option to submit the LSAT/MCAT scores respectively in lieu of the GMAT or GRE).  We recommend you take the test you feel most comfortable with, as there is currently no preference for either exam in the admissions review process. At this time we are also accepting the at-home versions of these exams, too.

Question 5: Do I need to submit my official transcripts and/or official test (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS) scores when I apply to UCLA Anderson?
No, you do not need to submit your official transcript documents or official test scores when applying. For your initial application, uploaded scanned unofficial copies of your transcripts and documents, and self-reported test scores are perfectly sufficient for the Admissions Committee to begin evaluations. If invited for an interview, you will be asked to provide office copies of your transcripts and official test scores (more specific details will be provided at that time). It is crucial that you send in these official documents to be considered for admission.

Question 6: Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS English Language exams?
We require all international applicants to provide TOEFL or IELTS scores (with exception of some countries -- please contact the MBA Admissions office to check), regardless of the language of instruction during your undergraduate studies. This is a requirement from UCLA Graduate Division, which is the authority that oversees all graduate admissions. These exams are important to show the Admissions Committee that you have sufficient English communication skills to succeed in the classroom and in our program.

Question 7:  Can I submit updates to my application after I have submitted it?
Unfortunately, we do not accept official updates to the application once it has been submitted. If you do wish to add information after your application has been submitted, it can be added to your file but there is no guarantee it will be used in the admissions review process. Updates can be sent to our main MBA Admissions email address. If you would like, you can request that your application will be moved to a later round for consideration if you want to ensure any updated information is included during evaluations (assuming this request gets submitted in time). 

Question 8: Do you accept transfer students or credits from other MBA programs?
No, we do not accept transfer students or credits from other MBA programs. We believe that part of the Anderson experience is developing relationships with classmates during the two years of attendance in the MBA program.  You may still apply, but you would be required to begin as a first-year student. It may be possible to test out of some core courses to be replaced by MBA elective courses of your choice.

Question 9: If I earned a three-year undergraduate degree, am I still eligible to apply?
Yes, you are still eligible to apply. We do admit students with 3-year degrees but the rest of your application needs to be strong to compete against other applicants. If you would like your academic records to equate to a 4-year degree, you would need to either complete a Master’s degree or other Post Graduate Degree/Diploma.

Question 10: Can I begin the MBA program in the winter or spring?
We do not offer spring or winter admission.  All students in the Full-Time MBA program start at the same time (end of summer).

 

>> Get more answers to your questions by visiting our Admissions FAQ webpage.  Still have questions? Ask them here!

 

We hope this information was helpful!

 

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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UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Reapplying to UCLA Anderson

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.

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APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

Reapplying to UCLA Anderson

In life, like in many Hollywood movies, audiences love to root for the underdog. We are no exception here. If you have applied before, and did not succeed, you should consider giving it another shot. 

The truth is that sometimes people are not admitted because we just don’t have room to admit all the qualified candidates we believe would benefit from attending our program. Other times, applicants miss their shot by a small margin for issues that could easily be addressed through some self-reflection or additional preparation.

Every year, the applicant pool changes, and you have the benefit of additional time and insights to present a stronger application. As a reapplicant, you start with a clean slate. 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.  In fact, we truly appreciate and are inspired by their perseverance and contributions to our community. 

We have streamlined the reapplication process to help those who submitted their full-time MBA application within the previous two years (note that if you applied earlier than the previous two years, you would be considered a "new" applicant and should follow the new applicant guidelines). The streamlined process means that you will only need to submit only one new recommendation and you are not required to write a new essay. Instead, we give you the opportunity in your reapplication to highlight what has changed since you last applied across different categories – Test Scores, Academics, Professional/Employment, Extracurriculars, and "Other". These sections are a great place to show the Admissions Committee that you have taken additional time to strengthen your candidacy and direct their attention to your achievements and improvements.

• Here are some specific examples of what you could choose to highlight:
• 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. Lastly, we will only factor your strongest valid scores so if your results don’t exceed previous attempts there is no harm done to your application.
• Academics: If you feel your academic performance was sub-par and/or that you didn't demonstrate your ability to handle quantitative work, you may want to consider taking additional 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. 
• Professional & Extracurricular Experiences: In the time since your prior application, you should have had sufficient time to build upon your professional experiences (i.e., new skillsets, accomplishments, projects, promotions, etc.) and extracurricular activities (i.e., new leadership opportunities, volunteering, etc.). Make sure to highlight these in your re-application.
• Self-Reflection & Research: Take the time to think about what you communicated in your previous application and ask yourself some of these questions: Have my post-MBA goals changed or become more specific? 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 share your new goals if you feel they have changed. 

Insider Pro-Tip: Do not assume that the Admissions Committee will reference your previous application. This means you need to communicate everything you want the Admissions Committee to know, even if you covered it in your prior application.  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!

-- Adrian Aguirre '01, Associate Admissions Director, MBA Admissions

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UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Core Qualities

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.

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APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:

CORE QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR IN APPLICANTS

 

You are likely looking at a lot of different MBA options at the moment. You are probably even thinking to yourself, "all these programs seem similar, so what's the difference?" The difference is in the students and the community in which you will join. Here at UCLA Anderson, we are rooted by three pillars: Share success, think fearlessly and drive change. When we think about "fit", these are the qualities that make up the #AnderFam. Fit is important because your success in any MBA program will be where you are allowed to be your authentic self. It is only when you find that, will you be able to take advantage of all the resources that will help you grow professionally and personally during your two years.

When crafting a story for the admissions committee on why a program like UCLA Anderson is right for you, you must address three critical points: 

1. Tell us why you are pursuing the MBA.
2. Tell us why you are pursuing the MBA at this point in time. 
3. Tell us why the MBA from UCLA Anderson makes sense for your personal and professional goals.  

To make yourself a strong candidate for UCLA Anderson, think Poker and play your “ACE” card:

• Academic Profile: The UCLA Anderson MBA core curriculum is quant heavy so we expect our students to master the business fundamentals in order to be successful in their academics and eventually, their career. Within academics, we look at a  combination of your test score and your undergraduate grades. However, those are just two (or three) data points to a story within academics. We will take a deeper dive in your academic profile by determining the rigor of your undergraduate school, major, and coursework, your trends in grades, as well as other academic achievements to get a better sense of the context of your achievements.
• Contribution to Anderson: As mentioned at the beginning, sharing success is embedded into the UCLA Anderson ecosystem. We need students who will engage with their peers in a meaningful and impactful way during their time here and after. Our students support one another by creating opportunities and changes that benefit all. This might mean taking on leadership roles in our Anderson Student Association (ASA) and 50+ clubs or leading one of our Anderson Career Teams. We will assess this by looking at your prior involvement and/or leadership on-campus during your undergraduate studies, in the workplace, and/or through your community. 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. To gain a good understanding of our students, the average UCLA Anderson student is a part of eight different clubs and holds leadership roles in three. 
• Employability: Accelerating your career is one of the top reasons to pursue an MBA, so how prepared are you to achieve your goals? How focused and attainable are your goals? Your resume and letters of recommendations will guide us in determining which transferable job skills will carry you to future roles, especially if you are looking to pivot function or industry. We know that your goals may change during your time here, but the admissions committee will always be looking for three things when considering employability: (1) career progression, (2) career impact, and (3) transferable skills.

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 in sharing success, thinking fearlessly, and driving change.

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