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:
Reapplying to UCLA Anderson
With only 330 seats available for our in-coming class, admissions to UCLA Anderson can be competitive. Though we have many qualified candidates, we cannot admit everyone (even though we would love to!). Sometimes applicants are not admitted because we just don’t have room to admit all the aforementioned qualified candidates and other times, applicants miss their shot by a small margin for issues that could easily be addressed through some self-reflection or additional preparation. At UCLA Anderson, we love our re-applicants and we often see them succeeding the following admissions cycle.
The good news is that if you choose to re-apply, you already understand the process and are at an advantage! Though the applicant pool changes each year, you have the benefit of additional time and insights to present a stronger application. As a reapplicant, you start with a clean slate as we do not reference your previous application when re-evaluating your profile.
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 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. We've also seen re-applicants take a different a different exam (e.g. the GRE if the GMAT was taken previously) as it was a better exam for them.
- 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 though community college, extension, or other third party programs. This won't change your undergraduate GPA, 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: There are times when an applicant has all the exam, GPA, and career metrics, but it's the softer aspects of the application that determined an unfavorable outcome. It's important that if this is the case, you 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 and how I can contribute? 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.
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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