MBA Insider's Blog

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.

---

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!

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

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Resumé and Work Experience

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:

RESUME & WORK EXPERIENCE

How you craft your resumé and your pre-MBA work experience will be instrumental to your application. Understanding that 85% of our graduates pivot industry and/or function post-MBA, we want to be sure that you will be successful in meeting your professional goals. Remember that you are not applying for your next job or promotion within your same industry, so your resumé should read like highlights that will signal your post-MBA potential. Be sure to think about career progression, career impact, and transferable skills. Below are some items to consider when sharing with us your work history:

• Your resumé visually conveys a sense of professionalism, clarity and structure. The standard business formatting is best. Don’t try to surprise your reader with very cutting edge or innovative formats, (e.g. no colorful blocks or photographs).
• Check your use of white space, spelling and avoid redundancy and repetition of information.
• Reverse chronological resumés are the most common for a reason. They are simple to read and they tend to be the most clear and concise.
• Your resumé should work like your personal sales rep. It needs to showcase your value and your potential, highlighting expertise, accomplishments and transferable skills.
• Use the S-T-A-R framework to convey your accomplishments, leadership and progression:
  • SITUATION ― mention the challenge/obstacle you had to overcome
  • TASK ― describe the purpose and task at hand
  • ACTION ― list the concrete actions you took and the skills it required to solve the issue.
  • RESULTS ― summarize the outcome in a quantifiable manner to show your direct impact.
• Don’t forget to include newly received responsibilities or promotions so we are current with your most recent accomplishments.
• Make sure to include some quantifiable or measurable descriptions to help us put things into context (sales, volumes, growth rates, percentages of improvement or cost reductions, etc.)
• Your extracurricular involvement and leadership can help round out your professional profile and can signal how likely you are of being involved in the future. Make sure to list your most meaningful undergraduate and post-grad involvement in the relevant section of your resumé (You can include the name of the organization, your position or role and dates of involvement).
• Remember to be strategic about the information that you choose to share with the committee on your resumé. Everything you are listing should be with the express purpose of supporting your application and how you would like to be perceived.
• Try not to use industry-specific jargon. You want your reader -- regardless of their background -- to understand what you have done. 
• And once again, because it is that important: Don’t neglect the basics. Proofread and avoid careless typos or grammar mistakes.

Consider using the "Optional Essay" should you have one of these two instances in your work experience: 

• If there are big gaps of employment, you should probably think about explaining them in the appropriate essay available in the application.
• If your resumé shows multiple job hoping after very short stints, you may also want to address this to avoid confusion or incorrect assumptions.

We hope you find some value on these tried-and-tested tips. Let us know if you think we missed a good one. We would love to add them to our list

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!

---

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

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.

---

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. These three values are in the DNA of our school and is what we also look for in having prospective students join the #AnderFam. Fit is important because a big portion of the MBA experience occurs outside of the classroom. At UCLA Anderson, we value people who not only share their success but look to actively leave an impact at the school.

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. Why MBA?
2. Why MBA Now?
   
3. Why Anderson?

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

• Academic Profile: Our program is rigorous, especially the 1st-Year core which happens to be very quant heavy. We want to make sure you can handle the program 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 scores and your undergraduate grades. However, those are just two (or three) data points to a story within academics. For your test scores, we will take a look at your score in each section. At UCLA Anderson, we only consider your highest overall score, so you can take the GMAT or GRE (we really have no preference) as many times until you're satisfied. For 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: Contribution potential is vital since being an active member of the UCLA Anderson community is part of our "shared success" culture. 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. The average UCLA Anderson student is a part of 8 different clubs and holds leadership roles in 3. 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!

---

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

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Researching MBA Programs

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:

Researching MBA Programs

As application deadlines are approaching, how do you narrow down the schools you are applying to? There are several ways to research MBA programs.  As someone on the other side of the process, we also reach out to prospective students like you! 

Web Resources
For many of you, your search will like begin through the web. There is no better way to learn about MBA programs than though their websites like ours. Program websites offer plenty of information regarding the admissions process, curriculum plans, student life, and career placement data. Taking a deep dive into the website will give you a better feel for what we are looking for and if the program fits your needs. UCLA Anderson has a blog in addition to other social media accounts like Twitter and Instagram for you to check to get insights on who we are. You can also complete an inquiry form to find out about events.

Campus Experience
After 2 years away, many programs are bringing back their on-campus experiences. Here at UCLA Anderson, we are excited to do the same. Coming to campus will give you a better feel for the school and allow you to imagine if this is a place you can see yourself for two years. A campus experience can vary as it's very much a "choose your own adventure" type of day. The components of a campus experience can involved a class visit, coffee chat with students, a guided campus tour, and a general information session. With each touch point, you'll be able to here from a current 1st or 2nd year student to hear varying perspectives on what it means to be a part of the #AnderFam.

Virtual Meet-Ups
For those who cannot make it on to campus, most schools will also have virtual options to learn more about their programs. At UCLA Anderson, we also have virtual campus experiences. Like our on-campus experiences, they include virtual information session or virtual chats with our students. There's also a guided video campus tour for you to check out the campus and surrounding communities. 

Networking
The last suggestion to learn more about a program is to look at your own network. You may have colleagues or friends who have gone through a program or they may know someone who has. They are usually a great resource for information and can share about their experiences.

The above recommendations are only a sample of the many different things you can do to research MBA programs.  The more research you do, the better informed you will be about which schools to apply to and ultimately where to enroll.

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!

---

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

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Test Scores

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:

TEST SCORES (GMAT & GRE / TOEFL & IELTS)

At UCLA Anderson, the standardized entrance exams are a part of your admissions requirements. This is not a requirement that will be waived under any circumstances. Therefore, the best advice we can give for you to tackle this is to prepare, prepare, prepare! Test preparation is key and may be a full-time job in itself, but doing so will set you up to do the best you can. Each test assesses your verbal, quantitative, analytical writing and integrated reasoning ability. It is important to dedicate review sessions to each component of the test as the admissions team will evaluate your performance in each area. We recommend you should give yourself at least six months of preparation time before taking it and then guide the test date by the round deadline date in which you intend to apply.

People will always ask if we prefer the GMAT over the GRE. The honest answer is that there is no preference with one over the other and we mean that! Both tests are evaluated equally in the admissions process, so we encourage potential candidates to submit the test they feel most comfortable with. Reference this US News and World Report article on the key differences between the two tests. Below are a couple key things to keep in mind:

• Test scores are valid for five years, so if you are currently in an undergraduate or graduate program, it might be in your best interest to take the test now since you are already in an academic mode and mindset.
• We only evaluate your highest overall score, both the GMAT and GRE provide you with the option to select which test score you prefer to submit to the institution(s) to which you’re seeking admission. We do not penalize applicants for taking a test multiple times.
• Our Class of '24 GMAT average is 711 and the GRE average is 162 verbal and 164 quant. Remember that these are just averages and it's okay if you come under it. Our 80% GMAT range for example is 660 - 760. 
  
• It usually can take up to 2 weeks for the school to get your results, you can report your unofficial score, so if you take the test a day before our round deadline, that is still okay.
• We will still accept the at-home GMAT and GRE exams.

For any international applicants who completed their education outside of the United States, you will also be required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS exam with your application, unless your education was solely taught in English in a country where English is the primary language (please contact the MBA Admissions office to confirm whether or not you are required to take the TOEFL/IELTS). The purpose of this exam is to assess your English proficiency. Given the collaborative and interactive structure of the MBA program, we want to ensure that you will be able to contribute to classroom discussions from the very first day, and these exams help us evaluate this important fluency factor. You can learn more about the TOEFL/IELTS requirement on the UCLA Graduate Division webpage.

Remember that the test scores are just one way we evaluate our candidates. Your application is more than a test score and we look at all candidates holistically to determine if they will be a solid candidate for our program. Hopefully these insights will help guide you as you prepare for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and/or IELTS as a part of the application process. If you have any follow-up questions about our requirements or admission process, please see our admissions webpage, FAQs, or email us directly at [email protected].

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!

---

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

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Which Round Should I Apply In?

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:

WHICH ROUND TO APPLY IN

The UCLA Anderson application is already live and with our UCLA Anderson Round 1 deadline a little over a month away (October 5th), one of the questions that we consistently get is "Which Round Should I Apply In?" Like many other top MBA programs, UCLA Anderson offers multiple application rounds within each academic year. The various rounds will coincide with when your application is due and when you find out if you're admitted – generally speaking, the earlier you apply, the earlier the decision is made (though it's not always the case if you're waitlisted...more on that below).  

In terms of “when is the best time to apply?” The answer is, apply when your application is as strong as can be, even if you have to wait until rounds 2 or 3. However, based on prior class, rounds 1 and 2 are a level playing field. Round 3 is still a good time to apply, though selectivity can increase as seats are filling up by admits from previous rounds. We do want to reiterate thought that the best time to apply is when you feel your application is at its strongest. The biggest disservice you can do for yourself is submit a hastily put together application to meet an earlier round deadline. UCLA Anderson accepts top-quality applicants across all three rounds!

The pros and cons of each round below may help you determine which is the best round for you. With that said, please remember that the relative competitiveness of each round varies, as the applicant pool changes from year to year.

APPLYING ROUND 1

Pros:

• All seats are available in Round 1 (for UCLA Anderson, that's about 330 in our full-time MBA class), so we have room to admit all of the qualified candidates that we come across.
• The application process can be grueling as time goes on so front loading the extra effort to target schools in Round 1 will ensure that you are not fatigued when applying to your top choices in later rounds.
• If you get admitted to UCLA Anderson and we are your first choice, your application process is done and you get to hang out for a solid 8 months before embarking on your new adventure.
• Round 1 will also have the full amount of merit-based fellowship funds to distribute.   

Cons:

• Applicants may feel rushed to complete their application by Round 1 due to an earlier deadline date. Without proper time management, individuals may not allot sufficient time to put together the highest quality application that they are capable of run the risk of hurting their chances for acceptance into our program.
• If you have not given sufficient time for your recommenders to complete their letters of recommendation, the quality of those crucial elements of the application may also be compromised.  
• You will have the least amount of time to complete your GMAT/GRE and TOEFL/IELTS exams, and without proper planning, will likely not have time to re-take the exams if you're not satisfied with your first score. 

APPLYING ROUND 2

Pros: 

• You have additional time to complete your application and write your essay; plus your recommenders also have more time to finish their recommendations.
• We only evaluate your top score so if you were not satisfied with your GMAT/GRE and/or TOEFL/IELTS score the first time around, you will likely have time to re-take the exams.
• You have more time to learn about our program by attending Admissions events. By having this time to get first-hand experience on our program, you may gain a better understanding of your own school preferences and MBA goals, all which will reflect in your application. 

Cons:

• Round with the most application submitted including those we also have waitlisted in Round 1 that are still under consideration.
• If you do not get accepted (which hopefully won't be the case!) you may not have sufficient time to apply to another program within the same academic year.
• Although competition is high, it does not mean your chances of being admitted are lower. We have more applications, but percentage-wise, based on previous years, Rounds 1 and 2 a very similar in acceptance rate. 

APPLYING ROUND 3

Pros:

• You will have the most time to put together the strongest application possible and you will have additional time to enhance your application profile -- the additional time may allow you to get a promotion at work, take on a new project, and/or get involved in more leadership activities, for example.
• If you applied to other programs in earlier rounds, you will likely also be equipped with acceptance information from those schools.
• You will also have ample time to take (and potentially re-take) the GMAT/GRE and/or TOEFL/IELTS exams.  

Cons: 

• This last round is the most competitive because our class size is capped. Fewer applicants are historically admitted in the last round simply due to the limited spots we have remaining to round out the in-coming class. While you can still be placed on our waitlist, there are still likely many other individuals from earlier Rounds on our waitlist that you'll be still compared against. 
• You will have the least amount of time to prepare yourself for the shift back to being a full-time student, especially if you're making a major move. 

Now that you have a clearer picture of the advantages and disadvantages of each round, below is a reminder of our application deadlines by round for this academic year: 

ROUND	APPLICATION DEADLINE DAY	DECISION  RELEASE DAY
1	October 5, 2022	December 14, 2022
2	January 4, 2023	March 22, 2023
3	April 12, 2023	May 17, 2023

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!

---

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

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Why Pursue an MBA Degree?

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:

WHY PURSUE AN MBA DEGREE?

So you've made the decision to attend business school. As important as making this decision is, you will now need to think about “Why MBA?” and “why MBA now?” These are important questions to ask yourself because of the investment of time and money as well as knowing what drives you will strengthen your application and thus increase your chances of being admitted to your top choice.

The reasons for pursuing an MBA are arguably as diverse as the number of applicants pursuing the degree. However, if you speak with a typical student, you will likely hear that the answers fall within three buckets: career, access, and growth. 

Career

Whether it’s a desire to boost your salary, switch industries and/or functions, get “unstuck” in your current position, below is a small subset of career-reasons. Take the time reflect if any of these resonate for you?

Increase earning potential – Most MBA graduates will experience a substantial pay bump on their post MBA jobs which may also include signing bonus, relocation allowance and other perks. You can learn more about our students internship and full-time placement statistics on our Parker Career Management Center Annual Employment Report here.

Pivot to a different role and/or industry – Many students come to business school with plans to pivot industries and/or functional roles. Close to two thirds of UCLA Anderson’s students are pursuing both or a double pivot (both role and industry) during their time here. These changes are supported by our top-ranked Parker Career Management Center and their dedicated team of career advisers.

Be your own boss – Many students have ambitions of launching their own venture down the road. At Anderson, the entrepreneurial spirit of our community is alive and well as evidenced by the programs and events organized by the Price Center for Entrepreneurship, pitch and case competitions or the work done to help nurture future businesses by our Venture Accelerator.

Access

Another motivator is to gain access, whether it be a large global alumni network, industry leaders, or hands-on learning opportunities through internships. The MBA is a wonderful opportunity to gain access to opportunities that will give you both hard and soft skills along the way. 

Expand your network – As a member of a business school class you will be in the company of some of the brightest individuals. You will be able to work on projects that will challenge you and push you out of your comfort zone. It is this intense collaboration and partnership that will foster deep lasting bonds with fellow students who you will come to count on as your personal network, professional advisors and life long friends. This vast network also includes the 42K+ global alumni network.

Location - An advantage to going to business school in Los Angeles is that it's home to hundreds of thousands of companies. These companies range in industries across  large Fortune 500 multinational firms to smaller startups right in our own Silicon Beach approximately 15 minutes away from the UCLA campus.

Industry Experts - Finally, there are never a shortage of industry leaders and guest speakers that come onto campus. Through industry conferences, our Dean's Speakers Series, and case competitions, you have additional opportunities to network and build those industry connections. 

Personal and Professional Growth

Finally, a third motivator is to grow, both personally and professionally. An MBA allows you to gain skills in management, leadership, and communications, grow your impact and knowledge, and ultimately gives you time away from work to self-reflect on what you really want to do with your life.

Enhance your leadership skills – Although most students attend MBA programs after a few years of full-time work experience (average range is 2 to 5 yrs.) after college, it is not unusual for students to want to want to develop their soft skills as they look to start to transition into managerial roles. These skills are developed at MBA programs through the active student involvement in extracurricular leadership roles (in clubs, conferences, student government and more), and the extensive teamwork during the program.

Acquire technical skills – As a student in the MBA program, you will not only take classes in core management courses which will give you a broad understanding of business fundamentals, but you will also be able to go deeper into the specific disciplines that will support your career plans through electives courses. Additionally, students at Anderson can take up to 3 classes outside of the business school at another UCLA school or pursue dual degrees with one of 10 other departments on campus.

Make a stronger impact in the world – Last but certainly not least, new generations of students view business culture with a fresh perspective. Many students have a keen awareness of the importance of sustainability and social entrepreneurship and the role of business to be a force for good and a positive impact in the world.

Whatever your reason or reasons for pursuing an MBA, it’s important that you research how a program will help you realize those objectives and how you plan to get actively involved in realizing your goals. This research and self-assessment will help you identify the schools that are a good match for you. It will also help you prepare a stronger application and give you the confidence needed to knock your interview out of the park. A little self-assessment upfront will pay plenty down the road.

UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Essay Tips

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:

ESSAY TIPS

 

For our 2022-2023 Full-Time MBA application, our Essay Section consists of only one required essay question! Keep reading for details and tips to help you address this question, decide whether an optional essay is right for you, and navigate the reapplicant process, if applicable.

NEW APPLICANT ESSAY QUESTION:

Tell us about a recent personal or professional achievement and how it connects to your MBA goals. (250 words maximum)

Essay Question Q&A + Tips:

Q. Can you provide more details on the types of achievements and goals I should choose?
A. We welcome reflection on any achievement in your professional or personal life that you feel influenced and/or shaped your MBA goals. Feel free to address a singular goal or multiple, and these goals can be related to your career, personal life, academics, extracurricular involvement, and/or beyond! We have no preferences on the type of achievement and goals you decide to address.

Q. Why is UCLA Anderson asking this question?
A. Ultimately, we want to give you the space to directly let us know what you are proud of, and see how it ties into your larger story of why you want to pursue an MBA degree and why you feel UCLA Anderson is the right place for you to do so. We want to understand who you are on a deeper, more personal level by learning more about your past and your intended future!

Q. I don’t know where to start – help!
A. Take the time to think about an achievement that you feel really motivated you and helped set the course of what you want to get out of your MBA experience. Think about how and why. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend you start backwards…with your MBA goals. Then, think back about how you arrived at those goals. What were the key moments that helped you realize/solidify these goals and what role did you play in these moments -– as it may be in these moments that you achieved something significant enough to impact/influence what you want your future to look like!

Q. Do you have any other advice?
A. Whenever choosing something to write about, remember that the achievement itself is only one part.  You can also address the larger context that led up to that achievement and/or the outcome after. Consider what your essay reveals about you. Is it meaningful and insightful about who you are?  Given the limited amount of space you have to respond, be sure that you are genuine, clear, and concise.

 

OPTIONAL ESSAY:

Similar to previous years, we also have an optional question for those who need some additional space to explain extenuating circumstances that are not evident in the application. The optional question can be answered by either new applicants or reapplicants.

Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)

Optional Essay Q&A + Tips:

Q. It says “Optional” but should I still provide a response just to show how interested I am in UCLA Anderson?
A. The essay is truly optional and should only be used to describe any extenuating circumstances in your application or profile. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to the optional question.

Q. What are some examples of extenuating circumstances?
A. Examples include an extended gap in your resume, a personal matter or family situation, poor grades due to a circumstance otherwise not explained, and the like.

Q. Do you have any tips on how to address these extenuating circumstances?
A. Keep your response straightforward and fact-based. A sentence or two to address something may be sufficient so do not feel compelled to use up all of the word count we provide if not needed. 

REAPPLICANTS:

Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two application years. If you applied three years or more prior, then please answer the "New Applicant" essay question. 

Reapplicants may answer one or both of the above essay questions as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, and/or other changes since their last application.

FINAL ESSAY TIPS - Read before you hit submit!

Always have at least a few people review your essay(s). Ask someone who knows you well to read your essay(s) to ensure that they are representative of you and your values. Afterward, ask someone else who may not know you/your MBA goals as well to give you an objective perspective of how you may come across to the admissions committee. When sharing your essays with your reviewers do so without the essay question and then once they’ve read it, ask them what point they think you were making in your essay. This will help you identify whether or not your response is addressing the actual prompt. Finally, make sure you are clear, concise, and free of any spelling and/or grammatical errors.

Best of luck!

Waitlist Guidelines: For Application Year 2021-22 (MBA Class of 2024)

Being placed onto UCLA Anderson’s waitlist is a great accomplishment. Waitlisted candidates are recognized as potentially being a strong fit, but we cannot offer everyone a seat at this time due to size limitations. Nonetheless, we encourage you to learn more about the waitlist and ways to potentially enhance your candidacy.

• You will remain on the waitlist until a final decision is made on your application or until you request that your application be withdrawn.
• We may reach out occasionally via email to check in on your interest to stay on the waitlist -- please be sure to respond accordingly in a timely manner
• Waitlisted candidates (except those who withdraw) will be reconsidered for admission in subsequent rounds.
• Round 1 applicants will receive an update on their application status on or before the Round 2 decision release (March 22, 2022). Some candidates may be offered the option of remaining on the waitlist for consideration in Round 3.
• Remaining waitlisted candidates from Round 1 and Round 2 will receive an update on their application status by the Round 3 decision release (May 17, 2022). 
• We cannot give individual feedback to waitlisted applicants.
• The likelihood of being admitted off the waitlist is difficult to predict since the number of students admitted from the waitlist varies from year to year depending on the size/strength of the admit pool, the number of admits who enroll, and a variety of other factors.
• OPTIONAL: Waitlisted candidates may send any updates via the MBA Waitlist Interest Form (link to this is on your Waitlist decision letter)
  • Please use your personal judgment and discretion in submitting additional information that is relevant to your application. Examples include (but are not limited to): promotions, updated test scores, and recent extracurricular accomplishments.
  • Prior to submitting additional information, please consider:
    • Each interaction we have with you can be a data point on your file, so be sure your updates add value.
    • The quality of information and communication is more important than the quantity.

If you are on the waitlist and have any additional questions, please e-mail [email protected].  

We appreciate your continued interest and look forward to being in touch in the coming months!

 

 

Best Wishes for 2022 and How to Reach MBA Admissions

As 2021 is drawing to a close, we are filled with hope that 2022 will be a good year for all. Thank you for getting to know us this year (primarily virtually!) and for sharing your stories and Anderson spirit in person, online, and in your applications. And a special congratulations to our recently admitted Round 1 students!

Please note that the MBA Admissions and Financial Aid Office will be closed during the University closure at noon on December 17, 2021 through January 2, 2022. During this time, we will check emails sent to the MBA Admissions inbox ([email protected]) but responses may be a little delayed. Regular operations will resume on Monday, January 3. 

You still have the opportunity to learn more about our MBA program throughout December directly from current Anderson students by signing up for a Virtual Student Chat.

 

We wish you a wonderful and healthy holiday season and all the best in 2022!

 

-- MBA Admissions & Financial Aid team

 

 

---

Stay in Touch: Introduce Yourself
Questions? Ask A Question