The MBA Student Voice

Los Angeles: The Good, The Bad, and the Ridiculously Good Looking

So, time for some #realtalk. As a somewhat recent LA transplant, I'm all-too-familiar with the east to west coast culture shock. Here are some of my thoughts on the best and worst of Los Angeles living...

The Good

1) Weather. It is as good as they say. Don't believe me? Check this in December/January and prepare to have your mind blown.

2) The rental market--all this space just for me??? And from my experience/those I've spoken to compared to other cities (San Francisco, New York, etc) the process for finding/signing a lease is pretty painless and landlords are open to negotiation on lease term and rent.

3) Fresh local produce! I love that even in December, every Sunday there's a farmers market just a few blocks from my house (along Gretna Green/San Vicente for those Brentwood-bound). There are also markets in Westwood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, etc. But even if you opt for supermarket produce, Californians are definitely spoiled with the quality/freshness of our fruits and vegatables.  

4) The scenery. Whether you're driving to the (gasp!) Valley or heading to Malibu, the ocean and mountain views in LA are absolutely gorgeous and (almost) negate the misery of traffic. Within an hour (or even 15 minutes of campus!) are hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains, Runyon Canyon, Griffith Park, and Malibu that offer breathtaking views of the city and coast. Anytime I started to miss home/the traffic got me down, a 7-minute trip up San Vicente to Palisades Park (see below) quickly improved my mood.

5) The food. Taco Tuesday. Sugarfish. Pizzeria Mozza. The Apple Pan. Yo. Gurt. Land. So many delicious foods! Plus, I second everything Buzz had to say in his post about great places to eat in LA.

Choosing a laptop: MBA style

I’ll admit, I’m not the most technologically savvy. Sure, I can manage my way around InDesign and crank out a video in Final Cut Pro, but most of the time I use my laptop to watch the latest Community and catchup on celebrity gossip. That’s why I was thrilled when I saw Anderson’s laptop requirements. Perfect, I thought! Let me print it out and drive to the closest Apple store (have I mentioned I’m a Mac girl?). But wait, what’s that? Office for Mac is not supported? I need to install Windows on my Mac? Waaah? Perhaps I should consider a PC? I guess off to Best Buy I go…

Thirty minutes later, I’m in the middle of Best Buy with Mike, a sales associate and self-professed geek, the store manager and the floor rep. “She needs 250+GB SSD? Why is she a film student?” “The only computers we have that fit those requirements would be the Mac with Retina Display. But wait, oh. Then maybe a PC?” “This makes no sense.” Oi. If these three are having so much trouble I guess this might not be so easy. Here’s what I learned from the purchasing experience.

The breakdown:

If you’re looking for an investment piece, consider going with Anderson’s Recommended specs as they will guarantee you a top of the line computer. If, like me, you are thinking of getting a computer just for your time at Anderson (and buying a new one right before graduation to maximize on that student discount), consider a mix of both Recommended and Minimum requirements.

 

You are admitted! What's next?

        Everyone in the application process wants to get the admission letter, waits for it and counts the days till the decision date when he/she is done with apps and interviews. So, even if you are at the beginning of the application process right now, you can still be curious to unfold the veil of secrecy and look into the future period between getting the admission letter and enrolling in the program.

               First of all, you will be very happy and will celebrate the admission with your friends and family the week or two following your admission. Make sure to thank all the people who helped and supported you during the application process! (and at this moment you realize that the number of people is huge and it really takes you some time to count everyone and shoot a message/make a call to everyody).

               Secondly, when the euphoria comes down, you are beginning to realize what has happened and you begin to plan further steps. The question "how will I finance my studies?" arises immediately and you start to blame yourself for having saved that little! A close look at financing options brings you to the Earth; the Financial Aid office is eager to answer all your questions about financing your degree.

          Then you join Facebook group of your class, ask questions, get to know your future classmates. At the beginning of April you are invited to visit A-days at Anderson to feel the sense of community, explore the housing options and make sure the program is right for you! Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to A-days myself, but my classmates who were told me that these 3 days were marvelous: the organization was perfect, people were super friendly and supportive and the majority of questions was solved. I even noticed that several people have found a roommate from the class during A-days, and I regret not going to LA in April.

Campus House Hunting on a Budget

An MBA is an expensive investment. And if you take a look at Anderson’s estimated student budget, you’ll see that it’s not just tuition that’ll have you reaching for your wallet. The good news is that UCLA offers plenty of ways to limit spending without sacrificing everything that’s great about the school and life in LA.

Let’s take another look at that estimated student budget.

 

 

If the “Room/Board” figure seems like an overestimate, then you're on to something. With a little help from UCLA, incoming students can live well below it and find great rates on places to stay in and around campus.

 

Take a look at three of my favorite options.

Buzz's Zone

You unlock this door with the key of imagination. Beyond it is another dimension: a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. You're moving into a land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. You've just crossed over into... the Twilight Zone  Buzz's Zone.  What is Buzz's Zone you ask?  Well, read on!

The decision to get an MBA is a difficult one.  There are costs/benefits, pros/cons, ups/downs, apps/GMAT (even mentioning that invokes the most righteous contempt).  For both admits and my beloved future applicant audience out there I wanted to explain my path to business school and, more particularly, why I chose UCLA Anderson.

It all started when I was in fifth grade and I...wait--just kidding!  You thought you were going to get this boring life story rife with cheesy sentimental anecdotes that culminated in me arriving at b-school.  Allow me to spare you the snooze story of my youth and jump right into what counts!

In my undergrad program at BYU one of my finance professors asked the class participants to raise their hands if they were planning on business school.  Probably 85% raised their hand.  He curtly stated, "about 10% of those that raised their hands will actually end up following through on that goal."  My pride was hurt and I thought to myself "wait until I get to b-school, then I'm going to send a look-at-me-now email to this professor to show him that I made it."  Well, I forgot which professor it was...so that's not going to happen.  BUT, he was right.  There were a few times after my undergrad where I vacillated and thought that b-school was either out of reach or not worth the investment.  If you have felt this way, you are NOT alone!  The GMAT is tough, applications are time-consuming, and interviews are nerve-wracking, but hey, say it with me now...I-CAN-DO-IT!

10 Unobvious Things Incoming Students Can Do Before School Starts

Hey people!  Whether you are trekking through a jungle in Asia, packing your moving truck, or sitting at work (still???  I applaud you!), I hope you find yourself getting more excited for the MBA journey to begin!  We all have long lists of "things-to-do" and I don't want anyone of us to miss anything important.  I've compiled a list of 10 unobvious things we can do before school starts to make the transition smoother.  Enjoy!!!

1) REST!!!  It sounds weird, right?  We don't need no sleep!  We're still young!  Although it's true, you definitely may want to consider building up those energy reserves for the onslaught of orientation, first quarter classes, and endless meet-and-greets.  Come to school fresh and only burn the candle at both ends a few nights a week.

You don't want to end up like this...

New Anderson Family

    After I got admitted I was wondering what would happen next, how I would make a transition into business school and how I would manage to get to know my future classmates while I was more than 6000 miles away from school. Everything turned out to be quite easy and I was amazed by the speed I virtually met my future classmates: once I joined Facebook group, it all began! The group is very active, there are so many topics to discuss and people are ready to answer questions and give advice. But today I want to tell about a small group of us who met on the Facebook Anderson Class of 2015 page and decided to take part in Nike+ Women's Marathon in San Francisco. 

      As for me, I have never run half/marathons before and I just decided to try a half when I saw on our Facebook group that several girls plan to participate. I think it was very right thing to do as now I have wonderful party of like-minded classmates who became my first Anderson family and I hope will become close friends in the turn of my MBA journey. At least now we have our e-mail thread and refer to each other for help, advice or with some questions regarding different parts of enrollment process. It is very important for me as an international student as I leave my family and friends behind and It is very cool that I had an opportunity to find such warm attitude from my new Anderson family. So, Dear readers, meet my wonderful friends!

Meeting My Future Classmates

I was nervous when I first shared my plans to pursue an MBA with my parents and colleagues. Traditional wisdom had me believe a wide chasm existed between the MBA and nonprofit worlds.  I was worried that those closest to me wouldn’t understand my decision.

 

The reaction I expected:     “You’re going to do what?!”

The reaction I got:              “That’s great! How can we help?”

 

Their support was a relief, but I was sure the UCLA Anderson community would be a tougher sell. --- I was so wrong.

 

 

A few weeks back I met up with some other Class of 2015 admits. We shared food and drinks, told stories and talked about campus life. We joked around, made plans for orientation and learned a few secrets to winning in Hong Kong casinos.

What didn’t we talk about? My business inexperience. My “weird” nonprofit background. All the reasons I don’t fit in at Anderson.

I left the meetup downright impressed with my future classmates. Of course, they were all smart and successful. But they were also simply one of the nicest groups of people I had met in long time. They were warm and open-minded. Friendly and genuine. And they made me – and my nonprofit background – feel right at home at UCLA Anderson.

 

Daniel Genter, MBA '15 - Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter.

Career Contemplation

I know. It’s only the summer. Year 1 isn’t even here yet.

Call me crazy, but I have already begun investing significant mental energy into contemplating the seemingly endless myriad of professional opportunities that lie ahead. (If it helps, I had sleepless nights worrying about college starting when I was 12…so, maybe this isn’t that bad?).

Professionally, I have dedicated most of the last decade – including many workplaces and two degrees – toward pursuing the path I am happily on now. I have successfully merged my passions for education, social impact and media/entertainment in interesting, intellectually stimulating roles that have allowed me to authentically make a difference. In the long term, I know this intersection, somewhere at the nexus of media/technology/entertainment and social change, is where my path will continue to lead.

However, in the short term, I am about to embark on a crash course in business and management. I am pursuing my MBA to magnify horizons, unlock opportunities and learn, learn, learn. And with that new knowledge in hand, I want to gain practical private sector and corporate strategy experience that I can draw upon in the next phase of my career. 

Perhaps it is starting to become clear. I have a conundrum:

Do I dive head-first into the social impact space, leveraging my two years at Anderson to strengthen skills and expand my network in my current field, and learn how to apply lessons from the business world in real-time, re-entering social change work after graduation?

OR, do I zig instead of zag, and use the MBA as an opportunity to embrace the traditional corporate sector post-MBA path? Think management consulting. Most likely management consulting.

There are many, many practical reasons to choose the latter option. An important reason is to build an understanding of the levers of change that exist in the private sector. From the outside, in the philanthropy or nonprofit spaces, I can see the potential – the glut of resources (financial and otherwise) that can be leveraged to make the world better. I want to understand what change means through corporate eyes.

For now, I’ve decided that the answer is not ‘or’ but ‘and.’

On the consulting side, I’ve connected with the Management Consulting Association (MCA), attended an end-of-year MCA send-off and have started networking with top-tier consulting firms to explore future short-term and long-term opportunities.

On the social impact side, I (just!) registered for my first national conference as an MBA student. I will be attending the Net Impact (NI) National Conference in Silicon Valley in October with many of my like-minded Anderson classmates. Meanwhile, I’ve already gotten involved with UCLA’s Net Impact chapter via a collaborative social impact strategy session with Net Impact LA (NILA), and intend to be heavily invested in the UCLA social impact community.

As I embark on this parallel journey with Parker Career Management Center by my side, I plan to engage with both sides of this equation through academics, extracurricular involvement, networking, internships and beyond. And in doing so, I’ll find the right balance for me.

Meanwhile, I have been pleased to find there are others – current students and recent alums – who share my conundrum. Each of them have confronted the challenge in a different way. And they tell me I’m not crazy. I suppose I’ll believe them.

- Devon Dickau, MBA '15

Follow me @devonianperiod and UCLA Anderson @UCLAMBA

Summer in the Bay Area (aka Anderson NorCal Invasion)

One good way to put a halt on consistent blog posts is to return to the working world for the summer... so now that I'm nearing the halfway point of my internship, I figured it was time to resurface and give everyone an update on how things have been.  

 Update on summer internship

For those of you who don't recall, I'm working at Hewlett-Packard in the Workforce Strategy group. It's hard to believe, but I've officially made it through my first 4.5 weeks! I'm currently working on two projects, with similar activities but different focuses. The first involves developing a role taxonomy for a function within HP. The company is transitioning their current HR technology to Workday, and with the increased functionality that Workday is providing, there is a need to map the current job architecture to how it will be set up within the Workday system. 

The second project is also focused on role taxonomy, but specifically for technical roles. The project goal is to refresh the career development path for technical roles so that internal and external applicants clearly understand how their career will progress in a specific role. 

6.5 more weeks to go, and then it's the start of year two! 

Other Andersonians in the Bay

Each summer, a number of interns and full-time hires head north to the Bay Area. To give you an idea of the breadth of industries and firms that members of my class are interning at this summer, see below: 

Consulting - AT Kearney, Deloitte, E&Y, Mercer, PwC

Tech - Adobe, Box, Cisco, Autodesk, Google, Facebook, HP, Intuit, VMware, Zynga, Salesforce.com, eBay, Sony

CPG - Del Monte, Clorox

Finance - Wells Fargo, Jefferies & Co, Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, Fenox Venture Capital

For an idea of where people from the class of 2014 are spending their summer by industry and geography, check out these tables.  

 

Class of 2014 Internship Industry Breakdown

Consulting	12.8%
Consumer Products	12.8%
Energy & Transportation	3.4%
Entertainment / Media	12.5%
Finance	18.9%
Healthcare	7.4%
Public Sector / Non-Profit	1.7%
Real Estate	3.0%
Technology	22.2%
Other	5.4%

 

 

Class of 2014 Internship Location Breakdown

South	1.0%
Midwest	3.4%
Northeast	6.7%
Mid-Atlantic	0.3%
Southwest	1.3%
West	80.1%
Southern CA	51.5%
Northern CA	22.9%
Pacific Northwest	5.7%
Not in North America	7.1%

 

Note - these tables do not reflect the entire class of 2014.

 

Fun in the Bay Area

In between getting settled into internships and working hard to earn full-time offers, people have still found time to enjoy all that the Bay Area has to offer. Below are a few pictures to give you an idea of what's available: 

Group of friends enjoying a day trip to the wineries in Sonoma.  

 

 The reward of a hike to the Alamere Falls. 

People getting together for a dinner in the South Bay area. 

Anderson alums, recent graduates, 2014ers and incoming 2015ers meeting up for an Alumni Mixer and listening to the keynote speaker. 

Until next time, 

~Kyle Forrest, follow me on Twitter and follow UCLAMBA