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The MBA Student Voice offers a first-hand perspective on life inside an MBA program and at UCLA Anderson directly from our current students.
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.
This time last year I was preparing for re-taking my GMAT and TOEFL, was planning my campus visits and was working on my resume, so I understand the problems and questions of Fall 2013 MBA applicants quite well. Several guys approached me to ask for my advice on the application process and the questions are very similar, so I decided to dedicate my post to the most common applicant's questions.
What should I start with? At this point I suppose that the question "Do I really need an MBA?" is not your question and you have decided for sure that you need an MBA and you are planning to apply this/next fall. My strong recommendation will be to start with the test/tests: result of GMAT is valid for 5 years, result of TOEFL is valid for 2 years; both tests are not easy, so you have to allocate sufficient time to prepare for them and make sure to save some time for potential re-take (the majority of people I know took GMAT at least twice and you can not retake it earlier than in 31 days after the initial attempt). After you are done with the tests, you are fine to do next steps. I think that next you should be working at the school selection by using your own criteria (don't forget to include UCLA Anderson in the list), working on your resume and selecting proper recommenders, probably discussing with them your intention to get an MBA. Additionally, now is a right time to attend admission events that will take place in different cities around the globe throughout the summer and autumn.
Should I visit the schools before applying? or When is the best time to visit the schools? or Is it ok to visit the schools in the summer? or Am I at disadvantage if I can't visit the school? My personal opinion is that you won't be at disadvantage from the admissions point of view if you can't make it to campus, but a visit o school can benefit you personally on different stages of your application. First of all, you will meet a lot of people personally and will be able to ask about their experience with the school; you will be able to make contacts with different people and refer to them at a later date when you need it. Secondly, you will have the opportunity to visit classes, see the method of teaching and the atmosphere in class with your own eyes, that's why I believe that visiting during school year is better then just walking in the lonely campus during summer or other holidays. So, if you have an opportunity, go and visit on October-May (excl. State Holidays and winter/spring breaks). When you visit UCLA Anderson, make sure to write a message to me, I will try to meet for coffee and share my experiences with you :). Thirdly, all activities during your campus visit will form your vision of the school, help you justify your choice of the school in the essays and help you make a final choice of the school when you are admited to several MBA programs.
A photo of me visiting UCLA Anderson before application:)
What track should I mention in my essays for UCLA Anderson or is it better to mention multiple tracks? Actually that doesn't matter! What is more important is to link your future goals and career aspirations to what Anderson has to offer. For instance, If you plan to go into marketing sphere, you can mention marketing track, but make sure you explain how you will benefit from it. My advice will be "not mention something just to mention it". As far as I learnt from the admit portal, in the fall 2013 you will have to write only one essay of 750 words, so make sure every word in it counts and adds to the whole picture of yourself! Be specific, avoid blurred goals and just tell your story!
What are the financing options at UCLA Anderson? There are a lot of financial aid opportunities at UCLA Anderson and you can look them up here. I can say that Financial Aid office at UCLA Anderson is wonderful, they respond to every simple question I have and within very short period of time! They are very helpful and friendly! So, if you have questions regarding financing, contact Ji Choi or Andy Promsiri from FinAid office, I am sure they will be very happy to help you. My general advice will be to start saving money from the moment the idea of getting an MBA came to your head: it will be a bit of a help when you are admitted!!!
So, these are the most common questions I have heard recently. If you have other questions, please, comment on this post, I will answer them in the comments or will make another post out of them!
Sure we all joke about taking a vow of poverty by returning to graduate school, but let's be honest--most of us will have a bit of coin to spend on some good eats that will satiate even the most finicky foodie. Although up for debate (a debate I will strategically avoid in this post), Los Angeles is without a doubt one of the most recognized cities in the world for diverse, delectable, and delicious cuisine. So, for your viewing pleasure, let's dive in to my top 10 eateries in the LA area!!! Take copious notes.
Everyone knows about Anderson’s strong academics and beautiful location. These are at the heart of the school’s appeal. But what else about Anderson sets it apart from other top programs? Beyond the rankings and LA backdrop, Anderson has a lot to offer. Here are a few more reasons that I’m becoming a Bruin.
Embrace of Social Impact
These days every top business school promises
social impact opportunities. Yet, some are more committed to it than
others. During the admissions process, I met schools that knew little about their
own social impact offerings and took part in admissions interviews where my
non-profit goals were met with resistance.
This was simply not the case at
Anderson. During my campus visit, I was
paired with a current student who talked in detail about C4C and Anderson Net
Impact. And although my admissions interviewer was not academically involved in
social impact, she spoke highly of the Riordan Programs and gave me the chance
to make a case for my social impact goals.
Tracks & Specializations
My non-business background left me a little
lost when I first began looking at MBA curriculums. Anderson resolved this by
organizing its breadth of courses into Tracks and Specializations. These
academic paths helped show me which courses were essential to my focus and all
the possibilities to customize my MBA at Anderson. They also showed me that
Anderson has put serious thought into its curriculum and will be a clear way to
signal my (newly acquired) business expertise to potential employers.
First Impression
First impressions are important and
Anderson made a great one during my campus visit. Although I visited other
schools with strong reputations, beautiful campuses and close-knit communities,
none had the complete package that I found at Anderson. The student body was
diverse and took a genuine interest in me as a prospective student. Campus was stunning and Gold Hall had a vibrant, open atmosphere. Everyone I met was
positive and down to earth. By the time I left LA, Anderson had jumped to the
top of my b-school list.
International Network
When I began researching business schools,
one of the first things I heard about Anderson was its incredible LA network. This is definitely true. But as I dug deeper, I also
found that Anderson and UCLA have great international networks – especially in
Asia. With long-term goals that may take me permanently abroad, it’s great to
know that I’ll have a professional network waiting for me no matter where I
land.
Forward Momentum
Over the past few years, Anderson has
redesigned its curriculum, rolled out new branding and fought to gain self-supporting
status. Application numbers are also up at a time when most schools are experiencing declines. All of these changes convinced me that
Anderson is working hard to continue moving its program in the right direction. As (future)
MBA students, we’ve all done some self evaluating and are returning to school to prepare ourselves for a better future. I’ll be proud to attend a school that has done the same!
Daniel Genter, MBA '15 - Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter.
Let me christen this year's first blog post by giving you an introduction to who will be guiding you through the B-school jungle. So belt up, strap in, grit your teeth, and flex your glutes as we begin this jubilant and joyous journey!!!
The name's Buzz Black. What can I say, my parents have a penchant for alliterations. Dwight Schrute from the famous American comedy "The Office" was once asked in an interview how he would describe himself. I echo his answer in describing myself: "How would I describe myself? Three words: hard-working, alpha male, jack hammer. Merciless. Insatiable!"
If you looked at my childhood migration pattern it would look like the path of a pinball bouncing around the west coast and mountain west. I was born in Sacramento, then moved to Salt Lake City, then Portland, then Houston, then back to Salt Lake City. Nomadic, I know.
After high school I spent two years in Mexico for a volunteer church missionary program. This photo describes how much fun I had down there. I love my good friends from Mexico!
Upon returning from Mexico, I attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in Finance. I met my wife at school and we got married a few months before graduation. Her name is Camille. She is the jelly to my peanut butter.
Pure Joy
I have spent the last three years working at Merrill Lynch's Private Banking & Investment Group in Los Angeles. In fact, the UCLA campus is just a stone's throw away from where I lived. Three years of hard work didn't come without any cool trips! Check out some pics from a trip to Japan, India, and British Columbia.
Golden Palace in Kyoto, Japan
Taj Mahal in Agra, India
Cycling near Victoria, British Columbia
A little more about myself...I love sports!!! You name it--baseball, basketball, football, cycling, MMA--it keeps my life full. If I'm not working or hanging with Camille it's likely that I'm on a court or field somewhere playing some ball.
Fun fact: my wife and I are expecting our first, a baby boy, this August. I mean, business school isn't going to be that busy, er, right??? Should make for a fun experience. I can't wait for the little guy to arrive!
That's me y'all. I hope we can relate on either an electronic or subatomic level through these posts. And most importantly, I hope my subsequent posts give you a crystal clear, HD, 1 bajillion mega pixel image of what it was like applying, what it is like waiting to start, and what it will be like when things get rolling. Keep your eyes on the prize and go big or go home! Signing off...
Last week approximately 50 people who have received offers to join the Anderson Class of 2015 came to visit for Anderson Preview Day. The Preview Day is a mini-version of Anderson Admit Weekend (aka A-Days) which takes place April 12-14 this year.
I did not have a chance to attend Preview Day or A-Days last year, so was very excited about the opportunity to volunteer and meet potential future classmates. The timing for the week could not have been better!
The event started on Wednesday night, with a meet and greet dinner and drinks at Glendon Bar and Kitchen in Westwood, near UCLA. After everyone had a chance to connect with current first and second-years, faculty, and admissions staff, the group headed to Pauley Pavilion to watch UCLA Men's Basketball. The night couldn't have gone better, as the team won an overtime thriller against Arizona - great way to introduce people to the newly renovated arena and the excitment of going to a business school with great sports teams!
The following day the group had a variety of activities to choose from. It started with a short tour of campus and meet and greet lunch for those people who hadn't been able to make dinner the previous night, and then people split off to do class visits, listen to a panel about academics and career options, financial aid, and other such topics.
The career panel consisted of the following first and second-years, with their pre-MBA job listed first followed by where they interned or are interning this summer. Both Charlotte and Caroline received full-time offers from their internship employers and are returning post-MBA.
The conclusion of the Preview Day was a visit to the TED Campfire, where the group was able to listen to TED talks from Anderson students and faculty as a wrap up to the week-long TED events. See the post by fellow blogger Alejandra on TED week!
All in all, it was an awesome experience for me to share my love and enthusiasm for Anderson with future classmates, and it got me excited about seeing even more people at A-Days coming up in April!
Welcome Week event at Obika Mozzarella! When: October 9th, 6pm - 8pm Alumni: $15 - Students $5 Where: Obika Mozarella - Century City Westfield, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
If you're a fan of 30 Rock, you probably recognized the title of this post from Season Five, where Pete and Frank decide to resurrect Pete's music career (he had once played with Loverboy) by recording the song "It's Never Too Late For Now." For me, this phrase has been running through my head lately as I prepare to go back to school and dust off the memory banks to re-learn all the math I have forgotten.
This picture makes me thirsty for some of Liz Lemon's funky juice.
If you're reading this blog because you're interested in an MBA program, it should be no surprise that business school requires a baseline of mathematical knowledge, or in b-school terms, quantitative or "quant" skills. In theory, I shouldn't be too intimidated by this. After all, I got a 4.0 in my college Calculus class, and I have been assured that my MBA program will not require anything more advanced than what I learned back then.
The harsh reality, however, is that when I took Calculus, the hot new Johnny Depp film wasn't Pirates of the Caribbean, or evenChocolat--it was What's Eating Gilbert Grape. Before you Google that, rest assured that it was quite a while ago.
Since then, I avoided math by going to law school (perhaps the only grad school program that doesn't require math) and then practicing law, where the only number crunching I did was preparing income tax returns. I did refresh my memory banks last fall while prepping for the GMAT, but just enough to get a respectable test score--not enough to succeed in the quant-heavy classes I'll start in a few weeks.
So if you're a prospective MBA student who is similarly situated, the good news is that you CAN get into a top program on more than quantitative skills alone. The bad news is, you'll have to get up to speed eventually. Fortunately, UCLA Anderson provides several options. I'm currently enrolled in MBA Math as well as Anderson's online MBA Math Workshop. I also purchased GMAC's Essential Prep series, although I find the Khan Academy tutorials in the MBA Math Workshop to be more helpful. I'm also working through the Excel tutorials on Lynda.com (with free access provided by Anderson).
Basically, I have spent the last 3 weeks holed up at home re-learning math (and learning Excel for the first time). It's a challenge, but a manageable one. Plus, I'm in Los Angeles so when I take breaks, it's to do fun stuff like catch a comedy show at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.
I went last night and saw performers from two other favorite NBC shows, The Office and Parks and Recreation. (No Amy Poehler, unfortunately, but Jean-Ralphio was a good consolation prize.)
Even more exciting, I'm going back in a couple of weeks to see local celebrity/brother Albert Ching perform some improv comedy goodness.
During the final evening of MLT's Career Transition and Leadership Seminar (CTLS) event, I found myself with a hundred-plus other Fellows in the Citigroup building at 388 Greenwich St. in New York. Deloitte Consulting was hosting this particular reception. I had spent the past six years in advertising, and even on client visits I had never been in a place so... corporate. Nor did I have much detailed knowledge about consulting (and I had yet to begin my House of Lies marathon). As instructed, I came prepared with some light background info on Deloitte, but my uneasyness was a sure sign that I should have read up even further. More on that below.
The view from 388 Greenwich St.
Twenty minutes and a few appetizers later, I was sitting at a roundtable with a few of my closer Los Angeles-based MLT Fellows. As we talked amongst ourselves, a tall, elegant lady walked to up to the table and introduced herself as a consultant from Deloitte. We quickly racked our brains to think of smart questions to ask, but she instead requested that we introduce ourselves. Soon, she was giving us the inside scoop on management consulting, from the hours and lifestyle to the variety of projects in which she had taken part throughout her career. Merging a U.S. company with a Japanese counterpart. Improving customer service via digital technology for an airline. At one point I asked the most embarrassingly basic of a question about consulting, which she answered fully and respectfully. Very cool.
The conversation was still going strong thirty minutes later when a guy approached the table and tapped her on the shoulder. It was time for her speech. She excused herself from the table with a smile, and stood three feet away, facing a podium. Another gentleman took the podium and summarized some very impressive career accolades before introducing our new friend as Principal and Managing Director of Deloitte Consulting NY, Terri Cooper.
Now, there are a few practical networking lessons that you may have picked up in this little anecdote, including:
Be prepared. Particularly for pre-planned networking events, you should be ready to engage in at least a basic professional conversation with anyone in the room.
Be proactive. Despite this story, having Principals approach you is actually quite rare.
Be yourself. It's a cliche for a reason. Initial conversations will be more interesting and sustained relationships will be more authentic and rewarding.
My true purpose in sharing this story, however, is to remind us all that networking is about people. Throughout business school we'll learn countless rules and tips and tidbits about how to approach corporate representatives, how to ask for business cards, how to gracefully exit those awkward little career fair circles, how to be memorable, how to follow up, how to prioritize and cull contacts based on personal goals. Et cetera.
Ultimately, it's still all about interacting with another human being. I have no interest in consulting. I may never see Terri Cooper again. But I learned more about an entire industry in that thirty minutes than I had in my entire life. Simply by enjoying a good conversation with an open mind.
Always be networking.
- Gregory Paige (Follow me on Twitter: @gregorypaige)
The statistics are staggering. When Don Thompson assumed his new title as CEO of McDonald's a couple months ago, he became only the sixth active African-American CEO at a Fortune 500 company, according to CNN. A 2011 report from Catalyst exposed that women held only 16.1% of corporate board seats, while women of color held only 3%. And this 2010 report from the Alliance for Board Diversity notes that together, African-Americans, Asian Pacific Islanders and Hispanics represented 33.7% of the total U.S. population, and that until U.S. companies "begin to reflect their shareholders, markets, and employees, they will fail to reach maximum potential as leaders in the global economy."
On the heels of Ashley's great post about the Forte MBA Women's Conference, I'd like to introduce two programs that champion diversity and inclusion in MBA programs: Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) and the Consortium.
MLT is a career development organization for underrepresented minorities, providing skills training, one-on-one coaching and unbelievable access to admissions officers and corporate recruiters alike. Aspiring b-schoolers will first go through the MBA Prep program, during which you'll spend time (lots of it) figuring out and learning to articulate your story. Short-term goals, long-term goals, why MBA, why UCLA Anderson? Upon submitting applications, fellows transition into the Professional Development program, which trains you to put your best self forward for summer internship and full-time recruiting. Fair warning: MLT was at times a lot of work! But it pushed me to a level of introspection and self-awareness that I wouldn't have reached otherwise. Nineteen months, sixteen assignments, four seminars and countless coach calls later, I can attack class and recruiting with confidence and the support of a phenomenal network that's only getting stronger.
Likewise, the Consortium promotes diversity and inclusion in American business in conjunction with member schools and sponsor companies. Prospective students can apply to their choice of seventeen member schools via a common application, though which the Consortium also awards merit-based fellowships. This past June, all c/o 2014 Consortium students convened in Minneapolis for Orientation Program, known affectionately as OP, for five really intense days of skills development, interviewing, networking and, of course, partying. Personally, my favorite part of OP was getting to know my Anderson classmates. Sounds mushy, but it's real. See, we even recently reunited in Manhattan Beach for some fun in the sun.
Soon we will bury our heads in textbooks and cases. But not today.
One of Anderson's fall application events is called Embracing Diversity. I'm proud to see the school live up to those words by embracing partnerships with organizations like MLT, the Consortium and Forte Foundation.
- Gregory Paige (Follow me on Twitter: @gregorypaige)
The MBA Student Voice offers a first-hand perspective on life inside the MBA program at UCLA Anderson. Bloggers are current students who volunteer to share their experiences with prospective students.
