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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.
This week Anderson's Class of 2015 got down to business and began its first MBA course, Leadership Foundations. At the moment, we're only a few days into the class but we're already laying the groundwork for our next two years at b-school and beyond. As its name implies, the course builds on leadership frameworks and uses them to reinforce the Anderson credo, "Think in the Next."
Hey, Summer Bloggers! What has this week taught you about leadership and what it means to "Think in the Next"?
Alena Kostenkova: This week's experiences were not easy for me, but who said that they would be? I think I didn't realize how much teamwork means until the Odyssey day of Anderson's Leadership Foundation course. When I was climbing the pole (see below) and fighting with my fear to step up to the top, my team was cheering me on, giving advice and support. Buzz was the one to realize that I am in trouble and he took the initiative of guiding me step by step: he told me where to put my legs, how to help me overcome my fear and finally stand up on this very high pole. Buzz demonstrated the true leadership of giving a hand to a teammate who was struggling: he was calm, patient and very supportive. All of these characteristics will be very helpful in the workplace in the real world.
Another exercise was on teamwork and communication. It was fantastic! You have to go on a 30- to 35-foot high rope with a partner who is going on a second rope parallel to your own. As you can see, you need to be leaning against each other to make it work. Only good teamwork and trust could help you reach the goal!
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Alena and her partner conquering the ropes course. Great job, guys!
I am very glad I took this wonderful course. I know that not everything was perfect, but the takeaways and lessons learned are important for future business leaders. Of course, I need to think about this over and over to make some conclusions, but for now, I can say that this expereience helped me become more open to people and more trusting. I will for sure bring all of these takeaways to the workplace as a leader.
Together At Last: The Class of 2015 Summer Bloggers
Today was a big day. It was the first day on campus for incoming students and the day the Class of 2015 was officially welcomed into the Anderson family. As faculty enthusiastically introduced the program and second-year students started to show us the ropes, all of us who are new to campus got to meet our classmates face-to-face and experience first-hand all of the excitement of the Anderson MBA.
For the next two weeks, your favorite Summer Bloggers will be here to share their unique experiences at Orientation and their first impressions as the newest additions to the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Summer Bloggers, how would you describe your first day at Anderson?
Husband. Wife. Partner. Significant Other. Sig-O. Better Half. The list goes on...Before applying to UCLA, I was a little concerned about going back to school with a wife and new baby. I had heard the misconception that most MBA students were single and that I would be the part of a very small minority of students with families or significant others. I was worried that one of two things would happen--I would either end up diving too deep into the MBA social scene and lose out on "family time" or I would overcompensate for being gone so often that I would miss out on the MBA experience. Fortunately, that isn't the case at UCLA Anderson.
15 years ago, only about 25% of incoming MBA students had spouses/families. Now, the number is reaching 40% or higher at some schools. This makes sense, since the average pre-MBA work experience each student is around 5 years, making the average student age 27-28. In response to this growing trend, UCLA Anderson, and many schools for that matter, have created well-organized programs/clubs aimed at the significant others of the MBA student.
At UCLA, we have the following resources to involve our families in the program. Believe me, if they want to be busy and involved, there are plenty of activities to choose from!
The original title of my blog post was going to be "5 Application Fallacies That I Straight Up Debunk Cuz That's How We Roll at Anderson", but the more conservative "me" took hold and I went with the plain vanilla title. There is a latin phrase "res ipsa loquitur" which means "the thing speaks for itself." This blog post hopefully does just that and helps all of you out there to approach your applications with correct expectations.
1. If I don't get a 700 on the GMAT I have no chance and should lock myself in a dark, damp closet as punishment.
Have you ever seen those "Keep Calm and..." signs? They should make one that says "Keep Calm and Be Happy with Your 690." Let me qualify this. If you have taken the GMAT multiple times and you max out in the 670-690 range, calm down and realize that the GMAT is but one of many measurements the admissions committee takes into consideration when evaluating your candidacy. Here is some basic information about how the adcom looks at the GMAT. The more balanced the score, the better. If you have to be better off in one section, be better in quant. Why? They want to make sure you don't have a nervous breakdown when you dive into the very quantitative courseload. If you only take the GMAT once and your high score is 670, take it again. The adcom will appreciate that you attempted improving your score, even if it goes up a mere 10 points. If your GMAT is a 590, you're in trouble. However, each top business school admits someone with a very poor GMAT score, but that's probably because they had an AMAZING story to tell in their essays, work experience, or recommendation letters (i.e. you were a member of Seal Team Six, you made a career out of saving stray animals and turning them into trained acrobats, etc.). Here's the bottom line--remember that the GMAT is but a piece in the puzzle. Don't let it discourage you.
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!
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.
Anderprom. Orientation Rope Course and "trust" falls. That first Anderson pool party. These are a few reasons to get fit while at school. Fortunately, LA provides a wealth of opportunities to shred that adipose tissue and firm up those abs. Below are some of my favorite things to do in the area!
This is the most logical, full service gym that most of us will use during school. Complete with weights, olympic platforms, every cardio machine you could imagine, and three spick'n'span full length basketball courts, this is the spot! Millions of hot pockets and In'N'Out burger calories have been burned in these hallowed halls. Before school starts you can get a summer pass for just $50 if you show your Bruincard. During school the admission fee is embedded in your tuition.
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.
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...
About The MBA Student Voice
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.
