The MBA Student Voice

Excited for summer!

School's out for summer!

Well, not quite. But almost. I just have one more week left! And two finals and two final projects to go!

I'm looking forward to working again. I'm going to learn so much at Glooko. I'm looking forward to see how much I can contribute.

Though I'll have to work a lot of hours, I'll have my nights and weekends again for the most part. I'll be making money again. By the end of the summer I'll be able to splurge on a trip.

I'll be up in NorCal again and be able to meet up with old work and college friends. I'll also be able to hang out more with Anderson friends up in the Bay. There's a lot of people at Google, Facebook, and the other tech companies so we'll definitely meet up.

I'll have more time to do the activities I haven't had as much time to pursue: working out, cooking, and reading. I'm raring to go to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Napa/Sonoma wine country, San Francisco, and Berkeley.

I'll be able to go back to Berkeley and eat some Cheeseboard (only the best pizza in the world) and at Lush Gelato (only the best gelato in the world - no seriously, it's true). I'll also shop at my favorite grocery store, Berkeley Bowl. And how can I not mention Philz Coffee (only the best coffee in the world)!

Cheeseboard! They only make one pizza a day!

Lush Gelato! Sooooo good!

Berkeley Bowl! aka Whole Foods without the Whole Foods Prices

I'll be able to refresh myself for the grind of next year, although I'm hoping next year won't be as hectic as this year has been.

I'll be sure to update you over the summer for the highlights.

 

~Dwight Asuncion, MBA/MPH '15

Random thoughts on academics

I'm from Section E y'all (just like fellow bloggers Ayushman Jain and Ashley Mallinson), so I'll give you the three E's of academics: Entertaining, Enlightening, Engaging.

Entertaining
I've enjoyed all of the classes I've taken at Anderson. They can be quite entertaining actually. Most sessions involve some sort of class discussion, and invariably someone says something funny. I love it. It also helps having two of the three Lit Club Librarians for next year. ;)

Enlightening
Many of our classes are case-based, so we have frequent class discussions. Even if you're not going to go into the particular industry you're talking about in a class session, the case discussion helps you understand how to approach different business situations and how to apply business frameworks going forward. You get out of it what you put into it, so I try to prepare for and engage in the discussions as much as possible.

Engaging
They're not merely enlightening, they're fun also. We talked about Xbox and the video game industry, in the process discussing Nintendo and Sega, some of the favorite parts of my childhood. We also talked about Google and Microsoft's battle over Internet search, and we're going to talk about Patagonia, one of my favorite outdoor brands (I frequent REI).

I'm very happy with my education, and so will you when you get here :)

~Dwight Asuncion, MBA/MPH '15

Class of ‘14 insider summer scoop - PART 7 - "Start of an era"

This will be oue last collective summer post! We’re all here, orientation starts today, we’ve met a bunch of classmates, socialized and found out as much as we possibly could about what’s going to be happening to us for the next two years. We all have different first impressions but here is how we are seeing things today.

(source)

Kyle Forrest: This is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made personally. When I first began thinking about an MBA, I originally thought part-time would be the way to go - let’s face it, as Dwight said in the previous group post, not having a salary is a big change, and the two year MBA experience can be quite expensive. However, in the 6 weeks I’ve spent in Los Angeles before orientation started, I’ve been able to get to know my classmates in a way that I never would have been able to do in a part-time program. The relationships are already more meaningful, and I can’t wait to see how things turn out after the next two years with everyone!

Gregory Paige: Pressing the pause button on a career is a significant risk for most people. I certainly fit into that group. But here we are at the start of Orientation, and I can already tell that Anderson will prove to be one of the best decisions of my life. You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again: It’s all about the people. My classmates have arrived from all over the country and across the globe. From every industry imaginable. And with all types of personal and career aspirations. I feel privileged to have access to such a variety of minds and experiences. Ultimately I’m not hitting pause on my career, I’m upgrading from DVD to Blu-ray!

Ashley Mallinson: I have been incredibly impressed with my future classmates, Anderson and Los Angeles. I knew that business school was the right decision for me personally and fell in love with Anderson  as early as my first campus visit, and so far the experience has surpassed my expectations in every way. I truly could not have imagined being this happy with all the dramatic changes that have taken place in my life over the last two weeks. Based on my experience so far, it is truly the people at Anderson that make the school exceptional and set the entire experience apart. It is incredible to be surrounded by such a friendly, intelligent, open-minded group of people who are each individually outstanding in unique ways. I am beyond excited to see what we, as a collaborative group, are capable of. I feel confident that I am starting a new chapter of my life with new allies, realistic goals and no limits!

Alejandra Rodriguez: It has been as awesome as I thought it would be! I had the opportunity to talk with a lot of my classmates before even coming to Los Angeles so I already knew the kind of fantastic people I was going to share my next two years with and let me tell you I was not disappointed! It has also been surprisingly easy for me to adapt to living in a new country and I believe it is because my new friends have been keeping company and helping me every step of the way. Anderson has one of the best communities you will ever find and I am delighted to be a part of it! I am very much looking forward to the first day of orientation, which also happens to be my birthday, so expect a post about it soon!  

Dwight Asuncion: Happy birthday Alejandra! How auspicious! I’m excited to start school again, but I also have butterflies in my stomach. It’s the first day of school all over again. I’m sure I’ll be a little nervous again before classes actually begin. Today I’ll meet everyone in my section and start to build meaningful relationships with them. That’s what I like about Anderson. Everyone’s in it together and willing to help each other. We’re at the start of a two-year journey that hopefully be full of personal and professional growth, and I couldn’t be happier that I’m at Anderson.

Kate Edwards: The others bloggers are correct - it is all about the people! Having spent the past two weeks spending quality funemployment time with my future classmates, I could not be more impressed with how diverse, ambitious, and thoughtful everyone is. We have organized trips to the beach, explored Los Angeles, and even attended our first UCLA football game en masse (Go Bruins!). School hasn’t started yet, but we are all so eager to get to know each other; I know these will be lasting friendships. Getting to know these people reminds me that Anderson was the right choice, and I can honestly say I am just incredibly happy to wake up every day in Los Angeles knowing I have such an adventure ahead of me.

Ann Ching: Every time I have started a new school, whether it was junior high, college, or law school, I’ve always worried whether I’d end up eating lunch alone on the first day. Sounds weird, but I think that’s where I channel my “real” anxieties about new people and a new environment. Well, this is the first time I’m not worried about that, because I already have so many new friends at Anderson. Whether through Forte Foundation, organized mixers, or informal events, I have met a lot of my classmates and they are truly exceptional. I heard that what makes Anderson unique is the incredible sense of community among students and alumni, and so far I have not been disappointed. I’m starting orientation ready to take on a new challenge (and have fun at the same time!).

Chris Varin: I just got back from sunset on the Santa Monica beach with 8 of my other new classmates and I had this moment of existential angst as I briefly contemplated what these next two years would bring. I've had a lot of great experiences up till now and while I don't really believe in fatality it all kinf of lead to this new beginning - I guess I did somewhat engineer it. After three weeks of meeting up with classmates before things start I'm completely at ease and looking forward to take the next step. These next two years are going to be special and I'm incredibly fortunate to be here.

Ayushman Jain: Having spent my first fortnight in beautiful LA and the awesome company of my Anderson classmates, I can truly say that the pre-MBA experience has taken my expectations to a much higher level, and I’m pretty sure I’m still underestimating how brilliant the next two years are gonna be. The social events and even the international students’ orientation were great opportunities to meet a large number of classmates with such diverse backgrounds. The best thing is that we blend in very well together, irrespective of geographical or linguistic boundaries. Everyone has been immensely helpful even before the program starts and I can already see the collegial culture building up amongst ourselves. I’ve also got the chance to interact with people from the Student Affairs Office, Parker CMC as well as the Financial Aid office and they have been unbelievably courteous and encouraging. Thats why, even though I know the next 3 months are gonna hit us like a ton of bricks with all the coursework and job search, I’m totally looking forwarding to starting the next chapter of my life - the MBA!

-Anderson 14' bloggers

Follow UCLA on Twitter @UCLAMBA

Class of ‘14 insider summer scoop - PART 6 - "Biggest adjustment"

We're all basically settled in now. We still haven't officially started the school year yet, but Orientation is in a week. Here's what we expect our biggest adjustments to being a student again will be.

The biggest (initial) adjustment... (Source)

Ashley Mallinson: Moving from New York to California, I was somewhat wary of Los Angeles as I had heard many nay-sayers doubting the authenticity of the Angelos, harping on the traffic and hating on the "LA attitude". I was prepared to make a huge adjustment, however as a classmate recently announced, I have already “become one with Los Angles”. I love it after only one week! While it is inherently a pesky process to navigate a new city, settle into a new lifestyle, discover the layout and character of new neighborhoods, learn traffic patterns after years of jumping in NYC taxicabs, find the most fun nightlife and social scenes and, of course, balance beach and study time, it has been an exciting adventure so far and I'm loving every minute of it!

Dwight Asuncion: There are a number of things I’ll have to adjust to, but the biggest adjustment I can see is not having a salary. It’s not just not having a salary; it’s basically having a negative salary since I have to pay tuition, living expenses, etc. I’ve been in a couple stores and I’ve had to refrain from purchasing something or had to purchase the cheaper option to save some money. I have to think twice. I can’t spend with impunity. A couple other adjustments I’ll have to make are dealing with the LA traffic, being in sunny SoCal (won’t complain about that).

Kyle Forrest: I’d say my biggest adjustment is going to be getting back into the swing of studying. We’ve had a couple of pre-orientation assignments to do over the summer, one of which, the accounting case, has helped to a degree, but since my undergraduate experience was on a semester schedule vs. quarters I’ve been told to be prepared for a very high pace of learning.

Chris Varin: I must admit that no salary is definitely on the top of the list although I’ve been living on a bidget for the past year while travelling so I feel I’m somewhat used to that already. I guess I’m going to have to get better at time management. Working in investment banking, my days at the office all looked alike and I was basically there constantly. Now I’m going to have to work in club activities with socializing, classes, recruiting, administrative stuff and a whole lot more. While London was big, the public transport system was excellent so I didn’t need to worry or plan before going out of my bubble, here it's a whole new ball park but I'm enjoying the discovery so far. There are plenty of others adjustments I’ll have to make like wearing sunscreen, playing sports regularly and meeting new and interesting people all the time - it's going to be a hard life!

Ann Ching: For me, going back to grad school means an identity shift. For many years, my response to “What do you do?” has been, “I’m a lawyer.” For better or worse, people automatically associate certain characteristics with lawyers - authority, prestige, frivolous lawsuits - so it’s a convenient label. In the past few weeks, I’ve been adjusting to my new identity as “business school student,” which generates less predictable reactions. I’m pretty excited about student discounts, though! The commute to school will also be a big adjustment. According to a recent report, Honolulu (where I moved from) has worse traffic than Los Angeles, but that hasn’t been my experience so far.

Alejandra Rodriguez: The greatest adjustment for me has been transportation. I have been driving everywhere since 2008 and now I find myself without a car in a city that does not have efficient public transportation. To make matters worse I have no experience using buses and I gave up on trying to learn on my own so I bought an iPhone and use the map application to tell me what busses to take. I am loving the map application, it is the most useful thing ever!  I have also been walking a lot and my legs are not used to it so I feel very tired at the end of the day. If you are planning to go to an MBA, you are not very athletic, and you won’t have a car then consider walking in a park every day to train your body. Additionally I have been getting suntanned from walking in the sun so I recommend putting sunblock on frequently if you want to avoid tanning. Despite all this I adore Los Angeles, it is a beautiful city and walking long distances and riding busses is totally worth it!

-Anderson 14' bloggers

Follow UCLA on Twitter @UCLAMBA

Class of 14' insider summer scoop - PART 3 - "Back to school! What’s in my backpack?"

What am I packing? - It may have been a long time ago but we’ve all had to pack for school before. But we’re adults now, we’ve worked, we may or may not have a better sense of style and we actually know what we want and what we’ll need so what are we going to be taking with us?

(Source)

Alejandra Rodriguez: I have never had to pack for school before since my college was a fifteen minute walk from what has been my home all my life. I have twenty seven years worth of memories that I have been trying to sort through for the last few months. To make matters worse I love buying clothes, shoes, accessories, and makeup.  I have way more than any normal person needs. So what am I doing? Being impractical of course!!! I am taking all of it to L.A.! I already sent five bags to a relative who lives two hours away from UCLA and I am taking three more with me when I move to Los Angeles. I even sent seven pairs of boots already and L.A. is so sunny! I will have to do a massive project to fit all my stuff inside my small room at Weyburn Terrace (which I will of course blog about). I wonder if I will be able to even fit a bed in my room but who cares, style is more important than silly things like sleeping!

Dwight Asuncion: I already did some back to school shopping. :) Bought myself a North Face backpack to carry my laptop, Sperry shoes to walk around campus looking stylish, a Hugo Boss suit for interviews (will still need to get it tailored though). Of course, since I’m going to be a student, I bought everything on sale or at an outlet. For those of you willing to make the hour or so drive, the Camarillo outlets are nice. Other than some minor school supplies, I have everything else I need: clothes, electronics, etc. Trying to keep everything simple and low-cost (aside from my splurges mentioned above).

Kyle Forrest: My main purchases for school were a new personal laptop (Lenovo T420s) since I no longer have a work one, and updates to my casual wardrobe (only two pairs of shorts won’t cut it in LA now that I don’t have to wear business clothes 5 times a week). I’m also trying to figure out whether I’ll need to fit my motorcycle with some saddlebags or additional storage, or whether I’ll truly need a backpack or a locker at school.

Ann Ching:  I have actually carried a backpack to work every day in lieu of a briefcase, so I’ll continue to do so once I’m back in school. I have to buy a lot of civilian clothes because I have been wearing a uniform for so long. When I get to LA I plan to visit Santee Alley to shop for some interview suits at discount prices. Another thing I plan to purchase is a bigger lunch cooler to bring food and snacks for school. I’ve heard the days are long and eating out (on or off campus) can be expensive and high in calories!

Ashley Mallinson: I work in the Fashion Industry in New York City, so as far as wardrobe is concerned I’m going to have to invest in a more buttoned up look than I am used to for “business casual” affairs. I was nervous I might have to leave my fashion-forward footwear behind, but was thrilled when I heard that dean Olean says, “the higher the heel, the better” so one thing I will not surrender to the more casual laid-back Los Angeles lifestyle is my heels. I’m currently suit shopping, and will fill you all in on the blog as to my findings once that mission is accomplished.

Chris Varin: After having rotated 5 t-shirts and 1 pair of pants for the past year, I returned home to find that my closet is essentially works suits and shirts so shopping was in order. I went bulk shopping sales and despite some gaps I can now go a week without laundry which is a big step up. I still haven’t bought my laptop although I'm looking at some of the Dell deals offered at the UCLA computer store. I received an ipad for my birthday/going away present which will be really handy (it already somewhat took over my life). I’m also trying to figure out whether I should pack my four different pairs of soccer cleats in my bag as I’m going to be arriving in LA with one big suitcase, one small one and a backpack - I'm thinking of building an optimization model to figure this one out...

Ayushman Jain: Its been only three years long since i passed out from my undergrad university and having stayed away from home since the last 7 years, I have a fairly good idea of what I need and what I don’t. I have been self-sufficient with whatever stuff I have had till now and I’ve changed my address 7 times in the 7 years, so I also pretty much know in how many bags all my stuff fits. For LA, I’ m gonna carry more or less the same things. Of course, for a change I’m carrying some new formal clothes and a couple of suits (being a software engineer I’ve always worn jeans and sneakers to office, so my wardrobe really needed less of that and more of formals). Apart from clothes, I’m carrying a whole bunch of groceries, spices, utensils, etc. that I’ll need to cook (I’ve heard one doesn’t get too much time in the first quarter, but I’ll make sure I atleast cook 2-3 times a week and save my useful gastric bacteria from working overtime on cheese and bread!). The only thing I’m really sad about not carrying is a laptop! This is probably the first time ever that I’m travelling without one - and that’s because right now I have my office laptop which is soon gonna be taken away from me and I plan to buy a new personal laptop only in LA, with the cool back to school offers there. The UCLA store also offers some great deals so I’ll have plenty of options!

Gregory Paige: Like Ann above, I wore a backpack to work, so I’ve essentially worn a backpack nonstop since kindergarten! One aspect of preparing for Anderson that worried me was the single most important item in that backpack, the laptop. Should I buy a new PC, or take the necessary steps to run Windows 7 (read: Excel 2010) on my MacBook Pro? With a bit of hesitation, I chose the latter option. But the entire process couldn’t have gone any smoother. I purchased and installed Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac, Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 in that order. Now I can switch back and forth between OS X and Windows 7 with ease, and the Anderson laptop configuration process was flawless, Excel add-ins and all. A highly recommended option for the Apple fans out there.

-Anderson 14' bloggers

Follow UCLA on Twitter @UCLAMBA

Dwight's Application Advice Part II

Disclaimer: This post is my personal view/opinion and does not reflect the opinion of UCLA Anderon. 

 

Please access Part I here.

 

Another piece of advice I'd give to a potential applicant would be this: apply only to schools you'd be happy to go to. I read blogs and talked with other applicants and the consensus seems to be to apply to 2 "reach" schools, 2 "competitive" schools, and 2 "safe" schools. I agree with the general consensus, provided you're happy to go to all of them. Ask yourself this: If you got into your "safe" school, would you really be happy enough to go there? If the answer's no, save yourself some time and money and don't apply.

 

I only applied to 4 schools because there were really only 4 that offered the academics, culture, network, and location I wanted. As a dual degree candidate, I had to be more conscious of which schools I wanted to apply to because I wanted a school that offered great programs in both degrees.

 

If you're also looking to get another degree, look no further than UCLA: UCLA offers 10 concurrent degrees that combine an MBA with another graduate degree. And in addition to a great business school, UCLA offers great law, public health, medical, and other graduate schools. 

 

Culture-wise, UCLA Anderson is a great. I love the collaborative atmosphere and how outgoing and easy-going many of the other admits and students I've met are.

 

I can see how Anderson's team culture translates into the alumni network. As soon as I got into UCLA, I contacted the UCLA Anderson alumni at the hospital where I worked. They were happy and pleased to take some time out of their day to give me advice and to let me know what possible jobs I could have in healthcare administration when I graduated.

 

Location-wise, UCLA is unbeatable. What school can really beat UCLA in terms of location? We even have a surfing club!

 

(Side blurb: If you're looking at schools, I'd highly stress considering the location as one of the main factors not only in applying but also in deciding where to go after you get accepted. There were schools I didn't apply to because I didn't want to live there. As a Southern California native, it'd be hard to live on the East Coast with frigid winters. No offense to anyone from the East Coast - it's just not my preference!)

 

~Dwight Asuncion '14

Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter!

 

 

Dwight's Application Advice Part I

Disclaimer: This post is my personal view/opinion and does not reflect the opinion of UCLA Anderon. 

 

If I had to give any piece of advice to a potential applicant, it's this: apply in Round 1. If you're a prospective applicant, you're an early bird. If you start the application process now you can have everything wrapped up by mid-October when most of the Round 1 deadlines are. 

 

The application process is very time-consuming (at least it was for me) so the earlier you start the better. I wanted to make sure I only went through one application cycle; I had other friends who applied in more application cycle, and I didn't want to have to do that. I wanted to give applications my all to ensure I got into a great school my first time applying.

 

I started applying in the summer, and as I got deeper in the process, I weighed applying in Round 1 versus applying in Round 2, and I made a decision to devote September and October to applications and finishing all of them versus drawing it out into November, December, and January. The thought of applying over Thanksgiving and Christmas was too painful for me. But that was me. I also think the advice here might be pertinent to you.

 

The benefits of applying in Round 1 is that you can get your decision earlier (obviously) and you have more time to factor in your significant other, to plan trips, etc. You also have more time to apply for financial aid and get your finances in order.

 

If you have a significant other (or Sig-O as we here at Anderson like to call them - there is even a club for them!), you can plan your move together; he or she also has more time to request a relocation from work, find another job, etc. 

 

If I had not gotten into any schools, I may not have gone to Israel and Europe as I did because I would have wanted to keep working and accomplish more at work for the next application cycle.

 

That's it for now folks! Will post some more advice later. Again, this is my own view and not of UCLA Anderson.

 

~Dwight Asuncion '14

Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter!

 

Happy to go, sad to leave

Even though I'm eager to begin a new phase of my life at UCLA, it's hard to say goodbye not just to friends and colleagues but also to Northern California, a beautiful region that's become my home and made an indelible impact on me. 

 

I moved to Berkeley, CA to attend UC Berkeley after having lived in Orange County, CA my entire life. After graduating in 2008 with a degree in Industrial Engineering & Operations Research, I moved to Oakland, CA where I've lived ever since.

 

In many ways, I still consider myself a Southern California transplant (for example, I think Northern California's too cold and rainy), and I'm happy at the prospect of returning home. Furthermore, I'm sure that when the school year begins I'll love the student life. For now though, I can't help but feel conflicted. As Shakespeare wrote, "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

 

It's hard to move because I'm reminiscing as I pack and there are so many memories to sift through it's almost unfathomable.

 

As I pack up my bike, I remember training for the San Francisco Triathlon at Treasure Island for my one (and perhaps only) triathlon.

 

As I pack up my camping gear, I remember hiking to the top of Yosemite's Half Dome in 2010 after failing to reach the top in 2009 because my legs were cramping up.

The view from the top of Half Dome is awe-inspring.

 

As I pack up my rock climbing gear, I remember the first time I climbed outdoors and I wonder if I'll be able to continue rock climbing. I've heard that there's a gym in Santa Monica but I haven't had time to research.

Bouldering at Stinson Beach!

 

As I pack up my grilling utensils, I remember how I became a grilling enthusiast and I wonder if my new apartment will allow me to continue grilling.

My specialty is Asian-style grilled salmon. MMM!!

 

As I throw away the Cheeseboard Pizza box, I remember all the great eateries we have up here and I wonder what small eateries I'll find in LA.

 

The list of memories goes on and on…I've experienced and matured a lot in the past 4 years professionally and personally, and I can't wait to see what the next couple of years will bring.

 

~Dwight Asuncion '14

Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter!

Class of 14' insider summer scoop - PART 1 - "Can't wait to get started"

With the summer well on its way, the Anderson 14' bloggers decided you could benefit from our very different perspectives on common topics. This is intended to give you insight on topics we believe are relevant to any student starting an MBA in the fall. Please feel free to let us know if there is a theme you want to hear us talk about!

Can't wait to get started - Feeling anxious, happy, sad, depressed? We all deal with departing for our MBAs in different ways. Here is some insight as to what we are feeling pre-departure and how we are dealing with it.

Chris Varin: "I've just had almost 10 months travelling and I can't wait to become active and productive again. I'm restless and excited about starting although with a touch of nervousness. I'm trying to keep myself as busy as possible until I leave but my parents are telling me to relax as I'm sure to be kept occupied in LA as well."

Alejandra Rodriguez: "I am simply dying to move to Los Angeles! It has been so long since I took my first steps to do an MBA (about a year and a half ago) that excitement has built up immensely and I am boring everyone here with my “My classmates are so awesome” stories. I have already sent five bags full of my clothes and shoes to a relative who lives close to L.A. so half my life is already there but I’m stuck in Mexico with crappy leftover outfits! I have also had the fortune to connect with a lot of our classmates online and it feels odd to have so many online only friends.  I’m looking forward to meeting them in person! My only sad feeling is that I will have to leave my mother, who I am so close with, and my two best friends who have been with me at every important moment in my life since I met them in college."

Dwight Asuncion: "Getting into business school (and public health school) has made me focus more. I’m focused on enjoying life as much as possible. I went to Israel for 1.5 weeks and Europe for 3 weeks. I’m planning some camping trips in August and I’m hoping to do a road trip before school starts. I’m also pursuing hobbies that I may not have as much time to devote to while I’m in school - grilling, cooking, and rock climbing. I’m also focused on preparing for school by saving money, reviewing for the course waiver exams, contacting professors I can do research with, moving, etc. School will start in a couple of weeks and all in all, I’m happy but a touch nervous."

Kyle Forrest: "The first thing I couldn’t wait to get started - summer vacation for the first time in years! MBA Student Affairs does a great job of spacing out the various things we need to take care of during the summer, so I’m focusing on some trips I have planned (Costa Rica, Pre-Orientation Rafting, family time, etc.) and getting excited for my move to LA in August and beginning to meet everyone!"

Ann Ching: "I’m really happy to be reuniting in LA with my Sig-O and our dogs (he has been living there the whole time I’ve been in Hawaii). I’m a bit anxious about meeting a lot of new people, and about fitting in, given that I’m from a nontraditional background for business school. However, so far everyone seems very friendly! It’s a little sad to leave my Hawaii friends and my co-workers, but I’m seeing as much of the islands as I can before school starts and I hope to visit again soon."

Ayushman Jain: I can’t really put my excitement into words here, but you might get a sense of it when I say my heart skips a beat everytime I see an email from UCLA Anderson or Parker CMC. We’ve received a bunch of very useful info as a series of weekly mails to help us get through the summer more productively by motivating us to analyze our strengths and weeknesses academically (since most of us have been out of school for years now) as well as getting our resumes and career stories ready by the time we reach LA. Phew, so much to do and so little time. Yet, I’ll only call myself happy busy! Can’t wait to be “crazy happy busy” already! :D

Ashley Mallinson: With all that has been going on from wrapping up my major projects at work (I still have one week of work left), the fantastic Anderson happy hours, engagement parties (I got engaged in April) and going away parties, I have barely had time to book my movers.  I am at once, excited and sanded. beyond thrilled to be moving to Los Angeles. I have heart-wrenching pangs of sadness every time I think about leaving New York behind along with the job that I love and the friends that are like a 2nd family to me. That said, I know that the best is yet to come. I can't wait for the next 2 years at Anderson to become the best yet!

-Anderson 14' bloggers

Follow UCLA on Twitter @UCLAMBA

Dwight Asuncion, MBA/MPH candidate

Hi everyone! My name is Dwight Asuncion. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2008 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. I joined the consulting workforce at Accenture later that year. After two years, I was promoted in from analyst to consultant. Over the past four years, I have been at several different engagements and had several different roles, but I have primarily been based at a large academic medical center. Currently, I am enhancing the patient portal, the website where patients can log in, view their medical record, and message their physicians.

While technical in nature, my role has given me great exposure to project management, produce development, marketing, process improvement, and thorny legal matters. It has also given me great satisfaction to know that I have positively affected patient care for countless patients.

In fact, my roles at the large academic medical center have inspired me to pursue a dual degree: MBA/MPH (masters in public health). I want to pursue work that is meaningful and that helps people and as someone who loves making processes more efficient and who has experience in healthcare, I can think of no other career that suits me better than being a hospital administrator. My dual degree will help me transition from electronic medical record consultant to hospital administrator.

 

(As an aside, I highly encourage those thinking of applying to think of a career they would want that is meaningful and fun.)

I am a big proponent of work/life balance and outside of work, I have a couple of passions: spending time with my lovely girlfriend, being outdoorsy (camping, hiking, rock climbing, biking, etc.), grilling, cooking, traveling, reading and rooting for my beloved Los Angeles Lakers.

I went to the epic Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals!

I look forward to sharing my experiences as an incoming student with you all. It was only a year ago that I was a prospective student looking at the Anderson student blog. Reading about the student experiences made me much more excited to apply to UCLA, and I am happy to pay it forward. Unlike some of my fellow bloggers, I do not have my blog posts outlined. Just taking it one day at a time.

 

I am proud to become a Bruin. GO BEARS! (Oops! Sorry, old habits die hard - I will always be a proud Golden Bear though) GO BRUINS!

 

~Dwight Asuncion, '14 (or is it '15?)

Follow UCLA Anderson on Twitter!