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MBA Admissions: UCLA Anderson & Media/Entertainment

March 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
UCLA

UCLA Anderson

A quick glance at UCLA Anderson currently ranks in 15th place as one of the best business schools, according to US News & World Report (March 2012). It is known for having a particularly strong media and entertainment track.  

Anderson’s Class of 2014 Profile & Media/Entertainment

3335 people applied to UCLA Anderson in 2012; the target class size was 360. The age range of students is 23-39 (with an average of 28) with 5.8 years of work experience (average). The average GMAT score was 704 and the class has an average undergraduate GPA of 3.54.

27% of class of 2014 students have undergraduate degrees in business; 20% in engineering; 16% in economics; 20% in humanities; 11% in math/computer science/physical science/biological science; and 4% in other areas.

In terms of pre-MBA work experience, the largest group of students came from the financial services industry (at 26% of the class). This is followed by 21% in high tech industries and 17% in consulting. 5% of the class has industry experience in entertainment and media, and 4% of the class has experience in real estate.

Anderson Academics Related to Entertainment & Media

One of the trademarks of the Anderson curriculum is its flexibility. The program features nine core courses that students may sequence according to their own career goals. In the fall quarter of the first year, students choose between starting with a marketing course or a finance course (entertainment students would most likely take the marketing course to balance their quant workload). In the winter quarter, students may choose to take the core strategy course or an elective course. (If they choose an elective, then they’ll take the strategy course in the spring. Aspiring consultants will probably want to take the strategy course as early as possible since the material will be relevant in their internships.)

Second year course schedules are designed by each individual student based on his or her chosen academic track and/or specialization(s).

There are four tracks to choose from (consulting, finance, marketing, and a custom track – the combination of two specializations) and numerous specializations that will take students even deeper into their chosen field. Entertainment students will either want to take the marketing track with the entertainment specialization or perhaps design their own track using the custom track option. (See the complete list of specializations here.)

Sample courses in the entertainment specialization include:

  • Digital Business – Peter Guber, CEO Mandalay Entertainment/Richard Rosenblatt, CEO, Demand Media
  • Entertainment Business Models  - Harry Sloan, Chairman/CEO Global Eagle Acquisition Corporation/Andrew Ainsle
  • Entertainment Law – Steve Krone
  • Entertainment Marketing – Sanjay Sood
  • Intellectual Property for Managers – Douglas Lichtman
  • Online Marketing & Web Analytics – Arike Audenhart
  • Strategy Management in Entertainment Industries – Derek Alderton
  • Sports Marketing Management – Luis Goyanes
  • Content Creation in the Digital Age – John MacDonald, former COO/EVP Programming and Digital, OWN

Entertainment Research Centers at UCLA Anderson

UCLA Anderson Entertainment/Media-Related Clubs

Entertainment/Media Hiring Stats at UCLA Anderson

The charts below indicate the hiring stats for 2011 Entertainment students: 

Industry Percent Base Salary Range
Entertainment 7.0% $48,000 – $110,000
New Media 2.9% $70,000 – $160,000
Sports 0.8% Insufficient Data

 ***

For internships for the class of 2012, the stats are as follows:

Industry Percent Monthly Salary Range
Entertainment 7.3% $500 – $8,000
New Media 3.7% $1,600 – $8,000
Sports Management 0.9% Insufficient Data

***

See a list of 2012 UCLA Anderson full-time and internship hirers here.

Are you applying to UCLA’s Anderson School of Business? Please see our UCLA Anderson B-School Zone and Anderson Application Packages for more information on how Accepted.com can help you get accepted.




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UCLA Executive MBA 2013 Essay Questions and Tips

February 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
UCLA

UCLA Anderson

One point stands out immediately with these essay questions: there is no conventional goals question.  That fact says something: the adcom does not view an extended discussion of goals – the future (always speculative to a degree) – helpful for their evaluation purposes.  It also puts all the weight on what you’re doing here and now.  These questions probe reality, actuality; the facts of who you are, what you’ve done, and what you’re doing now.  (If the past predicts the future, someone who has shined and does shine will continue to shine…)   If you feel your goals are important to mention, I will discuss one way to so do appropriately within the context of the questions.

Essay 1:
Personal: How has a person, event, or situation in your life influenced who you are today? (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 10 point font)

This essay question indicates the adcom’s interest in knowing you as an individual beyond your resume and career interests. Both your selected topic and your explanation of how you are influenced will shed light on what you value and your ability to respond to and grow from experience, among other things.  With about 500 words, take a straightforward approach. Describe a key formative experience, person, or event and show by example and anecdote how it has shaped you subsequently. In choosing a topic, don’t worry that it might not be unique – in fact it probably won’t be, in its broad manifestation, such as a move to a new country, a courageous parent or grandparent, or discovery of a deep interest.  Regardless of the broad topic, your essay will be unique if you personalize it with detail, anecdote, and your own perception and responses. Also, in weighing potential topics, think strategically: which one will showcase something fresh, relevant, and advantageous about your candidacy?

Essay 2:
Greatest Skill/Talent: Use the template found here to showcase your three greatest skills and talents in each category, and describe how you will use these to bring value to an Executive MBA classroom and your study group. For this question, please complete the PDF template and upload it here.

This essay requires you to be both conceptual and concrete – while also being concise.  In the template, the “definition” column is the conceptual part – you must explain succinctly how you perceive or define the specific skill or talent (luckily the template provides an example).  Then in the second column, you’ll state in a sentence or two how this skill or talent will enable you to contribute in practical terms – by giving examples.  Be strategic, selecting items that cover a range and don’t overlap.

The second page of this template asks you to “write your 30-second commercial to the faculty committee as they consider your application.”  This is essentially an elevator-pitch to the stated audience.  From the faculty committee’s view, what about you as a professional would be most intriguing and engaging?  There is no formula; it will vary by person.  Avoid generic blabber and trying to cover everything; rather, select the “tastiest morsels” of your candidacy and present them with specifics.  This is also a place where you can slip in a sentence about your goals if you feel it’s important to your candidacy, though don’t make the whole pitch about your goals.

EMBA Essay 3:
Organizational Chart: To help us understand your professional responsibilities and the nature of your job, please upload an organizational chart showing your position in the organization, including those who report to you.

Ensure that this chart is clear and thorough: include all position titles and departments/function names.   A picture is worth a thousand words, and although it contains words, this chart is essentially a snapshot of your current professional situation: your level of responsibility and accountability, the context for your performance and achievements.  If you work in a matrix organization and you feel your level of accomplishment and responsibility aren’t accurately shown by the chart, explain this point briefly in the optional essay, but don’t belabor it – a sentence or two will suffice.

Reapplicant essay:

Please update your professional, academic, and community activities since your previous application and highlight what you have done to strengthen your application since you last applied (limit 1 page).

Succinctly discuss professional developments such as promotions, awards, and new projects, as well as any significant community involvements and/or educational endeavors.  Describe the activity/experience, and note its positive impact if any.  Try to include an anecdote for at least 1-2 of the activities discussed.  Finally, be selective and present only those activities that are relevant and enhance your application and candidacy in some way.

Remaining deadlines:

March 20, 2013; decision by April 20, 2013

May 1, 2013; decision by June 1, 2013

Cindy TokumitsuBy Cindy Tokumitsu, co-author of The Finance Professional’s Guide to MBA Admissions Success, and author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her last thirteen years with Accepted.





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UCLA Anderson FEMBA (Fully Employed MBA) 2013 Essay Tips

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
FEMBA

UCLA Anderson

This set of essays will elicit a well-rounded view of applicants but requires you to be succinct.  Pay attention to the tone as well as the content of the questions – there is an immediacy and directness that can be a model for the tone of your essays.  Moreover, the essays challenge you in two formats – traditional expository writing and shorter, focused presentations that reflect the influence of social media and the need to be conversant with varied communication formats.

Essay 1:
My family is unique because… (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 12 point font)

Good, bad, or indifferent, every family is unique in some ways.  Yet not infrequently clients tell me their family really isn’t unique; I’ve heard more than once, for example, “It’s just a typical Chinese immigrant story.”  Well, the specific circumstances, experiences, and people and comprising that story are unique, inherently!  Also you can interpret “family” as you wish – immediate relatives surely, but also extended family, even forebears.  Whatever points or people you discuss, the purpose of this essay is to illuminate you – make sure they are things that are relevant to you and that enhance your candidacy.  I suggest two to three points; one would be okay if you have a vibrant discussion about it, but there isn’t room for more than three points to be discussed with substance.

Essay 2:
Why UCLA Anderson FEMBA for these next three years? Do you plan to enhance your current career or shift into a new career? If your interests are entrepreneurial, are you already an entrepreneur or do you plan to be an entrepreneur, and if so, when and how? (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 12 point font)

If you are looking to enhance your current career, a good way to start this essay is to elaborate on your immediate career situation, including some goals in that role and how the MBA education will help you to achieve them.  Then move on to describe your future short- and long-term goals.  If you’re shifting into a new career, start with that career vision and how the current role plus MBA will get you there.  (The entrepreneurial question will be answered by either of these approaches as warranted.)  In describing your goals, indicate why you want to take that path and what you hope to achieve. In discussing how the program will benefit you, describe what skills and knowledge you need, and specifically how the program meets those needs.

Essay 3:
Part One: Describe to the Faculty Committee what you will bring to the learning in the classroom in your 30 second “elevator pitch.” (100 words or less) Part Two: List your top three accomplishments (Professional, Educational or Personal) (35 word maximum per accomplishment) (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 12 point font for both parts)

Look at these two parts as a whole; you’ll select and convey telling, distinctive, differentiating points in each.  For Part One, look at yourself from your prospective professors’ and classmates’ eyes: what about you would be most meaningful and engaging?  There is no formula; it will vary by person.  But AVOID generic blabber – root your message in specific details, experiences, accomplishments.  The points can come from any area of your life, but at least some should refer to your professional role/experience.  The advice for Part Two is the same as for Part One, with a focus on specific accomplishments.

Essay 4 (OPTIONAL)

Are there any additional circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 12 point font)

If any of these scenarios apply to you, please address specifically:

  • If commuting by plane, please detail your commute plans.
  • If you are not currently employed full time, please explain your employment situation right now and your career search plan to be employed by the beginning of the program.
  • If you are currently enrolled in another MBA program, please clarify your status in that program (standing, % complete, etc.), and explain your reason for wanting to begin UCLA Anderson.
  • If you were on academic probation or had failing grades, please address.

If you have a criminal history, please address.

This question’s wording indicates that you should use the optional essay to clarify points in the application that warrant explanation – it may be a “neutral” point like recommender selection, or it may be to explain a problem such as a bad grade.  Of course, the bullets points should be discussed if they apply.  Your content may be positive too!  For example, you would want to inform the adcom if you just enrolled in a microeconomics course (note the school and exact course name).

Essay 5 (Reapplicants Only)

If you are re-applying, please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (Maximum 1 page, double-spaced, 12 point font)

“Progress” and “enhanced candidacy” naturally cover promotions, awards, and big new projects.  Don’t have those?  No problem!  Other developments are also highly relevant and interesting (maybe more interesting): perhaps you’re encountering a new type of market, client, or geographic region.  If so, what are you learning and how will it benefit your goals?  Maybe you’re facing a new, tough challenge – a dysfunctional team, a conflict between your manager and the manager whose project you’re currently involved in.  Narrate the challenge and summarize the resulting “stretch” learning.  In describing refined career goals, discuss how they have evolved since the prior application (if they have).  Last, bring fresh insight about Anderson vis-à-vis your goals; don’t just rehash your previous points.

Remaining Deadlines:

March 31, 2013; decision by May 31, 2013

April 30, 2013; decision by June 28, 2013

Cindy TokumitsuBy , co-author of The Finance Professional’s Guide to MBA Admissions Success, and author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her last thirteen years with Accepted.






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Financial Times’ 2013 Global MBA Rankings

January 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
B-School Rankings

Harvard Business School

Drum roll please…The Financial Times ranks the top 25 global b-schools as follows…

1. Harvard Business School
2. Stanford Graduate School of Business
3. University of Pennsylvania – Wharton
4. London Business School
5. Columbia Business School
6. INSEAD
7. IESE Business School
8. Hong Kong UST Business School
9. MIT Sloan
10. Chicago Booth
11. IE Business School
12. UC Berkeley Haas
13. Northwestern Kellogg
14. Yale School of Management
15. CEIBS – China
16. Dartmouth Tuck (tied)
16. Cambridge Judge (tied)
18. Duke Fuqua
19. Switzerland (tied)
19. NYU Stern (tied)
21. HEC Paris
22. ESADE Business School – Spain
23. UCLA Anderson
24. Oxford Saïd (tied)
24. Cornell Johnson (tied)

(You can read about the FT’s ranking methodology here.)

A few points of interest (from the FT’s lead article)

  • 51 of the top 100 schools are located in the U.S. including 6 schools in the top 10.
  • 26 of the top 100 schools are located in Europe. London Business School is the top school in that region.
  • 14 of the top 100 schools are located in Asia (up from 12 last year). Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is the top b-school in that region.
  • Since 1999 when the FT began publishing MBA rankings, only four schools have ranked in first place: HBS, Stanford GSB, Wharton, and London Business School.
  • The male-female salary gap this year has narrowed for the first time. Instead of the traditional $20,000 pay gap (three years post-graduation), the gap is down to $10,000 at $126,000 average salary for women and $136,000 average salary for men.

FYI: Poets & Quants published a critique of the 2013 FT ranking in “Stanford Alums Make the Most Dough.” In this article, John Byrne, rankings savant and designer of the original BW rankings, points out anomalies and weaknesses in the FT results.

MBA50 provides additional analysis in “The FT Full-Time MBA Ranking 2013 – Winners and Losers.” Its final line sums up all the hub-bub about rankings – any rankings – beautifully: “Only you can work out the best business school in the world…for you.” ,

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MBA Admissions: UCLA Anderson & Finance

December 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
UCLA

“9th Place for Finance”

A quick glance at UCLA Anderson currently ranks in 15th place as one of the best business schools, according to US News & World Report (March 2012). It is ranked in 9th place for finance.  

Anderson’s Class of 2014 Profile & Finance

3335 people applied to UCLA Anderson in 2012; the target class size was 360. The age range of students is 23-39 (with an average of 28) with 5.8 years of work experience (average). The average GMAT score was 704 and the class has an average undergraduate GPA of 3.54.

27% of class of 2014 students have undergraduate degrees in business; 20% in engineering; 16% in economics; 20% in humanities; 11% in math/computer science/physical science/biological science; and 4% in other areas.

In terms of pre-MBA work experience, the largest group of students came from the financial services industry (at 26% of the class). This is followed by 21% in high tech industries and 17% in consulting. 4% of the class has industry experience in real estate and 5% come from Entertainment and Media.

Anderson Academics Related to Finance

One of the trademarks of the Anderson curriculum is its customizability. The program features nine core courses that students may sequence according to their own career goals. In the fall quarter of the first year, finance students will take a finance course in addition to the fixed core courses (instead of marketing). In the winter quarter, students may choose to take the core strategy course or an elective course. (If they choose an elective, then they’ll take the strategy course in the spring. Consultants will probably want to take the strategy course as early as possible since the material will be relevant in their internships.)

Second year course schedules are designed by each individual student based on his or her chosen academic track and/or specialization(s).

There are four tracks to choose from and numerous specializations that will take students even deeper into their chosen field. Finance students would choose the Finance Track and one or more of the following specializations: Accounting, Corporate Finance, Investment Management, and Real Estate. To complete a specialization, you must complete four courses in that category. (See a list of required specialization courses here.)

There is also an option of receiving a minor in accounting.

For a complete list of finance courses, see this page.

Finance Research Centers at UCLA Anderson

UCLA Anderson Finance-Related Clubs

Financial Services Hiring Stats at UCLA Anderson

26.5% of the class went into the financial services industry. The charts below indicate the hiring stats for 2011 finance students:

Industry Percent Base Salary Range
Investment Banking 11.6 $20,000 – $188,000
Investment / Asset Management 7 $90,000 – $150,000
Diversified Financial Services / Retail / Banking / Credit Cards 2.1 $80,000 – $115,000
Private Equity 2.1 $50,000 – $150,000
Other Financial Services 2 $90,000 – $100,000
Insurance 1.7 $70,000 – $105,000
***
Function Percent Base Salary Range
Investment Banking 9.5 $20,000 – $188,000
Corporation Finance / Financial Analysis / Treasury 8.3 $65,000 – $120,000
Research Analyst / Portfolio Manager 5.8 $25,000 – $60,000
Private Wealth Management 2.1 $100,000 – $100,000
Venture Capital / Private Equity 2.1 $50,000 – $150,000
Sales & Trading 1.7 $100,000 – $110,000
Real Estate Finance 1.2 N/A
Accounting / Auditing 0.8 N/A

For internships for the class of 2012, the stats are as follows:

Industry Percent Monthly Salary Range
Investment Banking 14 $1,280 – $11,100
Investment / Asset Management 5.8 $1,000 – $10,000
Commercial Banking 1.8 $1,000 – $7,083
Private Equity 1.8 $3,000 – $9,000
Diversified Financial Services / Retail Banking Cards 1.5 $6,923 – $7,000
***
Function Percent Monthly Salary Range
Investment Banking 9.7 $1,280 – $11,100
Research / Portfolio Manager 3.7 $1,000 – $10,000
Corporation Finance / Financial Analysis / Treasury 7.9 $1,000 – $7,500
Private Wealth Management 2.1 $1,000 – $10,000
Commercial Banking / Lending 2.1 $1,000 – $7,083
Sales & Trading 2.4 $3,000 – $8,500
Venture Capital / Private Equity 2.4 $3,000 – $8,000
Real Estate Finance 1.8 $6,000 – $12,000
Other Finance / Accounting Functions 0.9 N/A
  • Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • Barclays Capital
  • Citigroup, Inc.
  • Credit Suisse
  • Deutsche Bank
  • Goldman Sachs
  • Houlihan Lokey
  • Morgan Stanley
  • Royal Bank of Canada
  • Trust Company of the West

Are you applying to UCLA’s Anderson School of Business? Please see our UCLA Anderson B-School Zone and Anderson Application Packages for more information on how Accepted.com can help you get accepted.







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UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Interview Available Online

October 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment

UCLAThank you to Lindsay Haselton, Associate Director of MBA Admissions, and Adrian Aguirre, Associate Director in the Office of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at UCLA Anderson, for an informative admissions Q&A. Read the following excerpt for tips on making UCLA connections before applying to the program:

Linda Abraham: How many people do you recommend trying to connect with at UCLA, in terms of recent students, alumni, professors, etc., before applying?

Lindsay Haselton: We do get asked that question a lot, and I think it is great to be able to get a feel of the culture of the school that you’re entering or planning on applying to; so we do provide a number of different ways that you can do that. I think most commonly, first of all, would be an event. So we host a lot of events on campus and off campus where we have alums and current students hosting information sessions or sitting on panels, and they’re a really good chance to be able to ask questions about what it was like actually going through the student experience…The other way is by reaching out to our student clubs, and I know Adrian had told you a little bit about the leadership opportunities that you will have in the program. We have 45-plus different clubs—so what applicants often do is they will go to our website. We have a list of all of the different clubs, and you can email the leaders in those clubs and ask them questions that are relevant to their career interests, or perhaps, just hobbies on the side….

Adrian Aguirre: And if I could add just an extra thought. I want to make sure folks don’t misunderstand the reason why this is important. We’re not keeping track or scoring you for how many alums or students or faculty you have contacted. But it will definitely have an impact on the quality of your application, particularly in your essays for example, because the more informed you are and the more grounded your plan for the future is, the better it’s going to be perceived, and we think the more you’re going to be excited and enthused about the whole process. So it’s not so much for our sake; it’s really for you as an applicant to do part of your due diligence and to realize if this is the right school for you, what are some of the reasons that you feel that way….

Please view the full transcript or listen to the audio file here and see our UCLA Anderson B-School Zone for more advice on how to create the most impressive UCLA Anderson application.

To automatically receive notices about these MBA admissions chats and other MBA admissions events, please subscribe to our MBA event list. To listen to the Q&A recordings on-the-go, please subscribe to the Accepted Admissions Podcast.

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UCLA Anderson MBA Interview with Ashutosh Dubey

October 26, 2012 by 1 Comment

MBA student Ashutosh DubeyHere’s a talk with Ashutosh Dubey, an Indian techie and student at UCLA Anderson who shares valuable insights into the differences between studying in LA and India, the benefits of studying in the Silicon Beach, and more. Thank you Ashutosh for sharing your thoughts and experiences with us!

This interview is the latest in an Accepted.com blog series featuring interviews with current MBA students, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at top MBA programs. We hope to offer you a candid picture of student life, and what you should consider as you prepare your MBA application.

Accepted: First, can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? Where did you study as an undergrad? What did you study and when did you graduate?

Ashutosh: Sure, I grew up in a small, beautiful village near Patna, India. For my undergrad, I went to Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad where I completed my Electronics Engineering in the year 2008 and joined Amdocs for a full-time position as a product developer. I have stayed with Amdocs in various roles since then.

Accepted: How is studying in Los Angeles different from studying in India?

Ashutosh: It’s very different. I am glad I made this decision to pursue my MBA outside of India. For a starter, the diversity here is amazing, not only in terms of countries represented, but also in terms of functions and industries, we represent together as a class. The opportunity to know and interact with people from such diverse backgrounds is something I truly treasure.

Los Angeles as a city has a lot to offer and this makes study easier. The beach is close by and it’s a great place to relax after a hectic week. It’s not uncommon to spot Anderson students on the beach during weekends. Also, I am growing quite fond of the LA weather. It’s so nice to have a uniform pleasant climate round the year.

Accepted: What are some of your favorite things about UCLA Anderson? 

Ashutosh: The culture at Anderson is definitely one of my favorite things here. Students are always ready to help and back each other even if it means cutting an hour or two into their sleep. Sleep, by the way, is a luxury in the fall quarter. The second year students also seem to be totally invested in the success of first years and it all seems so natural. This was noticeable from the very first day of orientation and the impression has only grown stronger in last couple of weeks.

I already talked about diversity above. This holds true in terms of recruitment as well. It’s not a class full of consultants and bankers trying to get back into consulting and banking. At Anderson, we have students with diverse career interests and this creates a great environment to network with people across all industries, be it entertainment, technology, energy, banking, consulting or non-profit.

And the best part of Anderson is a strong, institutionalized culture of entrepreneurship. Los Angeles is increasingly getting more attention by entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in last couple of years. Anderson is in a unique position to harness this opportunity and is in fact, already doing that. Even if someone does not want to start a company, but wishes to work with a startup, the opportunities here are endless. And by startups, I mean all different kinds of startups, not only tech startups. The sun and the ever growing entrepreneurial community in the city make the name, “Silicon Beach” very apt for LA.

Accepted: If you could change anything about the program, what would it be?

Ashutosh: It’s a tough one:). The fall quarter for first year students is literally like drinking from a fire hose and more so for internationals. This year, the first recruiting event started as early as the third day of academic calendar. In addition to balancing the classes and recruiting, internationals also have to go through the process of settling in a new location and culture. It’s common to see students running around the campus, trying to catch up on different things. Shifting the academic calendar earlier by a week or two would be a good idea.

Accepted: How many b-schools did you apply to? When it came down to accepting an offer, which programs were you considering?

Ashutosh: Anderson was always my top choice primarily because of its strengths in technology and entrepreneurship. I also applied to Ross for their strong technology program, Booth, for their entrepreneurship program and Darden because of the case method, mainly.

Accepted: What is your favorite class at Anderson so far?

Ashutosh: My favorite class at Anderson so far has been the leadership foundations. It’s an ideal mix of lecture, case style discussions, role play and activities. At the end of every discussion or activity, the lesson becomes self-evident, without even the professor telling you explicitly about it. The other class I love is Financial Accounting. Professor Aboody makes accounting look like such a fun subject. I never could have thought that accounting would be so entertaining in the class.

Accepted: Do you have any advice for our Anderson applicants?

Ashutosh: Sure! My advice to applicants would be to know your story and the school very well. Online research can only take you so far. Beyond that, make sure you talk to the admissions people, students and the alums. Ask questions about your areas of interest, programs and classes. Ensure that you know what you are getting into.

Also, as many of you might be aware, Anderson is pretty strict when it comes to plagiarism. Last year 52 applicants were turned down due to plagiarism. So, I would strongly suggest that all applicants should do their own work when it comes to actually writing the essays.  Anderson uses TurnItIn to detect plagiarism, in part to spot phrases that consultants recycle from year to year for different clients. The admissions committee wants to hear from each applicant, their own voice in essays and interviews at the very least.

For one-on-one guidance on the Anderson application, please see our UCLA Anderson School of Business packages. For specific advice on how to create the best application for Anderson see Linda’s UCLA Anderson 2013 Essay Questions, Deadlines, and Tips.


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Ask about Anderson: UCLA MBA Admissions Q&A

October 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
  • UCLA Guest: Adrian Aguirre, Assoc. Dir. of Admissions
  • Date: Mon., Oct. 15, 2012
  • Time: 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET/5:00 PM GMT
  • Register Now

Ask about Anderson: UCLA MBA Admissions Q&A

Ask your MBA admissions questions to Adrian Aguirre, UCLA Anderson’s Associate Director of MBA Admissions, in an interactive admissions Q&A on Monday, October 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM GMT. Does Anderson’s mission of leading management thinking and preparing global leaders appeal to you as a budding entrepreneur in an increasingly global economy? Do you have questions about the changes in the school’s curriculum? Do you want to hear more about working on real world management challenges through the Applied Management research and Global Access programs? If so, then this is an outstanding opportunity to ask all your questions about this hands-on, entrepreneurial program.

Register now to reserve your spot for the Anderson Admissions Q&A!

What time is that for me? Click on the link to find out the exact time for your location.

For more information, please e-mail your questions to webinar@accepted.com.



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Plan to Privatize UCLA Anderson Suspended

September 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

UCLA AndersonJudy Olian, dean of UCLA Anderson, recently announce that despite the U. or California Academic Senate Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs’ recent decision to suspend its review of the privatization of UCLA Anderson’s full-time MBA program, she continues to rally support for her initiative.

Dean Olian lists numerous benefits that would accompany the conversion of the program from being state-supported to self-supported, including the following:

  • An additional $8.8 million (approximately) every year towards undergraduate programs at UCLA.
  • More reliable tuition predictability for Anderson students.
  • Fewer problems related to state budget cuts.

The committee, which voted 10-0 on the suspension of the proposal, states that the UC rules don’t allow for a pre-existing program to convert to an independent one; rather, a program may only run as a self-supported program if it is created as such.

Furthermore, the panel maintains that such a transition would reduce program access and affordability, rather than protect it, for California residents.

“A state-supported program that proposes to convert to self-supporting status has, by definition, benefitted from the historical use of resources supplied in part by California taxpayers,” the committee said. “The current SSP policy requires a self-supporting program to compensate its campus for its current-period use of campus resources provided in part by California taxpayers. It does not address the value of the historical investment made by the state.”

See “Faculty Halt UCLA B-School Independence,” a recent Poets & Quants article, for more information on this subject.


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UCLA Anderson 2013 MBA Application Questions, Tips

August 6, 2012 by 13 Comments

Anderson

The advice that UCLA Anderson provides below is excellent, not just for Anderson’s essays, but for most MBA essays. Read it carefully. 

UCLA Anderson 2013 MBA Essay Questions

Essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.

  • Essay questions are listed below for both first-time applicants and re-applicants.
  • You should try to distinguish yourself by showing what makes you different from others who share similar profiles.
  • Personal expression is what we are looking for, not platitudes.
  • Making a strong case for your future plans requires you to first do research on career paths and find one that resonates. Even if this target will change during business school, your application essays should lay out a clear trajectory for short-term and long-term goals. Do this by demonstrating how you expect to build on skills from your past, and those you expect to gain from the MBA.
  • Essays are more compelling if they include specific courses, programs, groups, opportunities, activities, etc. from which you would benefit, if admitted to UCLA Anderson. These references are best found through website research, personal discussions and a campus visit (if possible).
  • Content and clarity are key elements, as we seek superior communication skills.
  • Style is a consideration too, although we understand that those who speak other languages may have different manners of expression in English.
  • We do check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own work.
  • Length does not equal strength. A well-written short essay can have even more impact than a longer essay. Please try to respect the word limits indicated below.
  • All responses to essays must be on double-spaced pages that are uploaded as a document. We do not accept essays in any other media but written form.

FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS – TWO REQUIRED ESSAYS:

1. What is your proudest achievement outside the workplace, and how has it impacted you? (700 words maximum)

What are you most proud of — off the job. It can be a sports achievement, a community service achievement, or a personal achievement. It could also be academic, but you are better off focusing on something that is more likely to distinguish you from other candidates. Many will have academic achievement. Ideally your achievement will show you in a leadership role or interacting with others.  

You could start this essay with whatever challenge you faced and then contribution to overcoming it. State the results of the achievement both to others and for yourself. Part of the question is how this achievement influenced you. 

Alternatively, you could start your essay with a later moment in the story, either a moment of struggle, near failure, or triumph. Then fill in the missing information and move the story forward to results and again the impact on you.

Remember all human beings like stories. This question is asking for the story of your proudest achievement, the story where you are the hero. And UCLA is giving you the room to really tell that story. Use it well. 

2. What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals? (700 words maximum)

UCLA’s is a pretty straightforward MBA goals question. What are you professional goals? Why do you want an MBA now? How will UCLA Anderson’s program and strengths help you realize your goals? As always be specific and make sure you answer all elements of the question.

OPTIONAL ESSAY: The following essay is optional. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit an optional essay. Please note that we only accept written essays.

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

If there are extenuating circumstances that would add perspective on or “explain” a weakness, you can discuss them here. A few years ago, UCLA added the following: “Please do not submit redundant information in the Optional Essay.” Good advice for all optional questions. For more suggestions, please see The Optional Question: To Be or not To Be.

RE-APPLICANTS – ONE REQUIRED ESSAY: Reapplicants who applied for the class entering in fall 2011 or 2012 are required to complete the following essay:

Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (700 words maximum)

This the key question in every MBA reapplication: How have you enhanced your candidacy? Career progress is an obvious place to start and something you must address, but if academics were a weakness, then what have you done since you last applied to show you can excel at Anderson?

If you would like professional guidance with your UCLA Anderson MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our  UCLA Anderson Essay Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Anderson MBA application.

UCLA Anderson 2013 MBA Application Deadlines

Round      Due Date               Decision Released

Round 1    October 24, 2012   January 23, 2013

Round 2    January 9, 2013     April 3, 2013

Round 3    April 17, 2013        June 5, 2013

Linda Abraham

By , president and founder of Accepted.com and co-author of the new, definitive book on MBA admissions, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools.

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