UCLA - Anderson School MBA Essays 2024-25
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Applying for UCLA's MBA program and sceptical about the MBA admission essays? Check out the article to understand the kind of questions that are asked in UCLA's MBA admission application and how should you go about it with some expert tips to ace your applications.
Guided by three pillars - ‘Share Success’, ‘Think Fearlessly’ and ‘Drive Change’, the University of California, Los Angeles’s (UCLA) Anderson School of Management has one of the most coveted MBA programs in the USA. Be it customized coursework, career support, global immersion courses, or launching a business, while pursuing the program, UCLA Anderson has everything that is needed to create ‘Transformative Leaders’. As it is considered a sure-shot way to kickstart one’s career, the UCLA MBA program is quite competitive when it comes to the admission process. Among various deciding factors during the evaluation of applications, MBA essays, if attempted thoughtfully, can be a way to outshine among scores of other applicants. In this article, we will analyze the University of California MBA essay prompts as they can be your gateway to the MBA class at the Anderson School.
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| 10 Tips for Writing a Great College Essay | |
| Importance of Grammar in Your Admission Essays | Word Limit and College Essays - How Important Are They? |
Analysis of UCLA Anderson MBA Essays
The UCLA Anderson MBA essays focus on the school’s intrinsic values as the admissions committee (Ad Com) wishes to know what a candidate will bring to the table when it comes to the value systems of a leader. Here is the analysis of the UCLA MBA essay prompts (2024-25).
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Essay 1 of UCLA Anderson MBA Admission: Why are you pursuing an MBA? (150 words)
This short essay question of 150 words requires you to mention your motivation for pursuing an MBA degree. For this UCLA MBA essay, you need to be specific about the reasons why you want to pursue this degree now. Instead of providing a generalized response or a childhood fascination, you must include a recent instance which inspired you for this degree. To create an impressive response, you need to be crisp and precise. Mentioning the skills that you need to acquire or any specific specialization you want to gain through this program, will strengthen your reasons of choosing this MBA program.
Essay 2 of UCLA Anderson MBA Admission: Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (150 words)
This essay prompt directly asks for your career goals after completing the UCLA MBA degree. You must contemplate well before you pen down this answer as you have just 150 words to provide your response to this question, and you must provide specific career goals. Mention about your immediate career plans as your short-term goals, including your preferred designation or dream companies. You should briefly mention the roles and responsibilities you plan to undertake in this position. For long-term goals, you must elucidate where you envision yourself 10-15 years after completing the degree. The clarity in your response will allow the Ad Com to see you as a determined person, who is focused towards achieving your career goals.
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Essay 3 of UCLA Anderson MBA Admission: At Anderson, our mission is to prepare transformative leaders by developing students to think innovatively, problem-solve, and adapt to others – all with a driven and purposeful mindset. How do you plan to achieve your goals and develop into a transformative leader during your time at UCLA Anderson? (250 words)
This University of California admission essay is a strategically framed prompt through which the university is looking for various important skills in a candidate. The challenge here lies in reflecting these skills in a concise response of 250 words. It must be noted that the essay prompt clearly explains UCLA Anderson’s mission and what exactly it is seeking in a candidate. As the university is focused on developing leaders who can think of innovative ideas without any inhibitions and succeed in bringing revolutionary change, you need to show that you can be one such transformative leader. Before you brainstorm ideas, please remember that the focus of this UCLA MBA answer is to find a ‘driven and purposeful mindset’, which means the intent to continue towards one’s goals, despite challenges or failures.
While writing this answer, you must mention your plans for achieving your goals and being a transformative leader during your time at UCLA Anderson. You need to reflect on how you will use your innovative approach - to work on projects, problem-solving ability - to handle the rigours of the curriculum, and adaptability - to collaborate with a diverse peer group. By providing your specific plan of action, at UCLA Anderson, you need to clearly show that you will fit into UCLA Anderson’s notion of leadership.
Optional Essay of UCLA Anderson MBA Admission: No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)
This 250-word optional essay by UCLA Anderson is quite specific as it is only to be used to explain any extenuating circumstances. Such circumstances can be a low CGPA, unsatisfactory grades, low GRE or GMAT scores, or any gap year in your profile. Please do not respond to this answer in case you do not have any explanation that can impact your application. Mentioning anything unrelated would not give any returns as UCLA Anderson clearly states that they will not give preference to those who choose to respond to this optional answer, without any actual explanation needed. So, it is important to use your judgement in this regard.
In case, any aspect of your profile needs the Ad Com’s attention, please briefly explain the circumstance, and how this extenuating aspect will not impact your performance as a UCLA MBA candidate. You must use this answer judiciously to make up for any omissions or inconsistencies in your academic or professional record. A well-explained answer can actually make your case stronger and improve your chances of selection.
Tips to Remember while Writing the University of California MBA Essay
- Be concise in your response. Adding unnecessary details will take away the essence of the essay.
- Write simple, meaningful, and grammatically correct answers.
- Follow the word limit as exceeding it can impact your application negatively.
- Brainstorm various ideas. A sound judgement is needed for choosing the particular instance or any extenuating circumstances for the optional essay
- Working well in advance will pay high returns as you will have enough time to prepare impressive answers and get feedback from others.
These are some pointers to keep in mind while preparing responses to these questions. For more info, reach out to Shiksha counselling services.
UCLA Anderson MBA Essays FAQs
Q. How can I improve my chances of selection at UCLA Anderson School of Management?
A. Your chances of selection at UCLA are based on a number of aspects which the admissions committee (Ad Com) considers while evaluating the applications. They take into account not only your previous academic performance, but also your quantitative and analytical skills. These skills can be highlighted through your GMAT/GRE scores. Also, English proficiency scores play an important role for international applicants. Besides that, work experience, achievements, awards, and other extracurricular activities, are considered by the UCLA Ad Com. Last but not the least, well written essays and letters of recommendation can be a game changer for you.
Q. Can I use content from the Internet or AI for writing my essays?
A. The answer to this question is a big ‘NO’. The school has created unique essay prompts, which require your original ideas and perspectives. Copying content or using AI will only create general answers, devoid of your real personality or viewpoints. Plagiarized essay content can lead to rejection of your application. Thus, you must attempt these UCLA MBA essays with utmost honesty and originality.
Q. Can I apply to UCLA Anderson School of Management without work experience?
A. Although the UCLA Anderson School allows applicants with no work experience as they want to create a diverse MBA class, it is better to have work experience of at least five years. When your application is evaluated with other applicants, who possess significant work experience, you must have something more to offer, other than work experience, to have a chance of selection. In case, you do not have work experience, you must showcase your abilities through impressive GMAT scores or leadership experiences at the undergraduate level.
Q. Is it okay if I skip the optional essay?
A. As it is an optional essay, you can certainly skip it. However, this essay can be a great way to explain any unsatisfactory academic record, gap year, or extenuating circumstances. You can explain the reasons for such a situation and the steps taken to improve it. It is advised to use this UCLA MBA application’s optional essay space to your advantage and take this chance to explain your case properly, if required.
Q: What is your review of University of California, Los Angeles?
UCLA is surely a good option for international students mainly beacuse of a diverse range of excellent academic programs across its 11 professional schools and colleges. Notable programs include the film, television and digital media school which has produced countless successful alumni in the entertainment industry.
Here are the reasons why you should go for UCLA:
Academics: The University of California Los Angeles offers more than 250 courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The UCLA University offers undergraduate major and minor courses. Students can also pursue master’s or doctoral programs at the UCLA University.
Placements: At UCLA most of the students were placed in financial services, technology and consulting, with 68.5% of the job acceptances being from these sectors. More than 60% of the students got placements from UCLA-facilitated resources like summer internships, myCareer job postings, campus-recruiting programs, and national MBA career conferences. While around 36.8% got jobs from non-UCLA facilitated resources like personal networking, other websites, online resources, company websites, pre-MBA employer networks, etc.
Location of the university - The Universit of California Los Angeels is in a location where arts & culture, technology industry and entertainment industry providing endless internship. International Students have access to beaches, outdoor activities, live music/performances and attractions which makes their make campus life more enjoyable. The location gives UCLA students an additional mark to study at UCLA.
Ranking: The University of California Los Angeles is surely a good option for international students considering it. Mainly beacuse of it's good ranking. Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings 2023 has placed the University of California Los Angeles is 21. Meanwhile, The QS world university rankings 2023 for the University of California Los Angeles is 44. The university is one of the top choices for international students coming to the USA, as UCLA University has been placed at the 20th position in the national universities category by U.S. News & World Report in the latest rankings.
Fees: : The cost of attending UCLA for Indian students can vary depending on several factors. Tuition fees for international students at UCLA are typically higher than for US citizens. However, it is important that the tuition fee can change over time, and it is recommended to visit the official website to recheck the fees and accommodation. Indian students should also consider other costs such as housing, health insurance, meals and transportation attending UCLA. Scholarships and financial aid options are also available to9 help students from financial barriers. Check out the below table for the costs:
Expenses | Cost for Non-residents |
|---|---|
Tuition and fees | INR 10,83,530 |
Room and board | INR 12,95,812 |
Books and supplies | INR 1,23,633 |
Transportation | INR 35,393 |
Personal | INR 1,20,437 |
Health Insurance | INR 1,82,295 |
Total | INR 52,16,433 |
Q: Has any Indian studied from UCLA?
Yes, the University of California, Los Angeles has been home to a vast number of Indian students. Listed below are some of the Indians who are included in the list of UCLA notable alumni:
- Deepti Divakar: An Indian actress, author, model and beauty pageant titleholder (Miss India in 1981)
- Vinita Gupta: An Indian businesswoman, who is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Lupin Limited; and
- Medha Yodh: An Indian and Indian American Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher of classical Indian dance.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.
Q: Why choose Snead State Community College for B.Tech in USA rather than University of Toledo?
Snead State Community College is a better option for acquiring your B.Tech than the University of Toledo because here you can find a better selection of engineering, computer science, and information technology degrees and courses, along with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and practical skills. Furthermore, Snead State Community College has lower tuition costs than the University of Toledo, with an average annual cost of living of $7,877 or 7,00,000 INR, while the University of Toledo's tuition and living costs are much higher.
Q: Can I get into Oregon State with a 3.5 GPA?
International students must have at least a GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for UG and PG admission at Oregon State. Therefore, candidates are eligible to get admission to the university with a 3.5 GPA in their academics. Oregon State University GPA requirements are different for undergraduate and graduate admission. Mentioned below is the range of GPA required for Oregon State University admissions:
| Program | Minimum GPA Required (on a scale of 4.0) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
| Graduate | 2.5 - 3.0 |
Read about the Grading System in the USA
Q: What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
The definition of a good ACT score varies from university to country. However, to get into the top 100 universities, you must aim for a score higher than 31 on the ACT.
Q: What is the maximum and minimum score in GRE to get admission for MS in USA?
GRE is a popular standardised test for getting admission in MS program in the world. However, there are many universities in the USA that offer admission to MS courses without GRE scores. There is fixed minimum or maximum GRE score for admission. However, even if your GRE score is below the average for a particular program, you may still be considered for admission if you have strong qualifications in other areas. It is adviseble to check university website for the exact information.
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