UCLA Anderson Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

Today we dig into UCLA Anderson's MBA admissions essays for the coming year. You will notice that Anderson has changed its essays pretty extensively this year. And, the school's famous "video essay," which is optional, returns for 2010-2011. Pay special attention to our advice regarding the video response, below.

Here are the school's essay topics (for new applicants) for the coming season, followed by our comments in italics:

UCLA Anderson Application Essays

Required Essays

1. What event or life experience has had the greatest influence in shaping your character and why? (750 words)
   
   This question is new, although it's not radically different from last year's first essay prompt. Really, the admissions committee is trying to dig deep into who you are and what makes you tick. We actually prefer last year's wording, since this year's version seems to put extra emphasis on a single event, which may create some pressure in applicants' minds to come up with a dramatic single incident. In reality, the "or life experience" part of this year's question still leaves it open-ended enough that you shouldn't feel the need to focus on one single point in time. Try to answer this question with your personal development in mind. Your tendency will be to tie it right back to your career and why you're pursuing an MBA, but consider this input from the admissions office: "Please be introspective and authentic in your responses. Content is more important than style of delivery. We value the opportunity to learn about your life experiences, aspirations, and goals."


2. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA now and how will UCLA Anderson help you to achieve your goals? (750 words)
   
   This question carries over unchanged from last year, and should be approached the same as most other "Career Goals" / "Why an MBA?" essays. Note that the "Why an MBA?" component is very important, but you absolutely MUST demonstrate in this essay a knowledge of and a passion for UCLA Anderson. One way any school protects its admissions yield is by ferreting out those who don't demonstrate enough enthusiasm for the program. Failing to answer the "how will UCLA Anderson help you achieve you goals" part of the question is a sure way to get ferreted out by the admissions committee.

Optional Essays

1. You may respond to the following question via written essay, audio or video clip: What is something people will find surprising about you?
   
   It's back! But, this year the school only gives you one answer option, rather than giving you a choice between a question about entrepreneurship and the one presented here. It's easy to get too worked up over this video response. But, in short, we do recommend that our clients take advantage of it, despite the point that Anderson makes about not giving preference to those who submit one. Why? It's simply easier for an admissions officer to envision you at the school if he or she can see your face and feel at least some connection with the real you. It's simply human nature, despite their best efforts to remain objective. We think you should prepare well and make sure you deliver your answer smoothly, but a more impromptu-sounding response will sound warmer and more authentic than an overly scripted response. Lastly, have fun with this! Your response doesn't need to be funny or wacky, but brightening the admissions committee's day always helps.


2. Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words)
   
   Our advice for this type of question is always the same: Only use this question as necessary. No need to harp on a minor weakness and sound like you're making excuses when you don't need any.

If you haven't already, be sure to check out our UCLA Anderson Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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UCLA Anderson Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011

Continuing the wave of new deadlines and questions from top business schools, UCLA's Anderson School of Management recently released its application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Here they are, followed by our comments:

UCLA Anderson Application Deadlines
Round 1: October 20, 2010
Round 2: January 5, 2011
Round 3: April 13, 2011

While the trend among top MBA programs has been to move their Round 1 deadlines forward, Anderson actually moved its deadline back by six days this year. Note that, unlike other business school, Anderson won't give you our Round 1 decision until the second week of January, so you may need to submit your Round 2 applications to other programs before receiving your Round decision from Anderson.

The school's Round 2 deadline is virtually unchanged since last year, but its Round 3 deadline is actually almost a month LATER than it was in 2009-2010. Anderson previously expressed that it doesn't want to miss out on strong applicants who may choose an international program such as LBS simply because that school still accepts applications as late as April. This is a smart move, in our opinion.

If you haven't already, this is a good time to check out our UCLA Anderson Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, be sure to subscribe to this blog and follow us on Twitter!

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Five Things That Make UCLA Anderson Unique

Continuing our series of admissions insights clipped from Veritas Prep's Annual Reports, our in-depth insider's guides to 15 of the world's top MBA programs, this week we investigate a few things that make UCLA Anderson's approach to graduate management education unique. (Our Annual reports are absolutely free with registration, but we thought we'd share some snippets here to help get you started in your Anderson research.)

UCLA Anderson's methodology is composed of a multi-faceted approach primarily delivered through lectures. The following are five key aspects of a UCLA Anderson education that comprise the framework of the MBA experience:

• The UCLA Anderson Culture. The emphasis on teamwork inside and outside of the classroom is the hallmark of the UCLA Anderson experience and the foundation for the rest of the school's approach. Student collaboration and leadership within teams is the attribute that ties everything together at UCLA Anderson. There are several schools with great student cultures – NYU Stern is known for the way students look out for each other during the job search process and Duke Fuqua is legendary for the enthusiasm on display from the various student groups – but Anderson's culture is largely unmatched, save perhaps for Kellogg. In fact, Anderson and Kellogg can often seem very similar in this one area of true collaboration and a spirit of teamwork that runs through the entire program.


• Diversity of Coursework within a Generalist Approach. The classroom approach at UCLA Anderson mirrors its general curriculum. While students may focus on a certain subset of course work, there are no declared specialties or designations. With the 10 core classes, students are expected to collaborate with other team members, each from differing professional backgrounds and skills sets. By putting everyone on the same page, the core offers a base of skills that are as much lessons in human relations and cooperation as they are on a given subject matter. Beyond the core, students will gravitate towards a multitude of electives in eight specialty areas. These eight areas include Consulting, Entertainment and Media Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations, and Real Estate.


• A Practical Approach to Learning. Many elite business schools offer its students the chance to study in the field and to get real world experience, but few incorporate the mantra of "learning by doing" to the degree of UCLA. The crux of this approach is the Applied Management Research project (AMR). The AMR project is conducted in teams of 4-6 students during the second year and represents a capstone to the UCLA Anderson experience. From the number of students who participate in business plan competitions to unique classroom opportunities to creating and test new technologies, UCLA Anderson allows every student to find a way to put their theoretical learning to the real world test. The school offers a nearly unparallel variety of courses and labs that focus almost entirely on learning by doing.


• Leadership and Social Responsibility. As mentioned above, UCLA Anderson puts a great deal of focus on leadership and a commitment to community. This applies to the admissions process, but also to the coursework and educational experience as the school attempts to elevate good leaders to great ones. Specific leadership courses and a pre-term orientation course, Leadership Foundations, bring this approach to the curriculum. Prominent programs and organizations such as the Riordan Programs and Challenge for Charity offer students the opportunity to explore concepts surrounding social responsibility.


• A Global Perspective. Like many top business schools, UCLA can boast an increasingly global approach to its learning environment and coursework. The student body is comprised of students from 40 different countries and the school has focused coursework and experiential learning opportunities specific to the global landscape, such as the Global Access Program, Advanced International Exchange Program, and Special Topics in Management courses that focus on emerging economies.

Today's installment was clipped from our UCLA Anderson Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools, available on our site. If you're ready to start building your own application for UCLA or other top MBA programs, call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today!

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UCLA Anderson to Give World MBA Tour Visitors a Taste of a Business School Class

If you're in Los Angeles, here is a unique opportunity to attend a business class before you ever even begin your applications. UCLA Anderson professor Sanjay Sood will be leading a sample MBA class at the QS World MBA Tour this Saturday, October 3rd at 3:00 p.m, in Downtown Los Angeles.

Professor Sood specializes in cutting edge research in marketing management, brand management, advertising and consumer behavior. This class will be a great experience for prospective applicants interested in learning more about what class is like at UCLA Anderson.

Adrian Aguirre, one of the school's Associate Directors, and some current UCLA Anderson students will also be on hand to answer questions about the school and its admissions process.

Event Information:
World MBA Tour
When: Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 3:00 p.m.
Where: World MBA Tour Wilshire Grand Los Angeles
Register at: www.topmba.com

For more advice on applying to UCLA Anderson, visit the Veritas Prep UCLA Anderson information page. And, be sure to follow us on Twitter!

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UCLA Anderson's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans

This weekend UCLA's Anderson School of Management wrapped up its Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), a terrific program that offers training in entrepreneurship and small business management to U.S. military veterans who were disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The EBV was first introduced by Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management in 2007. In 2008, the EBV Consortium of Schools was launched, a national partnership with UCLA Anderson School of Management, Florida State University's College of Business, and Mays Business School at Texas A&M.

The program was created to provide focused, practical training in the tools and skills of new venture creation and growth, reflecting issues unique to disability and public benefits programs. Veterans who complete the course also benefit from a support structure that they can call upon as they enter the business world, giving them years of ongoing value.

According to UCLA Anderson's EBV web site:

"The EBV program represents a unique opportunity for men and women who have sacrificed for America's freedom to take an important step toward realizing their own freedom - economic freedom - through entrepreneurship. EBV is a selective, rigorous, and intense educational initiative that has been created to make a difference. Accordingly, the application process itself is rigorous and selective.

"Successful candidates for admission will demonstrate a strong interest in entrepreneurship, high motivation for owning and managing a business, and a high likelihood of successful completion of this intense training program."

Most impressively, EBV is entirely free for military veterans. All costs -- including travel, lodging, and meals -- are covered for delegates accepted to the EBV thanks to the participating universities as well as generous donations from corporations and individuals.

Every year we work with many military veterans who are returning from duty and getting ready to apply to business school, but not all veterans necessarily want to pursue an MBA. EBV occupies a valuable space, serving those who have been injured in service to their country and now want to go to work for themselves in the private sector, but who don't want to (or can't afford to) make the full investment in a two-year graduate business program.

If you are interested in applying to the EBV program, click here. If you're interested in learning more about UCLA Anderson's MBA program, visit the Veritas Prep UCLA Anderson information page.

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Applying to B-School in a Few Years? Maximize Your Candidacy Today.

A significant portion of my MBA admissions consulting applicants come to be with little to no extracurricular experience since their undergraduate days. While this is a problem that can be addressed, it can show a lack of proper planning over the long term. A lot of applicants don’t think about the impact of their actions on their applicant competitiveness when the graduate from undergrad. To a certain extent, even I was the same way.

What I like most about some of my clients is the the way some of them are way ahead of the game we call the MBA application process. Those that have been planning since day 1 to go back to b-school tend to be distinguishing yourself from your peers out of the gate and these habits show when constructing the business school application.

This is what I tell those who have graduated and are planning to apply to business school in a few years:

1. Make sure you find a mentor at your employer. This does not have to be formal but it always helps when someone can show you the ropes. This person should be senior and be respected in the office.
2. This mentor will also be able to make introductions for you around the org. This will help when it comes to recommendation time.
3. Adcoms will consider your tenure and the ratio of leadership experience to overall experience at your work. Work to maximize this so that you can write about it eventually in your essays.
4. Make sure you are asking for leadership responsibility. It does not matter if it is leading the charge with organizing the company holiday party or asking for more work when on a project. It’s called managing your manager and it works wonders when its time for a promotion. Do this and more opportunities will arise. You may get to pick and chose your project work…..
5. Stepping up also helps with respect to your eventual recommendation when your manager is asked for how well you rank against your peer group.
6. Seek out those in the organization who have MBAs. Get to know them. Eventually, ask them to lunch and get to know how they liked their MBA experience.
7. Get involved with extracurriculars at work. Assume a leadership role as well as I have alluded to above.
8. See what pre-MBA mentoring programs are available to you. I know UCLA Anderson has the Riordan program. This is a great way to gain exposure.
9. Join several other organization types:
10. Toastmasters International - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toastmasters_International
11. A young professionals organization in your city - these orgs have social and business elements that will help you network.
12. Meetup.com - look for groups on meetup that have business or philanthropic goals that align with your interests.
13. As you get within a year of applying, go to open houses and MBA tours. Get your name and face out there. Adcoms have an uncanny way of remembering who you are.
14. Last but not least, start preparing for the GMAT now! Studying in drips and drops over a long period of time is far more effective that crammig just weeks before the exam.

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