Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2014 2015 Veritas Prep Anderson Essential Guide
2014 2015 Veritas Prep Anderson Essential Guide
EssentialGuide 2014|15
ii
EssentialGuide2014|15
Whats Inside
Getting the Most Out of This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
What Should I Look For in an MBA Program? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
UCLA Anderson Snapshot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
What Anderson Is Known For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
What Makes UCLA Anderson Different . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Whats New at Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
UCLA Anderson Is a Good Fit for You If . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
UCLA Anderson at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Academics at UCLA Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What Anderson Is Known For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
You Oughta Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Nuts & Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Popular Professors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Similar Academic Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Employment & Careers at Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
What Anderson Is Known For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
You Oughta Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Similar Programs for Professional Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Culture & Campus Life at UCLA Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
What Anderson Is Known For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
You Oughta Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Similar Programs Culturally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Admissions at UCLA Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
What UCLA Anderson Is Looking For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Preparing to Apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
You Oughta Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
The Online Application Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
The Essays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
The Interview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Veritas Prep and Your UCLA Anderson Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Your Personalized Anderson Consulting Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
The Ultimate Admissions Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
How it Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
iii
EssentialGuide 2014|15
EssentialGuide2014|15
W H AT S H O U L D I LO O K F O R I N A N M B A P R O G R A M ?
EssentialGuide 2014|15
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 schools
approach.
EssentialGuide2014|15
Sustainable business. UCLA was the first major business school to create a
special certificate in sustainability for its MBA program, and now the Leaders in
Sustainability certificate program has grown to more than 100 students each year.
Anderson is also seeking LEED certification for its building, and students often participate in the 1,000 Homes competition and the California Clean Innovation Conference, among other events.
Entrepreneurship. Other schools offer programs in entrepreneurship, but few
have innovation and new thinking ingrained into the culture the same way that
UCLA Anderson does. From the Business Creation Option of its Applied Management Research (AMR) requirementin which students literally start a new ventureto the multiple business plan competitions and Entrepreneurship Week, Anderson students are immersed in the mindset of entrepreneurship on campus.
West Coast finance. If youre looking for a finance job but arent the Wall Street
type, Anderson is a major feeder school to offices and firms outside of New York
City. It also sends a handful of graduates each year to the major New York offices,
although the networks of Columbia, NYU Stern, Wharton, and other East Coast
based programs are much stronger.
FEMBA Flex is a
hybrid between a
traditional parttime MBA program
and an online
program degree.
Flex continues to
grow in popularity,
and students are
raving about their
experience!
More financial engineers. Anderson reported a significant increase in the number of applications to its Masters in Financial Engineering (MFE) program this past
year. The program saw 470 applicants for the Class of 2014, compared to 266 during
the previous year. This trend is likely a result of more big data jobs popping up
across sectors. Andersons one-year masters program targets students interested
in technical areas of corporate finance, including money management, investment
banking, risk management, and private equity or hedge fund operations. The program itself is growing with the increase in students, now offering its own dedicated
staff for career services.
A growing Flex program. Anderson developed one of the most innovative MBA
offerings weve seen in many years, called FEMBA Flex. Its a hybrid between a traditional part-time MBA program and an online program degree. Students attend class
U C L A A N D E R S O N S N A P S H OT
EssentialGuide 2014|15
in person one weekend per month, and they attend all other class sessions online.
Flex constitutes one section of the Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA) program, and
they share a joint application. Flex continues to grow in popularity, and students
who participate in it have given rave reviews of their experience. We wouldnt be
surprised if it grows to two sections in the near future.
EDGE for undergrads. Anderson recently conducted its second summer EDGE
program, a new four-week offering designed to give undergraduates and non-business majors access to some of Andersons premier business resources. The program,
which launched in July 2013, offers classes, workshops, and lectures to students interested in learning business basics so that they may gain a competitive edge in the
business world and post-college job market. Rising college juniors, seniors, and recent graduates may apply for the program starting in the fall. There are four application rounds, and additional information can be found on Andersons website.
U C L A A N D E R S O N S N A P S H OT
EssentialGuide2014|15
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies rivals that of the best business programs around.
From the variety of business plan competitions to the innovative classes on venture
formation and growth, Anderson is a place where startups are formed.
You want a strong part-time option. Andersons Fully Employed MBA (FEMBA, pronounced fem-buh) program is often ranked among the top-five part-time
programs worldwide. Many candidates find value in the UCLA FEMBA program
that allows them to keep their job while earning their MBA. While pursuing a degree
at the same time as managing the demands of a career (and often a family) can be
very challenging, it is worthwhile for those who feel that they cannot afford to take
time out of their career to pursue a full-time program.
U C L A A N D E R S O N S N A P S H OT
EssentialGuide 2014|15
Applicants by School
Percent admitted
Anderson
3,121
Anderson
Harvard
9,315
22.7%
77.3%
Stanford
7,108
Wharton
6,036
18.7%
6.8%
11.3%
16%
84%
81.3%
93.2%
88.7%
Stern
3,661
Ross
2,650
33.7%
66.3%
36%
Ross
33%
Average Age
29
28
Anderson
Haas
Average GPA
Stern
Stern
Haas
39%
Ross
Haas
29%
Stern
Haas
Ross
Nationality
32%
68%
International
Citizens
U.S.
Countries Represented
44
U C L A A N D E R S O N AT A G L A N C E
EssentialGuide2014|15
Undergrad Majors
34%
25%
STEM
Humanities/Social Science/
Economics
Anderson
43%
22%
Ross
38%
32%
Stern
Business
OTHER
27%
2 4%
Anderson
Class Size
40%
Haas
46%
24%
16%
Ross
Tuck
Anderson
Harvard
932
Wharton
837
Columbia
749
Kellogg
652
Booth
581
Ross
455
Duke
437
Sloan
406
Stanford
406
Stern
392
Anderson
360
Yale
291
Tuck
277
Haas
252
Stern
Consulting
14%
10%
22%
Finance
24%
31%
28%
U C L A A N D E R S O N AT A G L A N C E
EssentialGuide 2014|15
First-year curriculum
includes:
Financial
Accounting
Managerial
Economics
Data and Decisions
Marketing
Management
Foundations of
Finance
Operations
Technology
Management
Business Strategy
Organizational
Behavior
Communications
for Leaders
Up to three electives
Unique use of sections. At Anderson, youll have two different sections of about
70 people with whom youll take core courses. You will take six core courses with
your primary section, and three courses with your secondary section. This structure allows you to form relationships with a larger group of people than you might
at schools where you take all core courses with just one section. However, it allows
close bonds to form more easily than at MBA programs that do not utilize sections
or clusters.
Case competitionslots of them. Competitions, both at home and at other
schools, are such a large part of academic life at Anderson that the school considers them a key part of its hands-on learning opportunities. The school hosts several
A C A D E M I C S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
10
EssentialGuide2014|15
About 20% of
the second-year
class elects to
study abroad. The
quarter system
at UCLA means
that its easier to
take advantage of
the international
exchange program.
A C A D E M I C S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
11
EssentialGuide 2014|15
class elects to study abroad, and UCLA Anderson is a member of Partnership in International Management (PIM), a network of 60 international MBA programs. The
quarter system at UCLA means that its easier to take advantage of the international exchange program, since less time is spent away from your home campus than if
you were attending a business school on a semester system. The most-popular study
abroad destinations include Spain and Australia.
During these exchange programs, Anderson students literally trade places with students from the other school, which means that a number of students each term come
from these top international MBA programs to attend class in LA. This adds an additional and significant element of diversity at UCLA Anderson.
Popular Professors
Senior Lecturer Eric Sussman
In any discussion about rock star professors at Anderson, Eric Sussmans name
jumps to the top of the list. Professor Sussman has been voted the Outstanding
Teacher of the Year an astounding 13 times by Anderson students since he started
at the school in 1995, and he was ranked among the top-10 most popular business
school professors nationwide by Businessweek in 2011. He teaches courses in the
following areas: accounting, financial statement analysis, corporate financial reporting, and real estate investment. Off campus, Professor Sussman is the president
of Amber Capital, Inc., manager of Fountain Management, LLC and Clear Capital,
LLC, and managing partner of Sequoia Real Estate Partners and the Pacific Value
Opportunities Funds.
Professor Antonio Bernardo
Professor Bernardo is one of the leading minds in the area of corporate finance and
asset pricing, and has been published in virtually every leading academic journal. He
teaches the bulk of his courses in the areas of economics and finance, and has been at
Anderson since 1994, where he has twice won the Teaching Excellence Award voted
on by second-year full-time MBA students.
Adjunct Professor George Geis
An author of dozens of articles and six books, George Geis is a force to be reckoned
with in mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the technology industry. He has
won the Outstanding Teacher of the Year award five times, most recently in 2012.
He teaches courses in mergers and acquisitions, financial modeling, entrepreneurship, and accounting. Always with his finger on the pulse of the technology industry,
Professor Geis offers many insights on his blog.
Visiting Adjunct Professor Tom Wurster
Professor Wurster is the former senior partner and managing director of Boston
Consulting Groups Los Angeles office, where he led all of BCGs West Coast oper-
A C A D E M I C S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
12
EssentialGuide2014|15
A C A D E M I C S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
13
EssentialGuide 2014|15
Technology. Traditionally, when MBA candidates were looking for strong technology programs, they turned to Stanford, Berkeley-Haas, and MIT Sloan. In the
past five years or so, however, UCLA Anderson has come on strong in this area. The
school takes great pride in adapting to new trends and the needs of its students, and
this strength is promoted in its new brand positioning, Think in the Next. As a result, the school has put significant resources into technology-related curriculum
and employment services. Now, more than a quarter (26%) of its graduates enter
this sector.
Graduates entering the technology industry
Haas 33%
Stanford 32%
Anderson 26%
Sloan 19%
HBS 18%
Finance. UCLA Anderson fills an important role as one of very few West Coast
based MBA programs with strength in finance. Stanford sends about a quarter of its
class into the finance industry, but the jobs tend to be heavily skewed toward highly
competitive private equity and venture capital roles. Berkeley-Haas sends just 15%
of its class into finance, so this leaves a significant opening for Anderson. One in five
graduates will take a job in the finance industry, although a third (34%) of graduates
E M P LOY M E N T & C A R E E R S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
14
EssentialGuide2014|15
describe their role as finance-related. This means that beyond traditional investment banking roles, Anderson sends a lot of graduates into finance roles in industries such as media, technology, real estate, and others.
Consumer products. With its strong emphasis in marketing and brand management, Kellogg is generally seen as the king of consumer products jobs, but it sends
just one percent more of its class (14%) into consumer goods or retail positions than
does Anderson (13%). Top employers tend to have Southern California operations,
such as Mattel, Nestle USA, General Mills, Johnson & Johnson, and the consumer
products divisions of media companies such as Disney Consumer Products.
Entrepreneurship. Although UCLA Andersons Price Center is well known in the
field of entrepreneurship, the program raises relatively few entrepreneurs immediately upon graduation. Just less than 4% of graduates start their own businesses
rather than recruiting for a full-time job, clearly surpassed by Stanford (17%), MIT
Sloan (9%), Wharton (7%), and Harvard (7%).
Graduates electing to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities
Stanford 17%
Sloan 9%
HBS & Wharton
7%
Anderson 4%
Yale 3%
E M P LOY M E N T & C A R E E R S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
15
EssentialGuide 2014|15
Adapting to career trends. One thing that Anderson prides itself on is its ability
to adapt to career trends. For example, the technology boom in Southern California
has largely played out over just five years, and yet the school has added significant
resources in the area, attracting many candidates interested in tech. The school was
ahead of the curve when it came to social enterprise and will likely adapt again to the
next big trend in MBA recruiting.
E M P LOY M E N T & C A R E E R S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
16
EssentialGuide2014|15
Just as admissions
officers at Anderson
are looking for
candidates who
want to make a
difference in the
world after they
graduate, they also
seek those who
will have an impact
while at school.
C U LT U R E & C A M P U S L I F E AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
17
EssentialGuide 2014|15
Major events & activities. As you can probably tell by now, there are plenty of
events and activities at UCLA Anderson! Since there are no classes on Fridays,
a corporate or club sponsor hosts Anderson Afternoons every Thursday on the
north lawn. Its a happy hour event where students get together and where corporate
recruiters can mingle with students in a more relaxed setting. Other popular events
include tailgating parties at the Rose Bowl, which is quite a trek from Westwood to
Pasadena, where the UCLA football team plays its home games; the annual Halloween party (attended by nearly 1,000 people even though the total student body of both
classes is less than 800!); the Challenge for Charity (C4C) Casino Night fundraiser;
the C4C Stanford Weekend, where UCLA brings two to three times the number of
students as any other school to compete in athletics and raise money; and various
informal trips to Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and San Diego throughout the year.
Popular hangouts. Youll find Anderson students hanging out at several local bars
in Westwood and Santa Monica, including Qs Billiard Club and Cabo Cantina on
nearby Wilshire Boulevard, and Busbys West and The Bungalow in Santa Monica.
Where to live. Nearly 95% of Anderson students live in UCLAs neighborhood
of Westwood, or nearby in Brentwood and Santa Monica. As with most things in
Los Angeles, its still a bit more spread out than the student bodies of many other
schools such as Harvard, Stanford, and Tuck, where students tend to live very close
to one another.
Nearly 95% of
Anderson students
live in UCLAs
neighborhood of
Westwood, or
nearby Brentwood
and Santa Monica.
The student body
is more spread out
than at many other
schools.
C U LT U R E & C A M P U S L I F E AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
18
EssentialGuide2014|15
C U LT U R E & C A M P U S L I F E AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
19
EssentialGuide 2014|15
An extremely
collaborative
environment,
Anderson relies on
the willingness of
Vision and impact. This aspect doesnt differ much from most other MBA pro- students to help
grams, but Anderson looks for candidates who have a clear vision for themselves those around them.
and how they can shape the world around them. In the short-term, you may have
goals that are extremely common to MBA applicants, such as going into technology
product management or investment banking. Thats fine; clear, achievable goals are
great. But be sure to also show your great passion and vision for the broader impact
you may have throughout your life and future career path.
Preparing to Apply
Reading this Essential Guide is a great first step in your preparation. Hopefully, this
insiders glimpse has been helpful in understanding the most important aspects of
Anderson. However, nothing can replace gaining firsthand knowledge and experience
yourself. Anderson estimates that about 75% of accepted candidates who come to the
school during events like Anderson Days (A-Days) ultimately decide to attend. This
means that immersing yourself in the schools unique culture makes a big difference.
Reach out to current students. Even if you dont have any personal connections
to Anderson, you can reach out to current students and get their insight and advice.
On the schools Clubs & Associations pages, youll find a list of all campus clubs. Find
a few clubs that fit your interests and reach out to the officers. Remember: These are
very busy MBA students, so you dont want to intrude too much on their time, but
you could ask for a 10- to 15-minute conversation or elicit some advice via e-mail.
If youre planning to visit campus, perhaps you might even arrange a coffee chat or
lunch, if they are available.
Visit campus. If you have the means, we highly recommend you visit the Anderson campus along with a handful of others to understand the significant differences
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
20
EssentialGuide2014|15
Round 2:
When should I apply? Anderson uses a standard three-round system for full-time January 7, 2014
MBA applications. This means that you may submit your application in any of its
three rounds for consideration. However, 90% or more of the class will be filled with Round 3:
the first two rounds of applicants, so we do not encourage you to wait until the final April 15, 2015
round without compelling circumstances. Round 3 candidates will be considered
alongside waitlisted candidates from the first rounds. (Waitlisted candidates from
Round 1 will be considered with Round 2 applicants, but weve seen a number of R1
waitlistees who were held on the waitlist again and admitted in Round 3.)
Traditional backgrounds. If you are a traditional candidate from the management consulting or finance industry, we encourage you to apply in the first round
(assuming you have a strong GMAT score), as youll be competing against many candidates with very similar profiles. In a later round, its possible that the school may
see you as a viable candidate to the school but may have already admitted several
other applicants with similar profiles, so it might pass on you to bring greater professional diversity to the class. (Plus, the school knows youve been planning on an
MBA since the day you graduated from undergrad, so theres no reason to delay!)
Dont rush! Please note that even though the top schools encourage you to apply in
the earliest round possible, this does not mean that you should apply with a rushed
application or a mediocre GMAT score. Theres no sense in applying early if youre
just going to be denied. A GMAT score thats above the schools average will do more
for your candidacy than applying in the first round.
FEMBA, EMBA, and other programs. While we would never encourage you to intentionally delay your application if it is ready to go, Andersons Fully Employed MBA
(FEMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Master of Financial Engineering (MFE)
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
21
EssentialGuide 2014|15
program will admit significant numbers of candidates from all admission rounds.
Round 3 is not as limited as it may be when applying to the full-time MBA program.
Re-applicants are
often admitted
at higher rates
than first-time
applicants,
simply because
they have shown
their dedication
to the school
and showcase
improvements
in their profile.
Academic history. UCLA (along with many other schools) asks you to report your
undergraduate GPA based on whatever scale your school uses. Most students on the
UK system would mark n/a for the scale because their schools distinguish by firstclass honours (1st), 2:1, 2:2, and so on, rather than using a numerical GPA.
Other degrees or coursework. There is space under School Three and School
Four where you can add additional coursework that you completed even if you did
not pursue a degree. If you have a low undergraduate grade point average or had poor
grades in quantitative classes, you might think about taking MBA-relevant coursework, such as calculus, microeconomics, finance, accounting, etc., from a local community college or accredited online institution to build an alternate transcript. Include those courses in this section.
Academic discipline and criminal record. UCLA Anderson will conduct background checks on admitted students, so be sure to accurately report any disciplinary
action at the bottom of the academic history section. Veritas Prep has worked with
numerous candidates with disciplinary or criminal records and helped them gain
admission to the highest-ranked MBA programs. You must simply put your actions
into proper context.
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
22
EssentialGuide2014|15
Tests and language. Notice that you submit only one GMAT or GRE score in this
section. This is the score that your admissions reader will use to evaluate your candidacy, so dont worry about taking your test multiple times! Many applicants ask
us whether it looks bad if they take the GMAT/GRE three or more times, but it does
not matter one bit. Feel free to keep taking the exam until you achieve your greatest
possible score.
TOEFL and IELTS. If you were educated in a foreign language, then you must take
the TOEFL or IELTS exam to show English proficiency. English-language professional experience will not earn a waiver from this requirement. Anderson encourages any
international candidates to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam to prove their fluency,
even if their undergraduate or graduate education was taught exclusively in English.
Career. You may list your primary responsibilities for each of your professional positions in the online application form, so focus almost exclusively on achievements,
acknowledgments, leadership opportunities, and quantifiable results in your resume. Your resume is often the first thing an admissions officer will read, so its important to leave a strong first impression. Resumes should be kept to just one page,
so it wont include every last detail that you want to tell the admissions committee.
Be selective!
If you were
educated in a
foreign language,
then you must
take the TOEFL
or IELTS exam
to show English
proficiency.
Activities, hobbies, awards, and professional certifications. Youll have limited space in this section to list a few activities from undergrad and post-undergrad,
so prioritize and list them in order of importance to you. As weve mentioned several
times in this Guide, Anderson looks for students who will get actively involved. Be
sure to research the clubs and activities in which you want to get involved and select
them here. Selecting four to eight clubs or activities wouldnt be unreasonable, but
fewer is fine. Ideally, your selections will say something about yourselfyour passions, interests, background, or hobbies.
Family information. This section impacts your application very little, although
if you are the first member of your family to graduate from college, then things such
as your undergraduate institution or some performance measures may be put in
context.
The Essays
We like Andersons required essay question this year because it is straightforward and
tells you what the school is looking for, yet allows enough room for some creativity.
UCLA Anderson is distinguished by three defining principles: Share Success, Think Fearlessly, Drive Change. What principles have defined your
life and pre-MBA career? How do you believe that UCLA Andersons principles, and the environment they create, will help you attain your post-MBA
career goals? (750 words)
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
23
EssentialGuide 2014|15
Show fit with Anderson. The takeaway here is that the Anderson admissions
team clearly is looking for a fit with the program. As you define your life and preMBA career, you dont need to echo Andersons same themesin fact, the question
explicitly asks what your own principles arebut here the school sends a strong signal about what traits it values in applicants. Knowing that Anderson wants applicants who are generous with others (Share Success), arent afraid to take chances
(Think Fearlessly), and make an impact on those around them (Drive Change),
what traits and experiences do you want to highlight from your career up until now?
Show, dont tell. When asked a question like What principles have defined your
life? theres a strong temptation to simply expound on your lifes principles without
providing any examples. The admissions committee wants to get to know you as a
person! We suggest that you use mini-stories from your lifeanecdotes that can be
as short as just one or two sentencesthat showcase how youve learned or exemplified certain principles. Anyone can say they share success; your personal stories will
be the evidence to back up your claims.
Provide examples of Anderson culture. The second half of this question asks
you to tie the Anderson principles and environment to your unique career goals. This
is where visiting campus and/or speaking with current students and recent alumni
can strongly benefit your application. Seek to provide a specific example along the
lines of the following:
When I visited campus, I met several students who radiated Andersons collaborative environment and spoke about their experiences with peer-to-peer
career counseling. Jeff Smith talked to me about utilizing alumni connections
in the entertainment industry to obtain internship interviews. As a career
switcher who seeks to make the difficult transition into film distribution, Andersons culture of shared success is exactly what Im seeking to join to achieve
my post-MBA career plans and help others along the way.
LOOKING FOR
HELP WITH YOUR
ANDERSON
ESSAYS?
Veritas Prep has the most
Anderson consultants with
insider admissions knowledge.
Click below learn more about
our Admissions Consulting and
Essay Evaluation services.
1-800-925-7737
info@veritasprep.com
LEARN MORE
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
24
EssentialGuide2014|15
essay. That advice especially holds now that Andersons application only includes
one essay prompt. Dont feel the need to submit extra essays simply to command a
few extra minutes of the admissions committees attention!
Recommendations
Each full-time MBA applicant must include one letter of recommendation with his
or her application; FEMBA and EMBA applicants need two. In this section we include the information your recommender will be asked so that you may select recommender(s) who can answer these questions most thoroughly and enthusiastically.
Selecting your recommender(s). Anderson looks for professional recommendations, so college professors or other academic recommenders are not advised. Ideally, theyd like to hear from your current direct supervisor, but many applicants may
not have told their current employers that they will be applying to business school
and potentially leaving the company. In this case, you should ask a former direct supervisor, a professional mentor, or another person who has personal knowledge of
your professional accomplishments, strengths, and weaknesses. Some applicants
try to find a person with the fanciest title, such as CEO, even if they have little interaction with that person. This is a poor strategy. Generic recommendations offer little
insight into your candidacy and will be largely ignored by the admissions committee.
Generic
recommendations
offer little
insight into your
candidacy and will
be largely ignored
by the admissions
committee.
Should I draft it myself? Many applicants to business school are asked by their
superiors to draft the recommendation themselves and the recommender will approve it. We strongly recommend that you do not write the recommendation yourself for several reasons. First, your writing style and choice of phrasing are unique,
and admissions officers will notice if the recommendation is too similar to your essay. Second, you will tend to be too humble or generic. Your supervisor might use language such as one of the top analysts Ive seen in my entire career that you would
not dare include if writing on his or her behalf. Third, and perhaps most importantly,
the admissions officer is looking for a third-party perspective on your candidacy, so
writing a recommendation yourself is an unethical breach of trust with the school
you are looking to join.
Preparing your recommender(s). Instead of writing the recommendation yourself, you should sit down and have a candid conversation with your recommender(s)
about the reasons you want to go to business school and why youve selected your
target schools, your professional goals, and your experience together. Ask them if
they would have the time to write a strong recommendation on your behalf. (This
also gives them a nice out by telling you they are too busy rather than saying they
dont feel comfortable giving you a positive recommendation.) Bring a copy of your
resume and a bulleted list of projects that youve worked on together and accomplishments they have seen you achieve. Let them know that admissions committees
prefer to see specific, detailed examples in recommendations. Then, let them know
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
25
EssentialGuide 2014|15
that youll serve as a project manager to follow up and ensure that they are able to
submit your recommendation ahead of the deadline.
What theyll be asked. Your recommenders will be asked to answer the following
questions:
What is your relationship to the candidate and how long have you known
him or her? (50 character limit)
Rating. This is a multiple-choice assessment on the following categories: Results
Orientation, Strategic Orientation, Team Leadership, Influence and Collaboration,
Communicating, Information Seeking, Developing Others, Change Leadership, Respect for Others, and Trustworthiness. Each skill/quality has a different description
for its 16 rating scale. For example, the scale for Results Orientation is as follows:
1) Fulfills assigned tasks, 2) Overcomes obstacles to achieve goals, 3) Exceeds goals
and raises effectiveness of organization, 4) Introduces incremental improvements
to enhance business performance using robust analysis, 5) Invents and delivers best
in class standards and performance, 6) No Basis.
Note: It would be highly unlikely for a genuine recommendation to include a perfect
5 rating on all skills or qualities. In fact, if your recommender simply marks 5s down
the page, then the recommendation may be viewed skeptically, as it provides little
information about your true strengths and weaknesses.
Based on your professional experience, how would you rate this candidate
compared to her/his peer group? [Multiple-choice: Below Average; Average; Very
good (well above average); Excellent (top 10%); Outstanding (top 5%); The best encountered in my career.]
Overall, I [Do not recommend this candidate to UCLA Anderson; Recommend this
candidate to UCLA Anderson, with reservations; Recommend this candidate to UCLA
Anderson].
Questions.
1. How do the candidate's performance, potential, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please
provide specific examples. (1,000 characters)
2. Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant's response. (1,000 characters)
3. In UCLA Andersons school culture we share success, drive change and
think fearlessly. Please give examples where the applicant exhibited any of
all of these. (1,000 characters)
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
26
EssentialGuide2014|15
Optional: If you have a separate document that addresses points not covered above, please feel free to upload it here.
If your recommenders first language is not English, they may write their answers to
the questions in their native language and have a translation service provide a translation. They may upload their translations in this document. It would not be expected for a recommender to add additional information here, but if they want to write
an enthusiastic letter on your behalf, thats their prerogative.
The Interview
How many people are invited? UCLA Anderson is similar to the general business school population with its interview approach. Interviews are invite only
with about 40 to 45% of all applicants receiving an invitation to interview. On-campus UCLA Anderson interviewees are generally second-year student volunteers.
Off-campus interviews are generally conducted by recent alumni. The tone of the
interview is casual and conversational, as these volunteers have been instructed by
the admissions committee to avoid conducting pressure cookertype interviews.
We havent seen any advantage in selecting an on-campus versus an off-campus interview, so choose the option that is most convenient for you.
Interviewees should
expect to walk
their interviewer
through the resume
while explaining
the characteristics
that make them a
collaborative leader
within a team
environment.
What should I expect? In both on-campus and off-campus circumstances, the interview is blind, in the sense that the interviewer does not have access to the candidates application materials. Interviewees should expect to walk their interviewer
through the resume while explaining the characteristics that make them a collaborative leader within a team environment. The remainder of the interview is focused
on Why UCLA Anderson; why an MBA; and what are your goals? This provides the
candidate with an opportunity to conclude the interview with a series of follow-up
questions that demonstrate true knowledge of the program.
What should I ask my interviewer? We certainly encourage you to prepare
questions appropriate for your interviewer type (admissions, student, or alumni),
and avoid any questions that are answerable on the schools website. For student and
alumni interviewers, questions about their personal experiences while attending,
their goals for their MBA and whether or not they fulfilled them, and their favorite
(or least favorite) memory are all good questions. For admissions representatives,
questions around any current changes, how the school stays current with the changing needs, and how the school utilizes student feedback would be valid questions.
What if my interview goes poorly? The admissions office is surprisingly transparent about what the interview will cover, how it is weighted in the admissions
process, and what they are looking for. Their website clearly states: Interviews are
rarely the deciding factor in an admissions decision; instead they typically mirror
or round out information already provided in the application. This is typically the
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
27
EssentialGuide 2014|15
case for any MBA program, but the Anderson committee clearly spells it out. They
specifically caution not to have prepared speeches, but instead let the conversation
flow organically. The number-one goal of the interviewer will be to get to know you
as a person and assess whether you fit with the friendly Anderson culture.
A D M I S S I O N S AT U C L A A N D E R S O N
28
EssentialGuide2014|15
V E R I TA S P R E P A N D YO U R U C L A A N D E R S O N A P P L I C AT I O N
29
EssentialGuide 2014|15
How it Works
First, well talk with you about your profile and understand exactly what youre looking for in a Head Consultant. Based on your personal and professional background,
goals, target schools, working style, and personal preferences, well match you with
the best Head Consultant for your needs.
Your Head Consultant will assist in every step as you examine your strengths and
weaknesses, map out your ideal application strategy, select the best MBA programs
for your unique background and goals, craft your resume, brainstorm and outline essays, exchange several essay drafts, and complete your online application form.
Your School Specialist will discuss the classes, majors, clubs, conferences, activities,
and other resources available at your target school that are most relevant to your
goals and interests. Your Anderson Specialist will ensure your application demonstrates fit with the school academically, professionally, and culturally.
In addition, if youre invited to interview, your Anderson Specialist will conduct a
mock interview, often with the same questions youll face in your actual interview,
and provide feedback for improvement. If you get waitlisted, well provide tips and
advice to move into the admit column. Your success is our success!
V E R I TA S P R E P A N D YO U R U C L A A N D E R S O N A P P L I C AT I O N
30
Free Evaluation