Masters of Business Administration

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Masters of Business Administration

  • Objectives UCLA Anderson School of Management attracts exceptional students who are selected both for their overall abilities and for the contributions they can make to the UCLA Anderson Experience. The Admissions Committee seeks to create a community of students who bring unique contributions from their diverse backgrounds and experiences and who will collectively enrich the educational experience. Committee members carefully consider biographical and academic background information, GMAT score and (for most international applicants) TOEFL score, achievements, awards and honors, employment history, letters of recommendation, and college and community involvement, especially where candidates have served in leadership capacities.

    To keep classes relatively small and foster close relationships between students and faculty, we limit each entering class to 360 students. Each individual in the MBA class brings a unique background and set of skills, and all share a history of success in academia and a clear potential for managerial leadership. Together, the members of each MBA class create an unrivaled learning environment.

    We encourage you to learn more about UCLA Anderson's admission process and financial aid opportunities through our web resources, as well as through campus visits and interactions with members of our community.
  • Course description

    Admissions Evaluation

    The Admissions Committee, in considering applications to the MBA program, seeks people who:
    - are academically talented
    - exhibit strong potential for leadership
    - have a history of success, both personally and professionally
    - demonstrate compelling personal qualities
    - have a clear sense of purpose
    - differentiate themselves from other qualified candidates in our pool
     
    Each application is considered relative to the applicant pool from a global perspective and in a holistic manner that relies on no fixed criteria, formula or weighting of specific pieces of the application. There are four broad areas of evaluation that encompass the entire application, but the decision is rarely tied to any one aspect or feature of an applicant's candidacy.  These areas include: academic ability, professional experience, personal qualities and overall presentation.

    Academic Profile

    The two primary predictors we use for academic potential and achievement are GMAT scores and prior academic performance (including undergraduate / baccalaureate degree and graduate-level courses). Other credentials (e.g., CPA, CFA, MSE) are also considered.  When evaluating the academic profile of an individual, we consider not only actual scores or letter grades, but factors such as the competitive level of the student's curriculum and school, the course load the student chose and academic trends exhibited on the transcript. The grade point average (GPA) or class division (e.g., First Class with Distinction, Second Class with Honours) is evaluated in light of other demands on the applicant's time such as working while in school or heavy involvement in extracurricular activities.  Equally important are the factors influencing college choice, the attitude the applicant has towards his/her college experience, whether the applicant made the most of the opportunity, and how many years the applicant required to earn his/her degree.  For non-native English speakers, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS test is required.  The score is used as a predictor of the applicant’s ability to learn and participate in the program in English.  Few applicants are admitted with a TOEFL below 100 on the computer test or below 610 on the paper test.  In addition to this score, other forms of English communication, including the written essays and interview report, are examined.

    Professional Development
    The average Anderson student possesses almost five years of full-time, post-baccalaureate work experience. This is only an average, as some students are admitted just after finishing their undergraduate studies whereas some students work for ten years or longer before coming to graduate school.  Some level of work experience is very helpful to demonstrate definite progress and focus towards an applicant's stated goals, and to enable a valuable contribution to the class. When evaluating an applicant's work experience we look at the nature of work, the level of challenge, leadership and progression of responsibility.  We do not place a value on the type of work an individual has done, but what is gained from the experience. What has the applicant contributed to the work environment; what has the applicant learned from successes and failures; how has the applicant worked with others and managed conflict?  Given these measures of professional maturity and quality of work, experience as a museum curator, for example, may be just as competitive as consulting.  
     
    Personal Qualities
    This is the most difficult area of evaluation to explain because it contains so many intangibles. We are looking for people who are personally and professionally mature, who are successful in at least one area of their life and who can gain from and contribute to Anderson inside and outside of the classroom.  An individual's personal profile is determined by examining essays for writing ability, consistency and clarity of goals, ability to organize thoughts, breadth of personality and self-image.  Recommendations help determine strengths and weaknesses, ability to work with others and analytical abilities. The level and type of extracurricular activities often indicate breadth and depth of interest, level of commitment, leadership potential and group involvement.
     
    Overall Presentation
    How an individual presents him/herself overall contributes to the evaluation process. Presentation comes partly from a clear, polished and well-organized application.  In addition, presentation encompasses the message an applicant chooses to send by the tone and topics of essays, the type of references selected, etc.  The ability to engage the reader or interviewer is important. Presentation also encompasses things such as timeliness, thoughtfulness, preparedness and appropriateness of dress and interaction with Admissions staff.  It is worth noting that in any given year the majority of our applicant pool is admissible.  Becoming an admitted candidate from this strong pool of qualified applicants largely depends upon presenting a compelling argument for admission.

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