Calling UCLA Fall 2008 Applicants

to polobrute and aviroop on admissions deadlines:

I'm a little confused. UCLA seems to be in "rounds", even though they have 4 rounds, that doesn't make them "rolling admissions", does it? Also, R2 deadline is quite a bit later than R1, with the announcement timeframe roughly the same as other schools' R2 announcements. That means that UCLA has an extra-late round (I wonder why) instead of having 2 rounds replacing other schools' R1s. Does that make it less risky to apply R2 instead of R1? I don't know.

Since I really want to get into UCLA, I wanted to do the application first (before I work on Haas and Stanford) since everyone recommends that you work on the hardest schools after you have more practice. I won't be submitting the UCLA app any earlier than the R1 deadline, even if I finish it first (so I can go back after Haas and Stanford and refine the UCLA app), but since it'll be almost done, why wait until January 2nd if you can get it in early? Of course, if the whole visiting thing falls through, then I might submit it later, but I kinda wanted to know that I'm in an MBA program as early as I can, instead of waiting until January.

Regarding Aviroop's question on part time jobs:

That's interesting. I have a bunch of random grader type jobs. I hope they don't want a contact person or phone number for that! I wouldn't know how to find the info, nor would the person (a student at the time) be still around!

kryzak,
I recommend submitting the application in R1 - every round that you defer, you are going to compete with more people who are as prepared as you or even more prepared -

its better to fight against 500 than 5000.

I fully agree and fully intend to apply to the three top choices in R1 to maximize my chances.

Of course there are people who still say that your chances are lower because the adcom won't know how to "gauge" how well you compare against the incoming applicant pool that early in the game.

Thinking of UCLA 2008!

Unfortunately I'm in Toronto and can't afford to fly to LA for a campus visit. To those who're fortunate enough to have done so, what is everyone's impression of the campus/program?

I hope I'm not at a disadvantage by not visiting.. yikes

I heard UCLA has an amazing business school campus, and that everything is very new and nice. I will know after late September when I visit. =)

I wish I could visit in September, but I have had a trip to Italy planned for the last 2/3 of September for about a year.

well, their class visits start in mid-October, so you can still visit =)

Alright, I'm reviving the UCLA thread...

Anyone find out any new info about them? I'm still in search of someone to meet up with from UCLA either 9/19 or 9/21-23. I got a few leads here and there (thanks polobrute and zakk for your help!), but no concrete phonecall yet.

The admissions office was better this time, as they told me I can sit in any class if I let the prof know a few minutes before lecture that I'm a prospective student. All students should be back by 10/1, she said.

I bought tickets for 10/6-8, so I will take the official tour, sit in on a class or two, and meet some students that weekend and that Monday.

Since polobrute said the essays are pretty standard, I can begin to work on them after my Haas ones, and then add all the details I get from the infosession and visits after 10/8. Submit week of 10/15, and pray that I get an acceptance before Xmas (that would be SOOOO sweet!)

Anyway, what are your plans, fellow UCLA applicants???

BTW, does anyone have the UCLA essays from last year? On their website, they seem to only have the PDF of the 2005 application...

Thanks!

Finally the app is up!

https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=ucla-mba

BTW, also finally got to talk to two students, one just graduated, the other a 2nd year. They're friendly and helpful, and gave me great insights into how good the UCLA Price Center for Entrepreneurship is and how it helps you find good startups to work for. BUT... for some reason, just from the phone interviews themselves, the "quality" of the answers and insights they gave me just aren't at the level of some of the Stanford/Haas/Kellogg students' answers.

For example, I ask, "What are some weaknesses of UCLA?" One guy answered a bunch of "not really" weaknesses (like the B-school isn't as connected with the Engineering school for tech entrepreneurship), the other guy said, "I wish the rankings were a bit higher, but it really doesn't matter."

Does UCLA have no weaknesses or are they trying to hide something? I'm not sure. But at least I know if I go to UCLA, career wise I'll be good for entrepreneur stuff.

and give a shot in Hollywood!!

and I am promoted as senior manager!!! My achievement this week is mighty!!!

How are people handling the extremely short goals essay? Right now I don't really have any discussion of my career to date, and I am at two pages. I am not sure if I should let my resume do most of my career talking, or if I need to cut enough space to discuss something about my career. I don't even know if I can fit in one decent anecdote though.

You should be able to talk about your goals in 1000 words or fewer. You do not describe your career AT ALL in those essays. You bring up key jobs you've done in 1-2 sentences, with examples, and then do 1-2 sentences on what you learned from that job. You can list about 2-3 important jobs/job transitions this way and still fit your long/short term goals in along with "why this school".

Your resume and work history on the application will deal with your career progression.

at the open house for FEMBA, 3 of the dozen or so students both said that their career goal was entrepreneur based, know that isn't a great sample size, but for what its worth. Everyone I have talked to on the FEMBA side has pointed to this as a strength of the Anderson school.

JM2C

After talking to THREE (yes, three) Anderson Entrepreneur Association students in the past 2 days, I am very confident about Anderson's Entrepreneurship program and how well it sets you up to succeed in your own business!

One guy I talked to chose Anderson over Haas only because UCLA has a greater diversity in industries whereas Haas is slightly more technology slanted. So depending on what type of entrepreneurship you want to do, you have to figure it out for yourself, but I would say UCLA is up there with the best schools in terms of entrepreneurship (Stanford, Haas, MIT).

UCLA's entrepreneurship strength really shows through in its information sessions. But equally interesting is its investment banking strength although its does not get that publicized...
Wonder why.