In our years of offering GMAT prep and MBA admissions consulting, we are frequently surprised by the degree to which candidates underestimate Anderson. For some reason — perhaps because it is “just” a state school — many of our clients consider UCLA Anderson their second or third choice — and that they do not need to put much effort into an application if their GMAT score is high enough.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Anderson is a competitive program, and getting in requires a great deal of effort (and some luck). Today we present four things that make the school unique:
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 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.
Real Social Venture Initiatives
Social enterprise programs have sprouted at most top business schools and “doing good” is a theme on a lot of campuses, however the wealth of on-campus activities and resources at Anderson and the number of opportunities to get involved is more extensive than at many other schools. From the standards like the NetImpact club, to Challenge for Charity, to the very unique Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Disabled Veterans and a wide range of others, Anderson students have the ability to participate in important efforts to make the most of their time at business school.
Entrepreneurship
Other schools offer 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 requirement, in which students literally start a new venture, to the multiple business plan competitions and Entrepreneurship Week, Anderson students are immersed in the mindset of entrepreneurship on campus.
Sustainable Business
UCLA was the first major business school to create a special certificate in sustainability for its MBA program, and now the Leaders for Sustainability has grown to over 100 students every year. Anderson is also seeking LEED certification for its building, and students participate in the 1000 Homes competition and the California Clean Innovation Conference, among other events.
Today’s post was clipped from our UCLA Anderson Annual Report, one of 15 guides to the world’s top business schools offered by Veritas Prep. To download any three guides for free, click here!
