Calling all Merage (UC Irvine) Applicants (Class of 2017)

Dear UC Irvine Applicants,

We recently organized a chat event with Admission Director of Merage Business School. In the event, Ms. Ashley Ramirez (Members of School's admission committee), Deepti Nelavelli (Merage Student Ambassador), and Bishnu Kumar (Second year Current Student and Merage Forum Moderator at GMATClub) spent an hour with GMAT Club members in our chat room and answered their questions about Merage MBA program.

For our friends who could not attend the event, here are some key questions and Admission officers' answers to them. You can also download the complete session transcript which is attached to this post.


ID: UCI has small class strength and is a relatively smaller school. Would you elaborate on the pros and cons of being a part of a small full-time program?
Ashley: Great question! Being a part of a smaller class size really allows you the opportunity to get to know all of your classmates, which are great resources during and post-MBA. It also allows for a more personalized approach with the faculty and with career services.


ID: Does fellowship offered depend on the GMAT score - higher the score, higher is the scholarship?
Ashley: We are going to look at the entire application during the fellowship review process and take the same approach that we do during the admissions process. The GMAT is one component, but does not increase or decrease your fellowship chances


Srijan Bhattachrya: How much importance is given to candidate’s GMAT score? Should a student get discouraged and not apply, if he has lower than average GMAT score?
Ashley: We take a holistic approach when looking at your application. I like to think of it in terms of puzzle pieces. Each piece represents an important component of the application and it won't be complete without that piece, but no two pieces are the same size.
Deeptin: Like Ashley mentioned, there are various aspects of the application aside from the GMAT score. One important piece of the puzzle that is often overlooked is conveying how Merage can help you achieve your goals. This tells the admission committee how well you will fit into the program and be successful.


Narenn: What support do students get from Career Services dept, peers, and alumni? How strong is Alumni Network of Merage?
Ashley: Our Career Services Office is incredibly hands-on. With the small class-size, it definitely allows for a more high-touch approach to the career search. We offer second-year career coaches to our first-year students, an alumni database, and alumni networking nights.
Deeptin: As an international student, I found that the job search in the US is far more self-driven and requires more networking. The Career center at Merage helped me navigate this environment successfully. This is only possible when adviser to student ratio is low.
Asphalt: The career center helps you to prepare your resume, linked profile, practice mock interviews etc. For my final round with Amazon, I had a two hour face to face interview with my career advisor to prepare me well for the final round. It really helped.



Narenn: Can you tell us which student clubs or groups are in the school?
Asphalt: Consulting, Tech Association, Marketing, Operations, Challenge for Charity, Automotive etc. The exhaustive list: https://merage.uci.edu/MSA/Content/Merage-Clubs/150
Deeptin: The school provides a lot of support to students who wish to participate or even set up a club to support MBA careers and interests. This is done under the Merage Student Association umbrella. These clubs are student led and provide excellent opportunities to network and gain leadership skills. Some examples include the Business & Technology Association, the Merage Consulting Association, Operations Management Association etc.


Narenn: What interview options are available for International applicants? Are the on-campus and off-campus interviews treated equally or there is any preference to one over other?
Ashley: We offer interviews on-campus and via Skype. We do not have a preference and they are treated equally. If you are local, we highly recommend that you come to campus for an interview, but we understand that this isn't always an option for our out-of-state and international applicants.

We will be in India in late-November for recruiting and will be holding in-person interviews with our Assistant Dean. If you are in India and are interested in an in-person interview, the application deadline is October 1st.


Mib_utuxnv: is it possible to intimate Merage of the TOEFL scores after submitting the application (in order not to miss the Oct 01 deadline)?
Ashley: Your application isn't complete and isn't considered for review until all components are received. We will need to receive it as soon as possible to move your application forward in the review process, prior to extending interview invitations.


Chat Transcript