UCLA Anderson 2013 - Calling All Applicants

Essays:

(From Anderson Website)
Essays are the primary way for you to share your perspectives and plans. The best essays are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and responding to our topics.

• Essay questions are listed below for both first-time applicants and re-applicants.
• You should try to distinguish yourself by showing what makes you different from others who share similar profiles.
• Personal expression is what we are looking for, not platitudes.
• Making a strong case for your future plans requires you to first do research on career paths and find one that resonates. Even if this target will change during business school, your application essays should lay out a clear trajectory for short-term and long-term goals. Do this by demonstrating how you expect to build on skills from your past, and those you expect to gain from the MBA.
• Essays are more compelling if they include specific courses, programs, groups, opportunities, activities, etc. from which you would benefit, if admitted to UCLA Anderson. These references are best found through website research, personal discussions and a campus visit (if possible).
• Content and clarity are key elements, as we seek superior communication skills.
• Style is a consideration too, although we understand that those who speak other languages may have different manners of expression in English.
• We do check your essays for plagiarism, so make sure you always submit your own work.
• Length does not equal strength. A well-written short essay can have even more impact than a longer essay. Please try to respect the word limits indicated below.
• All responses to essays must be on double-spaced pages that are uploaded as a document. We do not accept essays in any other media but written form.

FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS - TWO REQUIRED ESSAYS:

1) What is your proudest achievement outside the workplace, and how has it impacted you? (700 words maximum)
2) What are your short-term and long-term career goals, and how will an MBA from UCLA Anderson specifically help you achieve these goals? (700 words maximum)

OPTIONAL ESSAY:
The following essay is optional. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit an optional essay. Please note that we only accept written essays.

1) Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)

RE-APPLICANTS - ONE REQUIRED ESSAY:
Reapplicants who applied for the class entering in fall 2011 or 2012 are required to complete the following essay:

1) Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (700 words maximum)

Class Profile:

MBA Class of 2014 Profile

Applicant Pool & Class Size
Applications Received - 3404
Target Class Size - 360

Age Distribution
Average Age - 28
Age Range - 23 - 38

Academic Profile
Average Grade Point Average (GPA on 4.0 scale) - 3.5
GPA Range (mid-80%) - 3.2 - 3.9
Average GMAT - 706
GMAT Range (mid-80%) - 660 - 750

Diversity
Minorities - 26%
Women - 33%
International - 33%
Countries Represented - 45
Undergraduate Institutions - 177

Work Experience
0 - 3 Years - 15%
3 - 6 Years - 61%
6+ Years - 24%
Average Years of Experience - 5.0

Undergraduate Majors
Business - 27%
Engineering - 20%
Economics - 18%
Humanities - 20%
Math/Computer Science -6%
Physical and Biological Sciences - 5%
Other - 4%

Top Backgrounds by Industry
Finance - 26%
High Tech - 21%
Consulting - 17%
Public and Non-Profit - 15%
Consumer Goods - 6%
Health Care and Biotechnology - 6%
Entertainment & Media - 5%
Real Estate - 4%