Calling all Merage (UC Irvine) Applicants: (2018 Intake) Class of 2020

Just got the call - admitted with $$$! Interviewed on 2/12.

Do we need to send the official transcripts before an interview invite is received?

No, they ask you to submit official transcripts when you receive the interview invite.

ok, Thanks. That helps.

No problem! If you're particularly worried, it almost never hurts to reach out to the admissions office and ask if any additional materials are required.

Best of luck!

Applied end of Jan. Got the KIRA interview done by Feb 20th and in person interview done 3/1. The interview was with Taylor Martini. He actually remembered me from an info session which was cool and remembered what I wrote in my essays. His questions were like what others have mentioned:

-Walk my through your resume
-Why Merage? Why MBA?
-What do you plan to take advantage of at Merage? I would add what you plan to contribute as well if you're asked this question
-What are your short term goals upon graduation? I would know the actual title of the position you're talking about and if you can talk to someone in this specific role, currently, it shows that you've taken time to research the position
-What other schools have you applied to and what are you looking for in a MBA program?
-Talk about a time when you improved a process or implemented a new process and how did that turn out? Was it successful?

Ask good questions back to them. I asked about how they are bridging the gender gap at Merage, are they trying to become a Forte Foundation member school.

Hope that helps. Good luck everyone!

Now the wait. Fingers crossed!

Had my skype Interview today. Basic questions similar to the ones others have mentioned.

-Walk my through your resume
-Why Merage? Why MBA?
-What are your short term goals upon graduation? Plan B?
-What other schools have you applied to and what are you looking for in a MBA program?
-Talk about a time when you faced an ethical dilemma in your professional career

Overall it went smoothly. Just make sure you keep your answers and explanations in line with your resume and essay(s) and you should be alright. Most of the questions/ conversation was around those for me.

Can you tell me who’s your interviewer?



Posted from my mobile device

Courtney Elmes interviewed me.

Admitted with partial scholarship!

Dinged without interview. Thought this was my safe school. HA. GMAT 660. Wonder if that was it or was it a later application round? Perhaps my obscure/non-traditional industry of Biopharma. Good luck to others awaiting results/interview calls. Best wishes to folks who will be matriculating at Merage.

What was obscure or non-traditional about your experience? I'm coming from a pharma background as well, been doing wet lab work for the past 6 years. What did you say is your intention for B school and career goals? Just trying to help for your next interview at another school :D

Hi Amanda,

Thanks for offering to help. I did not even get an interview call. I have a Master's in Bioengineering from Stony Brook and 7 years of upstream microbial process development and 3 years of clinical biomanufacturing project management experience. With a GMAT of 660 and a TOEFL of 114/120 I thought I would at least get an interview call. I wanted to specialize in Operations and Digital Transformation and find work in the same industry as a data-savvy operations manager. Maybe I have too many years of post-college experience. Maybe they did not buy my post-MBA plans and/or felt they could not support it through their career center.
Appreciate your thoughts/suggestions.

Hm..that's interesting because it seems like you said all the right things and your test scores are more than acceptable. From what I've heard, they'd like to see between 3-5 years of work experience and its not unusual for people to take a "career pivot" as they like to say. Maybe the fact that you have an advanced degree and already have so much work experience in that realm of the industry, they don't feel like the MBA would click into place with what you've built for yourself. That's just my guess. I'm sure it also depends on how you wrote your essays and how you fit in with the current organization. Sorry I'm not providing much help. Best of luck with the other schools.

Admitted with partial scholarship!

Just turned down my acceptance, one more spot (and some more scholarship money) available!

Best of luck to everyone!

Made it from Waitlist!!
Got a decent scholarship as well - just curious, did someone get 100% tuition scholarship here?

I'll be attending the Admit Weekend April 27-28, let's meet up.