UCLA FEMBA : Part-Time MBA Programs

beckee529

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

10 Feb 2010, 17:30

hey guys! i got the response from USC: my first acceptance and it feels great. i am also crossing my fingers but we will lose out on the $1,500 if ucla comes through. cheers!

kdagreen wrote:

I was waitlisted at UCLA too. Still crossing my fingers. But I did get the thumbs up from USC so at least I have a school to go to in the fall if Anderson decides not to take me.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 09:31

I have my "Application Review" this afternoon so I can tell you how it goes.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 10:39

kdagreen wrote:

I have my "Application Review" this afternoon so I can tell you how it goes.

Cool, good luck!

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 16:17

Okay finished my application review. Took about 15-20 minutes. Overall I think it went well. I'm feel pretty good about it and Dylan gave me some good suggestions. Did let me know what the weaknesses in my application were and how to strengthen them. I believe it's beneficial to do the application review if just to assure UCLA that you are serious about the program. I was told that this is the first time they do application reviews for us souls in pergatory. Dylan was very easy to talk to, had a positive tone, and was supportive. He did say, however, that they are in no rush. So keep that in mind.

waitlistpurgatory

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 16:41

kdagreen wrote:

Okay finished my application review. Took about 15-20 minutes. Overall I think it went well. I'm feel pretty good about it and Dylan gave me some good suggestions. Did let me know what the weaknesses in my application were and how to strengthen them. I believe it's beneficial to do the application review if just to assure UCLA that you are serious about the program. I was told that this is the first time they do application reviews for us souls in pergatory. Dylan was very easy to talk to, had a positive tone, and was supportive. He did say, however, that they are in no rush. So keep that in mind.

Thanks for the update and glad to hear it went well. By chance, did you get a sense for why they introduced a review this year? Should the review be treated like another interview or more of an open discussion or more like a performance review? I think it's great that Dylan takes time out of his schedule to speak with the WL candidates--did you feel that any of his points were a surprise or were his criticisms as expected?

Overall, I'm really relieved to hear that you felt like the review was beneficial.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 16:51

It seems that because they added a 5th section this year, they want to make sure they fill the program with good applicants. Treat this like a performance review. If you have questions for him, make sure to have them ready because he's available to honestly respond. I wasn't surprised by any of his criticisms as they are the same concerns I had for myself. He did, however, give me a goood idea as to how to improve and prepare.

B

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 17:21

kdagreen wrote:

It seems that because they added a 5th section this year, they want to make sure they fill the program with good applicants. Treat this like a performance review. If you have questions for him, make sure to have them ready because he's available to honestly respond. I wasn't surprised by any of his criticisms as they are the same concerns I had for myself. He did, however, give me a goood idea as to how to improve and prepare.

Hello Kdagreen,
Quick qn. When you say FEMBA added 5th section, that should mean more seats now than last year? I remember Dylan mentioning this during lunch that he did get approval from Dean to increase the seats if needed (something like from 288 to 310 or so).

IndianJaguar

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 17:51

Yes that's correct. They did add the 5th section so there are more seats available than last year.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 18:13

kdagreen wrote:

It seems that because they added a 5th section this year, they want to make sure they fill the program with good applicants. Treat this like a performance review. If you have questions for him, make sure to have them ready because he's available to honestly respond. I wasn't surprised by any of his criticisms as they are the same concerns I had for myself. He did, however, give me a goood idea as to how to improve and prepare.

Were there any contingents, e.g. if you get your GMAT score up x pts you're a shoe in? I can't imagine too many other areas where you can improve since GPA is a given, extracurricular activities are just extras, maybe career advancement?

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

11 Feb 2010, 19:52

Yes he did say that if I had a better GMAT score I would be in. But I'm not going to retake the GMAT. Also said that if there's a change like a promotion or I take a Business Math course at my local JC to let him know. He said even if I do nothing it he's optimistic. But he suggests to do the math class just for my own benefit.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

14 Feb 2010, 17:06

Has anyone yet answered Essay 3, "What are your career goals as they relate to pursuing the MBA degree? Discuss your plans to have your UCLA MBA facilitate you being either a career enhancer, shifter or explorer* If your interests are entrepreneurial, are you already an entrepreneur, or do you plan to be an entrepreneur and if so when and how?"

I am getting uncomfortable with the last part of this essay. While starting my own company is certainly a long-term goal, I don't consider my reasons for pursuing MBA as entrepreneurial, and hence don't want to bullshit about writing "How" will I become an entrepreneur.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

15 Feb 2010, 02:29

I attended the info session last week and was pretty impressed. I liked the meet& greet earlier in the session, and got a pretty good feel.
Also stuck around at the end to hear Dylan talk about admissions this year, and how the added 5th section helped matters for us applicants.

The only downer was getting a parking ticket since I was 18 minutes beyond my meter time!! Fail!!

Anyways, I'll be applying within the next two weeks.

B

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

15 Feb 2010, 08:42

levfin2003 wrote:

Has anyone yet answered Essay 3, "What are your career goals as they relate to pursuing the MBA degree? Discuss your plans to have your UCLA MBA facilitate you being either a career enhancer, shifter or explorer* If your interests are entrepreneurial, are you already an entrepreneur, or do you plan to be an entrepreneur and if so when and how?"

I am getting uncomfortable with the last part of this essay. While starting my own company is certainly a long-term goal, I don't consider my reasons for pursuing MBA as entrepreneurial, and hence don't want to bullshit about writing "How" will I become an entrepreneur.

Hello levfin,
If your aim is not to become an entrepreneur, though you have some plans, I think it is not necessary for you to ramble about it. You may be a career enhancer or switcher, and if that is the case, mention that in detail. Everybody does not want to be an entrepreneur and no school will specify that you need to have that in your essay. So my 2 cents is to write clearly what you plan to do with your MBA and how.

IndianJaguar

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

15 Feb 2010, 10:04

deadlee wrote:

I attended the info session last week and was pretty impressed. I liked the meet& greet earlier in the session, and got a pretty good feel.
Also stuck around at the end to hear Dylan talk about admissions this year, and how the added 5th section helped matters for us applicants.

The only downer was getting a parking ticket since I was 18 minutes beyond my meter time!! Fail!!

Anyways, I'll be applying within the next two weeks.

I was at the same info session. btw, yeah with UCLA. We're known for amazing parking enforcement. (This is why our football team had to resort to fake handicap parking permits)

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

15 Feb 2010, 16:26

IndianJaguar wrote:

levfin2003 wrote:

Has anyone yet answered Essay 3, "What are your career goals as they relate to pursuing the MBA degree? Discuss your plans to have your UCLA MBA facilitate you being either a career enhancer, shifter or explorer* If your interests are entrepreneurial, are you already an entrepreneur, or do you plan to be an entrepreneur and if so when and how?"

I am getting uncomfortable with the last part of this essay. While starting my own company is certainly a long-term goal, I don't consider my reasons for pursuing MBA as entrepreneurial, and hence don't want to bullshit about writing "How" will I become an entrepreneur.

Hello levfin,
If your aim is not to become an entrepreneur, though you have some plans, I think it is not necessary for you to ramble about it. You may be a career enhancer or switcher, and if that is the case, mention that in detail. Everybody does not want to be an entrepreneur and no school will specify that you need to have that in your essay. So my 2 cents is to write clearly what you plan to do with your MBA and how.

IndianJaguar

Thanks IndianJaguar,

Yeah, although I had mentioned entrepreneurship as a long-term plan, I skipped mention of entrepreneurship for this question. I am really a career enhancer so talked more about that.

Almost done with my essays. Will submit in a day or two.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

23 Feb 2010, 08:25

This might be a stupid question, but FEMBA's website says that it turns away many qualified applicants who wait to apply until last minute. Does that mean people who submit on or shortly before the deadline are at a disadvantage over those who submit early.

My app is complete but I'm still waiting to get my recommendations.

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Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

23 Feb 2010, 12:10

levfin2003 wrote:

This might be a stupid question, but FEMBA's website says that it turns away many qualified applicants who wait to apply until last minute. Does that mean people who submit on or shortly before the deadline are at a disadvantage over those who submit early.

My app is complete but I'm still waiting to get my recommendations.

submit your app and then just let your recommenders submit later. But attending the info session is sounds like they don't have enough qualified applicants that apply. The director even says they will accept applications after the deadline and how they way they word the deadline is just to keep inline with what other schools say.

gmatclubot

Re: UCLA FEMBA [#permalink]

23 Feb 2010, 12:10