This blog post is part of our "Application Insider" blog post series that provides insider information, tips, and advice about applying to the UCLA Anderson MBA program.
For our 2022-2023 Full-Time MBA application, our Essay Section consists of only one required essay question! Keep reading for details and tips to help you address this question, decide whether an optional essay is right for you, and navigate the reapplicant process, if applicable.
NEW APPLICANT ESSAY QUESTION:
Tell us about a recent personal or professional achievement and how it connects to your MBA goals. (250 words maximum)
Essay Question Q&A + Tips:
Q. Can you provide more details on the types of achievements and goals I should choose?
A. We welcome reflection on any achievement in your professional or personal life that you feel influenced and/or shaped your MBA goals. Feel free to address a singular goal or multiple, and these goals can be related to your career, personal life, academics, extracurricular involvement, and/or beyond! We have no preferences on the type of achievement and goals you decide to address.
Q. Why is UCLA Anderson asking this question?
A. Ultimately, we want to give you the space to directly let us know what you are proud of, and see how it ties into your larger story of why you want to pursue an MBA degree and why you feel UCLA Anderson is the right place for you to do so. We want to understand who you are on a deeper, more personal level by learning more about your past and your intended future!
Q. I don’t know where to start – help!
A. Take the time to think about an achievement that you feel really motivated you and helped set the course of what you want to get out of your MBA experience. Think about how and why. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend you start backwards…with your MBA goals. Then, think back about how you arrived at those goals. What were the key moments that helped you realize/solidify these goals and what role did you play in these moments -– as it may be in these moments that you achieved something significant enough to impact/influence what you want your future to look like!
Q. Do you have any other advice?
A. Whenever choosing something to write about, remember that the achievement itself is only one part. You can also address the larger context that led up to that achievement and/or the outcome after. Consider what your essay reveals about you. Is it meaningful and insightful about who you are? Given the limited amount of space you have to respond, be sure that you are genuine, clear, and concise.
OPTIONAL ESSAY:
Similar to previous years, we also have an optional question for those who need some additional space to explain extenuating circumstances that are not evident in the application. The optional question can be answered by either new applicants or reapplicants.
Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)
Optional Essay Q&A + Tips:
Q. It says “Optional” but should I still provide a response just to show how interested I am in UCLA Anderson?
A. The essay is truly optional and should only be used to describe any extenuating circumstances in your application or profile. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to the optional question.
Q. What are some examples of extenuating circumstances?
A. Examples include an extended gap in your resume, a personal matter or family situation, poor grades due to a circumstance otherwise not explained, and the like.
Q. Do you have any tips on how to address these extenuating circumstances?
A. Keep your response straightforward and fact-based. A sentence or two to address something may be sufficient so do not feel compelled to use up all of the word count we provide if not needed.
REAPPLICANTS:
Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two application years. If you applied three years or more prior, then please answer the "New Applicant" essay question.
Reapplicants may answer one or both of the above essay questions as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, and/or other changes since their last application.
FINAL ESSAY TIPS - Read before you hit submit!
Always have at least a few people review your essay(s). Ask someone who knows you well to read your essay(s) to ensure that they are representative of you and your values. Afterward, ask someone else who may not know you/your MBA goals as well to give you an objective perspective of how you may come across to the admissions committee. When sharing your essays with your reviewers do so without the essay question and then once they’ve read it, ask them what point they think you were making in your essay. This will help you identify whether or not your response is addressing the actual prompt. Finally, make sure you are clear, concise, and free of any spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Best of luck!
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Essay Tips
APPLICATION INSIDER TOPIC:
ESSAY TIPS
ESSAY TIPS
For our 2022-2023 Full-Time MBA application, our Essay Section consists of only one required essay question! Keep reading for details and tips to help you address this question, decide whether an optional essay is right for you, and navigate the reapplicant process, if applicable.
NEW APPLICANT ESSAY QUESTION:
Tell us about a recent personal or professional achievement and how it connects to your MBA goals. (250 words maximum)
Essay Question Q&A + Tips:
Q. Can you provide more details on the types of achievements and goals I should choose?
A. We welcome reflection on any achievement in your professional or personal life that you feel influenced and/or shaped your MBA goals. Feel free to address a singular goal or multiple, and these goals can be related to your career, personal life, academics, extracurricular involvement, and/or beyond! We have no preferences on the type of achievement and goals you decide to address.
Q. Why is UCLA Anderson asking this question?
A. Ultimately, we want to give you the space to directly let us know what you are proud of, and see how it ties into your larger story of why you want to pursue an MBA degree and why you feel UCLA Anderson is the right place for you to do so. We want to understand who you are on a deeper, more personal level by learning more about your past and your intended future!
Q. I don’t know where to start – help!
A. Take the time to think about an achievement that you feel really motivated you and helped set the course of what you want to get out of your MBA experience. Think about how and why. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend you start backwards…with your MBA goals. Then, think back about how you arrived at those goals. What were the key moments that helped you realize/solidify these goals and what role did you play in these moments -– as it may be in these moments that you achieved something significant enough to impact/influence what you want your future to look like!
Q. Do you have any other advice?
A. Whenever choosing something to write about, remember that the achievement itself is only one part. You can also address the larger context that led up to that achievement and/or the outcome after. Consider what your essay reveals about you. Is it meaningful and insightful about who you are? Given the limited amount of space you have to respond, be sure that you are genuine, clear, and concise.
OPTIONAL ESSAY:
Similar to previous years, we also have an optional question for those who need some additional space to explain extenuating circumstances that are not evident in the application. The optional question can be answered by either new applicants or reapplicants.
Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)
Optional Essay Q&A + Tips:
Q. It says “Optional” but should I still provide a response just to show how interested I am in UCLA Anderson?
A. The essay is truly optional and should only be used to describe any extenuating circumstances in your application or profile. No preference is given in the evaluation process to applicants who submit a response to the optional question.
Q. What are some examples of extenuating circumstances?
A. Examples include an extended gap in your resume, a personal matter or family situation, poor grades due to a circumstance otherwise not explained, and the like.
Q. Do you have any tips on how to address these extenuating circumstances?
A. Keep your response straightforward and fact-based. A sentence or two to address something may be sufficient so do not feel compelled to use up all of the word count we provide if not needed.
REAPPLICANTS:
Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two application years. If you applied three years or more prior, then please answer the "New Applicant" essay question.
Reapplicants may answer one or both of the above essay questions as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, and/or other changes since their last application.
FINAL ESSAY TIPS - Read before you hit submit!
Always have at least a few people review your essay(s). Ask someone who knows you well to read your essay(s) to ensure that they are representative of you and your values. Afterward, ask someone else who may not know you/your MBA goals as well to give you an objective perspective of how you may come across to the admissions committee. When sharing your essays with your reviewers do so without the essay question and then once they’ve read it, ask them what point they think you were making in your essay. This will help you identify whether or not your response is addressing the actual prompt. Finally, make sure you are clear, concise, and free of any spelling and/or grammatical errors.
Best of luck!
More...
How does this impact your International MBA decision?
I'd be glad to learn your thoughts on this story : UCLA Anderson Application Insider: Essay Tips