Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 9)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

I chose Anderson for a number of reasons.  Great brand, collaborative culture, unique programs.  One of the main reasons, however, was simply due to geographic location.  MBA graduates, by a large margin, end up taking a job in the region where they completed their MBA.  For the highly represented industries (consulting, finance, etc.) with many offices nationwide, you'll most likely be speaking with recruiters from the offices in your region.  Knowing how beautiful California is, and knowing the types of opportunities that are growing here, it seemed like a fantastic place to begin the next phase of my career.

By far, what I've enjoyed the most is getting to know the other students at Anderson.  Unlike some schools that are known primarily for a particular industry, the career backgrounds and career choices for Anderson students are incredibly diverse.  Typically, you'll see about 20% of students each go to consulting, finance, marketing, tech, or entrepreneurship/start-up.  Because of that diversity, you have a tremendous number of opportunities to collaborate with other students and do not feel the competitive pressure that you might at another program where career interests are more narrowly focused.  It's nice, and has definitely been something that I've taken advantage of since I arrived.

- Ryan L., UCLA Anderson Class of 2015

Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 8)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

My reasons for choosing Anderson:
1. Its faculty and reputation, and the flexible curriculum. As in all top MBA programs, the faculty is excellent but what I really like about Anderson is the flexibility of its curriculum, I have a degree in business and I dont want to retake the same courses I took at college, the flexibility is an opportunity to go deeper in the areas I am more interested in. I also like the AMR project, it is great to have a class that consists in pure real business experience!

2. Location. Los Angeles offers excellent opportunities and, as I would like to be in SoCa after my MBA, it is the place I want to be, plus, as a native Spanish speaker, it is especially interesting to me in terms of competitive advantage in the job market there. And of course the sunshine doesn't hurt either :)


3. Fit. I have spoken with many students and alumni from different top MBA programs and Anderson people are the ones with whom I had a stronger connection. I also loved my campus visit, I felt really welcome. I also love the collavorative envirornment there.

- Incoming student, UCLA Anderson Class of 2016

Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 7)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

UCLA is a top school that can help me reach my career goals -- but that can be said for many schools.  What made UCLA stand out to me was the people.  Meeting my future classmates and current students at the admit weekend sealed the deal.  Everyone was really smart, motivated, and driven; equally important, they were also supportive, down to earth, and just plain nice.   UCLA Anderson definitely has a close-knit community, with a good balance of work and play.  I also liked the diversity of the group, particularly in backgrounds and career goals - every industry and function imaginable is represented.  I'm quite certain I'm going to learn more from my classmates than I will from my books - and have a good time along the way.

- Incoming student, UCLA Anderson Class of 2016

Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 6)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

Why MBA: Like GMATClub legend Raabend (http://gmatclub.com/forum/the-evolution-of-your-b-school-pursuit-56765-80.html#p588875), I come from a family with a long line of Ph.Ds where it is only way you can be acknowledged at family reunions. I somehow strayed from that path, joining the military midway through college. However, I did come back and completed my degree before went out and served again for a few years. And to my surprise, I was actually on track getting my PhD, as after the military I was working in infectious disease research while completing my masters. Unfortunately, when I announced my plan to apply for PhD programs in epidemiology to my wife, she threaten to make me sleeping on sofa for the rest of my life. Liking my bed but trying not to be disowned by my family, I decided to be a good husband and applied to MBA programs (my logic was 3 masters = a Ph.D). In all seriousness, without a Ph.D. I cannot advance at my workplace; therefore I plan to move out of health research arena and into private sector (business intelligence or investment banking). MBA seems like a great help to make the transition. I also have another option of going super spy secret squirrel stuff but my wife nipped the idea also...ughhh...

Where: Since my profile is really quirky (1st gen Asian-American, military, non-traditional background, advance degrees, not-so-glory undergrad GPA and a-not-so-flatter GRE-GMAT equivalent, etc) I applied to a wide range of schools both East Coast and West Coast, 8 total (2 M7, 1 top 10, 3 Top 16, and 2 Top 30) to hedge my bet. My choices were based on fit and career prospect (my wife wants us to move back to our hometown in the Rocky Mountain, sooo excited!). I was quickly accepted to the both top 30 schools with a hefty scholarship at one and a full-ride with full-housing award to another. I interviewed at both M7 schools (big fat dings) and 2 of the top 16 (admit from Anderson and waitlist at an East Coast school).


Why Anderson: I quickly declined a top 30 school's offer with the hefty scholarship because the school is on the West Coast and very similar to Anderson. I know if I decide to attend a West Coast school, it would be Anderson (or the other two hippie schools up North but I guess I wasn't hippie enough for them). The other top 30 school is in Texas so my next step in the decision is to attend admit weekend at both schools to determine the fit. And I absolutely love everything I saw and experienced at both schools. I could see myself at both schools. However, I keep having the question of "if I can come back to my hometown" in the back of my mind at the Texas school. I didn't have that doubt while I was at Anderson admit weekend. Knowing that my goal is to come back to the Rocky Mountain, I did my diligent and  research my option, which yield very limited prospective companies (banking and tech) that can afford my post-MBA salary demand. I would love to work for minimum wage but gotta pay them student loan extraordinaire ya know. Anderson has a really strong relationship and a great alumni base with all companies I am targeting, especially tech. Amazingly there is a 2015 student who will be interning at my top choice tech company in my hometown for the coming summer, doing exactly what I want to do. Everyone (current students and alumni) I reached out to response quickly and very helpful. Thus it comes down to my gut feeling that Anderson will be better at positioning me coming back to my hometown and more importantly maintaining peace for my marriage. Also, unlike other schools I interviewed and visited (East Coast ahem), Anderson students know how to enjoy life outside of classroom. Cherry on top, living in the sunny southern Cali and wearing flip flop and short for 2 years definitely don't hurt either. Thus for those reasons, I chose Anderson.

- Phat, UCLA Anderson Class of 2016

Reflecting on the Application Process

Since completing my last interview a little over three months ago, I have had some time to reflect even more on the MBA application process.  Not even considering that I am a reapplicant, this process has been much longer and more intense than I ever imagined.  When I decided to apply to b-school, I thought it was just GMAT, apply, get in, and go.  I didn’t even think about the possibility of taking the GMAT multiple times, the amount of introspection required to write effective essays, school visits, interviews, deciding on what programs to apply to, deciding where to go to school, what I would do if I didn’t get into a school of my choice, etc.

I have decided to do a few of my upcoming posts about my experience with the application process.  Is there anything that you didn’t consider when you first applied?  If you are applying now, what steps of the process do you want to know more about?  For those that have been through the process, what are some tips you would give to those getting ready to apply in the next few months?

Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 5)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

The main reason I chose Anderson is the school's diversity when it comes to the industries students both come from and go to after graduating. The diversity of hiring companies at Anderson is unmatched; from entertainment and sports, to more traditional MBA jobs in finance and consulting.  I also wanted to be surrounded by students with varied backgrounds and goals post-MBA.  From my point of view, Anderson has more resources to support students with non-traditional post-MBA goals.  Last but not least, the location can't be beat.  The companies in the area, the weather and the beach are all huge pluses.

- Chris H., UCLA Anderson Class of 2016

McKinsey & Company Emerging Scholars Interview Invite

McKinsey is definitely on my short list of companies I would like to work for post-MBA.  From many of the people that I have talked to that work there or have worked there in the past, the firm offers some of the best opportunities to work with brilliant individuals and solve complex business issues.

Awhile back I decided to apply for the McKinsey & Company Emerging Scholars program.  Last week I received an email from the McKinsey recruiting coordinator for UCLA Anderson with an invite to interview.  I am thrilled for the opportunity!  I better start preparing.  If anyone has any tips for the interviews, feel free to shoot them my way.  I will take any help I can get.

Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 4)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

As I researched all of the various MBA programs and their particularities, I had two criteria that I would not comprise on.

One, I was looking for a friendly and collaborative student body. This may seem obvious to everyone but through my experiences of visiting different schools this type of environment is far from the norm. A-Days confirmed my initial interactions with UCLA staff and students. I was struck by how open and genuinely interested everyone was in getting to know me.

Two, I wanted to be part of a community that has been and would continue to be at the forefront of innovation and technology. Since my career ambition is to start my own tech company, I put a premium on schools that were highly invested in entrepreneurship and technology. Needless to say UCLA Anderson’s Entrepreneurship and High-Tech Business Associations weighed heavily in my decision.

Lastly, it also doesn’t hurt that UCLA is in my home state. Anderson and the UCLA community's vast network in California’s tech-industry further convinced me that I would be wearing blue and gold in 2014.

- Victor, UCLA Anderson Class of 2016

Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students (Part 3)

This post is a continuation of "Why Anderson? – Thoughts from Fellow Admits and Current Students."  Thank you again to all the individuals who have submitted their thoughts.

We’re pulling up to the second apartment on our L.A. Housing Tour as part of A-Days, the UCLA Anderson admit weekend for newly admitted students. It’s a (shockingly!) sunny and 72 degree day, and as we file out of the van and up the walkway to the next apartment the eight of us wrap up Getting to Know You 101. It’s what will become a very familiar song and dance of three basic questions: “Hi! Where are you from? What do you do? What do you want to do? Wow, that’s cool.”

At A-Days, there is a traditional fourth question that will become the great equalizer of the weekend, separating those that are to be heavily recruited over the next two days from those that are “the decided” (and therefore just get to eat, drink, and network to our heart’s content). “Have you committed to Anderson or… are you deciding among other schools?” It’s a little like Hunger Games – as a group of highly qualified, smart, innovative future MBAs will be divided among their districts that will in time shape their culture, identity, and future. Intense.

Me? I’ve already decided. In fact, as soon as I was admitted I couldn’t submit my deposit any quicker. When my van-mates learn of some opportunities I turned down for Anderson, they are a bit shocked. Based on rankings alone, Anderson should have been my third choice.

From my perspective, my decision to attend Anderson boiled down to a simple equation that permeated my thinking throughout the 20-month MBA application process. Business school is just that…50% business, and 50% school. All of the companies on my short-list are L.A.-based. Schools in the Midwest (where I call home) and the East Coast, regardless of the nominal rankings advantage, would only provide a small percentage of added value to my $200K investment. Anderson has the largest ROI (yay! B-school speak) in regards to the 50% business component.

I urge applicants to consider, before you decide which MBA, to honestly answer the question why MBA. (Hint: it may be different than your admissions essay! Write the honest response to that prompt and the strategic response, and make your own decision whether you want to submit one or the other. Then, sign this liability waiver ________________, as I claim no responsibility as to your admission success based on which response you decide to submit). Lastly, visit the school to make sure the program checks off as many points on your why MBA list as possible.

The Top-20 schools are all great programs and will make you more edumacated. But answer if the school will get you to where you want to be and if you will be happy spending 200,000 dollars (I wrote out the word “dollars” for extra emphasis). Anderson blew all of these points out of the water, so it was a sure thing.
         
I’ve written out my why MBA list below, and how Anderson met these points.

• Broaden my skill set with specific emphasis on marketing (any top program. Top professors and their research should be posted on the school's website. Anderson won on many levels in regards to professors and courses I wanted to take)
• Diversify my school portfolio/perspective (thus taking me out of the Midwest)
• Entertainment industry (Specifically L.A. over NY for my company short-list. I had multiple "wow" moments when I researched Anderson's class offerings in regards to entertainment)
• Learn from my peers and ideally know everyone in my class (thus, seeking a collaborative environment and smaller student body)
• Honestly, learn not to be so darn rigid. I was burning at both ends in my current industry and needed a chill pill. I felt Anderson could teach me a thing or two about the value of fun in leadership which, in my humble opinion and research, should not be taken lightly.
• Feel connected. My undergrad was very non-traditional (I also encourage future applicants to distinguish between non-traditional and unique. Focus not on how you’re non-traditional, but rather on how you’re unique. Everyone is special!) I wanted a student culture in which I felt as though I “fit”. When I interviewed on campus I felt like the students gave me a big ol’ proverbial hug. I was sold.

-Mike Leve, UCLA Anderson Class of 2016