| Average GMAT Score | 714 | FE | 665 |
| Total Applicants | 3290 | GMAT Range | 680-750 |
| Class Size | 360 | Average Work Experience | 60 Months |
| Applicant Deadlines | R1: 01-Oct-2024 R2: 06-Jan-2025 R3: 07-Apr-2025 | Decision Dates | R1: 13-Dec-2024 R2: 27-Mar-2025 R3: 16-May-2025 |
| Length of Program | 21 Months | Acceptance Rate | 11% |
| Interview Experience | |||
UCLA – Anderson School of Management
The UCLA Anderson School of Management is located in Los Angeles California, in the USA. Established in 1935, this business school has an 85-year-old legacy of churning out business leaders who have impacted industries across the board. The UCLA Anderson MBA essays are a critical part of your application, offering an opportunity to showcase your goals, accomplishments, and fit with the program. Here we break down the essay prompts to help you craft compelling, tailored responses that align with the school’s values. Whether you’re aiming for a career in technology, finance, or entrepreneurship, our analysis also highlights key elements of the Anderson MBA experience and how they can support your professional aspirations. Explore further for expert tips and strategies to enhance your UCLA MBA application.
As one of the highest-ranked MBA in the world, UCLA Anderson each enrolls:
- 360 students in full-time MBA
- 70 students in executive MBA
- 90 students in global MBA
- 280 students in fully employed MBA
MBA Eligibility Criteria for UCLA Anderson:
Every candidate applying for an MBA course at UCLA Anderson School of Management needs to fulfill the school’s eligibility criteria. Here is a quick overview of the basic requirements to apply for the MBA course:
Four-year undergraduate education or equivalent:
- To enroll in the MBA course, applicants need to have completed their undergraduate degree
- Generally, it needs to be a four-year bachelor’s degree or an equal one in other nations
- International students who have a three-year degree still have a chance for admission if the Admission Committee concludes that your overall profiles, including your educational and professional track record, are outstanding
GMAT/GRE Test:
- All candidates applying for the MBA program need to take the GMAT or GRE test. However, there is no specified/official minimum score
- For your score to be valid, the date on which you took your GMAT and GRE test should not be earlier than five years before the date you submit your application. Also, the date should not be later than the deadline date for the application round you are applying
- Though the Admissions Committee only considers your top score, all the scores you might have reported to UCLA Anderson will be visible to the committee
- An exemption from GMAT/GRE score is provided to the current graduate students of UCLA School of Law or UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. However, they need to submit their LSAT or MCAT scores, whichever is applicable
Work Experience:
While the majority of the students of the UCLA Anderson MBA program come with full-time work experience, even college senior prospective students and early career candidates can also apply for the course. Thus, the MBA students of UCLA belong to diverse backgrounds and functionalities. However, they have a shared vision to grow and improve their future with an MBA.
The admission officers will concentrate on the following things about your work experience:
- Quality of your work experience over the number of years
- The impact you have created in the field you have worked in and the timeframe you had
- They emphasize building a diverse classroom. Hence, they would be interested in what you bring to the table and how can you add to the diversity of the class
- The rate at which you had career advancement when compared to your peers is one of the critical factors that admission officers consider
Who are reapplicants?
Reapplicants are defined as candidates who have already applied to the business school in the last two application years. Hence, if you applied to UCLA three or more years ago, you will be considered a new applicant.
Everything you need to know about UCLA Anderson School of Management Admission Process:
Barring a few, most business schools have similar and very standard admission processes. Even UCLA Anderson follows a typical admission procedure. Therefore, if you want to apply to this college to pursue MBA, you need to go through the following six steps:
- Take your GMAT/GRE Test: You need to take the GMAT or GRE test following the eligibility guidelines mentioned above. Also, make sure you aim at a score higher than the current class’s average range of GMAT scores to improve your chances of securing an admission.
- Initiate your UCLA MBA application: All the applications for the MBA program need to be filled in online. The applications for the Fall 2022 class have opened on August 1, 2021. There are three rounds of admissions with different deadlines and decision release dates.
Application fees: $200
Collate Recommendations:
First-time MBA applicants to UCLA need to submit two recommendations. In comparison, only one new recommendation needs to be submitted by the reapplicants. These recommendations need to be written by individuals who know the performance of the applicant very well. For example, a preferred recommender would be a reporting manager or direct supervisor. Look at the sample recommendation form to understand the structure better.
UCLA Essays for 2023-2024:
A). Essay: For the 2023-2024 application year, we have one essay question that is required for first-time applicants and optional for re-applicants:
UCLA Anderson seeks to develop transformative leaders who think fearlessly, drive change, and share success. We believe the ability to persevere is an essential component of effective leadership. Please share an example from your personal or professional life where you demonstrated perseverance to accomplish a significant goal or milestone. (250 words maximum)
Strong essays describe the impact of your achievement and clarify its connection to your future MBA plans in the short- and long-term. We look forward to learning about the specific ways your achievement helped set you up for future success.
B). Optional Essay: No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment:
Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)
Reapplicants
Reapplicants may answer one or both of the essay questions above as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.
Prepare your UCLA essays
Your essay responses are used to evaluate your plans and perspectives. In addition, UCLA essays provide the opportunity for you to convey things and aspects about you. that you couldn’t include in other parts of your application.
As per the official website of UCLA, they find succinct, genuine, and reflective essays the best. You need to answer the questions directly while depicting your plans for the future clearly.
Here are the Essay questions for the 2021-2022 application year. One essay question is mandatory for the new applicants, and they have an optional question for the reapplicants. However, there is no preference given for choosing to answer the optional question in the admission process. Hence, it is up to your discretion to answer the question or not.
Required Essay: Tell us about a recent personal or professional achievement and how it connects to your MBA goals. (250 words maximum)
Strong essays describe the impact of your achievement and clarify its connection to your future MBA plans in the short- and long-term. We look forward to learning about the specific ways your achievement helped set you up for future success.
Optional Essay: No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment.
Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)
Reapplicants
Reapplicants are those who applied to the MBA program within the last two application years, so those who applied three or more years ago are considered new applicants. Reapplicants may answer one or both essay questions above as options, and they must provide additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.
How have recent events influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (250 words maximum)
Preferably this essay needs to be answered with introspection on events that have impacted your life personally or professionally. Or in society at large. Also, it needs to reflect your plans for learning and the footprints you want to leave in your field.
Optional UCLA essays: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)
The reapplicants can choose to answer any one of these ucla essays as an option.
- Submit your final application online: Once you have collected the different components of the application. Then, you need to do a final review and after you are satisfied with everything. Submit the application on the online portal.
- Interview with UCLA admission board: After thoroughly reviewing the applications, UCLA sends invitations to shortlisted candidates for an interview. After the interview of candidates, the Admissions Committee rereads the applications and adds comments. Post this process, admission offers are made to the candidates.
A Snapshot of Class of 2023 – Anderson School of Management
As one of the top universities in the world, UCLA attracts applications of MBA aspirants across the globe. In addition, the business school itself rates giving representation to students coming from minority and underrepresented communities. With international students coming up to nearly one-third of the Class. UCLA Anderson provides a diverse and enriching community experience to its MBA students.
The Class of 2023 has started their classes, and taking a look at students’ diversity, professional and educational backgrounds. It will help you if UCLA Anderson is the right business school for your profile and experience.
Admission highlights of Class – 2023
| MBA Applications received | 3085 |
| Size of class 2023 | 360 |
| GMAT Average class score | 714 |
| Middle GMAT score (80% range) | 670 – 750 |
| Middle GPA in undergrad (80% range) | 3.1 – 3.8 |
Professional Background of students – Industry wise
| Consulting | 21% |
| Consumer Goods | 10% |
| Entertainment / Media | 5% |
| Finance | 21% |
| Health Care / Biotech. | 8% |
| High Tech | 22% |
| Public/Non-profit | 9% |
| Real Estate | 4% |
Undergraduate education background of the Class
| Undergraduate Major | Percentage of Class |
| Business | 26% |
| Engineering | 20% |
| Economics | 20% |
| Humanities | 17% |
| Math/Science | 10% |
| Other | 7% |
Compositions of the Class of 2023
Admission highlights of Class of 2023
| MBA Applications received | 3085 |
| Size of class 2023 | 360 |
| GMAT Average class score | 714 |
| Middle GMAT score (80% range) | 670 – 750 |
| Middle GPA in undergrad (80% range) | 3.1 – 3.8 |
Global Rankings garnered by UCLA Anderson School of Management:
Financial Times Global MBA Rankings: 25
3-year Average rank in Financial Times: 25
QS Top Universities rank (MBA): 9
Let’s learn some more about how the earlier Anderson MBA students progressed in their careers after completing their MBA degrees.
| Career progression Statistics | |
| Percentage people achieved their MBA goals | 91 |
| Career progress rank | 62 |
| Careers service rank | 4 |
| CSR rank | 91 |
| Employed at three months (%) | 87 |
| Female faculty (%) | 26 |
| Salary increase (%) | 111 |
| Salary today (Per Annum) | $166,592 |
| Weighted salary (Per Annum) | $166,720 |
| *Source: Financial Times Global MBA Rankings | |
| Statistics about the Programme | |
| Alumni recommend ranking | 22 |
| Faculty with doctorates (%) | 100 |
| FT research ranking | 7 |
| Value for money ranking | 77 |
| *Source: Financial Times Global MBA Rankings | |
A Diverse learning environment:
Diversity in the learning space helps the student understand different perspectives, cultures, and processes, making the experience. From the applications stage, UCLA Anderson focuses on creating a good mix of students. Like students who come from varied educational backgrounds, industries, stages of career, and communities.
Here is a quick look at the diversity results of the school:
| Diversity Statistics | (in Percentage) |
| Female students | 33 |
| International board | 10 |
| International faculty | 37 |
| International students | 31 |
| Women on board | 17 |
| International Statistics | Rank |
| International course experience | 95 |
| International mobility | 72 |
*Source of data for this section: https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/degrees/full-time-mba/admissions/class-profile
If you need help with UCLA Essays Writing or Interview Process, please fill up Quick Inquiry form (on right).