Anderson School of Management
(UCLA)
QUICK FACTS
- Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Program Length: 2 years
- Program Cost: $104,954
- Average GMAT score: 710
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Average Work Experience: 5.7 years
Employment Reports (2022)
- Received an Offer: 93.9%
- Accepted an Offer: 91.9%
- Median Salary: $145,000
- Median Signing Bonus: $30,000
RANKINGS
- #14 Financial Times 2023 MBA Ranking
- #5 USNews - Part-time MBA
- #10 USNews - Executive MBA
- #15 QS Global MBA Rankings 2023
CLASS OF 2024
- Total Applicants: 2,180
- Total Enrollment: 300
- Women: 37%
- Average GPA: 3.1 - 3.8
ABOUT
UCLA Anderson School of Management utilizes collaboration as a path toward success. At the center of the Anderson School of Management lies this very ethic. A collaborative network of the UCLA Anderson community includes the world-renowned faculty, a cooperative student body, and a large alumni network. Students at UCLA Anderson learn to think innovatively and embrace a philosophy of nonconformity in order to discover real solutions to real problems. Located within the hustle and bustle of sunny L.A., UCLA Anderson incorporates the dynamic locality of the campus with students’ passions and future goals to create an experience where students can learn fearlessly!
APPLICATION DEADLINES
- Round 1: October 5th, 2023
- Round 2: January 4th, 2024
- Round 3: April 12th, 2024
APPLICATION PROCESS
Transcripts
Candidates applying for the MBA program must have a completed undergraduate degree, typically a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in other countries. International applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree may be considered if their academic profile is strong enough.
Applicants should submit scanned copies of academic records with their application. Official hard-copy documents are required only for applicants invited to interview. The admissions committee evaluates academic records within the context of the school’s grading system, without converting grades to the American 4.0 standard. Undergraduate majors of all kinds are accepted.
Additional coursework, especially in subjects like calculus, statistics, accounting, or finance, can strengthen the application. Professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, or Chartered Accountant are valued and can be noted in the application.
Transcripts are required for all coursework taken after secondary school, excluding undergraduate courses taken during exchange programs if they appear on the degree-granting school’s transcript. Applicants may provide a course-by-course credential evaluation report from World Education Services to aid in the evaluation of their degrees.
GMAT or GRE
Submitting test scores is optional for applicants to the Full-Time MBA program. While test scores provide additional relevant information for the admissions committee, they are not a mandatory requirement. Applicants have the choice to apply with or without GMAT, GRE, or EA scores. However, a strong test score can enhance the candidacy, especially for applicants without a quantitative background. For insights into the typical test score range of admitted students, applicants can refer to the latest class profile.
Foreign Language Requirement
TOEFL or IELTS scores are mandatory for all international applicants, with the exception of candidates from specific countries. For detailed information, applicants are advised to consult the UCLA Graduate Division Office English requirements.
2 Recommendations
New applicants are obligated to provide two recommendations, while reapplicants are only required to submit one new recommendation. These recommendations should come from individuals familiar with the applicant’s work performance, preferably from a direct supervisor or manager. A sample Recommendation Form is available for reference.
Recommendation Questions and Topics
1) Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
2) How does the performance of the applicant compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? (E.g. what are the applicant’s principal strengths?)
3) Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.
Essay Description
UCLA Anderson encourages applicants to share their perspectives and plans through essays, providing insights into their whole profile. They seek transformative leaders and value perseverance as a key trait in effective leadership. The required essay (250 words) asks for an example from personal or professional life demonstrating perseverance and its connection to future MBA plans. Impactful achievements and their role in shaping future success should be highlighted.
Applicants are also given the option to address any extenuating circumstances in their profile in a 250-word optional essay. Reapplicants, those who applied within the last two years, can choose to respond to either or both essay questions. They are also required to provide updates on new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application in the provided text boxes.
Interview
Interviews for the program are by invitation only and are a crucial step in the admission process. Completion of an interview is mandatory for admission. The interview process involves a comprehensive evaluation of applicants’ communication and social skills, as well as their readiness for the program. Instructions for scheduling interviews are provided with invitations.
Interviews, conducted via Zoom or in person, last around 30 minutes and are conducted by second-year MBA students. These interviews are blind to prevent bias; interviewers receive resumes but not applications. Questions cover topics from the application, such as reasons for pursuing an MBA, career goals, fit with the program, and personal interests. Pre-rehearsed speeches are discouraged; applicants should succinctly discuss their resume and be prepared for a conversational exchange.
Professional attire is expected, and official test scores and academic records must be submitted after receiving an interview invitation. The process emphasizes authenticity and encourages applicants to relax and engage genuinely in the conversation.
Application Fee
The application fee is $200.
PROGRAM STRENGTHS
Capstone Project
Students at the end of their studies are required to complete a capstone project. This project uniquely combines the theories learned in the classroom with real-world applications. There are a variety of capstone projects which students can choose from.
1) Applied Management Research (AMR) – students work with a team which find solutions to the challenge of client organization.
2) Business Creation Option (BCO) – classmates work together to conceptualize and launch their own business from the ground up.
3) Student Investment Fund (SIF) – This capstone project allows students to manage a $2 million dollar fund while engaging with companies and learning impactful strategies
4) Anderson Strategy Group (ASG) – This project takes place over the 2 year MBA program. Students can learn and focus on consulting work while managing projects.
5) NAIOP Real Estate Case Competition – Taking place over 6 months, students learn assessment of local properties. “
STUDENT LIFE
UCLA Anderson was founded on three pillars which influence the student experience. These are: Sharing Success, Thinking Fearlessly, and Driving Change. Students fulfill their MBA experience both on and off campus. Opportunities are always available for students to expand their knowledge portfolio. From international trips to student run clubs and activities, MBA students are a part of a community embracing collaboration, inclusion, authenticity and a desire to succeed.
MBA PROGRAM OVERVIEW
First Year
At the end of the full-time MBA program, students will be able to have a lasting influence on their career desitination. In order to do this, however, Anderson School of Management begins all their full-time MBA students off with business fundamentals. Before the start of the fall semester, incoming students go through onboarding so that they are fully prepared for the MBA journey ahead. Once regular classes begin, all first-year MBA students participate in 9 core courses, which help to establish strong knowledge in business fundamentals. Once finished with the core courses, students can choose from a host of electives and internship programs in order to design their studies to fit their goals.
Summer Semester
- Leadership Foundations
- Managerial Accounting
- Organizational
- Behaviour
Fall Semester
- Marketing Management
- Foundations of Finance
- Data & Decisions
- Managerial Economics
Second Year
The second year are Anderson School of Management is built on a foundation of flexibility and speciality. 100% of the schedule is designed by the students themselves so that they can specialize in an area of personal interest. During their second year, students will also complete their capstone project whereby students utilize everything they have learned in theory and apply it into practice.
Grading System
The grading system at the Anderson School of Management, like many other educational institutions in the United States, adheres to a standard scale. Students are assessed based on their performance in classes, with grades ranging from A (Excellent) to F (Failing).
Winter Semester
- Marketing Management
- Foundations of Finance
- Operations Technology
- Management
- Business Strategy
Spring Semester
- Communication for Leaders Pt. 1
- Elective Course
FEATURED PROFESSORS
Corinne Bendersky
Corinne Bendersky, Professor and Area Chair of Management and Organizations at UCLA Anderson, specializes in workplace conflict, status, justice, and diversity and inclusion in teams and organizations. Her research contributes to both academic knowledge and practical applications. She has developed interventions to reduce gender bias in male-dominated professions, measured different conflict configurations in teams, and utilized machine learning to study conflict expressions in Wikipedia disputes and media representation of working women since 1963. Bendersky teaches in various MBA programs and executive education programs at UCLA Anderson. Additionally, she serves as the faculty director of HARRT, a human resources roundtable, and consults on conflict management and diversity and inclusion through her organization, Morpho Leadership Development. She holds a Ph.D. in Management from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and a B.A. with honors from Oberlin College.
Derek Alderton
Derek Alderton is the faculty director of the Anderson Strategy Group in the MBA program at UCLA Anderson School of Management. He has been an adjunct faculty member for a decade, teaching courses in entertainment strategy, entrepreneurship, venture initiation, and entrepreneurial operations. Alderton holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson, along with degrees in law and economics from the University of Sydney and a finance diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia. He is also a chartered accountant (U.S. CPA equivalent) and has a background at McKinsey & Company, specializing in the impact of technology on entertainment business value chains. Apart from his teaching, he operates his own boutique management consulting firm and is involved in various aviation pursuits, including being a qualified flight instructor and owning and operating a Russian fighter jet. Alderton has spoken at numerous technology, media, entertainment, and entrepreneurship conferences and is a published author.