- UCLA School of Management Program Overview
- UCLA Anderson Curriculum
- UCLA Anderson Extracurriculars
- Notable Professors and Classes at UCLA Anderson
- UCLA Anderson Statistics
- Tips for Your UCLA Anderson 2022–2023 Application Essays
- Application Requirements for UCLA Anderson
- Anderson UCLA FAQ
UCLA Anderson School of Management Program Overview
The UCLA Anderson School of Management is all about teamwork and collaboration. The school has an excellent entrepreneurship center (the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation), and the student body exemplifies Anderson’s innovative spirit. Creative leaders who can think fearlessly and lead innovation while sharing their success are valued. However, the school is no place for egos—optimism, flexibility, passion, curiosity, analytic ability, and strategic thinking are all traits the admissions committee likes to see in applicants.
Anderson’s classes are medium sized, with 330 students in the most recent incoming class, and the school emphasizes student leadership, group projects, and community. Anderson has several centers of study, including real estate, entrepreneurship, media, entertainment, sports, and finance. The aforementioned Price Center offers fellowships, courses, and the Knapp Venture Competition for budding entrepreneurs.
Anderson touts the city of Los Angeles as providing “limitless opportunities” to its students, with myriad entertainment options, several beaches, and more than 300,000 small businesses in the area. Being in LA offers students access to school-year internships, informational interviews, networking, and industry practitioners as instructors. In addition, hundreds of research centers and eight joint degree programs are available to Anderson students via the greater UCLA community. Want some college sports excitement as part of your MBA experience? UCLA holds 119 NCAA titles, and the alumni base is incredibly supportive.
Anderson is especially proud of its Parker Career Management Center. With more than half of a class typically switching both industry and function, the center provides outstanding support including Anderson Career Teams, second-year students who volunteer to assist first years through the career search process. The center’s International Coaching Program offers a similar option for international students. Admitted students have access to the Parker Center’s resources as soon as they are admitted, even before they set foot on campus.
UCLA Anderson Curriculum
Anderson follows the quarter system, with three ten-week quarters making up the first year, meaning students head into their summer internship with more classes under their belt than their peers from other schools. The curriculum includes a focus on leadership and communication along with flexibility for up to two specializations, which are available in the following areas:
- Accounting
- Brand Management
- Consulting
- Corporate Finance
- Easton Technology Leadership
- Entertainment
- Entrepreneurship
- Global Management
- Health Care Management
- Kayne Investment Management
- Leaders in Sustainability
- Leadership Development
- Marketing Analytics
- Real Estate
- Social Impact
The capstone of the Anderson MBA program is the real-world master’s thesis frequently fulfilled by the Applied Management Research (AMR) project in the second year. This 20-week program, now in its 55th year, involves working with a team of Anderson students on a consulting engagement for a real company. Through this experience, students can apply their classroom learning to conduct primary research to solve strategic challenges, explore new markets, or launch new products.
Beyond AMR, there are a few industry-specific options for the capstone including a coveted role managing the UCLA Anderson Student Investment Fund, founded in 1987 and worth more than $4M, for which up to 12 students are selected each year. The Business Creation Option (BCO) provides students an opportunity to start their own business while still in school with support from the Anderson Accelerator Mentors Program and access to on-campus working space via the Anderson Venture Accelerator. The 2022 BCO cohort features 45 teams. Finally, a select group of students can participate in the NAIOP SoCal Real Estate Challenge for their capstone.
Anderson’s Onboarding program, which introduces students to the program, takes place in the summer and includes the courses “Leadership Foundations” and “Managerial Accounting.” Students also benefit from career development provided by the Parker Career Management Center. In addition, Anderson’s Onboarding Committee organizes fun activities that enable students to mingle with their classmates and second-year students.
UCLA Anderson Extracurriculars
With more than 50 student clubs, Anderson offers students endless opportunities to learn and grow both professionally and personally while having fun and getting to know their classmates. The Women’s Business Connection provides professional support and collaboration opportunities for “Anderwomen.” In addition to the obvious wine tastings, the Wine Club at Anderson partners with the Parker Career Management Center to bring in executives from top California wineries. The Anderson Technology Business Association (AnderTech), provides career support for students through tech treks, career nights, and conferences. Not surprisingly, the Entertainment Management Association (EMA) leverages Anderson’s LA location to build industry relationships and help students develop industry knowledge. From a social perspective, Anderson Afternoons provide an opportunity for students to wind down and engage with their classmates on Thursday afternoons. Beach bonfires and trips to such cities as San Francisco and Las Vegas are among the other benefits of Anderson’s proximity to LA.
Anderson’s Pulse Conference brings together students, faculty, professionals, and business leaders in the fields of entertainment, sports, and technology. Hosted by the Center for Media, Entertainment & Sports, the event attracts more than 500 attendees annually. The February 2022 Pulse Conference featured the CEO of The SpringHill Company as the keynote speaker and explored such panel discussion themes as “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” and “The New World of NFT.”
Notable Professors and Classes
Sanjay Sood
Professor Sood is an Anderson legend, having taught at the school since 2001. Today, Sood is the faculty chairman and deputy dean of academic affairs, in addition to serving as a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making. Sood believes strongly in hands-on learning and often brings C-suite executives to the classroom. He also consistently takes his students out of the classroom to participate in projects with real companies and to visit company offices.
Olav Sorenson
Professor Olav Sorenson arrived at Anderson relatively recently, in 2020, and has already made quite a name for himself at the school. In addition to serving as a professor of strategy, Sorenson holds the positions of faculty research director at the Price Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Joseph Jacobs chair in entrepreneurial studies. He has taught his signature “Venture Capital Strategy” course at different schools since 2005 and also teaches the new “Entrepreneurship and Venture Initiation” course.
“Persuasion and Influence”
Anderson lists this course, taught by Professor Noah Goldstein, as one of the most popular electives at the school. As the name suggests, the course explores the power of persuasion and influence in the business world by examining various strategies, proposals, and products.
“Digital Marketing Strategy”
The “Digital Marketing Strategy” course is taught by Professor Sanjay Sood. The course is part of the Entertainment Management specialization, and Anderson states on its site that it is the only top-ranked business school to offer such a specialization. To receive the specialization, students must take two foundation classes and two related electives, for which “Digital Marketing Strategy” is an option.
UCLA Anderson Statistics
Class Profile (Class of 2024)
Class Size: 330
Average Work Experience: 6 years
80% Undergraduate GPA Range: 3.1–3.8
Women: 35%
US Minorities: 28%
International Citizenship: 47%
Average GMAT: 711
80% GMAT Range: 660–760
Career Placement (Industries, Class of 2021)
- Technology: 33.2%
- Financial Services: 18.9%
- Consulting: 16.4%
- Healthcare: 7.9%
- Consumer Products: 7.5%
- Entertainment/Media: 6.1%
- Real Estate: 3.5%
- Energy/Utilities: 2.5%
- Other (including Agribusiness and Construction Services): 1.4%
- Transportation/Logistics Service: 1.4%
- Retail: 0.7%
- Nonprofits/Social Enterprises: 0.4%
Geographic Placement (Class of 2021)
- International: 5.4%
- Asia: 3.6%
- Central and South America: 0.7%
- Europe: 0.7%
- Canada: 0.4%
- United States: 93.5%
- Southern California: 40.4%
- Northern California: 21.8%
- West (excluding California): 11.4%
- Northeast: 10.7%
- Midwest: 4.3%
- Southwest: 2.5%
- South: 1.8%
- Mid-Atlantic: 0.7%
- Did not report: 1.1%
Tips for Your UCLA Anderson 2023–2024 Application Essays
What makes UCLA Anderson stand out among MBA programs is its location in a large city with many different industries, its collaborative culture, and the flexibility it offers to customize your business school experience. Keep these characteristics in mind when completing your one required application essay for the school, and perhaps the optional essay as well.
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.
Click here for our advice on UCLA Anderson’s essay prompts.
Application Requirements for UCLA Anderson
Bachelor’s degree and transcripts
UCLA Anderson requires all applicants to have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent if the applicant graduated outside of the United States) and to provide official academic transcripts with their application.
Resume
All Anderson applicants must submit a resume with their application, even if they have less work experience than average. The school accepts very few “early career” applicants who have obtained fewer than two years of work experience. If you have less work experience than average, concentrate on highlighting your academic and learning skills! “Jobs held prior to completing your undergraduate degree may be listed if desired, but our focus is on post-baccalaureate experience,” the Anderson website states.
Recommendations
Anderson requires two recommendation letters from first-time applicants and one from reapplicants. In business school applications, obtaining a recommendation from a direct supervisor or a manager is usually the best option. “Choose recommenders who can speak to your work performance, capabilities, and potential for graduate studies and future career success,” the Anderson website notes. If you currently do not have a direct supervisor or manager, consider past supervisors, colleagues, or clients, based on your work situation. Family members, friends, and professors are typically not suitable recommenders.
Test scores
Anderson accepts the GMAT and the GRE to fulfill the test score requirement. All applicants must provide a test score, though the school does not stipulate a minimum score. For the Class of 2024, the average GMAT score was 711 and the middle 80% range was 660–760 (no average GRE is listed in the latest class profile). International applicants are also required to provide a TOEFL or IELTS score.
Anything else?
An interview and one essay are also required of Anderson applicants. Interviews are conducted on an invitation-only basis, typically by specially trained second-year MBA students who have only reviewed the applicant’s resume beforehand—not their application. During the pandemic, Anderson interviews have largely been conducted virtually. These are some of the questions that are commonly asked during Anderson interviews:
- Tell me about yourself/walk me through your resume.
- Why do you want an MBA? Why UCLA?
- What will an MBA offer you that you haven’t been able to get from your professional experiences?
- What are you short- and long-term goals?
- What is your Plan B if your goals do not materialize?
Anderson UCLA FAQ
What is UCLA Anderson best known for?
Due to its location in Los Angeles, Anderson has strong ties to the entertainment business. To this end, the school offers an entertainment career path, an Entertainment Management specialization, and access to the UCLA Center for Media, Entertainment and Sports. Anderson is also well known for sending roughly a third (33.2% in 2022) of its graduates to work in the technology industry. The school’s proximity to Silicon Valley allows students to easily network within the industry.
How much does tuition cost?
Tuition for the Anderson full-time MBA program is $117,398 for the 2022–2023 academic year. This includes the Anderson Onboarding summer event, program charges for three semesters, room and board, health insurance, and such additional fees as travel, computer allowance, and books.
How difficult is it to get accepted into UCLA Anderson?
As is the case with all top-ranked business schools, Anderson has a competitive acceptance rate. In 2021, the school received 3,085 applications and admitted 919 applicants. This means that approximately 29.8% of applicants received an invitation to join the program. Out of the 919 applicants who were admitted, 372 decided to enroll.
UCLA Anderson may be best known for its strengths in technology and entertainment, but do not let a school’s reputation steer you elsewhere if it doesn’t seem like a perfect match right away! Anderson graduates also accept positions in such fields as financial services, consumer products, health care, and real estate. The school’s central location in Los Angeles exposes students to a plethora of opportunities and sets them steadily on their chosen career paths.
Are you considering applying to Anderson? Whether you are looking for comprehensive MBA admissions consulting, hourly help, or perhaps interview prep, we at Stratus Admissions Counseling can help you! Sign up for a free consultation today!