UCLA Anderson School of Management MBA Essays & Analysis 2024 - 2025

University of California Los Angeles’s Anderson School of Management has released its MBA application questions for 2024 - 2025. The questions have changed for this year’s application cycle. 

Here are USC Marshall’s MBA application essays for the 2024 - 2025 application cycle. 

Essay 1

Why are you pursuing an MBA? (150 words)

This is the first of UCLA Anderson’s 3 short essays. Together, the 3 essays total up to 550 words - that’s a relatively shorter application essay set than many other top business schools! The challenge here is to communicate your goals and experiences to the AdCom in a concise, impactful manner. 

With only 150 words for essay 1, don’t launch into an elaborate back story that describes your motivation for pursuing an MBA. Keep it short and sweet with a brief opening description of the “Why” behind your goals, a 1-line mission statement that explains the overarching purpose of your career, a short summary of how you have worked towards this mission in your career so far, and finally, the skill gaps you need to fill to continue working towards this mission - which is why you’re pursuing an MBA. 

Don’t discuss your goals here; Essay 2 will allow you to do that. This is your opportunity to briefly recap your mission and career journey to date, and why you want to take the next step at this point in your career. 

Essay 2

Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (150 words)

Keep it simple and direct. Describe your short-term goal, specifying the role, company/companies, industry, and location you want to work in post your MBA. Explain what kind of problem you want to tackle in this role, and the impact you would like to make. Make sure that this goal is realistic and aligned with the mission statement and career journey you described in Essay 1. 

Next, describe your long-term career goal. This can be more ambitious, but make sure that you align it with your short-term goal. Explain how you will use the skills, experience, and network you gain in your MBA and short-term role to achieve this long-term vision. Connect this to your mission statement. 

Deepak

Harsh

Jasmin

Vibhav

Chinenye

Sejal

Elie

Essay 3

At Anderson, our mission is to prepare transformative leaders by developing students to think innovatively, problem-solve, and adapt to others – all with a driven and purposeful mindset. How do you plan to achieve your goals and develop into a transformative leader during your time at UCLA Anderson? (250 words)

UCLA Anderson’s Essay 3 is essentially a “Why this school” essay. Note the use of the phrase “transformative leader”; at its core, the prompt is centered around Anderson’s 3 pillars of transformative leadership: sharing success, thinking fearlessly, and driving change. That’s the kind of leader they want in their MBA cohort. 

Think about how your experiences and values resonate with this definition of leadership. When you research the program (beyond what is readily available online) and strike up conversations with students, alumni, and school staff, you’ll learn more about the opportunities available where you can apply those experiences and values. Don’t just give a laundry list of classes and extracurriculars that you’ll participate in. Think about the 3 pillars: which ones will allow you to collaborate with others? Which will help you think innovatively and solve problems creatively? Where can you create the most impact?

It’s okay if your skill set isn’t exactly matched to these 3 pillars. Find what aligns with you best, and focus on what transformative leadership means to you and your career. 

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)

This is completely optional. ​If you have any gaps in your profile, such as low grades, overlapping experiences, job gaps, a low GPA/GMAT score, or any other extenuating circumstances that may impact your application, state them clearly and concisely. 

Focus on addressing the issue and clarifying why it wouldn’t hamper your performance in the future. Don’t use any stories or essay structures here; this is meant to be straight to the point. 

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You might also want to check out our UCLA Anderson MBA Interview Guide for in-depth insights into UCLA Anderson's interview process, what they're looking for in prospective candidates, interview schedule and questions for 2024, and tips to ace your interview.

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