Tips for Early Career (EC) MBA Applicants

Are you fresh out of undergraduate school or have fewer than 3 years of professional, full-time work experience? If so, then you would qualify as an early career (EC) candidate to a top MBA program like UCLA Anderson if you apply this year. Here are some tips to guide prospective ECs applicant.

If you conduct a quick preliminary search of weekly business magazines, business school discussion boards, and related online sources (e.g. Business Week's Business Schools section, BizDeanTalk blog, accepted.com), you'll find that many MBA programs express a clear interest in ECs. Your friends in business school may report otherwise. And a glance at MBA class profiles shows that programs seem skewed to individuals with 4-6 years or more of work experience. How can these seeming contractions be explained?

The fact is that many schools are strongly interested in, and do admit, ECs. The key is that we admit those individuals who are talented, motivated, have exhibited a track record of leadership and initiative, and have a clear sense of why an MBA makes sense for them at this point in their career . While these individuals may possess fewer years of formal professional work experience than the average candidate, many of them have gained significant skills through internships or entrepreneurial ventures.  Others may have served as leaders in community service and/or extra-curricular activities. The challenge for most business schools is not a willingness to admit ECS, but the ability to identify and attract such individuals.  (The same is true for groups like women and underrepresented minorities, whose representation in MBA programs reflects their limited numbers in the applicant pipeline rather than admissions policies.)

So if you are EC, we welcome you. We are every bit as interested in your potential and ability to give back to your academic, work, and local communities as what you have accomplished to date.  If you think you may be interested in an MBA, then we encourage you to fully explore various MBA programs, discover reasons why the degree might make sense for you, and reflect on your life and how you envision it unfolding in the years ahead. Once you have taken these steps, you will not only be better prepared to present a thoughtful and articulate application, but you will be better poised to take full advantage of the opportunities available to you during your time in business school.

If you feel that you are now ready for an MBA, share your introspection and knowledge of the degree with us in a cogent manner. My colleagues and I are open to persuasion.

Comments

[Mark]

I have a specific question about EC applicants, specifically those coming straight from undergrad. Your EC website states (or stated up until recently) that candidates admitted straight from undergrad have the option to defer for up to 2 years. However, Anderson's admissions office gives contrary information over the phone. What is the official policy?

Thanks!