The MBA Insider's Blog

Tips on Preparing Your Audio or Video Clip Essay

Here are some insights into why the UCLA Anderson MBA program's application for admission includes an essay that can be submitted via audio or video clip and how to approach this option.

Rationale
The reasons for offering the audio and video options are two-fold: 1) to respond to applicant requests for additional means to present themselves to the Admissions Committee before an interview and 2) to augment written essays with more multidimensional verbal and/or visual communication methods. Based on our experience last year, multimedia gave us additional insights into applicant personality, sense of humor, intonation, verbal skills, creativity, etc.

The Question
For those of you who have not seen our application essays, Question 4, listed below is the one that allows for audio or video (or written) response:

Select and respond to one of the two following questions:

a. Entrepreneurship is a mindset that creates new opportunities in established and new organizations.  Describe an instance in which you exhibited this mindset.

b. What is something people will find surprising about you?

Tips on Preparing the Audio or Video Clip

• submit a written essay if you prefer that option to an audio or video clip
• avoid the Shakespeare Syndrome: we are more interested in your ability to communicate cogently and clearly than in your ability to write like a future Nobel Laureate
• forget the Hollywood Lights: we are more interested in your ability to communicate cogently and clearly than in your ability to present like Elizabeth Taylor or Kirk Douglas
• listen to a few from audio clips from last year on our MBA home page to get a sense of what applicants submitted (and close your eyes; the animations associated with these clips were created after-the-fact by UCLA film students)
• learn from your predecessors, who enjoyed creating an audio clip once they got over the fear!
  

Representatives from MBA Admissions, the Parker Career Management Center and students from UCLA Anderson visited the great city of New Orleans last week to participate in the 31st Annual National Black MBA Association Conference.  The event drew over 5000 attendees and over 300 corporations. The conference is focused on stimulating discussion about education, diversity, professional development and career advancement for MBA's.  The conference provided a great opportunity for students of the African American Students in Management to network with their MBA peers from other institutions and also potential recruiters.   

 

Top 10 MBA Applicant Myths

Below is a list of the top 10 UCLA Anderson MBA Applicant Myths, many of which hold true for other MBA programs.

• It is better to apply in Round 1 than 2.  The chances of admission are comparable in both rounds. Round 3 is more selective and allows less time for international students to process visas.
• UCLA Anderson is a media & entertainment school. UCLA Anderson is widely recognized for its breadth and depth of curriculum across disciplines, including finance, marketing, accounting, general management, etc.
• UCLA Anderson looks for a set profile of candidate. We seek a diversity of academic, professional, geographic, and personal backgrounds. Our program accepts many students who have neither studied business nor worked in consulting or investment banking.
• There are minimums or cut-off scores for the GPA and GMAT. Both measures are evaluated jointly, along with measures of ability to handle quantitative coursework. The distribution of GPA and GMAT scores among admitted students is broad.
• Work experience is a pre-requisite for admission.  Candidates are evaluated on both demonstrated and potential leadership and management skills. 
• Candidates are assessed on their number and/or type of extra-curricular activities and community service. We seek well-balanced students who possess a broad perspective on life. Candidates may have less formal commitments that exhibit this balance.   
• Applications are pre-screened.  All applications are read in their entirety. Admissions decisions are made across multiple criteria; it is the rare candidate who is denied based on one area of an application. 
• Applicants are evaluated relative to others with the same professional or geographic background. Applicants are evaluated relative to the entire pool. There are simply too many ways to disaggregate and assess candidate profiles.
• I have a better chance of being admitted if I visit or interview on-campus. We are committed to fairness and equity and recognize that there are applicants who are unable to visit us for monetary and/or personal reasons.
• Foreign students are not eligible for fellowships. International and domestic students, alike, are considered for merit-based fellowships. .

 

For more details about each of these myths, please visit the section of the website that describes our applicant evaluation process.

The Role of the GMAT in the MBA Application Process

Let’s face it: most folks either love or hate standardized tests. If you perform well on them, you tend to love them; if you perform less well on them, you tend to hate them. Those who are fond of the GMAT are prone to accept score results as prima facie evidence of their ability to perform well in an MBA program, either reinforcing a track record of strong performance or making up for a not-so-illustrious academic record. (It is these kinds of applicants you sometimes see on the Business Week’s b-school forums, where they use their laser-like focus to compare and fret over 10 point differences in GMAT scores.

Individuals who dislike the GMAT test often view it as an arbitrary and inaccurate measure of their ability to perform in grad school.  A common refrain is: ‘I just don’t test well on standardized tests – my brain does not function that way;” or “Performance on standardized tests measures one’s ability to perform well on tests and not much more.”

As with many things in life, reality lies somewhere in between the two extremes of love and hate. The GMAT test, when considered along with one’s prior academic experience at the baccalaureate level and beyond, is an accurate predictor (at UCLA Anderson, at least) of how one performs in his or her first year in the MBA program.  Fortunately for most applicants, there is no exact cutoff or minimum at UCLA Anderson of either of these measures. The distribution of GMATs and GPAs that reflect an ability to perform well, as reflected in each year’s incoming class, is fairly broad.

Beyond these numeric measures of preparedness for an MBA lie such qualitative measures as leadership and teamwork skills, managerial experience, initiative, ability to learn and growth from mistakes, introspection, ability to articulate clear reasons for an MBA and career goals going forward, contributions (to school, work, and/or community), etc. It is here that the bulk of time of applicant evaluation is spent. Although less quantifiable dimensions, they are equally important.

So whether or not you love or hate the GMAT, you may want to temper your view. At the same time that the GMAT is not the quintessential measure of an applicant’s merits, it is a useful evaluative tool in the admissions process. A healthy dose of ambivalence just might be in order…..

Forte Forums: The MBA Value Proposition

This fall UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions will participate in Forte Foundation Forums in seven U.S. cities.  These events are targeted to women interested in learning what an MBA can do for future career success. 

 

Meet with members of our admissions team, current students, and alumni.  Explore GMAT test-preparation opportunities and learn from current employees at top companies.  Presentation topics include “Financing Your MBA” as well as a panel of MBA graduates working in “non-traditional” business careers in the non-profit, education and government sectors.   

 

Admission is $10. Further details on dates and registration are available at the Forté Foundation website.

The UCLA Anderson Full-Time MBA Program Application is Now Live

Fasten your seat belts folks! The fall 2010 application for the UCLA Anderson Full-Time MBA Program is now live on our website.

Applying to business school can seem like a daunting prospect at first glance and it will require serious consideration from your part. That’s why we encourage you to continue visiting our blog and our website often for updates and helpful tips on the application process. Also, check our online event calendar for a list of events around the world where you can meet admissions staff and alumni representatives. And if you’re in the area, schedule a class visit in order to get an insider’s perspective on the UCLA Anderson MBA experience (class visits available starting mid-September).

If you are planning to apply to UCLA Anderson in our first round, remember that the Round 1 deadline is October 14th.

Good luck to you all with your applications.

MBA Program Welcomes New Admits

The UCLA Anderson Admissions Committee is pleased to announce that a small group of individuals was admitted off of the waitlist today. All admitted students are being contacted by email and telephone. All other waitlist candidates will be considered in the weeks ahead. No one will be kept on the list any longer than necessary.

Essay Questions for 2009-10 Recruiting Season

The UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Committee has finalized the essay questions for applicants to the Fall 2010 entering class, which are listed below.

 

GENERAL INSTRUCTONS: Please be introspective and authentic in your responses. We value the opportunity to learn about your life experiences, aspirations, and goals.

 

FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS

1. Describe the ways in which your family and/or community have helped shape your development. (750 words)
2. Describe the biggest risk you have ever taken, the outcome, and what you learned in the process. (500 words)
3. Describe your short-term and long-term career goals.  What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA now and how will UCLA Anderson help you to achieve your goals? (750 words) 
4. Select and respond to one of the two following questions. We would like you to respond to the question by recording an audio or video response (1-2 minutes in length each & up to 5Mb maximum) for upload in the online application. (The supported file types for audio files are:  .avi, .wav, .mp3, .wmv, .midi, .wma, .aiff, .au, .mp4; the supported file types for video files are:  .mov, .avi, .wmv, .mpeg) If you are unable to submit your response via audio or video, then please prepare a written response, instead. (250 words)          

• Entrepreneurship is a mindset that embraces innovation and risk-taking within both established and new organizations. Describe an instance in which you exhibited this mindset.
• What is something people will find surprising about you?

(Essay #5: Optional) Are there any circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words)

REAPPLICANTS

Reapplicants who applied for the entering fall 2008 or 2009 class are required to complete the following three essays. Upload them as one document if you opt to submit all of your essays in written format.

1. Please describe your career progress since you last applied and ways in which you have enhanced your candidacy. Include updates on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (750 words)
2. Describe the biggest risk you have ever taken, the outcome, and what you learned in the process. (500 words)

(Essay #3: Optional) Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (250 words)

Follow UCLA Anderson Dean Judy Olian on Twitter

Learn more about UCLA Anderson events and Dean Olian's thoughts on business and business-related topics.

Round 3 Decisions Released

The UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Committee has released its Round 3 admissions decisions. Each new admit will be personally welcomed by a phone call and/or email from a member of the Admissions Committee.

All waitlist candidates will be re-evaluated on an ongoing basis over the summer months. Individuals will not be kept on the waitlist any longer than necessary.

Round 3 applicants may view their decision by logging on to their online application account.

Thank you for your interest in UCLA Anderson.

The MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Team

The UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions Committee has released its Round 3 admissions decisions. Each new admit will be personally welcomed by a phone call and/or email from a member of the Admissions Committee.

All waitlist candidates will be re-evaluated on an ongoing basis over the summer months. Individuals will not be kept on the waitlist any longer than necessary.

Round 3 applicants may view their decision by logging on to their online application account.

Thank you for your interest in UCLA Anderson.

The MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Team