UCLA MBA’s Essay questions for the 2020-2021 admission cycle are:

Mandatory Questions:
Essay 1: How have events of the past year influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both? (250 words maximum)

Note from UCLA: We welcome reflection on any events that influenced you in your personal or professional lives, or in society in general, and look forward to learning about specific ways you want to leave your mark.

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

Reapplicants:
Reapplicants are those who applied to the MBA program within the last two application years, so those who applied three or more years ago are considered new applicants.
Reapplicants may answer one or both of the essay questions above as options, and they must provide a reapplication essay:

Please describe your career progress since you last applied and how you have enhanced your candidacy. Include information on short-term and long-term career goals, as well as your continued interest in UCLA Anderson. (500 words maximum)

Deadlines:
Round 1: 2 October 2020
Round 2: 8 January 2021
Round 3: 16 April 2021

Other Application Components: 

Recommendations:
UCLA requires two recommendations from individuals who know your performance in a work setting, preferably your current supervisors or managers who are best equipped to answer questions about your leadership, communication, teamwork and initiative.

If you are unable to ask a current supervisor for a recommendation, then you can ask a former boss, a manager from another department, or a consultant or client who knows you well enough to answer the questions insightfully.

Recommendation questions are:
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.

Resume:
Submit a one-page resume and no more than two pages that illustrates your increasing levels of responsibility over time, leadership in work, campus or community organizations

Interview:
Interviews are by invitation only. Interviews are blind in order to avoid interviewer bias. Questions are straightforward and generally cover topics already addressed in the application, such as reasons for getting an MBA, short-term and long-term career goals, fit with UCLA Anderson and personal interests. These last approximately 30 miniutes and conducted by second-year MBA students

Reapplications:
Reapplicants are those who applied within the past two years. Instructions for their applcation are mentioned above.

UCLA is among the few MBA programs that offers feedback on your application. You can email  to them for a telephonic feedback at mba.admissions@anderson.ucla.edu between May 14-28. 

Re-applicants only need 1 recommendation.