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Full-Time MBA Requirements

Everything you need to know

Plan for success.

Application Deadline

October 1, 2024

Decision release date December 13, 2024

January 6, 2025

Decision release date March 27, 2025

April 7, 2025

Decision release date May 16, 2025

Online Application

All applicants must apply to the MBA program online. Applications will be accepted for Fall 2024 starting August 1, 2023. The application fee is $200. Note that we have three admissions rounds, each with its corresponding deadlines and decision release dates listed above. Apply Here

Four-year Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent

Candidates must hold a completed undergraduate degree in order to enroll in our MBA program. Usually this is a four-year bachelor's degree, or its equivalent in other countries.

International applicants with just a three-year undergraduate degree may be admitted if the Admissions Committee determines that their entire academic profile and overall application are strong enough.  

• You should submit scanned copies of your academic records with your application. Only applicants invited to interview should send us official hard-copy documents upon request.
• Records needed from schools outside the United States include multiple documents as described on the International Students page.
• We understand the differing rigor of schools and grading scales around the world, and we always evaluate academics within their own context, without converting them to any other system. Grades on scales other than the American 4.0 standard should NOT be converted for reporting purposes on the application. No discrepancy should exist between what you report and what we see on your transcripts.
• Undergraduate majors of all kinds are welcome in the class. View our class profile to view the undergraduate majors of students in the class.
• Quantitative preparation is key for performance in our core requirements, so all math-related courses and grades (plus the GMAT-quant score) get special scrutiny.
• Grade trends are important, and we like to see averages that get better over time as undergraduates learn to thrive in their chosen major. We give you the benefit of the doubt for occasional difficulty in classes, but our students tend to show a consistent level of functioning above their peers.
• If you want to bolster your academic profile, you could complete additional coursework now and submit the transcript with the application for consideration. MBA-related classes such as calculus, statistics, accounting or finance are preferred.
• Professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, Chartered Accountant, etc., can add value to your profile and there is a section in the application to note them.
• Undergraduate courses taken in a term at another institution (e.g., during an exchange program) do not require an additional transcript as long as they appear on the degree-granting school's transcript. You should submit transcripts for all coursework taken after secondary school (high school).
• To facilitate our evaluation of your degree(s), you may choose to supply a course-by-course credential evaluation report from  World Education Services  along with the scanned documents from your school.

GMAT/GRE/EA Tests

While test scores provide an additional, relevant data point for the admissions committee to consider, a test score is not required. Applicants are given the option to apply for the Full-Time MBA program without submitting a GMAT, GRE, or EA. It is up to the applicant to decide if they want to apply with or without test scores. Please note that for some candidates without a quantitative background, a strong test score can strengthen their candidacy. For an idea of the typical test score range of admitted students, see our latest class profile .

If you choose to submit a test score , we accept the GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition (beginning Q4 2023), GRE, or EA. If you take a test more than once, we will use your highest total score and the corresponding breakout scores in evaluating your application. We do not mix and match scores, or do a “super score”. All test scores must be valid and active at the time of submission, as we do not take expired scores. Current graduate students at the UCLA School of Law or UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine may submit their LSAT or MCAT scores, respectively.

• Within the MBA Application, you must report the test date and score you want the Admissions Committee to evaluate.
• Official GMAT score reports are sent electronically upon your request from Pearson VUE to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the School Code 2NZ-2F-24). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying.
• Official GRE score reports are sent electronically upon your request from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the school code 0771). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying.
• We primarily evaluate your top score, but all scores reported to UCLA Anderson are visible to the Admissions Committee.
• No minimum GMAT/GRE/EA score is required, and the Admissions Committee has the flexibility to consider all scores in the context of your overall academic preparation and management potential.

If you choose not to submit a test score, you will need to adequately demonstrate how your academic and professional experiences have properly prepared you for the rigors of the program. You must submit an essay that provides evidence of your MBA readiness to support your case of applying without a test score. We will look closely at your past accomplishments, including but not limited to:

• Undergraduate or graduate record, especially in analytical or quantitative courses
• Post-undergraduate, full-time work experience in an analytical or quantitative function
• Professional certifications, such as CPA, CFA, or international equivalent
• Performance on an expired GMAT or GRE

Candidates demonstrating multiple academic and/or professional accomplishments as listed above are more likely to be granted admission without a test score.

Work Experience

Although the majority of our students do have full-time work experience, early career and college senior prospective students may still apply.

We evaluate candidates on their work in any given field after the completion of their undergraduate degree. Backgrounds and interests vary widely among our students, but they all share a vision of how the MBA will empower their future.

• Quality of experience is more important than quantity.
• We look at your impact in the context of the time you had and the field you're in.
• Diverse paths lead to business school, and we find that students learn more when we mix people from every type and level of organization. Your application should show us how you will contribute to the mix of your class.
• We are most impressed by increasing levels of responsibility over time; those who advance faster than their peers are the people we admit first.
• The majority of our students are career-switchers using the MBA to leverage roles in a new field. Others will springboard back into higher positions in their current sectors.
• We admit very few people without at least a year or two of post-baccalaureate work. Our "early career" admits contribute more in terms of academic excellence and contagious study skills.
• Leadership in work, campus or community organizations helps to demonstrate management potential. Show us that you can commit to an organization, create a vision and motivate others to achieve goals together.
• Jobs held prior to completing your undergraduate degree may be listed if desired, but our focus is on post-baccalaureate experience.
• A resume must be submitted with the application and should create a compelling summary of your career, ideally on one page but not more than two pages. However, your resume does not replace the need to complete the Employment Section of the application

Recommendations

New applicants are required to submit two recommendations. Reapplicants only need to submit one new recommendation. Recommendations should be written by individuals who are well acquainted with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a direct supervisor or manager. Here is a sample Recommendation Form  for your reference.

Here is the how, who, what, where, when and why of recommendations:

How & How Many: Fill out the details within the recommendations section in the application. Two recommendations are required for new applicants and one new recommendation is required for reapplicants (you may ask an individual who submitted a recommendation for you in a prior year to submit a new one). If you need to change your recommender or their e-mail, click “Exclude” (warning: recommender will lose all work already entered) and re-enter via Add Recommender.

Who: Choose recommenders who can speak to your work performance, capabilities, and potential for graduate studies and future career success. Use your best judgment on whom to ask for a recommendation -- direct supervisors are generally preferred, and other options could include current or past supervisors/managers, professional colleagues, and clients (peers, family members, and professors are generally not good selections).

What: The recommendation form asks recommenders to evaluate your strengths and areas of growth, plus rate you across a variety of metrics.

Where: Recommendation forms can only be sent and received electronically so your recommender must have a valid e-mail address.

When: Recommendations should be submitted by the round deadline in which you are applying, and it is your responsibility to ensure we receive recommendations in time. To send a reminder to a recommender, click on the Edit link next to their name and then click the Send Reminder button at the bottom of the pop-up screen. We encourage you to contact your recommenders as soon as possible to give them sufficient time (the recommender’s access code is valid for 180 days from the date you save their information).

Why: We are interested in learning more about your professional past performance, future potential, and overall fit from individuals who have worked closely with you.

Recommendation Questions and Topics*

• Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
• 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?)
• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.

*Please note: Questions and topics listed above are for reference only. Actual submission of letters of recommendation is done online, through the online application system only.

We look forward to learning about your perspectives and plans via your essay responses. Essays complement the answers you provide throughout the application to show us your whole profile. The best applications are introspective, genuine and succinct in directly answering our questions and showing clear plans for the future.

Note: The application essay for the upcoming 2022-2023 MBA application year will be posted here in July. The information below corresponds to the previous application year and it is shared here only for your reference .

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.

B) 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)

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 additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

New Applicants

a) Tell us about your MBA goals AND why you are applying to UCLA Anderson now:

• Describe your short term and long term goals (150 words maximum)
• Why is UCLA Anderson a good school for you? (150 words maximum)

b) At Anderson, we believe our students are engaged, courageous, humble, and open. Describe a time when you demonstrated one of these traits in your personal life. (250 words maximum)

c) Optional: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware. (250 words maximum)

(For applicants who applied for the MBA program in the previous two application years. If you applied three years or more prior, please answer the "New Applicant" questions.)

a) 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)

b) Optional: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? Please use your best judgment. (250 words maximum)

Interviews are conducted on an invitation basis only after submitted applications are reviewed. An interview must be completed to be admitted to the program.

Applications are reread following the interview, comments are added, and then the Admissions Committee decides whether to make an admission offer. Interviews are rarely the deciding factor in an admissions decision; instead, they typically mirror or round out information already provided in the application. We are interested in getting to know you as an individual and understanding how you'll fit into the next class. We assess your communication skills, social skills and readiness for our program.

• Instructions on how to set up an interview are provided at the time of invitation.
• Interviews are conducted via Zoom or in person, and they last approximately 30 minutes.
• All interviews carry equal weight; they are generally conducted by second-year MBA students who are thoroughly trained on our evaluation metrics and on providing current perspectives for candidates.
• Interviews are blind in order to avoid interviewer bias. Your interviewer will receive a copy of your resume in advance but will not see your application.
• 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.
• Pre-rehearsed speeches do not make for a good interview. You should be prepared to succinctly walk your interviewer through your resume in 2 minutes or less so that there is ample time left to discuss specific areas your interviewer may want to explore with you.
• Remember that the word "interview" implies an exchange of views between people, so be ready with pertinent questions and go with the flow of the conversation.
• Business attire is appropriate for this professional interview, and we check photo identification to ensure integrity.
• After being invited for an interview you should submit official test scores and official academic records to us, as described in your interview invitation.
• Hint: Relax, be genuine and enjoy the opportunity for us to get to know each other.

TOEFL / IELTS

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of all international applicants EXCEPT those from a select list of countries. For more information please refer to  UCLA Graduate Division Office English requirements .

Please note that work experience in English is not sufficient for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver; the key factor is being educated in English. The TOEFL and/or IELTS test date must be no earlier than two years before the application submission date to be valid, and not later than the deadline date for the round in which you are applying. TOEFL and IELTS Considerations:

• Applicants who were educated in countries where English is not the primary spoken language of daily life are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, no matter the language used at their school. This includes applicants with degrees from multilingual countries such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan and others.
• No preference is given to either language test and all scores will be evaluated in conjunction with GMAT verbal scores and the AWA (Analytical Writing Assessment) to determine your true proficiency level.
• Applications cannot be reviewed without complete test scores (as self-reported by you or officially by the testing firm), and applications are only reviewed in the round during which your scores are submitted.
• Official TOEFL score reports are sent electronically upon your request from ETS to UCLA Anderson MBA Admissions (with the School Code 4837-02). Official scores are required for admission but not for applying. IELTS are sent electronically upon your request (with school code "Uni of California, Los Angeles-Anderson School of Management"). Please do not send score reports on paper.
• Work experience in English is not sufficient for a waiver of the language exam requirement.
• More information on the university's testing rules for all international applicants is available under UCLA Graduate Division's  English requirements .
• UCLA has minimum fluency standards for graduate admissions as shown.

Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two years (that is, who applied for the MBA program starting in 2022 or 2023) and received a final decision. The process to reapply is streamlined:

• Create a new application.
• Indicate on the Program page of the application that you are a reapplicant.
• Submit only one new recommendation (can be same recommender as previous application)
• Watch for decision notifications according to the standard release schedule.

Please note:

• Reapplicants are asked to indicate updates on test scores, career, academics, activities, and/or other changes since their last application (under the Reapplicants section on the Program page of the application.) Highlighting progress made since the prior application is the best way to get a different result this time.
• Reapplicants may answer the Essay question and/or the Optional question , but they are not required.
• You will be evaluated by the same standards as first-time applicants, so there is no disadvantage to reapplying.
• Admission Committee members may see previous applications to provide context.
• Standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and IELTS) remain on file if previously reported, though scores are subject to expiration dates.
• You may submit new test scores if desired and, of course, higher scores make an application more competitive.
• If you would like to get feedback on your application from the past season before reapplying, email [email protected] (please put "Feedback Request" in the subject line) to request feedback notes.

Application tips from UCLA Anderson MBAs:

MBA Program Brochure

Download our MBA Brochure and explore our UCLA Anderson Program.

Connect with a student ambassador.

Our Admissions Ambassador Corps (AAC) is a group of diverse student leaders who can guide you through life at UCLA Anderson and answer your specific questions about their experiences. Ambassadors lead live webinars on a regular basis and are on call to help you with your process. Connect with a Student

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UCLA Anderson School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

July 13, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

The UCLA Anderson School of Management requires candidates to provide just one essay, asking them to discuss a time when they refused to give up on a goal and persisted in pursuing it. For this sole essay, the admissions committee has set a maximum length of just 250 words, meaning that applicants must be concise and direct in their response. Some candidates might be tempted to use the optional essay to squeeze in more information about themselves, but anyone considering this option must be prudent about doing so because Anderson very clearly states that the essay is specifically for “extenuating circumstances.” Our full analysis of all the school’s 2023–2024 prompts follows.

UCLA Anderson 2023-2024 Essay Tips

Required essay: 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).

Setbacks are important learning opportunities. With this prompt, the admissions committee wants to know how you act, react, and learn when things do not go according to plan. Anderson clearly knows that many of life’s greatest successes require one to “try, try again,” as the expression goes, and that this attitude is necessary to gain and accomplish the most, not just in business school but also in the world after graduation. Ideally, a person will take what they have learned from a challenging situation and use it to achieve better results with similar ventures going forward. This essay is your opportunity to reassure the admissions committee that you have the kind of resilience and dedication that will position you to realize your goals.

Anderson notes that for this essay, you can share either a personal story or a professional one, so explore all your career, family, and community life experiences to identify one you believe was particularly significant and influential. The statement within the prompt that “the ability to persevere is an essential component of effective leadership” is essentially an acknowledgement that managing failures and setbacks is a fundamental part of the leadership experience. Challenges should therefore be viewed in a positive light—as inspiration to keep trying and sometimes even to aim higher than before. You want to convey in your essay that you are not easily deterred and instead use obstacles as learning tools or stepping-stones on the path to your desired outcome. 

The failure or hindrance you discuss in this submission could be one you experienced as an individual or as part of a team, and its scale or scope is not as important as how affecting and influential it was for you personally. You must present a complete narrative that shows momentum toward some kind of goal, describes the inflection point at which the situation turned, and explains how the original plan was interrupted or ultimately failed, while revealing your particular role in the setback. Avoid starting your essay with a bland statement like “I had to start over when [fill in the blank].” Instead, leap directly into the action of your story and immediately convey what was at stake in the situation. Next, briefly explain the obstacle or setback you encountered, and then dedicate the rest of the essay to outlining your reaction to it and the steps you took to either soldier on with your original plan despite the impediment or begin anew. Be sure to address what specifically inspired you—what kept you from giving up on attaining your objective—and how you maintained your motivation as you pursued your goal. This must be the core of your message in this essay.

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

Anderson’s optional essay is your opportunity— if needed —to address any lingering questions that an admissions officer might have about your candidacy, such as a poor grade or overall GPA, a low GMAT or GRE score, or a gap in your work experience. Do not simply try to fill this space because you fear that not doing so would somehow count against you. The admissions committee states very clearly on its application requirements page, “No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment.” This means that no matter how tempted you might be, this is not the place to reuse a strong essay you wrote for a different school or to offer an anecdote or two that you were unable to include in your required essay. However, if you truly feel that you must emphasize or explain something that would legitimately render your application incomplete if omitted, write a very brief piece on this key aspect of your profile. But before you do, we suggest downloading your free copy of the  mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on deciding whether to take advantage of the optional essay and how best to do so (with multiple sample essays), if needed.

Reapplicant Essay(s): Reapplicants are those who applied for 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 additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

Rather than asking reapplicants to provide an update on their candidacy and reassert their interest in Anderson’s MBA program, the school invites them to write either or both of the essays first-time applicants submit. This seems to underscore the importance of the required essay question and the admissions committee’s interest in learning about this aspect of their candidates’ character.

To learn more about UCLA Anderson’s academic program, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, standout faculty members, and other key features, download a complimentary copy of the mbaMission  Insider’s Guide to the Anderson School of Management .

The Next Step—Mastering Your UCLA Anderson Interview:  Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free  Interview Guides  to spur you along! Download your  free  copy of the  UCLA Anderson Interview Guides  today.

2023-2024 Business School Essays MBA Essay Tips University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)

Tags: business school essay MBA application essays UCLA

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UCLA MBA Essays: Tips for 2023-2024

If you are looking for guidance on how to write successful MBA essays for UCLA Anderson, you are in the right place. The UCLA Anderson MBA application can be difficult and time-consuming, but with these tips and tricks, you can be more confident about one of the biggest parts of your application: the UCLA Anderson essays. This article will cover how to compose UCLA MBA essays that will fit the criteria for admissions and hopefully earn you a place in UCLA’s graduating class of 2025. 

At Menlo Coaching, we noticed that most MBA essays will fall into one of a number of categories: personal essays, career goals essays, behavioral essays, etc.. Read ahead for our expert guide on approaching these essays for the UCLA Anderson School of Business.

Impact Essay

• 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. (text box, 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.

Career Goals Essay

• Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (text box, 600 characters)
• How can UCLA Anderson help you achieve your career and/or personal goals? (text box, 1000 characters)

Optional Essays

• Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware? (text box, 250 words)
• “More About You” Section. If you wish to provide additional information about academic or personal circumstances not included in your Optional Essay or elsewhere in this application, please do so here. (text box, maximum 1000 characters)

Applying to UCLA Anderson

UCLA is a prestigious business school with renowned faculty and a focus on academic success. UCLA wants to admit students who are intelligent, determined, and prepared to undertake a rigorous curriculum. Further, UCLA Anderson values sharing success, thinking fearlessly, and driving change. Applicants should pay attention to the specific requirements and expectations set out by UCLA’s admissions committee when writing UCLA MBA essays. Through these UCLA Anderson essays, applicants have a chance to demonstrate their skills, accomplishments, and personal interests. 

Anderson’s Impact Essay

This UCLA MBA essay involves demonstrating how recent events have influenced the impact you would like to make in your community, career, or both. This UCLA Anderson essay gives you a space to identify how you have developed after recent events. UCLA’s MBA admissions committee wants assurance that you are self-reflective and able to identify why you would like to make a particular impact in your community and/or career.

In this UCLA MBA essay, it is important to be truthful and sincere and to explain what impact you would like to make in a compelling manner. You should include as much detail as possible for this type of UCLA MBA essay. You should reflect on what a recent event has taught you and how your goals have changed based on that event.

In this UCLA MBA essay, you might want to reflect on how you have learned from previous events and how they have shaped you as an individual.

Anderson’s Career Goals Essay

The UCLA Anderson career goals essay provides applicants with a place to let the UCLA admissions committee know how the MBA program you want to attend will help you achieve your professional goals. This UCLA Anderson essay is a great place to explain why UCLA is truly the best fit for you.

It is vital for UCLA applicants to have a solid plan for their post-MBA career aspirations. First and foremost, this is because UCLA wants its graduates to succeed. However, there are a few selfish motivations for the career goals essay, including the fact that UCLA wants to have an impressive employment report and produce graduates who will become donors someday. Further, the UCLA admissions committee wants to ensure that applicants have a career plan that plays on their past experiences and thus ensures success. They also want applicants with the foresight to develop an alternate career plan in case their first choice does not work out. 

Other things to keep in mind for this essay is the necessity to have a career goal that is both ambitious and practical. Applicants should have meaningful goals that fit with what is offered at UCLA’s MBA program. Along this vein, networking is extremely important when preparing to write your career goals essay. The more you know about the program and how it can help you achieve your personal goals, the better. UCLA Anderson also asks applicants to share how UCLA specifically can help you achieve your career and/or personal goals in a separate MBA essay.

Optional Essay

Once you’ve completed your application, the optional UCLA MBA essay gives you an additional opportunity to provide the AdCom with any additional information or clarity that you feel would enhance your application.

One trap that MBA applicants fall into is using the additional space provided by this essay to write on a whole new topic. However, this is not always the best idea.

You should only make use of this essay if you what you write will provide context to an element of your application to improve your candidacy—you don’t want to jeopardize your chances by adding unnecessary noise to your application.

Applicants to UCLA should pay close attention to the specific expectations for each type of UCLA Anderson essay. Although it may be tempting to look up sample essays and draw from these formats, it is most important to let your personal background guide the construction of your UCLA MBA essays.

Menlo Coaching can help you throughout your MBA essay writing process, offering one-on-one MBA coaching and exclusive materials.

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• MBA Essay Tips From 3 Top Admissions Consultants
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UCLA Anderson MBA Essays Guide: Overview, Tips & Examples

Learn how to craft compelling MBA essays for UCLA Anderson with our comprehensive guide.

Posted March 1, 2024

MBA Week (June 3-6)

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Table of Contents

Are you considering pursuing an MBA at UCLA Anderson? One crucial aspect of the application process is crafting strong essays that showcase your unique experiences and aspirations. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide an overview of the UCLA Anderson MBA essays and offer tips and examples to help you create compelling and impactful essays.

UCLA Anderson Application and the Role of Essays

The UCLA Anderson application requires you to submit essays that allow the admissions committee to get to know you better, beyond your academic achievements and test scores. The essays offer an opportunity to showcase your personal and professional background , your goals, and how an MBA from UCLA Anderson will help you achieve them.

Admissions officers evaluate your essays to gain insights into your leadership potential, critical thinking skills, and fit with the program. Therefore, it is crucial to approach the essays thoughtfully and articulate your unique qualities and experiences.

When crafting your essays, it is important to consider the specific prompts provided by UCLA Anderson. These prompts are designed to elicit specific information about your background, goals, and motivations. Take the time to carefully analyze each prompt and brainstorm ideas that will allow you to effectively address the questions asked.

One strategy to make your essays stand out is to provide concrete examples and anecdotes that illustrate your points. Instead of simply stating that you have leadership potential, for example, you could describe a specific situation in which you demonstrated leadership skills and the impact it had on the outcome. By providing specific details, you not only make your essays more engaging but also provide evidence to support your claims.

Another important aspect to consider is the overall structure and flow of your essays. Each essay should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion . The introduction should grab the reader's attention and provide a brief overview of what will be discussed. The body should delve into the details, providing examples and explanations to support your main points. Finally, the conclusion should summarize your main ideas and leave the reader with a lasting impression.

While it is important to showcase your achievements and strengths in your essays, it is equally important to be authentic and genuine . Admissions officers are looking for applicants who are not only qualified but also have a genuine passion for their goals and a strong sense of self. Therefore, it is important to be true to yourself and let your unique voice shine through in your writing.

Lastly, don't forget to proofread and edit your essays thoroughly. Spelling and grammatical errors can detract from the overall quality of your writing and give the impression of carelessness. Take the time to review your essays multiple times, preferably with the help of a trusted friend or mentor, to ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and error-free.

In conclusion, the essays play a crucial role in the UCLA Anderson application process. They provide an opportunity for you to showcase your personal and professional background, your goals, and how an MBA from UCLA Anderson will help you achieve them. By approaching the essays thoughtfully, providing concrete examples, and being authentic in your writing, you can make a strong impression on the admissions committee and increase your chances of being accepted into the program.

UCLA Anderson Essay Prompts (2023-2024)

Each year, UCLA Anderson provides essay prompts that applicants need to address in their application. The prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle are as follows:

• Prompt 1: Share your short-term and long-term career goals. How does UCLA Anderson align with your career aspirations? (750 words maximum)
• Prompt 2: Describe a significant accomplishment and why it makes you proud. (500 words maximum)
• Prompt 3: Share a time when you faced a challenging situation and how you overcame it. (500 words maximum)
• Prompt 4: Describe a time when you went above and beyond to help others. How did this experience shape your leadership style? (500 words maximum)

These prompts are carefully designed to elicit specific information about your goals, achievements, resilience, and impact on others. It is important to craft your responses strategically, showcasing your strengths and demonstrating why you are a strong candidate for UCLA Anderson's MBA program.

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List of Expert Tips for Each Anderson Essay Prompt

Here are some expert tips to help you navigate each of the UCLA Anderson essay prompts:

Prompt 1: Career Goals and Alignment

When addressing this prompt, it is essential to clearly articulate your short-term and long-term career goals. Additionally, explain how UCLA Anderson's resources, curriculum, and community will help you achieve these goals. Research specific resources, such as clubs, courses, or faculty, and explain how they align with your aspirations.

Highlighting UCLA Anderson's unique offerings that resonate with your objectives will underscore your commitment and understanding of the program.

Prompt 2: Significant Accomplishment

For this prompt, choose an accomplishment that truly reflects your abilities, resilience, or personal growth. Provide context to help the reader understand the significance of the accomplishment and explain why it makes you proud.

Focus on the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the outcomes you achieved. Be sure to highlight the skills and qualities that contributed to your success. By showcasing your accomplishments, you paint a picture of your potential to make an impact at UCLA Anderson.

Prompt 3: Overcoming Challenges

When addressing this prompt, select a challenging situation that demonstrates your ability to persevere, adapt, and overcome obstacles. Clearly describe the situation, the hurdles you faced, and the actions you took to navigate through the challenges.

Highlight the lessons you learned, the skills you developed, and how this experience shaped your character and resilience. Admissions officers look for candidates who can handle adversity and find innovative solutions, so be sure to convey your ability to do so effectively.

Prompt 4: Helping Others and Leadership Style

This prompt allows you to showcase your leadership abilities and commitment to making a positive impact on others. Choose an experience where you went above and beyond to help someone or a group of individuals.

Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the results achieved. Reflect on how this experience influenced your leadership style and values. Admissions officers seek candidates who can lead with empathy, collaboration, and a genuine desire to contribute positively to society.

MBA Essay Tips: How to Write Compelling Essays

Successfully crafting compelling essays requires careful planning and attention to detail. Here are some MBA essay tips to help you create impactful essays:

• Reflect on your experiences: Take time to introspect and identify experiences that align with each prompt. Choose the most relevant and impactful ones.
• Show authenticity: Be true to yourself and present an honest and genuine portrayal of your experiences, aspirations, and values.
• Structure your essays: An effective essay has a clear structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs that provide evidence and anecdotes, and a strong conclusion.
• Focus on storytelling: Use vivid language, anecdotes, and specific examples to engage the reader and create a memorable narrative.
• Connect your experiences to UCLA Anderson: Demonstrate how your experiences and goals align with the UCLA Anderson program, emphasizing the unique value you will bring to the community.
• Revise and edit: Proofread your essays carefully, ensuring they are free from grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies. Seek feedback from trusted mentors or friends.

UCLA Anderson Essay Examples From Success Admits — With Analysis

Learning from successful applicants' essays can provide valuable insights. We have compiled a collection of UCLA Anderson essay examples from successful admits, along with analysis and commentary. These examples will help you understand what makes a strong essay and how you can apply those techniques to your own writing.

UCLA Anderson Essay FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about the UCLA Anderson MBA essays:

• Q: Are the essay word limits strict?
• Q: Can I reuse essays from other MBA applications?
• Q: How should I choose the experiences to write about?
• Q: Is there a specific essay format or structure I should follow?

Answering these questions will provide you with additional guidance and clarity as you embark on your essay writing journey.

As you navigate the UCLA Anderson MBA application process, remember that the essays play a crucial role in showcasing your unique qualities and fit with the program. Follow the expert tips provided, review the essay examples, and craft compelling essays that truly reflect your aspirations and potential. Good luck!

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UCLA MBA Application Essays for 2023-2024

If the UCLA Anderson School of Management is on your shortlist of target MBA programs, then let the brainstorming begin. Here are the UCLA MBA application essays and deadlines for the 2023-2024 season. This year, Anderson has one updated essay question that is required for first-time applicants and optional for re-applicants.

UCLA MBA Application Essays

Required Essay:

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.

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)

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 additional updates within text boxes given in the application for any new test scores, career developments, or other changes since their last application.

For more information on applying, please visit the UCLA Anderson MBA admissions website .

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our  All-In Partnership  to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume.   Contact us today for a  free 15-minute advising session  to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on  our SBC team .

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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Yale mba deadlines for 2024-2025.

Are you interested in applying to the Yale School of Management? Then open up your calendar because the Yale MBA deadlines for the 2024-2025 admissions season have just been announced! Applicants should note that ... →

UCLA Anderson Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2024-2025

UCLA Anderson  has officially announced its deadlines for the 2024–2025 application cycle. While the essay questions haven’t been announced yet, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to hear it from us once UCLA Anderson confirms its 2024-2025 MBA Application Essay!(Below, find Personal MBA Coach’s guidance on the most recent UCLA application).

Located in the creative capital of the world, UCLA Anderson offers access to a thriving business community. One of many noteworthy aspects of a UCLA Anderson education is the school’s Parker Career Management Center, which frequently receives praise for its resourcefulness in helping students expand their networks, build relationships, and ultimately achieve their MBA goals.

If you are looking to join UCLA Anderson’s MBA Program, take a look at the  class of 2025 profile  to see if the school may be the right fit for you. Accepted students had an average GMAT score of 711 and an average of 6 years of work experience. The class of 2025 consists of 37% women and 48% international citizens.

The Upcoming UCLA Anderson Application Deadlines Are:

Round 1: October 1, 2024

Round 2:  January 6, 2025

Round 3:  April 14, 2025

While we wait for the school to confirm this year’s essay questions, take a look at last year’s essays and Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to tackle them to get a feel for what to expect.

2023–2024 UCLA Anderson Application Essays:

UCLA Anderson Essay:  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)

To write a winning Anderson MBA essay, Personal MBA Coach  recommends reading our tips on writing winning essays  along with our school-specific advice below to make sure you are up to speed on the basics of MBA application essay writing. Now, let’s take a look at Anderson’s essay questions.

This UCLA Anderson essay question is new for the 2023–2024 MBA application cycle. While in general the process is more important than the result, keep in mind that UCLA asks applicants to consider an example where you accomplished a significant goal or milestone. While you can achieve something significant in a short period of time, you may want to consider a larger accomplishment in your life, as opposed to a narrower project at work.

Last year, UCLA asked applicants to tie this accomplishment to their goals. However, this connection has been removed. That said, having a strong and logical personal story is always important, so if this accomplishment helped you along your career journey, that is a bonus.

As you tell your story, be sure to include specific results and show how your actions in achieving this accomplishment demonstrated perseverance.

Keep in mind that, given the wording of the question, candidates should ideally focus on ONE achievement.

We recognize that this is a tall order for 250 words!

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

The optional UCLA Anderson essay should be answered only by those with extenuating circumstances. That said, the program assures that  no preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment.

While the 2023-2024 UCLA MBA application is not yet open, last year UCLA included two short answer goal questions, which are included below for reference. Once the UCLA application opens, we will update this blog to reflect any changes.

Short Answers:  UCLA Anderson has also included two short answer goal questions (remember that the character limits include spaces):

Describe your short-term and long-term post-MBA career goals. (600 characters maximum)

Need help articulating your MBA goals? Check out Personal MBA Coach’s blog for guidance.

How can UCLA Anderson help you achieve your career and/or personal goals?  (1000 characters maximum)

As you think about your future career and/or personal goals, consider your skill gaps and how a UCLA Anderson MBA will help you to close these gaps. Be sure to demonstrate an understanding of UCLA Anderson’s culture here.

For more information on how to approach these short answer questions, check out Personal MBA Coach’s blog on  short answer questions and other MBA application extras .

Looking for help developing your UCLA Anderson application? Schedule a consultation with Personal MBA Coach today to find out how we can help you with your Anderson MBA application!

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September 25, 2022

UCLA Anderson Executive MBA Application Essay Tips & Deadlines [2022 – 2023]

The Anderson EMBA ‘s two questions together cover past, present, and future, in that order. Essay 1 addresses the past by asking for a particular story drawn from your experience, and essay 2 addresses the present and future by asking about why now is the right time for you to be pursuing this degree. The questions indicate that the adcom believes the personal informs the professional; who you are defines your career and your work. Consequently,  who you are as a person matters .

It helps to see these essays as two phases of a continuum:

• In essay 1, portray qualities, skills, and experience(s) that support  your goals .
• In essay 2, show that your future plans fulfill the mission and purpose of the character portrayed in essay 1.

UCLA Anderson EMBA application essays

Ucla emba essay #1.

Legendary UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden once said that one’s leadership is derived from one’s character. Please provide an example of a time when your own leadership was at its best.  (500 words max)

There are two key words in this question:  leadership  and  character . The implication in the latter word is that UCLA seeks applicants who not only have the requisite track record of leadership and impact that is commonly sought by top EMBA programs, but also gravitas, depth as a human being. Your chosen example should include leadership/impact and gravitas/depth.

You can select a topic for this essay either from your work experience or outside it – but keep the phrase “at its best” on your radar. What does “your leadership at its best” mean to  you ? This point reflects your character. For most people, I suggest going with a professional example in order to give the adcom a glimpse of you in your work environment, handling important and high-stakes situations. Go with a non-work example if it has some specific strategic value for your application. Also, use a relatively recent experience if possible, to allow the adcom to see the person who will show up in the classroom.

Let the story itself carry most of the weight in the essay – depict not just the story of leadership but how you inspired others to follow due to  your character , example, and leadership style. At the end of the essay, write a short concluding paragraph explicitly summarizing why this is you as a leader at your best.

UCLA EMBA essay #2

Why are you interested in pursuing an MBA at this time? Please share any goal(s) you may have that the MBA will help you achieve. (500 words max)

Starting the question prominently with “why now?” indicates that the factor of timing as you perceive it is as important as the goals themselves to the adcom. There is a practical dimension to this interest that should be reflected in your essay. 

First I’ll discuss “why now” in both a micro and a macro view. The micro view looks at the particulars of your current situation – your current responsibilities and challenges and likely next step. This should position you at the right experience, responsibility, and decision-making level for a competitive EMBA like UCLA’s, and the next step should be a role for which the EMBA learning is either essential or at least a clear asset. The macro view looks at the longer-term career vision and the continuum of your career. Within that continuum, why is now the pivot point where you should make the investment of time, effort, and (most likely) money? How will pursuing the Executive MBA now prepare you not just for the next step but for the long term?

In describing your goals, indicate  why  you are planning that path. For shorter-term goals, detail specific positions, company, scope of responsibilities, and desired impact (i.e. what your desired “footprint” would be). Longer-term goals need less detail but should present a clear direction, building on the earlier roles.

The question does not ask you why you are choosing UCLA’s EMBA, but you can add a brief  discussion of this point . If you do, be specific: describe how the program meets your key learning needs; refer to the features of the program that are most important to you.

UCLA EMBA essay #3 (for reapplicants)

Please describe your career progress since you last applied and how you have strengthened your candidacy. Include updates on your short-term and long-term career goals. (500 words max)

As a reapplicant , you should show growth from the previous application. Discuss professional developments such as promotions, awards, and new projects, as well as any significant community involvements and/or educational endeavors. Describe the activity/experience and note its positive impact if any, plus what you have gained or learned from it. Try to include an anecdote for at least 1-2 of the activities. Finally, be selective and present only those activities that are relevant and enhance your application and candidacy in some way.

If you have refined or revised your goals, explain it and make a strong case for why you are now pursuing this altered path.

UCLA EMBA essay #4 (Optional)

Are there any additional circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions Committee should be aware? (500 words maximum)

The phrase “should be aware” indicates that this essay should be used to explain any extenuating circumstances, as well as points that are important to fully understand your candidacy. It’s not the place to add enhancements.

For expert guidance with your UCLA Anderson EMBA application, check out Accepted’s  MBA Application Packages , which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to UCLA Anderson’s EMBA program and look forward to helping you too!

UCLA Anderson Executive MBA application deadlines 2022 – 2023

Source: UCLA Anderson EMBA website

Related Resources:

• MBA Options: Full-Time MBA vs. Part-Time MBA vs. EMBA
• 5 Key Elements for Your Executive MBA Application , a short video
• The Ultimate Guide for EMBA Applicants

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Undergraduate GPA: What It Takes To Get Into A Top-50 U.S. MBA Program

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In 2023, someone — possibly multiple someones — with a 2.4 undergraduate grade point average achieved admission to the full-time MBA program at Chicago Booth School of Business . Booth, at the time, was Poets&Quants ‘ No. 2 business school in the United States .

The same year, another applicant got into Dartmouth Tuck School of Business , ranked No. 9 ( and soon to be ranked No. 3 ), with a 2.7 GPA. In the same cycle, another applicant was admitted to Northwestern Kellogg School of Management — which P&Q ranked No. 4 — with a 2.8.

We know this because those schools are among the few that publish full GPA ranges as part of their MBA class profiles. (See Poets&Quants ‘ stories about the MBA Class of 2025 at Booth , Tuck , and Kellogg .) And as P&Q has reported in previous years , those ranges — as well as the 80% ranges that many schools prefer, and the 90% ranges that U.S. News & World Report began publishing this year as part of its annual MBA ranking — are among the most important data released publicly by B-schools, in the U.S. or anywhere.

GPA RANGES AT LEADING U.S. MBA PROGRAMS

Source: mba class profiles, *rice jones publishes a 3-year average for all data in its mba class profile, gpa won’t break an mba application — ‘but the reverse is not true’.

Why are GPA ranges so important? Because they show that a low undergraduate GPA does not have to be the end of an applicant’s MBA dreams. Anyone with a low GPA can get into Booth, Tuck or Kellogg — or Stanford, Harvard or Wharton — if they work hard enough, and play to their strengths in other areas.

Perhaps that’s why in 2023, for the first time in years, some leading B-schools joined the ranks of those publishing GPA ranges: Virginia Darden School of Business and USC Marshall School of Business , both top-25 B-schools, published 80% ranges as part of their class profiles for the first time last fall.

“Ask most admissions committee members and they will tell you that it’s the sum of many pieces — there is no one ‘most important’ part of the MBA application,” says Stacy Blackman , founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting. “It’s the essays, interviews, and recommendations that ultimately reveal the person beyond the paper. Compelling essays, recommendations, and interviews can provide context for a low GMAT score or GPA.”

Low GPA won’t break an MBA application — but it won’t make it, either. As Blackman notes, “the reverse is not true. Strong numbers will never make up for weak essays or a disorganized, negative recommendation.”

BIGGEST INCREASES IN UNDERGRAD GPA 2022-2023

Washington olin sees biggest gpa average growth: up 0.20 to 3.60.

The GPAs themselves? Not so interesting, alas. What they are is consistent — consistently part of every MBA class profile, and at the top schools, fairly consistent in range and average. Looking at year-over-year changes in GPA average from 2022 to 2023 across 57 of the leading U.S. B-schools, including all of the P&Q top 50, we find:

• 18 schools with positive GPA growth, including seven in the top 25. From 2021 to 2022, just 13 of 57 schools saw positive GPA growth, including seven in the top 25; but from 2020 to 2021 it was 26 schools, including 16 in the top 25. This suggests a rough on-year, off-year cycle.
• 20 schools had negative GPA growth between 2022 and 2023, including 13 in the top 25. From 2021 to 2022, 18 schools saw their GPA average decline, including nine in the top 25; from 2020 to 2021, 15 schools had declines, including six in the top 25.
• Nine schools were even, meaning they published the same GPA average in both 2022 and 2023. In 2022, 14 schools were even; in 2021, it was nine schools. Sufficient data for comparison was not available for 10 schools, up from five.
• Altogether in the P&Q top 25, four schools were even (down from eight last year), seven were positive (same as last year), and 13 were negative (up from nine).

The school with the biggest year-to-year GPA increase among the 57 analyzed by P&Q was Washington University’s Olin Business School in St. Louis , which saw its undergrad GPA average balloon 0.20 to 3.60 in 2023 — higher than 15 peer schools ranked above Olin in the P&Q top 25. In the latter group, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management saw the biggest GPA leap, growing its average by 0.16 to 3.50.

The school with the biggest GPA decline: Maryland Smith School of Business , which dropped 0.12 to 3.23. In the top 25, UCLA Anderson School of Management saw its GPA drop 0.11 to 3.40.

BIGGEST DECREASES IN UNDERGRAD GPA 2022-2023

Vanderbilt & uc-davis see biggest gpa jump from 2018 to 2023.

What does the GPA picture look like with the perspective of time? Across six years from 2018 to 2023, 25 of 57 schools have seen their class GPA average rise overall, and 19 have seen it decline. Five schools are even, and we don’t have enough data to know for another eight.

Two schools are the biggest winners in that span, both up 0.20: Vanderbilt Owen to 3.50, and UC-Davis Graduate School of Management to 3.40. Owen is the biggest winner in the top 25, but Emory Goizueta Business School is close behind with a gain of 0.17 to 3.47.

The school with the biggest decline over six years is Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business , which dropped 0.14 to 3.26. MIT Sloan School of Management, which reports a median GPA each year, is down 0.13 since 2018, to 3.61; and UCLA Anderson is down 0.12 to 3.40.

Overall in the top 25, nine schools are positive from 2018 to 2023, four are even, and 10 are negative.

BIGGEST INCREASES IN UNDERGRAD GPA 2018-2023

Biggest decreases in undergrad gpa 2018-2023, trends & wrinkles.

School to school, there are some noteworthy trends in GPA average/median. Among them:

• The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania hasn’t had a change in GPA average in at least eight years, reporting 3.60 every year since 2017.
• There are several estimates in the tables in this story (the main ones are on pages 2 and 3), since many lower-ranked schools have not posted Class of 2025 data despite us being more than five months into 2024. A few schools are even more behind than that (looking at you, Rutgers — and you too Utah Eccles !).
• Duke Fuqua School of Business stopped reporting average undergrad GPA after 2021; Washington Foster School of Business switched to median in 2022; beginning this year, Rice Jones Graduate School of Business only publishes a three-year average for GPA and other data in its class profile.

Finally, Indiana Kelley School of Business gets more granular than most schools, publishing not only average GPA (in 2023, 3.40) but also the percentage of the MBA class with an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher (46%), the percent with undergraduate GPA between 3.0-3.49 (39%), and the percent with undergraduate GPA between 2.5-2.99 (12%).

Note that last range: A 2.5 didn’t sink one member of the Kelley MBA Class of 2025. But it did mean that person had something to overcome — as he or she would have had to do at any major program. “While a 550 GMAT or a 2.5 GPA will raise a red flag at an MBA program like the Stanford Graduate School of Business ,” writes Stacy Blackman, “a 700 GMAT and a 3.6 GPA make you a strong candidate. But even someone with an 800 GMAT score and a perfect GPA can get rejected at an elite MBA program.”

10TH-90TH PERCENTILE GPA RANGES FOR THE P&Q TOP 25

Source: u.s. news & world report, u.s. news’ 90% range: more ways to look at gpa average.

As part of the massive data dump accompanying its annual ranking of U.S. B-schools, U.S. News lists median and average undergraduate GPAs — except it doesn’t. The magazine is missing the data point for every single school out of 57 examined by Poets&Quants — including our entire 2024 top 50. Why does U.S. News continue to list these metrics at all if they are “N/A” every time?

What the magazine does have is each school’s GPA range between the 10th to 90th percentiles (see tables above and below). All but a handful of schools provided this data, which is not offered by the schools themselves. Though it is not a full range, it is closer than the 80% ranges preferred by many schools. The highlights:

• Two schools, Georgetown McDonough School of Business and William and Mary Mason School of Business , report the lowest 10th percentile: 2.7. (Georgetown’s range extends to 3.8 and William and Mary’s to 3.9.)
• The highest 10th percentile is the Manderson MBA Program at the University of Alabama : 3.36. Highest in the top 25: NYU Stern School of Business : 3.34.
• The lowest 90th percentile is at UC-Davis: 3.1; lowest in the top 25 is at CMU Tepper: 3.53.
• And the highest 90th percentile is shared by five schools, all with 4.0: Washington-St. Louis Olin, Arizona State Carey School of Business , Maryland Smith, Tennessee Haslam College of Business , and Alabama Manderson. The highest in the top 25 is Rice Jones’ 3.94.

10TH-90TH PERCENTILE GPA RANGES FOR TOP-RANKED P&Q MBA PROGRAMS 

See the next pages for six years of GPA data for 57 leading U.S. B-schools, including the 2024 P&Q top 50 schools.

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