UCLA Anderson

October 1, 2024
January 6, 2025
April 7, 2025

Essay: Why an MBA

Prompt: Why are you pursuing an MBA? (150 words maximum)

Here are questions to help you provide a concrete answer:

You only have 150 words, so obviously you cannot provide a lot of detail. However, you will need to provide a more concrete answer than the generic "world-class faculty" or "global alumni network."

Essay: Goals

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


When describing your short-term (immediate post-MBA) and long-term (5-10 years in the future) goals , again consider the three pillars Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. In describing your goals, be aware of how your goals fit with the Anderson culture. Here are some examples of goals that demonstrate fit:

Of course, your two answers to the two short essays should complement each other.

Essay: Transformative Leader at Anderson

Prompt: 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 maximum)


As describe how UCLA Anderson will help you develop into a transformative leader, consider the fact that Anderson was built on three pillars, namely, Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Ideally, your short story will accomplish three objectives:

  1. Show that you can persevere despite obstacles, difficulties, or complexities (you don't give up), and that you are able to find solutions to problems.
  2. Show that you are goal-oriented and results-oriented. In this story, you not only tried to reach a goal or milestone, you accomplished it.
  3. Show that you fit with the Anderson culture's three pillars.

Number 3 is more important than you may realize. Year after year, Anderson has referred to the three pillars, and so your answer should be built upon one or two of those pillars. To that end, below are some questions that your essay might answer (not all of them, but one or two).

Share Success
Think Fearlessly
Drive Change

Ultimately, you are not only describing yourself as someone who can persevere, but also describing what valuable experience, approach, background, and/or learning you will be bringing to Anderson.

Optional Essay

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


Use to address:

Use this essay to turn a potential weakness into a strength. Tell the Admissions Committee what happened and why it happened. Be honest in your self-evaluation. Most importantly, tell them what you have learned from the negative experience, and how this learning has influenced future actions.

Essay: Perseverance

Prompt: 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)


Before you begin thinking of examples from your life when you persevered toward a goal, consider the fact that Anderson was built on three pillars, namely, Share Success, Think Fearlessly, and Drive Change. Ideally, your short story will accomplish three objectives:

  1. Show that you can persevere despite obstacles, difficulties, or complexities (you don't give up), and that you are able to find solutions to problems.
  2. Show that you are goal-oriented and results-oriented. In this story, you not only tried to reach a goal or milestone, you accomplished it.
  3. Show that you fit with the Anderson culture's three pillars.

Number 3 is more important than you may realize. Year after year, Anderson has referred to the three pillars, and so your answer should be built upon one or two of those pillars. To that end, below are some questions that your essay might answer (not all of them, but one or two).

Share Success
Think Fearlessly
Drive Change

Ultimately, you are not only describing yourself as someone who can persevere, but also describing what valuable experience, approach, background, and/or learning you will be bringing to Anderson.