UCLA Anderson Business School

UCLA Anderson EMBA Essay Tips 2024



UCLA Anderson EMBA Essay Tips # 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 maximum)

This is the essay that should come straight from your heart. When were you the very best at your game? You know it more than anyone else. You can select a topic either from your work experience or outside it. Write about it convincingly and in detail as you have plenty of words to narrate your story.

However, please keep in mind that business schools look for certain traits in applicants – impactful leadership, a sense of vision and the capacity to think big, initiative, integrity, communication skills, the ability to be a team player, self-awareness and so on. Therefore, when you discuss this episode of your life, make sure to focus on one or more of these traits. Show the admissions committee, through suitable anecdotes, how you were at your very best in the process of taking on challenges head-on and overcoming obstacle after obstacle. Finally, show them the impact of your leadership and also mention what you learnt from this experience. Go for it!



UCLA Anderson EMBA Essay Tips # 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 maximum)

Think about the entire journey of your career. You have travelled a significant distance since day one of your career. At the very onset of this journey, you had some final destination (long term career goal) in mind. Reflecting back on your journey, do you believe that you are on the right track? Or do you need to take a detour (career change) in order to arrive at your destination? Perhaps you have changed your destination thinking that your existing skill set and business scenarios make your earlier goals untenable. Whatever the case, you believe that you need to re-tool yourself in order to plunge into your journey once again with vigor and enthusiasm. And hence you need an EMBA.

Now, please reflect on your career journey and tell the admissions team why you need to re-tool at this point in time. What are the skills and competencies you have picked up along your path? What are some of the eye-opening lessons you have learned that have broadened your horizon? Do you believe that you have built a solid foundation of knowledge that will help you to start gathering advanced knowledge on various subjects?

Do you think that this journey has strengthened your resolve to do what you believe is the most significant thing in your life? Keeping in mind the rapid technological changes, what do you believe is the most meaningful goal for you to achieve? What are the skills you need that will help you accomplish it? And why do you need those skills at this point in time?

Whatever be the reasons, think well and critically analyze why that knowledge can't be obtained by a few more years of work experience. Give an all-inclusive reason on why an immersion experience of an EMBA program will be required to obtain the necessary knowledge and refine your leadership skills.

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Anderson Differentiation

  • Great location – Los Angeles
  • Hub of media and entertainment industry
  • Excellent real estate and finance programs

Anderson is known for

  • Top ranked program in California
  • Globally diversified student body – 44 countries represented!
  • Strong focus on giving back to the community

Apply if you have

  • Wish to work in the west coast
  • Think fearlessly and open to change
  • Accomplishments in extracurricular

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