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| University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management |
OVERALL 1998 RANK: 12 BW corporate rank: 18 BW graduate rank: 1 BW 1996 rank: 12 |
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1999 Profile Update School Profile School Statistics Graduates' Comments: The Anderson School's emphasis on technology, entrepreneurship, teamwork, and leadership, coupled with its solid core curriculum gave me more than I hoped for in an MBA. Anderson produces more dedicated and skilled team players than any school I am aware of. It also fosters a rich environment for learning from the experiences of your fellow classmates.--Consulting Students always worked cooperatively in the learning process, and teamwork was much more important than individual achievements. Anderson is definitely a "work hard, play hard" environment, and I feel that I was consistently challenged throughout the duration of the program. Additionally, I was taught by a number of outstanding professors, including Dominique Hanssens, Eric Sussman, Jennifer Aaker, and Tony Bernardo, who were always accessible and who made the classroom experience a tremendous learning environment. I feel Anderson has prepared me extremely well, both academically and interpersonally, for the many challenges which I will face in the years to come. --Marketing The Anderson emphasis on teamwork, and the schools urge to incorporate each unique individual into a more powerful whole is amazing. No other program I have come into contact with can offer the eclectic mix of individuals that are gathered here. From dancers, to bankers, liberal arts majors, scientists, not to mention down right good-hearted eccentric people, the Anderson school at UCLA has them all. There were moments when I did not think I was going to make it, and moments when I thought they were throwing far too much at us. But when these moments passed, and we all survived, I realized that I had learned a far more important lesson than what they were making us read in our books. They were teaching us that we could do more than we ever thought possible, while at the same time maintain our private lives. It was the hardest and definitely the best experience of my life so far. --Entrepreneurship Anderson was an outstanding experience! The quality of my peers, the course work, and the faculty impressed me very much. The atmosphere was very cooperative and yet motivating. I have given high praise and recommendations to friends that are contemplating going back to business school. Anderson also continues to improve, something that I think will keep them on the leading edge. What we really need now is a dynamic and prominent dean to raise the bar to another level. --Consulting Being in Los Angeles as a busines school student is fantastic because of the vibrancy and diversity of the business community here. There are lots of young, interesting companies as opposed to the decline and decay you sense on the East Coast, other than in financial services and insurance. Due to the proximity to Mexico and the issues surrounding it, you feel very much a part of the global economy. From what other school could I go on a field trip to Tijuana to view two maquiladoras? That being said, Anderson could afford to look more closely at the core, both in terms of the content and the instructors. Nowhere are we taught how to analyze financial statements (!!!), other than learning what ROA is in the core operations class. As a result, Cockrum's celebrated Finance elective hits you like a freight train in the second year--not because it's so difficult but because we are completely unprepared unless we have had previous training. --Consulting ...The atmosphere created here also strongly supports student-led activities, building leadership and teamwork skills, I participated in numerous extra-curricular activities that enhanced my academic pursuits. --Consulting A great deal of the learning and experiences at the Anderson School occurred outside the classroom. By encouraging community participation, including raising over $100,000 for the Special Olympics, the school helps to build leadership and responsibility. We also have a very close community as was evidenced by the outpouring of assistance following the passing of a fellow student. --Consulting The professors and administration really care about the students and the school. For example, Professor Cockrum donates his teaching salary back to the school every year. The administration does everything they can to make sure you can focus on learning and enjoying your MBA experience. I was in-state, and as a result this education was less than 50% of other MBA programs. However, the school also has some weaknesses. Many students want to stay on the West Coast and as a result some East Coast corporations don't want to recruit at Anderson. I think Anderson's entrepreneurial program scares away some big corporations, because they think that entrepreneurship is contradictory to big company culture. Although this may be true for some companies, entrepreneurial studies is valuable in many jobs and companies where there is high growth and lots of change. A background in entrepreneurship helped me think "outside of the box" and think about how to capitalize on trends and changes...--Marketing My salary, although below U.S. standards, well exceeds the average for locals with MBA degrees. I also believe that an MBA degree from Anderson was one of the important factors that impacted KPMG's decision to offer me a starting position at management level. --Consulting When I spent the summer in New York working for J.P. Morgan in their Technology & Defense investment banking group, I came to realize what a great decision I had made in attending Anderson School. While the school's name may not carry the history and prestige of Harvard or Stanford, there was no loss of respect at J.P. Morgan for my education and abilities. The culture of teamwork and friendliness at Anderson fit very well with that of Morgan. The summer associates there from Anderson enjoyed a 100% full-time offer rate, which was far higher than that of Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Columbia, or University of Chicago. Many employers have come to recognize the value of the Anderson experience both through our excellent Career Management Center and our student body. On top of all this, I saved approximately $25,000. --Finance UCLA successfully nurtures its students' entrepreneurial instincts and brings it out where not otherwise obvious. Its access to local entrepreneurs and venture capital firms is unparalleled. In addition, its environment is extremely collegial... --Finance Since every student at the school has a laptop and ISDN lines are present in both classrooms and breakout rooms, we are able to greatly enhance our learning experiences through increased productivity. Moreover, laser printers, multimedia machines, video, and other high-tech equipment provide us with the infrastructure that we need to perform our analysis and present ideas. These tools greatly enhance our learning experience. With only 330 students per class, everyone knows each other quite well and professors take an active role in coaching and developing the students. Finally, a consistent focus on analytics, teamwork, presentation skills, and leadership have enabled students to truly excel. --Marketing With the proximity to great growth industries such as technology and entertainment, the school is able to leverage great learning opportunities from the business community. In addition, the school facilities boast some of the greatest technological resources available. Considering that the price of in-state tuition at UCLA is considerably lower than most private business schools, the investment in an MBA from UCLA has a great payback. I believe the quality of the education, in addition to the quality of life at the Anderson School is among the best in the country. Yet, given that, the greatest strength of the program is the people--the students and faculty I met and became friends with during my two years are by far the brightest, most dynamic, motivated, and fun group of people I have ever encountered. --Finance Anderson has gone through an incredible transformation since the development of the new building, and the character of the school is transforming as quickly as the technology it houses. The school has always been a powerhouse in entrepreneurial studies and its relationships with successful entrepreneurs continues to grow. Over 75% of the students are members of the entrepreneurial club on campus. The second-most popular club is the New Media club, which just recently changed names to reflect its focus on all technologies and not just new media. However the biggest change in the student body and faculty is occuring through the combination of high-tech with entrepreneurial studies. For example one of the most oversubscribed courses is Robert Foster's High-Tech Marketing Course. He has put together a course that highlights the particularly difficult and unique aspects of trying to market high-tech products and services. --Marketing Faculty members are very interested in what is going on with the students both in regards to our studies and non-school events. One example of this care is seen by the active role several faculty members took in organizing a bone marrow drive for one student who was diagnosed with leukemia. This kind of care and concern is rare and just one of the reasons why I can say that Anderson is truly a community. The faculty are also extremely smart and eloquent instructors. Classes are usually case-focused and therefore require quality professors to lead case discussions. The last reason that I enjoyed Anderson were the facilities. We are in a brand-new building that is outstanding. The entire building is wired and allows the students to plug into the network from practically anywhere in the building... Anderson has a laptop requirement and the students use technology every day. Anderson has a top-rate entrepreneurial program. Some of the outstanding professors are Bill Yost, Bill Cockrum, and Al Osborne. Anyone interested in being an entrepreneur after business school should look at Anderson first. --Marketing I came to UCLA because of its strong finance department, cheaper total two-year tuition (by $20,000), and to experience the West Coast (especially LA) since I grew up in Vermont and lived in New York City since 1988. At the time, I believed that UCLA would be a slightly less rigorous experience than would attending one of the East Coast business schools schools. I was wrong!! Very wrong... The academic rigor at Anderson far surpassed that of my expectations. In fact, I believe that the three 10-week course periods at Anderson are far more demanding than the two 15-week course periods at typical semester schools. Courses start off at full speed and never slow down. There are no slow first and last weeks as there are at semester schools. --No job track given I also found the student body to be tremendous. I am convinced that I will never be surrounded with the excellence of all-around talent (academic, entrepreneurial, athletic, and social) that I have been during the last two years. Students are involved in virtually every aspect of school operations and decisions. Even more impressive is the willingness of school administrators to involve students in the process. Virtually every person involved in running the school makes themselves visible and frequently engages in conversations with students in the Marion Anderson Courtyard. --No job track given The Anderson school's educational complex is stellar! In every classroom, breakout room, library stall, etc. there is a place to plug into the school's network (thus the internet). Professors frequently use the technology infrastructure to distribute course materials, assignments, etc. as well as for teaching within the classroom. The school laptop requirement and implementation through the usage of a standardized platform has made it very easy to share information...many students are walking away from their MBA experience with all of their notes, papers, models etc. in digital form available for future reference... Finally, I'll conclude by saying that I have achieved what I came to Anderson hoping to achieve -- a finance institutional trading opportunity with a great firm. I was able to do so while making tremendous friends and saving the additional $20,000 that I would have had to borrow to attend any of the other top schools (as a two-year in-state resident that number would be $30,000).--Finance There were huge number of top employers interviewing on campus. Almost every top company in the U.S. seemed to interview. The career management center was very professional and helpful in every circumstance. The finance professors all were excellent lecturers and brought large amounts of real-world experience to all classes. --Finance Anderson gave me what I expected from a top business school: a rigorous core and fantasticaly challenging electives taught by the greatest professors I have ever had. Entrepreneurship, finance, and international management are absolute musts here. Extracurricular life never stops, as students always find the time to be involved in club management even after very long hours of study. The school was also particularly flexible in allowing me to graduate early. The interim Dean (Dr. Mamer) has demonstrated tremendous leadership, putting together major initiatives on administrative and academic matters. Finally, easy access to employers and professional guidance are available through our outstanding Career Management Center. I have had the opportunity to work closely with two professors. One as a teaching assistant and the other as a research assistant. Opportunities such as these are abundant at Anderson and I believe add greatly to the overall MBA experience. --Finance The major criticism I have about the school is the lack of ethnic diversity. As a finance major, I find often that I was the only minority student in advanced finance courses. While this is not uncomfortable for me, I think it is a shame that not more minority students attend business school. It is a travesty that a premier southern California business school does not have an abundance of Latino students given the large number of Latinos in the area. --Finance I received only one job offer. However, I am highly confident that I could have received several more offers, because real estate, my chosen career path, is hot right now. Prudential Capital is my dream job out of school, and I took it without thinking twice. Anderson was a great experience -- intellectually, professionally and socially... While I had many great classes, it is significant to mention here the quality of the entrepreneurial studies program at Anderson. I have taken several classes in this area and found them to instill the skills and confidence necessary of an entrepreneur, while also being pragmatic and realistic. In the next five years it is likely I will start my own business, and these classes did a great job to prepare me for the process. --Finance Two of the best years of my life. Although a challenge to manage class load and personal life (recently married), it was a great experience and sound preparation for my post-MBA work life in brand management. I was fortunate to find, once at school, that my fit with the program and my classmates was better than I had expected, and I started with high expectations. Advice to folks thinking about doing it: spend time seriously researching career and company options before you get to campus. It would have saved me a great deal of time and energy attending the blitzkrieg of recruiting events in my first year. --Marketing The culture was such that you could turn to anyone for help with your classwork, job search, or volunteer needs. I was amazed with how the school, faculty and administration pulled together during personal crises, philanthropic fundraising and volunteerism. It's small enough that you feel you know everyone, but large enough that you still continue to meet new people. I couldn't have chosen a better school for my personal needs and interests. --Marketing The administration and staff do not get enough recognition, in particular, the Financial Aid Staff. They have made my experience at Anderson rewarding, both literally and figuratively. This particular department gets overlooked in many surveys and is perhaps the most important (to the student) department at school. Our financial aid department is excellent due to their timely assistance, ability to seek and obtain alternative sources of financing and overall great attitude. --Marketing Back to Top 1999 Profile Update School Profile School Statistics |
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