Hi dweic37:
I went to UCLA Anderson's full time program and I have helped many get into Anderson so I hope I can shed some light on your candidacy.
Your
GMAT is fine for UCLA and just about any other MBA program in the top tier. I am pretty certain you were above the 80% percentile in each area.
Your
GPA is going to be of concern. It is low for a top 15 program but it is not out of the traditional range for UCLA.
The two factors the admissions committee is going to weigh;
the strength of your undergraduate institution and your major. MIS is a quant-type degree and is "tougher" than some of the other softer majors. However, while I have great respect for SJSU and their graduates, this is not going to move the scale w.r.t a top-tier public undergraduate institution. I would consider this a wash.
UCLA Anderson, in my honest opinion,
is underweighted as a finance MBA and learning institution. Some professors like Richard Roll and Ed Leamer are considered heavy hitters with finance research. Throw Sussman and a few others in the mix and you have a very entrepreneurial finance MBA with particular strengths in RE finance. Most people don't realize that UCLA Anderson also offers a Masters in Financial Engineering. That is way too far under the radar IMO.
I love USC and the people I know who went there. However, the strength of their program does not necessarily lie within finance.
My advice is this:
- Apply to UCLA Full Time and consider the MFE as well.
- If married to UCLA, and you are dinged, apply FEMBA the subsequent year.
It is easier to get into and you can take the same classes as the full time program. Some part-timers even joke about their FUMBA (Fully Unemployed MBA) status. In fact, I loved taking classes with my FEMBA colleagues as a full timer. I got to expand my network and avoid the dreaded 8 AM class.
I hope this helps.
If you are in LA, stop by my MBA Workshop (www.LA-MBA.org).
