UCLA Essay Topic.. Expert advice needed!

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UCLA Essay Topic.. Expert advice needed!

by richwang » Tue Aug 10, 2010 2:17 pm
Hi all:

I have a dilemma as to what topic to choose for one of their essay choices. I feel both my options are quite strong, so I'd like some outside feedback on which would be more powerful.

"Describe your short-term and long-term career goals. What is your motivation for pursuing an MBA now and how will UCLA Anderson help you to achieve your goals? (750 words) "

Option A: Entertainment Music Management
Pros
- Music is definitely my passion, I have lots of experience with individual and team environments including being music director at a UCLA undergraduate music group. (also multiple CD's produced, recorded, and successfully sold @ high volume)
- My work revolves around program management and connecting the dots between high-level corporate strategy and operations in order to communicate a point (can be drawn parallel to music)

Why UCLA?
- UCLA is the premier location for entertainment business, and one of the few MBA programs that offer entertainment and media management courses.

Cons
- The other essay for my app (Describe a defining moment...) is revolved around being music director of the undergrad music group @ UCLA. May be too deep of an application without breadth..


Option B: Management Consulting @ HighTech Firm
Pros/Why MBA
- Similarly, my work around program management allows me to see disconnects between strategy and operations in a corporation, but leaves me without the power or know-how of how to fix it.
- I have worked extensively with my current networking company to recruit @ UCLA (showing a strong bond I have between both organizations), as well as met with the department head of CS department to discuss how to leverage our relationships to build stronger industrial presence on campus.

Why UCLA
- Their AMR (Applied Management Project) would be perfect for me to travel back to my current company to work on it there, thus leveraging my current relationships.

Cons:
- Tons of applicants will want to do management consulting, will be hard to differentiate myself and even my story itself isn't too unique.


Thanks SO MUCH in advance... wow this was long. If you read through this, you have an amazing attention span!

Regards, Richard
Work hard, play hard.
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by Bryant@VeritasPrep » Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:44 pm
Richard I agree that both topics would be fine and could yield the desired result, but I would say go with the one which most closely ties into your post-MBA vision and goals. Even if your other essay touches on your time as a music director, to attack it from another angle would be fine if it ties into what you want to do afterwards. Hope this helps.
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by Jessica@VeritasPrep » Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:48 pm
I agree with Bryant. The question asks what your goals are - so, my question to you is, do you want to be in music management or a high tech consultant?? If you can answer that, you have your answer!

I hear your concern about being too "deep", but, if this is a true passion then it isn't surprising that it might be a part of multiple essays. Just make sure you are focused on different things so that the essays touch on different strengths/skills/challenges, etc.
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