The UCLA Anderson School of Management requires candidates to provide three “short essays.” The first is about the applicant’s need for an MBA, and the second focuses on their short- and long-term professional objectives. For the third, candidates must discuss why Anderson is the best MBA program for them and how they anticipate participating in the school’s community. In total, the three essays have a maximum word count of just 550 words, so applicants must be concise and direct in their responses. Some might be tempted to use the optional essay to squeeze in more information about themselves, but anyone considering this option must be prudent about doing so, because Anderson very clearly states that the essay is specifically for “extenuating circumstances.” Our full analysis of all the school’s 2025–2026 prompts follows.
UCLA Anderson 2025–2026 Essay Tips
Essays are meant to complement the information provided throughout your application to highlight how an MBA fits into your career goals and journey. Strong essays are introspective, genuine, and succinct – while showcasing a clear vision for your future and the impact you plan to make on the Anderson community. Essentially, we want to learn more about who you are and why an MBA from UCLA Anderson is the right next step in your life.
Short Essay Prompts: For the 2025-2026 application year, we have three short essay prompts that are required for first-time applicants:
1. Why is the MBA the right degree for you to pursue both personally and professionally? (150 words)
This is a very straightforward request for your motivation for wanting to attend business school. What do you need to learn, gain, or experience that you believe is necessary to get you from where you are now to where you want to be in the future? Consider all the benefits and opportunities that business school provides, such as the network, exposure to a wide range of diverse individuals and environments, extracurricular opportunities and events, mentorship possibilities, access to distinguished faculty members, and hands-on learning experiences. Do not discuss your professional aspirations in this essay; you will address that part of your profile in your second short essay.
An MBA is a major investment in a variety of ways and on multiple levels, and the Anderson admissions committee wants to know that you are enthusiastic about the entire experience and feel that the commitment of resources is both necessary and worthwhile. Succinctly explain how earning your MBA will be additive to your life, personally as well as professionally.
2. Describe your post-MBA short-term and long-term career goals. (150 words)
This is another very direct question that does not require a lot of embellishment. Be as specific as you can about your objectives to show the admissions committee that you have a clear plan and focus. If you know the exact role you want to target, along with the industry and/or function and perhaps even specific organizations you would like to join, simply present this information. If you do not, be as detailed as you can in 150 words in sharing the overall path you want to take, perhaps describing the kind of work you would like to do and/or the problem you want to help solve. Showing intention and focus is key. Anderson is not looking for any one “right” answer here, but you want to make sure that your stated goals make sense given your background (which the admissions committee will be able to extrapolate from your resume) and that the transition from your short-term aspiration to your longer-term goal is both understandable and realistic.
These first two essays cover some of the traditional elements of a standard personal statement, so we encourage you to download a free copy of the mbaMission Personal Statement Guide, which offers in-depth guidance on how to frame and discuss these elements of your candidacy, along with multiple illustrative examples.
3. What makes UCLA Anderson a top choice for you, and how will you engage with and contribute to the community? (250 words)
Now that you have explained your need for an MBA and outlined your professional aspirations, in response to this prompt, you must convince the admissions committee that Anderson is the best program to position you to achieve your stated goals. The school wants to know what resources and opportunities at Anderson you will rely on to gain the skills, exposure, and/or knowledge you feel you need to succeed in your career. In this (brief) essay, you need to show that you are very familiar with what the Anderson MBA experience offers and which aspects of it resonate with you. This of course means that you must do your research on the program beyond the school’s basic marketing materials and speak directly with students and alumni to get personal insight into the offerings you feel are most important for you. You cannot simply offer the admissions committee a list of courses or events—you must clearly convey how you will take advantage of the resources you highlight and explain why they are key to your development. With this prompt, Anderson also wants to see that you have considered how you will add value to its classroom and community. You might want to discuss how your past professional and personal experiences will enable you to contribute to the program in different ways. By illustrating your connection to Anderson-specific resources, you will help the admissions committee envision the role you will play in the school’s community.
To learn more about UCLA Anderson’s academic program, defining characteristics, crucial statistics, social life, standout faculty members, and other key features, download a complimentary copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the Anderson School of Management.
Optional Essay: Are there any extenuating circumstances in your profile about which the Admissions committee should be aware? (250 words maximum)
Anderson’s optional essay is your opportunity—if needed—to address any lingering questions that an admissions officer might have about your candidacy, such as a poor grade or overall GPA, a low GMAT or GRE score, or a gap in your work experience. Do not simply try to fill this space because you fear that not doing so would somehow count against you (it will not). The admissions committee states very clearly on its application requirements page, “No preference is given in the evaluation process to those who choose to respond to this optional essay, so please use your best judgment.” This means that no matter how tempted you might be, this is not the place to reuse a strong essay you wrote for a different school or to offer an anecdote or two that you were unable to include in your required essay. However, if you truly feel that you must emphasize or explain something that would legitimately render your application incomplete if omitted, write a very brief piece on this key aspect of your profile. We suggest that before you do, you download a free copy of the mbaMission Optional Essays Guide, in which we offer detailed advice on deciding whether to take advantage of the optional essay and how best to do so (with multiple sample essays).
Reapplicant Essay(s): Reapplicants are those who submitted a completed MBA application within the previous two years (that is, who applied for the MBA program starting in 2024 or 2025) and received a final decision. Reapplicants are required to answer the Short Essay Prompts. It is suggested, but not required, to also answer the Optional Essay.
Rather than simply providing an update on their candidacy and reasserting their interest in Anderson’s MBA program, reapplicants must respond to the school’s short-answer questions for first-time applicants. This seems to underscore the importance of the required essay questions and the admissions committee’s interest in learning about these aspects of their candidates’ profiles. Although the school notes that providing a response to the optional prompt is encouraged, but not mandatory, we would strongly suggest doing so to demonstrate the level of your investment and interest in an Anderson MBA. That said, you must of course respond thoughtfully and compellingly to the additional prompt—you will not gain points simply for submitting something; the substance still needs to be there.
Again, we suggest downloading your free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the Anderson School of Management to learn more about Anderson and the characteristic elements of its MBA program,
The Next Step—Mastering Your UCLA Anderson Interview: Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free Interview Guides to spur you along! Download your free copy of the today.
