Chat with Admissions: March 24, 2008

Thanks for joining us today to talk about the Rady School and our MBA program. We look forward to receiving your questions.

I have a question regarding the significance of GMAT score

The GMAT is one of a number of things we look at in evaluating your academic readiness for MBA study. It is the single best predictor of academic performance in the core curriculum of an MBA program. We look not just at the overall score, but at each component—and we consider these in conjunction with your undergraduate academic record.

What experiences do you look for specifically in applicants?

We don’t have a specific kind of experience we’re looking for. There are two things we want to understand about whatever experiences you have had: what did you contribute? and what did you learn? We are interested in what kinds of team experiences you’ve had, wherever these occurred.

Since application review and admission process to FlexMBA is ongoing what would be the impact of finalizing my application by first or second week of April?

As admission is on a rolling-basis at Rady, submit your application when you feel it best represents you and let’s us know you as an individual! Submission within the next couple of weeks for the FlexMBA program would be fine—we look forward to receiving your application.

Are there significant differences between the Full and Flex professors or elective options?

No, our full-time Rady faculty teach both student groups, and we use a similar number and caliber of industry experts for selected courses. And our Flex program gives you the same elective credits as the Full-Time program, and a similar number of choices.

What is the Rady admission selection criteria? Will the criteria be low since Rady has not established its ranking yet?

Profiles of our most recently admitted classes are posted on our external website—and you’ll see that the profile of our most recent Full-Time class is right on par with other top MBA programs. UC San Diego is a highly regarded university, the Rady School has quickly established a reputation for innovation—and we’re attracting a great group of students.

What is the class size for the incoming class of 2010?

We anticipate a class size of around 55-65 for the Full-Time MBA, FlexWeekend and FlexEvening MBA formats for working professionals.

Are any courses in real estate or finance relating to real estate in the electives or are there opportunities to create such classes within the next two years?

We don’t at this point have specific courses in real estate or real estate finance. This is not a top priority for us, but there is an interested finance faculty member, who has supervised some independent study in this area and is talking about a possible future class. No timeline has been established for this.

How many years has the Rady School of Management been in place?

The FlexMBA for working professionals in the weekend format began in fall 2004, followed by the first Full-Time MBA class in fall 2005.

I have been unable to find any information on study abroad opportunities at Rady. Are they available or in the pipeline for development within the next two years?

The University of California has an extensive Education Abroad Program (EAP), and several Rady students have taken advantage of opportunities through this program. We’ve had students study in Japan, Hong Kong, and India—and expect this to grow as our student body grows.

So, do you have a minimum for each component of the GMAT and do not consider an applicant if he does not pass that minimum level?

We would look for balanced scores demonstrating above average ability in each of the areas (quant, verbal, analytical writing).

Is it possible to sit-in on some classes to get a feel for UCSD’s program and, (2) are interviews a required part of the admission’s process?

Once we have your application, we would be happy to arrange for a class visit to preview, but to sit-in or audit classes is not available. Interviews are by invitation only. All admitted students to the program will have been admitted.

I wonder whether you admit a transfer student from another school? I am taking some foundational MBA classes in another school.

Typically, we do not accept transfer credits from other schools. On a case-by-case basis, faculty may consider waiver of selected core courses, if you have demonstrated mastery of the subject matter in an equivalent graduate course. Waiver of a core class would enable you to enroll in an additional elective. Typically, foundation courses are not transferred, as they are more preparatory than equivalent to MBA core classes.

My bachelor’s was from UCLA engineering in Computer Science, and I do not have a great GMAT score (600). Do I have any chance of getting into the Full time MBA program?

Please contact us directly to discuss this as it is a very individual matter and we would want to have additional information from you in order to provide you with a helpful response.

What kinds of scholarships are offered by UCSD?

Limited merit-based fellowships are available to Full-Time MBA students and are awarded at the time of admission. We also have a few need-based fellowships. We ask that you complete essay #4, providing us with your individual situation to be considered for a need-based fellowship. Since the FlexMBA program is self-supporting—no state funding available—there are no fellowships available, but we do provide you with significant information on loan possibilities.

Is it preferred to have an undergrad degree in Business Administration prior to admissions, or will a degree in another field hold it’s weight well?

We look for individuals from a broad range of backgrounds. There is no specific undergrad major that’s preferred.

Are the Full and Flex programs completely separate or are there chances to take courses in one or the other dependent on space available?

Yes, we do allow cross-registration in electives on a space-available basis. In the core classes you will be with your cohort, so that you can build your teamwork skills and develop deep relationships with your classmates.

Are the odds of being accepted for the Full Time MBA program lower now that we are approaching the application deadline of April 7th?

As spaces are filling, it may be a bit more competitive, but here at Rady we are most interested in the individual—we don’t have a set number to admit—it’s about the quality of the applicant and the fit for our program.

How and when can I contact you for more personal information?

Please email MBAadmissions@ucsd.edu and our Admissions Team will see how we can be of assistance.

I am interested in social entrepreneurship, what types of courses or student organizations to you offer?

The Rady chapter of Net Impact is very active, bringing speakers, working on conferences, etc. They are currently looking at how they might have a club-sponsored consulting program for local businesses. We have not yet had a course on social entrepreneurship, though we do have courses on sustainability, renewable energy. We certainly have had student projects that focus on social entrepreneurship.

For an advanced degree applicant to the FlexMBA program, what are you most looking for: breadth, diversity, or experience in teams?

All of these are things we’d be interested in. Each applicant is an individual, bringing a unique set of experiences and abilities—we don’t have a formula for admissions or a specific profile we want everyone to fit. We’re interested in putting together a great class that will learn together and contribute to each other’s experience.

I received an e-mail awhile back saying that I can complete my application now however, I was wondering if I should do that if I have taken the GMAT and would like to retake it to get a higher score. Would the admission process re-evaluate the application once the new scores are reported?

Yes, do submit your application with the current scores and indicate in the application that you plan to retake the GMAT (and when). We will not make a final admission decision until we see the new GMAT scores, but we can put together your file and do a preliminary review. And we will be in contact with you if there any missing pieces.

If coursework in a particular subject matter is not offered how difficult is it to set up independent study with a faculty member and how do such situations work?

More than half our students complete at least one independent study project with a faculty member. Some of these are driven by specific student interest; others come from our business community, which has a high interest in having Rady students and faculty engaged with them.

What percentage of students takes the GMAT multiple times?

Sorry, I really don’t have the information. But I can tell you that we are looking for the highest GMAT scores you can submit. If you don’t feel your GMAT is competitive, then do consider a retake. I’ve seen scores improve significantly with a retake. There is nothing “negative” to the Admissions Committee to see more than one test—or those improved scores!

What information can you provide regarding career avenues pursued by your MBA graduates?

You’ll see placement information for both internships and career employment posted on our website. We see student interest highest in working for companies in the innovation-driven sectors of the economy—technology, wireless, life sciences. In these kinds of companies, students are taking roles in marketing, business development, finance, operations. We also see some interest in financial services, and a bit in consulting—but less than in roles in companies.

How long does it take to receive feedback regarding the admission decision?

Once we have a completed application in, we turn around our decisions within 4-6 weeks, possibly sooner, as we move towards the end of the admission cycle.

If we apply for FlexMBA program and then want to later switch to Full-Time, can we do this?

We look at this on a case-by-case basis, and would want to understand what is really driving the need to change. In terms of course sequencing, it does not make sense to switch until you have completed the core—and then it needs to make academic sense. As a part-time student in the FlexMBA program, you do have access to FT electives on a space-available basis, and you have complete access to our career services.

Is having an undergraduate degree from UCSD seen as a positive, negative, or neutral in the eyes of the admissions committee?

Fairly neutral. We do understand the rigor of admission and an education from UCSD, but this is for other top-tiered universities, as well.

It is said that most of Rady students have life science technology background, does it mean Rady has better job placement for tech-related students than students with other functions such as finance?

Students who come to us with backgrounds in science or technology are always looking for career change into business functions. We find companies interested in a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.

If I interested in the scholarship but have submitted the application without essay #4, can I just email this essay to you later?

Yes, please email the additional essay to MBAadmissions @ucsd.edu, with an explanation, since once the application is submitted, it is not possible to add to or change it.

I notice that most of the professors on Rady faculty page are assistant professors? How is the faculty level compared to other CA schools?

Our most recent group of faculty hires did include a number of assistant professors—a wonderful group including some of the best junior faculty anywhere. We are continuing to recruit additional faculty each year, and would expect the balance to change as our faculty grows. We expect to announce shortly 2 additional faculty to join us for the coming academic year. I don’t have information on faculty levels at other CA schools.

I want to get promotion for Rady S. M. as full-time but, I don’t have a TOFEL score yet because I am studying language at UCSD- Extension?

If you want to submit your application now, please let us know when you anticipate that you will take the TOEFL. We can assemble your file and hold your application for a decision until after we have your TOEFL scores. And to avoid the delay of receiving the official TOEFL score, we can make a decision based on an unofficial score report.

What kind of resources does a graduating student in the MBA program have to find new jobs and careers?

MBA Career Connections, our career center, provides a full range of resources—and they begin working with new students very early in your Rady career, in order to help you prepare for the internship search. Among the resources: on-line job postings and resume books, interview training and career coaching, career fairs, career panels to help you explore options, company presentations and interviewing.

What percentage of your FlexWeekend MBA students are from out of town?

The percentage is fairly small—not significant at this point. People have traveled from LA, the Bay Area, Santa Barbara, New Mexico, Texas, the East Coast.

I have B. in Architecture Eng. from Emirates University in the UAE (Dubai) and I’m looking for Full-Time MPA?

You have asked about a Masters in Public Administration (MPA)—do you mean MBA (business)? We do offer an MBA, but not an MPA. Please clarify. Thanks.

As a Rady student, would it be possible to pursue a joint degree or certificate with another department? For example, could I pursue the clinical trials design and management certificate offered by UCSD Extension while enrolled as a full-time MBA with Rady as a joint program or would I have to pursue this certificate separately?

UC San Diego does not have the option of your being simultaneously enrolled in two degree programs—unless a formal joint program is proposed and approved by the UC system. Extension certificate programs do not count towards a degree, and you could (theoretically) take Extension non-degree classes while an MBA. We would caution you, though, to be careful about how much you undertake at one time. The Rady MBA is fairly rigorous, and we’d want to be sure you were in good shape academically before you made additional commitments.

What’s your target ratio of international students this year?

We do not set a target for our admissions—the target is a result of the class seated because we think we get the best students when looking at them as individuals, not numbers. Based on the “numbers” from the last couple of years, I anticipate (but am not targeting) approximately 30% of the class to be from outside of the U.S. Two years ago, we had 34%, this year it was 30%—most likely for 2008, it will be somewhere around that again.

What are the average GMAT scores?.

The average GMAT score for the Full-Time MBA class entering 2007 was 675 (80% range: 610-730). For the entering FlexWeekend MBA class it was 613 (80% range: 550-690). More numbers/details about each of these classes are available on our website under MBA Programs.

Is it preferred to have professional letters of recommendations or educational letters from professionals?

Choose the people who can best speak on your behalf, addressing the specific questions we ask in our recommendation form. At least one should be professional. If you choose a professor as one of your recommenders, be sure he or she knows you beyond you having taken a class or two. Many faculty recommendations only tell us about your performance in a specific class—which we can see on your transcripts.

What does Rady recommend for students that are accepted but did not achieve a B average in college calculus?

We will provide you with recommendations on how to proceed based on your specific situation—what we want is for you to be adequately prepared for the start of school. We might suggest on on-line Math for Management course over the summer...participation in our Math Bootcamp during PreTerm...community college classes.

I hear that in order to be considered for admission into any UC grad program, the GPA has to be 3.0 or above. Is that correct?

The minimum GPA of 3.0 is correct. However, if we have an applicant we think should be at Rady for graduate studies, we can request an exception to this requirement from the Office of Graduate Studies. We have done this occasionally and have not been denied the exception. We are looking at many other factors of the application than just the (past) undergraduate GPA in considering admission.

Will Rady admit fresh bachelors who don’t have work experience? And if so, is it possible for them to get a scholarship?

We look at exceptional new graduates who can articulate why they are interested in Rady and why it makes sense for them to continue directly to the MBA. We will look at the kinds of team and group experiences you have had and what potential for leadership you show. All applicants are considered for scholarships.

How many years for the MBA?

The Full-Time MBA program is 18 months—Sept to June, generally an internship during summer, and then Sept to June for the second year.

Do you offer any sort of Healthcare concentration?

We don’t have a specific healthcare concentration, but we do have coursework in the life sciences, Lab to Market (and other) projects that are healthcare related, and the option for you to use some of your elective credits for graduate classes elsewhere in campus.

Does Rady provide scholarships to full time MBAs? What percentage of students have a scholarship?

There are some merit-based fellowships available to Full-Time MBA students at Rady. This are offered at the time of admission. The percentage varies from year to year with admissions, based on the amount available and the amount awarded to individuals—we don’t offer awards to a set percentage of students admitted.

Are there facilities in place to accommodate out of town FlexMBA students? (For example, a shuttle from the airport, or Thursday night stay at the hotel)

We would work with you individually on this: we have connected out-of-town students with the hotel where the class stays, in order for them make arrangements, have helped to identify best resources for shuttle, etc. We’d be happy to talk with you directly about details.

How strong are the school’s connections to the medical device industry?

We do see growing student interest in this, and increased company interest in our graduates.

Why does Rady have so much confidence that it will catch up in ranking very soon? Is there any significant difference from the crowd?

The Rady MBA is clearly different from “typical” programs: our emphasis on innovation and the way this is expressed in our curriculum—particularly in the Lab to Market course sequence—is fundamentally different from other MBA programs.

How many full-time MBAs is Rady planning to have this year? How many offers have already been sent out so far?

We have several admission offers that have been made and many have already taken their space. We will continue admissions based on the quality of the applications we receive and the fit at Rady for the individual person. We anticipate a class size of approximately 55-65.

Who are the best contacts if I have other questions after the chat session has elapsed?

Please contact MBAadmissions@ucsd.edu at any time with your questions; we’d be happy to hear from you.

How many recommendation letters do you need from a full-time applicant? Are there any special format?

Two letters of recommendations are required. The format is specific to the application with specific questions we want addressed by the recommender. These are available through the online application—please review them before selecting your recommenders. You will want to choose the best people to speak on your behalf to cover the areas we are asking about.

If you didn’t get into the MBA this year and would like to re-apply the following year, would I have to get the letters of recommendations again or can we use the ones from the previous application?

If you re-apply, we always suggest you use the opportunity to provide us with the best, most current information you can. So, you could use the same letters again—but they wouldn’t reflect any new responsibilities or additional achievements you had. The same goes for your essays—we won’t require new ones, but we hope you will have continued growing and thinking about your goals, and that your essays will reflect this.

Is it possible to visit the school and attend a class in the coming weeks? Who should I contact?

Please contact MBAadmissions@ucsd.edu about the possibility of visiting a class. Just to let you know, we are on spring break right now—so the first available class would not be until mid-April. We would like to have an application on file prior to arranging for a visit, but our Admissions Team will communicate specifics with you.

Thank you very much for joining us today to talk about the Rady School. We hope this has been helpful—and we encourage you to be in touch with MBA Admissions directly if you have other questions. We will look forward to continuing to talk with you.