About Esha: Living in eight states throughout her life from the Midwest, East Coast, South, and PNW, Esha is happy to find her new home on the West Coast in sunny Los Angeles. Prior to starting at UCLA Anderson, Esha received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and went on to spend three years in Product Marketing at Amazon where she worked on campaigns such as Prime Day. At Anderson, Esha is excited to build upon her skills and stay in Product Marketing specifically within the product side in the health technology space.

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Applying to business school can feel like a whirlwind, especially when balancing work, life, and the pressure of trying to showcase your best self on paper. To make the decision to apply and take the GMAT/GRE is an accomplishment itself and you should be proud!  I remember being in your shoes just a year ago, and with Anderson’s Round 2 deadline approaching on January 6th, I hope this post will offer valuable advice on how to approach the process with confidence. 

I chose to apply Round 2 for a variety of reasons. I wanted the time to fully prepare for the GMAT/GRE and I was up for a promotion at work, allowing me to further reflect on why getting an MBA right now made sense for me. Round 2 allowed me to thoughtfully put my best foot forward without feeling too rushed. 

That said, like any deadline, the timeline moved faster than anticipated. Between balancing work responsibilities and ensuring I had the best versions of all my application materials, there were moments when the process felt overwhelming. What helped me stay on track through it all was organization and planning, treating the MBA process like a mini-project outside of work with its own goals and priorities for each week. 

Looking back on the process, there were a few things that worked well for me. I started early, working backwards from the deadline to ensure I had enough time to get everything together. I asked for feedback from family, friends, and trusted work colleagues to ensure anyone who knew me understood my story; but I made sure to preserve my own voice. I also attended Anderson events such as virtual information sessions, on campus tours, and class visits, which really helped me connect to the culture at Anderson and envision myself as a student here. 

One thing I wish I had integrated into my application materials from the very beginning is the notion that the application should reflect who you are and not who you think the admissions committee wants you to be. Let your authentic self shine through and your story for why MBA and why Anderson will be clear to anyone reading your application. 

Round 2 and the MBA application process as a whole can feel intense. There will be times when you doubt yourself or have to go in another direction, but it is also a time filled with possibility. Remember to take your time, trust the process, and always be true to yourself throughout the entire journey. Your hard work and efforts will pay off and you will end up exactly where you need to be!

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Student Blogger: Esha Sunthankar ‘27

Undergrad: University of Maryland, College Park ‘22

Pre-MBA: Product Marketing at Amazon

Leadership@Anderson: Director of Marketing, Admissions Ambassador Corps; Director of Tech Marketing, Marketing Association

Instagram: @eshasunthankar