About Monica: Monica was born and raised in the SF Bay Area and went to UC Berkeley where she studied Political Economy and Urban Studies. Prior to Anderson, she worked as an HR Manager at Samsung Bioepis where she worked on hiring talent and developing recruiting strategies. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and taking walks.

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So you put your deposit in for Anderson and gave your company your 2-week notice. As you book your plane ticket to LA and the start date approaches, you realize that getting your MBA is not a dream anymore, it’s real. Moving to a new city and getting back into school mode can be scary, but UCLA Anderson makes the transition as smooth as possible through its summer quarter. Anderson’s FTMBA program is unique in that its academic school-year for first-years starts at the end of July. From the end of July to mid-September, when the official fall quarter starts, your summer will be filled with onboarding, summer classes, and fun. 

Onboarding

The summer quarter begins with a two-week onboarding period, designed to integrate new students into the vibrant life at Anderson. This time provides an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow classmates and faculty through daily interactions, where insights into Anderson’s extensive resources are shared. Mornings and afternoons are filled with face-time with peers and faculty where you learn more about the various resources available at Anderson, and evenings are filled with socials such as trivia night and happy hours, organized by the student-led Anderson Onboarding Committee. A highlight of this period is the Challenge Course—a series of outdoor team-building activities that not only encourage camaraderie but also instill a sense of mutual support among the cohort.

Academics

Academic engagement commences promptly after onboarding, with the summer quarter serving as a primer for the rigorous year ahead. The quarter features the Parker Series, an initiative of the Parker Career Center, which offers comprehensive insights into various industries, delineating successful recruitment strategies. This series is complemented by smaller, focused group sessions aimed at career goal setting, and meticulous preparations of resumes and cover letters. Additionally, students may opt to participate in one of the industry-specific immersions—finance, technology, or consulting—that provide an early glimpse into key concepts and recruitment processes relevant to these fields. After the 2-week onboarding period, Anderson students will officially begin with their academic coursework. The term for summer courses is shorter than the official academic quarters but will cover a breadth of topics that will lay a foundational base for the core courses in the fall quarter.

Networking and Events

From day one, building robust relationships is a cornerstone of the MBA experience at Anderson. Throughout the summer, the Anderson Onboarding Committee arranges intimate group dinners, enabling students to forge connections within their cohort. Beyond these dinners, the calendar is replete with a variety of student-initiated social gatherings catering to diverse interests. The culmination of this quarter is a spirited class trip to Las Vegas, where students can unwind and celebrate their initial accomplishments together.

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• Student Blogger: Monica Lee ‘25
• Undergrad: UC Berkeley ’15
• Pre-MBA: HR Manager at Samsung Bioepis
• Leadership@Anderson: AnderTech VP of Admissions, Healthcare Business Association VP of External Development, Women’s Business Connection VP of Professional Development, Korean Business Student Association VP of Alumni Relations