FEMBA Speaks

Flex FAQs

Hi Everyone,

 

I would like to address a few FAQs related to the Flex section. Here we go -

 

Q. Are the online classes sync or async?

A. Majority of the classes are async and can be seen at your convenient time. Class recordings are done by the professor and TA and uploaded on the learning website. There are online office hours scheduled by the faculty once in a week and they are usually short (an hour or two). You can see the professor via video conference solving problem sets and ask questions if required. These are not mandatory to attend. Most of the video recordings in the first quarter have been async so far. You can also adjust the speed of the video i.e., 1x, 1.5x, 2x and so on.

 

Q. Does the Flex class have any students from LA and surrounding areas?

A. Yes, lots of them! Several classmates live near the LA area or Orange County but attend the flex section because they either travel frequently in their current jobs or have other commitments. The flex schedule provides them enough flexibility to stay out of town for business purposes and still be able to keep up with the demanding program. We have students coming from Northern California, LA, Orange county, San Diego, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Idaho, Las Vegas and even Houston!

 

Q. How often does the class meet on campus?

A. Once every 3-4 weeks

 

Q. Where do out of town students stay on Saturday nights?

A. A number of students stay at one of the guest houses in the UCLA campus. Others prefer hotels near the campus area and some have friends/relatives in the LA area.

 

Q. How do you keep up with the curriculum when you are not visiting campus every week?

A. There are assignments, quizzes and papers that need to be submitted almost every week. Some of them are individual assignments while others are group assignments. Learning group members meet each other via video conferencing tools to discuss these assignments during non-campus visit weeks. 

 

Q. Is it a pain to travel from long distances?

A. I find it manageable because its only once every 3-4 weeks. During a normal on campus weekend, my day starts at 6am CT to catch a 9am CT flight to LAX. I reach campus around noon which gives me enough time before the classes start at 2pm on Saturday. The class ends at 7:30pm and several classmates meet outside campus (usually Westwood) during happy hours set by the social representative of the class. Next day - Sunday, everyone meets for breakfast on campus between 8-9am. Classes go on till 3pm with a lunch break in between. Time for another happy hour after class! Students who do not have to rush immediately to catch a flight hang around a bit longer. I usually catch a 7pm flight back to Houston and arrive home at midnight. Yes, its a long tiring weekend but its time well spent. Otherwise, I would have just wasted my entire Sunday watching NFL. Now, I only get time to watch Red Zone highlights :)

 

Feel free to reach out to me if you have more questions and I'll be happy to answer them. Have a great weekend!

 

Cheers,

Sandeep Shah

FEMBA Flex Section

Class of 2016

IBM

Fall Quarter - Part 1

The first month of school has really flown by, but the experience has been so intense that I can barely remember what life before FEMBA was like (except that I had more time to sleep). 

First quarter core classes are stat and OB.  It’s been a really long time since I’ve had to attend lectures so switching into school mode after being away for so long was challenging to say to the least.  There was (and still is) quite a bit of homework and reading so it took a few weeks for me to figure out the best way to prioritize my tasks and manage my time.  Before the quarter started, I talked to all my friends who had already taken stats and nearly all of them said that it is one of the more difficult classes.  I went in knowing I’d probably need to put in a lot of time to keep up with the material.  I dedicated 75% of my study time working on stats and 25% on OB.  After week 3, I realized that I needed to reallocate my study time so that I could spend more time on OB.  I still do spend more time working on stat (since it is more of a challenge for me) but now it’s probably closer to 60% stat and 40% OB.

Now that I’m in the second half of the fall quarter, I’ve realized that I’ve gotten a lot more efficient and effective with the time I spend studying.  The first half, I felt like I only had time for work, class, and studying.  Now, I feel like I have a bit more free time for non-school related things.  Making to-do lists has helped me keep track of the things I need to get done and when and entering all my appointments in the calendar on my phone so I don’t double myself for events (which has happened a few times this quarter). 

The #1 question I get from my non-FEMBA friends is some variation of “how do you stay awake in class?”  Like everything else, some nights are more draining than others and of course caffeine definitely helps (coffee, tea, and other refreshments are provided!) but I’ve found that lectures and discussions have been engaging.  For me, class has been refreshing change from the day-to-day work grind.

Highlights: Professor Unzueta’s lectures, Leadership Foundations, happy hours, and Halloween party.

I’m really enjoying being a FEMBA and look forward to sharing my experiences with you as I work my way through my first year.

 JH

Greetings from this 2013-2014 FEMBAssador Social Media Team!

 

Who are we and what can we do for you?

Hi and welcome!  We are 3 current Anderson FEMBA students, representing each of the various schedules available to students (Tuesday/Thursdays, Saturdays and Flex).  

We are here to connect with you and share real stories from real students about life in the UCLA Anderson FEMBA program.

As a team we have committed to keep the content on this blog fresh, meaning doing our best to have regular updates on a weekly basis.

So we wanted to use this first blog to introduce ourselves, we've also included our emails/linkedin, so if you have any questions, want to grab coffee or just would like to chat feel free to connect with us!

 

Tim Hong - Class of 2016 (Saturdays)

Connect with Tim!

Where do you work?

Sr. Producer/Product Manager - Activision Blizzard

 

Where are you commuting from?

Santa Monica, CA

What has surprised you most since starting school?

If I had to choose one, I would say that it is definitely the people I have met since starting the program.  Before starting b-school I had an idea of what I thought the typical MBA student would be like (finance, consulting, suit and tie, all type A).  However since starting Anderson, I couldn’t be more wrong!  I’ve met so many different people who are not only at the top of their fields, but are also friendly, willing to help and challenge my own ideas and perceptions.  It’s a great feeling to know that we’re all here to better ourselves by taking on this large endeavor together.

What would you like to tell potential future Anderson FEMBAs?

Regardless of where you are at in the admissions cycle (just starting research on schools, actively applying, waiting to hear back, etc…) it is always a good thing to consider what your personal story is.  Namely, “Why do I want to get my MBA?”, “Where do I want it to take me?”, “Why is the Anderson part time program the best fit for me?”  Not only is important for you to know internally the answers to these questions, but also to be able to communicate it to others as well.  No one is asking you to have all the answers, but we want to get to know you and what you bring to the table.  Who knows, your next best connection could be one conversation away…

Hobbies?

Anything related to the Golden State Warriors, 49ers, or SF Giants (can you tell where I’m from?).  Also love walking with my wife and dog, talking technology trends/innovations, playing hoops and finding the best food around.

Jennifer Hsu - Class of 2016 (Tues/Thurs Nights)

Connect with Jennifer!

Where do you work?

Manager - 21st Century Fox

 

 

Where are you commuting from?

Downtown Los Angeles

What has surprised you most since starting school?

I get fewer hours of sleep but am so much more efficient with my waking hours.  I'm also surprised that I look forward to going to lecture (on most) Tuesdays and Thursdays.  It's a nice change to get your brain to shift gears and think about big picture stuff.

Hobbies?

Travel, food (eating not cooking), and spending time with family, friends, and my dog

 

 

Sandeep Shah - Class of 2016 (FLEX)

Connect with Sandeep!

Where do you work?

IT Customer Engagement Lead - IBM

 

 

Where are you commuting from?

Houston, TX!

What has surprised you most since starting school?

24 hours used to be a lot of time before school started. Not anymore. The fun part is that there is always something to do – assignments, quizzes, learning groups and so on. I used to waste a lot of time doing non-productive stuff but this schedule has just forced me to be super efficient. You just become better at multi-tasking and quick decision making.

What would you like to tell potential future Anderson FEMBAs?

Come visit the school campus and the various open houses and other admissions events. Enjoy the admissions process and give your best shot to the essays and let your personality shine through. Talk to current students at events, talk to us and ask anything you want to know. Once admitted, you might need to give up your favorite TV show or hobby for a while but it will be worth it because this journey will be rewarding. Open up and socialize/network with everyone around you – at school, work or in day-to-day life. Lastly, be ready to gain a few pounds and attend a million happy hours. Don't cancel that gym membership! Good luck!

Hobbies?

Hiking, traveling, pig out at food trucks and restaurants, sports, current affairs and anything to do with 'Breaking Bad' and 'House of Cards'