Insider Tips for Perfecting Your MBA Application

Alex Svensson is passionate about empowering students to achieve their professional and academic goals.

As our director of recruitment and admissions for the MBA and Master of Management programs, Svensson leads a dedicated team helping prospective students with advice, guidance and hands-on assistance in crafting their strongest possible application.

With a background in business administration and counseling, Svensson has been involved in student affairs and admissions for several years. She joined the Graduate School of Management as the admissions director for the Sacramento Part-Time MBA program in 2020.

We asked Svensson about her leadership role, her journey into higher education admissions, and what prospective students can expect from the UC Davis MBA and Master of Management programs.

Can you share about your academic background and what inspired you to pursue a career in higher education admissions?

It took me some time to find my passion after earning my undergraduate degree, which is something I’m sure many students experience after graduation. While working as a certification coordinator at a market research software company, I realized the part of the job I enjoyed most was interacting with students at local community colleges.

I loved the energy and passion of the students I connected with, and knew I wanted to make that a bigger part of my career.

This desire led me to research master’s programs. I eventually earned an M.S. in counseling, focusing on student affairs and college counseling at California State University, Fresno.

I knew I had found the right path when I took my first introductory class. After graduation, I moved to Sacramento and started working as an advisor for undergraduate admissions at UC Davis.

In 2020, I transitioned to graduate admissions at the Graduate School of Management. This role has given me the opportunity to develop deeper relationships with students, where I can celebrate their academic and professional accomplishments well beyond the admissions process.

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Can you share more about diversity within our STEM-designated MBA and Master of Management programs?

Our Master of Business Administration and Master of Management programs attract talented, diverse students from around the world, and we welcome applicants from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. Our latest Full-Time MBA cohort is 40% women, 45% underrepresented students and about 50% international students.

Our cohorts are purposely smaller than many other programs, which allows our students and faculty to get to know each other by first name. In addition to our events, our class sizes naturally create informal opportunities for peer learning. Additionally, students have the chance to expand their global business perspectives through networking and study abroad opportunities as part of our International Study Trip and Integrated Management Projects for global companies.

What distinctions about the MBA and Master of Management programs are you most excited to highlight to prospective students considering UC Davis?

There are so many things to get excited about becoming an MBA or MM student. Here are the top distinctions I encourage prospective students to explore:

Can you describe your team’s role in helping prospective MBA and MM students as they consider applying to various programs?

Our team’s primary goal is to guide and provide feedback to students who are exploring or applying to MBA and MM programs. We highlight the distinctive strengths of UC Davis and the degree program, and connect prospective students with key resources, including current students, faculty, alumni, financial aid, the campus veterans center, etc. to address all inquiries. Our goal is to give students the knowledge and confidence they need to select the program that is the best fit for their academic and professional goals.

What advice do you have for MBA and MM applicants?

Apply early.

• Connect with our admissions team for guidance.
• We offer various events and consultations to help you navigate the application process.
• There are many steps to take in preparation for the start of your program, and applying early ensures you have ample time to complete them without added stress. Early applicants are also typically more prepared and confident when classes begin.
• Plus, special networking events are available exclusively for those who are admitted and enrolled early.

Read through the application carefully.

• This might seem like an obvious tip, but forgetting to upload a required document or failing to properly answer the essay can impact the application review process and the final admissions decision.
• We encourage all applicants to thoroughly review the application and talk to our admissions team about questions prior to submitting their application. The application is your first introduction to members of the admissions committee, so make sure to put your best foot forward by following all the instructions.

What key qualities does the admissions committee look for in applicants?

At UC Davis we evaluate your academic potential, professional promise and personal qualities.

For the MBA program, we also consider your professional experience. Ideally, competitive candidates who have been admitted to our MBA programs tend to have five to seven years of full-time work experience after completing their undergraduate degree.

Professional experience varies by program.

The Master of Management program is geared toward recent graduates or early career professionals. Competitive candidates typically have one year of full-time work experience or strong internship experience. Be sure to highlight internships, volunteer efforts and any work experience you do have.

Ideally, competitive candidates who have been admitted to our MBA programs range from five to seven years of full-time work experience after completing their undergraduate degree.

Our programs are STEM-designated, so we look for strong quantitative skills in your previous coursework, test scores or work experience as part of our evaluation process. Applicants who believe their GMAT/GRE score might add value to their overall application are encouraged to include their scores with the application. Submitting a test score gives the admission committee an additional data point for application evaluation.

Finally, we are looking for you! We want to know who you are and how you will contribute to our community and culture at the GSM.

Finally, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

 I am an avid antique collector and tea drinker. I also enjoy traveling, home renovation and kayaking!