The Paul Merage MBA offers a rigorous curriculum focused on ethical leadership, strategic thinking, and real-world application.
The program spans one or two years, with the one-year MBA lasting 11 months and the two-year MBA covering four semesters.
In this in-depth Essay Tips for the Paul Merage MBA , we cover:
• Overview of the Paul Merage MBA Program
• Vision, Mission, and Goals
• Ideal Candidate for the Program
• What to Include in the Essay?
• Essay Tips
Overview of the Paul Merage MBA Program
The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, offers a Full-Time MBA program where the curriculum integrates core business principles with an emphasis on how technology is transforming various industries, including manufacturing, finance, healthcare, and retail. Students can choose from a wide array of electives, with 50 to 60 courses available annually across all disciplines.
To enhance global business acumen, the program includes international residentials—faculty-led, week-long immersive experiences in Japan, Cuba, Colombia, Amsterdam, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dubai. These trips allow students to engage directly with diverse business environments and cultures. The program is fully STEM-designated, offering international students additional avenues to stay back post-MBA.
Vision, Mission, and Goals
Historical Context
The school is named after Paul Merage, a visionary entrepreneur known for creating HOT POCKETS and for his philanthropic efforts in education. His journey from an immigrant to a successful entrepreneur embodies the values of perseverance, innovation, and social responsibility—principles that continue to influence the school's mission and vision.
Vision
To be at the forefront of education and research among globally preeminent business schools.
Mission
Develop globally competitive transformational leaders in a diverse, collaborative, student-centric community where academic excellence and practical application coalesce.
Strategic Goals
1. Deliver Research and Teaching Excellence: Commit to high-quality research and teaching that advance knowledge and practice in business and management.
2. Leverage Orange County and Its International Reach: Utilize the unique position in Orange County to foster relationships that have both local and global impact.
3. Value a Culture of Inclusivity: Promote an inclusive environment that respects and embraces diverse perspectives and backgrounds.
4. Be Operationally Innovative and Effective: Continuously improve operational processes to adapt to the rapidly changing business landscape.
Ideal Candidate for the Program
The Paul Merage Full-Time MBA program seeks candidates who align with its mission, vision, and strategic goals. Ideal applicants should demonstrate:
1. Professional Experience & Leadership Potential – Candidates typically have 2 to 6 years of full-time work experience and show strong leadership abilities, problem-solving skills, and a drive to take on management roles.
2. Commitment to Innovation & Digital Transformation – Given the program’s focus on technology-driven business environments, applicants should have experience or interest in adapting to digital disruptions and leveraging technology for strategic decision-making.
3. Global Business Perspective – The program’s international residentials highlight the importance of cross-cultural business acumen. Strong candidates should demonstrate an understanding of global business dynamics and a willingness to engage in diverse environments.
4. Collaborative & Inclusive Mindset – The Merage School values diversity and inclusivity. Ideal candidates should have a track record of working in diverse teams, fostering collaboration, and contributing to an inclusive workplace or academic setting.
5. Strong Academic Foundation & Analytical Skills – As a STEM-designated program, the MBA emphasizes management science and quantitative methods. Applicants should showcase analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
What to Include in the Essay?
When crafting application essays, consider the following:
• Alignment with Mission and Vision: Discuss how your career aspirations and values align with the school's mission to develop globally competitive transformational leaders and its vision to be at the forefront of education and research.
• Demonstrated Leadership and Innovation: Provide examples of past experiences where you have exhibited leadership and innovative thinking, reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit of Paul Merage.
• Commitment to Inclusivity and Collaboration: Highlight instances where you have contributed to or promoted a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, mirroring the school's strategic goals.
• Global Perspective: Illustrate your understanding of global business dynamics and how you plan to leverage international opportunities provided by the program to enhance your career.
• Adaptability to Digital Transformation: Explain how you have adapted to or led initiatives in response to technological disruptions in your industry, aligning with the program's focus on a digitally driven world.
Essay Editing - Work with Atul Jose (Founding Consultant and Essay Specialist)
With the word limit typically in the 250 to 500 range, it is not easy to structure the essay without losing momentum.
As F1GMAT’s Lead Consultant and Essay Specialist, I will help you structure the Essay by:
1) Personal Branding
I will help you find unique life experiences that would differentiate you from the highly competitive application pool.
2) Storytelling
I have developed a keen sense of storytelling from over a decade and a half of editing essays and writing essay examples for F1GMAT’s Essay Guides.
The skills that a writer/editor brings to the table are different from what a former admissions officer or a consultant who has limited writing skills brings
Review Skills # Writing Skills
Movie Critics # Movie Directors
It is easy to comment, but it is tough to structure the essay from the perspective of the applicant and turn the essay into a winning application essay.
3) Aligning with the Culture of the School
A big part of editing and guiding applicants is in educating them about the culture of the school
Some schools have very ‘specific’ traits that they are looking for in an applicant.
If you don’t highlight them and lean towards general leadership or cultural narratives, the essay won’t work.
I will guide you through the writing process.
I will also iteratively edit the essays without losing your original voice.
Email me, Atul Jose, at editor@f1gmat.com and start the collaboration
Essay Tips
These essay questions are for the Full Time MBA Program, including MD/MBA and JD/MBA
Essay 1 (Video Essay): Applicants are required to provide a link to a 1 minute (60 second) video addressing the following prompt:
Question: Please introduce yourself to the admission committee, talking about your experience as it relates to your short-term goals.
How To Approach
1. Start with a Strong Opening That Sets the Context
The introduction should be engaging and provide a quick snapshot of your professional background while naturally leading into your short-term goals. A common approach is to start with a defining moment or a pivotal experience that shaped your career trajectory.
Approach: Begin with a challenge you encountered, the role you played, and how it connects to your ambitions. Alternatively, you can open with a statement that encapsulates your career focus, followed by a transition into your past experiences.
Example: In this section, Adedayo could introduce himself by highlighting his transition from an educator to a fintech marketing strategist. He could start with how his background in Human Kinetics initially shaped his analytical thinking, but his exposure to digital business strategies in fintech led him to redefine his career path.
2. Establish Your Professional Identity
Clearly define what you do and how your work has shaped your skill set. Focus on key responsibilities, the impact you’ve had, and the industries you’ve worked in.
Approach: Instead of listing job roles, emphasize the skills you’ve developed and how they prepare you for your short-term goals. Use quantifiable results where possible.
Example: Here, Adedayo could highlight how his experience as Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication gave him deep exposure to fintech marketing, digital transformation, and product positioning. He could discuss how leading cross-functional teams helped him develop strategic thinking and adaptability.
3. Connect Your Experience to Your Short-Term Goals
After establishing your professional background, make a seamless transition into your short-term goals. Show how your past work has prepared you for your target role post-MBA.
Approach: The key is to draw a logical connection between your past roles and the skills you need for your short-term goals. You should also highlight gaps in your skill set that an MBA will help you fill.
Example: Adedayo could mention how his experience in fintech marketing provided him with exposure to digital strategy, but he now wants to expand into a broader business leadership role.
4. Align Your Story with the MBA Program’s Offerings
Now, connect your aspirations to the MBA program by showcasing how the program aligns with your goals. Mention specific resources, courses, or specializations that are directly relevant.
Approach: Research the program’s focus areas and identify elements that align with your needs. Look at faculty expertise, curriculum, and extracurricular opportunities.
Example: Adedayo could mention how UCI Merage’s Digital Leadership specialization is a perfect fit for his background and aspirations.
5. End with a Forward-Looking Conclusion
Conclude by reinforcing your goals and how you envision contributing to the MBA community. This should be a natural extension of your narrative rather than a separate statement.
Approach: Instead of a generic conclusion, end with a forward-looking perspective. Describe how you plan to leverage your MBA experience both for personal growth and within the MBA community.
Example: Adedayo could wrap up his response by stating how he hopes to contribute his fintech insights and marketing expertise to class discussions.
Essay 2 (500 words or less; please include your full name and the essay question at the top of each page.)
Question: Think of a time you worked cross-functionally beyond your own team. What role did you play? What challenges did you face? What was your contribution to the team?
How To Approach
1. Understanding the Importance of Cross-Functional Collaboration
Cross-functional teamwork is essential in today’s business world, especially in digitally driven and innovation-focused industries. Business leaders are expected to work across departments, bridging gaps between marketing, finance, operations, and technology. In your essay, demonstrate your ability to navigate these complexities, as this aligns with the Paul Merage School’s emphasis on digital leadership and strategic collaboration.
Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your response clearly and effectively.
Example: Adedayo could have highlighted that he collaborated with product managers and engineers to launch a new digital payment solution. As Head of Marketing, he had to align customer insights with technical development, ensuring the product met market needs. He faced challenges in translating technical jargon into compelling customer narratives but successfully bridged the gap by organizing workshops where engineers and marketers co-developed messaging strategies. This approach helped improve product adoption rates by 30%.
2. Defining Your Role in the Cross-Functional Team
Clearly define the role you played and how you contributed to the team’s success. Were you the coordinator, the strategist, or the problem solver? Showcasing leadership, adaptability, and communication skills is key here.
Highlight your ability to manage multiple perspectives and drive consensus. Reference frameworks such as the “Tuckman Model” (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing) to illustrate how you facilitated teamwork.
Example: In this section, Adedayo could emphasize that he played a key role in facilitating communication between the marketing and engineering teams. He developed a structured workflow that incorporated feedback loops, allowing both teams to refine the product iteratively. His efforts ensured that the final solution met both business and technical requirements, ultimately increasing customer retention.
3. Addressing the Challenges Faced
Challenges in cross-functional teams often arise due to differences in priorities, communication gaps, or conflicting goals. Your essay should demonstrate resilience and problem-solving abilities.
Use a problem-resolution framework like the “5 Whys” or “Root Cause Analysis” to demonstrate how you diagnosed the issue and worked toward a solution.
Example: Adedayo could state that a major challenge he faced was a misalignment between marketing’s customer-centric messaging and the engineering team’s product roadmap. To resolve this, he conducted customer insight sessions and presented data-driven findings to the development team. By fostering an open discussion, he helped prioritize features that resonated most with users, improving customer satisfaction metrics by 20%.
4. Demonstrating Impact and Results
Merage values leaders who create tangible impact. Ensure your essay highlights measurable outcomes—whether in revenue growth, process efficiency, or improved collaboration.
Use key performance indicators (KPIs) to quantify success. Mention how your contribution improved team efficiency, customer engagement, or product success.
Example: Adedayo could emphasize that by integrating marketing insights into product development, customer adoption increased by 30% within the first quarter. His efforts not only enhanced interdepartmental collaboration but also positioned the company as a leader in Nigeria’s fintech landscape.
Essay 3 (OPTIONAL - 300 words or less; please include your full name and the essay question at the top of each page.)
At the Paul Merage School of Business, we are ambitious. We are intellectually hungry. We have a calling to deliver educational excellence valuing diversity, collaboration, inclusivity, and respect. In an effort to better understand the context of your achievements, is there any other information about your background, family or experience that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?
How To Approach
1. Determine Whether You Should Answer This Question
Since this is an optional essay, you should only respond if you have relevant information that adds depth to your application. Consider using this space to:
• Explain personal or professional challenges that shaped your journey.
• Provide context for gaps, career transitions, or unusual circumstances.
• Share meaningful aspects of your identity, background, or values that haven't been addressed elsewhere.
Approach: If you already covered your personal and professional journey thoroughly in your main essays, you may not need to answer this question. However, if you have a compelling story that aligns with Merage’s values—such as resilience, collaboration, or leadership—it’s worth sharing.
Example: Adedayo might use this section to discuss his transition from academia to fintech and the challenges of breaking into a new industry without prior experience. He could explain how his adaptability and perseverance helped him succeed, reinforcing the themes of ambition and intellectual curiosity that Merage values.
2. Share a Personal or Professional Challenge That Shaped You
If you choose to answer, frame your response as a brief but impactful story. Discuss a defining moment, how you handled it, and how it shaped your character or career. Focus on lessons learned rather than just describing hardships.
Example: Adedayo could write about how, as the first in his family to enter the corporate world, he faced skepticism about leaving a stable career in education for fintech marketing. He could describe how he navigated this transition, built expertise in digital marketing, and ultimately led impactful projects. This would highlight his resilience and ambition.
3. Highlight How This Experience Relates to Your MBA Goals
Merage is looking for students who embrace intellectual curiosity and collaboration. If your experience shaped your leadership style, problem-solving ability, or career trajectory, make that connection explicit. Show how your background has influenced your aspirations and how Merage will help you build on these experiences.
Example: Adedayo could explain how overcoming career uncertainty fueled his passion for guiding others through digital transformation. He might write, “This experience reinforced my belief in lifelong learning and adaptability—values that I aim to bring to the Merage MBA community.”
4. Keep It Concise and Impactful
Since this is an optional essay, avoid unnecessary details. Focus on what truly adds value to your application. A well-crafted response should be around 200 words.
Example: Adedayo could conclude by tying his story to Merage’s collaborative environment, stating how his background in overcoming challenges will help him contribute diverse perspectives in class discussions.
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