Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Tips

GMAT

The Class of 2008 had an average GMAT of 703, with 80% of the class scoring between 640 and 760.

Interviews

Interviews will be granted on an invitation-only basis after evaluation of a submitted application. Candidates invited to interview will be contacted by the Mid-Decision date with instructions on how to schedule an appointment.

A candidate who receives an invitation will have only one interview. Interviews are conducted by admissions staff, students or alumni. They are held on campus or in a location convenient for the prospective student. All interviews, regardless of who conducts them, receive equal weight in the evaluation process.

Essays

As Booth has climbed to the top of business school rankings again, it has attracted a broader applicant pool. The school’s challenge is to figure out who really belongs at Booth, as well as who really wants to attend.

This is evident in the school’s main essay question, which explicitly asks applicants, “What or who influenced your choice of schools, and how specifically will Booth help you succeed?” Don’t take this question lightly. First, be honest with the admissions committee (and with yourself) about why you are considering Chicago. Then, be sure to demonstrate your fit with the program and how you will contribute to the school’s community.

Examples of essay prompts previously used by Chicago Booth:

1. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career? (750 word maximum)
2. Please select one of the following two questions. (1000 word maximum).
1. (Option 1) a) Please provide an example of a time when you had to make a choice between two equally important obligations. How did you decide which obligation deserved your attention?  b) Did you try and predict other people’s reactions to your decision? If so, how accurate were you? Why do you think you were or were not accurate in your prediction? c) Reflecting on this experience, how do you think an MBA from Chicago Booth might have aided in your decision-making process?
2. (Option 2) a) Have you ever made a decision that caused you to go against popular opinion? Please describe that situation and your rationale for your decision. b) Did you feel at any point that people misperceived your motives? Explain. c) In retrospect, how do you think an MBA from Chicago Booth would have affected your decision?
3. Slide Presentation - We have asked for a great deal of information throughout this application and now invite you tell us about yourself. Using four slides or less, please provide readers with content that captures who you are. We have set forth the following guidelines for you to consider when creating your presentation.
1. The content is completely up to you. There is no right or wrong approach this essay. Feel free to use the software you are most comfortable with. Acceptable formats for upload in the online application system are PowerPoint or PDF.
2. There is a strict maximum of 4 slides, though you can provide fewer than 4 if you choose. 
3. Slides will be printed and added to your file for review, therefore, flash, hyperlinks, embedded videos, music, etc. will not be viewed by the committee. You are limited to text and static images to convey your points. Color may be used.
4. Slides will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.
5. You are welcome to attach a document containing notes if you feel a deeper explanation of your slides is necessary. However the hope is the slide is able to stand alone and convey your ideas clearly. You will not be penalized for adding notes but you should not construct a slide with the intention of using the notes section as a consistent means of explanation.

4.     (Optional) If there is any important information that is relevant for your candidacy that you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here.

Recommendations

Chicago requires one professional recommendation from a supervisor and one letter of a professional nature or from an organization, club or volunteer project that you are associated with.

Whoever writes your recommendation make sure that they are familiar with you and can offer specific examples of your performance and contributions to the organization. Avoid choosing people simply based on their title or status. 

For expert help with your application, check out our MBA Admissions Consulting.