How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250 word minimum)
MBA admissions teams at the best business schools expect you to give thoughtful consideration to your post-MBA career plans and how their MBA program can uniquely help you achieve your goals.
Chicago Booth also seeks MBA students who are very clear about their career goals, can give a clear rationale for their career path, and persuasively articulate how Booth MBA will help them achieve their post-MBA career goals.
Best approach when writing an answer to this MBA essay would be - be realistic, visionary, and focused while detailing your career goals. Exhibit passion for the industry and the functional role of your choice and demonstrate, with short, relevant examples, that you have the vision, skill set, and determination to make it happen.
While the short-term goals can be more "practical", greater vision and impact in the longer-term goal would make your essay impressive and distinctive. Both goals have to be logical and credible; to this mix, if you can add passion as well, you have the recipe for a beautiful and effective essay.
For the immediate goal after MBA, write about the industry and function you are interested in and, if possible, give an example or two of your ideal employers - preferably from those that recruit at Chicago Booth. You must also include your geographical preference. For example, if you want to work in the US or want to go back to your home country after your MBA.
The most important part of the question is - how would Chicago Booth help you achieve your goals?
So "Why Chicago Booth?" part has to be dealt with application, research, and intelligence. To compellingly illustrate that the Chicago Booth MBA is the best option for you to move forward successfully you need to show how the Booth MBA will strengthen and enhance your career. Personalize your answer as much as possible and link your career goals with Chicago Booth as closely as possible. Please try to go beyond cutting/pasting info gleaned from the Chicago Booth website and endeavor to make unique connections between you (skills, interests, goals, knowledge, etc.) and Chicago Booth (pedagogy, centers of excellence, faculty, location, alumni, etc.).
The generous word limits given by Booth, allows you to explore and reveal your ideas and vision to the Chicago Booth admissions committee in a manner that spurs admiration and credibility.
An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Minimum 250 words, no maximum)
For the last 2 years, Chicago Booth has been asking the question "Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life?" This year, they focus completely to know who are you outside of work.
If you are wondering - why does a professional institution care about what you do outside of work?!
1. To understand you better, on a personal level, and find the cultural fit with the Booth MBA program. As a member of their community, they want to get a sense of how you would engage, contribute, and enrich the learning experiences of your peers. So try to show them how you'd engage with the Boot community.
2. To select the best of the best. As one of the top business schools in the world, an M7 MBA program, Chicago Booth gets applications from thousands of hopeful students. The more impressive and distinctive your extra-curricular involvement and achievements - the higher your chances of being selected. So try to focus on your most impactful stories and initiatives.
3. To build a diverse Booth MBA classroom. By learning about your interests and passions, the Booth admissions team would be able to create a dynamic and diverse class. When a large number of students from common backgrounds such as consulting, investment banking, and technology apply to Booth MBA - this answer will differentiate them. So ideally write about aspects that you consider are unique and will clearly differentiate you from other MBA applicants.
Always remember that your singular focus is always to impress the MBA admission team! So for this MBA essay too, try to pick activities, achievements, and involvements that are not only interesting, and impressive, and show a glimpse of your personal side but also present you positively and strongly to the Booth MBA admissions team.
Is there any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? If so, please address in an optional essay. (300-word maximum)
As usual an optional essay requires effort even when you don’t write it. The main question in any optional essay is to decide whether you need to write it at all. Attempt the Chicago Booth optional essay only if you feel that it will improve the factual and material strength of your application.
Do not submit your Chicago Booth optional essay as an addendum to any of your essays. With 2500 words and a complete PowerPoint presentation at your disposal, you better not take this route!
You can use the Chicago optional essay to explain shortfalls in your application which you feel are truly detrimental to your candidature. Areas of underperformance (academic or professional or GMAT) or events which stick out (gaps in your resumes or second MBA) can be commented on if you have an explanation that is intelligent, interesting and credible. The Chicago optional essay is also acceptable if you need to convey an extraordinarily positive information that CANNOT be accommodated in the other essays.
Booth MBA application requires you to submit a one-page resume along with details about your employment and academics. The typical MBA resume format consists of employment, education, and extracurricular details. MBA resume tips
Please submit letters of recommendation from two individuals who know you well and can offer specific examples of your performance at and contributions to an organization.
One letter of recommendation should come from a supervisor. If you are unable to ask your current supervisor, please explain the circumstances in the optional essay.
The other letter can come from another professional contact or from someone who has worked with you in an organization or club, or on a volunteer project. This letter can offer a different perspective on your skill sets outside of your professional environment.
If you work for a family business or own your own company, please submit a letter from a client or outside party who does business with you and can provide an objective assessment.
Like many top business schools in the US, Booth MBA application constitutes of letter of recommendation questions that are a modified version of the GMAC MBA letter of recommendation template. MBA LOR tips
As is the policy with most top business schools, Booth MBA interviews are conducted only by invitation. Students typically would recieve an invite 4-6 weeks after submitting their MBA applications. If you are invited for interview, you might also be required to submit additional essays or videos. You will have one interview, conducted by a current student, graduate, or admissions staff member. MBA interview tips
