Chicago (Booth) 2013 - Calling All Applicants

It might be best to pdf your slides instead of submitting a ppt. Opening a ppt on a different computer, let alone different operating system, may cause unintended changes to your color schemes, images, charts, etc. I would consider animations to be a "motion image," but I'm more risk averse than most

Anyone know which member from the adcom conducted the Shanghai info session in August?

I'm interested to see what people think of this as well...

yes -- is it acceptable to post an essay here or are they looking for a blurb/short explanation?

I still don't know what the answer to my question is, but definitely not an essay!
If what they mean is "have you ever flanked a course? why?", the answer should be short and sweet. No one is really interested in reading 250 words on failed course when all the aplication is 500+200+200 words..

I had the dubious honor of failing a class the last semester of my senior year of undergrad. On this section of the application I wrote a short blurb about the failed class and what happened. Maybe 40-50 words. I also included the optional essay to explain my overall low GPA. Hope this helps.

I don't know about the case where you failed a class but it doesn't appear on your transcript. If they only ask to explain what's on the transcript then I would follow those directions to a T. I guess I don't think it matters if the grade was replaced. Actually I had an incomplete turn to an F. I retook the course and had the new grade replace the F. I don't think I ever mentioned it on my applications because it was irrelevant. That might be your answer.

I'm sure they just want to keep tabs of what schools they may have lost students to.

I would just follow the directions to avoid integrity perception issues. Also talk about the situation in your optional and how you turned it around. Also highlight any other academic achievements (awards/honor soc) to offset the blemish and show that overall you were a serious student. I didn't fail any classes but I did receive two "D"'s that I retook. I made B's on the retakes and still finished in my top 8% and made the honor society...create a similar narrative for your own situation and that should help.

I'm with you. I converted my PPT to a PDF. Why not make it easy for them? I didn't want any negative emotions from a difficult file to be anchored into their mind about my app.

I disagree with you
Writing a whole essay about this says between the lines "I failed badly, please don't think I'm a loser, here are some great things I did", while the correct approach should be something like "I failed a course because of X, the next semester I did Y to change this and moved on".

Bedises, I really don't understand what they aim for - It is even possible to graduate with an "F" in something?

I feel like that is exactly what MBAOver30 did.. He got a poor grade "X", retook the class - "Y", and moved on to finish top 8%.

I feel you both have good advice (which is not as far apart as you may think). How many words a candidate allocates to a situation like this is really dependent on the candidate and the rest of his/her overall profile. If a candidate wants to turn the situation into a "how I overame a challenge essay" --go for it. If it really wasn't a big deal for you, don't write an essay on it.

Now..I don't know a lot about other schools (especially international schools), but at my school if you failed, the F stays on your transcript no matter what. It is a permanent record. Even if you ratake the course and receive an A, the course would show up on your transcript twice. For example:
Fall 2000
Course X - F
Spring 2001
Course X - A

If it shows up on your transcript, absolutely write a little blurb about it in the additional info box. From the sounds of it, your F doesn't appear on your transcript. If it doesn't show up on your transcript, use your judgement. I would ask the admissions office if you are still perplexed about what to do.

^^^yes; it still stays on the transcript; if i recall correctly, some schools report it as a retake with a letter code instead of displaying the failing grade. i'm not sure what shows up on mine; i would feel more comfortable explaining it though. also, is there no optional essay this year?

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/fu ... -questions

i don't see it listed?

Question on the reapplicant essay. Booth's essay is different in that it does not ask explicitly how you've improved your candidacy since last time, just how has your thinking about future goals/mba/booth changed. However, most analysis i've read said that you do need to go beyond that and talk about ways in which you've improved. Is this an accurate assessment?

Hi Guys,
I have a lowly GMAT of 690(Q 49,VA-35).
Decent Acads,
X-82%
XII-91%
College-B.Tech (IT)-82%-First class with distinction.
3 yrs workex in IT industry.(Active technical lead leading a team of 7 ppl in the absence of my lead for the past 3 months)
Good EC's-Martial Arts, Carnatic singer,scuba diver,founded an environmental club in 2010 which has grown to 230 ppl by dec 2012.goal keeper of a nearby football club.

Do I have any chance at Booth.

There is space for an optional essay inside the online application.

Only one way to find out...

Karthik,

Nobody but the Booth AdCom can predict whether one gets in or not. Give it your best possible shot, and let the chips fall where they may.