Chicago (Booth) 2013 - Calling All Applicants

What's the deal about thank you notes/email to the interviewer? Is it a required thing?

not 'required' - good to send.

I disagree--for all interviews, work or otherwise, common courtesy is to send a thank you note. You stand out in a bad way if you don't. More importantly, strangers are taking time out of their busy schedules to evaluate your candidacy--acknowledging this is really the least you could do.

- Would she understand when i say that 'for our people, to change their lives,' hoping to be president of my country 20 years from now?
- Would she understands, that my life is bigger that an MBA? That the MBA is just part of the many tools that i will use to get ahead in the years ahead?
- That the short term and long term goals i will elucidate in that interview, might be different from what i will actually do when i graduate? That i have a right to change my mind? That this is interview, 'not a big deal' because it can't possibly capture the me and the life i have lived over the last decades?

I just think that some people out there, they forget to look at the big picture, ending up obsessing over an interview or class. That some of us are interviewing at uchicago is a mirracle in itself, why? Well, because, ten years ago in the village, the probability of getting into booth for me stood at 0.0000000001. I have battled this impossible probability, reducing it to almost 0.5. An interview should not stop me.

I had my interview today, super Saturday. There were many other people interviewing today. The interview itself was a walk in the park. Most of the time, spent on my extensive resume, where i walked her through all the things i have done. It was an informal interview, way relaxed, conversational. I Think she only asked 4 or 5 questions:

1. What do you find challenging about your work?
2. Why Booth
3. What are your plans? Why the MBA, what can it add
4. When you moved here * years ago, what was it like?
5. What was it like to finally get your BA?


Most of the questions, related to the resume. Overally, the interview was ok. I sold my story to her, and she seemed satisfied. Now, the wait begins! 19 days to go! Good luck everyone!

I am stunned by Nyama's post. I respect for your accomplishments and wish you the BEST in your goals. You are an achiever. But how can you put down someone at the school you are applying to? I have meet people a LOT younger than me who are so accomplished and can yet remain humble.
Booth students are definitely very capable yet humble. I have personally interacted with about 10 of them and NONE of them have a chip on their shoulder and are very courteous. When I started my app process, I started talking to the students, I also met with the faculty and the admissions staff when I visited the school. This is ONE AMAZING school that really cares about people and knows to respect prospective students whether they get in or not. After the wonderful experience I had on campus, Booth is the place I want to go to.

The person who interviewed me happened to be a very senior alumnus. He told me that the interview is more realistically an 'interaction' which doesn't make or break your application. It is more to supplement your application with additional inputs (both positive and negatives).

What's Booth's notification policy? For the other schools, found myself getting notification, days in advance of the actual listed date.

What's Booth's notification policy? For the other schools, found myself getting notification, days in advance of the actual listed date.

They will call you on the 27th if you were admitted. On the 28th at 9am CDT, they will update your status online/email, and you will either be denied admission or waitlisted. In a few instances, if they weren't able to get a hold of you, they will email you for admission. Hope this helps.