This thread is for the Booth 2011 Application Year, meaning applicants that are starting School in the Fall of 2011. Please direct all of your questions for this year into the 2012 thread calling-all-2012-chicago-booth-fall-applicants-116701.html If you are a current student/admit, please consider visiting the thread for Admitted Students admitted-to-chicago-booth-class-of-2013-full-time-mba-thread-107432.html At Chicago Booth, you get more than just a world-class education. You become part of a global business force. Please use the following form to add your stats to the spreadsheet: Form link Edit Link: https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Av3d03301eNIdFozSUpyT2lUQzN0TG41MTFDWG83eHc&hl=en#gid=0 Spreadsheet 0Av3d03301eNIdFozSUpyT2lUQzN0TG41MTFDWG83eHc GMAT CLUB STATS Round 1 Deadline: October 13, 2010 Notification: December 15, 2010 Round 2 Deadline: January 5, 2011 Notification: March 16, 2011 Round 3 Deadline: April 13, 2011 Notification: May 18, 2011 Evening/Weekend MBA Deadlines: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/parttime/a ... #deadlines SCHOOL INFO Excerpts from Admissions Chat Events Application Review Process At minimum three people will review an application. We do not review applications in groups but the reader will have access to the previous readers' reviews. Our office hires students to serve as Admissions Fellows. These students will review the files(and conduct our on campus interviews.) Once the Fellows complete their review an admissions officer reviews and will make a recommendation. At this time a candidate is invited to interview or recommended for denial. If denial the Associate Dean will review the file. If invited to interview, after the interview takes place, the file is reviewed again by an admissions officer. A recommendation is made and ultimately the Associate Dean makes the final decision. We do not compare students between rounds; we only evaluate applications based on each round. The chances of being admitted are very similar from one round to the next. Interview As for interviews, Interviewers will NOT have access to your applications. We conduct interviews either on campus by admissions fellows or off campus by alumni. All applicants have the option of coming to campus or interviewing with a local alumni. Academics The Booth MBA is based on a discipline based approach to business education, with finance being at the cornerstone. Chicago Booth boasts a legendary finance curriculum, covering both corporate finance and investments. In addition, our long-standing relationships and success in recruiting with the biggest investment organizations in the world. General Guest: what are the top features booth is looking for in an mba candidate and how can i improve my chances of admission Kurt: The best way to be successful in this process is to really know your story. Where have you been? What skill and experiences have fostered over time? How do these things prepare you for an MBA, and a career post MBA? And finally, how does a specific program i.e. Booth bridge the gap effectively between where you are and where you want to be. Think through this effectively and convey this story utilizing all the aspects provided in the application will give you your best chance of success. To be candid we expect that students applying to a top school are smart, engaged and demonstrate signs for leadership potential. With those things being staples it is at the margins where you can most directly impact your outcome. And your story and fit is what lives in the margins. Neel the overwhelming majority of our students in the FT program are looking to make a career change. To do so you have to think through what you know about the desired industry, what skill and experiences do they covet and what do you bring to the table. In most cases once you do this exercise you will realize where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and at Chicago because of our flexibility and commitment to analytics you will have every opportunity to round out your necessary skill sets and go after the role you desire. Essays 1. The Admissions Committee is interested in learning more about you on both a personal and professional level. Please answer the following (maximum of 300 words for each section): a. Why are you pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life? b. Define your short and long term career goals post MBA. c. What is it about Chicago Booth that is going to help you reach your goals? d. REAPPLICANTS ONLY: Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? These short essays will require you to know yourself. You will need to understand where you have been and where you are going. Before you begin drafting the responses to these essays, take some time for self-reflection. Why do you want to return to school? Why is the MBA the right degree for you? We know that many of you will use your MBA experience to help you figure out what kind of job to pursue next. Even though your future career plans may not be clear at this time, you should still be able to discuss your goals and how they relate to obtaining an MBA. For our reapplicants, question 1d is where you can tell us what, if anything, has changed since the time of your last application. What has occurred in your life or career that has either reinforced or changed your goals? What lessons have you learned or how have you grown since you last applied to Chicago Booth? 2. Chicago Booth is a place that challenges its students to stretch and take risks that they might not take elsewhere. Tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you learned from that experience (maximum of 750 words). You’re probably wondering, “What kind of risk do you want me to discuss?” To be honest, we’re not looking for one kind of risk in particular. It can be a risk related to your professional, academic or personal life. It can be a risk that resulted in either a positive or negative outcome. We want to hear about a time when you challenged yourself and what you learned from that experience. How has that experience influenced your future actions? 3. At Chicago Booth, we teach you HOW to think rather than what to think. With this in mind, we have provided you with “blank pages” in our application. Knowing that there is not a right or even a preferred answer allows you to demonstrate to the committee your ability to navigate ambiguity and provide information that you believe will support your candidacy for Chicago Booth. Earlier this year, there was some discussion as to whether we would continue using the presentation as part of our evaluation process. With the presentation proving to be such an important tool in helping us determine who is a good fit for Chicago Booth, we decided it was necessary to include in our 2011 application. However, this year, we are giving applicants even greater freedom to decide what information they want to convey in the presentation. Since we’re providing you with “blank pages,” what you decide to address in your presentation is up to you. Look at the other aspects of your application. Are there messages or activities that you have not yet been able to communicate to the committee? If so, then the presentation will be an opportunity for you to provide us with this type of information. After reviewing your presentation, we want to have a better understanding of who you are and how you think. Also, please remember that it is the content – not the design – that should be the focus of the presentation. We understand that not everyone is a design guru. So, whether it’s through photos, images, graphs, or just words, the goal is to communicate your messages as effectively as possible.

Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 00:12

It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 00:12

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

MBA Archive

GMAT Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Go to My Error Log Learn more

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Nov 20
UCR MBA Impact - Live Q&A with UCR AdCom & Student
07:30 AM PST
-
08:30 AM PST
Learn what truly sets the UC Riverside MBA apart and how it helps in your professional growth

Back to Forum

Create Topic

Calling All 2011 Booth Applicants!!

1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 ... 185

bakfed

Joined: 28 Jul 2009

Last visit: 12 Oct 2022

Posts: 1,768

Own Kudos:

1,245

Given Kudos: 37

Status:Darden Class of 2013

Schools:University of Virginia

GMAT 1: 660 Q44 V37 Verified score

Posts: 1,768

Kudos: 1,245

10 Sep 2010, 10:55

Kudos

Bookmarks

a 520 is a bit too low. I'll be honest with you (and I'm going to assume that the other part of your application is an average-joe type of deal and I'll assume that Obama is not writing you a letter of rec), I think you would not be considered with a 520 at all.

adalfu

Joined: 08 Dec 2009

Last visit: 09 Sep 2012

Posts: 331

Own Kudos:

225

[1]

Given Kudos: 26

Posts: 331

Kudos: 225

[1]

10 Sep 2010, 11:52

Kudos

Bookmarks

kunoflo

Hi guys, I need your honest opinion... Do you need that with a 520 in the Gmat it would be a waste applying to Both? (even if I have a good application).

Please be blunt, everyone says "Just try" but you guys know how painful it is to go through the application process and then get rejected. Help is appreciated... Thanks!

If you got a 3.9 gpa in college, then I assume that you're not totally dumb and you're at least a decent test taker. I would retake the GMAT to try to get at least a 650. You're only as strong as the weakest link, so if you can do anything to increase your score, that'll definitely better your chances.

If you don't do that, I think your chances are slim to none.

deechi

Joined: 07 Sep 2010

Last visit: 19 Dec 2011

Posts: 57

Own Kudos:

[1]

Concentration: Strategy, IB, Finance

Schools:Kellogg, Booth

GPA: 3.49

Posts: 57

Kudos: 10

[1]

11 Sep 2010, 01:17

Kudos

Bookmarks

There's actually a question about this on the Booth forums. They basically said that your report has to be in before you do your interview. I'm in the same boat because I need to fly into the US to take the GMAT and I can't do it until Oct 7th.

That said, add me in for R1.

bakfed

Michmax3

I sent an email to admissions asking if I was ok to apply in R1 and self report my score even though I am not re-taking the GMAT until Oct. 2 and GMAC says allow 20 days for the report to reach the school. They wrote back saying go ahead and apply for R1. However I just started filling out the online application and there is a note by the GMAT field that says the official report must arrive prior to the round deadline or your application could be delayed.

So what do I do? I don't want to work on the application in time for R1 only to have it be pushed to R2 anyways, I'd rather spend that time working on the other school I was planning to submit in R1. Or will most likely my official report arrive before the 13th anyway?

I don't think anyone's in place to say that your score report will be sent to Booth before the 13th. From my past two experiences, the scores were sent to my designated schools within a week of taking the test. If you'd like to be reassured, I'd send another email to the admission staff at Booth and tell them about your situation and what the online application says. In addition, I would ask if there's any possibility that my application will be push to Round 2 because of the GMAT. Then I'd take whatever the staff says and do it accordingly.

kunoflo

Joined: 07 Jul 2010

Last visit: 26 Dec 2011

Posts: 45

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 2

Schools:Sloanie 2013

GPA: 3.9

Posts: 45

Kudos: 5

[1]

11 Sep 2010, 05:30

Kudos

Bookmarks

adalfu

kunoflo

Thank you for your honesty guys! I am an Italian F, entrepreneur, and a bad test taker but I got a good GRE score. I am happy that one of my favorite schools accepts it

. I have also taken a Calculus (scored an A) and a Microeconomics class to strengthen my case.

I will follow your advice and not apply to Booth.

I wish you the BEST of luck and hope you both get in.

osbornecox

Joined: 04 Dec 2009

Last visit: 26 Jan 2016

Posts: 373

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 4

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

Posts: 373

Kudos: 80

[1]

13 Sep 2010, 02:54

Kudos

Bookmarks

I was quite pleased when a few weeks ago, both Chicago Booth and Kellogg contacted me via GMASS and asked me to look at their schools and upcoming events in my city. There's one for Booth very soon so I'll be sure to attend - and I'm quite sure I want to apply R1. Will update you guys when I finally throw my hat in. A priori, love everything about the school.

bakfed

Joined: 28 Jul 2009

Last visit: 12 Oct 2022

Posts: 1,768

Own Kudos:

1,245

Given Kudos: 37

Status:Darden Class of 2013

Schools:University of Virginia

GMAT 1: 660 Q44 V37 Verified score

Posts: 1,768

Kudos: 1,245

13 Sep 2010, 09:57

Kudos

Bookmarks

osbornecox

since this topic was brought up, I have a question about GMASS contacting a person. I was also contacted by Booth to check out its school. Does that mean I may be over the initial threshold (number-wise) or does GMASS just simply mass-email everyone to look at schools?

osbornecox

Joined: 04 Dec 2009

Last visit: 26 Jan 2016

Posts: 373

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 4

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

Posts: 373

Kudos: 80

[1]

13 Sep 2010, 10:06

Kudos

Bookmarks

bakfed

osbornecox

I think there is a small degree of selection involved. I imagine that they wouldn't contact you, based on your GMAT information, if your GMAT was clearly subpar (I would like to think they aren't this cynical).

You probably had a few identifiers that, on paper, look like you should be in the running. You're biology background, California, 700, pharma work experience, right? Booth might find that interesting. Besides, you're in the 80/80 (or pretty close), right? I would check it out.

poojagarg

Joined: 13 Sep 2010

Last visit: 24 Oct 2010

Posts: 5

Own Kudos:

[1]

Location: Mumbai, India

Concentration: Finance, Strategy, General

Schools:MIT Sloan, Columbia, Chicago Booth, Kellogg, Harvard, Wharton

GPA: 3.5

Posts: 5

Kudos: 1

[1]

14 Sep 2010, 07:21

Kudos

Bookmarks

I'm in for R1 as well

BangaloreKid

Joined: 17 Nov 2009

Last visit: 03 Mar 2011

Posts: 37

Own Kudos:

[2]

Location: Bangalore

GPA: 3.8

Posts: 37

Kudos: 6

[2]

14 Sep 2010, 07:35

Kudos

Bookmarks

gkumar

BruceLee

I am a reapplicant at Booth. Since I have to redo the PPT, it is fairly hard for me to come up with new themes and concepts to use in my new presentation. Should I use the same ideas and try to convey them differently? Is a certain degree of repetition acceptable?

Good q. I too am unsure on how to deal with the PPT as a reapplicant. Also the four pages are no longer just PPT, but doc, pdf, etc. I would appreciate any feedback on this as well.

I find it a bit tough to come up with 4 completely new slides...So personally i'm reusing 2 slides from last time (dinged with int) but am re-tooling the content..

E.g.: Lets assume that my new career goal is to be a consultant and i created a slide last time about mud wrestling...
This time i will re-use the same slide but talk about how mud wrestling has helped me discover a whole new aspect to due diligence etc..Basically the slide should reinforce your updated career goals (or whatever is diff. about yourself this time)...
The way i look at it, Essay 3 should resonate with the picture of yourself you are trying to present to the AdCom...Being creative for the sake of it is as bad as no creativity..

Just my 2 cents,rubles whatever....

shaselai

Current Student

Joined: 12 Jun 2009

Last visit: 17 Jun 2019

Posts: 1,675

Own Kudos:

438

[1]

Given Kudos: 52

Status:What's your raashee?

Location: United States (NC)

Concentration: Strategy, Finance

Schools: UNC (Kenan-Flagler) - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V39 Verified score

WE:Programming (Computer Software)

Products:

Schools: UNC (Kenan-Flagler) - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 720 Q49 V39 Verified score

Posts: 1,675

Kudos: 438

[1]

14 Sep 2010, 08:41

Kudos

Bookmarks

is booth tougher to get in than Stern? i am trying to make a decision... anyone can help?

Moss

Joined: 21 Dec 2008

Last visit: 23 Apr 2023

Posts: 370

Own Kudos:

143

Given Kudos: 64

Affiliations: CFA

Location: United States (NY)

Schools: Columbia - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 710 Q45 V43 Verified score

GMAT 2: 760 Q49 V45 Verified score

Schools: Columbia - Class of 2013

GMAT 2: 760 Q49 V45 Verified score

Posts: 370

Kudos: 143

14 Sep 2010, 09:43

Kudos

Bookmarks

Booth has a higher acceptance rate than Stern, but slightly better stats and a much better ranking. This tells me that although more people apply to Stern, they may be weaker in general than those who apply to Booth.

bakfed

Joined: 28 Jul 2009

Last visit: 12 Oct 2022

Posts: 1,768

Own Kudos:

1,245

Given Kudos: 37

Status:Darden Class of 2013

Schools:University of Virginia

GMAT 1: 660 Q44 V37 Verified score

Posts: 1,768

Kudos: 1,245

14 Sep 2010, 20:35

Kudos

Bookmarks

osbornecox

bakfed

osbornecox

I'd like to think so, too, that I'm in the running. Was just curious and wanted to see if anyone knows about it. I'll be tossing my name in the hat for sure.

NishaTG

Joined: 24 May 2010

Last visit: 02 Feb 2012

Posts: 77

Own Kudos:

[1]

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 77

Kudos: 40

[1]

15 Sep 2010, 18:33

Kudos

Bookmarks

Does anyone know if recommenders are asked specific question in the Booth application? The website does mention specific questions but just gives generic guidelines on what the recommendation letter should cover. Any ideas?

Joined: 04 Oct 2008

Last visit: 19 Jun 2012

Posts: 885

Own Kudos:

303

[1]

Given Kudos: 86

Status:Badgerine!

Location: United States (CA)

Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy

Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44 Verified score

GPA: 3.3

WE:Project Management (Aerospace and Defense)

Products:

Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44 Verified score

Posts: 885

Kudos: 303

[1]

15 Sep 2010, 20:34

Kudos

Bookmarks

hetalcs

It's a traditional letter of recommendation, but they ask that the recommender discuss specific topics.

shrouded1

Retired Moderator

Joined: 02 Sep 2010

Last visit: 29 Apr 2018

Posts: 609

Own Kudos:

3,191

[1]

Given Kudos: 25

Location: London

Products:

Posts: 609

Kudos: 3,191

[1]

16 Sep 2010, 05:47

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi guys

I am looking at potentially applying to a few schools in either R2 or R3 this year. Booth is going to be one of my top preferences given its strength in finance.

However, given the monetary nature of decision, I have been trying to dig up what is the median, mean and maximum compensation packages that graduates from booth have been getting over the past 2 or 3 years. I am unable to find this information on the website, does anyone know where to find this ? Or can current or former students help ? In particular I am looking at the consulting firms and at the financial firms (banks & HFs)

deechi

Joined: 07 Sep 2010

Last visit: 19 Dec 2011

Posts: 57

Own Kudos:

[3]

Concentration: Strategy, IB, Finance

Schools:Kellogg, Booth

GPA: 3.49

Posts: 57

Kudos: 10

[3]

16 Sep 2010, 06:05

Kudos

Bookmarks

Here you go:

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/employmentreport/index.aspx

shrouded1

osbornecox

Joined: 04 Dec 2009

Last visit: 26 Jan 2016

Posts: 373

Own Kudos:

[2]

Given Kudos: 4

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

Posts: 373

Kudos: 80

[2]

16 Sep 2010, 06:16

Kudos

Bookmarks

shrouded1

Hi shrouded1, I'm not sure where the confusion comes from. The median and the means aren't very far off from each other - $5,000, say, and that's not exactly going to be earth-shattering. Bulge brackets have pretty standard compensation programs and they usually pay $100,000 in starting salaries for Associates, with around $20,000 for sign-on bonuses and a year-end stub. A JP Morgan banking associate from Chicago Booth is going to get the exact same package as a new associate from Wharton, Columbia, Yale or Berkeley; there will simply be more offers to Booth students than Berkeley (geography, student body's orientation, alumni network strength, etc). Consulting is a similar sort of deal - the starting salary tends to $120,000 and it doesn't matter where you came from. With the buyside, they tend to take their cues from investment banks, so unless you're working for Mubadala, it's not going to be too far off, save for an outlier or two that will pay you $300,000 or $400,000.

shrouded1

Retired Moderator

Joined: 02 Sep 2010

Last visit: 29 Apr 2018

Posts: 609

Own Kudos:

3,191

[1]

Given Kudos: 25

Location: London

Products:

Posts: 609

Kudos: 3,191

[1]

16 Sep 2010, 08:03

Kudos

Bookmarks

Thanks for the replies !

I guess the real reason why I ask this question is that I am already working in the field, and if I were not to go for an MBA, by the time the fall 2011 batch graduates, in 2013, I would already have made VP.

So the real question in my mind is if going to one school rather than another helps me to negotiate a bigger package & better title for myself after graduation. I am already more senior in hierarchy and pay structure than a 1st year associate. So really am trying to figure out (if it is possible at all to figure out) what the higher end of the pay bracket is and where that lands me up in 2 years time.

Putting 150k into a degree is a very tough decision to make

If the 300k or 400k outlier exists, it might well be worth the shot :lol:

...

osbornecox

Joined: 04 Dec 2009

Last visit: 26 Jan 2016

Posts: 373

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 4

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

Posts: 373

Kudos: 80

16 Sep 2010, 08:09

Kudos

Bookmarks

shrouded1

If the 300k or 400k outlier exists, it might well be worth the shot :lol:

...

Buyside.

shrouded1

Retired Moderator

Joined: 02 Sep 2010

Last visit: 29 Apr 2018

Posts: 609

Own Kudos:

3,191

[1]

Given Kudos: 25

Location: London

Products:

Posts: 609

Kudos: 3,191

[1]

16 Sep 2010, 08:16

Kudos

Bookmarks

unf with the Volcker rule being implemented .... most if not all prop desks have been rooted out
if banks dont take big risks, there wont be big returns. If no big returns, then in my opinion the sell side careers will soon cease to be lucrative

now the question really is if the sell-side/buy-side switch is easier to make direct or via a B-school which opens up the market and facilitates you meeting not just one or two but a load of potential future employers