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.

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Calling All 2011 Booth Applicants!!

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Atsushi

Joined: 16 Mar 2009

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Concentration: Strategy, Operations

Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2013

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Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2013

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[1]

18 Mar 2011, 05:41

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chinobaeza

I took the first step and paid the 1k dollars. Now I feel like a Booth student

I bet you can't wait to pay the other $99K. Then you'll really feel like a Booth student.

chinobaeza

Joined: 26 Jan 2011

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18 Mar 2011, 06:13

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Atsushi

chinobaeza

I took the first step and paid the 1k dollars. Now I feel like a Booth student

I bet you can't wait to pay the other $99K. Then you'll really feel like a Booth student.

lol

pjj229

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18 Mar 2011, 07:49

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In response to a few questions about managing the waitlist:

- I am not international, but have heard about internationals visiting the school while on the waitlist and getting in. If Booth is truely your top choice, it is probably not a bad idea to visit. When you visit you cannot normally schedule a meeting with an Admissions Director, but when you get to campus you can normally request to have a few minutes to talk to a Director. Of course, you have to consider that you might visit campus and not get in, so then you might be wasting quite a bit of $$ to visit.
- I sent materials in about 6 weeks or so. The "right" timing for follow-ups will probably vary by person. I tried to follow-up when I had new substantial info to add to my application.
- I had an alum write a letter for me - but only because I knew the alum pretty well. Lots of current students have told me it is a bad idea to find a random alum that won't be able to say much about you.

Overall, I think the main thing is to show you are interested, try to identify your application weaknesses (and address them if nessesary), let them know of any changes to your application, and hope for the best. Good luck to all you WL'ers!

olymbios

Joined: 11 Dec 2010

Last visit: 02 Apr 2011

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Schools:McDonough (R2-Accepted), York-Schulich (R1- Accepted), Booth (R2 -WL), Yale (R2 - Ding w/o int), Fuqua (R2- Accepted), Cornell-Johnson(R3-Ding w/int), USC-Marshall (R2 - Accepted)

GPA: 3.3

WE 1: Finance (Int'l) 4 yrs

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18 Mar 2011, 08:52

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Waitlisted as well. I've had a couple friends in the last two years be waitlisted and both got in with a little extra communication and documentation sent it. Hope it works out!

NikkiMBA

Joined: 12 Nov 2010

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18 Mar 2011, 11:03

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pjj229

Thanks so much Pjj229- Really appreciate your help. For me I have a feeling that it was my interview that has led to the result. I really couldn't gauge my interviewer. They were a poker face throughout the interview. In this instance, I feel it makes it all the more necessary that I can demonstrate confidently my interest, passion and how I can contribute to Booth by being able to meet with the adcom. Since I am Chicago, this is more feasible for me. Is this going to be difficult to set something up? I am so devastated by this result, and its just taking a lot of time for me to overcome this. Any suggestions from yourself or others on the board will be helpful. Thanks a ton! All other waitlisters out there, my heart goes out to all of you.

valleyboy

Joined: 03 Nov 2010

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18 Mar 2011, 11:07

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Did anyone try calling up the admissions office to express their interest to continue to be waitlisted ? Is it advisable to give them a quick call ? Will they actually open up your file and give you some feedback ?

w103psp

Current Student

Joined: 22 Jun 2009

Last visit: 26 Feb 2012

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Location: United States

Concentration: Strategy, Healthcare

Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 Verified score

Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013

GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42 Verified score

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18 Mar 2011, 11:09

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valleyboy

No, don't call. Their email specifically lists out the steps one can take and calling is not one of them.

theacademist

Joined: 03 Aug 2010

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18 Mar 2011, 12:47

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Personally, I think Booth is using the waitlist this year in an effort to improve the two biggest arguments people constantly have against Booth's title as number 1 b-school - It's 22% acceptance rate and its comparatively low yield.

In this economy, there's no shortage of high GMAT and GPA applicants... but selectivity is prestige in a can. Make em wait, let the less committed leave, and then accept the best of what's left....which judging by the size of the waitlist is alot. Voila! High-selectivity and yield.

Booth is trying to preserve their US News #1 ranking. Until the rankers start accounting for waitlist manipulation, I think this may become the new-normal for some schools.

dalillama

Joined: 28 May 2010

Last visit: 25 Dec 2016

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Location: Brazil

Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools: Booth '13 (M$) Sloan '13 (A) Kellogg '13 (A$) Wharton '13 (WL)

GMAT 1: 710 Q41 V46 Verified score

GMAT 2: 740 Q47 V45 Verified score

GPA: 3

Schools: Booth '13 (M$) Sloan '13 (A) Kellogg '13 (A$) Wharton '13 (WL)

GMAT 2: 740 Q47 V45 Verified score

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18 Mar 2011, 13:00

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theacademist

Booth is trying to preserve their BusinessWeek #1 ranking.

FTFY

Except that in the BusinessWeek ranking selectivity and yield are not factored in--it's strictly a satisfaction survey (both student and recruiter) with an "intellectual capital" componenent (into which the GMAT average does not factor).

My opinion, having seen the admit numbers, is that we have a sample bias here. The admit numbers seem geared towards a yield of about 65%. If your yield is higher than anticipated, your waitlist would be smaller than normal, not larger. The same sample bias could be happening with the Wharton WL which everyone thinks was also larger than normal. Unfortunately I have no insights into that one.

theacademist

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18 Mar 2011, 13:10

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Thanks for the correction, for some reason I thought it was US news, but you are correct.

I still think they are using the WL to manipulate selectivity and yield.

mreevit

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[1]

Updated on: 18 Mar 2011, 14:59

Originally posted by mreevit on 18 Mar 2011, 14:17.
Last edited by mreevit on 18 Mar 2011, 14:59, edited 1 time in total.

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dalillama

theacademist

Booth is trying to preserve their BusinessWeek #1 ranking.

The assumption you are making here is that the high yield will stay through to the end of this year's cycle. If Booth is excepting many candidates to withdraw from the school in favor of another school, it makes sense for them to have a decent sized waitlist.

I am hearing that Booth moved it's deposit deadline up - much earlier than peer schools. Thus, those admitted are much likelier to hedge their bets by putting a deposit down and waiting to see what the other schools say.

I've said it before, and I will say it again: I don't think a school's yield can jump 15% is just one calendar year. I think it will level out as we progress through the rounds.

As for whether or not they are using the wait list to manipulate selectivity, I think that this is unlikely. Acceptance rate accounts for only 1.25% of the US News score. If they got a perfect selectivity score, and if all of the other factors stayed the same, then the most they could increase to is 93.25, which is close to Wharton. However, that assumes their current score is the opposite end of the spectrum when it is closer to the middle (they are already getting some credit for selectivity).

So, if they managed to manipulate their selectivity to be around that of Stanford, they would move from getting 50% of the 1.25% to 100% of the 1.25%, and they could only move up to about 92.625, which isn't enough to put them ahead of Wharton. They could, at best, tie them.

theacademist

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18 Mar 2011, 14:49

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+1 -- good analysis

jerrykid

Joined: 15 Mar 2009

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Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools: UCLA (Anderson) - Class of 2014

GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V35 Verified score

Schools: UCLA (Anderson) - Class of 2014

GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V35 Verified score

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19 Mar 2011, 04:42

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NikkiMBA

Thanks so much Pjj229- Really appreciate your help. For me I have a feeling that it was my interview that has led to the result. I really couldn't gauge my interviewer. They were a poker face throughout the interview.
In this instance, I feel it makes it all the more necessary that I can demonstrate confidently my interest, passion and how I can contribute to Booth by being able to meet with the adcom. Since I am Chicago, this is more feasible for me. Is this going to be difficult to set something up?

I am so devastated by this result, and its just taking a lot of time for me to overcome this. Any suggestions from yourself or others on the board will be helpful. Thanks a ton! All other waitlisters out there, my heart goes out to all of you.

I slept for one whole day. When I woke up, the feeling of devastation was gone and I felt refreshing to start working to go up the waitlist. In the end, there's no point in lamenting. We have gone this far and being in the waitlist means that we are among the top 20- 30% of applicants to Booth and still stand a chance of getting admissions.

Of course the timing varies among those waitlisted. But I think that as the deadline for Round 3 is April, 13th and the final decision comes out on May, 18th, we should wrap updates up within the last 2 weeks of April. That timing leaves room for us to make improvements and for the Admission Committee to consider us against Round 3 applicants.

I think that paying school visits is a good idea. Getting reference letters as well. Improvements in the workplace, extra-curriculum activities etc. Try our best to differentiate ourselves, prove our interest and "fit", I think.

I see people get letters from alumni. Do you think that it is a good idea getting reference letters from current students is a good idea?

pkatmi

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19 Mar 2011, 17:50

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pjj229

Thanks pjj229. This is immensely helpful.
One question though - When submitting additional recommendations, should one have the recommenders mail the recos directly to adcom or should I get a signed reco and scan it and send it along myself? Also, should the recos be sent to the generic admissions address or to the director of admissions?

pkatmi

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19 Mar 2011, 21:38

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Has any of the WL candidates used or thought about using Admission Consultancy. Pros and Cons?

Any ideas on good ones out there?

motion

Joined: 20 Mar 2011

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20 Mar 2011, 08:35

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Hey all. Long time lurker, first time poster. Wanted to add one more data point. I was an R1 waitlist who got admitted R2! Very, very thrilled.

Stats: 3.7 Ivy, 760. 3 years in consulting (at matriculation) with strong career progression. Strong EC leadership during and after college, in politics and community service.

In terms of waitlist follow up, I just sent two updates, one in January and one in February. Both were short, three paragraph notes. I used them to concisely reiterate my interest, update them on my latest career developments, and explain one or two things in my application, all through the lens of what unique contribution I could make to the class.

I've been reticent to post up until now, but I found a great deal of comfort and guidance in these forums over the last six months, so I'm eager to give back. Congrats to the admits - can't wait to see you all in Chicago. Good luck to all the waitlists - I'm living proof there's still hope. Everyone else, keep fighting - the universe will eventually reward you for your determination, it may just take a little more time to see how.

jerrykid

Joined: 15 Mar 2009

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Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools: UCLA (Anderson) - Class of 2014

GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V35 Verified score

Schools: UCLA (Anderson) - Class of 2014

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20 Mar 2011, 08:36

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pkatmi

One question though - When submitting additional recommendations, should one have the recommenders mail the recos directly to adcom or should I get a signed reco and scan it and send it along myself? Also, should the recos be sent to the generic admissions address or to the director of admissions?

I think that the better idea would be to get a signed recommendation letter and scan it and send it along yourself. That would be easier for adcom to follow up your updates.

Maybe we should send updates to the general email address and make calls to check whether they put updates into our files. I don't think that the Admission Director would do the manual work of classifying our updates into our files.

My 2 cents.

MBAgirl2010

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20 Mar 2011, 09:27

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jerrykid

pkatmi

Ask the recommenders to send the letters straight to the main admissions e-mail. If you send them, the credibility for these letters of support is shot. As long as they mention your correct name, the letters should get to your file. Call admissions a couple of days after to confirm they got the letters.

pkatmi

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20 Mar 2011, 16:07

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MBAgirl2010

I would tend to agree with MBAgirl2010 on that. Sending the recos yourself could undermine their credibility even if they are signed and scanned. It would be better if the recos went out from the recommender's official email addresses.