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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amit0505

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26 Jul 2010, 04:54

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@ BruceLee

Buddy I hardly find any comfort in the fact that it's not so very different from last year, cause I would be thinking about it for the very first time.

About this essay - yah even i feel that that it needs to be more interactive but I was thinking of being more explainatory than what a presentation would allow. Guess I would be trying for something in between presentation and an essay.
Nevertheless I would have to really outdo myself to make it sound interesting.

Sweetshel86

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Schools:Booth (Accepted + 60K!), Kellogg (Accepted + 70K!), Stanford (Ding), Duke (Withdrawn)

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27 Jul 2010, 05:14

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Count me in for R1!

dresin

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27 Jul 2010, 05:19

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In for R1

MBAEssay

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27 Jul 2010, 10:46

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amit0505

@ BruceLee

Buddy I hardly find any comfort in the fact that it's not so very different from last year, cause I would be thinking about it for the very first time.

There is another business school where recommenders are asked about the attitutude of candidate for dealing with ambiguity. Booth is asking it directly from its students. According to researchers, leaders use ambiguity to their advantage. They look at ambiguity as an opportunity instead of a problem.

This essay is definitely a "make or break" essay as it will show how you act if you are given ambiguous problems. And it is not that difficult. Just a bit of soul searching, creativity and self promotion is needed.

Matador1985

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27 Jul 2010, 17:04

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count me in for R2, respectt...

phillypointgod21

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28 Jul 2010, 05:41

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Booyakasha - big up yourself Matador

Gacarva

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28 Jul 2010, 15:46

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In for R2

shana22

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29 Jul 2010, 07:18

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MBAEssay

I don't think they're looking at it as a test for how you deal with ambiguity. They're just giving you an opportunity to say whatever you would like to say. If you focus on it as "make or break" you're doing yourself a disservice. My powerpoint was good but it wasn't outstanding. I worried about it for months, ran out of time, and then just decided to tell my story. In the end, I put it together from start to finish in about 4 hours, and half of that was fixing small things. Just tell your story. If you can get creative with it, then it will be even better.

chostein

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29 Jul 2010, 08:51

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I agree with shana22.

Taking it as a test of ambiguity seems somewhat farfetched. Ambiguity and broad direction are two different things and I think the essay #3 is the latter.

And since the essay is probably the most important part of the app, all essays are make or break in my opinion. I like how Booth adcom changed the direction though. I think last year, it specifically said "you can include notes at the bottom, but don't make it like essays" or something like that.

This year, the format seems really free, but I can't think of any other format than ppt.

Video? unless I am good with cutting and editing scenes, it would be nothing more than me babbling in front of camera.

Word doc? another essay?! nope.

ppt? AAAHHH... I think i can handle that

hazay

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29 Jul 2010, 09:05

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chostein

This year, the format seems really free

Essay Question 3 Guidelines

We have set forth the following guidelines:

* The content is completely up to you. Acceptable file formats are PowerPoint or PDF.
* There is a strict maximum of four pages, though you can provide fewer if you choose.
* The document will be printed in color and added to your file for review; therefore, flash, hyperlinks, embedded videos, music, etc. will not be viewed by the committee. You are limited to text and static images to convey your points.
* The file will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.
* Files need to be less than 9 megabytes in order to upload. If your file is too large you may save your file as a PDF and upload your essay.

chostein

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29 Jul 2010, 09:10

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Thanks, hazay.

I guess there are more stuff for the essay #3. I thought what was mentioned in pg.1 of this thread is everything :p

hazay

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29 Jul 2010, 09:23

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chostein

I guess there are more stuff for the essay #3

Your comment was on the format, not the content required.

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/fulltime/ad ... lides.aspx

And you ve got everything

amit0505

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30 Jul 2010, 02:18

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When you have blank pages to fill, whatever anyone says is a point of view and not a rule.
So I guess its natural for people to have different opinions about it.

I was going through the chat transcript and there were a few questions on the 3rd essay. I found the answer quite useful. So I thought I will paste them here. Hope it helps.

John: Hi, I have a query regarding how to approach the third essay question (PPT one). Should we relate any perwsonal o pofessional experience here that demonstates the quality of "How to think", ability to navigate thru ambiguity ?

Kurt: Again to reiterate an answer from earlier, it is your choice. Focus on what you want to convey to the committee that essentially completes your story. Content might focus on your professional life, personal life, a combination. The choice is up to you. That in essence is the ambiguity you need to navigate for us.

israstro: can u pls give example of ways to deal with Essay Question 3?

Joanna: Hi Israstro. Unfortunately there are literally hundreds of ways to approach this essay---and we have no preference. It truly is up to you how you convey your message to the committee using these 4 pages of white space! We are looking to see how strategic you are in using this space to complete your story effectively.

mattia: Regarding Essay 3, is there a specific font, font size or any other type of fomatting we would need to pay attention to?

Donna: We do not have any specific fonts. Keep in mind that using uncommon fonts may not print correctly on our printers.

G-256413371: Can you please explain what criteria you will be using to rate Essay #3? Is creativity more important than content?

Kurt: Content and substance always trumps creativity and flare. Essay 3 is an opportunity for you to complete your strategic message to the committee. We provide a fixed number of opportunities/tools for you convey your message in (essays, resume, recommendations etc). Even with these tools there is always potential to add greater texture to your story. That is what Essay 3 is for. From our perspective we are looking to see how strategic you are in using this space to complete your story effectively rather than can you simply be creative for creativity's sake.

Dele: Good morning! I was looking over the essays for the fall admissions process for 2011, and noted that there isn't an essay concerning whether there was any extra information that we would like ad com to know. I know that this was an essay of the past, and I was wondering, would it hurt an applicant if they were to construct an essay concerning possible employement gaps, lack of work experience, or low GPA's?

Kurt: Dele that is essentially what essay 3 can provide you. Since the creation of this question that was its intent, to allow you some "white space" to complete your story to the committee.

ANTONIOS: Good morning. I am a little confused about essay No3

Joanna: Essay 3 is an opportunity for you to complete your strategic message to the committee. We provide a fixed number of opportunities/tools for you convey your message in (essays, resume, recommendations etc). Essay three gives you a more open opportunity to share more of your story. We are looking to see how strategic you are in using this space to complete your story effectively.

https://www.chicagobooth.edu/fulltime/chat/transcript/2010-07-22.aspx

bakfed

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30 Jul 2010, 10:35

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please count me in for rd 1

Question for those who may be able to answer this: On the application, under the extracurricular section, which is more preferred? Bullet-point listing the extracurriculars or adcoms prefer to see a small paragraph (or a short essay) talking about all the extras. I have several things I'd like to mention, but I'm not sure whether I should use the bullet-point format, or I should incorporate everything into a short essay.

Thanks!

kamokid

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31 Jul 2010, 15:50

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I am reapplying to Round 1. Any plans for a Google Doc roll-call spreadsheet?

kt2011

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01 Aug 2010, 12:47

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In for Round 1.

Question for current/prospective students or alums: I have not yet made my campus visit to Booth. Do you think its crucial? I can do a visit in the next few weeks, but since there are no ongoing classes, the only visit option is an "abbreviated schedule" visit that includes an info session and a tour, amounting to a total of about 1.5hr. Is this something I should consider?

passivation

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02 Aug 2010, 10:33

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The question of "is the campus visit crucial" always pops up, and the correct answer is..it is entirely up to you. You need to demonstrate to the school that you know enough about the school and made an informed choice based on your personal chemistry with the school when you put in your application. Visiting school and attending classes can help you to throw in personal anecdotes both in application and interview. But then you can do the same by meeting alumni/current students or just talking to them over phone/email and reading up about Professors. If you can complete your story without visiting, then perhaps it is fine to not visit.
But, in my case, I fell in love with Booth when I attended the Booth Live event. That perhaps resulted in me putting in that extra love in my application, which perhaps helped in getting accepted.

bakfed

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02 Aug 2010, 17:43

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count me in for rd 1

danielduq

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02 Aug 2010, 19:06

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Count me in for round 1!

Does anyone have a copy of the recommender questions? I wanted to see them before sending them to my recommenders.

Daniel

oldguru82

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03 Aug 2010, 07:33

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danielduq

Count me in for round 1!

Does anyone have a copy of the recommender questions? I wanted to see them before sending them to my recommenders.

Daniel

It is a letter, there is no direct question as far as I know.

Recommenders are provided the following guidelines:

Please provide a written letter of recommendation. Be sure to include how the applicant ranks comparative to his/her peer group. Other items to consider are the applicant's:

* most salient strengths
* areas of development, including efforts the applicant has taken to show improvement
* team skills and leadership ability
* initiative, curiosity and motivation
* other matters which you feel we should know about the applicant

Source: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/fulltime/admissions/letters.aspx