Partner Sites


Logo BusinessBecause - The business school voice
mobile search icon

The Chicago Booth MBA: How To Get Accepted

Wondering how to get accepted to the Chicago Booth MBA? Krista Nannery of mbaMission shares her top tips

Thu Jan 23 2020

BusinessBecause
How can I get accepted to the Chicago Booth MBA?

Dear BusinessBecause,

I want to pursue my MBA at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, and I'm looking for some advice.

What does the school's admissions team look for in their applicants, how does this differ compared to other top schools, and how can I strengthen my application?

This week's question was submitted by an anonymous reader.


Got an admissions question of your own?


e27d9da9eb4b84825acfb27fcd13fb54a4579e57.png


The Answer


This week's Applicant Question is answered by Krista Nannery, senior consultant at mbaMission.  

Many years ago, I was a student application reader at Chicago Booth. To be fair, this is so long ago that Booth wasn’t even called Booth at the time! 

But while the times have changed—Booth doesn’t use student readers anymore—given my experience as a professional admissions consultant today, I think what Booth fundamentally looks for is still the same. 

Here are three things Chicago Booth looks for in its MBA applicants.


1. Academic Chops


Booth prides itself on its rigorous—but flexible—curriculum. 

They want to know that you will succeed in their 'choose your own adventure' environment where you can really take any class you want, with no core curriculum and few prerequisites. 

There are different ways to prove 'academic chops' to the admissions committee, but your undergrad GPA is certainly a very clear signal of the type of student you’ll be at Booth. 

But what if your GPA isn’t the greatest? Every year, we see people get into Booth with lower GPAs, but it’s fair to say they’ve proven their academic ability in some other way. 

Maybe they’ve got a great GMAT score or perhaps even just a great Quant score on the GMAT (or GRE.) Maybe their undergrad GPA was low but when you actually looked at their 'quant-y' classes, they did quite well. 

As you’re preparing your application to Booth, think about how you can signal, 'Yes, I can handle this,' to the admissions committee.


2. Curiosity


In most business school interviews, at the very end of the interview, the interviewer will ask “Do you have any questions for me?” 

Booth really prides itself on a spirit of inquiry, so you don’t want to be the candidate that flies all the way across the country just to say, “No, I’ve asked all my questions already.” 

But let’s back up–that’s the interview. You have to get to the interview first. To get to the interview, it can be helpful to signal that you are a curious and interesting person in your application. 

If your employer asked you to go to another country for six weeks and you said “Yes!”, make sure that’s clear on your resume. 

If you had a choice between a promotion in your current line of work or a lateral move to a different part of the company to learn an entirely new set of skills, make that clear in your application too. 

Likewise, in your extracurriculars, if you were always curious about bouldering but were a couch potato for the first 24 years of your life, make sure Booth understands how you became a bouldering master at 26. 

In short, show that you are a person who seeks growth and enjoys change. Show that you get involved in things, at work and outside of work. Show that you lead an interesting life and will make a unique addition to the Chicago Booth community. 


3. Interest in Booth


Have you visited campus? Talked to multiple Booth students? Picked up on Booth’s catchphrases and know how the school markets itself? 

Booth wants to know that you want to go there and that you’ve invested in getting to know them. 

Historically, Booth has asked candidates to indicate how they’ve gotten to know the program in the online application. 

Make sure you can answer this question beyond just listing their website. Go to admissions events and network with current and former students throughout the application process. 

This will not only signal your interest to the admissions committee, but it will also make your essays more interesting!

By sharing the classes, clubs, and resources you’re interested in, and why, you’ll be able to clearly explain why Booth is the right program for you. 


Ask an Admissions Expert a Question


Next week, you'll have the chance to ask April Leung, Assistant Director of Marketing, and Admissions of MBA Programs at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), anything you want about getting into business school. 028e317336a426793d7d2fafab160059f91b1adb.jpg

April began her career in global banking, and has more recently worked in travel retail, witnessing the strong growth of tech use across Asia that has reshaped the employment landscape for MBA graduates.

She currently leads the team for MBA consultations, admissions, marketing, and evaluation at HKUST Business School.

April herself holds a bachelor's in Global Business (BBA) from HKUST, and completed her postgraduate studies on Digital and Social Media Marketing with The University of Hong Kong.

Got a question you'd love April to answer? Submit your question 

Student Reviews

HKUST Business School

Mohammed

Verified

28/07/2023

On Campus

Excellent Supporting Staff

HKUST campus is a very scenic place. However, the best part of the university is the professors and administrators. I have had numerous instances where I have approached them outside their office hours and asked them for help. I have always received full support, and they have helped me escape some very tricky situations. I will miss the faculty and especially the UG Hall 5 Residence Master. I am grateful for his help during my undergraduate program. I will recommend people choose HKUST for their bachelor, master, or Ph.D. studies. Do experience the hall life and you will never regret it.

Student

Verified

10/06/2022

On Campus

Stressful university

Vibe Students in HKUST is really competitive, they study really hard. Environment Nice sea view and modern campus Teaching Many professors are from mainland, whose accent are difficult to understand sometimes. Harsh grading from most of the professors from my department Opportunities HKUST provides many opportunities and guidance for students on careers and extracurricular activities

Student

Verified

29/04/2023

On Campus

Hard working and motivational

Major selection activities are very competitive. 1st/2nd year students work hard to get into popular majors they want. If you enjoy working in a competitive environment, this is a great place. Great ocean view with sports facilities and activities ready for you. Many programmes and social clubs available to boost your cv, learn practical skills for future jobs and interviews.

Student

Verified

2/05/2022

Blended

Good for academics but not that good for student life

Professors and teaching staffs definitely know what they are teaching and have strong knowledge in their discipline; Academics can be quite tough and stressful for students as everyone works very hard and course grades are rather competitive; Student societies exist but are not extensive. Activities are also mostly non-existent.

RECAPTHA :

78

02

49

a2