Are you looking for an MBA program that will let you design your own curriculum? Few programs give students as much choice in what classes they take as part of their MBA as the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Clear Admit co-founder Graham Richmond shares valuable tips on Chicago Booth’s application process as part of a recent video by MBA Podcaster.
The video, entitled “Getting into Chicago Booth,” aired on September 5th as part of MBA Pod TV, MBA Podcaster’s YouTube video channel. In this most recent episode, Richmond offers valuable insight into what sets the school’s MBA program apart and what Chicago Booth is looking for in prospective applicants. The 11-minute video also features commentary from Chicago Booth Deputy Dean Stacey Kole, as well as first-hand accounts from several current students, including MBA Podcaster host Dilini Fernando.
“I would argue there is no other MBA program that gives students the degree of flexibility that our students have,” says Deputy Dean Stacey Kole. Indeed, though there are some requirements in core areas, there is lots of choice even within those, Richmond says. “It is an incredibly self-directed flexible program,” he adds.
Chicago Booth, while good at placing students everywhere, places a large number of its students in the Midwest, Richmond continues. “So for students looking in that region in particular it’s obviously a winner,” he says. The school is also known for the strength of its finance program, he adds, noting that it has, of course, developed strengths in lots of other areas as well.
In terms of what Chicago Booth is looking for in prospective applicants, demonstrating involvement in a range of extracurricular activities is important, Richmond says.
There are two main factors driving this focus, he says. The first is that Chicago Booth wants to admit students who are going to contribute to the day-to-day life on campus, he says. Second, “they think global leaders are capable of navigating in many different arenas and that you have to be well-rounded in order to do that,” he continues. In applying to Booth, you want to highlight your extracurricular activities and how you will bring them to bear on the campus, he advises.
Richmond also provides valuable advice on how to tackle “Essay Number Three,” four white pages in which students are given an opportunity to express themselves in a way other than an essay.
“The instructions are very open ended, and that allows you to think about themes in your candidacy that you want to convey,” he says. “The real issue and what this assignment teases out … is that being creative and showcasing an ability to market oneself is a pretty important criterion if you are going to be a leader of tomorrow,” he adds. His advice: Don’t make the mistake of treating it the same as you would an essay. Instead, view it as an opportunity to creatively express who you are or what you might contribute to the program.
To view the complete MBA Podcaster video on getting into Chicago Booth, click here.
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