Caroline Hughes

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“A bubbly, goofy, and hard-working person that marches to the beat of her own drum.”

Hometown: Highland Park, IL

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to care for houseplants. My collection is eight plants so far and (quite literally) growing!

Undergraduate School and Major: English major at Georgetown University; JD candidate at UChicago Law School

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Category Specialist at Jet.com/Walmart eCommerce

What word best describes the Chicago Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far and why? The people I’ve met at Booth have been friendly, helpful, down to earth, and quirky.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Chicago Booth’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The school’s quantitative focus. As an English major, it was important that I build a well-rounded skill set and strengthen my ability to analyze data.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago Booth? Pretty much anything that comes out of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation! I had been familiar with the New Venture Challenge since before my time at Booth and can’t wait to see the ideas my classmates bring to life. I am also excited about the Innovation Fund Associate Program, because it brings together an interdisciplinary group of students to evaluate real-life investment opportunities.

When you think of the Booth philosophy, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? It would be Interdisciplinary because of the wide range and rigor of Booth’s curriculum. Students are encouraged to explore new subject matters, and to pair what we learn inside the classroom with hands-on experience.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Acting (almost) as a real-life lawyer! This summer, I worked under the supervision of a practicing lawyer at the University of Chicago’s Innovation Clinic to provide legal advice to start-ups and entrepreneurs. This was a huge milestone for me, as I got to see all of my hard work from 1L year pay off and begin interacting with the Booth community (in particular, the Polsky Center).

How did COVID-19 change your perspective on your career and your life in general? Career-wise, COVID-19 showed me that people work in different ways and should be given the flexibility to do their best work. Some people work best from the office, others from home. In my personal life, COVID-19 has reminded me to check in on my friends more!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point and what do you hope to do after graduation? My path to the MBA is non-traditional, as I am pursuing a JD/MBA. I hope to be a corporate lawyer after graduation, focusing on start-up, venture capital, and capital markets work. My interest in the MBA was two-fold: in the near term, I wanted to better understand the needs and challenges that my clients face. In the longer term, I wanted to develop the skill set needed for leading a team and managing a business.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Just Booth, as I applied as a 1L at the Law School.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program? Let your personality shine through to your application! It makes such a big difference and will bring your profile on paper to life. It can also make your interview more conversational.

DON’T MISS: MEET CHICAGO BOOTH’S MBA CLASS OF 2023