University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

Tips for How to Get into Chicago Booth

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business ranks number two in P&Q’s ‘Top Business Schools’ ranking for a reason. The business school is known for having both a mix of ‘Old School’ academics and ‘New School’ flexibility that produces exceptional business leaders.

Fortune recently sat down with admissions experts and spilled the beans on what it takes to get into Chicago Booth’s full-time MBA program.

TEST SCORES ARE JUST ONE COMPONENT

While the average GMAT score for Chicago Booth’s Class of 2024 was 729, experts say applicants shouldn’t place too much emphasis on getting the perfect test score. Colin Davis, senior director of marketing and operations at Booth, says test scores are just one component of the Booth application.

“Other parts of the application, like transcripts, work history, and recommenders, that can certainly speak to your abilities,” Davis says.

Additionally, experts say, test scores aren’t viewed exactly the same across applicants as admissions officers assess individual applications holistically.

“Someone that has a really high GPA from a really tough school and test scores that aren’t as strong might still get in,” Scott Edinburgh, founder of the consulting film Personal MBA Coach, says. “Whereas the next person that went to a low-rated school with just an average GPA might need to get a higher score.”

FOCUS ON THE ESSAY QUESTIONS

The Booth application includes two essay questions: one on career goals and another on who you are as a person. When it comes to essay one, Davis recommends that applicants look beyond simply stating what job title they’re after, or what company they hope to work for.

“It’s helpful to think about the type of impact you want to have in your career and the type of leader that you want to grow into,” Davis explains. “Then, tie that to the experiences you can have at Booth that are going to prepare you and fill your passions.”

In essay two, Booth is looking to understand your personal life.

“What kind of a person are you? What things do you do? What things have you overcome? Are there particular hobbies or challenges that you have?” Edinburgh says. “Often, community impact and leadership are nice to write about here, but it has to connect to you and how you’ve motivated people to do something in the past.”

Stacy Blackman, founder of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recommends thinking of a specific story to tell that demonstrates your values, impact, and growth.

“After you tell the story, reflect on the meaning,” she says. “How did these experiences help you grow as a person? And, what does that tell you about your capacity for growth at Booth?”

Sources: Fortune, P&Q, P&Q, Stacy Blackman Consulting

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