Rachel Cohen

University of Chicago, Booth School of Business

“Passionate about increasing the pipeline of women into finance.”

Hometown: Westchester, NY

Fun Fact About Yourself: I enjoy racing cars and UTVs in my free time

Undergraduate School and Major: Duke University, Economics Major with a Concentration in Finance, Certificate in Markets and Management, and a Minor in Psychology

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Pritzker Private Capital, Private Equity Associate, Chicago

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 flexible curriculum was a differentiator for me as I value the ability to create my own academic path. Everyone enrolling at Booth is in a different stage of their career and has different skill sets that they want to develop. Booth allows us to take responsibility for what classes will lead to the greatest growth, both personally and professionally. Another valuable aspect of the Booth experience is the “Pay it Forward” culture. I have always believed in helping others around me and have found this to be true of Booth alumni and current students that I have encountered.

The Booth MBA is also known for being highly data-driven. Why does the program’s focus on quantitative analysis and decision-making appeal to you? How have you been able to leverage this approach in your career so far? Booth’s focus on quantitative analysis appeals to me as the ability to synthesize information is critical in the business world. Throughout my career, I have found that the most successful CEOs embrace data as the source of truth. In order to make the most informed decision possible, CEOs gather relevant data to formulate conclusions, and to construct the best path forward based on supported and researched facts.

What course, club or activity excites you the most at Chicago Booth? The Private Equity Lab is exciting to me. The ability to continue to learn from experts in the industry and professors like Chris McGowan, while getting additional hands-on experience interning at companies, is unique to Booth. I am also excited about joining the Wine Club to meet classmates in a more relaxed setting.

What has been your first impression of the Booth MBA students and alumni you’ve met so far. Tell us your best Booth story so far. I am overwhelmingly pleased with how supportive and encouraging everyone I have met has been. Every student that I have met embraces the “Pay it Forward” culture. During my “First Day” experience, I met a number of current students and each of them were excited to welcome our class, and always offered to introduce me to other students with similar interests and experiences. It is very much a culture that I look forward to joining.

What makes Chicago such a great place to earn an MBA? Chicago Booth has the unique benefit of being a leading school in the heart of a major Midwest city. It is deeply connected to the many companies that call Chicago home. Furthermore, most students live in close proximity and form a real MBA community in which we can all learn from each other. The opportunity to explore the city alongside classmates is exciting.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest career accomplishment falls under the umbrella of volunteer work. I am deeply passionate about increasing the pipeline of women into finance. This year, I had the honor of co-leading the National Synergist Network College Mentorship program. This program works to mentor college-aged women and educate them on careers in finance, specifically with regard to investing. Through the program, we hosted a panel series and paired 125 college-aged women with mentors who currently work in finance roles. My work with the program and the feedback we received from mentees was the most rewarding work I have done to date.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? I was admitted in 2019 as part of the Chicago Booth Scholars deferred MBA Program.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Chicago Booth’s MBA program? Be yourself in your application. The goals and passions that you highlight in your essays should be genuine, otherwise you are doing yourself a disservice. It is also important to understand what differentiates each school, and how Booth’s offerings fit what you are looking to gain from an MBA.