SBC Booth Admit Profile

CHICAGO BOOTH
ADMITTED STUDENT
PROFILE
Buyer: Abhishek Navre (abhishek.navre@gmaiI.com)
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THE UNI VERSI TY OF CHI CAGO BOOTH SCHOOL OF BUSI NESS PROFI LE
2 201 3 STACY BLACKMAN CONSULTI NG I NC. www. StacyBl ackman. com ALL RI GHTS RESERVED.
Copyright 2013 by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Inc, Los Angeles, California, USA. www.StacyBlackman.com
Cover design by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Inc
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without
written permission from the publisher. Contact Stacy Blackman Consulting at ebook@StacyBlackman.com.
ISBN-10 1-61755-927-X
ISBN-13 978-1-61755-927-3
Visit www.StacyBlackman.com/store for the latest Stacy Blackman Consulting ebooks.
DISCLAIMER:
This guide is designed to assist in your MBA Admissions application, but does not guarantee admission to Chicago Booth.
INTRODUCTION
MBA program applications require you to present your career progress, career goals, accomplishments, and potential contributions to the programs
student community through essays, recommendations, resume and application data.
Before putting fingers to keyboard, its a good practice to first consider who your reader will be, what the subject matter is, and your objective for the
writing assignment. The answers to these three questions are fairly straightforward:
WHO IS MY READER?
The Admissions Committee
WHAT IS THE SUBJECT MATTER?
My attributes, strengths, achievements, and goals, which combine to form a complete picture of me
WHAT IS MY OBJECTIVE IN WRITING THESE ESSAYS?
To earn an acceptance letter
The next question isnt so easy to answer:
WHAT IS THE ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE LOOKING FOR?
It would be helpful if each schools admissions committee told you exactly what they were looking for. Representatives of the program from admissions
officer to current students certainly offer plenty of clues, but there is no definitive source of reference.
The dean of admissions for one of the top programs responded as follows when asked what his program was looking for:
We look for people who will contribute in a meaningful way to our community. We dont just look at one thing we look
at the whole picture and think about the fit.
When reviewing your application, the admissions committee is trying to determine if who you are, what youve accomplished, and what you hope to
achieve in the future is a good fit for their institution. With this in mind, we can refine our answer to the question above about your objective for this essay
writing assignment. Your end goal is, of course, to earn an acceptance letter, but the way you do so is to persuade the admissions committee that you
fit. You must look at your strengths and achievements through the lens of the admissions officers. Your MBA application is your opportunity to communicate
those strengths and provide multiple reasons to believe that you will fit in next years class.
Based on over a decade of experience with the admissions offices of the most competitive MBA programs, we will offer some insight into what constitutes
fit for the program being discussed. By listening carefully to the admissions officers over the years and by paying close attention to the profiles of
successful applicants, we have assembled a list of the fundamental qualities and attributes that each program values. By reviewing these key attributes
you can tailor your MBA application strategy to ensure that fit is coming through loud and clear.
PART ONE: WHO is Chicago Booth looking for?
We look to see how a students unique personal and professional experience will add to a strong, congenial community
that constantly supports and pushes its members to be the best they can be. - Chicago Booth Admissions
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is one of the oldest business programs in the United States and is
known throughout the world for its rigorous course of study. Chicago accepts under 25 percent of applicants and offers
them superior career opportunities upon graduation. Even during a tough recruiting period for MBA graduates 95
percent of Booth students were placed. The more than 4,000 applicants to Chicago Booth are qualified, with above
average GMAT scores and undergraduate GPAs. When Chicago Booth is choosing amongst an impressive pool of
applicants, who does the admissions committee actually admit?
The median GMAT of Chicago Booth admits is 720 and the vast majority of applicants scored above a680. Typical
average GPA for Chicago admits is around 3.5. Most Chicago Booth students enter the fulltime MBA program at age 28
with about five years of work experience.
Beyond the statistics, what does it take to be Chicago material?
A TYPICAL CHICAGO BOOTH STUDENT
Chicago is known as afinance schooland has a highly quantitative approach to business education. 43 percent of Chicagos
graduating class enters a career in the finance industry. Consulting is another major component of the class and McKinsey
is the top employer, with an overall 30 percent of Chicago grads entering a consulting career upon graduation. Technology
and Consumer Products rounds out the majority of the Chicago students areas of interest.
Quantitative backgrounds are common in Chicago Booth students, and almost 80 percent of the class studied business,
economics, engineering or hard sciences as their undergraduate majors. A typical Chicago student has proven herself in
a demanding professional career and demonstrated progression in the form of increased responsibility or promotions. This
applicant likely has a clear plan for her future goals and is able to logically articulate that plan in the admissions process.
Her recommenders describe her as high potential and say that she has above average management potential. Leadership
demonstrated through work or extracurricular involvement, along with personal qualities, are additional factors determing
whether the average Chicago applicant is ultimately admitted.
A UNIQUE CHICAGO BOOTH STUDENT
Chicago tries to build a diverse class each year and seeks applicants who have unique backgrounds, personal histories and
approaches. In addition to a strong 35 percent female composition, Booths most recent class included 22 percent US
Minorities (African American, Hispanic American, Asian American and Native American.) Typically the most
underrepresented MBA applicants in terms of US ethnicity are African American, Hispanic American and Native American.
Some of the diverse backgrounds represented at Booth include a CIA Intelligence Officer and former NFL football player.
While Booth tends to feed the finance industry, Booth grads can hail from non-profit industries, education or entertainment
and graduate to land positions in brand management, corporate strategy and general management. Booth is interested in
candidates who bring a new point-of-view to the class and can be part of the culture of debate and intellectual inquiry.
PART TWO: WHAT is Chicago Booth looking for?
A couple of characteristics [are relevant] because of our flexibility and our academic history at the University of Chicago.
First, intellectual curiosity: somebody who has interest in the world beyond them and loves to be challenged and to
challenge themselves. Second, I think is a self-awareness and an engagement in the process. Rose Martinelli, former
Associate Dean of Admissions
Intellectual curiosity and analytical skills are two of the common themes that Chicago Booth is best known for. With a
strong history of innovation and a world-class research institution engaged with the business school, successful Chicago
applicants should demonstrate they fit with the programs unique academic culture.
The culture of debate and inquiry at Chicago Booth requires candidates to be adept at communication and engaging with
classmates in the classroom and the community. The international makeup of the Chicago Booth MBA class ensures that
the debate continues across cultures and borders.
Along with academic strength and intellectual ability, the admissions committee looks at attributes falling roughly into
three broad themes: Curriculum, Community and Career. Based on over a decade of experience helping our clients garner
admissions letters from Chicago Booth weve assembled a comprehensive list of the qualities that interact and overlap
and combine to form candidates who fit with the culture of Chicago Booth.
GLOBAL AWARENESS INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ANALYTICAL
COLLABORATIVE TEAM LEADERS INITIATIVE
SELF-AWARENESS MATURITY
An effective set of Chicago Booth essays will convince the admissions committee that you possess the strengths they are
looking for. In the following section of the guide, we discuss these qualities in more detail so that you can decide which of
your strengths to feature and what stories to tell to convince the Chicago admission committee that you fit at Chicago
Booth.
GLOBAL AWARENESS
Chicago Booth has permanent campuses on three continents. With programs in Asia, North America and Europe,
attending Booth requires a truly global perspective.
More than one third of Chicagos student body comes from countries outside the U.S. The curriculum is infused with an
international perspective through Global Leadership Series lectures, treks and a variety of special projects that send
students to Asia, Africa, South America and other locations where they can further develop their international perspective
and apply lessons to business challenges. Consequently, the admissions committee prizes an awareness and appreciation
of other cultures and a demonstrated ability to connect with a diverse community of people. Candidates should emphasize
concrete experiences outside their home country and highlight an ability to find common ground and form effective
relationships with people different than themselves. Those applicants who can provide evidence that they not only survive
but thrive in a diverse and global environment will be of particular interest to the admissions committee.
Global awareness isnt just a matter of fitting in during your two years at Chicago. It also relates to ones past experience
and future career goals. Chicago Booth graduates will compete in a global marketplace; so experience with the challenges
of doing business globally and a natural curiosity for learning more about other countries and cultures will be valued by
the admissions committee. If possible, your career goals should not be limited to the borders of a single country.
INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY
Don't expect to be fed information or be given rules to follow. Debate and discussion are the principal modes of learning
at Chicago Booth. You'll be asked by your professors and your peers to take an active role in uncovering the ideas and
facts that will lead you to new solutions.
Chicago Booth Admissions
The Chicago GSBs role in the development of the Chicago School of Economic Theory was just the beginning. Ongoing
research in a multitude of academic business disciplines positions Chicago at the cutting edge of business theory. While
some MBA programs may focus on the practical aspects of landing an internship or a full-time job, developing your
intellectual curiosity and creative thinking is a core tenant of the Chicago Booth program.
MBA students are expected to engage in Booths culture of debate and inquiry. Exceptional communication skills, a respect
for the opinions of others, and the ability to teach and learn from peers are all prized by the admissions committee.
Chicago students are drawn from a diverse array of professional backgrounds, which makes for a lively discussion with many
different perspectives. You will be expected to defend your opinions, while listening carefully to and respecting the opinions
of your fellow classmates. Keep that in mind, whenever your essay or story relates to a situation in which teaching and
learning from others was essential to success. Demonstrate that you can be persuasive but also that you can be swayed
by reason.
The admissions committee is seeking candidates with intellectual qualities including: breadth of interests, familiarity with
current events and excellent communication skills. The best fit for Chicago are applicants who are clearly well-read, have
a history of demonstrated academic achievement, and who have investigated topics beyond their college majors or career
paths. Also be aware, that every essay is an opportunity to share your point of view, convey points, provide examples, and
build your case. The admissions committee will be evaluating these abilities, which is why the quality of your essays is
critical to proving that you are cut out for the academic environment at Chicago.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Most candidates who have a goal of attending business school at some point in the future understand that the top programs
want to see evidence of community service. In response, they dive into a community service project in hopes of checking
the community service box on the application. Unfortunately, they never stop to think about why the admissions committee
is interested in their community service accomplishments.
The admission committee isnt like a judge who has sentenced you to 100 hours of community service. Rather, the
admissions officers are interested in your community service work because it provides insight into your deeper interests.
According to Chicagos admissions committee, community service is evidence of a candidates ability to fit in as well as
make a contribution to the schools culture and community.
Most of us need a job to earn a paycheck, but community service (barring a judges mandate) is optional. Therefore, you
will want to put a great deal of thought into what kind of community work you do and which community service
accomplishments you feature on your application. If the only reason you can come up with for being involved with a
particular organization is because you think it will look good on your business school application, you are probably wasting
your time.
The other reason that admission officers want to see evidence that you are the type of person who devotes energy to
making a community stronger is that they are deciding whether or not to invite you into their community. You will be as
busy in an MBA program as you are at your current job. Do you have the dedication and drive to get involved and give back
even when its far from convenient and not strictly required? If you have a history of contributing energy to the causes
and communities you care about then the admission committee is likely to conclude that you will make the Chicago Booth
community stronger.
ANALYTICAL
I had the most transformational experience of my life at Chicago and thats what I want for each of you. Because of
Chicago, I feel prepared for whatever I take on. I want the same feeling of preparedness for you.
Dean Edward Synder
The Chicago Approach to academics values rigorous, data driven analysis. This approach goes beyond running models
in finance class, every discipline at Chicago is approached with a strong analytical basis.
Prospective students must exhibit the capability to handle the rigorous quantitative demands of the program. Even so, the
school wants to attract applicants from a variety of professional backgrounds; so poets can certainly apply. Those
applicants who do not have academic or professional evidence of analytical aptitude will probably want to take a college-
level calculus and possibly a business statistics course to prove they possess analytical prowess. Scoring in the high
percentiles on the GMATs quant section will certainly help.
Furthermore, the admissions officers will read your essays to glean your analytical approach to problem solving. In your
essays, its critical to describe what you did but its equally important to share what you thought the decision making
process that provided the basis for your actions.
Proving that you made the best choice generally requires some discussion of the paths you didnt chose. Where possible,
feature your ability to analyze and breakdown a complex problem, weigh the alternatives, and select the one that best
achieves your objectives. By doing so, you will show the admissions committee that you have the analytical aptitude to
excel at Chicago Booth.
COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP
Leadership development that is just beyond individual promotion, thinking about their community around them, and
their engagement with their classmates and colleagues [is] very important in the types of candidates that we select
at Chicago
Rose Martinelli, former Admissions Officer
When reviewing your application, the admissions committee will be assessing both your capacity to play on a team but also,
when called upon, to lead it. The Chicago Booth leader has the ability to motivate, build relationships and influence
outcomes. The cornerstone of this philosophy is the Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) program, the only
required course in the Chicago Booth curriculum.
Chicago Booth admissions officers are not only concerned with your achievements; they are also interested in the
connection between those achievements and who you are, the means you used to reach the ends you achieved, and the
value of your achievements to the organization or community. Leadership stories in which youve enriched the team and
helped your teammates grow will be compelling to the Chicago admissions committee.
Your capacity for working in a fluid, dynamic team environment, taking the lead when necessary, capitalizing on the
strengths of others, and handing over the reins when the time is right, are important to earning an acceptance letter from
Chicago.
INITIATIVE
Situations in which you have taken initiative versus being assigned a task and performing it well are worth sharing with
the Chicago admissions officers. Consider times that you have stepped forward to address a long-standing problem in
your organization or community or instances in which you volunteered for additional responsibilities outside of your job
description.
Early in your career your superiors may be reluctant to entrust you with major leadership responsibilities because your
ability to lead is untested; therefore, candidates who have actively sought out opportunities to make an impact will stand
out from the competition in the application process. Write about the times you have demonstrated initiative, made
significant contributions, and gone above and beyond the call of duty.
SELF-AWARENESS
There is not one thing that you can dono magic formula or special sauce. The best advice I can provide is to know
yourself and have a strategy on how you want to convey that sense of self through the application.
- Kurt Ahlm, Associate Director of Admissions
In describing how to approach the admissions process, the admissions committee advises that candidates think of drafting
their own business plan. Before you can describe how well you fit with Chicago, its important to understand what your own
motivations truly are.
Self-awareness isnt a quality that you demonstrate by telling a story, rather it has to do with how you tell the story and
your ability to communicate what you learned. Being able to explain to the admissions committee why you value one
accomplishment above others, what you learned from a setback, or the deeper meaning of your career goals is evidence
of self-awareness. Furthermore, the self-aware individual has insight into his or her strengths AND weaknesses.
When writing your essays go beyond just rattling off the plot, I did A, then I did B, and we accomplished C. The admissions
committee also wants to know what you were thinking and feeling, why you made a particular choice given the alternatives,
what you value, and what is meaningful to you. Look for opportunities in your essays to demonstrate self-awareness.
MATURITY
A quality that goes hand-in-hand with self-awareness is maturity. The quality and extent of life experience and how you
have matured, crystallized values and passion, and formulated a worldview as a result are more important than the years
that have elapsed since you graduated from college. Maturity isnt a matter of growing older - its a matter of growing wiser.
The fact that the admissions committee is looking for evidence of maturity suggests that you should find opportunities to
share defining moments in your life. Remember that maturity and wisdom are very often the result of experiences that
take place in our lives outside of work. Try to balance the personal and professional and share a portfolio of experiences
that reveal your human side not just your business persona.
CONCLUSION
In this guide, we have provided guidance that will help you to craft the best set of essays possible:
We have armed you with a list of the fundamental qualities and attributes that the admissions officers are looking for as
they review your application, so that you can be sure to emphasize and accent these characteristics in your essays. The
intention here is not to give you a cheat sheet or a list of buzzwords to paste into your essays. Rather, you should study
this list closely and feature the qualities that describe you, and use your essays and stories to supply the admissions officers
with convincing reasons to believe that you possess these characteristics.
Most applicants are surprised by how demanding the business school application process turns out to be. The truth is that
there are no shortcuts to crafting an excellent set of essays. It is helpful to keep the advice of two very experienced writers
in mind while you are embroiled in the fight to pen your application magnum opus:
The first draft of anything is [expletive deleted]. Ernest Hemingway
The best writing is rewriting. E.B. White, author of The Elements of Style
Hemingways words are a reminder that after all the soul searching, brainstorming, and navel gazing, you must eventually
sit down and write something. If you set your expectations that the first draft you write will probably be absolutely terrible,
then the pressure is off. Some candidates read examples of successful essays and become so intimidated that they
become terrified about facing the blank page and wait around hoping that the perfect essay will somehow spring from their
finger tips. They procrastinate, waiting for inspiration that never arrives. Budget plenty of time for the process of writing,
rewriting, and more rewriting. The essay process is a marathon, and trying to sprint a few weeks from the deadline will
usually not work well.
HERE ARE A FEW FINAL TIPS:
Make sure that the question asked is being answered no more, no less.
Take advantage of all the essay questions on an application. An essay cannot be evaluated in isolation. How the application
essays work together to provide a holistic view of you is critical.
Why you made a choice and what you learned from an experience are just as important (perhaps more important)
as what you did.
Show personality and be a little daring but within reason. Use judgment here, and if you are questioning a particular
story too much, it is probably best to omit.
You cant tell them everything; so tell the admissions officers the most important things.
We believe that if approached correctly, this can be a fun and enlightening experience. Of course, if you feel you need more
inspiration, guidance, and advice, we will be happy to match you with one of our experienced application strategy
consultants. Learn more about the editorial and comprehensive business school admission consulting services we offer at
www.StacyBlackman.com.
BEST OF LUCK!
ABOUT STACY BLACKMAN CONSULTING
Stacy Blackman Consulting's mission is to help our clients achieve their most ambitious educational and professional goals
by making the MBA application process less stressful and more successful.
Since 2001, we have helped hundreds of candidates with their applications to top business schools; our clients have been
admitted to every top MBA program worldwide.
Stacy Blackman Consulting offers Comprehensive, Hourly and Editing services. Services may include:
School selection
Strategy development
Assistance with essay writing: coaching, review and feedback
Interview coaching
Planning for school visits
Reference selection, preparation and editing
Developing resumes
Review of data forms
Wait list and deferral strategy
Assistance with extra-curricular involvements
Coordinating school communications
In addition to our consulting services and our online guides, we have published a book on the MBA admissions process
entitled The MBA Application Roadmap.
To learn more about our services and resources, visit our website (www.StacyBlackman.com).
Also, visit our blog at www.StacyBlackman.com/blog, which is updated daily with the latest MBA news and application tips.
Sign up for the Stacy Blackman MBA Roadmap newsletter at www.StacyBlackman.com/newsletter.

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