Chicago Booth 2009-10 Essay Question Analyses and Deadlines

Please find below the deadlines and essay questions (much simpler this year!) for Chicago. My analyses and comments follow the questions. Despite the unfamiliar wording of some of them, the questions are all fairly basic.

http://www.chicagobooth.edu/fulltime/admissions/apply.aspx

Deadlines

Round 1: October 14, 2009

Round 2: January 6, 2010

Round 3: March 10, 2010

Essays

1. How did you choose your most recent job/internship and how did this experience influence your future goals? What about the Chicago Booth MBA makes you feel it is the next best step in your career at this time? (750-1000 words)

This is a straightforward goals question that asks about how your most recent position is connected to your goals. Note that they ask you how you chose your most recent position, which means you will probably need to explain your overall career a bit as well (in order to explain how you arrived at your most recent post). It is interesting that Chicago chooses to use the word “most recent” and not “current,” showing that they are sensitive to the fact that some applicants may have lost jobs.

Finally, you are asked to explain why Chicago’s program is the best next step for you. As with all schools, you need to show specifically how the features of this particular program will allow you to gain the skills, knowledge and experiences that you will need in order to continue with your goals.

1a. FOR REAPPLICANTS ONLY: Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (250 words)

In addition to writing the above goals essay, you will also need to, if you are a reapplicant, write this short essay reflecting on your thoughts regarding your future. Unlike reapplicant essays for most other schools, you will not be focusing on listing the various changes in your candidacy since your last application (e.g., increased test scores, promotion). Of course, if appropriate, you should definitely highlight any improvements in your application. However, Chicago is most interested in hearing an honest reflection of how your thoughts have changed regarding Chicago and/or your goals. Are you more focused now? Have your goals changed? If so, why or why not? Ultimately, they want to make sure that you have put serious thought into reapplying, rather than simply repackaging everything to resend.

2. Please choose one of the following (500 – 750 words):

Describe a time when you wish you could have retracted something you said or did. When did you realize your mistake and how did you handle the situation?

This question is basically a failure or mistake question. Chicago wants to know about something that you regret having done. (Now, a common question that I get is, “Can I talk about something that I regret having not done?” The answer is usually “yes” since neglecting to do something is also an action.

The point of asking this question is to see if you have the self-awareness and humility to admit to having made a mistake, and the maturity to recognize and learn from it.

-or-

Describe a time when you were surprised by feedback that you received. What was the feedback and why were you surprised?

This question falls into the same category as the above question. You’ll recognize it as the “constructive criticism/feedback” question that some other schools ask about in essays and/or recommendations. You’re basically asked to describe a time when someone gave you feedback that you did not expect. And while they do not specify positive or negative feedback, given that you are offered a choice of a failure or feedback question to answer, I think it is safe to discuss an episode in which you received negative feedback. (Being surprised at receiving positive feedback could also work; it would all depend on your story.) And while they also do not ask you to talk about how you handled the feedback, I would suggest that you do, in order to provide the admissions committee with the information that they are looking for. You should talk about how you reacted to the feedback and how you reflected on it. If possible, talk about how you have accepted and incorporated that advice. The point of the question is to find out, again, if you have the humility, self-awareness and maturity to learn from mistakes.

Slide Presentation

In four slides or less please answer the following question: What have you not already shared in your application that you would like your future classmates to know about you?

We have set forth the following guidelines for you to consider when creating your presentation.

• The content is completely up to you. There is no right or wrong approach to this essay.
• Feel free to use the software you are most comfortable with. Acceptable formats for upload in the online application system are PowerPoint or PDF.
• There is a strict maximum of 4 slides, though you can provide fewer than 4 if you choose. 
• Slides will be printed and added to your file for review, therefore, flash, hyperlinks, embedded videos, music, etc. will not be viewed by the committee. You are limited to text and static images to convey your points. Color may be used.
• Slides will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.
• You are welcome to attach a document containing notes if you feel a deeper explanation of your slides is necessary. However the hope is the slide is able to stand alone and convey your ideas clearly. You will not be penalized for adding notes but you should not construct a slide with the intention of using the notes section as a consistent means of explanation.

This Slide Presentation reminds me of NYU Stern’s Personal Expression question in that it is a creative means of telling the admissions committee something – anything – about yourself. You’d need to look at what you’ve written for the other essays, and then prepare the slides to talk about the other parts of you that you haven’t yet shared. This could include work accomplishments, community work, sports, university experiences, and/or personal experiences. Be sure to make the slides informative and interesting but well-organized. Follow Chicago’s guidelines carefully and focus on the content rather than the artistry of the slides. In the end, you are “selling” yourself, not your technical expertise.

Optional Essay

If there is any important information that is relevant for your candidacy that you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here.

This is an open-ended question in which you can talk about something important that you did not have a chance to address elsewhere, including the Slide Presentation. In particular, if you have any unusual or extenuating circumstances (e.g., inability to get a current supervisor recommendation, weak test scores or university grades), this is the place to explain them.