Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Committee Insider Tips: July 2025 Info Session

Last updated: July 15, 2025

If you're applying to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, you won't want to miss these exclusive insights directly from the admissions committee. This comprehensive guide covers everything shared during the July 14th, 2025 info session, including application requirements, interview process, deadlines, and insider tips that can make or break your application.

Chicago Booth Application Requirements
Booth MBA Interview Process
Application Deadlines & Timeline
Resume & Essay Guidelines
Letters of Recommendation Strategy
Test Scores & Academic Requirements
Campus Visit Information
Insider Tips from Admissions Committee
Frequently Asked Questions

Chicago Booth Application Requirements

Complete Online Application

Chicago Booth does not accept paper applications - everything must be submitted through their online portal. The application includes:

Two Required Essays (more details below)
Professional Resume (one page preferred)
Two Letters of Recommendation
Academic Transcripts (unofficial for review, official if admitted)
Test Scores (GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment)
TOEFL/IELTS (for international students)

Essay Requirements for 2025-2026

Essay 1: Career Goals & Why Booth

The first essay asks: "Why do you want an MBA and why do you want to approach Chicago?"

What Booth Wants to See:

Clear connection between your background and career goals
Specific reasons why Booth is the right fit
How Booth's resources will help achieve your objectives
Genuine passion for the program

Essay 2: Photo Collage Prompt (NEW for 2025-2026)

The second essay features a series of photos representing Booth's values. Applicants must:

Choose one photo that resonates with them
Explain what the photo means to them personally
Connect it to their understanding of Booth's culture
Share how it relates to their own values and experiences

Pro Tip from Admissions: "Don't try to force another essay from another school into ours, 'cause that's going to be something that we can quickly identify. So just be genuine when you fill out your admissions essays for us."

Booth MBA Interview Process

Interview Options

If invited to interview, you have three options:

On-Campus Interview (Most Common)
- Conducted by second-year students (Admissions Fellows)
- Includes campus visit program with current students
- Tour of facilities and lunch with students
- Total time: 1 hour (45-minute interview + Q&A)
Alumni Interview
- Conducted by trained alumni in your area
- Same format as on-campus interviews
Virtual Interview (Rare)
- Only offered when no alumni are available in your country
- Conducted by staff members

Interview Content

The interview focuses on soft skills and fit, not technical questions:

Why you want an MBA and why Booth specifically
What has shaped you into the leader you are today
Your knowledge of Booth's culture and programs
Stories demonstrating resilience and ability to pivot from setbacks
Questions about classes you'd like to attend and student groups you're interested in

Admissions Committee Tip: "If you are really clear and confident with your stories, these questions should be easy, you should be able to talk about them."

Application Deadlines & Timeline

2025-2026 Application Deadlines

Round 1: September 16, 2025
Round 2: January 2025
Round 3: April 2025

Decision Timeline

Round 1 applicants: Decisions by first/second week of December
Round 2 applicants: Decisions by March
Round 3 applicants: Decisions by May

Important Notes on Deadlines

Test scores and letters of recommendation can be submitted up to 1 week after the deadline for guaranteed consideration
Letters of recommendation have a 4-5 day grace period
Applications are not rolling - all applications within a round are evaluated together
Joint degree applicants can only apply in Round 1 or Round 2 (not Round 3)

Resume & Essay Guidelines

Resume Requirements

One page preferred (especially for applicants with under 5 years experience)
Spell check everything - this is crucial
Verify all dates, titles, and degrees match your application
Avoid acronyms - explain technical terms clearly
Include leadership roles, project work, and impact you've made

Resume Tips for Technical Backgrounds

If you have a technical background (engineering, science, etc.):

Explain your work in accessible terms
Highlight leadership and project management alongside technical skills
Show progression through your organization
Include extracurricular activities and community involvement

Admissions Committee Insight: "Some of the work that you do, we may not understand specifically what it is because it's so high level... it would help us to have a firm foundation of what you do."

Letters of Recommendation Strategy

Who Should Write Your Recommendations

Primary Recommendation: Current or immediate supervisor (strongly preferred)
Secondary Recommendation: Someone who knows you well professionally

If You Can't Get a Supervisor Recommendation

Explain why in your application
Don't let admissions officers guess the reason
Consider alternatives like previous supervisors, clients, or business partners

Tips for Strong Recommendations

Have a conversation with your recommenders about your achievements
Remind them of specific projects and your contributions
Give them plenty of time (at least 4-6 weeks)
For family business employees: Get recommendations from external partners (banks, suppliers, clients)

Critical Warning: "It happens all the time, your application is waiting for a letter of recommendation. Your application is incomplete until you have two letters of recommendation."

Test Scores & Academic Requirements

Test Score Options

GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment (choose one)
No minimum score required
Highest score is considered if you retake
Scores are weighted but not the sole deciding factor

Academic Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts accepted for application review
Official transcripts required if admitted
Include all institutions where you received letter grades
Study abroad transcripts must be included
International transcripts must be translated if not in English

International Student Requirements

TOEFL/IELTS required unless you attended an English-medium institution
Proof of English instruction must be available on the school's website

Campus Visit Information

When Campus Visits Are Available

Not available during summer (students and professors are away)
Start in fall quarter (typically second week of the quarter)
Registration opens in late August/early September
Two days per week typically offered

What Campus Visits Include

Classroom observation (pre-approved classes only)
Campus tour with current students
Lunch with students
Interview (if invited)

Alternative Options

Virtual events and coffee chats
Admissions fairs in your area
Student group outreach (contact chairs/co-chairs directly)

Insider Tips from Admissions Committee

Application Strategy

Don't rush your application - quality over speed
Take your time to choose the right deadline
If you need to retake tests, wait for the next round rather than rushing
Be genuine - don't tell them what you think they want to hear

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Holistic evaluation - no single component outweighs others
Strong essays that show genuine fit with Booth
Clear career progression and impact
Leadership experience and project-based work
Academic preparedness for the program

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incomplete applications waiting for recommendations
Generic essays that could apply to any school
Technical jargon without explanation
Rushing to meet deadlines with subpar materials

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How important are test scores vs. other components?

A: "We're not going to make a decision based just on your test scores. We've had people with fantastic test scores and 800 is perfect on the GMAT examination, but they send us a poor essay, or their academics aren't that strong."

Q: Can I apply with less than 5 years of work experience?

A: "Booth does not have a mandatory years of work experience. So there are people that are admitted with three years of work experience... definitely want to highlight within the application as well as in your resume, big projects which you've worked on."

Q: What if both my recommenders are from the same company?

A: "It's okay if they both come from the same company. What we do ask is that at least one is from a current supervisor or a previous supervisor."

Q: How do I contact current students for insights?

A: "Look at our student groups and look at student groups you're interested in. If you click on that, the chairs and the co-chairs there, emails are listed. So I would reach out to them."

Q: What's the best way to show interest in Booth?

A: "Have you done a deep dive, meaning have you talked to some students? Do you really understand the culture? And what have you done to research? Are there classes that you would like to attend, student groups that you've been interested in?"

Final Thoughts

The Chicago Booth admissions committee emphasizes holistic evaluation and authenticity. Your application should tell a cohesive story about who you are, what you want to achieve, and why Booth is the right place for your MBA journey.

Remember: "What we want to hear is who you are" - so be genuine, be specific, and let your authentic self shine through in every component of your application.

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