The University of Chicago has published its MBA application essays for those wishing to apply in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle. You can also find details on Booth’s MBA application deadlines by following the link.
As a general note, when it comes to the two main essays, there is no maximum word limit. However, based on our experience, we recommend that successful candidates keep their responses to between 500 and 1,000 words. Of course, individual cases may act as exceptions to this suggestion.
ESSAYS
How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250 word minimum)
There is no maximum length, only a 250 word minimum. We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be, but we recommend that you think strategically about how to best allocate the space.
For the first portion of this essay, it is important to state your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals. Booth likes to see goals that are ambitious and actionable. In order for your goals to meet both standards, they should be related to or, at a minimum, take advantage of your previous professional endeavors. This can also provide you with the opportunity to sparingly mention what sorts of previous experiences or accomplishments you’ve had that make your short and long-term goals more realizable.
The second part of the essay should concentrate on how a Chicago Booth MBA will contribute to your success in reaching these objectives. In this section, try to point out the specific attributes of the MBA that will be of use to your career path. This is a chance to show the research you’ve done and knowledge you’ve gained from Booth events and meetings with alumni, as well as the consideration you’ve taken of the courses, professors, and student organizations offered. It’s important to avoid generality, so make sure that any Booth advantages that you mention are directly linked to your goals.
An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (250 words minimum)
There is no maximum length, only a 250 word minimum. We trust that you will use your best judgment in determining how long your submission should be, but we recommend that you think strategically about how to best allocate the space.
Our lives are filled with an immense amount of experiences. Chicago Booth is looking to understand who you truly are through the motivations and experiences that have driven your life beyond your work. Furthermore, they’re trying to understand how you connect yourself to communities that aren’t facilitated by an office structure, and potentially how characteristics from demonstrated through your career ambitions also translate into non-professional areas of your life.
This essay is therefore an excellent place to recount your history from a personal lens and to highlight the impact of successes that may not be central on your CV or appear in other parts of the application. When working on the stories you’d like to include, it’s usually easier to work backward. What are your focuses beyond work, and what big moments have occurred in those personal areas of your life? What choices were at the root of those moments for you? How did those moments and actions reveal something deeper about who you are? Perhaps there is a value that guides your decision-making, both in work and beyond, that can be linked back to family upbringing. Perhaps you come from a unique background that this essay offers a chance to flesh out in more detail. Whatever the lens you chose, just remember that the goal is to clarify who “you” are, while not falling back onto your professional identity.
When approaching this essay, it’s also important to make the admissions committee feel engaged with your narrative. That doesn’t mean that you can’t use diverse examples, however finding a link that connects, at least to some extent, those various instances you wish to share will help strengthen your answer.
Optional Question: Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? (300 word maximum)
In this essay, Chicago Booth is only interested in information concerning problems in your profile. If you don’t have any issues — such as gaps in your job history, poor academic performance, strange job progression, lack of a supervisor recommendation, etc. — leave this essay blank.
If you do, however, make sure to deal with the issue in this section. Explain why that particular issue or situation was an anomaly, and how you have since proven that it will remain firmly in the past. For instance, if you had poor academic performance in your university, mention if you’ve since taken courses that show you’re capable of outperforming on university-level subjects.
Re-applicant Question: Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 word maximum)
It’s vital to approach this essay carefully. You might feel the need to rush into an answer that simply focuses on showing changes in exam metrics or your professional responsibilities, however, you’ll most likely need to dig deeper to develop a convincing response. Booth is asking about how your perspective has changed, meaning how has your view of the process and your future evolved. Try to convince the reader that, more than before, you understand how you fit the Chicago Booth MBA profile, and vice versa.
To develop a powerful application for the Booth MBA, you’ll need to approach the process thoughtfully. Therefore, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to connect with a Chicago Booth expert to find out what would be the best strategy for you. Also, if you need more technical information on the application process, you can visit Chicago’s site.
