March 11, 2020 | Noon - 1 PM CST Spotlight on Student Life: The Booth Experience Student Blog

Guest: How do students think about balancing gaining leadership positions in 1-2 clubs versus participating in several?

* Nadeem Khan: Typically, students will take leadership positions in ~1-2 clubs based on their personal interests, professional goals, etc., and then they participate in others as regular members. In my experience, this has been easy to balance out. I am a cochair of 1 club, have been a LEAD facil, an admissions fellow and a member of DSTAR. The other clubs that I am a regular member of is purely out of interest, and allows me to attend talks, events, etc. (and hence doesn’t require much time commitment).

Guest: What has your biggest surprise been about Booth student life compared to what you expected upon admission / enrollment?

* James Wang: Thanks for your question! I would say the biggest surprise is the range and variety of activities you can get involved in. There are so many opportunities for leadership and to find things that you are truly interested in and passionate about. The most important thing I've learned is to make sure it's all manageable

Guest: How often do students take classes / study at Gleacher?

* Nicole Newman: Hi, students usually take one out of three or four classes at Gleacher per quarter, given the amount of course offerings for that particular class throughout the year.

Guest: Hi All - what has been the most exciting part of your Booth experience?

* David Noel: Thanks for asking! The most exciting aspect of my Booth experience so far has been meeting and learning from new people who come from all walks of life. This makes for very dynamic classroom discussions and interactions around campus.

Guest: Hi There! Thank you for taking the time to help answer my questions. I am just starting the process of looking at MBA programs, and I am curious how you decided on Booth?

* Daniel Cullen: Hello! For me, a couple of things were really important. First, I tried to meet as many people as I could from the program, and I really felt a good fit with the community here. I also wanted to go to a program that would give me a lot of flexibility with what to study. Business school is only two years, and so I wanted to make sure I could get as much out of my time as possible. And finally, I didn't want to sacrifice the opportunity to live in a large city, and Chicago has really fit the bill :)

Guest: Hi, as a deferred admissions students, I have no clear idea on essay 3 "Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life?". Is this "choice" my decision to join a particular industry?

* Nicole Newman: Hi! Yes, you have a variety of choices when it comes to your industry selection, from where you choose to recruit, the academic concentration you focus on, professional organizations you join. What separates Booth's choice-rich environment from other MBA programs is that you can immerse yourself in a particular field or passion starting on day one.

Guest: Hi everyone! Can you guys tell me a little bit about Booth's culture and what aspects of it you love the most?

* James Wang: What I love about Booth's culture: 1) Incredible diversity. Such an array of ideas and backgrounds. 2) The number of people who want to share that diversity and thought

Guest: I am also hoping you might be able to help me with understanding if there is a specific work history, or a component of work history that elite MBA programs look for?

* Ashley Allison: There is no specific work history needed for entry into an MBA program. I was a healthcare professional with no business experience before I came to Booth. I think it is important to always convey the experience you do have and how it can help you contribute to the Booth community. Showing leadership and initiative no matter what position you have had is always a plus.

Guest: Hi! What sets the culture of Booth apart from other similar schools in the Midwest (namely Kellogg)? I've heard a few anecdotes but it seems like everybody has a different answer.

* Daniel Cullen: I can only speak to the culture of Booth, but this community really is a special place. As an applicant, I didn't make much of the Pay It Forward culture, but it is a perfect description of what defines us. As a First Year, you are the beneficiary of the entire 2Y class and their collective wisdom. Everyone is eager to help one another with recruiting, class selection, and social and academic groups. Then, when you become a 2Y, you have the opportunity to give back to the next year's class to pass everything you learned on to the next generation of Boothies.

Guest: How much of the class structure is collaborative?

* David Noel: Many of our classes here at Booth are set up to be collaborative through working in groups on assignments, projects, presentations, etc. This provides with various opportunities to demonstrate leadership, practice teamwork, and hold each other accountable.

Guest: Biggest misconception about Booth student life?

* Nadeem Khan: Biggest misconception: The community is not close-knit. I have found this to be extremely untrue in my time at school. The pay-it-forward culture is real, and people go out of their way to help you and make you feel comfortable. LEAD is a great starting point where you meet your cohort and squad and helps you ease into school. Then there are many student-led groups which allow you to meet people. Overall, the community is extremely close knit, and I have made some amazing friends at school.

Guest: Is there any opportunities to study in an International setting?

* James Wang: Yes there is an international study abroad program called IBEP that you will find on the Booth website! A lot of my classmates have taken advantage of this special opportunity.

Guest: @nadeem - sir, what kind of resources are available at Booth for Indian students to be able to quickly apply to the Chicago culture?

* Nadeem Khan: Great question! As an Indian student, the community here is very strong. At a school level, the team goes out of their way to make internationals comfortable. This involves special help for recruiting preparation, events to make people comfortable in Chicago, etc. In addition, the South Asian Business Group is very active and ensures that incoming students get a lot of support. SABG provides a mentor who helps you with recruiting and settling into student life. SABG also organizes events, mentorship programs, and recruiting events to help you out!

Guest: What proportion of students choose 1, 2, or 3 concentrations during their time at Booth? Is the number of concentrations you can do limited if you do a 12 or 15-month program?

* Ashley Allison: Because of our flexible curriculum in the full-time program, there are no limits as the number of concentrations you can do. Some Boothies choose not to focus on concentrations at all and just take classes they enjoy, others are focused on a particular subject area.

Guest: What are some of the most popular classes, and what have been your personal favorites?

* Daniel Cullen: Great question! Some of the most popular classes (and some of my favorites):

Platform Competition with Austan Goolsbee - absolutely fascinating look into some of the most talked-about business models today, taught by a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors

The Study of Behavioral Economics - Fascinating look into the latest research in behavioral economics, which serves as a great balance to classical economic study.

Energy Policy Practicum - A small seminar co-taught by a Booth professor and a Physics professor, to provide the economics and science of energy as it relates to public policy.

Guest: What do you think is the big difference between Booth Student life and the culture of other schools?

* David Noel: I'm unable to speak on the culture of other schools as I haven't experienced them, but I can say that Booth's student life is dynamic and supportive. We have a plethora of student organizations, professional groups, and affinity groups that you'll be able to join.

Guest: If you are a LEAD Facilitator, what inspired you to become one and what has your experience been like?

* Nadeem Khan: LEAD has been one of the highlights of my time at school. I have grown professionally, made a lot of really close friends, and have had an opportunity to give back to school. The primary reason for me to become a LEAD facil was two-fold: I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to develop and deliver content in front of 150~ students. In addition, I saw this as a great opportunity to meet the incoming class and get to know them personally!

Guest: Hi all. Thanks for hosting this chat! This question is for anyone. If you had to describe your Booth experience in one word, what would it be and why? Thanks.

* Nicole Newman: Hi! What an interesting question ~ I would say 'variety'. I've had the opportunity to explore product management, consulting, and machine learning. I'm also involved in numerous clubs and activities.

Guest: Do you find the environment at Booth to be competitive?

* Nicole Newman: Hi! Not at all. Booth is a very collaborative environment. Even as I recruited for limited roles with my peers, we all helped each other. It felt like a breath of fresh air.

Guest: How did Booth change you?

* Daniel Cullen: Booth gives you so many opportunities to speak in public or to interact with people you haven't met, and that has really made me so much more comfortable with communication. Starting with LEAD, the leadership development program everyone goes through when they arrive on campus, Booth challenges you to focus on how you communicate and present yourself.

Guest: Nadeem - what is the process for becoming a LEAD facil?

* Nadeem Khan: The process for applying to LEAD involves two steps. First, you submit an application explaining why you want to be a facil, and why you would be a good fit. The second step involves an interview with a LEAD office representative, where they try to get to know you a bit better and gauge if you would be a good fit for the program!

Guest: How often do students participate in non-profit work or other type of volunteer work during their school year?

* Ashley Allison: Many students become involved in the greater Chicago community. We have some volunteer events quarterly through either the school or a specific student group (Giving Something Back, Net Impact, etc). Students can also get involved in a local Chicago non-profit throughout board fellows program that allows you to become the junior member of a non-profit board. We also have drives, fundraisers, etc. put on my different student groups through the school year.

Guest: Are there other ways to connect with students, faculty, or alumni to learn more about the program, besides an on campus tour?

* Nicole Newman: Hi, you can visit our Student Connect Portal: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer. During the summer before Booth, I additionally reached out to alumni via LinkedIn with similar career interests.

Guest: Can you talk about what drew you to Booth over other schools you looked at?

* James Wang: For me, Booth drew me in with its reputation, opportunities after graduation, and the rich Chicago culture.

Guest: Hi! Can one of you talk a little about why you chose the Booth program over others? And have those reasons stayed true during your time in it?

* David Noel: I chose Booth for various reasons. The most important, yet most intangible, reason for me was that everyone who I interacted with was incredibly intelligent yet humble and approachable. This has absolutely remained true during my time here at Booth.

Guest: Question for anyone - one thing that you wish you had participated in while at Booth that you did not?

* Nicole Newman: Hi! Hands down New Venture Challenge. Before I came to Booth, my goal was to learn more about the startup community and help launch a company. Due to scheduling conflicts, however, I was unable to participate in this life-changing experience. Similar feeling when it comes to Social Innovation Challenge and the different competitions hosted throughout the year.

Guest: Is it ok if I use 2 recommenders from the same firm?

* Audrey Sova: Yes, you can use two from the same employer.

Guest: I'd love to hear if anyone on the panel is involved with the entrepreneurship scene (Polsky Center, venture competitions, etc.) or knows someone who is and explain what that experience has been like. I'm particularly interested to hear if those involved are thinking of starting their own companies or (if not) how that experience has helped shape skills for post-MBA plans/roles. Thanks for hosting!

* James Wang: While I'm not highly involved in the entrepreneurship scene, I have completed the concentration. The New Venture Challenge and all the other Polsky programs are highly popular as the Venture scene in general is pretty prolific at Booth. Let us know if you'd like to be connected to someone who specifically has done this programming or is highly involved with Polsky.

Guest: What is something you learned or an experience you had at Booth that you didn't necessarily expect when you enrolled?

* Daniel Cullen: I think I was surprised by the number and variety of opportunities to work on public speaking and communication. The school recognizes the importance of effective communication across different media for any career path, and we have a lot of opportunities to develop these skills. Starting with the orientation LEAD program, you get to work on public presentation skills, as well as more small-scale communication. Then, in courses like the Persuasion series, you can have the opportunity to work deliberately on developing situation-based communication. It can be challenging work, but it is really beneficial across any career path.

Guest: Hi, I am not sure if there is further information on this yet, but have campus activities been affected at all by recent developments in the spread of Covid-19? I believe Chicago isn't as effected as NYC, but was interested in whether there has been a reduction in events on campus?

* Audrey Sova: While we aren't as directly effected as other areas of the world, the University of Chicago continues to monitor developments and we are adjusting accordingly. Our emphasis is on upholding our responsibility to keep our visitors, staff, and Booth community at large healthy and safe, and, as a result, we have suspended all campus visit programs until April 15, 2020.

Guest: What is the difference between a cohort and squad?

* James Wang: A cohort is pretty large: ~100 people. Your squad is a smaller group within the cohort of ~10 people

Guest: What are the things you wish you knew before joining Booth?

* Nicole Newman: Hi! Coming to Booth will expose you to a lot, so much that you may not have a lot of downtime. I'd encourage you to spend time with family and friends; relax; and save as much money as possible for the wild ride you're about to embark on. In regards to recruiting and career development, I would encourage you to map out some possibilities of specific companies or roles you hope to explore. Recruiting takes off fast (around October) here.

Guest: What are some of the "can't miss" events (either academic or outside social events)?

* David Noel: There are so many can't miss events throughout the year. We have Battle of the Bands and Running of the Bulls (music/basketball competitions against Kellogg), Winter & Spring Formals (MBA Prom), LPFs (weekly community-wide mixers), Booth Olympics, Random Walk, academic conferences, career treks, and the list goes on and on. There's no shortage of events to take part in during your time here at Booth!

Guest: What is one thing you would change about the program?

* Nadeem Khan: The one thing that I would change is more collaboration with the rest of the university. The University of Chicago has some of the most fascinating departments, classes and professors. I wish it was mandatory for us to take one class out of Booth!

Guest: How are in-semester internships typically structured? Do students try to take three classes for that quarter and clear a day or two to commit to the internship, or does it tend to be leveled out across the week around classes?

* Daniel Cullen: It really depends on the type of internship, and your ambitions as a student. Since Booth gives you complete flexibility over your curriculum, you can certainly modulate your course load up or down depending on what else is happening each quarter. With that said, some courses have internships as a part of the curriculum, so if you are taking a course like the Private Equity Lab, an internship in PE will be a part of your coursework for that course. Some people do internships every quarter, and many only do internships over the summer, but fortunately the Booth curriculum allows you to do what's right for you!

Guest: What is the advice you wish you had when you were in the process of your application?

* Ashley Allison: Looking back, I wish I had relaxed more and enjoyed the process. Applying to business school can be nerve-wracking but if you put your best foot forward in your application, you should relax and trust that everything works out for the best. Exploring the different schools is a great way to meet new people and think about what you really want out of your MBA experience. I actually scheduled a trip with friends during the time that decisions came out and it was a big help to just focus on enjoying life instead of worrying.

Guest: What are the primary industries/companies that students come from (before Booth) and end up at (after Booth)?

* Audrey Sova: We see students from a wide range of industries and backgrounds entering the program here at Booth. For more information about post-Booth industries, you can check out our most recent employment report: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/employmentreport/

Guest: What has been your experience interacting with alumni?

* Ashley Allison: I have had multiple positive experiences with alumni. I did start-up summer in New York City with a Booth alumni who has a healthcare apparel start-up. He was very helpful about taking time to help me work through what I wanted from my Booth experience. He connected me with alumni in all the areas I wanted to work in and I called him several times through the recruiting process when I was facing tough decisions. The alumni at Booth who I have reached out to have been extremely helpful and supportive in helping to guide me through recruiting, etc.

Guest: James - that connection would be amazing. Thank you!

* James Wang: You can try reaching out to Sanjay at sanjaybyalal@chicagobooth.edu. I don't know him personally but I do know he is highly actively involved

Guest: Hi, thanks again for doing this, and one additional question: For those interested in getting involved in the Net Impact board fellows program, how selective is the process, and is it required that applicants are intent on working in the nonprofit space after graduation?

* Nadeem Khan: The Board Fellows program is a great way to get involved with the community and get hands-on experience of working with various organizations. The program doesn’t require you to have any prior experience of working in social impact / international development, nor does it require you to have any intent of working in the space post-graduation. The program is quite popular at school and many students apply. The selection team focuses on understanding your motivation to work with a non-profit and how you can create value for the non-profit you are assigned to.

Guest: Is GMAT score a determining factor for candidates? What kind of candidates skills do booth business schools look forward to joining?

* Audrey Sova: We take a holistic approach when reviewing applications, and the GMAT (or GRE) score is only one component of the application requirements.

Guest: Do you have a lot of interaction with professors outside of the classroom?  Who was the easiest professor to learn from at Booth that you have had?

* David Noel: Professors are always happy and willing to meet with students outside of the classroom to further the classroom discussion or even provide career advice and connections. There have also been opportunities to take professors out for coffee to pick their brain and learn more about their research. It's all up to you on how you'd like to make the most of your interactions with Booth's world-class faculty. You can learn something from every professor you come across!

Guest: if you have an interest in health tech, how might Booth connect you with the local healthcare landscape for more real-world experience?

* Daniel Cullen: Unfortunately I don't personally have experience with the health tech industry, so I would encourage you to take the opportunity to connect with a Booth student who can speak more specifically to this interest, here: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer

Guest: Although my career plans aren't in entrepreneurship, I'm interested in Startup Summer, as I think it would be a great opportunity to engage with alumni and experience the Chicago Approach before starting classes. Is this a viable option?

* Audrey Sova: Startup Summer is a great opportunity to gain experience in the startup/entrepreneurship space even if that's not something you're looking to get into long-term. Once you're admitted, you'll also have access to alumni through our alumni directory and through various events as well.

Guest: How much does one's living situation and proximity to campus dictate their level of involvement? I know many folks chose to live in the Millennium park area

* Nicole Newman: Hi! Although you have so many neighborhoods to live in Chicago (including Hyde Park and Streeterville), I personally would encourage students to live as close to Millennium Park Plaza as possible. To date, over 80 percent of students live in the area and it's conveniently located near our downtown campus, Gleacher Center. This makes it easy when meeting companies downtown for recruitment events, scheduling study group sessions, and participating in social events. You don't have to live in Millennium Park Plaza. There are quite a few options nearby, including the Lakeshore East development (eg Tides, Shoreham, Aqua) conveniently surrounding a doggy park, and a hop and skip from the lakeshore.

Guest: if an applicant reports both GMAT and GRE scores does Booth have the option to report one or the other?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! You would report both scores.  Booth will use the higher score to evaluate your application.

Guest: Tips for a waitlisted student?

* Audrey Sova: Continue to engage with our community. Utilizing Connect with a Student, participating in events like this Live Chat, and updating us with any major career changes are all great ways to stay engaged.

Guest: As someone who wants to pursue entrepreneurship, am I allowed to spend one or both of my 2 years of deferment working on my startup full-time, or does Booth require admitted students to complete 2 years of work at an established (non-startup) company?

* Audrey Sova: As long as you are pursuing full-time, professional work experience it meets the requirements. This can mean teaching experience, startup, or a traditional business career during your deferral period.

Guest: What's the experience like at Raghuram Rajan sir's class?

* Ashley Allison: I have loved Prof. Rajan's class (International Corp Finance). I am new to finance and just getting to listen to how he thinks through business in an international context has been super helpful. On top of that, he class draws a very international mix of students. The discussions and listening to my fellow classmates and their opinions have been eye opening. For sure a must-take class at Booth!

Guest: Question: Ashley, Nicole and David - what is the diversity like at booth in regards to Africans and African Americans? And what has your experience been so far?

* Ashley Allison: I am a member of AAMBAA and CABG (Chicago African Business Association) and have had a great experience developing close relationships in the black community as a whole. Our community is very supportive and close-knit and big on paying it forward to the next class. Each class is a different mix of students but we come from all over the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa (mostly Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon).

Guest: How has the school's career development resources helped you so far?

* David Noel: Booth's career services office has been invaluable for me, particularly pursuing specialized search. CS does a great job of sharing resources, training, and alumni connections to help us succeed in our job searches. In collaboration with the Polsky Center, they also offer generous funding for those who are interested in startups and entrepreneurship.

Guest: What do Boothies value the most from this program?

* James Wang: I would say there are a bunch of things Boothies value but the biggest ones that come to mind are 1) the new friendships made 2) the wealth of experiences gained in such a short period of time

Guest: To further the GMAT/GRE question, would Booth ever accept a lower %tile GRE to conserve their incoming average GMAT score? Even if the GMAT is a higher % but less than the class average.

* Audrey Sova: The evaluation process is holistic and includes more than just a GMAT/GRE score in the evaluation. There is no preference given to which type of score you submit.

Guest: What % of weekends do students travel away from Booth campus?

* David Noel: At the very least, many students travel during our breaks from school (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, etc.) Beyond that, it all depends on your reasons for travel. Some students travel for interviews in different cities, and some travel for special life events of their friends and family. It's tough to lock down a % of how much Booth students travel because it just depends on their individual circumstances.

Guest: For a student interested in a career in FinTech, what are the resources that Booth have (in addition to Booth FinTech Club and New Venture Challenge)?

* Nadeem Khan: There are the other resources that are really helpful for FinTech recruiting: First, the Booth Technology Group which helps students learn about, prepare for, and interview with technology firms (including FinTech firms). Second, Career Services that helps you with specialized search and apply to firms that are not large recruiters. Third, the Booth Alumni. You can find them through the community directory once you are at Booth and reach out to them for advice and help. I personally leveraged the third resource quite a bit and found it very helpful.

Guest: What is the best tip - concerning the application process - you would give for a prospective student?

* James Wang: For the application process, make sure you get a wide variety of opinions and then ensure that you also realize they are all opinions. Secondly, try to connect with people who have gotten MBAs in the past to get their advice.

Guest: How many concentrations are you allowed to pick? I am currently trying to decide between entrepreneurship and corporate strategy but I am having a hard time with picking one. Do you have any tips on how you went about the process of picking a concentration?

* Ashley Allison: Most Booth students don't focus on concentrations. You are allowed to go for as many concentrations as you want. Because of our flexible curriculum, many students focus on taking classes that interest them rather than trying to qualify for a specific concentration. For me, I knew I wanted a finance concentration because it was a skill I wanted to develop at Booth. I actually qualified for an entrepreneurship concentration by taking classes I was excited about that just happened to fall under the entrepreneurship category. I think however you approach taking classes is up to you. The main thing is to think about what you want to gain from your Booth experience.

Guest: Thank you for holding this session. It was really insightful

* Kimberly Epps: You are welcome!  Enjoy the rest of your day.

Guest: I'm interested in technology product management - what resources are available? Sorry I asked this question earlier but I don't think it was answered.

* Nicole Newman: Hi! There are numerous resources here at Booth for Product Management (PM). Initially, you would join the Booth Technology Club, which offers lunch n' learns with companies hiring PM interns over the summer; boot camps to learn frameworks used during PM interviews; and the club also provides you with a recruiting 'family' - in which a second-year student guides you through the recruiting process in a more intimate, personalized way. Clubs such as Innovation and Design and Marketing are additional student-led resources you can add to your toolkit. Academically, there is both a Marketing concentration and a Business Analytics concentration that offers several PM-driven classes. A list of relevant courses can be found here: https://groups.chicagobooth.edu/boothtech/academics/

Guest: What is the best tip on receiving scholarships? What are the things in your application that they look out for?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Chicago Booth scholarships are merit based awards.  Therefore, your entire application (grades, career, goals, etc.) is evaluated.