Recorded Admissions Events Joint Degree Programs

Speaker: Hello, everyone. I am an Admissions Officer at Chicago Booth, and I will be talking to you about our MBA and MS in Applied Data Science joint degree. In this presentation, we'll review the program and its offerings at a high level and talk through the application process, so let's get right into it. We're diving into an incredible opportunity for those with a strong interest in both business strategy and data science, the joint MBA and MS in Applied Data Science degree. If you're someone who sees the power of data in transforming decision-making, but also understands that true success requires a solid grasp of business principles, then this program is designed for you. By combining the analytical rigor of data science with the strategic insights of an MBA, this unique program equips you with a powerful dual perspective, one that is increasingly essential in today's data-driven business landscape. You can expect to develop qualifications for unique roles while working towards this joint degree, including intelligent product management, data science leadership, entrepreneurial founders/CTO, and other roles as companies seek more combined business, AI, and data science acumen for leadership.

Speaker: As a Booth student in the joint MBA and MS in Applied Data Science program, you'll have access to the vast resources, experiences, and opportunities offered by both disciplines as well as those unique to the joint degree itself. This includes engaging social experiences, student groups, and competitions, benefits that can inform both your business goals and data science ambitions. For example, Booth hosts over 80 student-led groups spanning professional industries and interests, including the Booth Analytics Club, which supports education, networking, and career preparation for those with a passion for data. Additionally, the Physical Sciences Division is home to a lot of the hard sciences: chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics at UChicago. The University of Chicago is well positioned to be within that environment to articulate and signal to employers the level of depth that our students go into, understanding the theoretical underpinnings of how our models work so that you're going into the marketplace with that deep and rich understanding. As you weigh the options, think about how this dual access could support your short and long-term aspirations in both business and applied data science.

Speaker: Now that you have background on what this program is and the resources available at UChicago, let's dive deeper into exactly how this program works. The curriculum in this joint degree is based on the assertion that data is becoming increasingly important, and this program will give students the skill sets needed to understand data in a business environment. The MBA gives students a well-rounded business education grounded in business fundamentals like economic psychology and accounting, and our data science curriculum gives students theoretical and analytical knowledge in data science. And one can't overlook the benefit of completing the curriculum in just two years rather than the three years it would require if you gained the degrees independent of each other. In order to earn an MBA and MS in Applied Data Science, students must complete classes with both Chicago Booth and the Physical Sciences Division. Students will complete roughly 23 courses over the span of two years, including some summer coursework. More information on the exact number of units or credit hours required for this program is available on our website. Both Booth and MS classes will be taken in combination across both years of the program, concluding with a capstone project at the end of the second year. It's important to note that due to the truncated timeline and course requirements, joint degree MBA/MS in Applied Data Science students do not have the same number of pure elective credits as traditional MBA students would. So this is something to consider when applying to the program. In addition, balancing an increased joint degree course load will require students to strategically manage and plan their involvement in both programs and extracurricular activities. Though this may require some additional effort, the long-term benefits of pursuing a joint degree program outweigh these short-term challenges. One important and unique aspect of this joint degree is that your applied data science classes will be taught online. For the Booth curriculum, most classes will be taken at UChicago's Hyde Park campus.

Speaker: Now that you've heard a program overview, let's cover the logistics of applying. Students interested in an MBA/MS in Applied Data Science will apply through the Booth full-time MBA application. You do not need to submit two separate applications. Instead, you will be asked to indicate if you are applying to a joint degree on the Booth application. You would select yes and indicate the MBA/MS in Applied Data Science as your program of interest. You'll be asked to submit all required aspects of a full-time MBA application, which will include a completed application, GMAT or GRE scores, educational transcripts, resume, letters of recommendation, and essays. Then you'll be asked to complete a number of supplemental questions about your interest in applied data science. The application will be reviewed by admissions staff from both Booth and the Applied Data Science Department. Both departments will make their ultimate decision on whether or not you are a fit for the program. If you are not selected as a member of the joint degree cohort, you may indicate if you would like to be considered for admission to the MBA only. If you are not selected as a member of the joint degree cohort and you want to pursue the MS in Applied Data Science independently, you would need to submit a new separate application directly to Applied Data Science. You can apply in any of the three Chicago Booth full-time MBA application rounds, and specific deadlines are posted on our website each year. Please note that applying for the joint degree is only possible at this initial application stage. Once you apply to or matriculate in either the MBA or MS program separately, you won't have the option to switch to the joint degree later. We encourage you to reflect before applying on whether this unique joint degree aligns with your professional goals. We hope this presentation has given you a helpful introduction to the MBA/MS in Applied Data Science at the University of Chicago, and we look forward to reviewing your application.

Speaker: Hello everyone. I'm an admissions officer at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and I'll be talking to you about our MBA and MS in Biomedical Sciences joint degree. In this presentation, we'll review the program and its offerings at a high level and talk through the application process. So let's get right into it. As you think about your graduate education goals, maybe you're someone who always envisioned an MBA, but also has extensive interest in the healthcare space, or maybe a master in science was your plan, but now you're starting to see the value of a management education on top of that. This program seeks to address that intersection of interests for you. Our joint degree with an MBA and MS in Biomedical Sciences is designed for anyone seeking to understand how physicians approach disease processes, how researchers generate clinical evidence, and how that evidence is then applied, or how frameworks are developed for a product to bring it to market and analyze its healthcare outcomes. Anyone with this interest in the intersection between business, medicine, and healthcare may be a good candidate for our joint degree. Additionally, students completing the joint degree are also getting the benefit of earning a degree in two years instead of three, saving you both time and money as you move forward in your career.

Speaker: Why do this program at UChicago? I want to make sure to highlight some of the things in addition to our world class curriculum that make the University of Chicago the ideal place for you to pursue your joint degree. First, we have the University of Chicago Healthcare Initiative, which serves as the center of gravity for diverse disciplines that engage in healthcare research at Booth, and it facilitates collaboration with partners across the university. Second, students can access our Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship, which offers a variety of programming focused on biotech, biopharma and more. Finally, there are many different student clubs you can get involved with, including the Booth Healthcare Group, which will play an active role in your career pursuits while at UChicago.

Speaker: Now that you have background on what this program is and the resources available at UChicago, let's dive deeper into how exactly this program works. In order to earn an MBA and MS in Biomed, students must complete Booth courses and MS courses, this typically comes to about 14 classes at Booth and six MS courses. The exact details, including the specific number of credits or units needed to complete the program can be found on our website. The majority of classes will be taken on UChicago's Hyde Park campus. The MBA and Biomed joint degree offers a diverse curriculum covering expansive subjects in the business and biomed space. For your MBA curriculum, you will take a series of foundational courses in financial accounting, microeconomics, and statistics, as well as electives you can select in any subject area. It is important to note that the MBA MS joint degree students will have less pure electives than a traditional MBA student to accommodate their Biomed curriculum. Speaking of that Biomed curriculum, your MS classes will be a series of foundational courses in biomedical sciences, Bioethics, and Health Systems, as well as some electives. We tend to see MBA MS students focusing on completing their foundational MBA and Biomed core classes in the first year of the program, and then focus more on electives in the second, although this isn't always the case. You can find more specific information about curriculum requirements on our website. During your time as a joint degree student at UChicago, you will work closely with academic advisors to map out the best curriculum for you. In addition to a strong curriculum, I'm sure you're looking for a joint degree program that supports your career goals. A great benefit of being in the MBA MS in Biomed program at UChicago is that you'll have double the resources including career support. You'll have access to career professionals both at Booth and in the Biological Sciences division. Between student coaches who can help you navigate the recruitment process, to dedicated employer relations teams who facilitate new pathways for students to go through different channels, your career goals will be supported. Our graduates find themselves in a variety of different roles, including working within hospital settings in research or tech careers, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, government policy, and more. Additionally, all of our graduates receive support from Career Services for life, giving you access to our team of professionals at every point in your career.

Speaker: Now that you've heard a program overview, let's cover the logistics of applying. Students interested in an MBA MS in Biomed will apply through the Booth full-time MBA application. You do not need to submit two separate applications. Instead, you'll be asked to indicate if you are applying to a joint degree on the Booth application. You would select yes and indicate the MBA and MS in Biomedical Sciences as your program of interest. You'll then be asked to submit all required aspects of a full-time MBA application, which include a completed application, a GMAT or GRE score, education transcripts, a resume, letters of recommendation, and essays. Then you'll be asked to complete a number of supplemental questions about your interest in biomedical sciences. The application will be reviewed by both Booth and Biomedical Sciences admission staff for evaluation. If you are not selected as a member of the joint degree cohort, you may indicate if you would like to be considered for admission to the MBA only. If you are not selected as a member of the joint degree cohort and you want to pursue the MS in Biomedical Sciences independently, you would need to submit a new separate application directly to the Biomedical Sciences program. The full-time MBA application has three rounds of admission every year and the dates usually follow this schedule. You can find exact dates on our website. You may submit an application in any of these three rounds. Please note, you will not be able to apply to the full-time MBA and then decide to apply to the joint degree later. Your interest in the joint degree must be indicated in your one and only joint application. We strongly encourage you to do some self-reflection as you're preparing your application to make sure you are pursuing the correct program for you. We hope this presentation has given you a helpful introduction to the MBA and MS in Biomedical Sciences joint degree at the University of Chicago. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Speaker: Hello, everyone. I'm an Admissions Officer at Chicago Booth, and I will be talking to you about our JD/MBA joint degree. In this presentation, we'll review the program and its offerings at a high level and talk through the application process. Whether you are just starting to think about graduate school or you already know you'd like to apply, we'll cover information that's helpful for you, so let's get right into it. If you're interested in the intersection of business and law, there are many benefits to pursuing a joint degree. Combining the tangible business skills you'll gain at Booth with the legal knowledge acquired at UChicago Law opens doors across various career paths regardless of your ultimate aspirations. This JD/MBA credential can prepare you for a career in law with a strong business foundation, corporate counsel roles, or even entrepreneurship with a valuable legal perspective. Many students come to grad school looking to accelerate their careers or make a leap to the next step, and a JD/MBA can be the degree you need to reach your goals.

Speaker: Why is the University of Chicago the best place for you to get your JD/MBA? First, we offer both a four-year program and a three-year accelerated program. Both are vastly shorter than pursuing both of these degrees separately, saving you both time and investment. Additionally, UChicago is world renowned for our academic rigor and ability to give our students the skills and toolkits needed to navigate different situations, thrive in ambiguity, and apply theoretical knowledge with real-world technical situations. Students have access to the resources provided by both UChicago Law and Booth, and become part of a world-class network of alumni from both institutions. You aren't just joining a business program and taking law classes, or vice versa. You are joining two robust communities and programs that are set up to help you if you'd like to take a traditional law career path, pursue a business opportunity, or a career spanning both following graduation. Now let's dive deeper into exactly how the JD/MBA program at UChicago works.

Speaker: As I mentioned, we have both a four-year traditional and three-year accelerated JD/MBA option. I'd like to provide brief overviews of the schedule for both program options. In the three-year JD/MBA, you start at the law school and complete all of your first year law requirements. During your first summer, you pursue a law or business internship and begin your Booth curriculum with two summer business courses. In your second year, you continue with your Booth curriculum, including several business classes that will be taught by Booth faculty members and feature MBA content, but be physically taught at the Law school. Over the second summer, you complete another internship based on your career goals before completing your law requirements in your third academic year. Due to the accelerated timeline and course requirements, our three-year JD/MBAs do not have the same level of flexibility in choosing their courses as a traditional MBA or JD student would. The four-year JD/MBA is largely similar to the three-year program, but spread out through an additional year of study. Like the three-year program, you begin with the first year Law curriculum. The second and third year gives you the flexibility to chart your academic course through the degree with more options because of the increased timeframe. Within those two years, you'll complete one year at the law school and one year at Booth. The final year is predominantly at the law school. Like the three-year program, during your summers, you will pursue internships aligned with your career goals, whether those be in law or business. Students in the four-year program are not required to take summer classes. Sample schedules of both tracks can be found on our website. The specific curriculum requirements for a JD/MBA vary slightly depending on the track you choose, but regardless, all students will complete a mix of Booth coursework and UChicago Law coursework. More details on the exact number of units or credits required can be found on our website. In Law courses, students will gain a legal foundation in the concepts of statutory interpretation, judicial decision-making, and legal research before expanding into an interdisciplinary exploration of how law intersects business. At Booth, students will gain a management education that is grounded in the core principles with a multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. You will evaluate problems through the fundamentals underlying business and accounting, economics, psychology, sociology, and statistics.

Speaker: Now that you have a better understanding of the program itself, let's transition to talking about the JD/MBA application process, which is a little different from a traditional MBA or JD route. For both the three-year accelerated and four-year option, it is a two-step process. First, you will submit a single joint application found on the Booth website. This will ask you to include all traditional elements of an MBA or JD application, including a test score, academic transcripts, essays, including a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. We'll talk a bit more about each of those in a minute. Second, you need to complete the JD/MBA form and submit your official academic transcripts on lsac.org. This is a separate website from the main application portal. Detailed instructions are available in our application. So now let's take a look at the application elements I mentioned. For test scores, we will accept a GMAT, GRE, or LSAT score, and there is no preference on which exam you are submitting. For your resume, we'll ask you to submit a one to two-page resume that introduces us to your work experience. This can include experience outside of your professional life, like volunteer work, but try and make it as comprehensive as possible so we can get a great understanding of your background. Additionally, two letters of recommendation are required. More details on who applicants typically ask can be found on our website. Your academic transcripts will also be submitted with your application and with the form on lsac.org. All of your undergraduate and graduate level transcripts must be submitted. Admissions officers will look closely at the classes you've taken as well as the grades you've received to help make their final determination. International students will be asked to submit a test score for English language proficiency. Some international students may be eligible for a waiver, and you can find out more information on our website. You will also be asked to answer a series of essay questions. These will likely address your short and long-term goals, as well as why you would like to pursue a JD/MBA. The application will also ask you to introduce yourself through a personal statement. Finally, interviews will be conducted by invitation only and you are not guaranteed an interview. If you are invited, you will speak to an interviewer from both the Law school and Booth. More information will be provided if you receive an invitation.

Speaker: It is important to point out that the JD/MBA application includes a question that asks you if you'd like to be considered for just the JD or just the MBA should you not be admitted to the joint degree. If you select yes for either program, your application will be moved to consideration for the individual program of your choice if you are not selected for the joint degree. Finally, JD/MBA applicants must apply in one of our two rounds of JD/MBA admission. Those deadlines traditionally follow this schedule. You can visit our website for specific dates. We hope this presentation has given you a helpful introduction to the JD/MBA program at the University of Chicago. We look forward to reviewing your application.