Veterans and Active Military: Valued Members of Our Community

For an active military member or veteran seeking an MBA, it may be a challenge to make the transition to civilian life and feel as though your background and experiences are competitive in the MBA landscape. The reality is Chicago Booth’s application review process is holistic, the flexibility of our program allows you to fill knowledge gaps you may have, and our community is ready to support you throughout the entire process. Ready to learn more? 

Let’s Start with Our Holistic Application Review Process
Similar to our other students, those who have served or are currently serving in the military are valued members of the Chicago Booth community. What we find about military candidates is they are grounded in ways that reflect Booth values. They are bold, resilient, collaborative, selfless, determined, hardworking, and leaders by example. Though their backgrounds may not be in traditional business roles, veterans and active military candidates are well aligned with many applicants who apply to our program after working in government, education, and the nonprofit sectors, as well as myriad other alternative paths. Our admissions committee is trained and well equipped to identify skills and leadership experiences across industries, and to take into consideration both qualitative and quantitative qualifications when making a holistic admissions decision. 

How We Make Our Program Accessible
Determining how to finance your MBA is a critical component in deciding where you plan to pursue your MBA. As a sign of our continued commitment to recruiting individuals with military experience, we offer an application fee waiver to all veterans and active military candidates. Additionally, we are proud that last year the Harper Family Foundation made a $10 million gift to provide scholarships for US veterans attending Chicago Booth. That is in addition to the $10 million alumnus Eric Gleacher, ‘67, previously gifted to fund Booth’s groundbreaking scholarship program for US veterans. Booth also recently doubled its contributions under the Yellow Ribbon Program, as part of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This allows for qualifying veterans to receive up to $30,000 in benefits from the school. To demonstrate our continued commitment to veteran candidates from outside of the United States, we are proud to offer several awards that give preference to military candidates, including the David W. Fox Scholarship, the Stephen J. and Jennifer L. Czech—US Navy SEAL Scholarship, and the Dennis W. and Jane B. Carlton Fellowship for those who served in the Israeli military. 

The Community That Will Support You 
Each year, our class comprises an average of around seven to eight percent veterans. They are supported in many ways at Chicago Booth and as part of the greater University of Chicago. The Office for Military-Affiliated Communities provides overarching programming and community for military veterans, and Booth’s Armed Forces Group (AFG) offers help early on in a candidate’s MBA journey with interview preparation, resume workshops, career coaching, and family social activities. AFG connects first- and second-year members to better understand career opportunities and develop personalized recruiting plans within each industry, while also bringing together current and past AFG members/alumni for networking. In terms of interview and recruiting preparation, the group hosts more than a dozen events with corporate sponsors including Amazon, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, and many others.

Each student has a different “why Booth,” yet you’ll see consistency in the way the community celebrates it’ (s)heroes, supports and welcomes those with families, and builds camaraderie. Explore their stories as you start to think about what your own will be.

The Ways Your Investment Returns Dividends
The combination of Career Services, alumni, and peer support is crucial to student preparedness. Our Career Services team designs and delivers educational programs and events that address key skills and competencies critical for successfully transitioning into MBA-level jobs and navigating professional careers. These programs leverage experienced career coaches and student advisors (including former military) to teach best practices and offer learning activities.

While there will be no shortage of opportunities to engage with the community when you are here on campus, we know the ultimate goal is to graduate feeling prepared to make a bold impact in your future career. You can feel confident the career impact and post-MBA outcomes for our military students fall in line with the rest of our graduating class. The overall job success at Booth is high, and that includes our veteran graduates. While a fair number of veterans go into investment banking and consulting, we also see a broad range of professional pursuits with this group.

Learn about all of The University of Chicago resources available to veterans.