From Essay to GPA: Breaking Down the Chicago Booth MBA Application

Crafting the perfect MBA application doesn't need to be complicated. At Booth, we believe the best way to determine a fit for the program is through a comprehensive and genuine profile of who you are and how you plan to maximize your MBA experience to support your career aspirations.

Essay Questions

Utilize your essays to tell us more about yourself, and reflect on your accomplishments, career, and personal and professional life. This reflection will help you create a solid narrative about your professional journey and goals. Forming a cohesive essay about yourself and how you plan to utilize a Booth MBA will help the admissions committee to better understand you and evaluate your candidacy.

Professional Resume

Create a concise, effective snapshot of your career and the progression of your professional experiences and acumen. We prefer a 1-2 page resume for readability, so be sure to highlight the aspects of your career, volunteer work, and other accomplishments that are most relevant to you and your professional goals.

Letters of Recommendation

When choosing your recommenders, be sure to seek out individuals who you have worked with closely and can speak directly to your abilities, performance, and contributions to an organization. You want a quality recommendation that helps us get an understanding of your skillset, how you work collaboratively, and how you operate and communicate within a team setting. We recommend picking a recommender not based on the weight of their title, but by their professional insights on you and your career. Select an individual who you know and who wants to see you succeed.

Academic Transcripts

You’ll need to submit transcripts from all postsecondary educational institutions that you have attended. We ask that you submit your unofficial transcripts during the application process, and if you are admitted, we will require the official transcripts to be sent directly from the institutions from which they were conferred.

Test Score

Your test score from the GMAT or GRE (or EA in the case of the Evening and Weekend MBA Programs) helps us gauge your readiness for our classes. These scores form an understanding of your academic performance and capabilities. We do not have a preference with regards to which test you choose to take, but we do recommend doing a bit of research beforehand so you can choose the test on which you think you will perform the best.

English Assessment Scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo)

We require an English proficiency test for those who are not native speakers in order to ensure your ability to participate fully in class and make the most effective use of your experience at Booth. From lectures and classroom discussions to student groups and other extracurricular activities, the Booth MBA requires a high degree of involvement. You can see if you qualify for an English assessment waiver using our checklist here under the International Prospective Students section.

Overall

We evaluate applications holistically, giving equal weight to each aspect, from your undergraduate GPA to your essay responses. When creating your MBA application, remember to craft a submission that is genuine and reflective of you and your accomplishments. At its core, the Booth MBA admissions process is intended as a method of getting to know you, so don’t shy away from being your most authentic self as you create your application.