I grew up in a small town in Southern Illinois and earned a triple major in Accounting, Finance, and International Business at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. I started my career in audit at Deloitte, but I quickly realized I wanted a career that was more forward thinking—and so I began my transition into finance. I started studying for the CFA and joined the CFA Society of Chicago, a network that ultimately led me to a role at the University of Chicago Investment Office. I heard so many great things about the Booth MBA program from my colleagues, and I was really drawn to the reputation of the faculty and the curriculum, as well as the pay-it-forward culture. I believed that the education and network at Chicago Booth would provide me with the last pieces of the puzzle I needed in order to make the transition I wanted.
Tess Cross
I’m originally from New York but have spent most of my life in North Carolina where I attended UNC Chapel Hill to attain my undergraduate Business degree. After graduation, I spent a year in consulting prior to moving into various operational and strategy roles at my current employer, Instacart. During the height of the pandemic, it became clear to me that the world was rapidly evolving through technology and, to keep up, I needed to continue to evolve with the macro climate. To do this, I decided I wanted to pursue my MBA. Finding the right Part-Time Program was especially appealing to me so I could actively apply my findings from school in a professional work setting. Chicago Booth’s Part-Time MBA Program was particularly attractive given I wanted to further my understanding of economics and strategy and how I could apply these disciplines to the ever-changing world around us.
Steven Deepee
I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. I work in corporate banking, and when looking at various managing directors and team leads, almost everyone had an MBA with Chicago Booth being the most popular option. I attended a few informational sessions and really appreciated the flexibility and the “Chicago Approach” mentality.
Michael ShermanTC: The admissions committee, or AdCom, is a group of current students and alumni whose job it is to support the Admissions team in recruiting and selecting the best candidates for incoming cohorts of Chicago Booth students. Our job includes conducting interviews, attending admissions events, and reaching out to admitted students.
TC: I decided to apply to AdCom as I was nearing the end of my time in the program. I was eager to stay involved in the community as much as possible. My experience at Chicago Booth has been overwhelmingly positive and impactful, and I wanted to both be able to give back to the school and be a part of shaping the community for years to come. It’s a great opportunity to continue to build new relationships with incoming students and my peers on the AdCom.
SD: When I was accepted to Chicago Booth last year, I was debating whether it was the right program for me. After countless conversations with Admissions Committee members, I was sold that this was the best MBA experience for my needs. Now that I am a part of the community, I want to pay this forward and help other prospective students understand if Booth is the right fit for them so that they can make the most informed decision possible. Whether it’s an interview or a live panel, AdCom gives you the opportunity to really make an impact and shape the future of Booth’s Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Programs.
MS: Paying-it-forward is a phrase that is repeatedly mentioned at Booth. It’s also why I joined AdCom. As a prospective student, student panels at admissions events were super helpful. I also greatly enjoyed my interview, so the idea of paying that forward to future students is extremely appealing to me.
SD: If you are interested in getting involved with the AdCom team, the application process is released to enrolled students each year. I encourage anyone to apply! Even before the application, you can always feel free to reach out to an AdCom member to find out if you can support any of the events happening throughout the year.
As many life factors come into account, deciding the right time for an MBA can be difficult. Learn how Nicole pursued her passion for life-long learning while navigating life obstacles and maximizing the flexibility of our Evening MBA Program.
Get to know Nicole Silva, Evening MBA Student
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, we wanted to share a quick snapshot of the Booth South Asian Club from the perspective of Part-Time MBA student and current co-chair, Sarthak Gupta.
Connecting with our AAPI Community: Student Spotlight on the Booth South Asian Club
Weekend MBA student Sydney Tsai shares with us what a weekend spent in Chicago might look like once school is in session.
36 Hours in Chicago: Life of a Booth Weekend Student