First-year students share their "Why Booth" stories. As you consider Booth for business school, discover why Boothies believe it's the best place to pursue an MBA.
- By
- January 21, 2025
- Admissions
Whether you're just beginning to research MBA programs or have already been admitted to Booth and are deciding if it's the right fit for you, we invite you to hear directly from first-year students in our Full-Time MBA Program about why they ultimately chose to attend Chicago Booth. We hope their sentiments resonate with you and inspire you to envision a future with Booth by your side!
“Chicago Booth’s focus on quantitative analysis, combined with the option to earn a dual Master’s degree in Computer Science in just two years, made it the best choice for achieving my future career goals of pivoting to the technology sector.” – Sai Kumar
“Booth’s unparalleled focus on rigorous analysis, coupled with its world-class faculty, makes it the ideal program to achieve my career aspirations. The curriculum's depth in strategic management and finance will equip me with the tools needed to lead transformational initiatives. Moreover, Booth’s emphasis on experiential learning, through centers like the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, will provide me with hands-on experience in driving innovative solutions, perfectly aligning with my goal to lead the innovative transformation of large corporations.” – Lorena Prates
“I value Booth’s learning approach, which entails taking 21 courses during the MBA and delving deep into these subjects. This compares equally to other prestigious programs allowing MBA students to take a higher number (often 30+) of courses, with less time spent on each subject. Furthermore, Booth’s exceptional focus on finance and private equity is very important to me: having worked for three years in private equity across two global buyout funds, I am determined to stay in this field. In my view, Booth outpaces other top programs in terms of professors (e.g., Professor Steve Kaplan, one of the world’s top researchers in this field), courses (e.g., Private Equity Lab, Entrepreneurial Finance and Private Equity, Entrepreneurship through Acquisition, Private Equity Transactions), and offerings beyond the curriculum (e.g., The Svider Private Equity Program, Booth’s Private Equity Conference within the Polsky Center).” – Giovanna Pinciroli
“My future goal is to be in a position to affect change in medicine/surgery. The healthcare track at Booth allows me the opportunities to learn how to be a leader and better understand the socio-economic issues plaguing one of the most complex topics in US healthcare.” – Romell Lewis
“One thing I have learned throughout my undergraduate journey and professional work experiences to-date is that my environment plays a significant role in determining whether or not I am successful in anything I do. As such, for my MBA experience, I knew that I did not simply need to go to a school with strong academic rigor in my areas of interest, but that I needed to attend a school that met the criteria of: 1) having an entrepreneurially inclined curriculum, 2) enables innovation and supports student ventures, 3) has a diverse and engaged student population who could introduce new ideas and perspectives into my life, and 4) values in-field experiences for students to put teachings into practice.” – Courtney Fondufe
“I am pursuing an MBA to build an internal business framework and will of course take standard MBA classes offered by Booth, but its openness to exploration of so many topics so early is important to me. I do not know exactly what path my MBA adventure will follow, but the opportunity to make choices along the way is exciting as a student! Just like how I pivoted from a Mechanical Engineering education into consulting, I may pivot from entrepreneurship to economics between my first and second year at Booth. It is equally possible I stay on the same track, but having the option to explore my interests is invaluable and a critical part of the Booth MBA program.” – Zach Wright
“I am interested in a career in Venture Capital, with a focus on my passion for pet health. Chicago Booth streamlines career exploration in VC with a Winter Quarter lab and guidance with summer internships. This support is crucial, especially for students with a growing interest but little experience in the field. I hope to use my love of English and Spanish to reach more people.” – Daniella Morgan-Pascualvaca
“When making my decision about graduate school, I was not deciding between MBA programs, but rather whether I would enter Booth or a Master’s in Public Policy program. After extensive personal reflection and discussions with mentors, I concluded I had more to gain from an MBA based on my existing public sector work experience. I wrestled with the fact that the government cannot solve problems on its own. We need private sector partners, and we need bridge-builders who can build these relationships across sectors. I expect Booth will prepare me to be one of those bridge-builders. I am eager to establish a broader multi-sectoral network, embrace the entrepreneurial culture of building and innovating, and more intimately understand the challenges and incentives in the business world.
On a personal note, it is a little surreal to call myself a University of Chicago student. Growing up, all I knew of this place is that my grandma’s exceptionally brilliant brother, Great Uncle Gary, went to UChicago. He was one of the first in our family to go to college at all just two generations ago. It is humbling and special to walk in his footsteps and join this incredible academic community.”– Rachel Zuckerman
“My career aspirations are twofold: to bridge the gap between the creative and business worlds and to create a sustainable ecosystem offering equitable opportunities for all creatives. To achieve these goals, I need a solid foundation in business fundamentals that will enable me to bring clarity and transparency to the industry, minimizing missed opportunities. Booth provides the ideal platform to lay the groundwork for my future goals.” – Uyeol Jeon
“A key aspect of Chicago Booth for me is its global network, particularly its vibrant Hispanic/Latino community. I’m confident that over the next two years and beyond, I will have the opportunity to build a robust network of professionals who share my vision of positively impacting the region.” – Diego Zainos
“Outside of academics and career development, the community is also one of the most important reasons why I believe a Booth MBA could help me achieve my career goals. I was very attracted to Booth because of its pay-it-forward culture with second-year students contributing to optimizing first-year student opportunities and experience.
I am confident that at Booth I will not only learn from the most knowledgeable professors but will also have numerous opportunities outside the classroom to work with some of the brightest minds, which will greatly help me advance my career in AgriTech.” – Rianna Zhou
Hopefully this gives you a better idea of the doors Chicago Booth can open for you professionally and personally. Whether you’re looking to take courses with our world-renowned professors, leverage our research center offerings beyond the classroom, or build upon your global network and find your community at Booth – we’re confident that you’ll begin to see the ROI of the Booth MBA from the moment you decide to become a Boothie!
Interested in learning more about Booth’s curriculum, community, and more? Request more information so we can better help you decide whether Chicago Booth is the right fit for you.