Round Two Application Tips

Answer the questions
We encourage you to take the time to read each essay question closely. The Chicago Booth essay questions may seem similar to other essays you've encountered, but in order to clearly answer the questions that are posed, you must pay close attention to exactly what you're being asked. Read Associate Dean Rose Martinelli's blog titled "Don't Forget to Read" for more tips on answering Booth essay questions.

Use the slide presentation as an opportunity to express yourself
You may be thinking, “What is Booth looking for?” Simply put, we are looking for organized thoughts, strong communication skills, and the ability to convey ideas clearly. When you look at your application as a whole – your resume, your academic history, your test scores, and your essays – think about what is missing that is relevant to your candidacy that you would want your future class mates to know about  you . Whether you choose to highlight new material or emphasize material presented in other parts of your application, the choice is completely yours. The slide presentation is not a measure of creativity or a test of your PowerPoint skills, but rather an opportunity to express yourself without guidance or restriction. There is no right or wrong way to complete this task!

Check with your recommenders
Has it been a while since you talked to your supervisor/colleague/mentor about writing a recommendation for you? Confirm that they are aware of the deadline and procedures in submitting letters. Remember that we will accept Letters of Recommendation on your behalf up to one week after the Round Two deadline.

Know thyself While this piece of advice may seem obvious, we encourage you to take time out to ask yourself some tough questions. Strong applications demonstrate self-awareness and a clear picture of your goals and reasons for pursuing the MBA. Since the Booth evaluation process is a holistic one, all of the pieces of the puzzle help the Admissions Committee determine your fit with our special and unique community. And remember, there is no one item or area in your application that can make or break you. It's the complete picture of you that is important!

Have someone read your application
Have you worked on your application so much that you can recite each section by heart? The danger in getting to this point is that your application becomes so familiar that you aren't objective about improvements that can be made. You may even become blind to simple errors. Have someone read your application to make sure it all makes sense, is easy to read and that your messages are clear.

Keep up with what's happening in Admissions
One of the best ways to do this is to of course read the admissions blog, but also, don't forget to join our live chats. if you can't make it, you can always read the transcripts to learn what Admissions has to say to some really great questions from your fellow applicants.

Use the optional essay wisely
It's important to use this essay judiciously. The optional essay can be a great opportunity to provide greater explanation of any anomalies in your application. But it is not an opportunity to write another creative essay or expand on your work experience. Use this space only if you feel it's necessary in providing greater clarity around some aspect of your application.

Spell check
Sounds simple, but your computer's spell check function won't catch all spelling and/or grammar errors. So check your work manually to be sure your writing is the best it can be. Spelling and grammar errors won't deliver the message you wish to send.

Relax!
Once your application is submitted, remind yourself that you've worked hard and submitted your best effort. Congratulate yourself for completing this difficult and stressful task! Remember that after the application deadline, the Admissions Committee will be reading each application thoroughly; and all applications are read more than once by different members of the committee. Since there is no particular order in which we read files, don't allow yourself to stress by counting the days to the decision date. Decisions will be released on schedule!

Know what's next
A few days after the Round Two deadline of January 6th, all applicants will receive an email from Admissions with a timeline for the application process. You'll see information about your application status and the interview invitation process.

Contact us
There are several ways to get in touch with the Chicago Booth Office of Admissions if you have any questions about the application process. Call us anytime at 773-702-7369, or send an email to admissions@chicagobooth.edu. We're here to help, so don't hesitate to get in touch if we can be of service.