Early Career Applicant Profile

Overview | Application Process | Early Career Alumni | Applicant Profile

Admissions Criteria for Applicants in Their Final Year of College

• Quality work experience (such as summer internships, full- or part-time work experience or an entrepreneurial spirit).
• Competitive GPA; while there is no minimum GPA to be considered for admission to Chicago Booth, it is important for the Admissions Committee to know that you'll be ready for the rigor of our classroom experience.
• Competitive GMAT score; Chicago Booth doesn't have a minimum requirement for the GMAT, but does use the results of the exam to evaluate your potential for success in a graduate-level business program, especially with regard to your quantitative and verbal skills.
• Strong extracurricular involvement or student leadership role(s) during college; Chicago Booth values community involvement, as well as leadership skills. A past record of involvement is a good indication that you'll get involved as an MBA student too.
• Intellectual curiosity as evidenced by courses taken in college; our belief is that diversity of education makes for a richer classroom experience and Chicago Booth welcomes students from all college or university majors. We're also interested in knowing if you ventured outside your "comfort zone" and challenged yourself by taking a rigorous course load.
• Strong personal and professional recommendations, including one from an internship supervisor and one from a professor (two letters are required, but three are preferred). These third party endorsements demonstrate your ability to work well in a team setting and can attest to your level of engagement in the classroom. They also serve to highlight your motivation and dedication, as well as comment on the decision to apply to an MBA program upon college graduation.
• Demonstration of the ability to question the status quo, engage in the process of learning, and thrive on an academic challenge. This can be seen in your course selection, letters of recommendation, and the personal interview.
• Personal maturity as evidenced by recommendations, essays, and the personal interview.
• Ability to talk about why you want to get an MBA now. As an early career candidate, it is important to articulate why entering business school prior to obtaining full-time post-graduate work experience makes sense for your career and life plans.