September 17, 2019 Noon - 1 PM CST Live Chat with Full-Time MBA Admissions Team

Guest: If working at a start-up, is it okay/helpful to include a description of the start-up within the “Additional Information” section?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Yes, that is the information you could be including in the Additional information section if you decide it is necessary.

Guest: My minor was called “Business Institutions. “Under the “Minor” selection in the application, I see “Business Administration.” Is it okay to select that since it is very similar?

* Nicole Chen: You may select the minor "Business Administration" then explain the discrepancy in the additional information essay.

Guest: If awarded AP credit for Calculus that contributed to fulfilling major requirements, is it okay to list that in the Coursework section?

* Kate Hoffman: Yes, you can list that in the Academics section.

Guest: I have taken the GMAT twice but one of the scores was cancelled. For the question “How many times have you received a total GMAT score,” does a cancelled score count as a “received” score?

* Kate Hoffman: No, if you cancelled it, then you do not have to report that you received it.

Guest: For “Professional Awards,” should these be institutionalized, formal awards, or would a nomination to a national committee by a superior at work qualify?

* Audrey Sova: Use your best discretion for filling in this section of the application. You can certainly include awards that are specific to your company.

Guest: Hi Admissions team, thank you very much taking time to answer our questions. Could you please tell me what are the qualities that you are looking for within applicants?

* Audrey Sova: Hi, thank you for joining. There are no one set of qualities that we are looking for across all admits. Instead, we welcome a range of individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. You'll want to familiarize yourself with our institutional values as well as our culture, which will help you tailor your application to align with our program.

Guest: Can we add internship during college as Work experience?

* Anna Chalfin: The work experience boxes can be reserved for full-time postgraduate roles. Your internship could be included on your resume.

Guest: Any recommendation for couples applying together?

* Nicole Chen: Both applications will be evaluated individually, but there is a place in the application where you can indicate that you are applying with a partner.

Guest: Hi! Thanks for taking some time to talk to us. Personal question here, I don’t come from a quantitative undergraduate background. Outside of the GMAT, how can I demonstrate quantitative proficiency?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Some students look into taking quantitate courses before submitting their application, but this is not necessary. Chicago Booth is a place that values a student body with a great diversity of backgrounds. There is no one “traditional” background we prefer. We consider your application in its entirety, including your GMAT score, undergraduate GPA, current work experience, and your goals for the future. Make sure you focus on telling us why an MBA is an important next step for you.

Guest: For GMAT scores, does it matter which program (full time, part time, EMBA) I sent them to so long as it is Booth?

* Nicole Chen: Please send your GMAT scores to the program you are applying to.

Guest: Is professional Awards section the best place to include any patents issued in one's name

* Nicole Chen: You may list your patents in the professional awards section. If you wish to further elaborate, you may do so in the additional information essay.

Guest: I was employed full-time for 3 years as an audit assistant as a mandatory requirement for procuring Chartered Accountancy in India. Two of those years was along with my undergraduate degree. Will this be considered as a full-time work experience?

* Audrey Sova: If you were working full-time hours in those years, then it would be considered as full-time work experience.

Guest: If I had submitted a GMAT and a GRE score, will both be considered? Or will the higher equivalent score be evaluated. Would the lower score have any impact?

* Kate Hoffman: We will look at the higher score and the lower score will be disregarded.

Guest: Hi All! Do you place higher weight on any particular section of the GMAT over the others?  Thanks!

* Anna Chalfin: We generally look at the score overall. However, if there is a certain section, you are concerned about; you might highlight other parts of your application to success within those areas.

Guest: How is the sustainability series incorporated into the MBA program? Are they elective courses?

* Kate Hoffman: The Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation hosts a speaker series called Perspectives in Sustainability. This is a three-part series designed to help Booth students grapple with the most challenging issues facing our planet and to understand how MBAs use their business skills to tackle these issues. It is not an elective.

Guest: Do any of the concentrations carry STEM certification?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: The Analytic Finance and Business Analytics concentrations now carry STEM certification. The joint degree with our MBA and Computer Sciences carry STEM certification, too.

Guest: How do the Admissions look at AWA?

* Nicole Chen: All pieces of the application, including sections of the GMAT, are evaluated holistically by the Admissions Committee.

Guest: For the question about our interests, leadership experiences, and passions and how they've influenced the choices we've made in life: Is that specific to our extracurricular activities? I ask because it is the question that immediately follows our list of extracurricular activities. Can we discuss our passions and experiences outside of extracurriculars and how that's impacted our life choices?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! No, that question is not specific to your extracurricular activities. Feel free to discuss how your experiences have shaped your life choices.

Guest: Thank you for this chat. Question: Can I apply to the Civic Scholar program and the Full-Time MBA at the same time?

* Anna Chalfin: Civic Scholars is open to the Weekend program. In most cases, you can only apply to one program per cycle.

Guest: Is there a grace period for recommenders to submit their letter of recommendation?

* Kate Hoffman: Yes, we will give recommenders additional time to submit their letters if needed.

Guest: If my GPA is on a 4.0 scale, is class rank required? I'm not sure if I have that information from my school.

* Audrey Sova: If your school does not provide a class rank, then there is no need to list that within the application.

Guest: Do you have any admissions representatives in the Minneapolis, MN area? I would love to connect with someone here, if possible.

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Thank you for joining our chat! All of our Full-Time MBA admissions officers are based in Chicago, IL at the Harper Center.

Guest: Since providing a resume is part of the application, what type of details are you looking for in the "Job Description" component of the Employment section?

* Audrey Sova: It's at your discretion for how you'd like to address each of those components on the application. Some applicants will use the "job description" section to provide more details or context than the resume allows.

Guest: I'm from India and my undergraduate degree was in English. The same is even mentioned in my official transcript. Is it still necessary to provide my TOEFL score?

* Anna Chalfin: If the language of your undergraduate university was English, the TOEFL score can be waived.

Guest: Are the responses for the 250 character short answers on MBA goals (Immediate and long-term) often repetitive with what is written in the Booth goals essay? Can you please elaborate any differences you are looking for as far as the content goes?

* Nicole Chen: The essay question gives you the opportunity to further elaborate on your career goals and explain how Booth will help you achieve them.

Guest: If I can’t do a campus visit before my submission, will that be seen as a lack of interest?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: It is not required that you visit campus before submitting your application. There are plenty of ways you can engage with our community online. Including our connect with a student tool. https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer

Guest: Hi, I had to take the GMAT again since my earlier score was 5 years old. While reporting, “How many times have you received a total GMAT score,” should I be including the old score as well?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi!  Thank you for joining our chat today.  No, you are not required to include the expired GMAT score.

Guest: In the employment section of the application, we are asked to provide any full-time, post-baccalaureate employers and positions. Is there any place we could include our internship experiences? Or is that not important to the evaluation. Thanks!

* Anna Chalfin: If you were applying for the Chicago Booth Scholars, internships would be considered as work experience. If you are applying to the Full-Time program, your internships might be included on your resume if it is relevant, but would not need to be included in the Work Experience box.

Guest: Any guidance for the length of the essays with minimum word counts? How long is too long?

* Kate Hoffman: The reason we only have a minimum and not a maximum is that every candidate is different and we don't want to limit anyone in answering the question. In writing your responses, think about your authentic story, what it is you want us to know, and how best to express that.

Guest: What is the recommended word count for the 250 word minimum essay?

* Anna Chalfin: The essay can vary depending on the candidate. There is no specific length that it should be.

Guest: What would you recommend the "non-standard" applicants (In terms of age at the higher end of a typical Booth cohort, as well as work experience covering multiple countries) to highlight in their application forms?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Thank you for joining our chat today! I would encourage you to highlight your work experience and leadership skills.

Guest: Hi, all thanks for the chat! How should I classify extracurricular activities in the university (such as working in the junior enterprise or clubs) in the activity session (activity type)? Should I classify it as an "Academic Organization"?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: That sounds like a good option, but you can use your best judgment when determining what that classification will be.

Guest: When the admissions committee evaluates an applicant's undergraduate GPA, do they look at the degree granting institution's GPA only, or do they also combine the Grades and GPA from the transfer school?

* Nicole Chen: The Admissions Committee will evaluate the courses and grades from all institutions that you attend.

Guest: How precise does the salary/bonus history need to be? I'm having trouble finding exact numbers from 3+ years ago. Since my W2s cover multiple fiscal years, the numbers could not be exactly tied out.

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Please be as accurate as possible, but exact numbers are not required. If you want to explain, more you can use the Additional Information section of the application.

Guest: I see that you mentioned that the work experience section is for full-time postgraduate roles, but if I had an internship that led to a full-time role, could I include it there to show progression?

* Nicole Chen: You are welcome to include significant internship experience in the employment section of your application.

Guest: If I started my own business while studying in undergrad, will that count towards my full-time experience? I often worked outside of the traditional 9-5 schedule in order to accommodate my client's meetings and my classes.

* Nicole Chen: You may list your business under your employment experience and the Admissions Committee will evaluate it as part of your past work experience.

Guest: How do the admissions team look at the number of times a candidate takes a GMAT/GRE exam?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! We encourage our applicants not to take the exams more than three times.

Guest: Hello! For the second essay question, is the committee more interested in hearing examples of our "interests, leadership experiences, or passions" or our "choices"? Or would examples of both be useful?

* Anna Chalfin: The candidate is welcome to use examples of whichever of these areas best represents their ability to be successful in a choice rich environment. We are not looking for one over the other.

Guest: If I worked full-time for 1 year before attending college, is it counted toward full-time work experience or only post-college time is counted?

* Anna Chalfin: Generally, the work experience boxes are for post-graduate. You could certainly include it on your resume if it is relevant to your application.

Guest: What link alumni should use to informally recommend a candidate?

* Anna Chalfin: Alumni and current students can use the following link: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/shapetheclass

Guest: I am moving into a new role right around the time the application is due.  Is it fine for my current supervisor to be a recommender? Do I need my new manager (who is not yet my manager but who will be when I hit submit on the application) to write one of the recommendation letters.

* Audrey Sova: You should select your recommenders based on who can best speak to your work experience and leadership skills. It sounds in this case that would be your current (then former) supervisor. Just be sure to explain the rationale in the additional information section within the application.

Guest: How competitive are the lab courses at Booth? Would more people get their first choice?

* Nicole Chen: Acceptance to lab courses varies by course, depending on the professor and availability. In your application to a lab course, you should be prepared to explain your passion and interest for the subject, and how the course will help you towards your academic and career goals.

Guest: In the employment section of the application, we are asked to provide any full-time, post-baccalaureate employers and positions. Is there any place we could include our internship experiences? Or is that not important to the evaluation. Thanks!

* Kate Hoffman: You can include your internships in the Employment section of the application, and include it on your resume. We do consider your internship work experience in the evaluation process.

Guest: Hi! Thanks for hosting the chat to address our concerns. What is the most appropriate place to mention any non-degree courses we have done that may be relevant to MBA coursework? For example, if we have done the MBA math course or the HBX course, where do we mention it and how do we submit the transcript? Would you even consider such courses in your review of our applications?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: You can include those studies in the Academics section of the application, and upload the transcripts the same way you uploaded your undergraduate transcripts. If you don’t have a transcript to upload along with the class information, you could include in the certification section of the application. All information submitted in the application will be considered in your evaluation.

Guest: Hi. Greetings! Do we need to request a "separate waiver" for the TOEFL scores if the language of my undergrad university was in English? Or is the waiver granted by default?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Thank you for joining our chat today. No, there is a question within the application regarding TOEFL waivers.

Guest: Hi! I am applying for the dual degree MBA/AM. Should I focus on answering the essay questions to explain why I choose both degrees or just focus on the MBA? Thank you.

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: You can use your best judgment whether or not you reference the joint degree in your essay. It’s completely up to you if it’s something you want to share to help us understand your story. Just make sure you are answering the question being asked.

Guest: Is there a bid system for choosing electives at Booth like some of the other business schools? How easy is it for first year students to get into popular electives?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Thank you for joining our chat today. Yes, Chicago Booth does have a bid system for courses. There are strategies on how to bid for courses, so first year students usually get into the electives that are important to them.

Guest: Hi, I have a question regarding the "Professional Certification" field. I am a chartered accountant in the UK; however, we do not use "CPA". For this field should I select CPA nevertheless?

* Kate Hoffman: You can select the CPA options and then use the optional material section to explain the nuance.

Guest: Hi, I have a couple of questions about how to include my semester abroad in the Academics section of the application. Should the Level of Study be Undergraduate or Non-Degree Work, because I did not graduate from the institution? Should I leave the GPA field blank if the school uses a different grading system and my grades were converted and included on my transcript? Thank you.

* Audrey Sova: Since studying abroad was during the time of your undergraduate study, you should note it as undergraduate study. Using the same reasoning, you can leave the GPA field blank. We will be able to evaluate this time with the remainder of your transcript.

Guest: What role does one's LinkedIn profile play in Admissions decision? Is it advantageous to have a good LinkedIn profile?

* Kate Hoffman: During the evaluation process, we consider the submitted application materials and interview reports.

Guest: What is the median GRE score?

* Anna Chalfin: We post the GMAT range, so you could use a converter tool to find the equivalent.

Guest: Hi, thanks for hosting this chat. Quick question regarding interview timing: If we are invited to interview, is there any timeline when we would expect to hear during, or is it rolling until the decision date?

* Nicole Chen: Interviews for Round 1 will take place at the end of October/beginning of November, and invitations to interview will be released before this time frame.

Guest: As an international student, if English was the language of my undergraduate degree, but it is not mentioned in my official transcript, then which form of proof is required?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: No proof is required. If you are admitted, it will be confirmed through the transcript verification process.

Guest: Around when are interview dates / notifications expected to come out?

* Kimberly Epps: Thank you for your question. Round 1 interviewees will be notified at the end of October or early November.

Guest: Thank you for answering our questions! What recommendations would you share with an applicant who has a lower GPA but diverse, non-traditional work experience interested in pursuing an MBA at Booth? In addition, if you’re currently in the processing of joining a leadership role in a non-profit. Can we include that although it is fairly recent?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi!  I would encourage them to apply. Chicago Booth evaluates all applicants holistically.

Guest: Hi, I have a year worth of study abroad credit taken on my undergraduate transcript that transferred as pass credits, with no letter grade assigned. Would I need to submit any record of the actual letter grades of these courses from both international universities?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Yes, you will need to submit a transcript from the international universities that include the letter grades received. At the time of submission, these can be unofficial copies of the transcript.

Guest: Do you have any recommendations on where to find the information related to sports-industry coursework and extracurriculars at Booth?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: I think a great place to start would be to contact our Media Entertainment & Sports Group on campus.  https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/student-experience/beyond-classroom/groups/media-entertainment-and-sports-group. You can also check out our course search, to give you an idea of the classes being offered - https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch

Guest: Hello! Do you envision any major changes on the horizon for Booth's MBA? Specifically looking at the next year or two. Thanks!

* Audrey Sova: Hi, an exciting change that we've seen recently is two of our concentrations (Analytical Finance and Business Analytics) are now STEM eligible. Beyond that, our curriculum is constantly evolving to meet market needs. Some of the growth areas we've seen are in areas like entrepreneurship, leadership, and social impact.

Guest: Can I add Coursera, Udemy certification under the CERTIFICATION section?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Thank you joining our chat today. Yes, please add your Coursera courses under the certification section.

Guest: I was an entrepreneur for a period of 2 years (straight out of the undergrad). However, I also worked for a couple of firms in a customer service role during that period to enhance my soft skills. Since the period of these employments overlap with my start-up period, which experience is recommended to be included in my resume? I am afraid I will not be able to include all three since I have over 11 years of work experience to capture in a one-page resume.

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Thank you for joining our chat! Please include all experiences on your resume. 

Guest: Hi, I am considering applying for the joint MBA/MPCS program. While I am applying to MBA in R1, I intend to work on my MPCS application only in Jan-Feb. Should I still be indicating in the application that I am applying for the joint degree? (My priority is Full-time MBA as I can always take some of the technical courses as electives at Booth.)

* Anna Chalfin: You are welcome to include it as much as it feels relevant to your career goals, interest, and overall application.

Guest: Hi, for applicants outside the US, such as Africa, will interviews be located in their home country?

* Audrey Sova: Hi, while we encourage all those that have been invited to the interview to make it to campus, so that they can experience Booth in-person, we understand that this isn't feasible for everyone. As a result, we will offer opportunities for alumni interviewers in international locations.

Guest: Hi, do students who study abroad as part of the International Business Exchange Program typically spend a quarter or semester at the partner school? Also, which quarter/semester is most common for full-time MBA students?

* Kate Hoffman: Chicago Booth is on a quarter calendar. Students who are doing the IBEP will spend one quarter abroad in the winter of their second year. Here's a blog post from one of our students who studied in China this past year. http://theboothexp.com/2019/03/international-business-exchange-program-my-experience-studying-abroad-in-china/

Guest: What is the level of importance that is put on GRE/GMAT scores versus existing background and work experience? I have 2+ years of relevant work experience, and I'm a little worried that my test scores might hurt my application.

* Nicole Chen: All parts of your application are evaluated holistically and equally by the Admissions Committee, including test scores and past work experience.

Guest: Are interviews conducted off-campus in international hubs? If yes, in what cities?

* Nicole Chen: If you are invited to interview and would like to interview off-campus, we will do our best to match you with an interviewer in the nearest major city to you.

Guest: Hi all, As an Indian Applicant, my post-graduation mode of teaching and examination was in English, Do I need to take English language test (TOEFL or IELTS), or It will be waived off.

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: You do not need to take the TOEFL in this case.

Guest: Hi! In the first essay, do we need to elaborate on how our past experience would contribute in my future goals or should we should only highlight the "How Booth will help" aspect.

* Anna Chalfin: The focus might primarily be on how Booth will help with future goals, but there may be places where it's relevant for you to speak about past experience. It is up to the individual candidate.

Guest: Hello, I did my m.phil in biotechnology. I am doing my job in a seed company for three years. I want to go for MBA. Am I eligible for it?

* Audrey Sova: Yes. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions/apply

Guest: There's a question, which asks "What was the primary source of info for Booth". I have interacted with multiple Booth alums for getting info regarding Booth and I consider them to be my primary source. Can I mention their names on the app?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Yes, you can include the names of alumni in your application who were a source of info for you.

Guest: Hi, thanks for all the answers. If my university does not provide an English translation with the transcript, it is enough to send the transcript in the official language with translation made by a certified official translator? If not, can it be a notarized translation certified by a notary of another country?

* Kate Hoffman: You may use the translation from a certified translator. You should just make sure they send it directly to us per the instructions.

Guest: What importance does work experience play in the admissions process? Is there a minimum number of years of work experience required for admissions?

* Nicole Chen: There is no minimum number of years of work experience required to apply for the Full-Time MBA program. Past work, experience is evaluated along with all other parts of the application as an important demonstration of your professional growth.

Guest: Hi Admissions! Any suggestions for the question "How will booth help with your short-term and long-term goals?”

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: The question is open to your own interpretation. It definitely helps if you’ve done research about Booth. You should have a good understanding of the program elements you see as important stepping-stones to your future goals.

Guest: Hello, thanks for hosting this chat. How late into November, do you host on campus interviews? I am traveling outside of the country for work during the first half of November, but would really like to get to campus if I am lucky enough to be invited.

* Nicole Chen: Round 1 interviews will take place from late October through mid-November. If you are not able to make it to campus for your interview, we can work to match you with an alumni interviewer in another location.

Guest: Is there any tuition fee for full-time MBA? If yes, how much?

* Audrey Sova: Hi, yes there is a cost associated with the Full-Time MBA program. You can find more information about the cost and financing your MBA here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions/scholarships

Guest: Hi! Regarding the fact that the two concentrations (Analytical Finance and Business Analytics) are now becoming STEM eligible: Is there any action that I should take in the application to indicate that I'd like to pursue the STEM? Or I'll only have to choose it while in Booth?

* Kate Hoffman: Students at Booth do not need to declare concentrations; instead they fulfill the requirements needed through the courses they take to earn a concentration. Many Booth students graduate with 3-4 concentrations.

Guest: Following up on the previous question, how do you view enlisted military experience pre-undergrad? I'm assuming most military applicants are officers post-undergrad.

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: We evaluate all work experience equally, no matter the timing. Additionally, a great resource for our military applicants is to check out http://www.boothafg.com/.

Guest: I am an international applicant but did my undergrad in a US institution. Do I need to retake the TOEFL/IELTS exam?

* Audrey Sova: If you received your undergrad degree from a US or English speaking institution, you are not required to retake the TOEFL.

Guest: Hi, what are the resources and opportunities available for someone interested in medical-technology entrepreneurship and VC?

* Anna Chalfin: There are many opportunities to get involved with the various Centers here at Booth and experiential education. A good resource to learn more would be the relevant Student-Led groups or Polsky's website. Here is information regarding one of the VC Labs: https://polsky.uchicago.edu/programs-events/private-equity/private-equity-and-venture-capital-lab/

Guest: Thanks for the helpful tips today! Have you seen any shifts with respect to what concentrations students are choosing to pursue over the last few years?

* Kate Hoffman: Entrepreneurship continues to be the number one concentration at Booth. We have also added a Business Analytics concentration in the recent years.

Guest: Hi, thank you for all the answers so far. For those who have an undergraduate degree from the UK, how would you like us to report our scores? We didn’t have a GPA system there, instead we used a class system (first class, upper second, etc.).

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Our Admissions Committee will review your grades within the context that they were awarded. We are familiar with different grading systems around the world. Please do not attempt to convert your grades to the GPA system. We will accept your transcripts in the format that your university issues them. You can send your transcripts, as they are, via scanned “.jpg” or”.pdf” version.

Guest: Is an unofficial GMAT score report sufficient for application, or is an official report needed to be sent before completion of my application process?

* Anna Chalfin: Yes, unofficial score is all you need to submit at the time of application.

Guest: What percentage of applicants are usually invited to interview?

* Nicole Chen: The percentage of applicants who are invited to interview varies by year.

Guest: I took a gap of 6 months after graduating from college but before starting my job. Should I mention this in the optional essay?

* Kate Hoffman: There is a section where you can address this specific situation and explain what you did during this time.

Guest: Does the concentration affect the visa status for International students? I read that STEM certifications are eligible for an OPT extension?

* Anna Chalfin: There are two that qualify for the STEM extension. Those who pursue either Analytic Finance or Business Analytics would be eligible for that.

Guest: Hi! If a student wants to participate in the Social New Venture Challenge but do not have their own idea, can they team up with others to help with their idea and participate?

* Audrey Sova: Yes, a number of our students opt to take the approach of joining other students on their team to participate in both the Social New Venture Challenge or New Venture Challenge.

Guest: Hi, thanks for this valuable opportunity. I am planning to visit the campus on Oct 7th. The undergraduate admissions website indicates that the visitor may receive a pass for Regenstein and Mansueto Libraries in the admissions office after the tour. I am wondering whether I can also visit the library or other campus buildings after the campus visit. Additionally, i would be much grateful if you can advise me of other ways to experience UChicago's atmosphere in addition to the campus visit, especially during the weekend.

* Kimberly Epps: Hi, thank you for your question. I would recommend visiting the Full-Time Admissions office in the Harper Center to pick up a map of the University of Chicago campus. This will be a great tool to explore the libraries and campus buildings when you visit.

Guest: I earned a BA and a BS from my undergraduate institution. Should I submit the same transcript twice, or list my two degrees as a "double major" and explain that nuance in the optional section?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Please list your degrees as a double major and explain in the "Additional Information" section.

Guest: HI! I'm a US minority (Hispanic/Native American). I've been trying to find a Native American Student-led group to get in touch with a couple of current students, but I've had no luck. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?

* Anna Chalfin: Hello! You might reach out to the Diversity & Inclusion Office to be connected with helpful resources (diversity@chicagobooth.edu): https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/student-experience/diversity/diversity-affairs

Guest: How can full-time MBA students get to know the part-time students? Are courses ever combined, or do the programs stay relatively separate?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Full-Time students are able to take evening classes, which tend to have part-time students. However, the programs are located on different Chicago campuses, and therefore, are relatively separate.

Guest: Is it common for students that come to Booth to pivot career tracks? 

* Audrey Sova: Yes, that is a very common motivation for students pursuing an MBA at Booth. Our flexible curriculum makes it easy for you to fill any gaps that you feel may be missing and dive deeper in areas that you've already had some exposure to.

Guest: The first two years of my career were spent in a rotational program. During that time, I rotated through three different jobs in three different companies within the parent conglomerate. In the Employment section of the application, should I list those three roles separately? Or just list the rotational program and expand on the individual rotations within the job description field?

* Nicole Chen: You may list the three positions separately, but note that they were all part of the rotational program.

Guest: I have an Integrated Bachelors/Master’s degree with a common GPA. Do you list the two degrees separately in the Academics section? Also, my college has converted the Master’s Degree a few years later into a minor degree. How do I capture this accurately in the application?

* Nicole Chen: We would recommend listing the two degrees separately in the Academics section. However, you may further explain your situation in the additional information section of the application so the Admissions Committee is aware of your degree changes.

Guest: What are some resources provided to Chicago Booth Scholars Program for admitted students before entering the MBA program? Thanks

* Anna Chalfin: There are resources, networking opportunities, connections with the Booth community, and programming for Booth Scholars.

Guest: In an answer to a previous question, it was mentioned that students often complete 3-4 concentrations. In the application, only two can be selected. Should an applicant select the two they are most interested in? Also, how much of an impact does that selection have on the application review process?

* Kimberly Epps: Thank you for your question. When filling out the application, please select the two concentrations that you are mostly interested in pursuing.