March 13, 2020 | Noon - 1 PM CST Chicago Booth Scholars Deferred MBA Admissions

Guest: For the booth scholars applicants, are we required to have one recommender from the academic source? Will having both from work-related sources have negative impact on our application?

* Alex DeCamp: Great question!  One letter of recommendation is required to be from a current or former supervisor.  The other can be from either an academic or work-related source.  It doesn't matter to us, just as long as the recommender can speak to your attributes and skill set in a collaborative environment

Guest: Do you expect applicants to the Scholars Program to have a clear post-MBA professional goal?

* John Lim: While overall we do look for applicants to have clarity on why they want an MBA from Chicago Booth at the time of application, that clarity does not necessarily mean that we expect applicants to have an exact post-MBA professional goal. Part of the benefit of applying in a deferred MBA program is that you are able to gain work experience after college to help you learn more about where you want to direct your career trajectory.

Guest: Good afternoon! What are the differences and advantages that Booth has compared to another M7 business schools?

* Jenn Linker: Hi there! Great question. I've loved my time at Booth for the community that we have built. Booth has a "Pay it Forward" culture that allows students from all backgrounds to interact and support each other in academic, professional and personal pursuits. We have an outstanding faculty and a strong focus on academics that I appreciate as well.

Guest: How are interviews conducted for European students?

* Alex DeCamp: Given the recent concerns with coronavirus, all interviews will be conducted virtually.

Guest: Do you expect applicants to the Scholar Program to have a post-graduation offer?

* John Lim: Applicants to the Chicago Booth Scholars Program join the rest of the MBA class in the recruiting process, and it's not uncommon for students to secure employment after their summer internship after their first year. You can check out the employment report for every class at Chicago Booth here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/employmentreport/

Guest: Does the recommender's title/position weigh any impact on the value of the recommendation?

* John Lim: Thanks for your question. While certainly the recommender's title and position can give us some information on why a recommender is qualified to provide a recommendation on your behalf, we are primarily concerned about the content of the recommendation letter and how well your recommender can speak to your goals, performance, and other contextual details from their experience working with you.

Guest: In terms of recommenders, I'm a full-time graduate student, so could both letters be from professors?

* Neil Sethi: Sure! We want you to select recommenders that have seen your work in either a professional or academic capacity. That being said, I would recommend that you create some diversity in who you pick for recommenders meaning, you should select recommenders that have seen you working in different projects or capacities.

Guest: How does financial aid work for Chicago Booth Scholars?

* Alex DeCamp: All Chicago Booth students can meet with our financial aid department to determine which aid you qualify for you.  You can contact our financial aid team at financial.aid@chicagbooth.edu

Guest: Is it necessary to have a job offer before applying to the Scholars Program?

* Alex DeCamp: No, it is not necessary to have a job offer before applying to Booth Scholars.  However, if you are required to begin working full-time by the following autumn after graduation. 

Guest: Are we required to submit official GMAT scores with our application, or is the unofficial report acceptable until admitted?

* Alex DeCamp: Your unofficial GMAT or GRE score is accepted when you submit your application

Guest:  Good afternoon! I'm very interest on Booth.  And what are the differences and advantages that Booth has compared to another M7 business schools?

* Neil Sethi: It's difficult for me to compare Booth to other schools but I would highlight two main differences at Booth compared to other business schools that make a unique experience. The first is the flexible curriculum - meaning that there is only 1 required class at Booth. This allows students to create their own academic experience that best fits their needs. The second is a lack of a cohort structure which means that you are exposed to many different people from different backgrounds and you are able to shape your social and networking experiences more effectively.

Guest: Does having a full-time offer lined up during the application process strengthen an application?

* Alex DeCamp: The applications are evaluated through a holistic review process.  Having a full-time offer at the time of the application does not necessarily strengthen it.  We will be taken into account each aspect of your application to make a decision

Guest: Are there any scholarships or fellowships available for the program? How do I apply?

* John Lim: All applications to the Chicago Booth Scholars program are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. That being said, you can also visit our scholarship and financial aid page (https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions/scholarships) to not only get in touch with our Financial Aid Office for individual case inquiries, but also to view different available scholarships at Chicago Booth.

Guest: Will there be any extension on the GMAT deadline if tests are cancelled due to COVID-19?

* John Lim: Chicago Booth is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation for domestically and internationally, and will provide updates to applicants if we foresee any changes to the application process. In most cases, the GMAT deadline will remain the same for this year's application. However, depending on where you currently are residing and testing policies in your country, we encourage you to reach out to us individually at admissions@chicagobooth.edu to check if there are additional accommodations. Currently, for applications in China and Hong Kong, we are allowing students to submit an app without a score.

Guest: If you are a transfer student, does Booth take into consideration both transcripts and GPAs?

* John Lim: Thanks for asking - for transfer students, Chicago Booth will take into consideration transcripts and GPAs from all institutions that you attended for undergrad.

Guest: If my school doesn’t follow a 4.0 GPA system, will it put me in disadvantage

* Alex DeCamp: Any school that does not follow a 4.0 GPA system, we will evaluate your transcript based on what the university's unique measures of success are.  This does not put you at a disadvantage

Guest: For the Additional Information Module, is it a space for us to tell you about us or just simply for us to clarify information in the application?

* Alex DeCamp: Our virtual live chat is specifically used to answer any questions you have about the Chicago Booth Scholars Program and the application process.  If you'd like to schedule an individual appointment with a member from our admissions team contact admissions@chicagobooth.edu

Guest: If the language of instruction at the undergrad institution is in English, then IELTS/TOEFL is waived. Right?

* Alex DeCamp: Yes that is correct.  If you attended an undergrad institution with English as the primary language the IELTS/TOEFL

Guest: What drove you to make the decision to attend Booth over other business schools?

* Amita Prabhu: Hello! For me, I was very drawn to the flexible curriculum and pay it forward culture at Booth. The flexible curriculum is great for career switchers to front load certain classes that can be helpful to share in applications and interviews. I've also very much benefitted from advice and coaching from 2nd years who really make it a priority to help fellow students achieve their goals.

Guest: Does Booth release admission statistics such as how many people applied for the Scholars program?

* John Lim: While Chicago Booth doesn't release statistics on how many people applied for the Chicago Booth Scholars Program, we do offer statistics on the most recent admitted class on our website (https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions/chicago-booth-scholars-program).  As the popularity of Chicago Booth Scholars continues to grow, we also expect to increase the number of admits in future years.

Guest: What was the biggest reason you applied to be a booth scholar?

* Julia: I was really interested in the Booth Scholars program because it allowed me the flexibility in my career post-undergrad.  I went into investment banking straight out of college but knew that I wanted to do entrepreneurship longer-term, so having the option to come back to Booth and do my MBA was very valuable - this actually gave me the freedom to work at a couple riskier early-stage startups.  I don't think I would've been able to pursue this career path without the flexibility of the program!

Guest: Would the admission committee publish ranges of GMAT/GRE and GPA of accepted applicants?

* Alex DeCamp: Last year's Chicago Booth Scholars admitted class had a GMAT range of 650-780 and GPA range of 3.28-4.0

Guest: What is the expected intake and acceptance rate for the Scholar's program?

* Alex DeCamp: Unfortunately we do not make acceptance rate information public.

Guest: How is the balance of school and recruiting life at Booth?

* Jenn Linker: Good Question - it totally depends on what you are recruiting for, what city you are recruiting in, and what time of year it is. At the start of your first year, students interested in consulting and investment banking spend more time recruiting, but towards the spring they have a lot more time for academics and community. Other students (e.g. interested in entrepreneurship or tech) have more of an even spread of their recruiting over their time at Booth.

Guest: What types of entrepreneurial programs / resources are available to Booth Scholars and Full-Time MBA students?

* Julia: Thanks for joining today!  Booth has so many programs and resources for entrepreneurs on campus.  The Polsky Center is the main center for entrepreneurship and hosts a ton of events with speakers on campus, provides mentors to entrepreneurs (e.g. I recently met with a lawyer for free to advise on incorporating my startup), and much more.  There is also the New Venture Challenge and Social New Venture Challenge entrepreneurship competitions where students with a business idea can form a team and compete for funding from VCs, learn how to build a business and pitch it, and gain valuable hands-on experience.  There are also a wide range of classes on entrepreneurship you can see in our course catalog, and student groups such as the EVC group and Tech group that support students in their professional endeavors.

Guest: What is the most popular concentration at Booth? Do students who are interested in different concentrations feel as supported?

* Neil Sethi: This is a difficult question to answer because it depends on what people's professional and academic history has been in the past. I will say that there are some concentrations such as Econometrics / Statistics and Entrepreneurship that are only 3 classes and easy to add into your course load. For international students, Analytical Finance and Business Analytics are popular as students are STEM eligible after receiving these concentrations. I would say Strategy, Finance, and Accounting are popular for those going into consulting and banking, but it all depends. By the time most students get to their second year, its not as much about getting the concentration as it is taking classes that you are really interested in and stretching your capabilities. Therefore, there is not a real need for strong support since students are selecting based on material and professor rather than requirements.

Guest: If a student is not very clear as to what he/she wants to do in future, primarily because of lack of exposure, is that considered a sign of a weak applicant?

* Julia: Great question!  Students should have a clear understanding of what value the Booth Scholars program will provide to themselves, even if they are not totally clear on what they want to do in the long-term.  We realize students are applying at an earlier age but want to just see that students have thought through the benefits of a Booth MBA and the Booth Scholars program!

Guest: Will you accept an unofficial GMAT score in the application, followed up by an official score from the GMAC?

* Alex DeCamp: We accept unofficial test scores at the time of your application.  We'll need your official test score if admitted to the program

Guest: Can students who graduated in December 2019 and are starting a full-time job soon apply for Chicago Booth Scholars?

* Alex DeCamp: Yes, students that graduated from Oct 1st, 2019-September 30, 2020 are eligible to apply to for the 2020 Chicago Booth Scholar application

Guest: Are there a good amount of opportunities for people interested in real estate (clubs, recruiting, courses etc.)?

* John Lim: There are a number of opportunities for people interested in real estate! A great place to start is the Real Estate Group on campus, where students can attend events, workshops, and network with industry leaders (https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/student-experience/beyond-classroom/groups/real-estate-group). We also have coursework including a Real Estate Lab, where students have in the past designed redevelopment proposals working with city representatives and properties, often owned by the city of Chicago. This is a great example of coursework that allows you to make an impact now, and work with real-life cases that build upon strong theoretical frameworks.

Guest: Consulting is a very popular entry job for MBAs, why is that?

* Jenn Linker: Great Question - I think it's because consulting represents an opportunity to get a diverse set of experiences. You often can work across many different industries (e.g. airlines to retail) and experience many different types of work (e.g. strategy to operations). It's training in a range of areas without having to pick one or another. It's also on the job fast learning that MBAs are looking for.

Guest: I'm interested in technology industries.  How are the resources and classes for those industries?

* Amita Prabhu: Great question! Booth has a number of great resources and classes for students interested in entering the tech space. The Booth Technology Group offers a variety of programming, panels, and treks to visit tech companies and learn from alumni who currently work in the industry. They also offer many interview prep resources and groups to help be best prepared and stand out in interviews. As far as classes go, there are more traditional classes to learn about the industry such as "Technology Strategy" as well as hands on lab classes like "Lab in New Products and Services" where you can work on a client facing project within the tech space.

Guest: Hi thank you everyone for your time. I know the interviews are conducted by 2nd year admission fellow, I wonder if any of the 2nd MBA who join us today have done these interviews. If so what are your favorite questions that people asked you at the end of these interviews?

* Jenn Linker: Hi there! Jenn, Julia, Neil and I are all Admissions Fellows and Interview for Booth. I don't think I have favorite questions, but I do like when the interviewee is thoughtful and asks something relevant to their interests or experiences. Or even a follow-up to something I mentioned in the conversation. Showing that you have done your research about Booth also never hurts :)

Guest: Can you describe the 'healthcare scene' at Booth in terms of classes/clubs/events?

* John Lim: Yes! A number of our students are interested in the intersection of healthcare and business (https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/student-experience/student-profiles/healthcare). Coursework, student groups, and events all add to bolster the healthcare scene at Chicago Booth. The past year, the Health Care Group Chicago Booth held its 18th annual Chicago Booth Healthcare Conference, where students can network with healthcare organizations and hear from industry professionals. (https://groups.chicagobooth.edu/fthealthcare/rsvp_boot?id=594720)

Guest: Can you speak more about the essay? Should it be somewhat professional-related or more about my personal story, and would you want a "why booth" component in it? How many words do you recommend us to write?

* Alex DeCamp: This essay should encompass all elements of professional-related goals and your personal story which will ultimately answer the "why Booth" question.  There are character limits/minimums posted on the application for the essay and short answer response

Guest: Are the students expected to have exhibited exceptional leadership skills throughout their college?

* Alex DeCamp: For each Booth Scholars application, we will be evaluating the level of involvement and leadership opportunities they pursued during the undergraduate experience.  However, we evaluate all applications through a holistic review process and leadership/involvement is just one aspect of the overall application

Guest: What kind of extracurricular are you involved in at Booth?

* Neil Sethi: There are tons available so I would ask a bunch of people about their experiences, but I will provide some color into what I've been involved with on campus. So firstly, I'm an admissions fellow in the undergraduate initiatives team which means doing Q&A and networking sessions such as this apart from interviewing students for the school. Outside of that, I'm a co-chair for the Booth Technology Group, the second largest professional group on campus helping people recruit for opportunities within technology companies. I'm also a TA for accounting and a Booth Ambassador helping students recruit to CarGurus (the company I was at during the summer). There’s a variety of things you can do on campus ranging from professional to social to part-time jobs and service. I hope this provides some color on what students could be involved with!

Guest: How rigorous are the classes at Booth?

* Julia: Great question!  Classes are certainly academically challenging at Booth in order to push you out of your comfort zone and learn - however, the academic grade non-disclosure allows students flexibility in challenging themselves without having to worry about grades or doing well/poorly.  The work is also generally group based, so you are working with a team of classmates to solve problems.

Guest: In Chicago Booth Scholars Program, will the evaluation of the application be similar to that of the traditional MBA Program? Because people enrolling for Deferred MBA program would be lacking work experience and career growth compared to MBA applicants.

* Alex DeCamp: The evaluation process of Booth Scholars will be looked at through a different lens than that of the traditional full-time program.  Since Booth Scholars do not yet have full-time work experience, we will be evaluating your career potential and how this aligns with your goals for the program.

Guest: can students take classes outside of Booth (in other UChicago schools)?

* Neil Sethi: Yes they can! As Booth students we have the ability to cross register for classes in the other graduate schools and in UChicago. The registration process happens outside of the normal Booth portal for choosing classes but the administration provides all the details of how to do this. Many Booth students take classes in the rest of the university.

Guest: Could you speak a little bit more about the disciplined based academic approach and your experience with it? If I understand correctly, the curriculum is grounded in several fundamental areas such as econ, behavioral science and statistics? How have your experience been with this philosophy and how it works together with the flexible curriculum?

* Julia: Great question!  The Booth curriculum is grounded in 3 foundational areas (accounting, microeconomics, and statistics) that the other classes at Booth build upon.  This allows students to have a quantitative and analytical toolkit with which to approach the other subjects taught at Booth.  A lot of the classes here are data-driven, including areas such as Marketing and Organizational Behavior.  However, if students want to take less quantitative classes, there are certainly plenty of choices for them to shape their journey as well.  You can learn more about the course offerings on the Booth website!

Guest: Is there a GRE range for Booth Scholars?

* Alex DeCamp: We convert all GRE scores to a GMAT score.  You can take a look at the GRE to GMAT conversion tool online via the following link:  https://www.ets.org/gre/institutions/admissions/interpretation_resources/mba_comparison_tool?WT.ac=40361_owt06_180820

Guest: Can I apply January 2021 to start in September 22?

* Alex DeCamp: The Booth Scholar application deadline is typically in the beginning of April each year.  If admitted to the Booth Scholars program you will be required to go through a 2-5 full-time work deferral period. 

Guest: Do MBA students have access to the other Booth campuses? Are there classes/activities taking place in the London campus?

* Jenn Linker: Hi there! Yes MBAs have an amazing opportunity to study abroad through booth. Most students go their second quarter of their second year. I have friends that went to Asia, Europe and Africa this year (including London). I haven't heard of anyone going to the Booth London campus, so I'm not sure if that's possible. But my friends did go to LBS and LES.

Guest: Some students I chatted with mentioned LEAD is a gateway to reflection and introspection at Booth. How do you think LEAD fits into the overall Chicago Booth approach towards leadership development given it is offered at the beginning at your MBA. How have the subsequent leadership development opportunity for you been?

* Amita Prabhu: Good question! I feel it is very fitting to have LEAD at the beginning of the MBA experience because it gives you a chance to think deeply about your personal leadership goals before getting busy with classes, recruiting, etc.  Once you've set these goals, there are a number of ways to continue your leadership journey even after the formal LEAD course ends. The Leadership Development Office offers different programming options and you have a chance to take on more leadership responsibilities at Booth through many different ways including co-chairing a club, leading a group project, becoming a career advisor, etc.

Guest: How frequent do you hear of people going to get an MBA in order to switch industries?

* John Lim: Pivoting careers is actually a huge reason why many students pursue an MBA. Especially in our Full-Time MBA program, many students utilize their summer internship in between their first and second years to gain experience and potentially get a job offer in a field they are looking to transition to.

Guest: The application has a question about our source of information, like Alumni, Current Students, Campus visit etc. Does that impact our application in any way?

* John Lim: The application question about source of information does not necessarily impact your application, but is a way for us to better understand how we can best inform interested students about opportunities at Chicago Booth! Of course, staying connected with us through visits and events is a great way to not only show your interest in the MBA program, but also to learn more about how Chicago Booth can best set you up for a successful career!

Guest: Can you describe the segmentation/clustering of an incoming class?

* Alex DeCamp: All admitted Booth Scholars are required to go through a 2-5 year full-time work deferral period before starting their MBA.  The flexibility of the program allows any of our Booth Scholars to begin their MBA in between the deferral time frame.  Pending when you are ready to matriculate, you will start the MBA program and be included in the class of all other incoming traditional full-time students.

Guest: If I plan to apply for the next year, what should I do now, if I don’t think I have a strong background for applying?

* John Lim: One way to think about how to strengthen your background is to currently examine your application now. What experiences have you had, which courses have you taken, which leadership opportunities have you pursued, and how have you made an impact on your community? Then after reflecting on those experiences, identify areas that you need to address before applying. If it is coursework, think about taking courses that interest you and also showcase your ability to perform well in the classroom. If it is gaining exposure in an industry of interest, search for internships or organization positions that allow you to explore those areas.

Guest: What are the criteria of evaluation of the essays?

* John Lim: The essays are taken into consideration along with all the other elements of your application. Since students apply to the MBA program for different reasons, some of the main aspects we look for in an essay include the clarity that you have on why you want to apply to a deferred MBA program, and why you want to attend Chicago Booth.

Guest: April? Is isn’t every September like the other MBA schools?

* John Lim: The Chicago Booth Scholars application deadline is aligned with Round 3 of the Full-Time MBA application process each year, similar to several other deferred MBA deadlines. We also have rounds earlier in the academic year in September and January, but these rounds are reserved for traditional Full-Time MBA applicants.

Guest: What is the average length of the second essay? (That has a minimum length of 250 words)

* John Lim: Essays lengths really range, and this is intentional as we want to make sure that applicants have the appropriate amount of space to share their story and motivations for applying to Chicago Booth.  For some students, that means that they only need 250 words. Other students need more than a page. Instead of looking at the average length, think about what how much space you need to communicate your goals and experiences to us. The applications are as diverse as each class!

Guest: What is the best part about the Booth experience?

* Julia: Great question! The Booth experience is really two-fold for me: 1) the "pay it forward" culture and 2) the unparalleled learning.  Boothies are super collaborative and willing to help each other out - this extends to classmates, alumni, and even professors and other members of the Booth community.  I have experienced this firsthand when recruiting for jobs and also when launching my own startup, Gratitude Plus.  Booth is also an unparalleled academic institution for MBAs and you are truly learning from the best professors in their fields in the world!

Guest: Is there a section of the application where you can share details about your various extracurricular experiences?

* John Lim: Yes, although there is space in the activities question and your resume to add some detail, applicants looking to share additional information on any aspect of their application are more than welcome to in the optional essay space provided at the end of the application.

Guest: Are current students considering to work in a traditional pre-MBA industry (e.g. consulting) penalized?

* Alex DeCamp: Students are in no way penalized for pursuing any type of career track after graduating. 

Guest: What are some misperceptions about Booth you heard prior to joining the MBA program, which you find untrue?

* Amita Prabhu: Great question! One misperception I had was that Booth is only a "quant" school but definitely have not found this to be the case. While we are data driven, I have also found almost all my classes to be very group oriented and collaborative which means team and people skills are always in practice. I have also found there is a strong behavioral science presence here driven by great faculty members, classes, and the Center for Decision Research.

Guest: Does a certain portion of the application weigh more than the other sections (e.g. GMAT vs GPA)?

* John Lim: There aren't certain portions of the application that necessarily weigh more than the other sections. This is also why we publish GMAT and GPA ranges as opposed to just providing average scores - we understand that applicants have different strengths and ways of showcasing those strengths.

Guest: Is there a way to go attend one of the classes virtually?

* Alex DeCamp: As of right now we do not offer virtual class visits.  However, we will be sure to update all of our prospective students in the event that this becomes available. 

Guest: How challenging was it for you to acclimate yourself to MBA school post being in industry?

* Jenn Linker: It's an interesting transition! You go from working a job with a set routine to every day being different. But I loved to transition! You can really own your schedule at Booth, and you get the opportunity to try a ton of different things. The school gives a ton of resources at the beginning (career services, academic services, social events) to let you try and experience a setup that works for you.

Guest: When are the interviews taking place?

* Alex DeCamp: Interviews for the 2020 Chicago Booth Scholars Program will take place May 4th-May 15th (excluding Sunday, May 10).

Guest: Do you look at applicants coming from small schools with high acceptance rate but significant merit based scholarships to be not as desirable as an Ivy League applicants?

* John Lim: The application is a holistic process, and students from the most recent Chicago Booth Scholars class come from a range of undergraduate institutions. The type of school you come from (public vs. private, small vs. large, etc.) far less of a factor compared to academic performance, leadership, internship experiences, clarity on why a student wants an MBA, etc.

Guest: Are you evaluating also the IR and AWA parts of the GMAT?

* John Lim: Yes, we also consider the IR and AWA parts of the GMAT.

Guest: How did you determine when to come back to MBA during these 2-5 years?

* Neil Sethi: For each person, this choice is unique. Out of all of the people that I've talked to there is a feeling within your career that you're not progressing at the same rate anymore, and that is a function of your career path within industry mixed with a knowledge gap. For me, I saw my role changing within my industry and I was faced with work that I no longer felt was enjoyable. At the same time, I was not learning as much as I had earlier in my career although I had gotten the chance to lead teams and train analysts. I saw an MBA as a bridge to both pivot out of my industry as well as plug a knowledge gap in marketing and strategy that I was lacking. I also don't want to shortchange the people that you meet and network that you build at school. The effects of that network accelerate your career and help foster that lifelong learning.

Guest: How does Booth support the students during their deferment period?

* Alex DeCamp: We offer a variety or programming and resources.  We offer quarterly networking and professional development events, we assign all admitted Booth Scholars a Booth student mentor, and we schedule one on one advising appointments for any Booth Scholar that would like to discuss any career/MBA related topics.  We also connect are students with any other resources and events taking place in the greater Booth community.

Guest: What is the interview structure for MBA admissions? How can we prepare if we are offered one?

* Jenn Linker: The interview can either be at Booth or with an alumni in your city (if you aren't in Chicago). If on campus, it will be with a second year student who will ask you about your academic and professional experiences. It's a great time to showcase some of the things that make you unique and have a conversation about your experiences. It's also a great chance to ask people about their experience about Booth. It's best to prepare by going over your resume, and spending time reflecting on your experiences!

Guest: What do you look for in Booth Scholars Applicants? How does it differ from traditional MBA applicants?

* John Lim: We evaluate your application holistically, but focus on three main areas: academic excellence, professional experience, and personal fit. Undergraduate applicants are not necessarily measured by the same benchmarks (for example, number of years of work experience) as traditional Full-Time MBA programs are.

Guest: How should I prepare my resume for application?

* Jenn Linker: Hi there. There's no "right" way to prepare your resume. I'd focus on highlighting experiences that have been relevant to your academic and professional development. This will include: work experience you've had, clubs and student groups where you have had leadership roles, volunteering you’ve done and relevant course work. Have a friend or two take a look too to make sure everything you say is clear and articulate.

Guest: How do you look at applicants who have limited quant background? E.g. do not have any Calculus classes on their transcript but took and have done well in their  stats courses?

* Alex DeCamp: We are very intent on admitting a diverse Booth Scholars class each year.  Those that do not have as much quant experience through their undergrad studies can demonstrate their quant skills through the GMAT and GRE.  However, the application review process is holistic and we will be looking at your short term/long term career goals along with our aspirations for pursuing the program and why you think Booth is the right fit for you. 

Guest: Do I get penalized if I took a non-standard major such as Storytelling or Strategic entrepreneurship

* John Lim: Chicago Booth welcomes all undergraduates of all majors to apply, with many of our admitted students having non-traditional majors.

Guest: In between an alumni from whom I took one course, and a non-alumni who witnessed more of my in-class and extracurricular, who is a more ideal recommender?

* John Lim: It's hard to say which is the more ideal recommender, since this is a personal decision. Think about your application as a whole, and think about what information each of your recommendation choices can provide the admissions committee. Whoever can provide the best information on your professional experience and goals!