April 22, 2020 | Noon -1PM CST Live Chat: Pursuing a Career in Finance, Technology and FinTech

Guest: Hello, how common is it for mechanical engineers to be a part of Booth in general? Do they often continue after as engineers or transition into a different form of tech/field entirely?

* Andrea Sanchez: Thank you for your question. There are many different types of engineers that make their way through the program. Like many Boothies these students are career changers. So, at Booth we really encourage you to pursue your interest. So if you have a different career goal in mind other than engineering we would like to know early on and will provide you resources and a strategy for how to think through filling in any gaps so you can pursue an internship. What students pursue is really the individual student. Given today's FinTech and Tech topic, there have been students from various engineering backgrounds that I have worked with who have pursued FinTech and Tech.

Guest: I see that everyone is involved with many clubs and activities. How do you balance everything? Are you able to participate in the things that you planned to?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for your question! Prioritization is really important when it comes to balancing our schedules and there are so many awesome opportunities at Booth it can be challenging sometimes! Everyone has a different approach to this but students who are going through time consuming engagements like recruiting may participate in fewer activities at a given time and then ramp up other activities after those end and vice versa.

Guest: Have internships and potential job offers been impacted by the coronavirus. If so, how?

* Meenakshi Dash: A few internships are now virtual or have been shortened in terms of their length - the companies are very cognizant of the fact that they want these internships to be valuable experiences and are doing everything they can to make sure that happens and if it means reducing the length of the internship to be impactful and meaningful, they are doing that. A few full time offers have had a pushed back start date too. It's important to be aware of what industries and companies are leaning into this environment, and which ones are struggling in order to create your own road map going forward.

Guest: STEM designation- Do we need to take certain electives?

* Anna Chalfin: Hello, and thanks so much for joining! With the expansion of the STEM designation, all concentrations are now eligible. No requirement of any certain electives. You can learn more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/chicago-booth-stem-mba

Guest: How will you describe the culture at Booth?

* Sarah Hill: Hi there thanks so much for your question! I'd describe Booth as a community-centric culture that really lives out the pay-it-forward value. In our class slack channels, students are always reminding one another the importance of paying it forward, and the classes really exemplify that value, whether through support during recruiting, sharing class notes, or just being a should to lean on if you need life help. The community is strong and very welcoming. I honestly feel like I'm home - at the risk of sounding cheesy.

Guest: Can you walk us through the timeline at Booth? When does the internship/ placement drive start?

* Meenakshi Dash: You will start to recruit and attend recruiting events in the Fall quarter itself. However remember that the recruitment process itself is 3-fold. It consists of On Campus Recruiting, Specialized Search (where you are proactive and seek out the companies and positions that do not come to or are interviewed for on campus), and thirdly a combination of the two – where you consider on campus firms as well as others that do not come. Recruiting itself can continue through the Spring Quarter. Generally, Investment Banking and Consulting finish up in the Winter quarter (by mid-February), while the other industries/jobs can wind down early or later. Your timeline is unique to your needs and goals.

Guest: Do we need industry specific background to apply for labs such as venture capital lab?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, you do not need any specific background to apply to labs. They are open to all students, with the goal of encouraging learning opportunities.

Guest: Hello, I see each of you have a difference concentration. I wonder what are all the concentration available in tech/fintech at Booth? Thank you.

* Amita Prabhu: Hi, thanks for joining today! There are no specific concentrations required to transition into tech but some of the most popular ones (depending on the function you'd like to enter) are Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategic Management, and Business Analytics. Because there are a wide range of functions in tech really any concentration could be applicable depending on your interests!

Guest: Hi, I’m from Indonesia. Thanks for accommodating this session. I was working for a commercial banking and just moved into tech sector.  I am keen to pursue my post-MBA plan in fintech especially in its strategy and business development team. How you see the opportunity on pursuing a career in the fintech company? How can I maximize the courses that are being provided by Booth?

* Elaine Zhang: Thank you for joining this chat. There are many opportunities at the intersection of Finance and Technology - fintech being examples of the type of companies but also there are roles in tech firms that are more business and finance oriented...so you are at a great spot! There is a ton of courses at Booth that provide great exposures into these areas like New Product Development (which can be lab class) and Platform Competition etc. 

Guest: Hi everyone, I want to move into healthcare consulting post MBA. What should be my recruitment strategy once I start my MBA at Booth?

* Meenakshi Dash: Understanding the landscape (healthcare consulting) that you want to enter is crucial - identifying the role/job function is also helpful as it allows you to align your experience to this particular role. You should join both the Healthcare and Consulting groups and do attend as many industry events, lunch and learn, and corporate conversation as you can. The more industry specific knowledge you can gather and the more connections you make, the more it will inform you as you create your recruitment strategy. You can also meet with the Career Service coaches to help you with your roadmap, as well as during the summer study all the pre-MBA coursework, industry specific modules on Canvas (you will have access to these in the summer). It is always helpful to do some research before you matriculate and start Booth – hence our summer prep material. There is also so much more that you can do, but this will be a good start. Hope this helps!

Guest: Also, I want to know how should I contact current students to learn about their experience at Booth?

* Alex DeCamp: Great question!  You can use our "Connect with a Student" online tool.  You can access it via the following link: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer

Guest: How early recruitment for tech firms start at Booth, & how exactly does that work?

* Meenakshi Dash: Recruiting for Tech is a combination of on campus recruiting and specialized search. We have several big Tech firms visit Booth and the students during the Fall quarter but depending on the size of company you want to target, this may or may not be what you are looking for. That said, we have several opportunities at Booth for you to interact with the firms through our Industry Immersion event, through Corporate Conversations, through the Booth Technology Group’s lunch and learn – all this happens as soon as you come to campus. Tech recruitment can be a combination of just in time roles as well and can go all the way up through the Spring Quarter. Some Tech firms might not come to Booth for any of the events, however they can place job roles/internship offers in our job portal – called GTS. While others, can be reached directly through their website. Through all this, we recommend that you identify the size, type of firm, and type of role, that you are looking for and with our help tailor and customize your s

Guest: Hi! Could you give some color on the internship opportunities Booth provides in Digital Banking space (like product mangers).

* Sarah Hill: Great question! If you're interested in recruiting for Product Manager roles, the Booth Technology Group is an incredible resource - it's a student group. I am a member of BTG and I heavily leveraged the 2nd years to help me figure out which internship opportunities to focus on. Also, BTG (along with other student professional groups) have interview families, which are amazing to prep for interviews, ranging from informational with HR to product case interviews you'll typically get as a PM. We have an internal portal called GTS where recruiters / companies post job openings along with on-campus recruiting opportunities. Hope that answers your question!

Guest: Is it easy for students have no prior background to break into tech (e.g. strategy related position)? How Booth supports these students? Any classes recommended?

* Amita Prabhu: Great question! It is certainly doable to make a transition from a strategy or non-technical background into tech. I found one of the most helpful resources was my tech interview prep group or "family" provided by the Booth Technology Group. These are small groups of 5-6 first year students paired with a second year who has successfully gone through the recruiting process. My interview family lead provided great tips on networking with firms, common case questions, and mock interview prep. As far as classes goes, I found the New Products and Services Lab class to be a good overview of the innovation process that many tech firms use.

Guest: Hi! I understand that up to 50 Boothies go on Tech Trek to meet a variety of technology companies. Could you please share your experience? What surprised you most? Were there many Booth alumni? Did you get personal one-on-one time with the companies (considering that there are about 50 of you going)? Thank you!

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, the number of Booth students changes each year. My year, we have 54 students total attend. This year, I believe about 25 students attended. I was most surprised by the pay-it-forward culture of the alumni, who we organized most of the visits with. They were enthusiastic and passionate about ensuring that we were able to provide an informative and fun visit for the students, and they were eager to ensure that we were able to reach out to them throughout the recruiting process. In general, we tried to work with alumni at each of the firms we visited, and some firms included multiple alumni. I'm not sure what you mean by personal one-on-one time, so I'll describe the visits. Each visit was between 1 and 3 hours. They tended to include at least an information session with representatives from the firm (recruiter, past MBAs working in high-interest roles). For many firms, we also got to have a tour.

Guest: What were the reasons you decided to pursue FinTech at Booth?

* Elaine Zhang: Hi thanks for the question. I actually did not focus on recruiting just for FinTech - I knew I wanted to stay in Big Tech and focus on the B2B sector, but I certainly applied to a variety of roles including Strategy and Operations, Product Management and Product Marketing etc. While it's great to have some focus, especially in Tech recruiting, each person has a bit of a different strategy, which is a process Booth will help you through different student groups, talking with your classmates and 2Y, and Career Services.

Guest: For someone who's already been in tech (happily) for approximately 5 years, developing software. What value add does an MBA provide?

* Elaine Zhang: Hey great question, and I felt the exact same way about the industry! I would say the values for me on pursuing a Full-Time MBA (especially at Booth) are 1) honing my analytics skills, which were seriously lacking as I came from a Liberal Arts background, 2) changing geography so I could work in the HQ of a tech company and 3) the network and friendship…cliché but so very important to me!

Guest: Did you need to have some technical background or could somebody do a career pivot into Fintech?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for your question! Depending on the function in tech you'd like to enter, a technical background may or may not be necessary. Most functions that MBAs recruit for don't require it but a few product management roles in big tech might. That said, there are numerous ways to round out your skillset at Booth if this is your goal or can recruit for the many roles that don't require technical skills.

Guest: Hi Sarah! Thank you for joining the chat. I saw you studied Accounting for undergrad. I also came from a finance/accounting background and I am currently working in an accounting firm. My question is coming from a non-tech background, would it be more difficult to pivot into tech? Or there are some job functions in tech firms that are more applicable for people with finance background? Thank you!

* Sarah Hill: Thanks for that question! You're definitely not alone in wanting to pivot job function and / or industry. I've had several fellow classmates that have pivoted into tech coming from a traditional accounting background at the Big Four. If you know you want to go into Tech, I highly recommend joining the Booth Technology Group (BTG) in the fall to get a head start on the process. I'd say going for strategy / ops / finance roles at Tech firms is a great way to make a more seamless pivot, but that shouldn't deter you from going for product roles, if that's something you're interested in.

Guest: Hi Sarah, I'm from Dubai. I'm particularly interested in the Entrepreneurship opportunities and concentrations at Booth. Could you please elaborate on these opportunities?

* Sarah Hill: Thanks for your question! I initially came to Booth thinking I wanted to start my own venture, so I can definitely speak to some of the incredible opportunities Booth has to offer. I've taken a couple Entrepreneurship lab classes where I'd gotten to work with real clients to help solve a major business problem they were facing. In additional to lab classes, there are amazing courses like Entrepreneurial Selling and New Venture Strategy that Boothies rave about. There's pretty much anything for those that want to start their own venture to those that want to learn more Entrepreneurial skills. New Venture Challenge (NVC) and Social New Venture Challenge (SNVC) are the two competitions that are geared towards students that want to start their own venture and / or be a part of a team that is participating in the competition. NVC and SNVC top 3 winners receive funds to invest in the idea, which is pretty neat. Grubhub is an example of a company that came out of NVC.

Guest: Hi - Interested to hear about the class focus of those students looking to go into tech generally (more specifically big tech). Are you focused more on general management or specializing and looking for particular functions within those companies?

* Amita Prabhu: Great question! No particular classes or concentration is required to transition into tech but some may make sense depending on your target position. For example, if you're looking to transition into a Product Marketing Manager role, pursue a Marketing concentration. If you are looking for an Analytics role, take the Business Analytics concentration, etc. These are a great way to signal your active interest in a particular function, especially as a career switcher!

Guest: Hi all, thanks for hosting this event! Besides the concentrations, what are the main student-led resources to help students develop their network? I read there is a Booth Technology Group, is that the main driver?

* Elaine Zhang: Hi thanks for the question! Yes, the Booth Technology Club (BTG) is definitely a great resource if you want to do any sort of tech recruiting. Networking with the companies, as well as with 2Ys who had gone through the recruiting process and could talk about company-specific experiences, were especially useful for me. There are also many student-led activities such as resume/cover letter workshops, interview families to help you get prepared for the recruiting process.

Guest: Hello! I am in my pre-final year of undergrad. I wish to apply to the Booth Scholars Program for the deferred MBA. What would be the most important tips for building my profile? And what is the relevance of research work?

* Alex DeCamp: For the Chicago Booth Scholars Program, you'll want to take into consideration what your goals are post your undergraduate studies and how a Booth MBA will support your career trajectory as a young professional.  To learn more about the application process click on the following link:  https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/early-career-programs/chicago-booth-scholars/application-process?sc_lang=en

Guest: Hi everyone, could someone please throw some light on the method of teaching? What’s the balance between case-method and lectures?

* Sena Agawu: Depending on the course, you will experience multiple types of teaching. To hear more specifically about our students' experiences in the class room, we recommend that you try our connect with a Student Tool - https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer

Guest: How does booth support product management goals and what are the resources?

* Tova Markowitz: Booth does a LOT to support PM goals. 1) Other students. 1Ys and 2Ys will help you with resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, emotional support, etc. We also have a historical question bank. 2) Booth Technology Group hosts many events, such as tech trek, corporate conversations, PM and PMM seminars, interview families, 2Y info panels about internships. 3) Alumni - due to the pay it forward culture, alumni are incredibly passionate to be resources to help learn more and recruit. 4) Career services - awesome people who will do whatever you need to find roles/learn more/prep. They also have a free library with prep books. 5) Great classes, such as New Products and Services Lab, New Venture Strategy, and key behavioral science classes, like Interpersonal Dynamics, Managing in Orgs, Negotiations, Behavioral Econ, Managerial Decision Making

Guest: Hi everyone! Thank you for hosting this event. I would like to know more about the impact of Covid 19 on recruiting from Fintech and Tech industries. Can you please give us more information on that? Will there be a reduction on the number of offers given out to Booth students in the upcoming recruiting cycle?

* Andrea Sanchez: Thank you for your note. We are actively monitoring the situation and our Global Employer Relations team is on daily calls to connect with our employer partners. Additionally, we have been working hard taping our networks to continue to bring opportunities for our students. Just today we received several opportunities.  The Tech and a Fintech space are still actively recruiting Booth talent. We are seeing opportunities form BigTech to startups for both Full-time and internships.  As for the following year, we are continuing to monitor and it is a bit too early to tell. Booth Career Services offers Career Services coaching and access to job opportunities for life. So it is just as important to us to be on top of what's happening to not only support our current first-year and second-year students but beyond that for our Booth alumni.

Guest: @ Anna - Can I add undergrad internships pursed in the work experience column?

* Anna Chalfin: Generally work experience would be reserved for post-grad full-time professional experience. If you had a really impactful internship opportunity that you think helped to shape your current experience or goals, you might find a place to include that using the essay, resume, or other optional boxes depending on how relevant it would be to your application.

Guest: Hello! What would you say about a Booth education best prepares potential students for roles in Finance & FinTech?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for your question! Booth has a great reputation with recruiters for being analytical and data driven which is a very relevant foremost tech company's cultures. I've had a lot of opportunities to develop these skills, both formally through analytics classes as well as informally through things like case competitions. Data is really engrained in the culture here and most tech firms are very aware of this.

Guest: Hi Amita, I am a technology consultant applying to Booth in the fall 2020. Like you, I am interested in behavioral science and the role psychology plays in business. What is your favorite behavioral science class you have taken and how would you describe the student culture at Booth?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for joining today! I think psychology and behavioral science plays a huge role in business and especially tech where many companies are focused and building products and services that are very human centered. I am in Negotiations right now and am finding it to be one of my favorites at Booth so far! I love how hands on and applied the class is as we would so rarely get a chance to practice different negotiation styles in the real world but get to do this every week in class.

Guest: Are you typically divided into cohorts and do you keep working with the same group of people throughout the year, or does this change from class to class?

* Elaine Zhang: Booth has a cohort system which guides the activities during orientation, and you do get assigned to one on the first day, but we do not rotate through the cohorts or take classes binded by the cohort system.

Guest: Hello thanks for doing this! This goes to Tova. I have heard a lot about Booth's second year career advisors. What do you do specifically to help first years and your peers who want to peruse post-MBA tech careers? Thank you in advance

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, happy to answer. Career Advisors are here to ensure that you feel supported with recruiting. We set up time for resume review, mock interviews, and cover letter review. We also participate in sessions set up by career services for networking, finding opportunities, creating your elevator pitch, etc. I also found that a big part of my role was emotional support to have my peers feel less nervous during the recruiting process!

Guest: It would really help if you could provide any tips for international students applying in R1 2020?

* Sena Agawu: We advise all our applicants to take the time to construct a strong application -- this includes carefully selecting their recommenders, highlighting specific reasons that an applicant is interested in a particular program, and doing their best to engage with the institution, such as participating in these live chats!

Guest: @Kimberley, Can I add Coursera / Udemy courses in the Certifications section of the application?

* Anna Chalfin: I would say Coursera or Udemy courses might be most useful to mention potentially in the optional essay or other parts of the application where applicable, especially if you feel it helps to connect the dots regarding certain interests or goals. Some might use it to elaborate on an area where it's already helped you in your career, helped you improve in a certain skillset, or where it might be helpful as you consider your future goals.

Guest: Hello everyone! Hope you all are staying safe and healthy, and thank you for organizing this chat. I'm looking to apply in R1 next cycle and really drawn towards Booth because of the amazing resources in Tech and Entrepreneurship. I would like to understand what are the qualities that Booth looks for in a successful applicant?

* Anna Chalfin: Thanks so much for joining today! When evaluating applications, we're truly looking to see your experience so far, why an MBA will help to propel you in your career goals, and why Booth will help you do that throughout each component of the application. As for qualities, we're looking for a wide variety of students to represent the incoming class, so seeing your experience and how it aligns with Booth is the most important piece. At the bottom of this page, you will get a good idea of how we look at each part of the application: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/full-time/admissions/requirements

Guest: Hi, and thank you for holding this session. Probably a question for Tova but welcoming answers from everyone of course: what's your experience at Booth with students recruiting for tech in Southern California (LA/San Diego), specifically Product Management positions?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, in general PM is not very prevalent in San Diego. I found a few firms (mostly startups) and ServiceNow in SD for PM. LA has a few more options. In general, PM is most prevalent in the Bay Area, followed by Seattle, with a number of opportunities in cities like Chicago, Boston, and Austin (not limited to these). I found that most firms want PMs to be based out of the headquarter location because they wanted PMs to be in close proximity to engineers.

Guest: Hi Elaine! Thanks for making the time to join the chat and field questions. Would you mind expounding more on the role of "integration Experience" on the CD team at Amazon?

* Elaine Zhang: Sure - my immediate team focuses on the post-merger integration of the acquired companies, and we will work with various deal managers towards the later stage of the M&A process. It's definitely a new experience for me and I'm very excited

Guest: Thank you for taking out the time for this. My questions are for Amita- Hi Amita, what have been your key learnings during your time at the Innovation and Design Club? How do you see it impacting your internship?

* Amita Prabhu: Great question! Innovation and Design plays a huge role in tech and my experiences in design thinking were very useful for the recruiting process and I'm hoping will be useful for the actual internship as well. As part of my interviews I had to understand a particular product and develop a strategic recommendation for how to improve it. I used design thinking methods like user research, interviewing, and journey mapping to tell the story. Being able to demonstrate applied innovation and design skills can definitely be a great value add, especially for tech companies!

Guest: Could you speak to the recruitment process for technologies companies? I've heard that recruiting is more skewed towards Spring. To what degree did you find your current opportunity through enterprise recruiting versus Booth career services?

* Elaine Zhang: The recruitment process for tech companies is definitely more “unstructured” with a staggered timeline. In the Fall Quarter, there are companies (mostly Big Tech but also some Growth Tech) that would come on campus to host info sessions and small group chats with the students. At the same time, it’s up to the students to start the specialized search on companies/roles they are interested in. There will be deadlines to submit applications towards the end of Fall Quarter (Nov/Dec timeframe). Most people will start having interviews in Winter Quarter, and I got all my offers in the February/March timeframe. That said, there are still lots of opportunities in the Spring Quarter across Big Tech, Growth Tech and Startups, which do tend to ramp up in the spring because they are more prone to the just-in-time hiring.

Guest: Hi! I would like to know what are some incentives you've seen the career office take to assist with job search for students who still haven't secured offers for internship or full-time at this moment?

* Sarah Hill: Career services has held several virtual information sessions and workshops to help students to continue to recruit successfully and proactively during this time. Additionally, Career Advisors and Coaches are always more than happy to meet over the phone to chat through your specific recruiting strategy and any issues / concerns you're facing. Career Services is also keeping in contact with employers to identify any internship programs that might be impacted due to Covid-19 and working proactively with students affected.

Guest: Hi - thanks for hosting. I am interested in applying to the full-time MBA program this fall. I currently work in economic consulting and I'm interested in switching careers to investment management. Can you talk about the resources available in Career Services for someone looking to switch careers?

* Meenakshi Dash: Hello! We have many career switchers at Booth - I think an MBA is a wonderful way to pivot careers. We have many resources available to you, from beginning to end. In terms of research and identifying your industry (you already have), we have a pre-MBA Summer Prep curriculum, so that you can do your due diligence and understand how you need to position yourself for Investment Management. We have curriculum at Booth that is important and necessary to take so that you can position yourself as a viable IM candidate. We also have several Career Services programs that allow you to interact and meeting companies and contacts within this field. You should join the IM student group so that you can talk to other career switchers. It is not uncommon to switch careers and we have resources available to you from research databases, to one on one appointments with coaches and second years, to actual company events to learn more about the companies within the space

Guest: What are the resources available for recruiting in Asia and outside US in general?

* Meenakshi Dash: We have several databases that allow you to identify opportunities abroad, we internally connect with our partners to compile lists for companies that hire abroad, and we have external career services staff based in Asia who have established relationships with companies and contacts. You will also be able to talk to several second years who have gone through international recruiting, and you can connect with companies that come on campus and express your interest in their offices in a different geographic region. It’s important for you to again identify where you’d like to be and accordingly connect with the right offices and contacts. We will help you every step of the way and provide you with the tools to conduct this search!

Guest: What kinds of jobs do people typically take within tech after graduation? Is it mostly Product Management and Strategy & Ops?

* Meenakshi Dash: We've found students take jobs in Tech' across finance, operations, business development, marketing, strategy, data analytics, and product management roles, to name a few. It really depends on what interests you the most and what your ultimate goal is.

Guest: If I want to stay in Chicago after graduation, what are some of the opportunities in tech? Does big tech have product manager roles in Chicago?

* Meenakshi Dash: Identify the big tech firms that have offices in Chicago - this way you can start to network with them early on and you will be top of mind if there any PM roles available. It's good to do the research and due diligence as you start school. You will be able to find second years who have interned or plan to go to Big Tech firms in Chicago. That's a good way to begin your networking. Chicago also has several other mid-size and smaller firms who are in the technology space - at Booth, we also host a Startup Networking Night, where you will be able to meet startups in this area.

Guest: Does research work counts as a valuable item in the profile?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, I think it really depends what you're recruiting for. If you're recruiting for an industry that requires strong industry knowledge (i.e. healthcare), research can be helpful. I'd recommend looking at the specific job descriptions you're interested and seeing if your research is pertinent. In general, we do not have a Research section in our resume template, but you can add relevant research in the additional section!

Guest: Hi everyone! Thank you for joining the panel. I am exploring career options in tech. Could you briefly chat about what are the major functions/jobs that are available in tech companies for post MBA students?

* Tova Markowitz: There are a LOT of opportunities for MBA students in Tech. The most popular are PM, PMM, Marketing, Strategy, Opps, Finance. PM is the CEO of a product, and collaborates with key cross-functional teams to identify end-user pain points/needs, design a product, confirm technical feasibility and MVP with engineers, and launch/optimize the product. PMM tends to be the voice of the customer and determine how they can match the product with the value prop of customers. PM and PMM strongly depend on the firm (responsibilities, technical responsibilities, etc).

Guest: Hello Sarah, I see you have an accounting major.  How do you see it would help you in your study at Booth program as well as when you step in the next job out of Booth? Thank you.

* Sarah Hill: Great question! I think having an Accounting background is great to lean on in some of the other more analytical and finance focused courses at Booth. I found it super helpful even when taking my Social Enterprise Lab and Marketing Strategy courses. I also think having an Accounting background worked in my favor when applying for strategy roles. It's nice way to show that you have that analytical side to you while also having the know-how to apply it in the real world in analyzing business problems. I would say if you're coming from a more finance focused background like I did, tailoring your Booth experience to round out those skills with Marketing and Entrepreneurship is a great way to show that you are a well-rounded candidate to employers with the ability to look at a business from multiple perspectives.

Guest: How does booth handle entrepreneurship? Helping students find real world experiences?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, Booth does a lot to expose students to entrepreneurship. First, we have an entrepreneurship concentration with many wonderful classes such as Entrepreneurial Discovery and New Venture Strategy. We also have several lab classes to help you receive hands-on learning, such as PE/VC lab, Developing New Products and Services Lab, and Social Entrepreneurship. We also have the Polsky Center which provides wonderful opportunities, such as the New Venture Challenge, lunch and learns with Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and start-up summer. Lastly, you can work with career services or alumni to secure an internship during the year.

Guest: Hi, thanks for organizing this! During the academic quarter, what level of flexibility is there to pursue internships with startups in the Chicago area?

* Tova Markowitz: A LOT of flexibility! Career services and the alumni network are strong options to learn more about opportunities within the Chicago area, especially since so many alumni start they own companies in Chicago. A number of firms in Chicago post internship opportunities in our internal job board, and I found alumni enthusiastic to discuss opportunities one-on-one (just messaged them through email or LinkedIn). Students also use the PE/VC lab to find PE/VC opportunities during the year.

Guest: I have tried the Connect with a Student tool but after filling in the fields, the result doesn’t show detail of any student?

* Anna Chalfin: While we're constantly impressed by the number of students who volunteer to be a part of Connect with a Student, the list may not be completely exhaustive. If you do not find someone who fits the search you're looking for, you may find other ways to get in touch, as Boothies are often excited to share more about their story and path. You might consider looking at the Student-Led Group page with a list of professional, interest, and affinity groups - many of these groups would be willing to connect. You might also check out more on the Centers pages (i.e. Polsky, Rustandy, and Kilts) to learn about students involved with their programming. Additionally, continue to engage with events like this and feel free to email Admissions@chicagobooth.edu if there are specific resources you're interested in learning more about.

Guest: Hello, thank you for hosting this panel. I cannot hear anyone speaking, do I need to click something?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, we are not talking. We are responding to questions in writing. Hope this helps!

Guest: Which classes do you think best helped you prepare for summer internship or full time recruiting?

* Tova Markowitz: For PM, I think Developing New Products and Services Lab, New Venture Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Behavioral Econ, Interpersonal Dynamics, Managing in Orgs, Negotiations, and Managerial Decision Making.

Guest: What are the key defining qualities you see among fellow classmates?

* Tova Markowitz: Definitely focus on paying it forward, passion to develop meaningful relationships, intellectual curiosity, humility, kindness, warmth, caring.

Guest: Thank you for hosting this session. My question is with regards to one’s background, I seem all the panelist have a background in tech, how feasible is it for one with a non -tech background make a shift into a career in tech?

* Tova Markowitz: Very feasible. There are a lot of transferable skills. I think some roles are a little easier to break into, such as Corporate Strategy, but it really depends on what you did before school. Also, you can use Startup Summer to intern in the role you want to recruit for, which will help a lot.

Guest: Hi, I see you have amazing internships lined up (congratulations!), can you discuss Booth's job/intern recruitment process?

* Sarah Hill: Hey there! It really depends on the company and the role. There are some that recruit on campus (e.g., rotational programs, investment management, investment banking, and consulting to name a few), and that process is very structured. Depending on the industry, campus interview postings will be on GTS in the mid to late fall and interviews will happen through the winter quarter. The opposite side of the spectrum is specialized search, which is applying to job postings on GTS and other career websites like LinkedIn, which is more common for Tech. Specialized search will generally go late - there are some students still recruiting today. I applied to a job posting for Google in October / Novembeer and didn't get an invitation to interview until March and I received my offer end of March. TLDR; it depends on the industry and company and the timelines vary. Hope that answers your question!

Guest: Given the flexible curriculum at Booth, how do you recommend adequately preparing for recruiting for FinTech and Tech roles?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, my answer depends strongly on the type of role you are interested in. For Finance firms, I would recommend taking some of our amazing intro-Finance classes, such as investments, corp-fin, macro, and FinTech Revolution. If you're interested in a highly collaborative role, such as PM, I would recommend taking behavioral science classes, such as Interpersonal Dynamics, Negotiations, Managing in Orgs, Behavioral Econ, and Managerial Decision Making. Other good classes include Developing New Products and Services and New Venture Strategy. If you're interested in marketing roles, we have some great classes, like Data-Driven Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Pricing Strategies.

Guest: Is it possible that we can get a dump of this Q&A after the session?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Yes, we will provide a chat transcript to all attendees. We will also post the transcript on our website, under virtual events. 

Guest: Thanks for doing this! Did you have a specific function within tech companies in mind as you were getting ready for recruiting?

* Tova Markowitz: I had done a lot of research prior to Booth, and knew I wanted to go into PM.

Guest: Are there aspects of the Booth MBA program you think are underappreciated?

* Tova Markowitz: yes! First, the very strong community at Booth is underappreciated. We highly value our community, which focuses on meaningful relationships and a Pay It Forward culture. Second, in addition to our great quant classes, we also have amazing classes that are non-quant. I have personally LOVED my behavioral science classes (Interpersonal Dynamics and Negotiations were life changing). Finally, how much our professors truly care. I have developed strong mentorships with a number of my professors, which has been a truly beautiful part of my experience.

Guest: What are the opportunities to take technology related electives? For example, if my post MBA goal was to be a product manager and I wanted to take some computer science classes to complement my MBA, is that possible?

* Tova Markowitz: It's very possible. In addition to the great PM-related classes at Booth, you can easily take classes in the greater UChicago community, which includes CS classes through the MPCS or undergrad community. You just need to email the professor and get written permission.

Guest: Hello! The Career Services Department have connections with companies and can help students with Full Time Job after graduate, in Europe?

* Tova Markowitz: yup! Our career services team is amazing, and each year, we have students who recruit for and go to Europe.

Guest: For students that do pursue an internship/full time in tech,  Do most students go to start up or more corporations (google, salesforce, amazon etc.) Is booth positions better for one or the other based on curriculum or classes offered?

* Tova Markowitz: There's a definitely a mixture at Booth. Booth is great for both, and has a lot of resources to get to know alumni/roles at both types of firms.

Guest: Hello, is healthtech a large focus at Booth?

* Tova Markowitz: There are definitely a number of students interested in HIT. A lot of alumni have started HIT firms in Chicago (i.e. CancerIQ), and we have a great relationship with Matter. I recommend also reaching out to the co-chairs of our healthcare group!

Guest: Are all of the clubs open to everyone or is membership selective?

* Tova Markowitz: Open to everyone, as long as you're enrolled in the corresponding program (i.e. FT MBA v. Part-time MBA)

Guest: Can someone please speak to how they leveraged Booth's flexible curriculum to better position themselves for Tech Recruiting

* Elaine Zhang: Yes happy to - one of my favorite classes I’ve taken so far at Booth is the New Product Development Lab, which provides a great exposure into Product Management, from building the product/service, user testing and forecasting. Highly recommend this one and there are definitely other classes like App Development, Platform Competition that are popular among the tech-oriented folks, just to name a few!

Guest: Hi - question for Sarah. Can you speak about the partner experience at Booth and how you see partners most commonly getting involved with the Booth community?

* Sarah Hill: Awesome question! There is actually a Booth Partners Club that partners can join to get immediately involved with the community. Also, partners are invited to join Slack channels as well to be a part of the daily chats that we have as a class. My partner is more low touch on the technology side, but he comes with me to a lot of Booth sponsored events like Winter Formal. There's definitely a range on how involved some partners get - it all depends on what you both are looking for; but, whatever it is, you will find it.

Guest: I'm married and have a baby boy.  Are there resources for family to integrate into Booth culture?  For example, can spouses participate in club activities or join on trips?

* Tova Markowitz: Yup! We have a VERY active Booth Partners group that hosts awesome weekly events. Also, spouses are invited to join Booth activities, many Booth trips, and even audit classes. Lastly, we have a Booth Babies Slack channel, and a number of Boothies have families.

Guest: How does booth facilitate in career transition from one that is hugely tech oriented to one that is more business oriented? What qualities is booth looking for in the individual aiming for such a transition?

* Meenakshi Dash: We do get several students who come to Booth with the intention of pivoting their careers and entering a new field. The important thing is for you to avail of all the opportunities to learn more about the area you want to enter. So for example – do you want to get into corporate strategy within technology or are you willing to move outside this industry. When you say more business oriented, I assume you mean this – or do you mean corporate finance or even banking? Identify where you want to eventually land, do your research and accordingly with our help customize your job search strategy. It is entirely plausible to successfully pivot careers! 

Guest: Are they any classes at Booth where students work with directly with companies to build product or design solutions to problems?

* Sarah Hill: There sure are! A prime example is Developing New Products & Services Lab - a popular lab course that pairs groups of students with a company to work on a real product solution to be implemented.

Guest: Hi Amita, I'm quite interested in the concentration of Behavioral Science. I majored in Psychology and Minored in Cognitive science and took various econ classes in undergrad. In my current role, I’m working on developing behavioral tools focusing on risk tolerance.  What sort of roles are you looking for and do you feel like there is space in tech for these concentrations to help you stand out?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for your question! For students interested in behavioral science I think there are a lot of great opportunities in tech since so much of developing new products/services involves understanding how users and customers think. This could be encompassed in roles like Product Marketing Management, Product Management, even Strategy. Having a background in psychology, user research, or behavioral science can definitely be helpful for these roles!

Guest: Is it common for students to pursue 2 concentrations? Or do students usually only do one?

* Anna Chalfin: Yes, most students graduate with more than one concentration. I'd say many students graduate with around 3 or so concentrations.

Guest: How does Booth's location in Chicago impact the curriculum and extracurricular learning opportunities?

* Anna Chalfin: The city of Chicago and being central in the U.S. plays a huge role in the Chicago Booth experience. We are very lucky to have many companies, headquarters, and start-ups right here in the city. At Booth, we have a strong relationship with these organizations across many parts of the curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities - which allow students to gain exposure throughout the two years and beyond.

Guest: Given less structured recruiting process in Tech, can you talk about recruiting process for tech at booth? And what resources / supports do you use? What areas are most people go into in tech?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, I think I may run out of room because we have a text limit in our responses. I have answered questioned about resources and areas, so recommend looking there so that you can have thorough responses (again, worried about running out of room!). Re the process, it really depends on the firm and the year. In general, apps may start in October, although most tend to start in December and go through April/ May. In general, you'll apply with a resume for a specific role, and the firms will have 2-5 rounds. The rounds may include behavioral and/or case questions. One thing that's great is that we have a question repository from the past few years so that you can see the specific historical processes for the firms you are interested in! For me, my processes were very varied. I had some apps due in November, and others in February. Some came on campus for the first round and had 1-4 final round interviews on site. Others were all virtual.

Guest: Hi, thanks for doing this. For someone looking to work with startups (Series B - Unicorn Stage), what does recruiting look like?

* Andrea Sanchez: Thanks for reaching out. Early on in the fall you will definitely want to do some networking and getting familiar with the startup scene in Chicago and at Booth. Many of those opportunities you seek across the U.S. will have more just in time hiring and be later in winter or spring. So, while there will be some posting through on Booth job board you will also simultaneously be pursuing other targets that may not have an opportunity yet. The goal there is to try and establish a connection and learn about the company in advance of so you are top of mind when they are ready. Career Services partners with student group startup Treks to visit startups, in NY, SF, Chicago, and some students have made their way to LA and Austin. It's really based on need and interest. We will provide resources for you to manage your search and tools like Pitchbook and CB insights to build your list and identify companies by stage. Additionally, we hold Startup Networking Nights where companies Chicago and other cities.

Guest: Hi Amita, I'm in the tech industry currently and I'm passionate about the space but what prompted you to move to tech from consulting. What are your thoughts on tech consulting?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for joining today! I worked on many tech projects in my previous job but focused mainly on longer implementation projects. I like the tech aspect of this role but wanted to was looking to move more into the strategy side of things to better round out my skill set.

Guest: For recruiting, do companies typically come to Chicago, students go to the bay area, virtual chats/interviews? Mixture?

* Tova Markowitz: It is definitely a mixture. Tech does not have a defined recruiting process or timeline. Also, firms determine whether they come to Chicago or conduct virtual recruiting processes year to year. Some firms will have first round interviews on campus, then final rounds on site (my experience for Adobe and Microsoft). Others will have the entire process virtual (this was my experience for Okta and Workday).

Guest: In terms of housing, do most Boothies stay within a certain area close to campus or are they mostly spread out throughout the city?

* Tova Markowitz: Approximately 80% of Boothies live in the Loop (I believe this also includes the Lake Shore East neighborhood), and 60% live in Millennium Park Plaza. The next largest group lives in South Loop. There are groups of students who live elsewhere in the city, such as Wicker Park, West Loop, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Hyde Park. I personally lived in the Loop my first year then moved to Wicker Park my second. Most social events occur in the Loop, so I would recommend living close enough to easily commute there. I'm glad I lived in the Loop my first year, and did not find any social barriers living in Wicker my second.

Guest: Hi Amita, I'm interested in both consulting and Tech post-MBA. Could you please share about why you decide to transition into Tech from Consulting?

* Amita Prabhu: Thanks for your question! In consulting I learned a lot about the types of worked I liked and didn't like and found that the projects I enjoyed the most involved tech, strategy, working cross functionally, and seeing the impact of my team's work. I thought transitioning to a strategy role within tech would be a good combination of this work I'm most interested in.

Guest: Hi Elaine! I see that you worked in the Tech sector prior to Booth, and plan to continue in the Tech sector. What would you say is the most valuable thing you have learned at Booth with regards to Tech that you didn't learn on the job?

* Elaine Zhang: Hey - so one of the reasons I decided to pursue a Full-Time MBA program at Booth was to strengthen my analytics and quantitative skills, which I think would really be useful in any industry nowadays, but especially in tech across many different roles.

Guest: Hi Everyone, I wanted to learn more about Booth's admission review process. How much importance is placed on GPA/GMAT? Are there are any hard cutoffs for GPA/GMAT?

* Alex DeCamp: We review all applications through a holistic review process.  We are evaluating you based on your academic excellence, professional achievement, and personal fit with the Full-Time MBA program at Booth.  If you're curious to learn more about the application process click on the following link:  https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/full-time/admissions/how-to-apply. 

You can also see the stats of the 2021 class including their average GMAT score and GPA via the following link:  https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/full-time

Guest: How have the courses at Booth helped you prepare for your internships?

* Sarah Hill: When applying to tech strategy roles I really felt my Marketing Strategy and Entrepreneurship lab courses (Entrepreneurial Discovery and Social Enterprise Lab) really gave me some interesting stories and learnings to share in interviews. For instance, I was able to reference a situation I had with my client in my SEL class that really resonated with the interviewers at Google. I'm currently taking Competitive Strategy, Negotiations, and Managerial Decision Making and it is my favorite quarter to date. I'm learning real skills that will benefit me when I'm faced with business challenges this summer.

Guest: Which clubs, classes, resources would you recommend looking into if you're career goal is to launch/join a FinTech startup? Are there any clubs/events intended to bring Boothies together with University of Chicago computer science students?

* Elaine Zhang: Hey great question - I am an active member in the Booth Technology Group which provides great resources on any tech related recruiting, but i know there is also a Fintech group that might be more focused in that field. There is a joint degree between Booth and CS but I am not sure if there are specific clubs that are focused on integrating the two groups of students

Guest: Hi Elaine, I wonder if you are Chinese or Canadian? Either way, if you are international student, do you feel any challenge in recruiting? Is there any Canadian club at Booth? Wanted to ask TN visa as well if it apply to you

* Elaine Zhang: Hi there - yes international students do need to look closely at the job postings on eligibility, but I didn't feel like it was a challenge for me in the companies I recruited for. I can't speak about visa issues but do connect with the Office of International Affairs if you have any questions/concerns!

Guest: With a relatively larger class size, how does Booth manage to promote collaboration and strong bonding among batchmates?

* Sena Agawu: Students are encouraged to create community and connections with their peers, both through classroom participation and projects, as well as through the many community-based groups and organizations. We have over 60 student-led groups on campus and we offer student-led Random Walks prior to the beginning of each year that encourages incoming students to travel with one another.

Guest: Hi, thank you for hosting! How does the recruiting process differ from strategy & ops roles vs. product roles? How does Booth support students with non-technical backgrounds interested in product management positions?

* Meenakshi Dash: You are most welcome – glad that you are here! The recruiting process differs in that you tailor your application and resume different and uniquely for each role. Your due diligence and research will also be different as you will talk to people within those roles and align your own answers to fit the needs of a strategy/ops role as opposed to a product role. If you want a product role – have you been able to narrow down what you want to do in that role? Do you want a PM or a PMM role, do you want a brand manager role? Many students want to make the leap without a technical background into a PM role – it’s important to identify and understand the companies that do not require a computer science or technical background for their PM roles – this can be easily done through research and attending all the company programming events in the fall quarter that Booth hosts. Also do not forget to join the Booth Technology Group so you can meet your peers who have made a similar transition as the one you seek to make!

Guest: Did you find that most students entered first year with a pretty clear idea of what they wanted to do after school? Or was there some room for exploration?

* Alex DeCamp: I would say most students generally have a good idea as to what career path they want to take during their first year.  This is mainly because the internship recruiting process begins during the first quarter of year one.  However, there is certainly still room to explore and there are a wealth of resources at Booth to help you make a pivot if necessary

Guest: Would a general or dual concentration with like marketing and business analytics help get into a PM role? Or would one be better than the other?

* Tova Markowitz: I actual don't think that concentrations matter when recruiting. I'd recommend just taking classes that you find interesting. Helpful classes for PM recruiting include: Developing New Products and Services Lab, New Venture Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Interpersonal Dynamics, Managing in Orgs, Negotiations, Behavioral Econ, and Managerial Decision Making.

Guest: Hi, thanks for organizing this chat! I am a Software Developer working for Big Tech, and want to move to Product Management Role and work in emerging markets. What resources does Booth offer in this regard?

* Elaine Zhang: Hi - so Booth offers great resources from student groups, Career Services, to classes that would help you make that transition. I am a member of the Booth Technology Group and I recommend the New Product Development Lab course as a great introduction with hands-on exposure into Product Management!

Guest: Hi all!  What sort of opportunities exist to work at smaller technology firms (15-50 people)?  Are these types of roles common among Booth students?

* Andrea Sanchez: There are various opportunities for students to work with smaller tech companies. Career Services hosts a Startup Networking Night where students get to meet and interact with startups from Chicago and other cities to learn about them and connect for possible opportunities. We have the Polsky Center which runs a top ranked business accelerator at in a space called the Polsky exchange. Students can also participate in the New Venture Challenge so if a classmate has an idea you can join a team. Booth is also a partner with 1871 here in Chicago which is a physical space and a Chicago based incubator and accelerator. There is also an Entrepreneurship Internship Program which provides funding for students with an offer at early or small Tech startups.

Guest: Hi, Is there an opportunity to take courses from other colleges at U. Chicago while in the MBA program to build expertise in a certain area of tech (E.g. Software engineering, or AdTech)?

* Anna Chalfin: Yes! Students can take up to 6 courses at the other professional schools at UChicago. Many tap into classes with Computer Science or other programs such as Law, Public Policy, etc. Additionally, some students choose to take that a step further - we do offer a 3 year joint MBA/CS degree, which you can learn more about here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/joint-degree/mpcs-mba

Guest: Hi Admissions Committee, I'm extremely interested in an MBA from Booth. Typically I wouldn't be applying in round 3, but the startup I was running has gone under during these uncertain times, hence I want to take a shot at Booth's R3 Rolling so that I don't waste a whole year. Are there still slots available for students, or should I wait till R1 next cycle?

* Anna Chalfin: Yes! While R1 & R2 are our larger rounds, we do still accept students in Round 3. As always, in each round we're looking for students to connect why an MBA will help propel them in their careers and specifically why Booth best-aligns with your goals and interests. Additionally, if for some reason you were not selected this year, we look positively at reapplicants, as it shows dedication and interest in the program.

Guest: This question is more for the adcoms... I currently have a GMAT score and I'm planning to take the GRE later next month. Is it better to submit with the GMAT score on-hand or should I opt to wait for the GRE results before submitting

* Anna Chalfin: Thanks so much for joining! It's completely up to you - if you think your future score will be a better representation, you might wait until you feel your application best represents you as a candidate. That being said, the GMAT/GRE are only one part of the application, so as you think about the strengths of your application - you may also decide to submit before then. While we can only guarantee the score submitted will be reviewed, you can always send us an update at a later point, and it will be added to your file, and potentially reviewed also depending on where we are in the reviews.

Guest: Question for Sena/anyone: What is it like being out/LGBT, either at Booth or during your interviews/internships? I know there are a ton of resources (e.g. OUTreach, coming out day, romba conference, etc.), but do you have any insights or stories in the tech world about being out during the recruitment/general MBA life?

* Sena Agawu: It sounds like you're well aware of the different resources on campus that are for LGBTQ+ students and allies. While I do not have any stories in the tech world, specifically, I do know that other students, both those who belong to OUTreach, as well as those in the broader community, are very supportive of each other through the recruiting process. If you're interested in connecting specifically with current students to hear more about their experiences being out at Booth, I suggest you take advantage of our Connect with a Student Tool - https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer

Guest: Hi all, I'm an undergraduate student interested in the Booth Scholars deferred program. Most of the panelists here seem to have work experience prior to joining Booth. Would you recommend applying for the Booth Scholars program now (I'm clear about my post-MBA goals) or would you recommend working for some more time before making a decision as big as this? Thank you in advance!

* Alex DeCamp: Great question!  If you are already know that you want an MBA to be a part of your career journey, I'd encourage you to consider applying to the Chicago Booth Scholars Program.  The program is designed for young professionals who have an understanding of how the Booth MBA will support their career trajectory in the future.  You also will receive significant support and program opportunities from Booth during your deferral period.  Also, if you are not admitted to the Booth Scholars Program or you decide not to enroll after your deferment period expires, you can still reapply as a normal Full-Time MBA candidate

Guest: Hi everyone! Thanks so much for hosting this session! I was curious as to what are the most common positions people interested in a career in technology pursue post-MBA (PM at large firms, startups, etc.)?

* Amita Prabhu: Great question! It really is a very wide range but some of the most common roles within big tech are Product Management, Product Marketing Management, Strategy & Operations, Finance, and more! For students interested in startups, the roles may encompass one or more of these functions since they are working in smaller companies.

Guest: Following up on your answer Meenakshi. If planning to get into corporate strategy within Tech, what are the resources which can be leveraged at Booth?

* Meenakshi Dash: Again depending on the size of the Tech firm - you have access to case prep books, interview prep, the student clubs, one on one coaching appointments with a career coach and one on one appointments with second year career advisors who have been in your shoes and have had internships in Corporate strategy roles. You will have the opportunity to interact with the Tech' firms that come on campus, you will also have access to the guest speakers invited by the BTG student group, as well as the opportunity to go on the Tech trek at the end of the year. You can leverage all these opportunities to help you position yourself for a corporate strategy role within Tech.

Guest: Hi Sarah! I am from technical background. What amount of financial expertise is expected from an applicant for these course?

* Sarah Hill: Hi there! It entirely depends on the course. The professor is typically very clear about any pre-requisites or suggested foundational knowledge needed or expected for the course.

Guest: How active are diversity communities / ERGs on campus?

* Sena Agawu: Our diverse communities are very active on campus - for example, the student groups such as the African American MBA Association and the Hispanic American MBA Association often host on/off campus events intended to facilitate community building and professional development. Our "Diversity Week" is organized by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and encourages all students to participate in the week of programming, which is both professionally oriented and socially oriented.

Guest: Do tech/fintech companies recruit for roles in New York? Are there treks to New York also?

* Andrea Sanchez: Yes, there are FinTech and Tech companies in NY that are interested in Booth talent. Career Services partners with students for Treks and we have gone to NY to explore FinTech and Tech.

Guest: Could you talk more about the Random Walks and what they entail?

* Anna Chalfin: Radom Walks are trips you can sign up for to take before classes start with (and lead by) fellow Boothies. These trips are optional, and very popular with students as it gives them a chance to do some travel before they start while getting to know their classmates. You can learn more about the trips and see the selection offered this year for your reference here: http://randomwalksbooth.org/

Guest: Thanks for doing this! Are there any things that we can be doing now as we plan to pursue an MBA at Booth that will be beneficial to our campus experience?

* Tova Markowitz: Hi, I think the biggest two things you can do are 1) take some time to decompress and relax and 2) think about what careers/roles you may want to recruit for. A lot of things will be happening once you start at Booth, so having some idea of your recruiting strategy is helpful, although you can definitely explore your options once on campus.

Guest: Does Booth waive the application fee for veterans?

* Sena Agawu: Yes, we waive the application fee for all former/current members of the armed forces.