May 14, 2019 Admissions Live Chat Transcript
Answered Questions (67)
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Chat Participant: Do you take into consideration professional certifications when reviewing a candidate, such as CFP, or CPA?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Professional certifications are not required, but they are something we look upon favorably as part of your overall application, so you should include them in your app if you have them. Our review process is holistic, so no one part of your application is weighted more heavily than another- we will consider all parts equally and seek to bring in well-rounded individuals who will be a great addition to the Booth community. We will look at your academic background, your work history, your goals and motivations for an MBA, and your fit within the Booth community.
Chat Participant: What is something that sets Booth apart from its competitors?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: There are many ways we could answer that question! The top thing that comes to mind is the flexibility of the program format and course selection. We have the most flexible program that allows you to take courses that are most interesting to you and at a pace that fits your lifestyle. Most Evening and Weekend MBA student take two courses per quarter. I’d also be remiss not to mention our diverse and supportive community of Academic Advisors, Student Life advisors, Career Services, faculty, alumni and current students who support you throughout your MBA and beyond.
Chat Participant: Thank you for sending the range of GMAT scores. Do you have a range for the Quant scores? I've heard that Quant is considered to be more important than the verbal, is that true?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: We do not have a specific mid 80% range for the Quantitative section of the GMAT. For the purposes of your application, we consider your overall score. Given that Booth’s curriculum is rigorous, we want to see you perform well in all sections of your standardized tests, and we will also review your transcripts from your previous degrees to give us an idea of your academic ability.
Chat Participant: Is it ok to not have your current supervisor in the list of recommenders?
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: We would like to have your current supervisor as one of the recommenders but this is not mandatory. If you choose not to use your direct supervisor please simply let us know why you’ve chosen the recommenders you have in the corresponding text box in the recommendation section.
Chat Participant: Anything you can share on how Booth looks at the IR and Writing scores?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: We highly value the IR score, as it shows your ability to analyze a variety of data sources to make decisions. The AWA is also important, as we want to be confident you have strong writing skills. We are able to assess your writing skills in other parts of your application- essays, resume, etc. We’ve seen candidates that seems to skip or not take these sections seriously, and that is a big mistake. You should aim for a 6 or higher on the IR section.
Chat Participant: Do you care AWA and IR score of GMAT when review candidates?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: We will have a greater focus on the IR in this case, but we will still review any scores you submit.
Chat Participant: What specializations or majors do you offer students in the MBA program?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: We offer 13 different concentration areas that students can choose to pursue as part of their academic journey. Most students will graduate with 3-4 concentrations, and many courses double count towards different concentration areas. Booth's curriculum is very flexible, allowing you to pursue your different areas of interest! You can see the 13 concentrations here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/academics/curriculum
Chat Participant: Hello, are there ways that the Weekend and Evening MBA students get involved with the various Student Groups?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: Yes, there are a lot of ways to get involved with our 45+ student groups! You can join any Evening and Weekend student group that you would like to be involved in. Most of our student group events take place on Saturdays over the lunch hour so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to be involved in the community here at Booth.
Chat Participant: Will there be access to collaborative spaces with other programs at the University? Engineering, Computer Science, etc.
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Programs take place at the Gleacher Center, which is Booth’s downtown campus. Our Executive MBA Program is also at Gleacher, and you often see full-time students at Gleacher or Booth 455 (our additional classroom and study space across from the Gleacher Center in the NBC Tower). You are able to take up to six courses outside of Booth in other divisions of the University. Non-Booth courses will be on the main campus in Hyde Park. If interacting with the greater University of Chicago is important to you, you will have to make that a priority and keep an eye out for University-wide events and activities
Chat Participant: On top of the GMAT Score what is the most important skills or experience that can help get into Chicago Booth.
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: I recommend reviewing our website, as there are a number of student profiles and bios. Hearing from our students and alumni will give you an idea of those who do well at Booth. You will find that there will be a wide variety of work experience, industries, and more!
Chat Participant: Do Evening and Weekend student partake in case competitions? What access to on-campus recruiting do students have?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Yes, Evening and Weekend students often engage in case competitions and other experiential learning opportunities. Evening MBA and Weekend MBA (EW) students have the same access to career services and networking opportunities as their Full Time (FT) counterparts, with the main difference being that they typically do not go through formal recruiting for internships, since our student population is working full time. You still have access to the Booth job board which has over 5k postings per year, one-on-one career coaching, and you can even opt to go through formal on-campus recruiting as long as it is for full-time positions instead of internships. EW students can seek internships on their own, but if an internship will be an integral part of the career change you hope to make, a Full Time MBA program may be a better fit.
Chat Participant: What is the background of the faculty that you employ for the MBA program? Are they mostly professors or individuals that also are in the business industry?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Our faculty are leaders in their areas of study, top researchers, and clinical professors with real-time experience. You can read more about our faculty here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/directory
Chat Participant: I am having difficulty choosing who to ask for my second recommendation. Could it be a colleague who is well acquainted with my work?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: Yes, that is a fine choice. A colleague you work closely with can add good perspective on your communication skills, how you work on a team, how you manage times of stress, etc. In the application, you will be asked to explain why you selected your recommenders, and you can share why you selected that particular colleague.
Chat Participant: I took GMAT couple times and I have a score of 540 both times. I have 12 years of WE and 3.6 GPA and some Entrepreneurial experience. I would like to understand if I would be a good fit to try and apply for Weekend/Evening or would I be rejected for my low GMAT score. I am trying to gauge my chances of acceptance with the profile I carry right now. Please suggest.
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: When reviewing applications, we employ a holistic review process- the academic piece is important, as we want to ensure you can handle the rigor of a Booth classroom, but it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. We’ll review your work history, letters of recommendation, and your essays, which will help us understand why you’re pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, why Booth is the right fit for you, and what unique perspectives you will contribute to the Booth community. We also interview all of our applicants for the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs, so you'll have a chance to tell your story in person as well. You can reach out to our team at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu to discuss your profile in more detail.
Chat Participant: How many classes do students usually take per quarter?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: Most students in the Evening and Weekend programs take two courses per quarter.
Chat Participant: Is the flexibility for choosing concentrations also valid for the Weekend program?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Absolutely! All 13 concentrations are available for Weekend students to pursue. Class offerings over the year will be similar to offerings in the full-time and evening programs.
Chat Participant: what are the biggest differences between the evening and weekend programs? as someone who wants to continue working during the program, is there anything I should keep in mind when choosing?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: The biggest difference (really, the only difference) is when the classes are offered, so it all up to what fits best for you and your scheduling. The Evening and Weekend programs are taught by the same faculty, who teach the same courses and sections across all programs. Most of our Evening students are local to Chicago and are able to make it to our downtown campus on weeknights, whereas many of our Weekend students are from out of town/out of state. It really is just about which program fits your needs the best. But both programs will allow you to continue working and advancing in your career!
Chat Participant: Are there any different admissions expectations/requirements for applicants to the Chicago Business Fellows program or do they typically have similar GMAT scores, recommendations etc.?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Other than having fewer years of work experience, the student profile for CBF students is the same as the one for traditional EW students (GMAT ranges, GPA, etc). The application process for CBF is the same, but the interview process is different. A requirement of the CBF application process is attending a CBF Interview Day, which we offer a few times per year. The day consists of a program overview and panel discussion, your required one-on-one admissions interview, a group interview, and lunch with current students. Your application does not need to be submitted by the interview day, only by the application deadline. As you get closer to submitting your application, you can keep an eye on the CBF webpage for information about upcoming interview days. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions/early-career-candidates
Chat Participant: Do you have any tips for the application essays?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: While it may seem obvious, we strongly encourage authenticity and consistency throughout your essays. It's a great opportunity to stand out as a candidate, so definitely take the time to craft these essays with this in mind!
Chat Participant: Thanks for organizing this chat. What are the main factors, besides residence, to choose between evening and weekend programs?
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: The biggest factor in determining the proper program would be your reschedule relative to when you’d be taking classes/studying. If you find or prefer to do the majority of your Booth work on the weekends, then the Weekend program would be the best fit. If you are local to Chicago and prefer doing most class-related work during the week, then the Evening program is the best fit.
Chat Participant: Hi, are weekend MBA classes held every weekend or is it every other weekend? How flexible is the coursework (in terms on number of credits/ courses, etc.)
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Classes for the Weekend MBA program are held weekly, every Saturday that school is in session. There is a morning section from 9-noon and an afternoon section from 1:30-4:30pm. Most Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students take 2 classes per quarter and finish the degree in 2.5-3 years. However, the program is quite flexible, allowing students 5 years to complete the degree, as well as the ability to set their own pace throughout! Students sometimes will take just 1 class in a given quarter, or perhaps bump up and take 3 if their work schedule allows. There are breaks between quarters, but classes are offered year round (Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters).
Chat Participant: Hello, would weekend and evening MBA candidates have the same invitations to career fairs as full time students?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: Yes, Evening and Weekend MBA (EW) students can participate in Campus Recruiting for full-time jobs. This is the same recruiting process that full-time students participate in. To be eligible, you need to have 12 courses completed by the time Campus Recruiting begins (Autumn quarter) and participate in all required preparation (offered on evenings & weekends).
The main difference is that internship recruiting is open to full-time MBA students only. If you feel an internship will be an important part of your career goals, we suggest you explore full-time programs. Please keep in mind that Campus Recruiting is only one of many sources students use to find a new job (if that is their goal)- job posting database, student and alumni network, etc. are also common sources. Many EW students are not seeking a new job, rather are looking to advance in their current organization. You can view our comprehensive Employment Report data here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career/impact.
Chat Participant: For the weekend MBA program and for students who fly in from other states, how do you manage being able to network effectively? Are there specific events for the weekend program?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: That's a great question! You will find that a good amount of Evening/Weekend student events will be on Saturdays. It's important to have our events on these days because 74% of our students travel in from outside of Illinois. Many of our local Evening students will come to the Gleacher Center on Saturdays, whether they are taking a class or attending events.
Chat Participant: what is the past acceptance rate for the weekend MBA program?
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: We unfortunately do not provide our acceptance rate, but rather can meet and discuss your specific background and provide feedback to your potential candidacy.
Chat Participant: For students traveling to Chicago to complete the program, How have they been able to leverage taking courses outside of the business school?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Due to our flexible curriculum, Booth students are able to take up to 6 of their elective credits outside of Booth within the larger University of Chicago. Keep in mind not all other UChicago divisions offer weekend classes, so Weekend MBA students wishing to pursue this option may need to have some flexibility in their travel/work schedule in order to attend non-Booth courses that are offered at different times.
Chat Participant: what is the schedule like for weekend students? If you take 1 courses vs two courses, what does that mean for classroom time?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: All of our classes are 3 hours. The typical weekend student structure is to arrive at the Gleacher Center Saturday morning for a 9am-noon class. There is a 90 minute break for lunch, student group events, and more. Then, there is an afternoon section of classes from 1:30-4:30pm.
Chat Participant: Other than work experience does booth value philanthropy and nonprofit experience such as being on school boards or Junior boards when reviewing a candidates? Does it make a difference in a candidate's acceptance?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Absolutely. As part of our holistic review process, we seek applicants with demonstrated leadership, as well as individuals who have been active members of their communities. These are great items to include in the Activities section of your application!
Chat Participant: is there a way for applicant to be in touch with current MBA students
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Yes! We encourage our prospective students to request to connect with a current student. It's great to get their personal perspectives and to ask specific questions about balancing school/work/personal life, etc. You can make that request here:
https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer
Chat Participant: I’m specifically interested in technological transfer and commercialization in the biotech arena. How have students with similar interests leveraged the program and what support is available to them?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: Many of the companies participating in the New Venture Challenge (NVC) have a biotech component. I suggest you look at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation site to learn more about the NVC and the many events, resources, and partnerships. All Booth students have access to the Polsky Center: https://polsky.uchicago.edu/. You will also find student clubs and activities in this space, which is a great way to meet students with similar interests.
Chat Participant: What, if anything, in a candidate profile would help compensate a low IR score?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: That is a difficult question, as there are no other aspects of the application that assess the same skillset. If your overall score is strong, you could use the optional essay to explain your lower IR score. If you are not satisfied with your overall score, you could retake the exam. We always consider one’s highest test score when evaluating applications.
Chat Participant: Do you offer online courses or are all of your courses in person, on campus?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: All of our courses are offered in person on campus, we do not offer any online courses.
Chat Participant: My GRE Quant Score is 145. How would you view my candidacy?
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: We take a holistic approach at your application, so without your overall test score and knowing your background it is very difficult to give you an accurate answer.
Chat Participant: Is your program a good fit for students looking to pivot into a different functional area or industry?
Patrick McHale: Admissions Manager: Absolutely, we have the resources to support students that are seeking a career change, including online job postings, alumni career advisors, career coaches, campus networking/recruiting events, and more!
Chat Participant: What financial arrangements are available for International students? I am Canadian and am really interested but would like to know if I can get some scholarships and things like that
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: If you are a U.S. citizen then you can look at private loans as well as Federal aid. We also have scholarships in admissions for candidates who are admitted and display significant levels of academic achievement and work experience. We do not provide visa’s for Canadian students at this time.
Chat Participant: What are the requirements to be considered for the scholarship offered to the Weekend MBA candidates?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Booth offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships, which is a highly competitive award that you are automatically considered for when you submit an application. All award decisions are determined from your MBA application by the Admissions Committee and Deans, and are typically awarded in the weeks following admission. The Admissions Committee and Deans work to identify applicants who have excelled both academically and professionally. The overall strength of the applicant pool also factors into scholarship decisions. Learn more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/blog/ewadmissions/2019/funding-your-mba-scholarships-financial-aid
Chat Participant: Do you take into consideration how many people from a particular company are accepted? I know you're looking for diversity--does this increase competition within a company?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: This does not have an impact on one’s admission. If you are a strong applicant, you will get admitted even if there are a few others admitted form your same company. Since our program has the upmost flexibility and is not cohorted, we don’t have to worry about a certain company or industry being overrepresented.
Chat Participant: Does your program offer internships or independent study for course credit?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: It's very rare for Evening and Weekend students to do so, but it is technically possible pending faculty approval.
Chat Participant: Are there opportunities for international consulting projects? or Global learning?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: There are a lot of great international opportunities with our short-term and long-term international business exchange programs! You can find more info here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/academics/international
Chat Participant: Do you have a MBA concentration in medical /health or biomedical
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: No, we do not have industry specific concentrations however we do offer a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy (https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/academics/joint-degrees/certificate). Our philosophy is to have function specific concentrations as they can be applied to any industry.
Chat Participant: what is the schedule for Evening mba? how many classes do you have per week?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Evening classes are taught weeknights from 6-9 p.m. at our downtown campus. The number of courses offered each quarter will vary. Most students take 2 courses per quarter, so they attend class 2 nights per week.
Chat Participant: Do you offer any resources for students who travel from out of town to attend classes?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: Yes! We offer complimentary shuttle service from both Midway and O’Hare airports. We pick you up Saturday morning and return you to the airport Saturday afternoon. We also offer complimentary coffee at Gleacher Center on Saturday mornings, discounted parking rates in a few lots that surround Gleacher Center for those driving in, and although, Booth does not offer special rates for airfare, we do offer discounted rates for hotels near Gleacher Center.
Chat Participant: Is an internship required to graduate from the MBA evening program?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: No, an internship is not required. Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs are working full-time while in the program, and are typically not seeking internships as part of their career advancement plans.
Chat Participant: do you have students from the West coast. How comfortable are those students if any with the travel
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Yes, we have a number of Weekend students who commute from the west coast, including Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco! While the travel is an additional commitment to consider, we see many students successfully navigate this challenge on top of attending Booth.
Chat Participant: How often do you see people switching careers after graduating from a Weekend/ Evening MBA? Is it harder to switch if you are not FT?
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: You may reference our part-time specific career data from the following link to better understand what students have done after gaining their Booth MBA. You will want to research industries that tend to hire directly from internships, or require an internship for entry such as Investment Banking. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career/impact
Chat Participant: Is there a limit on the number of short-term International Business Exchange Program (IBEP) courses that you can take? Does each course count as the same credit hour?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: You can take a maximum of two courses through the international business exchange program. Whether you do short or long term, each course will count as 1 towards your 20 classes required to graduate.
Chat Participant: I currently have an MBA, will this have a impact on my application process? Could this hurt my chances of admittance into the program?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Many of our Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students hold previous Master’s degrees (about 30% of student). You will submit transcripts from all previous degrees you’ve earned. While having a previous MBA will not hurt you in your application process, you will want to use the essay sections to explain why you are pursuing an additional MBA from Chicago Booth, and how this aligns with your professional goals.
Chat Participant: How important are GPA results in an Evening MBA program if you have significant work experience especially given Booth is very academically inclined as compared to full time MBA?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Academics are an important piece of the application, as we want to ensure students are able to handle the academic rigor of a Booth classroom. A competitive GMAT/GRE score can help to balance out a lower undergrad GPA, and we will also take a look at the grades you earned in your more quantitative or business-heavy courses during undergrad. Academics are just one piece of the overall holistic review process, and your professional experience can also give us insight into your analytical ability.
Chat Participant: How does Booth support Part-time students preparing for the post-graduation?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: As you near graduation, you will hear about the variety of ways you can stay involved as an alumni and the support you will continue to have. You will hear from Alumni Affairs about how to stay involved and- we have alumni clubs and organizations all over the world. You also have Career Services access for life
Chat Participant: If admitted into Chicago Booth, what is the best way to prepare for MBA coursework?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: While Booth does not endorse any specific pre-MBA program, some incoming students will choose to brush up on their skills before beginning the program. Anecdotally, I have heard good things about resources like MBAmath.com, Lynda, or Khan Academy to name a few.
Chat Participant: Can I make an appointment with admission office for the specific background?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Absolutely, please send an email to eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu and we will get you set up to meet with a member of the admissions team.
Chat Participant: I’m not sure if this question was answered: I took the GRE with a Quant score of 145. Would it be a better idea to retake the test to try for a much higher score before submitting application?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: We are happy to discuss the specifics of your profile with you, if you would like to reach out to our team at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu to set up a time to chat. Your GRE is one part of your overall application, and we employ a holistic review process.
Chat Participant: With regards with my transcripts, I have studied in my home country Cameroon, Morocco, France then Canada. . While it is easy to get transcripts from Canada, and France, it might not be that easy for Cameroon and morocco. Do I have to to absolutely get the original transcripts from my universities in Morocco and Cameroon? Also they are in French. Do I have to translate them and who could help me achieve that?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Yes, in order to apply, we will require unofficial, scanned copies of your international transcripts. Any transcripts that are not in English must be translated by a verified 3rd party source.
Chat Participant: My Previous masters is from SAIC and was a pass fail program. Will the lack of a concrete GPA negatively impact my application?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: It would helpful for you to explain the grading scale/policy in your optional essay. I assume you have a GPA from your undergraduate school/degree, which we will look closely at to see courses completed and grades received.
Chat Participant: Hi, are weekend MBAs at disadvantage for entering strategy consulting compared with full time MBAs?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions:: Evening MBA and Weekend MBA (EW) students have the same access to career services and networking opportunities as their Full Time (FT) counterparts, with the main difference being that they typically do not go through formal recruiting for internships, since our student population is working full time. You still have access to the Booth job board which has over 5k postings per year, one-on-one career coaching, and you can even opt to go through formal on-campus recruiting as long as it is for full-time positions instead of internships. EW students can seek internships on their own, but if an internship will be an integral part of the career change you hope to make, a Full Time MBA program may be a better fit.
I also suggest reviewing our career data to learn more about the types of changes Booth students make. Chicago Booth is the only school collecting and verifying this data for our Part Time MBA programs, so we are always eager to share it! https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career
Chat Participant: Is there a minimum course load or pace towards completion?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: If you take 2 courses per quarter you will complete the degree in two and a half years. You have the flexibility to take a quarter off or take three courses in a quarter. You have up to five years to complete the degree.
Chat Participant: I had an F in a class in my freshman year in college and this was because I could not drop the class on time so I was given a failing grade. Will this affect my candidacy for the evening and weekend MBA program?
Kara Northcutt | Director of Admissions & Marketing: It happens and we know most people learn from these mistakes. We would not deny someone just because of one failing grade. Be sure to answer the question about receiving a failing grade in the application. It is a red flag when one has a failing grade but does not explain in this section. We are looking for candidates to be accountable and show what the learned from such mistakes
Chat Participant: I've been told that full-time emphasizes and spends more time on networking and finding employment more so than part-time. One of the bullets says that full-time is for those looking to make a career change - could you elaborate on any differences here? My apologies for bringing full-time into the picture.
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA (EW) programs are designed for professionals who want to continue working full-time while earning the degree. While their time is more limited than Full Time MBA students’ time, there are still plenty of opportunities for networking for EW students, as we have a very active and engaged community with over 45 student groups specific to EW.
I also suggest reviewing our career data to learn more about the types of changes Booth students make. Chicago Booth is the only school collecting and verifying this data for our Part Time MBA programs, so we are always eager to share it! https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career
Chat Participant: how does the schedule permit 3 courses in one quarter?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager:: Your pace in the program is completely up to you, so there is nothing restricting you from enrolling in that amount of courses if you choose to do so.
Chat Participant: so is there time for 3 courses on a Saturday or how does that work?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: While there are two opportunities to take classes on Saturdays, Weekend students can enroll in any Evening or Full-time classes with open seats remaining. We often see weekend students enroll in a Friday evening classes to get their third class in for that particular quarter.
Chat Participant: Would you tell us more about the course work and class size. What is the culture like at Boot for an evening/weekend student.
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: The coursework at Booth is data-driven but flexible in your ability to take classes you feel will provide the greatest personal impact. The average class size is 50 students per class, and it is collaborative in nature. You form groups in nearly all of your classes and have discussions about material, cases, and the data you uncover. Evening and Weekend students manage their time well and are purposeful with the events they attend – but do not sacrifice the networking part of their MBA either. Students engage and dive deeply into the class content, their classmates, and opportunities to work with each other and learn from other successful intellects.
Chat Participant: Is there going to be a text transcript provided later for this meeting? There's a lot of valuable information to digest
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Yes! You can review all chat transcripts here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/admissions/events/online-chats
Chat Participant: Do you know of a way to copy this Q&A in one fell swoop to have it on hand?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: The transcript for this chat should be posted on the following page within the next week: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions/events/online-chats
Chat Participant: what's the optimum range for years of working experience?
Marcus Wordlaw | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: There is not necessarily an optimum range for working experience. Booth students in the Evening and Weekend program average 5-6 years of experience. It is more important the type of experience you have; skills you’ve learned and career progression/trajectory than the actual number of year. We also have a Chicago Business Fellows program for students with 3 years or less of working experience.