April 7, 2020 Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Admissions Live Chat
COVID 19 Implications:
Chat Participant:
How is Booth conducting part time classes MBA now? Do you plan to continue that mode of teaching till the end of this year?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions
Chicago Booth has just begun the spring quarter of classes and are conducting them all online virtually. Chicago Booth Dean Madhav Rajan created a COVID-19 task force whose sole purpose is to respond to the changing circumstances – thinking ahead and building many contingencies to ensure that Booth is prepared as this situation evolves. Booth students have begun their spring quarter taking classes virtually. Booth will continue to assess the situation for the summer and autumn quarters and work in conjunction with the University of Chicago and state regulations with the health of students, faculty and staff a priority.
Chat Participant:
I was interested in signing up for a class visit but given the current COVID-19 situation, is there a way for us to sit in on a class virtually?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
We are assessing this at this time for prospective students. Classes are offered virtually for the first time and the Spring quarter just started yesterday April 6. We hope to provide candidates looking to get a glimpse into the Chicago Booth classroom with an opportunity to do so, but are working on it. You can still experience Booth’s unique community and pay-if-forward culture firsthand. We encourage you to connect virtually with current students or meet with Admissions representatives.
Chat Participant:
Do you expect a change in the number of applicants due to COVID-19?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
COVID-19 is an unprecedented event, but the Booth community has pivoted quickly to move coursework online and ensure that our students have access to Booth resources as always. We don't anticipate an impact to the number of applications and will do our best to quickly adapt to the ever-changing circumstances.
Chat Participant:
Hello, I am currently taking graduate level courses to strengthen my MBA application. However, due to COVID-19 my finals have been delayed and I will not have a final grade prior to the application due date. Do you recommend still listing my courses within my MBA application?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
Yes, please go ahead & list the courses and explain the situation in your optional essay. As we review your application, we will let you know if we will need to hold off on making our admissions decision until you have the grades. We promise we will work with you given the complexity of the current situation.
Chat Participant:
I am applying for the Autumn 2020 Evening MBA. If this pandemic continues and classes are virtual only will the cost of the term still be the same or will tuition prices be reduced?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
At this point, we do not anticipate continuing a virtual experience into the coming fall. Obviously, the circumstances can change in the coming weeks and months, but we foresee classes and the in-person experience resuming on campus by the Autumn Quarter. The University has shifted to remote classes for the remainder of the current academic year (spring quarter). Our faculty have been working together and with students, to ensure that virtual learning will not compromise the quality of our curriculum and that courses continue to deliver the world-class education Booth promises its students.
Chat Participant:
Given the virtual nature of classes now and work from home policies at most places, are weekend MBA students allowed to attend classes with full-time/evening MBA students as well?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
Keep in mind the online course situation is temporary. Regardless of virtual or in-person classes, students can take classes across programs. You will have priority registration over your home population (for example, Weekend students have priority over Friday night and Saturday classes), but after a few rounds of registration, you can then register for classes across programs. Most classes do not fill up, which allows a great deal of flexibility for all students.
Chat Participant:
How will you all handle deadlines and scores because of COVID-19?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
The situation is fluid, but as of now, we are not making any changes to our June 8th Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Autumn 2020 deadline, aside from all interviews currently being done virtually. If you are unable to take the GMAT or GRE in advance of the deadline, you can submit your application with practice scores, and we will use those for your initial invite to interview review. We will still need actual test scores to make our final admissions decisions, which we can give you until July 1 to submit. GMAC and ETS both plan to release an online GMAT/GRE by mid-April, so that should also alleviate your testing concerns. We will be accepting remote test scores and will view them as the same as the regular test.
General Program Questions:
Chat Participant:
What is the average class size per each quarter? How many applicants were admitted per admission?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
The size of the incoming class will vary each quarter. We see our largest incoming classes in Spring and Autumn since we having both incoming Evening and Weekend students. We do not have a limit on seats in any incoming class.
Chat Participant:
How big are the individual classes normally that we’d sit in the evening program?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Class Sizes will vary, but the average is typically about 40 students.
Chat Participant:
How many classes does a person usually take on a Saturday?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
All students at Booth need 20 courses in order to complete their degree. On average students take 2 classes per quarter. We only offer 2 classes on Saturday. The morning class at 9:30am and the afternoon class at 1:30pm. Thus, a Weekend student can take two classes on Saturday and at that pace graduate in 2.5 years without taking any breaks. Taking 3 would be a fairly heavy load. Weekend students can also take classes during the week, should their schedule permit. If you wanted to take a third class, then perhaps Friday evening class would make the most sense in that case. There are no classes offered on Sundays.
Chat Participant:
What is the policy if you have to miss a class due to work commitments?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
It can vary case by case and while there is not an official policy in place, you would work with your professor to make up the class and leverage the flexibility. For example, if you knew you were planning to miss a class once a month every week, you might make arrangements to make it up during the week.
Chat Participant:
Hi team, I was wondering if it’s normal for weekend or evening MBA students to take temporary leave at work to focus on completing the MBA degree?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs are designed for full-time working professionals. Students are expected to continue working full-time throughout their time in the program.
Chat Participant:
For those students traveling in to Chicago on the weekends do you offer virtual classes during the week they can take from their home city?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
Hi Lauren! Currently, for the spring quarter, all classes will take place virtually. At this point, we do not anticipate continuing a virtual experience into the coming Autumn. More specifically, Weekend MBA students are expected to attend class in person.
Chat Participant:
I know courses are held downtown, but are Hyde Park resources (i.e. library access) made available to part-time MBA students?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics
Yes, you would be able to access the library on main campus as well as many other resources. Keep in mind, the Gleacher center has the majority of resources you might need as a student on premise including study spaces, career services, etc.
Chat Participant:
Can you finish the program in less than 2.5-3 years?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Yes, as long as you continue working full-time throughout your time in the program, you can choose your pacing each quarter to finish within 2.5-3years.
Chat Participant:
Can you give a general profile description of both evening and weekend MA students? I think one key difference will be that weekend MBA class its heavy on non-Chicago residents. Are there any other characteristics worth noting?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics
Hello and thank you for joining today! Yes, you can find a profile for both Evening and Weekend students here:
https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening
https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend
As you point out, the largest differentiator will be the format that works best for each individual student. About 70% of Weekend students commute from outside Illinois for classes.
Chat Participant:
For the weekend MBA, is there a minimum number of credit hours per semester you have to take? A maximum number of hours you can take?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
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:
Are participants in the Evening Program eligible to take courses with (I) the Weekend MBA Program, and (II) the Full-Time MBA Program in Hyde Park (class availability permitting)?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
While it is not possible to transfer between Part-Time and Full-Time programs. Evening and Weekend students may however accelerate their program by taking more than two classes at a time. Evening and Weekend students can take 3 classes without issue, which would allow them to graduate under 2.5 years. These three classes may be taken within the Evening or Weekend program at the downtown Gleacher Center, or within the Full-Time program at the Harper Center at the main University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park. Either way, your program distinction would remain as an Evening or Weekend student.
Chat Participant:
I see that there is a requirement for 20 classes for the degree. Will there be any guidance provided by professors for picking the right courses for the interested field of specialization? Also will all classes be available every semester to follow a certain path suggested by the mentor/professor?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
There are several resources for guidance with classes, including our academic experience team. All classes aren't available every single quarter, due to professor scheduling and availability- however, there are always many choices and abundant flexibility as you pick your classes! Find out more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/academics/curriculum
Chat Participant:
What’s the fastest you can complete the night program if you max out credits each quarter?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
Most Evening and Weekend MBA (EW) students take two courses per quarter. If you take two per quarter consecutively, you can finish in 2.5 years. However, you have five years to complete the degree. EW students cannot take more the 3.5 courses per quarter without permission from Academic Services. Keep in mind the EW Programs are designed for full-time working professionals, and we expect our students to be working while in the program. Therefore, it is rare and not advisable to take too many courses and rush through the program.
Chat Participant:
Do you have the ability to switch between Evening and Weekend format if things change during your time in the program?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
You are able to switch between the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA program once during your time at Booth. Please note that with the flexibility of our program, students can take classes outside their home program. However, to ensure priority registration over courses in your home program it might make sense to switch should your situation change while in the program. We typically see this with people who begin in the Weekend Program and then relocate to Chicago and switch to the Evening Program.
Chat Participant:
In a semester/quarter, would Evening/Weekend students be offered same courses? If not, can an Evening student enroll in a weekend class if that course isn’t offered in evening schedule for that semester/quarter?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions
Typically, in each quarter Evening and Weekend students are offered the same courses. There are only a few classes that may not be offered in both quarters. Students have the flexibility at any point in taking classes in a different program (Evening, Weekend, or Full-Time). This includes for the purpose of a class that is offered in a different program, or simply because it works better for your schedule. The vast majority of classes are offered in the Evening, Weekend and Full-Time programs during the same quarter. Faculty are required to teach in all three programs as well, so your academic experience will be the same regardless of the program you choose.
Chat Participant:
Is there a limit to how many concentrations a student can focus on? I see that the average student has 1-3 concentrations but is it difficult to add a fourth concentration if there is interest?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
There are no limits. Students are able to acquire more than 3 concentrations if they would like to do so.
Chat Participant:
How do Booth Labs work in the evening program?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Lab classes will have a variety of formats, and some have Evening and Weekend section. To view more specific details on each lab class, you can use our course search tool here: https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch
Chat Participants:
How much "out of the classroom" work can students expect in a given week?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
“Out of the classroom” work can vary depending on the type of course. Students spend on average 5 hours per week outside of class. We have specific data on each class itself that current Booth students may access when selecting their classes.
Chat Participant:
Does the weekend program offer dual degrees with any of the other schools at U Chicago (ie Harris)?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Yes! We do offer joint degree programs from professional schools at University of Chicago in computer science, law, medicine, public policy, or social services administration. You can learn more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/academics/joint-degrees
Chat Participant:
Are incoming student’s part of cohorts or study groups?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
During LAUNCH, your 3-day orientation, students are put into teams that you will work closely with during the three days. For study groups, students are typically able to select their own groups. We allow our students this flexibility and freedom, as we are not a cohorted program.
Chat Participant:
What is the average acceptance rate of the program?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Unfortunately, we do not disclose our acceptance rate for the Evening/Weekend programs.
Chat Participants:
For rolling admissions, do students applying earlier have more chances of landing with a scholarship than the ones who apply later? Or do you wait to receive all applications before making a call on scholarships?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
There is no advantage in applying early. Most applications are submitted the week of the deadline. Same goes for scholarships- we typically wait until all applications have been submitted before making scholarship decisions. If you apply early, it is likely you could be admitted but would not find out about scholarships until after the actual deadline.
Chat Participant:
Are there any new courses or specializations currently under development and planned to be offered in the future?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
We typically offer at least a handful of new courses each academic year. For example, our leadership curriculum has expanded over the past year and will continue to do so moving forward.
Chat Participant:
Given Booth was already quantitatively rigorous, how has the recent STEM designation of the Business Analytics and Analytic Finance concentrations changed the respective coursework, and has the designation brought any broader changes to the Chicago Approach?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions
This is a great question, and given the distinction was just announced, it is difficult to fully understand the scope/change it will create on coursework. We don't have much anecdotal data from students at this point, but ultimately coursework that is STEM eligible will still work within the Chicago Approach and provide relevant classroom cases.
Chat Participant:
Where can I find information about fee/total cost? How much should I expect to spend on evening MBA?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
You can find information on tuition and fees here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/admissions/tuition-financial-aid . We are also pleased that we can offer locked tuition rates, which means that if admitted the rate that you come in at is locked in for four years! We also offer merit based scholarships.
Chat Participant:
How does the part time MBA program from Booth stack up against other similar programs for a student who wants to switch career especially moving from a technical consulting role to a management consulting role?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Due to the flexibility of the program and the wide availability of resources on top of a robust network, we see students navigate a wide variety of career changes, including ones you mentioned. If you are interested in connecting with students/alumni who have made similar changes, please email us at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu
Chat Participant:
Are there industry-related data sets to see what kind of people, from specific industries, are choosing to take this MBA?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Yes, I encourage you to take a look at our career data here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career/impact
Feel free to reach out to us at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu if you have any follow up questions.
Chat Participant:
Do you offer an option to connect with current evening program students to ask questions about their experience in the program?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
We offer an option to connect with a current evening program student. You can visit this link to connect with a current student: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer.
Admissions Questions:
Chat Participant:
Will admissions be rolling leading up to the new June 1st deadline?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
The Autumn 2020 deadline for the Evening/Weekend programs is on June 8th, 2020. Our admissions process is rolling admissions (different than rounds). We provide final decisions within 4-6 weeks from the date you submitted your completed application. You would be notified if you were admitted, denied, or waitlisted within that 4-6 week timeframe.
Chat Participant:
I will be applying in the next year to the Evening program for Autumn '21. When should I apply? Is it possible to apply early and defer until then?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions
Booth Evening and Weekend programs have rolling admissions -- meaning once the application for a given quarter is open (roughly 6 months before the application deadline) you may apply at any point until the day of the deadline. Admissions will review applications on a first come basis, and you will receive a decision within 4-6 weeks. Deferrals are case by case, reviewed by the Deans of the program. I do NOT recommend applying early with the intent to defer. Rather, try as best you can to target the start date you intend to start, and if things change after you've applied then you can look into a deferral at that point.
Chat Participant:
When the application cycle will open for the 2021 Spring quarter for the weekend program?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
The Spring 2021 application should be available within the next month or two.
Chat Participant:
I had to drop my undergrad to take care of my family, however I have 7 years of experience in banking. If I score a high GMAT. Would Booth accept my application?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
Booth requires all applicants to have an undergraduate degree to be eligible to apply and be admitted.
Chat Participant:
Any tips on the essay portion of the application?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
The best advice we can give is to be authentic, answer the prompt being asked, and try to stick to the word limit. We have a separate question where we ask about short term and long term career goals.
Chat Participant:
If considering Graduate Level Courses to strengthen an application, where the courses are taken, taken into consideration?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions
We will always look at the types of classes you take, and the school/program from which those classes derive. You can consider looking into Graduate Student At Large Business (GSALB) courses within the Graham School -- which is a part of the University of Chicago. These classes (up to 3) will transfer directly to Booth, as they are Booth courses. Before applying to the program if interested please speak to a Booth admission director so we can give you our advice/thoughts before a final decision is made.
Chat Participant:
When filling out the work experience section, should we break out different roles within the company into separate line items or expand on our multiple roles within just one line item?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
We strongly prefer you list each role at a company, as we want to see your progression. Your resume will support what you input into the application, but please fill out the full employment section as well.
Chat Participant:
I did a masters in international commerce in English language from an English speaking graduate school in South Korea. Does it allow to me to skip the TOEFL exam?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics
TOEFL exemptions are granted for the following:
1. Have earned an undergraduate degree or postgraduate degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction
2. Are a citizen or permanent resident of a country where English is an official language
3. Have been living and working full-time in the United States for two or more year
Chat Participant:
Does your program need official transcript from undergraduate and graduate institute or photocopy will be good enough?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
To submit your application, a photocopy is fine, but if admitted and you intend to matriculate, we must have an official copy from all institutions attended.
Chat Participant:
If I am in the process of switching job during the application process, what will be the requirement for recommendation?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
With recommendations, we prefer recommenders who know you best- so they can speak to your skills and abilities. In this case, it may be a most recent supervisor. Please just write a short note as to why your current supervisor is not providing a recommendation, so we can best understand the circumstances.
Chat Participant:
Is it beneficial to submit more than 2 recommendations?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
You are only required to submit 2 recommendations, but can submit 3. Just think about the value that a third recommender will add to your application and how it will be different than the other two recommenders. We ask recommenders to provide insight on your strengths, areas of improvement, and ability to collaborate with others. Don't force it, but if you think it will enhance your application, you are welcome to submit a third.
Chat Participant:
Can I start submit my application prior to having taken the GMAT/GRE/EA and prior to my Letters of Rec being submitted?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
You may! We do need a complete application in order to evaluate it, but you can begin an application and start filling out information any time. It's a great way to get a head start on your essays!
Chat Participant:
What is the turnaround time from submitting an application to being invited in for the interview?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
Admissions interviews are by invitation only, and are conducted after submitting a completed application in the online application system. Interview decisions will be released within 10 days of submitting your completed application. If you are invited to interview, you will receive information about scheduling your interview at that time.
Chat Participant:
What is the format of the interview?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
The interview is a lot of fun! It is more of a behavioral evaluative assessment to help us determine fit within the Chicago Booth community. Interviews are conducted by students or alumni who sit on the admissions committee. The interviews are blind, very conversational in nature, and tend to last approximately 45 minutes. Here is a helpful blog on our interviews from our Director: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/blog/ewadmissions/2018/interview-tips
Chat Participant:
Does Booth give any consideration for test waivers based on professional experience or other certifications/licenses obtained for professional reasons?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
We do not give test waivers based on experience.
Chat Participant:
What GRE score targets do you have for admission?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Unfortunately, we do not have enough aggregate data to share averages for GRE scores. You can access the GRE/GMAT conversion tool here: https://www.ets.org/gre/institutions/about/mba/comparison_tool. The average GMAT score is 680 and the mid-80% range is 630-740.
Chat Participant:
Can you submit the Executive Assessment as the standardized test requirement if you have 7 years of experience?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
We are pleased that we can now offer the Executive Assessment (EA) exam as a test that a candidate can submit for the Evening and Weekend MBA Programs. At this time, we allow applicants to submit the EA if they have 8+ years from the undergraduate conferral date. We at this time do not have a preference between the GMAT and the GRE or EA. See this link to learn more about the exam: https://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment/about.
Chat Participant:
What are chances of scholarships for the Evening/Weekend programs and what percentage of students are usually granted any scholarships?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
All candidates are evaluated for scholarship- there's nothing additional that you need to do once submitting an application! We do not have percentages available, but they are highly competitive scholarships based on merit. Successful candidates tend to have above average test scores and undergraduate GPAs along with excellent work experience and stellar recommendations. You can learn more about our scholarships from our blog post here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/blog/ewadmissions/2019/funding-your-mba-scholarships-financial-aid
Chat Participant:
Once admitted/matriculated, is it possible for students to be awarded additional merit scholarships for performance or other reasons?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Merit scholarships are only available upon admission into the program.
Chat Participant:
Hi! For the Chicago Business Fellows program, is there only an Evening MBA option? Is there a full-time or weekend option for those whose jobs require them to travel during the week?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
For the Evening CBF program, we have two admissions intakes per year (Autumn and Spring), and for the Weekend CBF program, we have one per year (Autumn only). The application piece will be the same as the general Evening/Weekend application. We encourage all Chicago Business Fellows candidates to attend our CBF Interview Day. CBF programming for Weekend students tends to take place on Sunday or Saturday between classes so it does not interfere with class time nor is there an expectation that you attend any programming during the week as an Evening CBF student would be doing.
Chat Participant:
Will people have 4 years’ experience be eligible for Chicago Business Fellow program?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
With 4 years of professional work experience, the Chicago Business Fellows program is likely not the best fit and you would not get as much out of it. The program is designed for early career candidates with three years of less of professional work experience. On average most CBF candidates have two years of work experience. Feel free to reach out to us at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu if you would like to chat about this further. We can look over your work experience and provide further guidance about whether CBF is a good fit for you or not.
Chat Participant:
The Civic Scholars Program seems to fit in a range of class formats and the application requirements vary. How can we begin to assess whether our skills and experience would be appropriate for considering this program. What variations does the Civic Scholars Program have in terms of application timeline?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
Check out some of the profiles of our amazing civic scholars here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions/civic-scholars-program/student-profiles. You can also check out a typical candidate profile here to give you a sense of what we are looking for in civic scholars: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions/civic-scholars-program.
Student Life Questions:
Chat Participant:
I want to learn more about student organizations available to Booth Weekend students, how can I get contact information?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing
We offer a variety of student-led groups! Please visit this link to learn more about our student organizations. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/student-experience/beyond-classroom/groups
Chat Participant:
What are the differences between networking and extracurricular activities between the evening/weekend MBA program and the full-time MBA program, especially given different campus locations?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions
Our evening and weekend programs have their own robust student life offerings, with over 45 clubs to choose from. Students have the opportunity to jump into leadership roles and build leadership skills. The Full-time MBA program has their own student groups because they will focus on having daytime events. As far as networking opportunities- there are many! Clubs, the career management center, student life and several other areas of Booth bring dynamic speakers to campus regularly. Find out more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/student-experience/leadership-opportunities
Chat Participant:
Do part-time students participate in the New Venture Competition?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Absolutely! In fact Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students have had much success in the New Venture Challenge and Social New Venture Challenge including our very own alumni from the Evening MBA Program Matt Maloney who launched GrubHub through NVC.
Chat Participant:
Do the part time MBA students have the same access to the career resources as the full time students have including recruitment and appearing for interviews or are there any restrictions?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Evening/Weekend students do not have access to internship recruiting. Outside of this, all career services resources are the same across our programs. Career Services is available to you for life, even long after you earn your MBA.
Chat Participant:
Which airport do students from out of the area use when coming to Booth for weekend classes? Which day/time to they typically arrive/depart? How do they get to/from the airport?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Students fly into both O'Hare and Midway airports. We have a free shuttle service that departs from both airports every Saturday morning around 8:30am to get to the Gleacher Center by 9am. As a result, students typically land in Chicago around 7-8am. The same shuttle service departs from the Gleacher Center at 4:40pm to both airports.
Chat Participant:
Where does Booth suggest out of town students stay when they come in for weekend sessions? A hotel near the Gleacher center? Is it walking distance to class or is there a shuttle?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
We offer a shuttle on Saturdays from both Midway and O'Hare airports to ensure that students can get to Gleacher in time for 9am class and then back to airports after the last afternoon class dismisses at 4:30pm. We do not have a suggestion for where students stay as folks have a variety of options including hotels, staying with friends, AirbnB, etc.... Some Boothies have opted to rent an apartment together or are able to get in and out same day. We do have some hotel discounts available as well here: https://finserv.uchicago.edu/purchasing/travel/uchicagodiscountprograms.shtml
Chat Participant:
Could you point me toward the most recent data on common career paths and job moves after graduating from Booth?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics
Great question! You can find career data for our Evening and Weekend students here:
https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/career
https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career
If you have more specific questions regarding the data, please feel free to reach out to us at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu and we would be happy to have one of our Directors of Admissions answer any specific questions you might have.
Chat Participant:
Are study abroad opportunities available to Evening and Weekend MBA students? And if so, would it count towards course credit?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions
Absolutely! The same study abroad opportunities available to the full-time population are available to Evening and Weekend students. While we do offer study abroad spanning the entire quarter in 33 different countries, it is unlikely that a part-time student is able to participate given their work obligations. We offer both a short term (2.5 weeks) and long term (10 weeks) study abroad program. The short term program is more conducive for part-time working professionals. More realistically, part-time students take advantage of our short term study abroad offered in seven different countries. These do count towards course credit. You can learn more about study abroad here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/academics/international/ibep
Chat Participant:
Can you make up LAUNCH if you have a conflict with the scheduled date for your course?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions
Yes, the LAUNCH team allows you to apply for a LAUNCH-only deferral if you have an unavoidable conflict. After you are admitted and accept our offer, you will work with the Student Life team to figure out the best plan given your conflict.
Class Participation:
Are Evening and Weekend-MBA students able to participate in LEAD?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
Yes, it is actually a requirement for all students! This experience takes place during your LAUNCH/orientation prior to your first quarter in the program.