May 07, 2020 Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Live Chat Transcript
Coronavirus Related Questions:
Chat Participant:
Will the autumn quarter be online in light of the coronavirus?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics:
Currently there are no plans to make the autumn quarter online. However, this is an evolving and complex situation and plans may change. You can monitor this site for up-to-date information regarding the coronavirus and the Booth community here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/why-booth/stories/coronavirus-updates-for-booth-community.
Chat Participant:
Are you expecting smaller application pool this fall due to the crisis?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Since we have extended the deadline to July 1st, we expect a similar applicant pool for the autumn quarter as in previous years.
Chat Participant:
I completed my undergraduate overseas and currently with the countrywide shutdown, mailing my official transcripts might get delayed; will there be an extension for such cases?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
For purposes of submitting your application, we only require unofficial transcripts so you can upload a copy with your application. If you are admitted and accept the offer, our operations team will work with you to collect the necessary official transcripts. If you have an original copy yourself, you would bring it into our office during orientation and we would make copies and notarize. At this time, however, the registrar is being very flexible as we understand the challenges this pandemic is causing.
Chat Participant:
Is GMAT deadline extended due to the coronavirus for fall weekend MBA?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
The autumn quarter application deadline has been extended from June 8th to July 1st.
Chat Participant:
Have availability changed due to the crisis on the Civic Scholars scholarship?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
There have not been any changes to the Civic Scholars Program due to COVID-19. More details on the 2021 application process will be shared later this year.
Chat Participant:
Is it expected for this options to move into Virtual learning due to potential distancing policies in the near future?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Chicago Booth will be holding courses online for the spring and summer quarters. The format for the autumn quarter will be determined by the end of June.
Chat Participant:
My company has offered to pay my tuition, but they have put a hold on all tuition payments until October 1st due to COVID-19. Does Booth offer any kind of short-term loan program to bridge that gap? Or if admitted, does Booth allow any deferrals?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing:
Chicago Booth offers Part-Time MBA financial aid and scholarships. I recommend visiting this link for more information: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/scholarships-and-aid. At this point, we do offer deferrals for those were admitted in the Summer Quarter to defer to autumn. We are closely monitoring the situation, and there is no definite answer as to whether we will continue a virtual experience into the coming fall. Obviously, circumstances can change in the coming weeks and months. 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:
How does the admission procedure change to accommodate to the all-virtual environment? For example, interviews?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing:
Great question! As of now, all admissions interviews are conducted virtually. If you are invited to interview, someone from the Admissions team will personally reach out to you to let you know what the next steps are.
Admissions Questions:
Chat Participant:
Given the new 7/1 deadline for the part-time program, will applicants who apply well before 7/1 be required to wait longer on their admissions or scholarship decisions?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
We operate on a rolling admissions basis. Therefore, we begin reviewing your application as soon as it is complete. We do not wait until the deadline to begin reviewing files. So no, you will not be required to wait longer than 7/1 to receive your admissions decision. However, because we need to see the entire applicant pool before making scholarship decisions, we will likely wait until the deadline to make those awards.
Chat Participant:
What does the initial review after application submission entail?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
The review is extensive and holistic- focusing on all areas of the application, from your career progress, interpersonal skills, and academic abilities to involvement. We seek out candidates who are well-rounded and who will contribute to the Booth community.
Chat Participant:
How quickly will a decision be rendered on a candidate from initial review?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
Decisions are rolling, so as soon as you submit your application, we will begin to evaluate it. You will have a decision in between 4-6 weeks, but many times it is faster!
Chat Participant:
If, for some reason, I am unable to defer my start date and I have to re-apply, what sort of things will admissions be looking for to decide whether they should admit me again? Is it harder the second time around?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
We don't see reapplying as a negative thing. There is an extra essay that is required for the reapplication process, so we would want to have a thoughtful and thorough explanation as to why the deferral didn't work out and you decided to reapply.
Chat Participant:
Just to follow up on a previous question, you can apply for admission and choose which quarter you want to start? When would be the deadline for Spring 2021 applications?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
You must apply for the quarter that you'd like to matriculate. The spring 2021 application will be live soon- likely in the next few months- and the deadline will be early January!
Chat Participant:
Is there a benefit to being an early applicant for a particular quarter? I am interested in the Weekend Spring 2021. I want to give myself ample time to prepare for the GMAT and also enough time spend as much time with the application and essays.
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
Since we do rolling admissions, the main benefit is to you- you'll receive a decision within 4-6 weeks of submitting your application! There is no advantage to applying early. We don't have a cap on the number of seats in our program, so you should apply when your application is at its best.
Chat Participant:
When reviewing a letter of recommendation, what specific things are you looking for? (I.e. classroom achievement, strength of character, academic prowess....)
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics:
Great question! We have an excellent blog post by one of our directors of admissions regarding what to look for in letters of recommendation https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/lor-tips.
Chat Participant:
Are undergraduate and graduate GPAs looked at in the same light? Or is there a stronger weight on the most recent GPA?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions:
Generally speaking, yes, your most recent GPA will carry more weight than your undergraduate GPA. However, we truly review your full application holistically.
Chat Participant:
If my undergraduate GPA is on the lower side as compared to the average you've mentioned (3.3), is there some way I can compensate for it in my application? If so, would you be able to recommend some such ways to offset a low UG GPA, or would giving an explanation for it in the statement and/or additional essay suffice?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
Your GPA is one of those things you can't change- and that's fine! But ways we've seen students compensate is via his/her GMAT/GRE score, also in taking a quantitative class (ex: statistics/calculus). We also have seen folks use our extra essay thoughtfully to demonstrate places where he/she are using quantitative skills in their every day job (ex: data analysis, creating models, etc.). If you're very concerned, I'd definitely suggest utilizing the extra essay
Chat Participant:
I would like to know the key factors or deciding factors for an application to get admission for weekend MBA. For ex: (experience, test score or person will master degree from US)
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
All of the components to an application are crucial for admittance. There is not a weighted scale for which are more/less important. Academically, test scores and transcripts tell an important story to your ability to be successful in class, and a potential interview, letters of recommendation, and essays help us understand your personality, characteristics, and potential impact on other students. The academic and character side are both essential to the admission process.
Chat Participant:
If I don't have a background in a particular core subject area (such as finance) will I need to take any classes before starting the Weekend MBA program?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
I have a background in marketing (no finance classes in my undergrad) and have started taking the introductory finance/accounting classes at Booth. They have been great so far! I would recommend doing some research on specific professors prior to registering for those specific classes to see what their background is in and how students rated them in the past. These things will help set you up for success in those classes that are not your forte!
Chat Participant:
How does the admissions team view professional designations like CFA/CFP/CPA?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
Professional designations while not required can certainly add to your application. We understand the difficulty in attaining CPA/CFA/CFP designations. Think of it as having additional professional coursework you’ve taken and excelled in. It can help compliment your test score and academic record.
Chat Participant:
What percentage of applicants are offered interviews in the part-time program?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
We don't actually release that information, since it can vary quarter on quarter, but do rest assured that we do a thorough review of your application as part of the invite to interview process.
Chat Participant:
If someone is accepted to the evening MBA program, are they able to switch to the weekend program if they find it difficult to make it to classes in the evening once they have already started?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
Absolutely! You are able to switch between the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA program ONCE during your time at Booth. But, as you are likely reading, flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the Chicago Booth MBA Programs. So, even if you do not officially switch, you can still take courses outside of your home program. For example, an Evening student can take a course in the Weekend Program without being an actual Weekend student. The benefit of officially switching to match your availability is to ensure priority registration over the courses in your home program. So, should your situation change while in the program, then it would make sense to officially request to switch.
Chat Participant:
Are scholarships available for part-time students? If so, what is the criteria?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics:
Yes! 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:
Do the scholarship opportunities differ between the full time MBA program and the weekend/part time MBA program?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
The application process for the full-time program is generally more competitive that the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs. This includes the scholarship process as well.
Chat Participant:
Are you able to disclose the number of applicants for the Weekend MBA vs Evening MBA program to gauge the competiveness of each pool of candidates?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
We do not disclose acceptance rates or application numbers because it varies widely from quarter to quarter. We prefer you focus your energy on familiarizing yourself with our overall candidate profile and crafting the strongest application possible. Because we do not have a cohort model, we do not have limitation on the availability of seats. What this means is that no one quarter is more competitive than another. We also evaluate Evening and Weekend students in the same way so one is not more competitive than another. The question you should ask yourself is what program is right for you (do you want to take classes in the Evening or on the Weekends) and focus on putting together the strongest possible application regardless.
Chat Participant:
Typically, how many applicants are there for the Chicago Business Fellows Program? Acceptance percentage? Is this program only applicable to people working in the Chicago area?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
We typically see around 40-50 applicants per application quarter. We are not able to disclose our acceptance rate. The CBF program is available for Evening MBA applicants in the Spring and Autumn quarter. It is available for Weekend MBA applicants in the Autumn quarter only. Applicants based outside of the Chicago area are equally considered for the program.
Chat Participant:
I am currently a senior in college, graduating next week. I have a full-time job lined up and I am interested in the CBF program/Weekend MBA. Would you recommend applying this year or waiting until next year?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing:
You can apply when you have started working at your full-time job.
The CBF (Chicago Business Fellows) program is a subsection of the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs. It is designed for individuals with three years or less of full-time work experience. The only difference in the experience is that you will be able to participate in optional programming that focuses on networking and professional development. You can find more information on our website here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions/early-career-candidates.
Chat Participant:
Michelle, as a current student is there anything you would do differently as part of your application process or recommend to prospective applicants?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
One thing that I think really helped my application process was getting to know a few current Booth students and learning their advice on the Booth program. I reached out to a few students who I had previously known or were in positions at Booth that I thought I would be interested in if accepted. A quick phone call or coffee chat with them helped me understand their perspective on the program. I then used their POV in my application to show that I truly would be a strong fit within the Booth community.
Chat Participant:
I would like to know what is requirement for executive MBA
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
For more information on the Executive MBA admission process, please access the following link: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/executive/admissions?sc_lang=en
Chat Participant:
I already work as a management consultant with McKinsey in operations. I don’t have any formal MBA degree but have a masters in operations. Which one is a better course for a student like me Weekend MBA or an Executive MBA?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing:
It really depends on your schedule and what would be a good fit for you. Weekend MBA courses are offered on the weekends, so that will allow you to continue working and pursue an MBA on the weekends. One major difference is that the Executive MBA program requires 5 weeks spent in a global cohort - classes meet in Chicago, London and Hong Kong.
Test Score Questions:
Chat Participant:
What’s the most accurate 80% GMAT range for the part-time program? The website says the low end is 640 (along with an email this past week) and the announcements inside this current chat says 610. Can you shed some light on the variation?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Thank you for catching this, this information is outdated and we will correct this inform ASAP. The most up-to-date combined 80% range for GMAT scores is 630-740. Apologies for the confusion.
Chat Participant:
I read that Booth will accept test scores from the interim online test option for the fall quarter application in light of COVID-19. Can you explain which online tests you are referring to here?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions:
GMAC recently made an at-home/online GMAT available, which you are welcome to take. Go to MBA.com for more information. There is also an at-home/online GRE. Feel free to take which ever exam you prefer.
Chat Participant:
While the GMAT Online offering exists, it has a few flaws. Mainly the virtual whiteboard board, and its limitations on finger/stylus usage. As a result this makes the quant section especially more difficult to score well. Is the GMAT Online test score adjusted in the admissions process to account for this difference?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions:
We evaluate scores in the same way. Practicing on the whiteboard in advance is the most common tip we’ve heard about the online GMAT. Keep in mind that we extended the autumn 2020 deadline to July 1, so this may allow time for you to take the in-person exam. If not, you can consider applying for an early 2021 deadline. Since we have multiple intakes during the year, you have a lot of flexibility regarding the timing of your application.
Chat Participant:
Is there any difference in weightage for the online GMAT vs the regular one? Trying to decide if I should i wait for exam centers to open or go ahead with online test?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
There is no difference at all for us here. You should take the exam you feel most comfortable with.
Chat Participant:
Is the Executive Assessment accepted in place of GRE/GMAT?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
We are now accepting the Executive Assessment (EA) in lieu of the GMAT or GRE for applicants who graduated 8+ years ago. So for example, anyone who graduated May 2012 or earlier is eligible to apply this month with the EA.
Chat Participant:
I have 2 undergraduate degrees. Received 1 in 2009 and the other 2014. I am eligible to take the EA in place of GMAT/GRE right?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Yes, since you received one 8+ years ago, you are eligible to take the EA.
Chat Participant:
As an international, I got my Ph.D. in the US, and have ~8 years of experience in the industry. Should I take TOFEL, and retake GRE/GMAT in my case?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Based on your background, the TOEFL is waived for you. The GRE/GMAT is required if you have not taken it yet.
Chat Participant:
Good morning everyone. I have an Italian degree, how can I get it translated in US GPA?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
You may use a 3rd party provider who translates transcripts. So long as long as they are a certified official translator with a seal/designation, we don’t have a preference what company you go with.
Chat Participant:
If I took the GRE over 10 years ago for admittance to a PhD program (since completed), would I be able to use these scores or should I take a newer test (e.g. GMAT or EA)?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions:
A valid test score is required (scores typically valid for 5 years). Given your level of work experience/time since completing your undergraduate degree, you can take the GRE, GMAT or EA.
Chat Participant:
I took the GRE a while ago in 2015 as it was a requirement for residency, but not an important factor in the decision making process. The scores are not ideal for what Booth is looking for per the email. (GMAT Equivalent 570). I wanted to know if I'd still be considered on my other credentials, a very strong GPA in both undergrad, dental school & residency, as well as all other pertinent application materials. Interested in the weekend MBA option as I work full time as an orthodontist in central Illinois area. Thanks for setting this up.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
Applicants will be considered on all other credentials within the application along with test score. Consider ways to help supplement a lower test score with other academic achievements, extracurricular and volunteer work, and your overall story and passion for Booth and the role it plays in your life. You could also consider re-testing if this was your only attempt at the exam. Though there is not a minimum requirement, the average Booth student scores 680 on the exam.
Chat Participant:
I had a very small window of time to study for the GMAT during my medical internship, and as a result, scored rather poorly on the math section. I am confident that with a typical amount of time to study, I would have done significantly better. Will the admission committee take this into account? Are math tutors available if needed?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Yes, you can highlight these types of issues in the optional essay and we will take your thoughts into account. We do not offer tutoring services for applicants with the GMAT/GRE.
Academics Questions:
Chat Participant:
Is it possible to place out of some core classes if I have taken similar classes in undergrad or grad school?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
No, it's not possible to test out of coursework. There is a great deal of flexibility within the curriculum, so you'll definitely be able to find a class that fits your interests!
Chat Participant:
How are course performance evaluated, do you take term exams after course completion, or it’s judged throughout the duration of the course. Do people fail in exams?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
It depends on the course- most courses will have exams throughout the quarter to assess your knowledge as you go. It's rare to only have one final exam or paper. By and large students do not fail- the coursework is not designed to set you up for failure and there are many resources to help you, from tutoring, to your team members on group projects!
Chat Participant:
For evening MBA, how many hour of coursework study should be fairly expected per week?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
To be honest, the coursework outside of lecture really depends on the class. For example, my marketing strategy course last quarter, I would say I spent about 12 hours outside of lecture each week on readings/group work/class preparation. However, my statistics course last quarter was more around 3-4 for homework assignments. When registering for classes, Booth provides results from previous student surveys on specific courses and professors with how much time (on average) those students spent on work outside of the classroom - definitely something I use when trying to decided which classes to take!
Chat Participant:
What is the policy with technology and participation in the classroom?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Some professors have a no-screen policy, while others do not. Most, if not all classes, do have a participation component within the grading system to encourage students to engage in in-class discussions.
Chat Participant:
Can weekend MBA students not based in Chicago participate in labs (I am specifically looking at the PE lab)? What would be the limitations?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students can participate in lab courses. However, it just comes down to your own personal work schedule and availability since the lab courses typically conduct their work during traditional Monday-Friday business hours. You can actually view the lab courses that were offered in the Evening and Weekend Program during the 2019-2020 academic year using the course search feature here: https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch. Be sure to select "lab" under Course Type and then under Program "Evening" and "Weekend."
Chat Participant:
I am interested in the Data Analytics courses that you offer, can you elaborate on what those courses look like in the larger framework of the MBA program?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
You'll find that Business Analytics is one of our concentrations, so you can take classes in a variety of different tracks! See more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/academics/curriculum/concentrations/business-analytics
Chat Participant
When/how is group work done for the weekend MBA students who may only have a day or two per week in Chicago?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Lots of weekend students meet for group work on Friday evenings once they arrive in Chicago if they are not in class or meet during lunch on Saturdays. Also, even as an Evening Student, most of my group work takes place via phone calls/ zoom meetings as coordinating group meetings with everyone's busy schedules can get challenging.
Chat Participant:
Can I select all the courses during weekend MBA's or are there any set of courses that are mandatory? I being 7 years as SCM consultant am not interested in taking any course on marketing or financial management, do I have an options to choose all courses??
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
There is much flexibility in class selection. You must take one accounting, statistics, and economics class, and one class in 6 of our 7 function areas. So that means one marketing, one finance, one strategy, one operations, etc. This leaves you with 11 electives that can be any class whatsoever within Booth’s 130 course offering, or classes offered within the University of Chicago.
Chat Participant:
Working as a full-time employee consumes me 5 days in a week with lot of traveling also involved in my job, I am looking for MBA degree which can be managed giving attention on Weekends only. Can Weekend MBA be managed without putting any efforts during the week?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
Weekend students will typically need to devote at least some time to class work during the week. Students have the flexibility with a demanding job to take a slower pace and take one class at a time, or even quarters off. I think it is unrealistic to think there would not be a time where Booth coursework would need to be done during the week. However, you can certainly plan to do the majority of your work on the weekend and find the proper balance that works for you. The average Booth class according to our students requires 5 hours per week outside of class.
Chat Participant:
Is there a limit about the number of classes we can miss? I'm worried about the lack of flights during snow-time.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
If/When there are snowstorms significant enough to halt travel, faculty will be flexible with the material, and exams. Typically either posting online or providing additional days for make-up work/assignments. You also will form groups in virtually every one of your classes, so if you specifically are impacted you can have the support of your group that day, and /or meet with your teacher during office hours. Lastly, since faculty teach in Evening, Weekend, and Full-Time programs, you could sit in on a different section of theirs in the week if available.
Chat Participant:
Michelle, you spoke about reviewing professors' ratings before signing up for classes. Is that via networking with other Booth students/alumni, or is a specific resource available that has formal ratings for different instructors listed by semester, class, etc.?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Both - your fellow classmates are probably the best resource for understanding what a future class may entail / what a professor's expectations for the course. However, Booth's Academic Services team creates an AWESOME resource through student surveys of each and every class (every quarter) around the feedback of the class. Time spent outside of lecture, value of the course, willingness to recommend to another Boothie are some of the elements that are included in the report. Also, all of this is accessible to you prior to each quarter's registration!
Chat Participant:
How much of the EW MBA pedagogy is conducted via the case study method of teaching? Does it depend on the course, the specific instructor teaching a particular section of the course, or is there a Booth-specific average/minimum that every class is required in terms of usage of case-based learning?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Definitely depends on the course. My marketing strategy class with Prof. Dhar (a class that I would HIGHLY recommend) utilized case-based work as our assignments and group projects. Prof. Dhar also coupled those cases with weekly lectures in class. My accounting class is currently also using cases to further dive into accounting topics in the real world. Many of my quant based classes, however, did not use cases or used minimal cases during the course (Econ, Stats, Data-Driven Marketing). It really depends on the course, the professor, and how the class is structured.
Chat Participant:
Is there a published academic calendar indicating which weekend students will have class?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions
You can access our course search tool for the current academic year here: https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch
Chat Participant:
I have military commitments once a month on weekends. How does that impact me?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
First of all, thank you for your service. Our faculty are very flexible and understand the various commitments of our students both personally and professionally. If you are an Evening student taking classes in the Evening then it would not impact your Weekend military commitment. If you are a Weekend student, on the months that you have a conflict during your Saturday class you would want to work with your professor to see if you can't sit in on another section of their class that week or make it up in some other way.
General Booth MBA Questions:
Chat Participant:
What is the average class size of weekend program?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
Similar to the Evening MBA program, the average class size is around 40 students.
Chat Participant:
What is the typical size of the evening MBA cohort?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
While we don’t actually have a cohort the size of the incoming class varies between quarters. You can expect between 50-75 students entering each quarter.
Chat Participant:
Are weekend MBA classes typically every weekend, or are there some that meet every other weekend or some other cadence?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
Yes, Weekend MBA classes do meet every weekend. Our Weekend students fly in 40 weekends a year and form a wonderful cohort!
Chat Participant:
Do weekend MBA students usually fly in Friday evening or Saturday morning?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics:
Yes, although it depends on the student and their particular schedule and availability. Since Weekend classes are held in the morning as well as the afternoon on Saturdays, many students do fly in Friday evening to maximize their time.
Chat Participant:
Do most weekend students stay in hotels? For those that do stay in hotels, how do you price protect for certain popular weekends like St. Patrick's day, major sporting events, etc.?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
When it comes to hotels, I would also recommend contacting Club Quarters which has historically had great student discounts when you reserve rooms in bulk for the weekends you plan to be in town during a quarter. Let them know you are interested in understanding rates for days throughout a given quarter as a Chicago Booth student – and they should be able to help. Students will do a number of things between rooming with other Boothies to cut costs, or commuting to Chicago Saturday morning (before the first 9am class) and leaving Saturday evening to avoid lodging altogether. I have also heard of students splitting an Airbnb, staying with family/friends in Chicago, or using a hotel that has a good rate by booking a number of weekends in a row which you plan to be in Chicago.
Chat Participant:
I understand it's possible to take classes at the main Booth campus, but do full-time students get priority registration at the main campus before it is offered to part-time?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Yes - classes that are technically scheduled for "full-time students" will give full time students priority when it comes to registration. A part-time student, like myself, would come next in priority. I have not personally taken any full-time classes just yet, but plan to do so for some courses. I have had a few friends register for them with no problem.
Chat Participant:
Is it possible to finish the Weekend MBA only taking classes at the Gleacher Center? Are some courses only offered on the Hyde Park campus?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
Nearly all of our students do take all of their coursework at the Gleacher Center! There are many classes offered each quarter and with the exact same faculty and content taught in Hyde Park.
Chat Participant:
Given that the part-time MBA programs takes 2.5-3 years of time commitment, in the event of change of jobs/laid-offs/personal situations, would it be possible to convert to a full time?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing:
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:
Can you touch on the differences between the Evening and Weekend MBA programs? My current job requires about 25% travel (weekdays only). Due to this, which of the MBA programs do you most recommend applying to?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
In my opinion, the difference in the experience is minimal. When it comes to the actual class content / opportunities, the two programs have the same professors, class options, group memberships, events, etc. - the main difference is just when you attend classes, obviously. I have had to travel during the week and miss some of my part time classes in the evening and to be honest, it was hard. Not only did I have to play catchup from the lecture materials/group assignments, but I felt like I was missing out in actually being in class! While I do recommend trying to pick classes during quarters that align with travel schedules, you will find it much more beneficial to ensure you are in class all the time - plus it’s fun to see your friends!
Chat Participant:
What are the most significant differences between the Evening/Weekend MBA and the Executive MBA? Would a candidate with 20 years’ work experience be considered for the Evening/Weekend MBA program?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
There is no cap on the years of work experience we would consider for the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Program. Given your profile, I encourage you to learn more about the Executive MBA Program as well. The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Programs offer more flexibility while the Executive MBA Program is a 21 month lock-step cohorted program that meets in a combination of alternating weekends and week-long residencies in the Chicago, London, and Hong Kong campuses. On average students in the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA tend to have 7 years of work experience, while students in the Executive MBA tend to have on average 14 years of work experience. Again, these are by no means cutoffs, but it comes down to the format that will help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
Chat Participant:
What are the options if part time candidate cannot complete the degree within 5 year duration?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions:
There is little to no flexibility in the 5 year time to complete rule. It is very rare one takes the full 5 years to complete the degree. If you have an extraordinary circumstance, you can petition to the Deans for additional time, but there is no guarantee it will be approved.
Chat Participant:
I saw someone mentioned that the weekend MBA would meet 40 weekends a year, so for the other 8 weeks, are they like summer/winter breaks or just around national holidays?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
We offer classes year round, every single quarter. Summer quarter is 10 weeks long while Autumn, Spring, and Winter quarters are 11 weeks longs. If a weekend student takes classes every single quarter, year round, then technically that is 43 weekends out of the year they would be at traveling to Gleacher. You are correct that the remainder of the weeks are holidays and break weeks between quarters. However, with the flexibility of our program, you set your own pace and take the quarters off that you need. Many weekend students tend to take the summer off.
Chat Participant: How does the fellows program compliment the weekend program for those of us with less than 3 years of work experience?
Kara Northcutt | Senior Director, Employer Engagement and Admissions:
You will participate in additional leadership/professional development seminars geared toward younger professionals. This is in addition to the leadership training that is required for all students. The Chicago Business Fellows (CBF) sessions are done with your fellow incoming CBF group, so you will also get the benefit of a cohort feel, as you get to know these classmate very well. We see many lifelong friendships start in the CBF program.
Student Life Questions:
Chat Participant:
Michelle, could you share more detail into how you connect with your peers outside of the classroom? What clubs are you involved in and how has it shaped your experience at Booth?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Of course! I am a member of the Booth Marketing Club, Graduate Women in Business, and the General Assembly (which is a part of Student Advisory Council - pretty much Booth's student council). Also, I'm a member of the Admissions Committee. All of these groups hosts regular events and socials pre/post class to interact with other Boothies. Booth Career Services/Booth Academic Services also hosts multiple events throughout the quarter which are really well attended by my peers. There is no limit of opportunities for you to get to know and interact with fellow classmates across programs and quarters. One of my favorite events so far during my time at Booth has been Booth Formal earlier this year - such a fun night to relax and enjoy the company of our classmates after all of the hard work.
Chat Participant:
Could you please go over some of the networking opportunities available to weekend MBA students? Are there any events held on Saturdays, if one doesn't choose to take a class in either the morning or the afternoon?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Yes! Most networking events for Weekend Students happen during the lunch break between morning and afternoon classes. There are a ton of events each week that students can sign up for and attend without missing class or traveling in early.
Chat Participant:
Can you quote some ways in which you help a student to improve his leadership skills?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
We have a leadership development required course during student orientation which students take an introspective look at themselves and their leadership skills related to the type of leader they want to become. We have a leadership conference mid-way through your time at Booth that takes two days of events, exploration, and leadership activities. Students can take leadership roles as co-chairs of our student clubs and work with outside companies, executives, and alumni. You can practice your leadership as a mentor for new incoming Booth students, and finally take classes specific to leadership development, negotiations, and strategic management.
Chat Participant:
Do the part-time and full-time clubs integrate and conduct joint activities?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Most student groups are separated between part-time and full-time in order for them to be able to best cater to the specific group of students the group is intended. However, there are many opportunities where multiple Booth groups (both part-time and full-time) come together to host an event, such as a lunch & learn with notable alumni or a panel discussion on a key topic.
Chat Participant:
If admitted, what's the process to apply for the student advisory council?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions:
All students can be members of the SAC (student advisory council) and any other student group as soon as they start the program and sign up to become members. New co-chairs are elected in March of every year. If you are looking to become a co-chair you would simply go through the application process during the election cycle. Typically, students are members for at least a quarter or so before applying for a leadership role within a student organization.
Chat Participant:
Booth does not have a "cohort" system in place, while this is amazing for flexibility and specific program focus, how, as a part-time student, have you managed to get the same networking value as you would at cohorted MBA?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
I would honestly say I have received much more value from having friends taking different courses than I during our time at Booth. Not only do they bring insights from other classes to our group work and discussion, but they also help advise me on what classes to take in the future. Booth does a phenomenal job of providing networking/social events pre/post class for you to interact with your "cohort (other students who you started with)" and other students. Additionally, LAUNCH, Booth's 3-day orientation, sets you up with your cohort and helps you to develop relationships with everyone from the beginning.
Chat Participant:
Could you explain a little more about LEAD, and how it specifically applies to weekend MBA students? Given that a typical weekend MBA student might be working in a different city during the weekdays and flying into Chicago only for a day on Saturday, how would LEAD work in that case?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
LEAD is 2-3 days in programming, so many students, just for that class do take off a day or two of work. It's designed to immerse you in the program and start building your leadership skills as well as to start networking with your peers.
Chat Participant:
Who are the employers that are targeted to recruit from Booth MBA program?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
We have a great employment report available online that slices and dices all sorts of data for you! You can visit it here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/career-impact
Chat Participant:
Would EW career office help with recruiting for companies that may not be a traditional target employer at Booth?
Michelle McCloskey | Evening MBA Student:
Yes! We have been encouraged to go to career services with specific career goals in mind and they will help us to navigate towards our post-Booth career. One of the many benefits of Booth is that there are alumni in almost every industry in the world. Career services will do everything possible to help make connections for you where needed.
Chat Participant:
Can you give some more specific detail on the career development/recruiting pathways available to FT students that are not as readily accessible for E&W students?
Patrick McHale | Assistant Director, Admissions:
The only career services resources that is not available to Evening/Weekend students is internship recruiting. While optional, Evening/Weekend students can participate in on-campus recruiting for full-time positions with full-time students. Otherwise, resources are shared across the programs.
Chat Participant:
Does the EW career office at Booth have experience with helping American students find good jobs in London? I have a somewhat unique career goal where I would like to stay in my current industry, and I would even love to stay at my current company, but change locations to the UK.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions:
The career services center can certainly assist with this. You can discuss your career objective with them including location, and they can work with you on that particular location with alumni, and relationships to companies hiring in that area. You will likely be asked to use your time at Booth to build a portfolio of coursework (international business opportunities) possible study abroad experiences, and other resources presented by career services to best position yourself for this sort of shift.
Chat Participant:
What types of health & wellness resources are there available for PT students? (i.e. fitness centers, mental health support, etc.)
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing:
There are many health & wellness resources available to PT students. I recommend visiting this page for more information: https://wellness.uchicago.edu/about/accessing-services-in-2020-2021/. The University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business is working hard to ensure that students have access to health and wellness resources during this challenging time. Student Counseling Services offer a therapist-on-call hotline while Student Health Services has a Nurse Hotline which can be accessed for immediate consultations and advice. The team at Shine in partnership with Mental Health America, has created Care For Your Coronavirus Anxiety (virusanxiety.com), a mental health toolkit for this time. Mindfulness apps like Insight Timer, Headspace Inc., Calm, and Liberate Meditation, can be helpful tools to manage your stress in an ongoing way.
Chat Participant:
Are there any benefits for partners/spouses of part-time Booth students?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions:
Absolutely! There is the Booth Partners Club- the club holds regular events to engage students and their partners- for example, they have had brunches, a wheel throwing workshop, etc. It's a great way to introduce your partner to the community and allow him/her to make connections within other partners and Boothies!
Chat Participant:
For the executive MBA would it be possible to obtain a list of alumni or current students from a specific company/organization?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director, Admissions Operations and Analytics:
Please reach out to the Executive MBA Office at xp@chicagobooth.edu