October 14, 2020 Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Live Chat Transcript
COVID Related Questions
Chat Participant: How is the program addressing travel for out-of-state candidates for the weekend MBA in 2021?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: At this point, 100% of our classes are virtual. We will continue to have virtual classes for Evening and Weekend students until we have reached a point where we can safely have students in person in classes regularly. This timeline is difficult to predict given the nature of Covid-19 however we will at least have virtual classes through the Spring 2021 and plan to re-evaluate this next year.
Chat Participant: In this COVID environment, what kind of opportunities are there to sit in on a class, even a virtual one to better understand the program format?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: While we do not have the traditional class visit opportunity, we are pleased to offer our new Masterclass Series for prospective students. You can view the upcoming classes and register here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/events/masterclass. The first class is being held on October 19 and the remainder will be added thereafter and take place throughout the month of November.
Chat Participant: Good Afternoon - has there been any changes to course structure in light of COVID-19? Are some classes now offered virtually vs. in-person?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: We have a dual modality format for the Fall which means 100% of classes will be online, and of those classes some will also contain an optional in-person opportunity for in-state students to attend. Weekend students out of state will be completely virtual and evening students will have this option. We are working to understand the options & limitations of this format moving forward and working with healthcare experts and state regulations to ensure safety for students, faculty and staff moving forward. I am unable to predict further than this autumn due to the ever changing landscape of Covid-19.
Chat Participant: Will you hold the ChicagoBoothWomen Connect program this year?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: This will likely take place virtually, but please check back with us as we have not announced a formal schedule for the conference.
Chat Participant: Since the weekend MBA program is currently virtual, will there be an option to attend the 100% online in the future?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Currently there is no online MBA offered at Chicago Booth. 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: Hi - I was planning on visiting Booth campus for a tour of a sort. Will that be possible during this Covid season?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: At this time both the Harper Center and Gleacher Center are closed to visitors and only students attending class are allowed inside. Unfortunately, we remain unable to offer in person events at this time, but encourage you to engage with us and our students virtually.
Chat Participant: I see there is only 1 class showing up in the MasterClasses series right now. How often are new classes added to attend?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: As we communicate with faculty we will add more throughout the year, so I encourage you to continue checking our website.
Chat Participant: Good afternoon - A follow up to Marcus' answer on IBEP: Since COVID has put a pause on traveling, how are these programs being facilitated? Curious to know how current students are participating in the study abroad opportunities at Booth.
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: During this time, international opportunities for students from an academic standpoint are not available. In normal circumstances, the average part-time student will consider studying abroad short-term. Since it is just a two week experience and it still counts as one course completed, it is an interesting opportunity for part-time students. It is unlikely these programs will return for at least the first half of next year.
Chat Participant: Hi, question to Josh - Could you share your experience in terms of the networking events in COVID times when I assume all events were made virtual only events. Thanks
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: The clubs and school are still hosting networking events and they/companies have done a good job of continuing to outreach and host coffee chats. I think it has made it easier to network because people are more comfortable with the virtual environment
Chat Participant: Hi - With the current pandemic situation and all course work being delivered virtually, how would LEAD course be delivered for Evening/Weekend programs ? What are the shortcomings of such a mode of delivery for leadership courses ?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: As of now, LEAD will be delivered virtually for the Evening and Weekend program. Check out this blog about LEAD going virtual for more information: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/part-time-mba-blog/2020/lead-goes-virtual?sc_lang=en
Chat Participant: I plan to apply in December so I can start in the Spring. We might still be online due to Covid, can you tell me about your online student experience?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: The professors have done a good job of switching to online by using interactive zoom and more recorded lectures so you are not listening to a zoom for 3 hrs straight. I do miss the in-person classes for the social interaction, but I think the school/professors have done a great job with switching to an online format
Admissions Questions
Chat Participant: If I already have an MBA from somewhere else, can I earn a second one through you?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: Yes. While not typical, we do see candidates who already have an MBA applying to our program. You should be prepared to address this in your application and if granted an interview, during your interview as well.
Chat Participant: Hi - how common is it for Part Time applicants to receive financial aid (merit based)
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: I think perhaps you are referring to our merit based scholarships. Our scholarship awards vary from quarter to quarter and depend on the availability of funds and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. However, at the time someone is admitted, they are automatically considered for any available merit-based scholarship.
Chat Participant: Weekend/evening program is rolling admission, right? Approx. how long does it take to hear back from admission?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Correct, we operate on rolling admissions. The typical decision timeline from when you submit your completed application is 4-6 weeks.
Chat Participant: I'm unsure of the part-time program that I wish to enroll in. I work full-time and want to know the class schedule for Evening and Weekend.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Part-Time students on average take 2 classes per quarter. Evening students might have a class on Monday night, and again on Wednesday night, for example. Weekend students would likely have a class Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon Each class would meet once a week for three hours per class. There is not a set schedule that Part time students need to follow. This is an example, but students can accelerate their pace and take 3 classes in a quarter, or decelerate and take one or zero classes in a given quarter. Students typically assess their own bandwidth and determine when they feel they would take the majority of their classes (evening versus weekend) in determining which program is best.
Chat Participant: I believe the weekend MBA program deadline is in January for a Spring intake. Are there additional intake / application cycles for the weekend MBA program throughout the year?
Kayla Anderson | Office Manager, E&W MBA Programs Office: Yes - we admit students into the Weekend program in both the Autumn and Spring quarters. We admit students into the Evening program through all four quarters - Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer.
Chat Participant: Is there a separate application process for the Chicago Business Fellows program?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: No, the application is the same other than checking a box that indicates you have 3 years or less of experience and are interested in the Chicago Business Fellows Program
Chat Participant: In our application to the MBA program, can I specify that I want to apply to the Civic Scholars Program?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, there is a specific application for Civic Scholars Program. Be sure that when you select the application you have selected the correct one.
Chat Participant: Good Afternoon, my question is a little similar to Stephanie's. I'm currently in an MBA program here in Chicago, I would like to transfer, can you tell me a little about that process?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: We actually do not accept transfer applications nor any transfer credits from outside institutions. If interested in pursuing an MBA at Booth, you would apply to the program through the "regular" application process. However, if admitted, you would have access to rigorous courses so that you never feel you are repeating coursework you've previously taken. Even if you do not receive credit for a course you took elsewhere, you would not be required to take the same course again at Booth and could instead elect to take a more challenging course.
Chat Participant: FAQ above suggests full-time is best for those considering a significant career change (e.g. from engineering). Could any of the panelists offer pros/cons of pursuing a similar career change via the weekend MBA?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: It primarily depends on how willing you are to quit your job and pursue a full-time education for 2 years. Career changes are possible through both part-time and full-time programs. The only career services resources that is not available for part-time students is internship recruiting. If you know an internship and recruiting path is one you definitely want to take, I recommend considering the full-time program.
Chat Participant: Is the Business Fellows program available for entry in Autumn 2021? If so, when will applications open?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, this program is available for the Autumn 2021 enrollment and the application should be available in the next month or two.
Chat Participant: What might the Autumn quarter deadline be (approx.) for a weekend MBA?
Kayla Anderson | Office Manager, E&W MBA Programs Office: While the Autumn 2021 deadline hasn't been released yet, last year's original deadline was around the first week of June 2021 and then changed to the first week of July due to COVID. I would imagine it would be set for early June as in previous years. I would encourage you to keep checking our website for updated information!
Chat Participant: Hi! I saw that 77% of your weekend MBA students live outside of Illinois. How many of these students are from the West Coast? I'm currently based in Los Angeles and curious to know what your West Coast students' experiences are like given the long distance.
Kayla Anderson | Office Manager, E&W MBA Programs Office: While I can't give you an exact number/percentage of students specifically from the West Coast, we absolutely have a large number of current students as well as alumni in places like the Bay area and Seattle. We would be happy to connect you directly with a student from the West Coast to hear more about their experiences in the program. Please send us an email at EveningWeekend-Admissions@chicagobooth.edu.
Chat Participant: While Booth requires 2 letters of recommendation, do we the option to provide additional letters of rec somewhere within the application?
Kayla Anderson | Office Manager, E&W MBA Programs Office: Yes, as long as the third recommender is able to provide an additional, unique perspective on the candidate. I would encourage you to not submit more than 3 letters of recommendation.
Chat Participant: If I currently work at an organization that falls under 501(c)(3), would I be eligible for the civic scholars program?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: Yes! The Civic Scholars Program offers substantial tuition awards to students who work in a 501(c) designated nonprofit organization or for the government. The program, funded by a gift from the Neubauer Family Foundation, supports qualified professionals in Booth's Full-Time, Evening, and Weekend Programs. If you have not done so already, fill this out so you can begin to receive Civic Scholars specific communication from the Admissions team. We also offer Civic Scholars events to keep an eye out for. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/civic-scholars/request-information
Chat Participant: Could you provide some guidance on international folks looking to enroll in the weekend MBA program while working on a work visa full-time? ie are there any additional considerations / documentation that needs to be filed to make this happen?
Kayla Anderson | Office Manager, E&W MBA Programs Office: We do not have who are traditionally thought of as international students in the Weekend MBA Program, as we are unable to issue F-1 student visas for the part-time programs. If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, you will need to already be in the US on a work visa to be eligible. For example, many of our Weekend students are on H1B visas. If you seek an F-1 student visa, you should pursue the Full-Time MBA Program. If you have any specific questions, I would suggest reaching directly out to The Office of International Affairs at the University of Chicago - https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/.
Chat Participant: If I plan to apply for the weekend program and the civic scholars program at the same time, will the deadline be Jan 8, 2021?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: You do not apply to both at the same time. By applying to the Civic Scholars Program you will automatically be considered for the weekend Program f you are not selected to be a Civic Scholar. The Civic Scholars deadline is February 8. Keep in mind that Civic Scholars intake is Autumn quarter only. If you are NOT interested in Civic Scholars, then you can submit a Weekend only application and be considered for Spring 2021 (deadline is January 8 in that case). https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/civic-scholars/admissions
Chat Participant: What is the best way to connect with current students during the application process?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Our Connect with a Student portal is a great way to connect directly with students. It allows you to sort on a variety of interests, programs, etc. See this link to start making connections: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer. If you cannot find what you are looking for, email us at EveningWeekend-Admissions@chicagobooth.edu to request a connection.
Chat Participant: I see there are scholarships available for the part time MBA program. If I choose to apply to the executive MBA and my company isn't sponsoring me are there scholarship opportunities for the Executive MBA available?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: I recommend speaking directly to the executive program regarding scholarships as Evening and Weekend merit-based scholarships are specific to the Evening and Weekend Program. You may reach the executive program at xp@chicagobooth.edu
Chat Participant: Josh, is there anything you wish you had done differently during your application process? If so, can you please briefly share any lessons learned? Thank you in advance for your time.
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student:
I was very happy with my application process. I do wish I had spent more time talking to former / current students who could have helped me with choosing the best clubs/groups to join when I started Booth.
Chat Participant: From my understanding, the Chicago Business Fellows program has the same application as the Weekend MBA. Is there somewhere in the application I can specify I'm applying for the CBF program?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Yes, there is a place where you can specify that you are applying for the CBF Program. . Please refer to early career candidates page on our website to learn more about next steps to apply and interview. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/early-career-programs/chicago-business-fellows
Chat Participant: Is the application process for the Chicago Booth Fellows Program the same as the Evening and Weekend MBA Program admissions process?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: 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.
Chat Participant: Hi - question for Vanessa - how do marketing students typically engage with the Kilts center?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Great question! We have a Booth Marketing Club and many co-chairs participate in Kilts Center for Marketing events. There are many Kilts Speaker Series and Marketing Case Competitions that you can get involved in while you are at Booth. Visit this page for upcoming events: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/research/kilts/events You can also get a glimpse into how to tackle marketing case questions: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/conquering-marketing-case-questions?sc_lang=en
Chat Participant: Does my immediate supervisor need to be one of my recommendations? Does my company need to provide approval as part of my application?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: We would ideally like your direct supervisor to be used as a recommender however this is not mandatory. We ask that you use your own discretion here as we understand there will be times where your direct supervisor is not an ideal person to use (ex. you have only been reporting to them for a few months). In the recommendation section of the application you may detail why you've used the recommenders you have. Your company does not need to provide some sort of approval unless they are providing you with some form of reimbursement.
Chat Participant: Good afternoon everyone. Can pt weekend students enroll in each of the 4 quarters yearly, or only autumn and spring?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: You can find deadline information here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/how-to-apply. Our next deadline for the Weekend MBA Program is our spring quarter deadline, which will be January 8. We only do Weekend intake during Autumn and Spring.
Chat Participant: Does your Civic Scholars Program apply to students who work for a nonprofit part-time or as independent contractors or only those who are employed full-time at a 501(c)(3)?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: The program is specific to those who are employed full-time at a 501(c)(3) organization. You can email us at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu if you'd like to discuss your case more specifically
Chat Participant: Hi I've applied for the 2+2 program before but am now applying for the Weekend MBA. When I say I've applied before, it doesn't give me an option to specify the 2+2 program. How do I specify this?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: You are considered a reapplicant if you have submitted an application to any Chicago Booth MBA program within the past two years. If you choose to reapply to any Chicago Booth MBA program (Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, Full-Time MBA, or Executive MBA), you must wait six months from the date you submitted your original application AND apply to a Chicago Booth MBA program that begins in a subsequent quarter to your original application. For example, if you originally applied to the Full-Time MBA Program for the Autumn Quarter and would like to reapply to the Evening MBA Program, you must wait a minimum of six months from your Full-Time MBA application submission date AND apply to the Evening MBA Program for the Winter Quarter (subsequent quarter to the fall quarter) to be considered an eligible reapplicant.
Test Questions:
Chat Participant: Hi, does Booth accept the online GMAT test score for weekend part-time program?
Kayla Anderson | Office Manager, E&W MBA Programs Office: Yes - we are currently accepting the online GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment tests for both the Weekend and Evening MBA programs.
Chat Participant: What is the Executive Assessment test?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: The executive assessment is another option for an entrance exam to Booth. It is owned and operated by the same organization that runs the GMAT exam. Applicants to Booth need to have bene at least 8 years removed from their undergraduate degree to take this exam, as it is designed for working senior professionals. You may find more information here: https://www.gmac.com/executive-assessment
Chat Participant: Can I take Executive Assessment instead of GMAT for Weekend/Evening MBA program?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: If you have received your bachelor's degree 8 years or more ago, you are eligible to take the EA in place of the GMAT/GRE.
Chat Participant: I have sent GMAT score to full-time program before. Later on, I decided to go for part-time program. Do I need to send the score again?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: You are considered a reapplicant if you have submitted an application to any Chicago Booth MBA program within the past two years. If you choose to reapply to any Chicago Booth MBA program (Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, Full-Time MBA, or Executive MBA), you must wait six months from the date you submitted your original application AND apply to a Chicago Booth MBA program that begins in a subsequent quarter to your original application. For example, if you originally applied to the Full-Time MBA Program for the Autumn Quarter and would like to reapply to the Evening MBA Program, you must wait a minimum of six months from your Full-Time MBA application submission date AND apply to the Evening MBA Program for the Winter Quarter (subsequent quarter to the fall quarter) to be considered an eligible reapplicant. You will need to send your score again.
Chat Participant: Do test scores just need to be taken before the application deadline or fully submitted by the deadline? (for example, my understanding is the GMAT shows you a score as soon as you finish but it takes 20 days to be official)
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: 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 after you interview. We will be accepting remote test scores and will view them as the same as the regular test.
Chat Participant: Are improved GMAT scores provided subsequent to submitting an application considered? For example, I am scheduled to take the GMAT November 15th online. I was also able to schedule in-person on December 23rd, the only available date I could find at the time. If I demonstrated meaningful improvement would that be evaluated?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Yes - improved GMAT scores provided subsequent to submitting an application are considered. 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,. We will be accepting remote test scores and will view them as the same as the regular test.
Chat Participant: Are the GMAT scores on Quantitative and Verbal each considered by admissions in the total GMAT score?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, along with the IR section the Quant and Verbal sections are reviewed with your holistic score
Academic Questions
Chat Participant: Hello, Good Morning/Noon. I'm very much interested in the evening MBA program. Can I know how many credits/courses a student should complete to graduate?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: All students at Booth, regardless of background are required to take 2,000 units (or 20 courses) in order to graduate. On average, Part-Time students tend to take 2 courses per quarter and at that pace are set to graduate within 2.5-3 years.
Chat Participant: Hi Josh, Is there any class that has long wait-listing class?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: The way Booth does class registration is a bidding system, so there are classes that require more bid points but generally I have never found I have not been able to take a class I wanted.
Chat Participant: Happy Tuesday! If scheduling permits, are part-time students permitted to enroll in a full-time schedule (e.g. four courses per quarter)?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Part-Time students can accelerate their pace and take 3 classes in a quarter, or decelerate and take one or zero classes in a given quarter. In order to take a 4th class, students would need to consult with academic advising and detail their reasoning along with a career plan. We don’t encourage taking 4 classes in our part time program because of the rigor paired with a job, and if you are not working we’d like to better understand your plans before affirming a 4th class. Three classes can be taken without such discussions.
Chat Participant: How many hours a week do you spend on class/hw?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: I would say I probably spend ~ 5-10 hrs/week on hw outside of class. But it is very dependent on the class and quarter
Chat Participant: Good afternoon! Are all concentrations available for Evening MBA students, or are some only for Full Time? Thank you
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: All 13 concentrations are available and accessible across the Evening, Weekend, and Full-Time MBA programs at Booth.
Chat Participant: What is a directional time commitment (independent of class/lab time) that working professionals should plan for if enrolled in the Weekend MBA program? XX hours per week?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: The coursework and time commitment outside of lecture really depends on the class. Each class on average requires 5 additional hours per week outside of class. For example, a marketing strategy course, can take about 12 hours outside of lecture each week on readings/group work/class preparation. However, a statistics course can require around 3-4 hours for homework assignments.
Chat Participant: Hi - question for Josh - why did you decide to attend Booth part-time? How do you balance coursework and your career?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: I choose to attend Booth part time because I liked the idea of being able to tie my coursework and work together. I balance coursework and my career by communicating very clearly with my boss. I also was not planning to do a full career search so I did not feel like I needed to do the full-time program
Chat Participant: Is there a link that provides details on each MBA concentration?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: At Booth we have 13 concentrations to choose from. Concentrations allow you to tailor your MBA experience and signal to prospective employers that you have deep knowledge of a particular field, along with the skills and tools. Concentrations are available to students in the Full-Time, Evening, and Weekend Program. While not required, most students earn on average three to four concentrations. You can view the various concentrations and what is required of each here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/academics/curriculum/concentrations
Chat Participant: Hi Josh, Nice to make your acquaintance! What have been your most enjoyable/memorable experiences at Booth? Also, what's your favorite course/professor (i.e. must-take class you'd recommend to prospective students)?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: I have really enjoyed connecting with other students and making some lifelong friends. My favorite course has been Life Sciences: Venture Capital, with Professor Fairbanks
Chat Participant: In terms of outside of class hours or work, I believe that could include something like networking events or etc. What are the expectation or requirements (if any) for the evening or weekend MBA students?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Each class is 3 hours and depending on the class, students typically spend an average of 3-5 hours on homework, studying, or meeting with groups outside of class. Some classes can be a bit more or less. Students are not required to attend networking events, but it provides a great opportunity to connect with fellow classmates and colleagues within your program. There is no limit of opportunities for you to get to know and interact with fellow classmates across programs and quarters.
Chat Participant: WEEKEND - How can I learn more about Booth's presence in the Aerospace, Defense, & Government sector?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: Please visit this link for more information and stories about our defense & gov't sector: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/why-booth/stories/military?sc_lang=en#sort=%40articledate%20descending
Chat Participant: What are the academic requirements once you are a Booth student (gpa, etc.)?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: You must maintain a 2.33 gpa to avoid academic probation., and graduate within 5 years of when you begin. You can take classes in the Evening, Weekend, or Full-Time program but you may not transfer into the Full-Time program. Part-Time students can accelerate their pace and take 3 classes in a quarter, or decelerate and take one or zero classes in a given quarter. In order to take a 4th class, students would need to consult with academic advising and detail their reasoning along with a career plan.
Chat Participant: Josh, have you at times found it difficult to balance your job with school? As in, are there sometimes emergencies at work that make you miss class? What made you choose the evening program over the weekend program?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: Hi There are times when it is a tough balance, and I have had to go back to office after class sometimes. But I choose the evening program cause I valued being able to have some free time on the weekends. I still sometimes take a weekend class but i like the flexibility
Chat Participant: I would like to apply to the evening program and go to classes in the evening. However, is it possible to take a weekend class one quarter because of scheduling?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: Absolutely! Flexibility is one of the hallmarks of the Chicago Booth MBA Program. If your schedule permits, you can choose to take classes outside your home program and you are not just limited to your program. In fact, we encourage Evening students to take weekend courses so they can experience and interact with Boothies from all over the country!
Student Life/Career Services Questions:
Chat Participant: Are there opportunities to combine what you're learning through your Booth MBA coursework with other interests you have via clubs, professional organizations, internships or the ability to take classes in other schools. For example, I am interested in media and arts administration. Is there a possibility to explore that during my time at Booth?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: There are many opportunities to combine your non-professional interests with Booth. We have roughly 45 student clubs and organizations along with a number of research cents that help students take an interest or passion of theirs and expand on it. Perhaps getting involved in the Chicago Booth newspaper might be an interest of yours: http://www.chibus.com/
Chat Participant: Hello, does the weekend and evening program provide career assistance?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: Outside of internship recruiting, you have all of the career resources that a full-time student would receive. This includes individualized and ongoing career coaching meetings, facilitated workshops on specific career change topics with participation from other students, access to multiple platforms and databases to stay up-to-date on industry trends, an online job posting site with over 5,000 posting per year seeking Booth MBA caliber candidates, preparation for on campus recruiting for full-time positions, and more!
Chat Participant: Thanks Josh! What industry were you in prior to Chicago Booth? Have the school's resources helped you in connecting with PE firms or do you plan on making the change after you graduate?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: I was in management consulting prior to Booth and switched to a value creation team at a middle market PE firm halfway through the program. There are great resources at Booth that can help you connect with PE, starting with the entrepreneur in residence program which is filled with former PE partners who can help you connect with firms
Chat Participant: Josh, what clubs are you part of? Any you plan on joining or wish you had the time to join? Additionally, how many hours per week do you spend studying/in class?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: I am a member of wine club (its a favorite of mine), PE club, consulting club, and I am a co-chair in ski club. I think its very important to take the time to join clubs cause its a great way to learn and network. I spend ~5-10 hrs/week on studying and 6 hrs/week in class
Chat Participant: What opportunities exist for international exposure while in the MBA program?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: We have an International Business Exchange Program (IBEP) which allows for both long-term and short term study abroad opportunities. We offer international business as one of our 13 concentrations and many of our student clubs have an international focus to them.
General MBA Questions
Chat Participant: Josh, can you give us an overview of your experience thus far. Why did you choose Booth and what were you looking to accomplish by obtaining an MBA?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: My booth experience has been great. I choose Booth because of its "choose your own adventure" type of curriculum that allowed me to learn about any interest I choose. I was looking to potentially switch into a Private equity career path as well as gain leadership and financial skills
Chat Participant: Good afternoon! I'm curious about how your work experience connect with the MBA program, and does the length of work experience make a big difference in the MBA experience?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: On average, Evening and Weekend students have about 7 years of work experience. The amount of work experience you have does not make a big difference in the MBA experience, I would say that it enhances your experience since you can use insights you learned from class and bring it to work the very next week.
Chat Participant: For the Weekend program, are the Fall intake and the Spring intake similar in class size?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions: Not necessarily. In fact, Spring tends to be slightly smaller than Autumn. That said, no one quarter is any more competitive than another and we encourage you to submit your application to the quarter you are confident you can enroll in if admitted. We also do not have a co-hort, so the incoming class size does not play a role in your day to day curricular or student experience.
Chat Participant: Hello is the weekend program full time?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs are part-time programs. They are designed for full-time working professionals.
Chat Participant: Is that possible to switch from weekend MBA to evening MBA, if student relocate to Chicago?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes! Once in the program, students can transfer from the Weekend MBA program to the Evening MBA program and vice-versa. This transfer is one-time only.
Chat Participant: I'm interested in the weekend part-time MBA. Can you let me know what is the duration for the course and if it has spring term as well?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Weekend students would likely have a class Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon Each class would meet once a week for three hours per class. There is not a set schedule that Part time students need to follow. This is an example, but students can accelerate their pace and take 3 classes in a quarter, or decelerate and take one or zero classes in a given quarter. Students typically assess their own bandwidth and determine how many classes in a given quarter they should take.
Chat Participant: What is the most surprising aspect of the part time MBA program?
Josh Leyenson | Current MBA Student: I would expect a program like Booth to attract very type-A competitive personalities, it’s surprising how collaborative and supportive everyone is
Chat Participant: What is the average length of work experience for accepted students?
Vanessa Prachack | Associate Director, Admissions Marketing: On average students in the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA tend to have 7 years of work experience
Chat Participant: Hi Patrick, is it possible to take a weekend course while in the Evening Program (or vice-versa), or does that require the one-time transfer?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: That is possible as well. For example, as a Weekend student, you will first only be able to choose from classes in your home program, which includes Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday afternoon classes. Once this priority enrollment phase ends, you will be able to enroll in courses in the Evening and Full-Time programs if your schedule permits. Many courses will still be available if you want to go outside of your home program. Local part-time students frequently take advantage of this flexibility.