February 11, 2021 Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Live Chat Transcript
COVID Questions:
Chat Participant: What is Chicago Booth's plan to return to in class learning for this Fall 2021 semester? Are the majority of classes still going to be taught via remote learning?
Andrea Calderon: Senior leadership at the university has not yet made a decision regarding fall quarter. At the moment, we are taking things quarter by quarter. For spring quarter, it has been determined that our Weekend MBA students will be remote and our Evening MBA students have the option to be fully remote or to participate in some dual modality coursework. There hasn't yet been a decision made on summer, but when any decision is made, it will be shared with our applicants. Thanks!
Chat Participant: Could you elaborate on your MBA experience during the pandemic? How has the virtual setting changed collaboration amongst your peers for better or worse?
Chirag Sancheti: Due to pandemic there is been an adjusting period. But Booth has been really good at managing and delivering on the expectations. There are various platforms, tools like slack, zoom, etc that can be used for collaboration. One of the advantages of virtual world is that it has increased accessibility to peers. It is much easier to get on coffee chats, collaborate at convenience, it's easier to work on projects. Also, one important advantages is that you can attend a lot of seminars, talks, workshops due to online nature. I have been attending over 5-6 events a week.
Chat Participant: Is your team able to share more insight on how COVID has impacted the admissions process? Specific questions include the following:
1. Has the number of applicants changed significantly?
2. Has there been a change in the number of admitted students?
3. Has student retention been impacted? If so, has anything been put in place to address this?
Andrea Calderon: The main impact on the admissions process has been our move to conduct interviews and campus visit opportunities virtually. We've been fortunate to have very strong application numbers consistent with years past and very high retention. We've found that our faculty, clubs and student life team have done a fantastic job engaging with one another and incoming students, so retention has been terrific. We do not release specific admissions numbers related to acceptance rate. Thanks!
Chat Participant: I am sorry if this was asked, but are classes online or in person right now?
Vanessa Prachack: At this time, the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA is not 100% in-person. We still have online classes. Unfortunately, all admissions, networking, and visit events for prospective students at Booth will be virtual at least through June. We are hoping to resume in-person activities for admissions later in 2021.
Chat Participant: How have you managed to network with your peers through the pandemic/virtual classes?
Chirag Sancheti: It is much easier now. Everyone has time for virtual meeting. It is easier to avoid time conflicts and plan the meet. How do I find new people to network? Booth has a lot of events where you can be connected with peers. You can slack people in your cohort and have a quick one on one chat. If you have someone talk in class and like their perspective then just slack them and get on a call. Never hesitate to ask and networking become much easier. One Quick tip, try to network with people who you have nothing in common, you learn a great deal.
Admissions Questions:
Chat Participant: Fall application deadline in June, but how soon do you suggest applying for priority or Merit based scholarships?
Patrick McHale: The time in which you submit your application does not impact your competitiveness or likelihood for admission or merit-scholarships. Please keep in mind the vast majority of scholarship decisions come after the application deadline, as the admissions committee prefers to review the entire candidate pool before making scholarship decisions.
Chat Participant: Bachelor's degree in any field work to be eligible for MBA?
Marcus Wordlaw: Yes, that is correct.
Chat Participant: Wondering if there’s any part time MBA options for international students not currently in the US
Stephanie Gunn: There are not. All international students in the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Program are living and working in the United States on a valid work visa.
Chat Participant: Hello, I trust you are doing well. Can we apply to both the full time MBA and evening MBA for the same term?
Stephanie Gunn: You can only apply to one program at a time. A big part of the application process is determining which program is right for you and why. If you are looking to go full-time then you are planning to quit your job and if Evening or Weekend you are looking to continue working. While the programs yield the same degree, the experience is different and thus a question that must be answered at the onset when selecting which program you want to apply to.
Chat Participant: Are application decisions given only after deadline's or would we notified as and when you receive the applications? This is for weekend MBA
Patrick McHale: Applicants are typically notified of their admission decision 4-6 weeks after submitting their completed application.
Chat Participant: Are interviews being conducted in person?
Marcus Wordlaw: All interviews are virtual until further notice.
Chat Participant: How do you think Booth differentiates itself from other weekend/evening MBA programs?
Sarah Palomo: Booth's part-time and full-time programs utilize the exact same professors, courses, and requirements. The academics really do stand out in terms of rigor and variety. Booth also takes pride in offering the most flexible MBA curriculum for students, both full-time and part-time, to benefit from. On top of this, you will enter a community of intelligent and supportive individuals, which includes students, faculty, and staff, as well at 55,000+ alumni around the world!
Chat Participant: Does Booth still encourage/accept evening/weekend MBA applications If you are currently unemployed?
Marcus Wordlaw: We accept applications if currently unemployed but it is important to detail your plan for employment and why this is the best time for an MBA. Most importantly we want to know why the part-time program is still the best fit over the full-time program
Chat Participant: Are the resume reviews/ appointments to get a feel of how your holistic package stands in terms of what is needed to get into the programs?
Vanessa Prachack: Yes, you may submit your resume for review here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/resume-review?sc_lang=en
Chat Participant: Thank you for organizing this session. I wanted to understand how the GPA system works. I completed my B.Tech from India and seeking some insight in how that will be translated to USA based GPA system
Patrick McHale: Our admissions team is trained and experienced to evaluate international transcripts. We fairly evaluate them based on the scale provided by the school.
Chat Participant: Can you share what tends to be the reason candidates pursue the Weekend program vs. the Evening program? I assume duration of the program is the most substantial factor, but am curious if candidates indicate other reasons (i.e. family, curriculum load, etc.)
Sarah Palomo: Picking Weekend vs Evening is very much dependent on you and your needs. The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs both offer flexibility and the same courses will be offered by the same professors. I would encourage you to reflect on your career, and personal life to determine which program makes the most sense to you.
Chat Participant: What considerations should I keep in mind when deciding between a weekend MBA vs. eMBA. I am not based in Chicago, but am open to the idea of traveling depending on the frequency of travel. What is the frequency of travel for the weekend MBA vs. EMBA?
Sarah Palomo: The Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Programs offer more flexibility while the Executive MBA Program is a 21 month lock-step co-horted program that meets in a combination of alternating weekends and week-long residencies in the Chicago, London, and Hong Kong campuses. About 77% of our Weekend students are coming from out of state and travel to campus every weekend. During non-pandemic times, you would be expected to travel to campus during the weekends when you have class.
Chat Participant: What is the size of the class for the weekend program?
Andrea Calderon: It can vary by intake slightly, but we have approximately 1200 part-time students across our Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs
Chat Participant: What is the major difference between part time MBA and full time MBA?
Kayla Anderson: We offer four paths to obtain an MBA. Each program varies in terms of delivery format and student profile. For example, our Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs have a flexible curriculum, an average age of 26-33, and students typically have between 3-9 years of work experience. The part-time MBA options are designed for full time working professionals who want to keep working while getting their MBA. We also offer a Full Time MBA Program for those who want to leave their current job and focus on school full-time. They all result in the same MBA - just different formats and programming.
Chat Participant: Does the weekend or MBA admission process include group interviews with peers?
Kayla Anderson: No - applicants will only have to interview with one person from our admissions committee. Interviews are typically an hour long and are currently held virtually.
Chat Participant: Are recent Master’s degree graduates eligible for the weekend MBA program? Or is there a minimum work experience requirement?
Marcus Wordlaw: Yes, recent Master degree graduates are eligible for the Weekend program within our Chicago Business Fellows (CBF) young professionals program. This allows students with three years or less to apply.
Chat Participant: What type of work experience do you look for in EMBA?
Vanessa Prachack: I recommend checking out this link for more information about the Executive MBA Program: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/executive/faq#anchor_admission_requirements
Chat Participant: Curious about limitations for part time students in on campus recruitment participation. I have heard in conversations with students that you might have to get approval from a current employer? Can you provide details on these limitations?
Marcus Wordlaw: This relates to employer reimbursement. If you receive more than $8,000 per year from your employer toward your Booth education you would need written consent from them to participate in campus recruitment. If you receive less than that amount, you would not need consent. Additionally, this consent is only related to the campus recruitment function of Career Services. Any other resource within Booth's Career Services you wish you access for employment opportunities does not require this consent.
Chat Participant: What does Booth value seeing in potential students' application package?
Patrick McHale: We expect successful applicants to demonstrate prior success academically and ability to handle Booth's rigor through transcripts and test scores. We also look for signs of career progression, leadership potential, and alignment with how Booth will assist with you accomplishing your goals. Lastly, we look for a compelling, authentic story on why Booth's Evening or Weekend program is your program of choice at this point in your life/career.
Chat Participant: Hi! Can you give information about applying for scholarships and requirements, please?
Andrea Calderon: All you have to do is apply! We do not have a separate scholarship application. You can see more information here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/scholarships-and-aid
Chat Participant: I'm concerned about my GPA. I've taken my GMAT and have done well on it. I do feel worried that it may not be enough. What other options do I have to boost my application? Could I do graded quantitative classes from some of the online extension schools? Any other suggestions?
Andrea Calderon: Your GPA is one of those things that you can't change- but you are doing the right things to supplement your application, such as working hard on your GMAT score. If it's a concern for you, taking a class can be a great way to demonstrate your ability for success in the classroom. Or using our extra essay to explain why your GPA isn't ideal.
Chat Participant: After submitting the application, approximately how long does an interview and decision take?
Andrea Calderon: You can expect to hear from us between 4-6 weeks from when your application is complete. You will hear if you've been invited to an interview usually around 1-2 weeks after submitting your application! You can see more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/how-to-apply
Chat Participant: I'm and adult with a lot of work experience. However I'm currently working in my undergrad I will graduate in December. Can I still apply for spring classes?
Marcus Wordlaw: You must carry a bachelor's degree at the time you submit your application, so you would be able to apply any time after December when you graduate and earn your diploma.
Chat Participant: Do you offer any services or support to veterans who’ve been out of academia for a period of time?
Stephanie Gunn: The University of Chicago has an Office for Military-Affiliated Communities and then specific within Chicago Booth the robust community really comes to life through our Armed Forces Group, a student association that supports fellow members and serves as a strong network while at Booth and beyond. In fact, since 2006, the number of veteran MBA students enrolled at Chicago Booth has increased nearly 300 percent. The other thing to keep in mind is that many of the students in the Evening and Weekend Program have been out of school for some time so you are not alone!
Chat Participant: Should recommendation letters be submitted by the deadline or more time is allowed?
Kayla Anderson: While we suggest having all materials in by the deadline, we typically have a one week grace period where we allow remaining materials to trickle in.
Chat Participant: How does the Civic Scholars program works?
Vanessa Prachack: Hi, great question! Our latest Civic Scholars Program just passed but I recommend visiting the website for more information about the candidates we seek and who would qualify: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/civic-scholars Please note that the Chicago Booth Civic Scholars Program offers substantial tuition awards up to 100 percent to MBA students who work in a 501(c) designated nonprofit organization or for the government.
Chat Participant: Hello! Is there a maximum work experience limit, beyond which you are not encouraged to apply the weekend program?
Patrick McHale: There is no work experience limit to apply to any of Booth's programs. However, please keep in mind the average amount of work experience of students in the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs is 6-7 years. While there are students in these programs with 10-12+ years of experience, some will consider applying to the Executive MBA program, where their students will have 14-15 years of work experience on average.
Chat Participant: I have a full time job, but I also do freelancing and other work on the side, do I list all of this under employment?
Marcus Wordlaw: Yes, it is important to list all your work with context so that we can fully assess your candidacy
Chat Participant: What is a piece of advice you could give us....something that you wished you knew when applying!
Chirag Sancheti: That's a great question. Even before you start the process, make sure you sit down with yourself and find out the answers to following questions. Use laddering technique to find true answers
1. Why do I want to do MBA?
2. What do I want to get out of the experience?
3. What do I want to do 30 years from now?
4. Where I are right now in your life? And where do I want to go?
Chat Participant: Hello, thank you for taking our questions. I was curious about the Civil Scholars Program. Do you apply for this program with your application, or is this a separate process after you have been accepted?
Andrea Calderon: You would apply for Civic Scholars with your application! There is an additional essay to complete when you apply as well. Thanks!
Chat Participant: Hi. Is there any rough indication on how many people on the waitlist can make it through each year or use last year's number for reference? Thank you.
Stephanie Gunn: We do not publish this data for the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA Programs because the data tends to vary quarter to quarter and year to year. Instead, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with our student profile and focus on putting together a competitive application. If you are placed on the waitlist you can provide supplemental application materials for consideration such as a letter of continued interest, an additional letter of recommendation, or updates to your resume.
Chat Participant: From an admissions standpoint are there more requirements to get into the EMBA program than the weekend MBA? I personally have 7 years of professional experience currently, but my employer prefers I join an EMBA program to minimize travel and continue working full time.
Andrea Calderon: I'd recommend you speak to a member of our EMBA team to discuss admissions requirements specifically for the EMBA program as well as your fit for that program- they can be reached at xp@chicagobooth.edu . Just to clarify- our students in the Weekend MBA program do continue to work full time. Thanks!
Chat Participant: I am also considering to apply for the fall 2022 full-time program. Is it possible to start in the evening/weekend MBA program in 2021 and then matriculate into full-time in 2022? Or do you recommend waiting to apply to the full-time program?
Marcus Wordlaw: You must only apply to one program, and once you start you cannot change from Evening/Weekend to Full-Time, or vice versa. I recommend taking this time to assess Part and Full-Time deeply to determine what will be best for you.
Chat Participant: Is interview part of selection process? If yes, how long after application submission does it take place?
Patrick McHale: After submitting a completed application, you will be notified by the admissions team if you are invited to interview or not within 10 days. If invited, you will be connected with a student/alum member of the admissions committee within the following 3-5 days. The interview will take place virtually in the following week or two. Applicants typically receive their admission decision within 4-6 weeks of submitting their completed application.
Chat Participant: What is acceptance rate percentage as of now?
Andrea Calderon: We do not release specific admissions numbers related to acceptance rate. Thanks!
Chat Participant: What are the school's policies on deferred admission?
Patrick McHale: Deferral requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Booth strongly encourages candidates to apply for the quarter they fully intend to start taking classes. Approved deferral requests typically involve situations (work, life, etc.) that have impacted the candidate after application submission and if this situation has an impact on their starting quarter. If approved, students are allowed to defer by one intake. For example, an admitted Evening MBA student for Spring quarter approved for deferral would start in the Summer quarter.
Chat Participant: If possible we should have one of our letters of recommendation come from a current work supervisor, correct?
Kayla Anderson: Yes - we prefer to hear from a current supervisor. We are looking for objectivity in the letter, and we want to hear from someone who can assess both your strengths and your weaknesses.
Chat Participant: Is it easier to get into the weekend or evening program? Is there a difference? Can I apply to both at the same time?
Patrick McHale: The application process for these programs are equally competitive, allowing candidates to apply for the program that makes more sense for their life, work, and/or travel schedule. The only difference is what classes you have priority enrollment for (Monday-Friday nights for Evening and Friday nights and Saturday for Weekend). You can start as many applications as you want, but you can only apply for one program at a time.
Chat Participant: Can you tell us more about the global cohort? What do students do in 5 weeks? Are the 5 weeks spread out over 2+ years?
Stephanie Gunn: What you are referencing is our Executive MBA Program, not our Evening and Weekend Program. We encourage you to connect with our colleagues on the Executive MBA Admissions team. You can learn more and view upcoming events specific to EMBA here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/executive/admissions
Chat Participant: Do you have any recommendation for the essay?
Sarah Palomo: The essay questions can be found here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/how-to-apply. In general, I would encourage you to answer the questions thoughtfully and authentically. A part of the application is explaining which program (Evening or Weekend) is the best program for you and your career goals. The essay should be unique to you and your professional journey and future goals.
Chat Participant: Hello! Thank you to the organizers and participants, I was able to gather valuable information from the various Q&A. What is an estimate for the total cost of the program? Including fees, books - I am local to Chicago.
Patrick McHale: You're welcome! You can find more tuition and cost information here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/cost
Chat Participant: Can you give any visibility on the interaction and relationship between the part-time and full-time programs? I would plan to be very involved in a lot of initiatives in media, VC, and entrepreneurship if I go to Booth and would like some more visibility on how part-time students can accomplish this, etc.
Stephanie Gunn: There are opportunities for part-time and full-time students to come together in the classroom and through student groups although the evening and weekend students have their own student groups dedicated to these areas of interest of yours. There is also the Polsky Center, which is a wonderful resource available to all of our students. It's just a matter of how much time you have to dedicate to this while working.
Testing Questions:
Chat Participant: What are the ranges of GMAT scores and GRE scores (section wise) for Weekend MBA?
Marcus Wordlaw: The average student scores a 680 on the GMAT. The middle 80% of students score between 620-740 on the exam. You may use a GRE conversion tool to convert a GRE into an equivalent GMAT score here: https://www.ets.org/gre/institutions/admissions/interpretation_resources/mba_comparison_tool?WT.ac=40361_owt06_180820
Chat Participant: Is the GMAT Online given equal weight as the GMAT in person?
Kayla Anderson: Yes - the online GMAT, GRE, and Executive Assessment are all viewed equally to the in person options.
Chat Participant: Hello! Do international students need to provide certifications on IELTS OR TOEFL?
Sarah Palomo: If English is not your native language, you’ll need to submit proof of English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). However, the requirement may be waived if you are a citizen or permanent resident of a country where English is an official language, or have earned an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from an institution in which English is the language of instruction, or if you have been living and working full time in the United States for two or more years
Chat Participant: will you consider a high GMAT score a compensation to the low GPA?
Patrick McHale: We typically encourage candidates to score close to or higher than the 680 average to help offset lower undergraduate grades. However, please keep in mind we review applications holistically, regardless of grades and test scores.
Chat Participant: What consideration (if any) is given to the Integrated Reasoning/Analytical Writing (for in-person) scores of the GMAT?
Sarah Palomo: We do not have a minimum GMAT score, or a minimum required score for any of the GMAT sections. We do review each section of the GMAT, but we have a holistic review and look at much more beyond the GMAT score.
Chat Participant: If a candidate already has a GRE score within the acceptable range (but on the lower range), would you recommend spending time trying to improve this score, or focusing on the essays and other parts of the application?
Marcus Wordlaw: It depends on your ability to improve. If you feel that with adequate study time you can impact your score then I would recommend re-testing. However, if you either don't have the time to put into studying at this point or you are confident you did your best the previous attempt it likely makes more sense to dedicate the time you have to the other areas of the application.
Chat Participant: Is there a specific prep course offered online that you’d most recommend to prepare for the GMAT?
Sarah Palomo: We do not recommend a specific prep course to prepare for the GMAT.
Chat Participant: What is the range of EA scores among students admitted to the Weekend MBA program? Do prospective employers have a stated or implied preference for any of the three exam options (EA/ GMAT/GRE)?
Andrea Calderon: We just began accepting the EA test this year, so we have fairly limited data points, but thus far our average has been 153. We have not heard that employers have a preference for any exam in particular, but it would be important to check directly with an employer if you have a specific one in mind.
Chat Participant: Does taking the GMAT, instead of the GRE or Executive Assessment, give you a competitive advantage?
Sarah Palomo: There is no competitive advantage to taking the GMAT over the GRE, or EA. We accept all 3 tests and we truly do not have a preference.
Chat Participant: On an average, how many scholarships are available to the weekend/evening students compared to that of full-time students? Also, how can I make sure my official GMAT score reached the school? Thank you.
Patrick McHale: Scholarship funding is split evenly between the part-time and full-time programs. The number of scholarships awarded and the amount given for each will vary quarter-by-quarter and is completely dependent on the applicant pool. As long as you added Booth as a school that receives your scores, you do not need to take any further action. Our operations team typically verifies official scores after the admission decision is made. We only need the self-reported, unofficial scores to review the application.
Academic Questions:
Chat Participant: Is the LEAD program also available for evening and weekend MBA program?
Stephanie Gunn: Yes. LEAD is required for all Evening and Weekend students! Your journey begins with LEAD. You can learn more here about LEAD: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/academics/leadership-development
Chat Participant: Hi! Question about concentrations - at what point in the evening/weekend curriculum do you have to declare a concentration and how many can you choose?
Marcus Wordlaw: You don't ever have to declare a concentration. Each Booth course you take falls under at least one of our concentrations. You will have a Booth Book that virtually keeps record of the classes you have taken and classes needed under each concentration. Due to this, most students graduate with 2-3 different concentrations
Chat Participant: Can you provide detail on the anticipated duration of each of the two programs and the pace at which students typically complete them? If it's two years, does that include full-time in both summers?
Patrick McHale: The average completion time in the Evening MBA and Weekend MBA programs is 2.5-3 years. Students will take on average 2 classes a quarter, but can take anywhere between 0-3 classes in a quarter (more than 3 is possible, but difficult for Evening and Weekend students). Students must complete 20 classes in order to graduate. They have up to 5 years to complete the 20 classes.
Chat Participant: Is Booth on the quarter or semester system and when would term begin for the June 2021 application deadline for applicants accepted?
Kayla Anderson: Booth is on the quarter system. The June deadline is for the Autumn quarter which starts on September 27th, 2021.
Chat Participant: Can students from the Weekend/Evening MBA opt to attend the full time classes if they are able to fit those into their schedule?
Stephanie Gunn: Flexibility is the hallmark of our MBA and that includes flexibility in taking classes outside your home program, should your schedule permit you to do so. So yes, if you can fit a daytime class in your work schedule you would be welcome to take that class if seats are available. Similarly, full-time students can also take classes in the Evening and Weekend Programs.
Chat Participant: Can anyone describe the types of assignments that you work on outside of the class sessions?
Chirag Sancheti: Lectures are focused to teach concepts and apply knowledge (via hands on experience, etc.) The assignments are meant to help students absorb and retain the learnings. Assignments can range from individual assignments, quizzes, projects, case studies, group activities, interviewing outside Booth, analysis, problem solving, and working with partner companies.
Chat Participant: What type of teaching approach does the school apply (i.e. experimental learning, immersive hands on experience, case heavy, analytically drive)?
Chirag Sancheti: It varies from course to course. Professor design the courses in such a way that the student can maximize their learnings. I have done 10 courses at Booth. And almost all classes had all types of approaches. It has been a great mix of experimental learning, immersive hands on experience, cases, analytically drive, group projects, collab with companies, etc.
Chat Participant: Can part-time students take the PE/VC lab class? That is probably my top priority class.
Chirag Sancheti: Yes, all students can participate in lab classes. This is the specialty of Booth. There is a lot of flexibility. I know a lot of friends who did PE/VC lab. Only important thing will be to be better at time management. Most of the lab classes have higher time commitment then other lecture classes.
Chat Participant: Is there any bidding for the classes? If yes, what are the chances that one does not get the classes they want?
Chirag Sancheti: There is bidding, and there is a systematic way in which most students take classes. So the chances are that you will get the class you want. If not, you can get it next quarter or next time when it is offer. And Booth has a lot of classes so it will never be the case that you won’t be able to find any class. To give you reference, every quarter students take 2-3 classes, and Booth has over 300 classes offered each quarter. There's a lot of choice.
Chat Participant: Is the weekend MBA on both Saturdays and Fridays? Or is it typically just Saturdays?
Vanessa Prachack: Weekend MBA classes are offered on Fridays and Saturdays. At this time, true Weekenders are not commuting to Chicago to take classes in person, but are taking them fully online. You can stay up to date on COVID updates here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/military-resources-at-chicago-booth
Chat Participant: For part time evening MBA programs, how many years would it take to complete, assuming I'm working a fulltime job
Vanessa Prachack: Hello, the only requirement for program completion is to take 20 courses within 5 years. You can choose how many classes you want to take each quarter, including having the option to take quarters off. Weekend students will often take at least a quarter or two off during their time as a student.
Chat Participant: I think I saw that there is a minimum number of classes that need to be completed by part-time students to participate in on campus recruiting. Can you review how that works. Thanks!
Marcus Wordlaw: You need to complete 1200 units, or 12 out of 20 courses in order to participate in campus recruiting.
Chat Participant: How are the classes structured? Are they lecture-tutorial or seminar style?
Marcus Wordlaw: They are lecture and discussion based with group work involved in nearly every class.
Chat Participant: Is there any specific electives for technology professionals?
Patrick McHale: Yes, I encourage you to check out our course search tool to take a deeper dive into our curriculum and find electives that fit your interests and goals. You can access it here: https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch
Chat Participant: Hi! Are there any specific concentrations geared towards healthcare management/healthcare entrepreneurship?
Patrick McHale: Unfortunately, Booth does not offer a healthcare-specific concentration. However, Booth offers healthcare specific courses. I recommend exploring our course search tool (https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch) to find courses that align with your interests and goals.
Chat Participant: As a part-time student in Econometrics & Statistics concentration, are all courses available in each quarter and how has course availability impacted part-time students progressing through the curriculum?
Andrea Calderon: Not every course is available every quarter- much depends on faculty availability. You can see our course planning tool here, so you can get an idea of what's available: https://intranet.chicagobooth.edu/pub/coursesearch/coursesearch
Chat Participant: Thanks in advance, could you please share the profiles of the professors who teaches technical subjects
Patrick McHale: You can access Booth's faculty directory here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/directory. It will show the name of the faculty member and their respective academic field.
Chat Participant: While I recognize each student's experience is unique, how would you guesstimate the breakdown between group work versus personal study? Along the lines of 50/50 or more dramatically weighted toward a 90/10 in either direction? Further how has COVID impacted that?
Chirag Sancheti: Analytical and mathematically driven classes in Economics, Finance, Stats have more individual work. Knowledge application classes in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Strategy will have more group work. It totally depends on what courses you take. COVID is not going to change the way you learn, so there will be no impact to assignments and group work. And it is perfectly possible and easy to collaborate with teams even during virtual classes. There are many features and in fact, some classes utilize break out rooms for quick team collaboration.
Chat Participant: Can we test or waive out of classes that we have taken before so we can focus on more electives?
Stephanie Gunn: All students are required to take 20 courses at Booth regardless of background or prior coursework taken. However, with the flexibility of our program and the fact that there is no required or core curriculum, you can take your knowledge and apply it to more advanced courses and electives of interest to you. You would never be repeating coursework you've already taken and you would continue to be challenged.
Chat Participant: Is there a "typical" amount of daily/weekly study time for students taking 1 or 2 courses per quarter?
Chirag Sancheti: Every course has an evaluation which mentions, 'What is the average out of class work for this course?' Using that information, you can pick the courses for a specific quarter based on your availability. Most of the students take 2 courses with out of class work ranging from 8 to 10 hours. Some courses have higher time commitments like up to 10-12 hours per course. Whereas some have lesser time commitment like 2 hours per week. You can always mix and match as per your availability. That's a big part of Booth's flexibility.
Chat Participant: For the Weekend MBA program how do people out of state typically manage the commute/schedule to Chicago every weekend? I'm based in California.
Chirag Sancheti: All the students from other cities fly to Chicago on Friday evening/Saturday morning and fly back on Saturday or Sunday morning. Every major city has a groups where all students fly together. The flights are booked much in advance so you get really good pricing. Since every quarter is nine week long, students fly over 36 times a year. Also, students travel from Chicago Airport to School together to reduce expense. Given virtual nature, now you can do classes over weekend from the luxury of your home.
Student Life/Career Services Questions:
Chat Participant: Regarding the comparison of the weekend/evening MBA to the fulltime MBA. I know it's mentioned that the curriculum and faculty are the same, but could you speak to the comparison around student engagement (i.e. networking, being involved with extracurricular, etc.)
Marcus Wordlaw: From a networking aspect, the full and part time programs are similar, but slightly different. There are clubs in each program specific to students within that program. On the Part Time side, we combine Evening and Weekend clubs so that those students can participate together. Part-Time networking and club events tend to happen mostly on Saturdays when weekend students are in town for class. There are industry clubs and social clubs that allow for students to have a mixture of interest-related events and career-oriented events. Part-Time students do have to be more strategic with time management and what they are willing to sacrifice in order to engage as much as they like. However there are also events throughout the week (though the weekend is the focal point for events) and opportunities to organically connect with students outside of class, and outside of structured events
Chat Participant: Are there are collaborations with companies that students work with during their time in school (i.e. innovation hubs etc.)?
Andrea Calderon: There are many experiential learning opportunities available to our students, where they work directly with clients! You can learn more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/academics/classroom-experience
Chat Participant: Hi - thanks for hosting the live chat today! I was wondering if there are student ambassadors for the part-time programs to answer student life questions. What are some ways that students take advantage of being in Chicago while they're part of the program? (aside from working in the city)
Chirag Sancheti: Absolutely. There are a lot of advantages being in the city as well (except during COVID) You can have study rooms reserved, so people with kids at home use that a lot to work. You can attend more in-person event. It's easier to meet people. Given many students live in the city, you can meet people outside of your classes, grab drinks. You can contribute more to the school as you have higher availability. And, at Gleacher you can get free coffee every day before 6 pm. ;) All of this is conditioned to non-pandemic world. Right now everyone can do all of these from their homes.
Chat Participant: I understand that the value of the MBA is for folks looking into switching careers. If I'm already in the financial industry, and not looking to switch fields, do you think the MBA will be valuable for my long term career?
Sarah Palomo: Many of our applicants are looking to progress in their career, for example, receive a promotion, or receive increased management responsibilities. A MBA is also valuable in achieving this goal, in addition, to a potential career pivot. An advantage of the part-time program is you are working while in class and you can directly apply new concepts in management, finance, etc. to your career and day-to-day. Through our flexible curriculum you can select the courses that make the most sense to you and your career goals, as well as getting exposed to the Booth network, and incredible faculty
Chat Participant: If I would like to make a career switch, would the full time program be a better fit than the part time/weekend MBA?
Marcus Wordlaw: Not necessarily a better fit, but it depends on the type of career change you want to make. Will this change be assisted with an internship? Is investment banking the industry of change? If either of these is yes, then you should at least explore the Full-Time program as the program has an internship process for first year students that helps facilitate necessary summer internships. Investment banks tend to hire directly from employees they have interned or have some working knowledge of and it can be more work to navigate this space without an internship. However, internships are available in the Evening and Weekend program ð they just require work with you and career services as opposed to an organized process. If an internship is not necessary nor is Investment Banking then either program would provide about an equal opportunity to transition. Also, a benefit of networking with Evening and Weekend students is that they are working while in the program which can help with job change.
Chat Participant: Could you share what are the LGBTQ+ initiatives and groups that are on campus? Do part-time/weekend MBA students get to join these groups?
Stephanie Gunn: At Chicago Booth, we're committed to supporting our LGBTQ students and providing opportunities for them to thrive. Regardless of which Booth program you choose, you'll find a supportive network, engaging events, and a welcoming community. You can learn more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/why-booth/diversity/lgbtq. Specific to Evening and Weekend we have the Booth Pride group, whose mission is to foster growth in the LGBTQ Chicago Booth community by providing learning and career development opportunities. You can learn more here: https://groups.chicagobooth.edu/boothpride/home/
Chat Participant: Appreciate you providing this space for Q&A! I don't believe this has been asked yet, but can you touch on short-term study abroad opportunities for Evening MBA students?
Andrea Calderon: Yes, there are some short-term programs our students can participate in. You can see them on this page under 'short-term programs': https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/international-programs-and-study-abroad
Chat Participant: I heard something about the pre-MBA internship process for Booth, mostly for startups, etc.. Which I think is unique to Booth. Is this available for part-time students as well? I am mostly interested in this for Venture Capital and startups.
Andrea Calderon: The part-time students do not participate in the MBA internship process, since we are a working professional program, so unfortunately, those opportunities would not be available.
Chat Participant: If I am seeking a career development in the current company, how do you think the Booth MBA can help?
Andrea Calderon: Our Career Services Center offers many resources to help you take the next step in your career, such as 1-1 career coaching to help you prepare for a promotion, networking events and programming focused on continuing to use the MBA to accelerate your career
Chat Participant: Is there a student interest group for product management? What are the best opportunities for working on product management skills at Booth?
Vanessa Prachack: Hi, there certainly is! We just posted a series of product management blogs on our page and here is an example of one: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/failing-fast-to-learn-fast-product-management-at-booth?sc_lang=en You can also visit our Kilts Marketing Center's page for mroe resources and information about case events and workshops: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/research/kilts
Chat Participant: How can evening/weekend students build network with full-time MBA students and other alumni?
Chirag Sancheti: Yes, at times, a lot of Part time students are in classes with Full time students. Many times they work together on projects, assignment. And it is much easier with alumni because after you graduate from Booth it doesn't matter what program you did. If you can reach out to an alumni, they will respond to you.
Chat Participant: Do all the MBAs get the same access to career services and campus recruitment?
Andrea Calderon: Career resources across our programs are the same where all students have access to on-campus recruiting, networking events, career coaches and career center programming. However, the one exception is that part-time students cannot participate in internship recruiting, that is a resource only available to full-time students and is built into the program. Thanks!