April 6, 2021 Live Admissions Chat
Admissions Live Chat
4/6/2020
COVID Related Questions:
Chat Participant: Due to COVID-19, what percentage of weekend courses are expected to be in-person for the Fall 2021 semester?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: There has not yet been a percentage determined, but the university has made the statement that they would like to resume on-campus activities at the start of fall quarter. Much depends on vaccine rollouts as well as what senior leadership and regulations determine is safest for all involved. As we get closer to fall quarter, we'll know more!
Chat Participant: Are there any opportunities for prospects to sit-in for a weekend class prior to applying to get a sense of how classes offered?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We do not have an on-campus campus visit program right now, but we encourage you to visit one of our Master Classes! These are sample classes by our world-class faculty- and will surely give you a sense of what it's like in the classroom. You can find out more information and sign up here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/events
Chat Participant: Thanks for this event, been very helpful so far. I was just curious if the admissions office had a view on how part time applications/admissions will be trending for the fall given COVID? If it will be a higher/lower volume than is typical?
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: We do not yet have enough data to see how we will be trending for the Fall applications. We did see a slight increase in applications in prior quarters, but nothing significant.
Admissions Questions:
Chat Participant: Does the Chicago Booth Fellows Program have application deadlines year-round?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Currently The Chicago Business Fellows (CBF) program has deadlines in the Spring and Fall only. The Fall 2021 deadline for CBF is June 11th for both Evening and Weekend CBF applications. The Spring enrollment is only for Evening CBF candidates with a deadline in early January 2022.
Chat Participant: Is it possible for candidates to complete the weekend MBA program who live outside of the state?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: The majority of our Weekend students actually do live out of Illinois! They simply commute in on the weekends.
Chat Participant: What is the most memorable application you’ve reviewed, and why?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: The most memorable applications are the ones that are authentic from start to finish. You can really get a sense of who that person is from their essays, letters of recommendation, and resume and there is consistency across all parts of the application. Even better when the notion of who an applicant is on paper is validated from the interview itself. We like to see applications that are complete and that don't leave room for us to make assumptions or fill in the gaps. he app process offers an opportunity for self-reflection and a strong application provides us with a clear understanding of why you are looking to pursue your MBA.
Chat Participant: Question: How different is the application process between the weekend MBA and FT MBA program at Booth?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Our Full-Time program has only one intake- in the fall and has rounds when you can apply, and your application will not be reviewed until after the round deadline. Our Weekend program has intakes each quarter (fall/winter/summer/spring) and we accept applications on a rolling basis. You can find out more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions
Chat Participant: Hello, thank you for holding this event. I'm a working professional with ~6yrs of experience, currently in NY/NJ area and have recently become interested in Booth's Weekend MBA Program. Overview on the website states 77% of Weekend MBA students are out-of-state - do you have any stats on how many of those are from the east/west coast (i.e. further distance than the nearby drivable states)?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Great question! It can tend to change each quarter, but for our out of state folks, the majority come from the coasts. NYC is a large presence for our Weekend students! I'm not certain of the exact percentage this quarter, but you would be in great company with many New Yorkers!
Chat Participant: Similar to a resume review, do you offer profile reviews (including grades, gre/gmat scores, experience)?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Unfortunately, our services in that regard do not extend beyond resume reviews. We can provide general guidance and input, but we are unable to provide direct application or candidacy feedback.
Chat Participant: Do you offer scholarships if a student and their spouse both get through the admission process successfully?
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: Hi! We do not offer specific scholarships for spouses. Each applicant is reviewed for merit scholarships. There is no additional application to be reviewed and if you and your spouse both apply, you will both be considered for merit scholarships!
Chat Participant: Hi, how does it work logistically for those flying in on Friday night for the weekend program? Do they stay in hotels by the airport and get picked up by the shuttle from there?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Typically students who fly to Chicago on Friday will stay at a hotel near the Gleacher Center. Located in the heart of downtown Chicago there are many hotel choices within walking distance. The shuttle only runs from the two Chicago airports (Midway and O’Hare) on Saturdays. So if you were to commute on a Saturday morning before class, you could take the shuttle directly to the Gleacher Center. The shuttle also runs from Gleacher to both airports after the last class on Saturday (departing at 4:40pm CST).
Chat Participant: Two things: (1) Is Booth more competitive or collaborative? (2) How do I make an application stand out?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: 1.Booth is much more collaborative as a Booth student. Collaboration is one of the pillars of our Chicago approach to learning in class. You will be asked to form groups in virtually each of your classes and lean on others in your class. Collaboration is essential to the experience we look to create and safe space that persists through Booth. 2. Speak genuinely about your experiences and be as specific as possible. Think about the unique characteristics and successes you’ve achieved in life that other students perhaps have not and speak to how you look to impact our community.
Chat Participant: I live in San Francisco. How do candidates pursue MBA from Booth?
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: Our Weekend MBA program allows student who live outside of Illinois to get their MBA from Booth. About 70% of our Weekend MBA students commute to Chicago from across the country to take classes on Saturday. I would recommend looking further into the Weekend MBA program.
Chat Participant: Hi, hope everyone is doing well! I would like to begin the program in Fall 2021--how many Evening MBA students typically enroll during this time?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: Autumn quarter tends to be our largest intake with approximately 100 Evening and 100 Weekend students. That said, we do not have a co-horted program so the number of incoming students really does not affect your overall Booth experience or classroom size. While you might LAUNCH (Orientation) with a larger group in the Autumn quarter, the flexible format means that students take different classes at their own pace. Keep in mind this also does not mean that any one quarter is more competitive than another.’
Chat Participant: Evening MBA is offered only in Fall? Or does Booth have evening MBA starting in Spring? If so, what is the deadline for Spring 2022 application?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: We bring in Evening and Weekend students every single quarter. We have not yet published our Spring 2022 application and tend to do so approximately 9 months prior. To give you a general sense, for Spring 2021 the application deadline was January 8 and classes started last week on March 29! Keep an eye out for Spring application in a few months’ time. The only ones currently published are Autumn 2021 and Winter 2022. The next one will be Spring 2022. Thanks for your patience.
Chat Participant: Also, is there a cut off age or number of years of full time work experience for the Chicago Business fellows?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Great question, Jim- for our Chicago Business Fellows program, our general guidelines are that candidates have up to 3 years of work experience. Thanks!
Chat Participant: Thank you for the response! All of the virtual events have been a great resource so far. Would there be an opportunity to visit in person later this year or the next when it is safe to do so?
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: This is a great question. At this time it has not been decided when we will allow in person events and visits to resume. We are hoping to have more information on this over the summer and we are hopeful that we can begin this as soon as possible.
Stay tuned!
Chat Participant: How is the total fee for Weekend MBA?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: The total cost to earn the degree is roughly $148,000. You can find more specific details here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/cost
Chat Participant: Is there any option of transferring into the full time program from the part time program?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: You cannot transfer into the full time program. You can transfer between Evening and Weekend one time only. However, you can dictate your pace and take additional courses if your schedule allows you to do so.
Chat Participant: What are the key differences between the FT MBA application process and Weekend MBA program?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Our Full-Time program has only one intake- in the fall and has rounds when you can apply, and your application will not be reviewed until after the round deadline. Our Weekend program has intakes each quarter (fall/winter/summer/spring) and we accept applications on a rolling basis. You can find out more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/admissions
Chat Participant: Does Booth offer any 1:1 consultation for prospect applicants for the weekend MBA program?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes! Feel free to email us at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu and our team can pass you along to an admissions director to schedule a call. We look forward to chatting!
Chat Participant: Were you confident about what you wanted to pursue for your MBA prior to submitting applications? How did you determine what was the best curriculum and path for you?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: This is a really good question to ask when thinking about pursuing an MBA - "why MBA" or "why now?" For me it was a next step in my career progression, something I also talked with my manager. As a prospective, would suggest doing some internal reflection, talking to Booth students / alumni and your personal & professional network.
Chat Participant: What would you say are the pros and cons of the Evening vs Weekend program? I'm confused and not sure of which to apply for. I have the option of moving to Chicago. Otherwise, I can fly in regularly as well.
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: In many ways they are the same program. The biggest difference is when you take your classes. Evening students tend to be local to Chicagoland and can easily take classes on weeknights from 6-9 pm (Monday-Friday) in our downtown location. Close to 80% of our Weekend students are from outside of Illinois and pre-Covid commuted into Chicago to take classes on Saturday. Keep in mind you are not limited to your home program and with our flexible format and as an Evening student you can take Weekend classes or as a Weekend student you can take Evening classes as well.
Chat Participant: Can I apply to more than one MBA program at a time?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: No. You can only apply to one program at a time. A large part of the application process is reflecting on why that particular format (Evening, Weekend, Full-Time, Executive) is right for you.
Chat Participant: Hello, how important are undergraduate majors in the admissions process? My undergraduate majors and the field I work in now are different. Also my undergraduate major is not business related either.
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We love seeing individuals from all majors and backgrounds applying- a business degree is not necessary to apply.
Chat Participant: Does Booth handle hotel reservations for students commuting into Chicago for the weekend program, or do students take care of reservations by themselves?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Our Boothies handle their own reservations for travel. We do have a few hotels where we have partnerships or discounts that some students opt into. As far as air transportation, many students opt into Southwest's buddy pass or have loyalty to a certain airline. We do provide a shuttle on Saturday mornings and evenings to and from the airport for our Weekenders.
Chat Participant: Do students who need to stay at hotels get discounts through the university?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Chicago Booth offers discounted rates at preferred hotels in the Chicago area. Students can book rooms various downtown Chicago hotels by speaking with a travel agent or calling hotels directly.
Chat Participant: What is the median and average financial aid / scholarship amount that a candidate receives?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: You can find out more about financial aid and scholarship on this page of our website! https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/admissions/scholarships-and-aid There's information about both financial aid and scholarship there. Hope this helps!
Chat Participant: Do you offer other scholarships apart from the merit scholarship for Evening MBA's?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: The merit-based scholarships are the only scholarship type that is provided by Chicago Booth.
Chat Participant: To clarify, we are not able to apply Fall 2021 (September 2021 deadline) to the CBF program to start Winter 2022? We can only apply this spring to start Fall 2021 or apply Winter 2022 to start Spring 2022?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, that is correct. Currently we do not have a CBF enrollment for the Winter or Summer quarters, making the Spring and Fall quarters the two times per year you can enroll as a CBF student. Keep in mind the Spring CBF enrollment is for Evening only, whereas the Fall enrollment is both Evening and Weekend CBF.
Chat Participant: Other than the GMAT, GPA, Essays, and Rec Letters, what can I do to boost my application? I am thinking of doing the Math for Management course from UC Berkeley Extension School since that course seems to be highly rated by many admissions consultants. Am I on the right track here? What else can I do?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We seek a well-rounded application. If you feel the Math for Management course would be useful to you, then that's great! Feel free to take it. I would recommend you take some time browsing our blog- there are many great posts that give excellent advice on what the team seeks: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/mba-life/topic/part-time-mba-admissions
Chat Participant: Is CPT applicable for part time programs?
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: I would recommend that you reach out to an admissions director to discuss this question and any other questions you might have regarding international students. Please email eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu
Chat Participant: For candidates who do not have much industry experience and are applying to the CBF program, what do you look for in their applications that is different from a more traditional/tenured candidate?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: For CBF students, we understand that you have three years or less of experience, so while the experience you have will be evaluated, we lean more heavily on all the other components of your application – which become more important. You will want to be certain that your message, reasons for applying to Booth, and potential impact are clearly highlighted within your application. If you have yet to take the GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment this exam will be significant to your academic profile.
Chat Participant: Is Autumn quarter more competitive than other quarters?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: No, all quarters are equal in competitiveness for applications submitted and in no quarter do you have a competitive advantage or disadvantage in applying.
Chat Participant: Can you switch from evening to weekend if your work schedule becomes more demanding or there is a change?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, you can. Booth students are able one time to switch from Evening to Weekend, or vice versa. Students are not able to switch from Part to Full-Time or vice versa.
Chat Participant: What would be the interview format for Evening MBA program?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: We offer an invite to interview process. Currently all interviews are conducted 100% virtual, but we hope to offer in person interviews sometime in Autumn quarter or Winter quarter. Interviews are more of a behavioral evaluative assessment and used to determine fit within the community. They tend to be rather conversational in nature and are the most fun part of the application process!
Chat Participant: On average, how many candidates are part of the cohorts for Weekend MBA, Evening MBA, and traditional MBA?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Our Evening and Weekend MBA program has around 1200 students enrolled at any time (in different quarters/points in their experience)- and so does our Full-time MBA!
Chat Participant: I read the admissions are on a rolling basis for the autumn quarter. Typically how soon can you expect a decision from the time of application?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Decisions arrive within 4-6 weeks of you submitting your application.
Chat Participant: What is the typical Friday/Saturday schedule for a student flying in to Booth?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: Classes on Friday evening (6-9) or Saturday morning (9-12) or Saturday afternoon (1:30 - 4:30). Typically I meetup with some of peers for breakfast on Saturday, attend events planned by Booth clubs during lunch time. At the end of the day SAC (student advisory council) plans a SASH (Saturday after social hours) in a close by location - which is perfect to network with students and socialize.
Chat Participant: What time is the application deadline?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: Depends when you are looking to apply. We have our Autumn 2021 and Winter 2022 applications published. Here are the deadlines: Autumn Quarter: June 11, 2021 (Evening MBA and Weekend MBA) Winter Quarter: September 27, 2021 (Evening MBA and Weekend MBA)
Chat Participant: What is the median salary of those who recently graduated with a MBA from Booth?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: You can find out more about salaries and the types of roles our students took on here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/career-impact/job-salary
Chat Participant: Is it advantageous to apply ahead of the application deadline? Or is it irrelevant how close to the June deadline we apply?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: The time when you submit your application does not have any impact on your admission decision. We operate on rolling admissions, and candidates typically receive their admission decision 4-6 week after submitting their application.
Chat Participant: Currently I am living outside of USA. How many time I have to start my MBA program once my application was approved? This it's important to me because I need to make the arrangements to move to Chicago; and the Evening / Weekend program in a post-COVID will be fully in person or hybrid?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: This will depend on when you apply. You may look at our application deadlines to determine how far out in the future you would like to apply. With rolling admission regardless of the quarter you apply you will receive a decision within 4-6 weeks of your submitted application. For example our autumn quarter begins in late September. If you applied today for that quarter you would receive a decision by mid-May which would give you at least four months to make your arrangements before the autumn quarter. This is just an example but you can plan as far out as you like to give yourself enough time to make arrangements once you hear our decision.
Chat Participant: Hi, thanks again for your time. Am I correct in understanding that prospective international students would need to secure their own visa (either work or student separately)? If so, would visa status be a determining factor for the admission decision? My employer is Chicago based and a relocation might be an option if admitted into the program.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, for the Part-Time program, international students will need their own visa as we cannot provide you with a student visa (the Full-Time program can). The most typical visa held by Part-Time students is H1B work visa which you would work with your employer. This would not determine your admission but we would like to feel comfortable with your visa status and that you are aware that you will need to hold a visa throughout the program. But this does not put you in a disadvantage against non-international students when applying.
Chat Participant: How can I connect with students 1-1 if I have any further questions after this session?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: We offer a connect with a student tool that you can access here: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer. Our Boothies offer great insight into the student experience and culture at Booth.
Chat Participant: Is there an option to pursue a double degree (completing an MBA with the evening cohort, and also pursuing a masters?) If yes, how would one go about applying for this and completing it?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: You can view all of our joint degrees here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/joint-degree However, for Evening and Weekend students, the program available is a joint degree in the Master’s Program in Computer science given that the majority of non-Booth classes take place during the day. Therefore, the reality is that enrolling in a joint degree program does not always fit with the schedules of working professionals.
Testing Questions:
Chat Participant: Hi, I got a Score of 650 in GMAT - I am I eligible to apply?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Thanks for attending! We do not have a required score threshold in order for candidates to apply. From our previous year of incoming Evening/Weekend students, the average GMAT score is 680.
Chat Participant: Hello! I am also interested in exploring the Civic Scholars program - does that program application accept the EA?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: The Civic Scholars program does accept the EA exam! Glad to hear you're considering Civic Scholars!
Chat Participant: Is the Executive Assessment similar to the GRE / GMAT? Is there an advantage to taking one over the other?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: The exam is similar! It is administered by the same organization that administers the GMAT. It is a shorter exam. You can find out more on the ETS website!
Chat Participant: I have Masters in computer science from UT. My GRE is old than 5 years. Do I need to take GMAT/GRE? for evening MBA
Stephanie Gunn: We require an exam taken within the last 5 years in order to apply. We accept the GRE, GMAT and Executive Assessment (EA) regardless of background or prior coursework.
Chat Participant: Hello everyone! Thank you for hosting this Q&A session. What's a good GMAT score to target? I couldn't find any information on the average GMAT scores
Stephanie Gunn: Our combined (evening and weekend) mid 80% GMAT range is 610-730 with the average being a 680.
Chat Participant: Hi Admissions team, how much weightage is given to GMAT for evening MBA program? How does it compare with the rest of the profile for a candidate?
Stephanie Gunn: We do not have a minimum GMAT score. We definitely look at the entire application, but a strong GMAT is helpful. We have a holistic review and look at academics ability, professional background, professional accomplishments, career goals with an MBA, and interests/community involvement outside of work. In short, we are looking for well-rounded individuals who have a high level of intellectual curiosity.
Academics Questions:
Chat Participant: Are any courses accepted as pre-requisites (if graded and taken within the last 5 years) that can be waived post admission?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: All Booth students must 20 courses in order to in the MBA. Unfortunately it is not possible to waive courses at Booth.
Chat Participant: Hi, I have couple of questions. How soon can I apply for the fall 2022 weekend MBA? And what are the general timings for the classes on weekends?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Booth typically opens Evening/Weekend applications 7-8 months prior to its respective deadline. Candidates can apply at anytime after the application is available. For the Autumn 2022 application, you can expect it to be available this Autumn.
Chat Participant: Does the Weekend Program have classes every weekend? Or is it scheduled like the Executive Program with classes occurring roughly every other weekend?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: The weekend program does meet every weekend, all day on Saturdays. Hope this is helpful!
Chat Participant: Hi, Regarding the Evening MBA, what portion is in-person vs. online? And are there any weekend sessions?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: Typically, all Evening MBA classes are in-person interactions in Gleacher Center. However, in the pandemic, each professor decides the hybrid interaction. So currently it is course dependent. As an Evening MBA student you also have the flexibility to take weekend (Saturday) classes.
Chat Participant: What do classes at Weekend Program at Booth look like? Are classes taught as simulations, case studies or lectures?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: Classes taught are a combination of lectures, case studies, group projects, simulations. It largely depends on the course - like finance accounting is mainly lectures and group work. Whereas Strategies of Negotiations is simulation based. Professors depend on case studies, in-class simulations to bring out certain concepts and give a chance to practice them with peers / fellow students.
Chat Participant: Is there a "faster pace" program offered for business undergrad graduates or CFA charter holders?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: We do not offer an accelerated program. All students, regardless of background or prior coursework taken are required to complete 20 courses in order to graduate. However, with the flexibility of our curriculum students are never repeating coursework they've previously taken and they continue to build on pre-existing knowledge. Evening and Weekend students tend to take 2 classes per quarter and on average complete the degree in 2.5 years. However, you can dictate your pace and graduate in less time if you take 3 classes per quarter. Fair warning - that is considered a fairly heavy load for working professionals.
Chat Participant: Thank you for hosting this! For the weekend MBA, is there an option to join virtually or in-person or is in-person required? (This is in a non-COVID world)
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: In a non-COVID world, our classes are held all in-person. There has not yet been a determination made that if when operations resume as normal if there will be any type of virtual offering for our Weekend program.
Chat Participant: Are there courses focused on Advanced Analytics (R, Python) as part of the curriculum?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: Yes, there are courses focused on the advanced analytics.
Chat Participant: As a part time student, are there opportunities to work with professors on research projects or through other collaborations?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: Absolutely. It truly depends on the student to network with professors and grow that interaction to work on research projects. Many a times its stems from an in-class interaction or case study. In addition to research projects, I have peers who have worked with professors or sought guidance on their start-ups.
Chat Participant: Is there bidding for classes? If yes, what happens if I am unable to get the courses that I need for a concentration?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: There are multiple courses aligned to a specific concentration. Some courses also count towards multiple concentrations. Although there is bidding for classes, you will always have a pool of courses to choose from to attain that concentration. Additionally, a student can reach out to Academic Advisors in the beginning of quarter to develop plan around courses to bid, bid points to be assigned, etc. There is a lot of data collected over the past years/quarters that provide insight on past bidding trends for a class to help plan in advance.
Chat Participant: Do you offer "shortened" credit requirements for business undergrad majors?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: 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: For students commuting within a 3hr radius (ie. Grand Rapids, MI), would you suggest taking courses Friday nights in addition to Saturday? If so, would I have to sign up for both the evening and weekend program?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Great question, Mackenzie! It really depends on you and your own schedule. Most of our students regardless of where they are commuting in from take 2 classes each quarter (we even have some Weekenders in Chicago- they opt for the Weekend program because it works better with their schedules). But- if you felt that you had flexibility and time and wanted to take 3 classes in a quarter, you could certainly add in a Friday evening/Monday evening course in addition to your 2 Saturday courses!
Chat Participant: Is there any accelerated track to complete the MBA program if I had taken some core classes?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Unfortunately we do not have a specific accelerated track. You can take higher level foundational classes if you already have significant experience in accounting, statistics, or economics. You can also speed up your pace by taking three classes instead of two.
Chat Participant: How does semester scheduling work for weekend MBA? What is the typical start and end of the semester?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: The semester schedule is same for Full time / Part time E/W students. You should be able to see Booth's calendar schedule for upcoming year on the website.
Chat Participant: Good afternoon, thank you for taking our questions. For the weekend MBA, I read there is an option to take two courses a quarter. Would that mean attending Saturdays from 9am to 4.30pm?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: There are two Saturday sections, one class section at 9am-noon and 1:30-4:30pm. Weekend students will usually take two classes on Saturday, but can also consider Weekday/night classes if their schedule permits.
Chat Participant: Could you go in depth about "The Chicago Approach?”
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: The Chicago Approach is an educational philosophy that consists of a multidisciplinary framework - including economics, accounting, psychology, sociology, and data & statistics. It is a way of creating questions, solving solutions, and being leaders. It guides our faculty and the MBA program. You can read more about it here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/why-booth/educational-philosophy
Chat Participant: Is there a way to graduate earlier?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: Evening and Weekend students have 5 years to complete the program and on average graduate in 2.5-3 years. They do this by taking on average 2 courses per quarter. If you took additional courses you would be on track to graduate earlier. That said, taking more than 2 courses while working full-time is a very heavy load so while it's not impossible, it's not exactly something we would recommend.
Chat Participant: Hi, for Weekend MBA Students it is my understanding it takes approximately 2.5 years to complete the degree, is this assuming weekend students also take summer classes?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, that is correct. If you take two classes per quarter year around (including summer) you will graduate in 2.5 years.
Chat Participant: Is most analysis in Booth classes done in R or Python?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: I would say in both. There are courses that are designed around either R or Python (i.e. Data Analysis with R, Data Analysis with Python, Advanced decision models with Python, etc). However, some courses also give you freedom to use with language - does depend on the course syllabus and professor.
Chat Participant: Do you have an estimate of the average hours students put into the program per week? Assuming they're taking the average 2 courses.
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: On average, we hear that students spend 4-5 hours/week outside of class time on homework/group meetings. You can of course spend more time- and if you join clubs or a leader in organizations, you'd likely spend even more time!
Chat Participant: Does the program offer specialization(s)? If yes, what is the typical timeline for students to decide on a path?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: You can pick a concentration that aligns with your goals. You can find out more information here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/academics/curriculum/concentrations.
Chat Participant: How many hours a week do students spend studying outside the classroom? What portion is group work vs. individual?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: This is very course specific. Almost all courses have weekly readings, prep for an assignment that is done individually - before discussing with the group. I would average around 2-5 hours outside class typically - which increases to 8-10 hours outside for quant heavy classes.
Do keep in mind this also depends on the student. I come from civil engineering background so it took me longer to study finance or marketing course. Which was easier for some of my peers who come with that background or work in the field. Before you bid for a class, you can reach out to the academic advisor to get insight on workload outside class - helps in planning courses for a quarter.
Chat Participant: Would you say the weekly homework is more group based or individual work?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: Yes. I would say so, largely assignments are group based. Thinking of courses I have taken so far - "reflection reports" would be some that are individual work.
Chat Participant: Under the circumstances that a weekend student is not able to attend class in-person (assuming all classes are back to in-person), do they have an option to attend virtually? Or how does one navigate around having to miss a class?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Before COVID, students would notify his/her professor of an absence and figure out a way to make up work/get class notes. When we resume in-person activity, it has not yet been determined if classes will all be recorded. I would imagine the best practice of notifying the professor with ample time will continue!
Chat Participant: What time during the day does the course start for evening courses, both in-person and online? For example 6-9PM Mon-Fri?
Sarah Palomo | Associate Director, Admissions: Yes, generally evening courses are 6-9 PM. Classes offered on Saturday are generally 9am-12pm, with a break for social events and lunch, and then they resume 1:30-4:30pm.
Chat Participant: Thank you for replying all the questions! I saw Booth has a very flexible curriculum. Can we create our own concentration? How flexible it is for students to take classes outside of Booth?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Great question! The only concentrations Booth students can acquire are among the 13 listed here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/academics/curriculum/concentrations Students can take up to 6 classes outside of Booth and have them apply towards degree requirements.
Chat Participant: What is executive assessment? Can you please share link/doc?
Stephanie Gunn: The EA test evaluates candidates on higher-order reasoning in three sections: Integrated Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. We use the EA to measures business school readiness and skill level. Keep in mind that the EA score is just one piece of your application, which undergoes a very holistic review. To help prepare for the EA, Booth’s Executive MBA program has created an exclusive, one-of-a king webinar series taught by a Chicago Booth professor. You can learn more and download the webinar series here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/executive/admissions/executive-assessment
Chat Participant: Hi thanks for taking the time to answer all of our questions! Within the GMAT, what do you typically look for in terms of the IR and AWA sections? Since these do not factor into the overall 0 - 800 score, how important are these sections when considering admission?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We are happy to. Regarding IR and AWA- we of course want to see a strong score, since these can be indicators of critical thinking and problem solving ability. If you are concerned about your score in the IR or AWA, you may always address it in your extra essay. Thanks for asking!
Chat Participant: Is there a preference or connotations related to in-person vs. online GMAT scores? While the contents may be the same, given the slight differences between the two (in-person 8x vs. online 2x, etc.), wondering if the school prefers one over the other.
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We do not have a preference at all! We know that circumstances this year were extenuating for everyone, so however you've chosen to take the GMAT is just fine. They are the same test, so we have no preference!
Student Life and Career Services Questions:
Chat Participant: Hello. Thank you for scheduling the meeting. What are the typical ways of networking between alumni and current students?
Vaidehi Joshi | Current MBA Student: The SAC (Student Advisory Council) has formal events planned throughout a quarter for current students to interact with alumni - game night / coffee chats / breakfast series. Also, Worldwide Booth Night planned by the school is a great forum to meet alumni around the globe.
Chat Participant: Hi, thanks for taking the time to chat with us! What opportunities are there for Evening MBA students to work with the Booth Centers (Polsky, Rustandy, etc.)? Are the opportunities for Part time students as robust as they are for full time students?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: Any of the Polsky (or other center) offerings are open to Evening/Weekend students! They often put on events in the evenings or over the lunch hour, so our Evening and Weekend students can take advantage of the events while working.
Chat Participant: Does the part time program also give us access to the full career benefits which the full time students enjoy?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: Booth largely allocates its career services resources across its programs. One main exception is that only Full-Time students are able to access internship recruiting. Otherwise, resources are the same! These includes career coaching, resume database, research terminals, workshops, alumni advisors, on-campus recruiting for full-time positions, etc.
Chat Participant: Can you tell us more about the global opportunities for the part-time program? I saw online that there are some great exchange opportunities.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: We have an International Business Exchange Program (IBEP) that is a study abroad program for part-time students. With 7 different locations students can apply to study in one of these areas for 2.5-3 weeks and receive a class credit for it (counting as one of your 20 required courses). You can study abroad up to twice during your time at Booth under this program. We also have an international business concentration you can focus in. Additionally, our student-led clubs have annual international trips associated with it for both professional networking and social engagement purposes.
Chat Participant: What are the networking opportunities like for Booth's weekend MBA program? Are there clubs to join that meet over the weekend?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: There are more than 40 clubs to join as part of your Booth Weekend MBA experience. There are great events throughout the week as well! You can find out more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/student-experience.
Chat Participant: Do the part time programs have the same access to career services as full time? Are students able to switch programs after starting? For example, evening to weekend, or even part time to full time.
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: Aside from a specific internship process within career services for Full-Time students, the resources are the same for Part and Full-Time students. Booth students are able one time to switch from Evening to Weekend, or vice versa. Students are not able to switch from Part to Full-Time or vice versa.
Chat Participant: What clubs and societies does Booth have that are focused on helping the LGBTQ+ community? What about minorities like the AAPI community/Asians/Women and more?
Stephanie Gunn | Director, Admissions: Booth Pride is the Evening and Weekend Program LGBTQ group. The mission is to foster growth in the LGBTQ Chicago Booth community by providing learning and career development opportunities. We hope to engage those who not only identify as LGBTQ, but those who identify as allies. The Coalition of Minorities in Business (CMB) is a University of Chicago Booth Evening and Weekend Program student organization that serves as an advocate for the Black, Latino and Native American student population, educates future business leaders on the benefits of diversity, and fosters professional development to promote diversity in business leadership. Lastly, we also have the Graduate Women in Business.
Chat Participant: What are the top industries or functions that weekend MBA program graduates end-up in? (mostly continuing on with current industry/function, noticing shifts from one to another, etc.)
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We see a pretty even split between students making a pivot or continuing to accelerate their career in their current field. You can see more regarding career outcomes on this page https://www.chicagobooth.edu/mba/part-time/career-impact/job-salary
Chat Participant: What are the biggest student interest groups?
Patrick McHale | Associate Director, Admissions: Based on my experience, our most popular industry-specific groups include our consulting, finance, and entrepreneurship group. Our most popular special interest groups include our Outdoors club, running club, and wine club!
Chat Participant: Do you all help candidates secure positions prior to graduation?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We do not secure roles for our students, but our career services team has a full suite of offerings you can take advantage of- such as 1-1 coaching, small group workshops, interactive sessions, etc. They are there to really help you with your job search every step of the way!
Chat Participant: Do a significant portion of working students participate in the study abroad program? I noticed that it's stated typically 2-3 weeks but I imagine taking off 2-3 weeks from work may be extremely challenging.
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: A good number of students do participate! Many students are able to work something out with their employer because it is a professional development opportunity.
Chat Participant: Although the Full Time MBA is for those seeking a significant career change, how often do those in the E/W programs make a significant career change?
Andrea Calderon | Associate Director, Admissions: We actually do often see our Evening and Weekenders make career changes! Most often it is in either industry or function (rather than both, where an internship you'd have in the FT MBA may help), but it is definitely possible to make a pivot- about half of our students do it! Career services is really there to help you navigate that path and position yourself successfully to make that change.
Chat Participant: I am interested in social entrepreneurship and tech management. Any initiatives, club, classes at Booth allow me to grow as a leader in these areas?
Marcus Wordlaw | Associate Director, Admissions: The Technology club provide students with a forum to further understand technology and technology related industries, to share their experiences with others interested in both the technology industry and business areas strategically impacted by technology, and to identify career growth enhancers for those seeking employment or who are already employed within a technology based role. We have a Social Impact club that aims to foster a culture of social impact at Booth by providing the part-time student community with resources that prepare them for careers in the social sector, opportunities to serve their communities and avenues to channel their curiosities about the problems facing our world. We also have a management club within the part time program. The Booth Social impact club aims to foster a culture of social impact at Booth by providing the part-time student community with resources that prepare them for careers in the social sector, opportunities to serve their communities and avenues to channel their curiosities about the problems facing our world. The technology club, and management clubs may be of interest to you as well.