October 28, 2019 Noon - 1 PM CST Spotlight on Student Life: Chicago Women in Business

Guest: As women in Business school, what sets apart your experience at Booth versus other business schools? What is unique to your experience here that you believe you would not have experienced at any other institution?

* Miranda Zhao: Hi there, welcome to the live chat. I really enjoy the academic rigor at Booth combined with the friendly environment that students and faculties provide. At Booth, there are so many events/clubs that support women's growth. For example, Chicago Women in Business (CWiB) Club in which I am a co-chair of it, as well as special training for women last year, called "LeadHERship." The school is constant innovating and coming up with new programs to support our growth.

Guest: I have a few questions: How would you describe the campus culture? What are your popular classes? How difficult is it to get into those classes? What does a successful student look like? How important is it to visit campus before applying?

* Stephanie Day: Thanks for joining us today. I'm going to address these questions succinctly, so please let me know if there's anything you would like to know more about.

Campus culture: Booth tends to skew a year or so younger than the average business school.  There is a variety of experiences, but I would say that social events are a huge part of the life here, whether that means trips, group fitness events or, of course, hitting the town.

Popular classes: Because of the bidding system, students can prioritize what is important to them.  Some popular classes are Pricing Strategies (Marketing), Designing a Good Life (Behavioral Econ) and Cases in Financial Management (Finance).  When you bid for those classes, you should expect to pay a 4x multiplier in points or higher over average classes, so save up!

Successful students:  If you get into Booth you can handle Booth.  I don't think I need to elaborate.

Campus visits:  I think you can apply before you visit, but I would recommend a visit before you decide.

Guest: If anyone has participated in the Lab courses, specifically the New Product and Strategy Lab I would love to hear more about these courses.

* Julia Wong: The New Product and Strategy Lab with Professor Art Middlebrooks is great for learning about user research, design thinking, and product design.  Phenomenal projects and clients are selected. Students have the opportunity to work on products and services from tech to CPG (e.g., with Walmart, Pinterest, etc.).  I really enjoyed the hands-on learning experience, collaborating with a team of engaged clients, and a group of diverse classmates. A great non-lab version is also offered!

Guest: Hi! Thanks for making yourself available for this live chat. One of my questions is, what did you struggle with the most during application process? The essays, the interview, the GMAT, etc.

* Stephanie Day: I worked hardest on the interviews. It's a good idea to prepare for a behavioral interview even if your target programs don't require that type of interview.

Guest: Greetings! In your view what type of students thrive at Booth?  

* Sena Agawu: Thank you for that question. In our experience we find that individuals who are driven, creative, and intellectually curious thrive at Booth. This is, in part, because of our flexible curriculum which allows students to identify classes and concentrations that are most relevant for them, and partly because of Booth's pay-if-forward culture which emphasizes community growth and support.

Guest: Hello! Thank you for setting this up. I'll dive right in. What are the things that Booth does differently than your previous employer/industry to promote women's advancement in business?

* Stephanie Day: Booth provides an optional course, in the spring, called LeadHERship, which focuses on liabilities that women face in the workplace and how to get around them. CWiB also offers personal development programs that focus on women's issues.

Guest: I am interested in pursuing a career in Social Impact. Could you describe some of the opportunities associated with this path at Booth? Internship opportunities, recruiting, coursework, etc.?

* Cat Goodin: Thank you for your question. The opportunities available to you will be within the Rustandy Center for Social Impact. There are a number of opportunities available to you. Specifically, Social New Venture Challenge and Net Impact Board Fellows provide incredible opportunities within Social Impact. I encourage you to explore Rustandy's webpage here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/research/rustandy/how-we-help-you

Guest: How did you show Booth that you would contribute to the MBA program instead of just showing them what the MBA program would do for you?

* Miranda Zhao: Hi there, happy to answer this question. This is unique and personal. I would recommend you to be creative but most importantly, be genuine. You can contribute in a way you feel most comfortable with. Some questions to think about are:  What is your experience working with a diverse set of audience? How can you help your classmates with your industry experience? Do you bring passion and value to the cohort? Remember you are unique, just like everyone else that has something to contribute, so don't be shy in demonstrating what you are good at, and "pay it forward" to the rest of the class.

Guest: Hello! For the current students, did you attend Booth Live and if so, do you have any tips or suggestions?

* Stephanie Day: I did attend Booth live! I would recommend a warm coat.

Guest: My question is about women in business school, do you have a lot of choices in where you go? What do you believe sets the Booth experience apart from others, especially for women?

* Stephanie Day: Booth offers access to employers that care about diversity, while the student groups work hard to connect women with mentors in their field.

Guest: Can you talk more about Booth's flexible curriculum? How do you benefit from it?

* Stephanie Day: I have enjoyed having my pick of classes and challenging myself in areas that may not have been open to me at a program with a fixed curriculum.

Guest: I wanted to know about the skill building workshops conducted by CWiB. What kind of skills does CWiB focuses on?

* Julia Wong: CWiB offers a variety of workshops that cover topics including but not limited to managing bias in the workplace, cultivating strong mentor / sponsor relations, managing finances and investments, developing effective networks, being an ally for women, communicating effectively, practicing self-defense, and cultivating health and wellness practices.

Guest: Hi Miranda, nice to meet you. Could you speak a bit more about the LeadHERship training and other leadership opportunities on campus?

* Miranda Zhao: Hello again! Absolutely! LeadHERship was a program that was built last year based on feedbacks from the previous year. In its first year, 50 women participated in the program, with four formal sessions, combined with group mentoring. For example, one of the sessions was skating & playing broomball at the MB Ice Arena, home to the Chicago Blackhawks! It was teamwork, relationship building, and tons of fun. Afterwards, we talked about how we can take the lessons learned from the field and apply it to our lives. There are also a lot of other leadership opportunities on campus. For example, as a second-year student, you have an opportunity to be a co-chair of a club (like all the second-year students here on the chat), an admissions fellow, an alumni representative, a Career Advisor, and many more to name here.

Guest: What has it been like finding a mentor? Has it been hard, or are there opportunities in place to develop mentor relationships?

* Miranda Zhao: Absolutely. There are formal and informal opportunities in finding a mentor at Booth. As a first-year student, you will have the opportunity to be assigned to a second-year mentor (you can pick your preferences on career path / hobbies / areas of focus). You will meet with your mentor at least twice a quarter to get introduced to the school and navigate the curriculum / recruiting / all the fun stuff. You can also find informal mentors through student clubs or classes. Last year when I was a first-year student, I found a second-year mentor from Booth Technology Group, because I'm recruiting for tech. I worked closely with my mentor to identify target firms, keep them updated on my progress, and of course, in the process of doing so, built a very strong relationship with them. 

Guest: Can you talk a little bit about Booth's support for Women in Entrepreneurship?

* Julia Wong: Booth offers a variety of resources to support students interested in entrepreneurship, from courses to Polsky Center programs.  Popular courses include: New Venture Strategy, Entrepreneurial Selling, and Commercializing Innovation, among others. The Polsky Center hosts the annual New Venture Challenge and Social New Venture Challenge to incubate students' startup ideas. CWiB also hosts panels with female founders. This quarter, we have an exciting event with The Barre Code, where students have the opportunity to chat with its female founder and attend a barre class. We are also planning a Pathway to CEO: LnL with Female Bosses event with women CEOs from diverse industries.

Guest: Hi! After reading the previous question, I am curious to learn more about the network of women at Booth and how your personal experience has been with job recruiting? thank you!

* Stephanie Day: Hi! I have recruited in both healthcare and consulting, which have strong women's networks. I would say that I connected easier with women during recruiting both filed because of diversity events and personal preference.

Guest: Did any of you go into healthcare post-MBA? If so, what's the Booth network like in this industry, and how was your job-hunting experience?

* Stephanie Day: Thanks for asking about healthcare. The healthcare group has connections to lots of companies in California and the East Coast as well as the Chicago area. I would say that we skew more towards products (Pharma, Device) with some payor and lighter on the provider.  However, some companies, like Oak Street Health, come to campus to recruit. You always have an opportunity to recruit off campus if you are interested in a niche part of the industry.

Guest: Can you please talk about the career resources for women at Booth?

* Miranda Zhao: Absolutely! Our Chicago Women in Business (CWiB) Club partner with Career Services and our sponsors to bring many career-related events to our members. Our biggest event for the year is the Fall Networking Conference in which we bring around 20 sponsors and give our members exclusive access to recruiters. In addition, many sponsors conduct career-building sessions such as the confidence workshop.

Outside of the recruiting-specific events, CWiB hosts a range of skill-based workshop and panel talks. For example, this past week, we hosted Dr. Shellwyn Weston, one of the first VP of Goldman, to discuss how to succeed in the workplace. Last year, we had a Global VP of IBM to chat with our students about how to achieve work-life balance as a senior executive.

Guest: What other events does CWiB put on?

* Stephanie Day: CWiB puts on recruiting, personal development, and social events. One example of a recruiting event is our Annual Fall Conference where companies can join to network with students. On Sunday we will be attending a Barre class as a group to socialize with one another.

Guest: I’m interested in hearing if anyone has had experience with a tech background now entering a business world. How does that feel? What was your background entering business school? I am a mechanical engineer.

* Julia Wong: Prior to Booth, I worked on tech implementations for clients and completed a MS in Engineering and Management. Our community comprises students with diverse backgrounds from engineering to social impact. Career Services, professional Booth student groups, and our student community are all committed to supporting students pursuing their desired career path.

Guest: Hi, thanks for your time on the live chat today! Could you please share about a professional development event that you found particularly helpful?

* Miranda Zhao: Absolutely! Thanks for joining. Career Services partner with professional student clubs on campus to do a range of events over the course of the two years. One of the events that I found the most helpful was the "InterAction event". Since I am recruiting for tech, I attended the tech-focused section. InterAction was an event where I learned how to network in tech, specifically during corporate conversations and meet and greets where you get a chance to chat with a recruiter/recruiting team in a small group setting. I learned how to ask questions, present myself, and build relationships, specifically for tech.

There are similar sessions for other industries, such as Consulting, PE/VC, Banking, etc.

Guest: Hi All. Thank you for hosting the chat today. Why did you decide to join CWiB at Booth? What particular CWiB events or programs have you most enjoyed?

* Stephanie Day: CWiB is a special group that focuses on both social and professional events. I very much enjoyed a personal finance workshop that the group of co-chairs put on last year, as well as the quarterly brunches.

Guest: Hello! I'm curious if any of you are mothers at Booth? How is attending a rigorous program like Booth and balancing motherhood?

* Julia Wong: There is an active community of mothers here and a student group called Mothers at Booth (MaB). The Chicago Booth Office of Diversity Affairs provides support and resources for motherhood-related issues. Mothers (like all students) are supported by our strong community of classmates, faculty, staff, and alum to excel in academics, career, and life.

Guest: What is the experience like for someone applying with a spouse?

* Cat Goodin: Thank you for your question. Application wise, it is completely separate for spouses. Once you start at Booth, you will have the same opportunities available to you as incoming students with a partner. There are several student-led groups geared towards partners as well such as the Partner's Club.

Guest: Can you speak more to the lab opportunities at Booth? What is the structure, time commitment, etc.?

* Carlos Gooden: Hi and welcome to the Chat! Thank you for your interest in lab courses as they are a critical component to the flexible curriculum here at Booth! The labs can range across a variety of concentrations at Booth and provide practical experience where students operate like a firm. While each lab varies, students apply the theories and models learned and function as a consultant to assist participating organizations on solving a business problem they are having.

Guest: What are some of the programming that CWiB provides? For example, are there specific events for women in tech, or mentorship programs, etc.?

* Stephanie Day: We have a few events every year for women in specific industries including tech, consulting, and Private Equity. In terms of Mentorship, we have a specific program called CWiB circles in which small groups of women at school are connected in order to socialize and help one another throughout the year.

Guest: Does every student go on a Random Walk before starting at Booth?

* Julia Wong: Random Walk is a popular activity for incoming students, and a majority of students pursue Random Walk. There are a few local Random Walks (e.g., in Chicago/the U.S.) and some that are open to partners as well.

Guest: Where do most students live?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Most of our student body lives in the same area in downtown Chicago, near Millennium Park. One apartment building in particular, called Millennium Park Plaza, houses hundreds of Boothies. It’s a great way for our students to experience the city of Chicago, while also being steps from the train that takes them to Hyde Park. It’s about a 20 minutes train ride, or short uber to the campus. Some of our students choose to live in other exciting neighborhoods in Chicago, including Hyde Park, the South Loop, Lincoln Park, and Lakeview, just to name a few.

Guest: Would you mind talking about the different concentrations? Specifically, about the STEM ones (e.g., Business analytics and/or analytic finance)?

* Sena Agawu: There are 13 concentrations at Booth available for current students. Many Boothies leave with 1-3 concentrations, although you are not required to graduate with any specific amount/number of concentrations. It all depends on your interests and the classes you take. To find more information about the differences between the concentrations, we suggest you visit this website: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/academics/curriculum

Guest: Hello there! Can you talk about what you did the summer before MBA? Did you do a pre-MBA internship in the industry you're interested in? Did you participate in a random walk?

* Julia Wong: The summer before Booth, I interned at Disney in R&D due to my interest and passion in tech, innovation, and design thinking. After my internship, I joined the India Random Walk (one of my favorite Booth experiences).

Guest: I had a failing grade in one specific course during my undergrad. Does that effect my chances for admission at Booth (as Booth specifically asks if one had a failing grade during undergrad)?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: You’re undergraduate GPA and transcript is just one element of a larger holistic-review admissions process. Having a failing grade will not automatically disqualify you from admissions. We ask so you may have an opportunity to explain the circumstances around the failing grade. 

Guest: How strong are the resources at Booth for those looking for careers in mid-size to large tech and not necessarily entrepreneurship?

* Julia Wong: Through Career Services and the Booth Technology Group (BTG), students have access to knowledgeable mentors and advisors who help with tech resume reviews, cover letter reviews, career planning, and more.  BTG has over 440 members and hosts workshops, alumni/second-year panels, interview families, and more to help students as they recruit for roles in small to large tech firms (e.g., Google, Facebook, Amazon, Adobe, Yelp, CarGurus, Twilio, etc.).  BTG also organizes the annual Tech Trek to San Francisco and Seattle. Students have access to popular courses such as App Development, AI, Big Data, Machine Learning, and more.

Guest: Hi! Could you please talk about the international community at Booth? Is there a general global feel in the program?

* Miranda Zhao: The international community is very vibrant at Booth. In fact, we have a Diwali cruise coming up to celebrate Diwali. There are many student cultural clubs that are open to ALL students so anyone can not only find a community where they feel the most affinity to, but also be exposed to other cultures. In addition to student clubs, we also have an extensive study-abroad program in which students can choose to go to any of 30 institutions overseas. A few of my friends are going next quarter so I will definitely miss them. At the same time, we are hosting students from other countries too, and you can be an exchange student ambassador.

Guest: What kind of courses are available at Booth for students looking to explore tech-entrepreneurship?

* Miranda Zhao: Love the question! I am also a co-chair for the Booth Technology Group so very glad to see an interest in the tech space. For courses, we have the New Products and Services lab that allows you to use design thinking to ideate a product (could be tech or CPG). There are more quant-heavy classes such as Machine Learning and Big Data that will make you tech savvy. From an entrepreneurship perspective, Booth has one of the best resources for students. Some of the more popular classes are: New Venture Strategy, building a New Venture, Commercializing Innovation, PE/VC lab. Not to forget the Polksy Center, which puts on many great events/programs throughout the year.

Guest: How common is it to recruit off-campus and what support does Booth provide to students who choose to do so?

* Stephanie Day: It is becoming more and more common to recruit off campus. Booth offers resources through career services and student groups to help you structure your search and reach out to companies of interest. One recent program was specifically targeted to first-year students who were beginning their off-campus search. You will be able to find resources and mentors if you have specific goals.

Guest: Thanks for your time today. I'd be curious to hear about your experience in LEAD. How did the modules address any leadership challenges that female leaders face, and how did they help you hone in your voice?

* Stephanie Day: LEAD tends to focus on gender-neutral topics that apply to everyone.  However, in the spring, you will have the opportunity to participate in LeadHERship, which addresses gender-specific topics. I got a lot out of my LEAD experience.

Guest: How true is the stereotype that Booth is more "quant heavy"? How does that manifest?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: Booth is sometimes known to be a program with a quantitative focus. A lot of this reputation comes from the stellar financial reputation the University of Chicago has had for decades. The way this manifests itself today in Booth’s curriculum is a belief that all discoveries must be grounded in evidence and data. Our students, no matter what industries they choose to pursue, will be able to use a quantitative approach to understanding data that sets themselves apart from their peers.

Guest: I'm curious to learn more about the annual Fall networking conference. Could you please share what types of guests attend, and the types of connections you were able to cultivate from the conference?

* Stephanie Day: If you look at our website under sponsors, you will be able to view the participants at the Fall Networking Conference. Companies typically send women as representatives that are in the position that you will be recruiting for. Building on those relationships helps you to learn more about the firm and get your name out for consideration.

Guest: I'm interested in pursuing entrepreneurship. Are there any student groups focused on female entrepreneurs? Also, I've heard about the New Venture Challenge and its associated classes, but are there any other courses where you can apply what you're learning to a business you're developing?

* Miranda Zhao: Hi! There is the EVC, Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital group, which does amazing events and speakers. CWiB also collaborate with EVC and the Polsky Center on building a community for female entrepreneurs. In fact, on November 11th, we have an event with the Polsky Center "Pathway to CEO: LnL with Female Bosses". Courses include: Commercializing Innovation, New Products and Services, Building a New Venture, Platform Competition and many more.

Guest: What is the purpose of the pre-interview essays? What are you looking for and are they shared with your interviewer?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: We use the pre-interview essay as just another opportunity to get to know you outside of the traditional application. Don’t overthink it and have fun! Nothing within your application, other than your resume, is shared with your interviewer.

Guest: In addition to the flexible curriculum, what are the things that set Booth apart from other top schools?

* Cat Goodin: Chicago Booth’s unique approach to management education, evidence-based thinking, and supportive community set itself apart from other schools with the flexible curriculum. Booth’s multidisciplinary approach to problem solving gives students the tools to break down complex data and turn ideas into impact.

Guest: I have 3 questions and appreciate your insights. 1) Why did you choose Booth among other top schools? 2) What are some of your favorite experiences/moments at Booth? 3) Tips and suggestions to prepare for Booth interview? Thank you very much!

* Stephanie Day: I will answer them!

1) I chose Booth because of the friendly people that I met through recruiting and the companies that I knew recruited on campus. I also liked the academic rigor with which people approached their classes.

2) My favorite experience was my Random walk to Iceland. Many of my closest Booth friends are people I met on that trip.

3) Prepare with questions from behavioral interviews. I don't believe that is our format, but I used it to prepare for another interview and it carried me through my business school recruiting.

Guest: What are some must do on campus things for those that are interviewing on campus?

* Carlos Gooden: Hi! Thank you for your interest in Booth! While on campus there are lots to see and do. For example, you could sing-up for Campus Visit Program, if you haven’t had the chance to attend one prior to interview day, where you can sit in on a class and get a tour of the Harper Center. I highly recommend it, as it will give you additional perspective and insight prior to the interview. While in Hyde Park, I highly recommend trying some of the unique restaurants and bookstores in the area. There are plenty of boutique shops and tourist attractions just a few blocks of campus. Once you explore Hyde Park, checking out the key attractions in Chicago is always a treat. Whether it’s an architecture tour of downtown, exploring Navy Pier, or seeing a show in the theatre district, there is tons to do. What happens outside of the classroom is just as important as the time spent in class. In Chicago, you will find plenty to do! If you haven't seen the Gleacher Center yet, I encourage you to visit the 1st floor and swing by the Official Chicago Booth Bookstore as well!

Guest: What is the average volunteer experience needed for Booth candidates?

* Lizzie Seidenstricker: There is no average volunteer experience for our Booth candidates. We are just looking for applicants to include any experience they believe is relevant to our decision-making process.

Guest: Can you please elaborate on what are the key success factors for the interview in admissions process? What do you think has been a determining element?

* Sena Agawu: While there are many factors that contribute to the successfulness of one's interview, we encourage interviewees to be able to discuss in detail why Booth is the ideal place for them to earn their degree, how their professional and personal background has prepared them for the academic rigor of the curriculum, and the way that the pay-it-forward mentality of Booth has impacted their desire to study at Booth. Interview feedback is reviewed holistically and, as a result, there is no one determining element that indicates a successful or unsuccessful interview.

Guest: What about students that arrive with partners? What sort of opportunities are available to partners? Do they live in similar locations to students without partners?

* Miranda Zhao: The Partner club is very active on campus. For some non-professional groups, partners can also join to be part of the community. In fact, my husband felt that my courses were so good that he decided to do the part-time program at Booth, so we are both Boothies.

For folks with partners, they also live in the vicinity of the loop area, or wherever they choose to be. My husband and I have been living in Chicago for the past 10 years, so we decided to stay in the River North area, which is very close to the loop.

Guest: What stands out as your favorite/most valuable experience you've had at Booth so far?

* Miranda Zhao: This is a hard question! It's never easy to pick out your favorite, but I really love how supportive the community is, especially when I was recruiting. The second-year students are so helpful, and career services have so many great resources to make you successful. I think the Booth brand is so strong, and companies certainly recognize that. I think underneath that is the friendship that I'm cultivating here at Booth!

Guest: Can you please speak a bit to career services support at Booth?

* Julia Wong: Career Services offers a host of services to students. First, incredible staff are available to help students discover potential career paths of interest and craft a tailored recruiting plan. Both the staff and student Career Advisors offer resume reviews and cover letter reviews. Second, Career Services invites companies to campus to conduct corporate conversations and meet-and-greets, during which students have the opportunity to engage with prospective employers and learn more about the companies and roles. Third, Career Services manages a library of resources (e.g., interview case books, resume books, etc.).  Lastly, Career Services also partners with professional student groups to plan treks (e.g., Tech Trek, Startup Trek, etc.).

Guest: How does Booth foster a sense of academic community with such a flexible curriculum? Do students self-organize study groups?

* Sena Agawu: Booth is home to over three dozen student groups, which are organized by multiple categorizations, including interest groups, affinity groups, professional interest groups, social groups, sports, groups, etc. To see a full list of the student groups on campus that foster community, please click this link: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/student-experience/beyond-classroom/groups

Guest: What would you say are the current challenges for women at Booth? And what areas is CWiB looking to expand into in the coming year or years?

* Cat Goodin: CWiB focuses on a number of different initiatives, but our main initiative is to build relationships with other women in business here at Booth through skill building workshops, conference series, speaker series, social events and more. In the next year, the co-chairs are working to form male allyship within the program as well.

Guest: Are random walks usually social-only events, or do people also use them to explore international business through company visits, networking, etc.

* Cat Goodin: Random Walks are purely social events built to get to know your new classmates before starting in the fall.

Guest: Can you also speak about global opportunities at Booth that students have pursued? Especially those with a healthcare focus?

* Stephanie Day: Career services provides resources to facilitate international recruiting, I’m sure they could help you with healthcare specific questions.

Guest: What are some examples of the "pay-it-forward" culture at Booth that you've experienced?

* Stephanie Day: Good question! I have benefitted a lot from pay-it-forward in recruiting.   Second years and alumni are always happy to answer questions and prep you for interviews. In classes as well, your peers will help you to understand the course material and succeed.

Guest: Do major internships count as work experience?

* Carlos Gooden: Hi! On the application, your internships do count as work experience so please feel free to include it. In the admissions process, you also have the opportunity to elaborate on that internship experience, tasks performed, and job duties. Additionally, your resume submission will allow you to format and present internship experiences for the admissions committee to review as part of your application.

Guest: Hi Sena, great to chat with you! You have mentioned the pay-it-forward culture of Booth a few times, could you perhaps share a story that embodies what that looks like on the ground (e.g., alumni helping with recruiting)?

* Sena Agawu: I ran an event this Friday for prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds and asked an alumni from 2008 to be the keynote speaker. As a senior level employee at Google, his free time is limited, however, he took the time to come down to Hyde Park on a Friday afternoon to speak to the visiting students for about 45 minutes, and stayed another half hour to answer their questions, of which there were many.

Guest: Thanks for your insights! You mentioned SF and Seattle up above. Which Chicago-based tech firms, if any, recruit at Booth? Are the tech firms that recruit typically mid to large size, or do any newer and smaller one’s recruit?

* Julia Wong: Many big tech firms have offices in Chicago with marketing, sales, operations, etc. roles (e.g., Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon, etc.).  Chicago is also home to firms such as Salesforce.com, Grubhub, Groupon, ShipBob, Avant, and more. 

Guest: As an international student and woman, what sets Booth apart for you? What tips do you have for assessing the compatibly of Booth for your career goals?

* Miranda Zhao: I can certainly speak to the criteria I used for evaluating schools, specifically for career goals. I talked to alumnus and learned about the resources available by the school. You can certainly look at the career services employment report to get a sense of where people are going for both internship and full-time.

Guest: Hi! How does studying at Booth shape you professionally and personally so far?

* Stephanie Day: Booth has enabled me to chart my own path in healthcare consulting, after coming from a very non-traditional background in biotech R&D. The Booth name on my resume opens doors that I could not have accessed without it, and the network of alumni can help direct job searches and give the inside scoop on their companies.

Guest: In your experience, what do students often do wrong? What are the key mistakes to avoid in the application process?

* Sena Agawu: It is important to clearly articulate why Booth is the institution where you want to earn your MBA and to provide explicit details to support that claim. It is also important to engage with us in any capacity, like attending these chats, visiting campus, if possible, attending an information session if one is offered in your area, connecting with a student, etc.

Guest: Where do you find a list of companies that recruit on campus?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! The Chicago Booth Employment Report lists hiring information: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/employmentreport/

Guest: Hello! For students with families, does Booth offer any family-oriented or family-friendly activities or events?

* Stephanie Day: Great question! There is both a Partners Group and a Mothers group at Booth which are targeted at families. Certain activities, like LPF, are also open to families. 

Guest: The application specifically asks if the candidate has attended any Booth event (virtual, admission hosted etc.). If attending these events, and attending majority of these events, do they enhance one's candidacy?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! No, attending a Booth event does not factor into the evaluation process.

Guest: How common is it to recruit for two career paths and is it realistic? Thanks!

* Miranda Zhao: I think it is certainly challenging to recruit for more than one career path. It could be realistic, but I (personally), from a second-year student perspective, would recommend you think hard on what you want long-term and the goal of coming to business school. During orientation, students have lots of opportunities to explore different career paths, through industry immersion, Booth 20/20, as well as student club kick-off events.

Guest: What are some of the ways a first-year student may be able to contribute to CWiB?

* Stephanie Day: First year students can offer ideas or run their own programs with a special fund that CWiB has set aside for that purpose. They also have the opportunity to lead a CWiB circle, as small social group that helps women connect outside of recruiting.

Guest: Hi, thank you so much for your time. In the admissions process, is proficiency in English a key factor for international students?

* Kimberly Epps: Hi! Yes, you are required to submit a TOEFL/IELTS/PTE test score.

Guest: What resources does Booth provide during your first quarter as you’re navigating through all classes, recruiting and opportunities? Since there is no set curriculum or structure?

* Julia Wong: Orientation includes robust sessions to help plan your academic schedule and navigate recruiting. Career Services, Academic Services, and the many Booth student groups also offer support to students.

Guest: Does Booth have programs/events encouraging interaction with students from other business schools as well?

* Julia Wong: Yes! CWiB organizes joint socials with Kellogg's women's group. Also, we have an annual Battle of the Bands with Kellogg (Booth won last year!).

Guest: Because of the flexible curriculum one doesn't really take classes with a set cohort. Are there any ways Booth tries to help facilitate a cohort experience with other first-year Boothies?

* Miranda Zhao: For sure, I think for me, I joined professional and cultural student groups to get to know more people. Before school, I participated in Random Walk to get to know some people (but you don't have to). I also went to treks such as the Tech Trek in the West Coast during the winter break, as well as Patagonia for spring break. I think the structure really helps me find my "group" as well as allowing me to step out of my comfort zone to meet people that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Guest: Will applicants with GRE be relatively at disadvantaged position compared to those with GMAT for otherwise similar profiles?

* Kimberly Epps 2: Hi! Thank you for joining our chat! No, the GMAT and GRE are evaluated the same.

Guest: Is Career Services available to help alumni find jobs later on in their careers? Is the Career Services able to help spouses of students?

* Julia Wong: Career Services continue to support alumni with recruiting. There is limited support for partners; however, partners are invited to engage and participate in the Booth community and can get support through the student community!