June 4, 2019 Live Admissions Chat Transcript
Chat Participant: How is the GRE/GMAT weighed in relation to the other admission criteria?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: Our review process is holistic, so no one part of your application is weighted more heavily than another- we will consider all parts equally and seek to bring in well-rounded individuals who will be a great addition to the Booth community. We will look at your academic background, your work history, your goals and motivations for an MBA, and your fit within the Booth community.
Chat Participant: What scholarship opportunities are available to Evening and Weekend MBA candidates?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Merit-based scholarship opportunities are available to Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students! You can find more information in our recent blog post here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/blog/ewadmissions/2019/funding-your-mba-scholarships-financial-aid
Chat Participant: Is the program a good fit for those looking to change careers during/after their MBA, but need to work for whatever reason while there are attending school?
Sai Ramamurthy | Current Evening Student: Hi Brian - Yes, the program is designed to fit both groups -one looking to switch careers and the one's looking to grow within their firms. I am a good example for career switchers - I continued working, then participated in On Campus recruiting (OCR) and then switched careers. Overall, Booth's flexibility, excellent career services department and the vast alumni network makes it one of the best programs for career switchers (like myself).
Chat Participant: Have many students with Oil and Gas background have taken the program? Do y'all have events for Oil and Gas students? How strong is your presence in the industry in general?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: It's difficult to say exactly how many students are currently in that industry since we have incoming students every quarter and students can change industries. However, you can see our percentage breakdown for industries here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/career/industry-and-salary
Chat Participant: Do you consider undergrad education for an accelerated pace MBA?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Chicago Booth does not have an accelerated option for any of our MBA Programs. However, the average completion time is 2.5 to 5 years, and the pace is all up to you. You can always take more courses per quarter to speed up your progress, although many students take 2 courses per quarter.
Chat Participant: I want to know which program is right for me. Where or who can we get more information about a specific MBA curriculum from that is not listed on the website?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Our curriculum is the same across our MBA Programs (Full Time, Evening, Weekend, and Executive). You can learn more about our MBA curriculum here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/academics/curriculum.
For reference, the Evening MBA, Weekend MBA, and Executive MBA Programs are designed for professionals who want to continue working full-time while earning the degree. The full-time program is for those that are looking to quit their job in order to pursue their MBA on a full-time basis.
Chat Participant: In regards to student groups, how do they differ from the full time MBA program and is there any significant differences that would impair "investment management club"? Do the groups from the evening program ever engage in full time program activities and vice versa?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: There are 45+ different student groups for Evening and Weekend students to participate in! This includes the Investment Management Club, which caters to the needs of students at Chicago Booth, focused on investment management. The group provides opportunities to gain exposure to and delve deeper into the richness of the investment management field. The main difference between Full-Time student groups and Evening and Weekend groups is the timing in which events are scheduled. Groups from the Full Time and Part Time programs do collaborate on events from time to time.
You can learn more about student groups here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/student-experience/beyond-classroom/groups.
Chat Participant: If GRE/GMAT is a required criteria for all candidates for Weekend/Evening program as well. What is the admissions process for both the programs?
Lindsay Badeaux | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions: For the Evening MBA program we admit students 4 times per year (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters) and for the Weekend MBA program we admit students 2 times per year (Fall and Spring). You can read more about our application requirements here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/admissions/apply
Chat Participant: What do you think sets Booth apart from its competitors?
Sai Ramamurthy | Current Evening Student: From the Part-time Program's perspective, Booth is very unique and very special on many fronts - The top 3 differentiators (from other top schools) for me are
1. Same FLEXIBLE curriculum, same faculty and similar academic opportunities as the Full-time program.
2. Access to one of the best career services team and to the On-Campus Recruitment program.
3. Exceptional student group clubs (20+ Clubs) and outstanding - often super-fun student led events
Chat Participant: I understand the scholarships are merit based. Is there a set number of students who receive or does it vary from one admission round to the next?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Operations and Analytics: Booth offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships and there is no set number each quarter, as the overall strength of the applicant pool factors into scholarship decisions. Keep in mind, these merit based scholarships are a highly competitive award that you are automatically considered for when you submit an application. All award decisions are determined from your MBA application by the Admissions Committee and Deans, and are typically awarded in the weeks following admission. The Admissions Committee and Deans work to identify applicants who have excelled both academically and professionally.
Learn more here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/blog/ewadmissions/2019/funding-your-mba-scholarships-financial-aid
Chat Participant: Is there an opportunity to be connected to graduate or current students who travel(ed) from out of state? It would be great to discuss their experience managing work, travel and school.
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Operations and Analytics: Yes, great question! You can use the Ask a Student tool here:https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer or feel free to reach out to our office at eveningweekend-admissions@chicagobooth.edu and one of our admissions directors would be happy to make a connection for you.
Chat Participant: If there is, what is the feature of the difference between the autumn class and the winter class? Such difference as class atmosphere, class size or acceptance rate?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Honestly, the only difference between the autumn and winter intakes is the time of year and the courses are offered each quarter (which varies with all four quarters a year). We have the same admissions process for all quarters, and do not value one over the other. We have no quotas/minimums or maximums for the number of admitted students each quarter; it all depends on the applicant pool for any given quarter.
Chat Participant: what is the batch size for the weekend/evening programs?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions: The number of students varies from quarter to quarter and across programs. You can anticipate your average class size to be approximately 45 students and you will usually not have a class with more than 65 students. Given the rolling admissions, the quality of the applicant pool will vary quarter to quarter, and we are flexible regarding our incoming class sizes. Keep in mind we bring in classes all four quarters and due to the flexibility of our format we do not have co-horts.
Chat Participant: Is it possible to complete 3 concentrations while doing the evening MBA?Eric Herbert | Current Evening Student: Absolutely! I personally have mapped out a way to get up to 9 or 10 concentrations and will be done with 3-4 of them with 6 classes still to go. Most students don't take that approach though, most students take the classes they are the most interested in and just by doing that they end up with 3-4 concentrations.
Chat Participant: Are Booth students permitted to take coursework outside of Booth classes?
Sai Ramamurthy | Current Evening Student: Yes, absolutely! Booth students can participate and pick electives from University of Chicago Law School, Harris School of Public Policy, Department of Economics, University College, etc., I had taken classes at the Law School and it was one of the best experiences! In addition, Booth also allows you to take classes at the EPIC (Energy Policy Institute of Chicago), etc. and there are several other lab classes (real-world hands on projects). High recommend those classes!
Chat Participant: Are concentrations declared like an undergraduate major?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: No, concentrations happen organically as you complete classes. You do not need to claim them in advance.
Chat Participant: I have 13+ years’ experience...Will Weekend/Evening program would be a good fit for me
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Yes, the mid-80% of our students have between 2-10 years of professional work experience, but we certainly have a good number with more than 10 years of experience. We value both young professionals and more experienced professionals as they bring very dynamic viewpoints to the classroom.
Chat Participant: How does LAUNCH and ReLAUNCH work for Weekend MBA students?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Your Chicago Booth journey starts with LAUNCH, your mandatory three day orientation. LAUNCH kicks off your Booth experience and helps you build connections from day one. In addition to a dynamic lineup of activities, LAUNCH features an immersive, groundbreaking leadership program that will enhance your ability to communicate effectively, strengthen your executive presence, and amplify your capacity to collaborate with and motivate others. By attending LAUNCH, you will satisfy the majority of the LEAD graduation requirement, a curricular requisite for graduation. Throughout LAUNCH you will be exposed to the curriculum and bidding, gain further insight into the student experience, and interact with LAUNCH mentors, current student leaders. While we no longer have a "Re-LAUNCH" program, we now offer a life after LAUNCH program as a way to come together and reconnect with the classmates you LAUNCHED with.
Chat Participant: How many credits are required to complete the program...and how many I can take per quarter at the max?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Operations and Analytics: The program consists of 20 courses plus a LEAD component. As far as maximum coursework per quarter, keep in mind that the Evening and Weekend MBA (EW) Programs are designed for full-time working professionals. Taking two courses per quarter is the norm. It is uncommon and not recommended to take more than three courses. Course overloads above the norm may have to be reviewed and approved by Academics Services and/or the Deans. You have five years to complete the degree, and the pace of your program can vary.
Chat Participant: Do evening/weekend students have any difficulty in attending student group club events because of time/day of the week?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: Most of our student group events take place on Saturdays over the lunch hour so students in both the Evening and Weekend programs will have plenty of opportunities to be involved in the community here at Booth. And with 45+ student groups you are sure to find something that peaks your interest!
Chat Participant: How important is it that previous work experience relates directly to business?
Sai Ramamurthy | Current Evening Student: Hi - I don’t think it is that important. I spent my entire career in engineering (with no business background/experience) and I was very successful in navigating through Booth Coursework’s. One of the best things at Booth is its diversity of backgrounds (Work/Experience/Culture). Booth will provide you with the necessary skillsets and support to thrive as a business leader!
Chat Participant: In what ways can Evening and Weekend students collaborate with Full Time students?
Eric Herbert | Current Evening Student: There are a lot of informal ways that the two student populations can collaborate. You will be able to find students on LinkedIn, see them at social events, and find them in some of your classes. More formally, almost every student group that the Full-Time students have, Evening and Weekend has a similar one. Those groups reach out to each other and cross pollinate from time to time. I happen to be on the Student Advisory Council as well and we have a push right now to increase events that both students are invited too. There are also many Lab classes that generally have more full-time Students in them. Those classes are also group project classes so you would have many full-time students in your group if you took any of those lab classes, which are awesome by the way!
Chat Participant: As a potential career changer, I am interested more about On-campus recruitment program. Will on-campus recruitments be held for evening/weekend MBA student or for all MBA students?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions: Evening and Weekend MBA (EW) students can participate in Campus Recruiting for full-time jobs. This is the same recruiting process that full-time students participate in. To be eligible, you need to have 12 courses completed by the time Campus Recruiting begins (autumn quarter) and participate in all required preparation (offered on evenings & weekends). The main difference is that internship recruiting is open to full-time MBA students only. If you feel an internship will be an important part of your career goals, we suggest you explore full-time programs. Please keep in mind that Campus Recruiting is only one of many sources students use to find a new job (if that is their goal) - job posting database, student and alumni network, etc. are also common sources. Many EW students are not seeking a new job, rather are looking to advance in their current organization. You can view our comprehensive Employment Report data here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career/impact.
Chat Participant: If Fee is same for both the programs...?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Yes, tuition and fees are the same across full-time, evening, and weekend programs.
Chat Participant: What time are classes on the weekend? Are there classes on Sunday or solely Saturday?
Sai Ramamurthy | Current Evening Student: Hi – There are two sections on Weekends (Saturday only). The first section is from 9.00 AM to 12.00 PM and the second section is from 1.30 PM to 4.30 PM. There are no classes on Sunday.
Chat Participant: Are there certain placed weekend students who fly in stay overnight?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: Booth offers discounted rates for hotels near Gleacher Center (https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/weekend/student-experience/city-life). Some students might stay with a friend in the city when they're here! We'd be happy to connect you with other Weekend students in your area to learn more about how they manage the travel, or you can feel free to connect with someone directly using our Connect with a Student tool: https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer.
Chat Participant: What is the official accreditations that one can earn through completing a Masters through Booth?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: In addition to earning an MBA, you can earn concentrations. We offer 13 in total. Examples include Economics, Accounting, Business Analytics, and more.
Chat Participant: What advice can you give on how to select my recommenders?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: We strongly recommend one of your letters comes from your current supervisor. However, if you are new on the job and aren't comfortable asking your current supervisor for a recommendation, we ask that you select strong professional recommenders (someone you've worked closely with, etc.). We want to see how they perceive you and your ability to succeed in our programs.
Chat Participant: What are some common signals in an application that indicate that the candidate should not be considering Booth's MBA program?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions: The decision to apply to Booth is a personal decision that varies from person to person. A number of different factors and motivators can influence someone's decision to apply to our program. I would familiarize yourself with our student profile to get a sense of whether you are a competitive candidate and make sure you can articulate your motivations for why you are pursuing your MBA at Booth. You can learn about what we are looking for in a candidate here: https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/admissions/apply/criteria
Chat Participant: How can I offset a low GMAT score?
Hannah Kohut | Associate Director of Marketing: Since we take a holistic approach to our admissions process, we do not weigh any one component more than another. If your GMAT score isn't as high as you'd like, we recommend taking it again if you have time. You can also focus on making sure your essays are rock solid, pick the strongest recommenders, and prepare yourself for your in-person interview if invited to do so.
Chat Participant: what is On-Campus Recruitment program and how it is applicable to evening/weekend MBA program..?
Keenan Gannon | Senior Assistant Director of Admissions Operations and Analytics: You can find out more information about on campus recruiting and how it pertains to the Evening and Weekend program here:https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/evening/career/faq#8ba3b477c8714969a2549f1cfe48efe. Evening MBA and Weekend MBA (EW) students have the same access to career services and networking opportunities as their Full Time (FT) counterparts, with the main difference being that they typically do not go through formal recruiting for internships, since our student population is working full time. You still have access to the Booth job board which has over 5k postings per year, one-on-one career coaching, and you can even opt to go through formal on-campus recruiting as long as it is for full-time positions instead of internships. EW students can seek internships on their own, but if an internship will be an integral part of the career change you hope to make, a Full Time MBA program may be a better fit.
Chat Participant: Does Booth have a preference between the GMAT and GRE tests?
Caitlyn Ward | Associate Director of Admissions Event & Operations: No, we do not have a preference between the two tests.
Chat Participant: Do students find faculty to be accessible?
Eric Herbert | Current Evening Student: Definitely. They have always been really responsive through emails on different questions for homework/material. Booth also routinely holds some social events after classes where faculty and students are able to connect and chat!
Chat Participant: Who are some notable faculty members and the concentration they are most closely associated?
Patrick McHale | Admissions Manager: Here are some ones that comes to mind for me:
Professor Raghuram Rajan - International Corporate Finance
Linda Ginzel - Managerial Psychology
Richard Thaler - Behavioral Economics
Chat Participant: Where can we find out more information about taking these tests?
Stephanie Gunn | Senior Associate Director of Admissions GMAC (Graduate Management Admissions Council) administers the GMAT exam: https://www.gmac.com/ and ETS administers the GRE: https://www.ets.org/gre. You can learn more about the exams on their respective webpages. Best of luck on the exam!