Why Choose Booth for a Full-Time MBA?

I knew I wanted to pursue a Full-Time MBA program for the experience inside and outside of the classroom. Being a career switcher and spending most of my career outside of business meant there was a lot to learn. Focusing full-time on being a student allows me to explore extracurriculars offered at Booth such as the Net Impact Board Fellows Program, Polsky Center events and workshops, and much more. The Full-Time MBA experience gives you the time and network to explore your interests and make the most of what Booth has to offer, which I appreciate.

My decision to choose Chicago Booth was influenced by three main reasons: (1) Booth’s esteemed academic reputation; highlighted by Nobel Laureates like Eugene F. Fama and Richard Thaler, which significantly boosted my confidence in the quality of education I would receive. Additionally, Booth's high rankings further confirmed the program's excellence. (2) Booth’s flexible curriculum model; having access to a flexible curriculum continues to allow me to customize my learning experience to align with my career goals and interests. (3) Most importantly, the pay-it-forward culture prevalent among Booth students; the culture at Booth ultimately served as my deciding factor. Furthermore, throughout my time here, my choice has been continually validated.

Choosing Chicago Booth was a deliberate decision for me. Beyond the rankings, Booth's unique character resonated with me deeply. In my eyes, Booth embodies a blend of intellectual curiosity, ambition, creativity, and ethical values. This strong sense of personal fit and connection with Booth's culture set it apart from other programs. I felt confident that pursuing my MBA at Booth would not only provide me with an outstanding education but also immerse me in a like-minded community of individuals who share my values, interests, and drive for success. The opportunity to grow alongside such an exceptional group of people, while learning from renowned faculty and leveraging the vast resources available, ultimately solidified my decision to join the Chicago Booth Full-Time MBA Program.

As someone who’s become accustomed to living in big cities, I wanted to take the chance to live in another big city during my MBA experience. Chicago is such a beautiful city with diverse culture—living in Chicago has always been appealing to me. After hearing more about how many Boothies live downtown in close proximity to one another, I thought it would be a very awesome setup for me to embark on for two years.

Aside from the city itself, I ultimately decided on Chicago Booth because of the people and Booth’s “pay-it-forward culture”. When I got admitted to Booth, there were so many students who reached out to me during that time to congratulate me. Boothies really made themselves available to answer any questions I had about the school, program, and personal interests. Seeing the amount of outreach and support I received from students confirmed for me that Booth was where I belonged.

There are many reasons to go to Booth—the rigorous curriculum, the exceptional density of Nobel laureates on the faculty, and the soulful city of Chicago are but a few. In full transparency, the rankings were a significant factor for me during my search, but I consider myself unbelievably lucky to have found myself at the home of The Chicago Approach. Booth has always felt like my perfectly matched puzzle piece as the data-driven, cross-disciplinary, and deeply scientific way of thinking is eminently compatible with my analytical perspective.

During the MBA program application process, I was very focused on ensuring that the business school I chose had a supportive student body and alumni base. In my opinion, building relationships with classmates, alumni, and future business school attendees is the key to sustaining close ties with an institution and being woven into its cultural fabric. Personally, I applied and was accepted into three top schools, and I chose Chicago Booth due to the academic rigor, student culture, and the opportunity to live in the Windy City.