Applications are now being accepted for the Round Three Application Deadline on Wednesday, April 13. Here are some tips for our Round Three applicants to help ensure your application is the best it can be.
Answer the questions
We encourage you to take the time to read each essay question closely. The Chicago Booth essay questions may seem similar to other essays you've encountered, but in order to clearly answer the questions that are posed, you must pay close attention to exactly what you're being asked.
Use the "blank pages" essay as an opportunity to express yourself
You may be thinking, “What is Booth looking for?” Simply put, we are looking for organized thoughts, strong communication skills, and the ability to convey ideas clearly. When you look at your application as a whole – your resume, your academic history, your test scores, and your essays – think about what is missing that is relevant to your candidacy that you want the Admissions Committee to know about you. Whether you choose to highlight new material or emphasize material presented in other parts of your application, the choice is completely yours. This essay is not a measure of creativity or a test of your graphic design skills, but rather an opportunity to express yourself without guidance or restriction. There is no right or wrong way to answer this question!
Check with your recommenders
Has it been a while since you talked to your supervisor/colleague/mentor about writing a recommendation for you? Confirm that they are aware of the deadline and procedures in submitting letters. Remember that we will accept letters of recommendation on your behalf up to one week after the Round Three deadline.
Know thyself
While this piece of advice may seem obvious, we encourage you to take time out to ask yourself some tough questions. Strong applications demonstrate self-awareness and a clear picture of your goals and reasons for pursuing the MBA. Since the Booth evaluation process is a holistic one, all of the pieces of the puzzle help the Admissions Committee determine your fit with our special and unique community. And remember, there is no one item or area in your application that can make or break you. It's the complete picture of you that is important!
Have someone read your application
Have you worked on your application so much that you can recite each section by heart? The danger in getting to this point is that your application becomes so familiar that you aren't objective about improvements that can be made. You may even become blind to simple errors. Have someone read your application to make sure it all makes sense, is easy to read and that your messages are clear.
Keep up with what's happening in Admissions
There are a variety of ways for you to stay connected with the Admissions Office. Our Booth Insider blog provides application tips as well as updates on what's going on in the admissions process. For example, our latest blog entry written by Senior Director of Admissions Kurt Ahlm, gives an update on the status of Round Two applications. You can also visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to find news and information about what's going on in our community.
Use the optional essay wisely
It's important to use this essay judiciously. The optional essay can be a great opportunity to provide greater explanation of any anomalies in your application. But it is not an opportunity to write another creative essay or expand on your work experience. Use this space only if you feel it's necessary in providing greater clarity around some aspect of your application.
Spell check
Sounds simple, but your computer's spell check function won't catch all spelling and/or grammar errors. So check your work manually to be sure your writing is the best it can be. Spelling and grammar errors won't deliver the message you wish to send.
Relax!
Once your application is submitted, remind yourself that you've worked hard and submitted your best effort. Congratulate yourself for completing this difficult and stressful task! Remember that after the application deadline, the Admissions Committee will be reading each application thoroughly; and all applications are read more than once by different members of the committee. Since there is no particular order in which we read files, don't allow yourself to stress by counting the days to the decision date. Decisions will be released on schedule!
Know what's next
A few days after the Round Three deadline on April 13, all applicants will receive an email from Admissions with a timeline for the application process. You'll see information about your application status and the interview invitation process.
Answer the questions
We encourage you to take the time to read each essay question closely. The Chicago Booth essay questions may seem similar to other essays you've encountered, but in order to clearly answer the questions that are posed, you must pay close attention to exactly what you're being asked.
Use the "blank pages" essay as an opportunity to express yourself
You may be thinking, “What is Booth looking for?” Simply put, we are looking for organized thoughts, strong communication skills, and the ability to convey ideas clearly. When you look at your application as a whole – your resume, your academic history, your test scores, and your essays – think about what is missing that is relevant to your candidacy that you want the Admissions Committee to know about you. Whether you choose to highlight new material or emphasize material presented in other parts of your application, the choice is completely yours. This essay is not a measure of creativity or a test of your graphic design skills, but rather an opportunity to express yourself without guidance or restriction. There is no right or wrong way to answer this question!
Check with your recommenders
Has it been a while since you talked to your supervisor/colleague/mentor about writing a recommendation for you? Confirm that they are aware of the deadline and procedures in submitting letters. Remember that we will accept letters of recommendation on your behalf up to one week after the Round Three deadline.
Know thyself
While this piece of advice may seem obvious, we encourage you to take time out to ask yourself some tough questions. Strong applications demonstrate self-awareness and a clear picture of your goals and reasons for pursuing the MBA. Since the Booth evaluation process is a holistic one, all of the pieces of the puzzle help the Admissions Committee determine your fit with our special and unique community. And remember, there is no one item or area in your application that can make or break you. It's the complete picture of you that is important!
Have someone read your application
Have you worked on your application so much that you can recite each section by heart? The danger in getting to this point is that your application becomes so familiar that you aren't objective about improvements that can be made. You may even become blind to simple errors. Have someone read your application to make sure it all makes sense, is easy to read and that your messages are clear.
Keep up with what's happening in Admissions
There are a variety of ways for you to stay connected with the Admissions Office. Our Booth Insider blog provides application tips as well as updates on what's going on in the admissions process. For example, our latest blog entry written by Senior Director of Admissions Kurt Ahlm, gives an update on the status of Round Two applications. You can also visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to find news and information about what's going on in our community.
Use the optional essay wisely
It's important to use this essay judiciously. The optional essay can be a great opportunity to provide greater explanation of any anomalies in your application. But it is not an opportunity to write another creative essay or expand on your work experience. Use this space only if you feel it's necessary in providing greater clarity around some aspect of your application.
Spell check
Sounds simple, but your computer's spell check function won't catch all spelling and/or grammar errors. So check your work manually to be sure your writing is the best it can be. Spelling and grammar errors won't deliver the message you wish to send.
Relax!
Once your application is submitted, remind yourself that you've worked hard and submitted your best effort. Congratulate yourself for completing this difficult and stressful task! Remember that after the application deadline, the Admissions Committee will be reading each application thoroughly; and all applications are read more than once by different members of the committee. Since there is no particular order in which we read files, don't allow yourself to stress by counting the days to the decision date. Decisions will be released on schedule!
Know what's next
A few days after the Round Three deadline on April 13, all applicants will receive an email from Admissions with a timeline for the application process. You'll see information about your application status and the interview invitation process.
