Established in 1898, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the United States.
In this in-depth Chicago Booth MBA Application essay tips, we cover
• Overview and History of the Chicago Booth MBA Program
• Mission, Vision, and Values
• Ideal Candidate for the Chicago Booth MBA Program
• What to Include in the Essay
• Essay Tips
Overview and History of the Chicago Booth MBA Program
Originally named the College of Commerce and Politics, it was founded by faculty member James Laurence Laughlin with the goal of applying rigorous academic principles to the study of business. In 1920, Booth introduced the nation's first doctoral program in business, the first Executive MBA program in 1943, and in 2008, following a landmark $300 million donation from alumnus David G. Booth, the school was renamed in his honor. Today, Chicago Booth maintains campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, reflecting its global reach and influence.
Apart from LEAD, the only required course focused on leadership and communication skills, students have the freedom to shape their coursework to fit their career goals. The program offers more than 100 electives, allowing students to pursue concentrations or explore interdisciplinary opportunities through partnerships with the University of Chicago’s Law School and Harris School of Public Policy. Booth also supports lifelong learning, offering alumni up to 300 units of credit for free post-graduation.
Experiential learning is central to the Booth experience. Students can engage in lab courses that take them abroad, such as the Global Social Impact Practicum in India. Industry Treks provide exposure to global business hubs like Hong Kong and London, while the International Business Exchange Program (IBEP) allows students to study at partner schools worldwide. Additionally, Booth’s Random Walks—10-day pre-MBA trips help build strong peer connections before classes begin.
The program is STEM-designated, providing international students on an F-1 visa the option to apply for an additional 24 months of work authorization under Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission Statement: At Chicago Booth, our mission is to create knowledge with enduring impact, and educate current and future leaders.
Vision and Values
Chicago Booth is dedicated to transforming the brightest minds into influential leaders through The Chicago Approach, an analytical and enduring style of business education. This vision is realized across campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong, where students engage with world-class faculty and a supportive community. The school's values are shaped by four key considerations:
1. Respect for the Individual: Emphasizing personal choice in educational paths, allowing students and faculty to pursue their unique interests and teaching styles.
2. The Classroom as a Place of Learning: Encouraging active participation from both students and faculty to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
3. Personal Integrity: Upholding the highest standards of honesty and ethical behavior in all interactions within the Booth community and beyond.
4. Continuous Improvement: Commitment to the ongoing enhancement of the school's learning environment, with faculty encouraged to introduce evolving knowledge and techniques into the classroom.
Ideal Candidate for the Chicago Booth MBA Program
Chicago Booth seeks candidates who demonstrate a blend of academic excellence, community engagement, and professional potential. The admissions committee evaluates applicants across three broad areas:
1. Academic Preparedness and Intellectual Curiosity:
o Strong academic records, including GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, and, if applicable, TOEFL/IELTS/PTE results.
o Recognition such as merit-based scholarships and professional certifications.
o Effective communication skills and a keen interest in current affairs and diverse areas beyond one's immediate environment.
2. Community Engagement and Interpersonal Skills:
o Demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and respect for others.
o Active involvement in community service and extracurricular activities.
o A unique perspective and a clear fit with Chicago Booth's culture, contributing positively to the school community.
3. Professional Experience and Goals:
o A proven track record of success and resourcefulness in professional endeavors.
o Effective time-management skills and a well-defined sense of personal direction.
o Realistic and well-articulated expectations for how the MBA will support future career aspirations.
What to Include in the Essay
When crafting your application essay for Chicago Booth, consider the following elements to effectively convey your fit with the program:
1. Personal and Professional Journey:
o Share your unique story, highlighting experiences that have shaped your character, values, and aspirations.
o Discuss pivotal moments that influenced your decision to pursue an MBA and how they align with Booth's mission of creating knowledge with enduring impact.
2. Alignment with Booth's Values:
o Demonstrate how your experiences reflect respect for individuality, active engagement in learning, personal integrity, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
o Provide examples of how you've embodied these values in academic, professional, or community settings.
3. Academic and Intellectual Curiosity:
o Highlight your academic achievements and instances where your intellectual curiosity led you to explore new ideas or solve complex problems.
o Explain how Booth's analytical approach and flexible curriculum will support your academic interests and career goals.
4. Community Engagement and Leadership:
o Illustrate your leadership skills and ability to collaborate within diverse teams.
o Discuss your involvement in community service or extracurricular activities, emphasizing how these experiences have prepared you to contribute to the Booth community.
5. Career Vision and Goals:
o Articulate your short-term and long-term career objectives, ensuring they are realistic and well thought out.
o Explain how a Chicago Booth MBA is integral to achieving these goals, detailing specific resources, courses, or opportunities at Booth that will facilitate your professional development.
Essay Tips
All candidates are required to submit responses to the following two questions:
Essay 1: Booth MBA Career Goals Essay
How will a Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)
How To Approach
This essay requires a structured response, clearly outlining both immediate post-MBA goals and long-term career aspirations while demonstrating why Booth is the ideal program to support these objectives. A strong response should:
1. Define clear career goals (both immediate and long-term).
2. Identify skill gaps that an MBA will help bridge.
3. Showcase Booth’s academic resources, experiential learning, and network as key enablers of career success.
4. Demonstrate fit with Booth’s culture and highlight contributions to the community.
1. Immediate Post-MBA Goals
• Clearly define the industry, function, and type of company you want to join immediately after graduation.
• Be specific about the role’s responsibilities and how it connects to your long-term aspirations.
• Explain why an MBA is necessary for achieving this goal—what gaps exist in your current skill set?
• Use Booth’s curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and industry-focused resources to explain how the school will help you reach your target role.
What Lauren Can Include from Her Profile
Lauren’s immediate goal is to return to private equity with a stronger operational focus. She wants to transition into a role where she can work closely with portfolio companies to optimize financial performance and drive value creation—a shift from her previous finance-heavy roles.
To strengthen this section, Lauren can highlight:
• Gaps in Current Skillset: While she has experience in investment banking and private equity deal-making, she needs to strengthen her knowledge of portfolio operations, financial restructuring, and strategic decision-making.
• Relevant Booth Coursework: Courses like Private Equity Transactions, Managerial Accounting, and Strategic Management of Organizations will provide her with the frameworks needed to optimize portfolio companies.
• Experiential Learning: The Private Equity Lab will allow her to work on real deals with top-tier PE firms, applying Booth’s academic rigor to practical investment decisions.
• Networking & Industry Engagement: The Private Equity Group and Booth PE Treks will offer invaluable opportunities to engage with industry leaders and secure an in-quarter internship.
2. Long-Term Post-MBA Goals
• Define what you want to achieve 10-15 years after your MBA and what kind of leadership role you envision for yourself.
• Explain how this goal aligns with your background, values, and personal motivations.
• Show how Booth’s long-term impact—its network, leadership development opportunities, and alumni support—will help you succeed.
What Lauren Can Include from Her Profile
Lauren’s long-term goal is to establish herself as a senior leader in private equity, specializing in driving operational value creation within portfolio companies. She ultimately aspires to lead investment strategy and manage a portfolio of companies, ensuring sustainable business growth.
To strengthen this section, Lauren can highlight:
• Her motivation for this career path: Her experience in investment banking and private equity has given her strong technical skills, but she wants to become a more well-rounded leader who influences investment decisions at a strategic level.
• Booth’s leadership development opportunities: Programs like LEAD (Leadership Exploration and Development) will refine her leadership style and prepare her for senior roles in the future.
• Booth’s global exposure: As private equity is an increasingly global field, Lauren can benefit from global immersions, Random Walks, and international business treks to gain insights into diverse markets.
• Mentorship & Pay-It-Forward Culture: She can leverage Booth’s strong alumni network in private equity, building relationships with industry leaders who can guide her career progression.
3. Why Booth? (Bridging Skill Gaps & Demonstrating Fit)
• Tie Booth’s curriculum, extracurricular activities, and experiential learning opportunities directly to your career goals.
• Showcase how Booth’s flexible curriculum will allow you to customize your learning experience.
• Highlight cultural fit—how Booth’s analytical, data-driven approach and pay-it-forward culture align with your values and learning style.
What Lauren Can Include from Her Profile
• Booth’s data-driven approach aligns with her analytical mindset developed in investment banking and private equity.
• The flexible curriculum allows her to focus on accounting, finance, and entrepreneurship, equipping her with the operational knowledge needed for PE.
• The Private Equity Group, Booth PE Conference, and case competitions will help her gain hands-on experience and expand her network.
• She is excited about Booth’s pay-it-forward culture and sees herself mentoring first-year students and contributing to the PE community.
Essay 2: Booth MBA Outside of Office Essay
An MBA is as much about personal growth as it is about professional development. In addition to sharing your experience and goals in terms of career, we’d like to learn more about you outside of the office. Use this opportunity to tell us something about who you are… (Minimum 250 words, no maximum.)
How To Approach
Understanding the Essay
Chicago Booth’s essay question challenges applicants to reflect on their personal identity beyond their professional accomplishments. The school wants to see self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and depth of character. Research in MBA admissions underscores that programs like Booth seek well-rounded candidates who exhibit career ambition as well as personal growth, values, and the ability to contribute to a diverse community.
According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) 2023 report, soft skills such as adaptability, empathy, and collaboration are as highly valued as analytical and technical skills in MBA candidates. Additionally, studies from the Harvard Business Review indicate that leaders with strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence are better at decision-making and fostering high-performing teams.
This essay provides an opportunity to present a well-rounded picture of yourself beyond your resume or professional achievements. It should reflect what drives you and how your personal experiences will enrich the Booth community.
1. Identifying Your Core Values and Passions
Before diving into a story, reflect on the personal values and passions that define you. What drives you beyond professional aspirations? What activities, relationships, or experiences have been particularly meaningful in your personal growth?
According to a study in Harvard Business Review on leadership authenticity, individuals who define their core values and consistently align their actions with them tend to have stronger personal and professional influence. Another study in The Journal of Business Ethics found that leaders with well-defined values foster stronger workplace cultures and deeper connections.
• Choose 2-3 core values or passions that resonate with your identity.
• Consider experiences that shaped these values, such as formative childhood events, family influences, or defining moments in your personal journey.
• Be specific—avoid generic statements like “I value teamwork” without illustrating why.
Example – How Lauren Could Approach This Section
Lauren could highlight her passion for mentorship and community building, which stems from her experience mentoring junior analysts in private equity. She could discuss how this extends beyond work—perhaps by mentoring women in finance through a non-profit or organizing professional development workshops. This would showcase a well-rounded aspect of her personality, demonstrating her commitment to leadership beyond technical skills.
2. Telling a Personal Story That Defines You
This essay should not just list traits—it should tell a story. The best responses weave in personal anecdotes that illustrate depth and authenticity.
A study published in The Journal of Applied Psychology suggests that storytelling helps individuals build deeper personal connections, making their narratives more memorable and engaging. Additionally, research by Dr. Paul Zak on neurochemistry and storytelling indicates that personal stories trigger oxytocin release, increasing trust and emotional resonance with an audience.
• Select a personal experience that highlights resilience, curiosity, or leadership.
• Use storytelling techniques—set the scene, introduce challenges, and share lessons learned.
• Make sure the experience ties back to who you are today.
Example – How Lauren Could Approach This Section
Lauren could share an experience from studying abroad during her undergraduate years, perhaps a time when she faced a language barrier while traveling in Spain. She could describe how she overcame challenges, adapted to a new environment, and developed resilience—qualities that now shape her approach to business and teamwork. This story would provide a more personal lens into her character and global perspective.
3. Showcasing Interests Outside of Work
Booth values candidates with diverse interests and hobbies. This is an opportunity to highlight what excites you beyond finance and investing.
According to The Journal of Positive Psychology, individuals with well-rounded hobbies tend to develop stronger problem-solving skills and creativity. Additionally, a study by McKinsey & Company on leadership suggests that personal interests and passions outside work contribute to leadership effectiveness by promoting balance, innovation, and interpersonal skills.
• Showcase hobbies, creative pursuits, or volunteer work that demonstrate a different side of you.
• Relate it back to your personality—what do these activities reveal about you?
• Avoid a laundry list; instead, focus on one or two activities and go deeper.
Example – How Lauren Could Approach This Section
Lauren could talk about her love for endurance sports, such as running marathons, and how training has instilled discipline and perseverance in her. She could tie this to her approach in private equity, illustrating how long-term vision and commitment play a role in both athletic and professional success.
4. Connecting Personal Growth to Your MBA Journey
Finally, tie everything back to your MBA experience. The admissions committee wants to see how your personal growth aligns with Booth’s community and learning environment.
A report by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) found that MBA graduates who engaged in both professional and personal development opportunities during their programs were more likely to have higher career satisfaction and leadership impact. Furthermore, research in The Academy of Management Journal supports the idea that individuals who integrate personal growth with professional aspirations tend to have more fulfilling and sustainable careers.
• Explain how Booth’s culture will help you continue growing personally.
• Mention Booth’s clubs, initiatives, or programs that align with your values.
• Show that you are not just seeking an MBA for career advancement but also for personal transformation.
Example – How Lauren Could Approach This Section
Lauren could express her excitement about engaging with Booth’s mentorship culture by joining the Graduate Women in Business club, where she can continue supporting women in finance. She could also mention her interest in global immersion experiences, leveraging her Spanish skills in international consulting projects. This would demonstrate how her personal interests align with Booth’s offerings.
References
- Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence
- Harvard Business Review, Leadership Authenticity Studies
- The Journal of Applied Psychology, Storytelling in Personal Narratives
- GMAC Research Report on MBA Graduate Career Satisfaction
- The Academy of Management Journal, Personal and Professional Growth Integration
that supports curiosity, inspires us to think more broadly, and take risks. At Booth, community is about collaborative thinking and learning from one another to better ourselves, our ideas, and the world around us.