Chicago Booth application is now live, which means you can start uploading / filling in your application bit by bit.
The Admissions team has also given some broad directions which will clarify your doubts about the essay questions. In their words:
What if I’m not 100% sure about what I want to do long-term in my career? How do I address that in Essay 1?
Our goal in the first essay is to understand your current vision for your career, and how an MBA will help facilitate that vision. Given the flexibility of our program, we look for applicants who have a strong understanding for what they want to do, and what they expect to both gain from and give to the MBA experience. We understand that your two years at Booth will undoubtedly expand your horizons, and your goals may evolve during that time, as well as throughout your career. At the same time, however, we want to make sure that you are focused, and that if nothing else changes, you have a path and plan to pursue. Share with us your current vision for your short-and long-term career goals.
Are you looking more for leadership examples or overall leadership influences in Essay 2?
As we initially shared, there is no prescribed “right” answer for this question (or any of our questions, really!). The hope is that you will share with us more about what has fundamentally shaped you, and in turn, your leadership style. This could be one specific moment from your past, a culmination of experiences, or a blend of past and present experiences. While this is a question about leadership, it is also a question about critical introspection. At Booth, it is incredibly important to know yourself, and we hope this essay encourages you to dig deeper into your internal motivations and values.
Is the presentation supposed to be crafted as a visual presentation, as if I were delivering it to the Admissions Committee?
To best answer this question, it might be useful to understand our thought process behind choosing the word “presentation.” While the format and content is ultimately up to you, we chose the word “presentation” to challenge you to think beyond a traditional essay and expand your ability to tell us about yourself. You are free to choose a presentation-style design (or any other design), but make sure that all information needed is included in the document.