Chicago Booth 2012 MBA Application Questions, Deadlines, Tips.

Chicago Booth 2012 MBA Essay Questions

Essays

1. What are your short- and long-term goals, and how will a Chicago Booth MBA help you reach them? (600 words)

Booth has replaced questions 1 & 2 this year.

In any case, this is a new question and a classic, straight-forward MBA goals question. What do you want to do with your MBA (where do you want to go?) and why is Booth the best school to help you achieve your goal (the right route.)

Define your short-term goal in terms of the function you want to perform and the industry you want to work in. You may also want to specify geographic location, if it’s an important part of your goal. You don’t have to specific the company you want to work for, but you can say you want to work for companies like X.

The long-term goal is usually more foggy, but it should be molded by what you learn at Booth and the experience you hope to acquire in the first 5-10 years of working after you earn your MBA.

Finally, how will the Chicago Booth program and approach to business education help you achieve both these goals? Focus on the distinctive aspects of Booth in your response.

For more, much more, ideas on responding to this and other MBA goals question, please see MBA Goals: A-Z

1a. RE-APPLICANTS ONLY: Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words)

This is a critical essay for MBA reapplicants. Remember, Chicago (and any school you are reapplying to) wants to see growth. Same ol’, same ‘ol got you a ding last time and probably will again this time. Let this brief essay show a maturation and evolution of your goals and reasons for wanting to attend Chicago Booth

2. At Chicago Booth, we believe each individual has his or her own leadership style. How has your family, culture, and/or environment influenced you as a leader? (750 words).

New question.  There are many different ways to approach it, but all must contain a description of your leadership style and a brief discussion of your family’s or background’s contribution to that style.

Here is an approach to structuring your answer, but it is NOT the only way to go. Begin with an example of you in a leadership role that illustrates your leadership style and shows you as a contributor with impact. Then discuss the 1-3 most significant aspects of your role and segue into the events that  shaped your style.

Chicago is asking for information about your “family, culture, and/or environment.” Don’t talk about your office culture or the training program you just attended or the business guru’s book. Show how the personal has influenced the professional.

3. Considering what you’ve already included in the application, what else should we know about you?  In a maximum of four slides, tell us about yourself.

Essay Question 3 Guidelines

We have set forth the following guidelines:

• The content is completely up to you. There is no right, or even preferred, approach to this presentation.
• There is a strict maximum of four pages, though you can provide fewer if you choose.
• Acceptable formats for upload in the online application system are PowerPoint or PDF.
• The document will be viewed electronically, but we cannot support embedded videos, music, or motion images. Additionally, all content MUST be included in the four pages; hyperlinks will not be viewed.
• The file will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.

If you like choice, you will love this question. You can’t get much more open-ended.

I frequently say that an application is like a jigsaw puzzle in which different pieces come together to present a portrait of you, the applicant.  Given your grades, GMAT, job history, and the first two essays, what aspect of your background would you like Booth to know about that hasn’t been revealed? That should be the focus of your response to #3.

There are an infinite number of good approaches to this question. Here is one: If you have a hobby, use the slides to celebrate it. Take pride in it. Share it. Show that you could be a fun contributing member of the Chicago Booth community.

For the Micheners among you, don’t even think of writing a four-page grand finale/summary that you print to PDF. No one wants to read it.

If you would like professional guidance with your Chicago Booth MBA application, please consider Accepted’s MBA essay editing and MBA admissions consulting or our  Chicago Booth MBA Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the Chicago Booth MBA application.

Chicago Booth 2012 MBA Application Deadlines

Round      Due Date               Notification
Round 1    October 12, 2011    December 14, 2011
Round 2    January 4, 20112    March 21, 2012
Round 3    April 4, 2012           May 16, 2012

* Your application must be submitted by 5 p.m. (CST/Chicago time) on the day of the deadline in order to be considered for an application round. This includes receipt of all online and mailed-in materials. Applications submitted after a deadline will automatically be considered in the next round, as long as all materials are included with the application.

By Linda Abraham, President and Founder of Accepted.com.

Like these tips? Check out the entire 2012 MBA Essay Tips series for more valuable MBA essay advice!