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April 11, 2012 Our final deadline for applying to the Executive MBA Program at Chicago Booth has passed. For the next few weeks we are busy conducting interviews, evaluating applications and putting the final puzzle pieces together for the new class that starts in June.
I like the analogy of a puzzle for a few reasons. When you look at a puzzle piece by itself it doesn’t give you a very good indication of what the whole picture is. Think of a big jigsaw puzzle when you have dozens of pieces that are just blue for the sky. You start putting a few of the pieces together and you create separate groups of connected pieces and you can start to see the whole thing coming together. You are just missing a few of those connecting pieces.
At this point in the process we have some of the spaces in the class together. We have a few different industries represented and a few different job functions. We have people from California, Texas, New York, etc. I’ve read applications from Doctors, Lawyers, Industry leaders in Telecommunications, Oil & Energy, Marketing, Investment Services and even a Navy Fighter Pilot. With this last group of applicants we are looking for pieces that fit together with the ones we already have. Not all pieces fit with each other but once you get them all in the right places they generally create a pretty nice picture.
What happens during the program is a whole different part of the puzzle making process. Now that the pieces are all in place they get glued together. This was a difficult puzzle to complete. During the 21 months as all of the pieces learn how they fit they realize that they are at their best when they are together.
I truly enjoy helping to put this puzzle together, learning what each individual piece has to offer and watching the pieces fall into place. I look forward to seeing the whole picture once the program starts in June.
Toby Cortelyou March 20, 2012 Graduation Day
Friday, March 16: Today is one of my favorite days of the year: graduation. Graduation in our program actually lasts several weeks. This year our Singapore cohort finished first. Our Dean, Deputy Dean and I were there to celebrate with them. There was a champagne toast after class ended, followed by a formal ceremony since not everyone can fly to Chicago for graduation, and finally a grand party with food, music, videos made by the class, and much celebration. London’s group finished next, and we once again attended to celebrate their achievement. Last class day in Chicago, a week ago, was marked by similar festivities.
During this past week, a few optional academic activities occurred. Our Global New Venture Challenge culminated in the contest yesterday. Winning teams have the option to continue in the school-wide New Venture Challenge this Spring. Some students opted to take extra classes, to earn a Concentration in an area of specific interest. Some took a tough Investments final exam this morning, hours before graduation!
Today, however, was the main event: graduation in Rockefeller Chapel. Over 200 of our roughly 265 students converged on Chicago, donned cap and gown, and received diplomas from our University President. There were trumpets, organ music and a choir. This was followed by a reception – one of the amazing things about our graduation is the families that fly to Chicago from all over the globe to watch a loved one become an alumnus of the University of Chicago. Finally, tomorrow night is the graduation ball, a formal event in Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History.
The students alumni have worked very hard for 21 months. There have been moments of sheer exhaustion, frustration, fear of failure … and of learning, sharpened thinking, new friends, and new ideas. Their families are proud of them, and so are we, as the staff and faculty of the program. It is simply wonderful to share a few days of formal and informal celebration as we have all done so much together.
Sunday it’s all over. But application deadline for the next cohort is April 1 …
Mike Gibbs
February 27, 2012
After only a few months of 2012, I can already see increased interest in taking the GMAT before GMAC adds the new Integrated Reasoning section in June. A good percentage of my students (I’ll not try to estimate how many) have said the impending change is the #1 reason they decided to start studying now. Wise move. As the year trods on, I hope to see more and more people with this brand of forethought. Since GMAT scores are good for five years after Test Day, I implore you: please do not wait to take the test until the year or semester before you plan to start grad school. Even if you are on the fence about whether you’ll even end up going, that is a good enough reason to get the GMAT out of the way now. Load your bases, set your table, tee up your shot... Use whatever metaphor resonates with you, just understand that strategy is about planning for the future and a very smart tactical move is to take the GMAT before June 1, 2012. How do you factor this into your plan? You need to schedule your GMAT for no later than the end of April. That way, if something does go wrong—for whatever reason—on Test Day, you can set another one before June 1st. One more piece of information for your consideration: in the event you have to take the test again, your official GMAT test days must happen 30 days apart. Study hard and get your top score the first time. However, stress is going to impact your performance. One of your goals during test prep is to identify ways to mitigate that stress so the kind you feel on Test Day is the type that keeps you focused, motivated, and competitive. A good mitigator is knowing you can do it again if you had to. Lucas Weingarten* Guest Blogger * Lucas Weingarten has been teaching the GMAT for Kaplan Test Prep since January 2010. He is also a Kaplan certified instructor for both the GRE as well as the LSAT. Please note that Chicago Booth does not endorse one specific test preparation company. Please contact our Admissions Team to learn more about the Executive MBA Program and the application process. |