Please continue to follow our admissions blog now called the Booth Insider at http://blogs.chicagobooth.edu/boothinsider

It’s hard to believe that July is already coming to a close.  After working so hard to make the right match between Booth and the many stellar candidates who applied, my team and I always designate July as vacation month so that we can return to the admissions process renewed and recharged.  This particular July, however, finds me recharged and heading in a new direction as I end my tenure at Chicago Booth and compose my final entry for The Rose Report. 

 

During the past five years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to wear multiple hats within the Booth community – leader, student, and alumnae.  As Associate Dean, I was fortunate to lead an extremely talented team to provide transparency in our admissions process and to help prospective students determine if Booth is the right fit for them.  As a student in, and now graduate of the Executive MBA program, I learned the value of the Booth way of thinking and through this experience underwent my own personal and professional transformation.  While I’m leaving Chicago Booth, I’m not going far.  In August, I will begin my new role as Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management for the University of Chicago.  I’m excited about this next step in my career and looking forward to the opportunities that are ahead.  

 

I’m leaving you in the capable hands of my Admissions team with Kurt Ahlm serving as the interim head of the department.  I am confident that they will continue to provide you with the same level of support and guidance that prospective students have come to expect from our office.  Also, while The Rose Report will end, there will be a new blog managed by the Admissions team to keep you informed about Booth and our admissions process.  The Booth Insider will continue to provide transparency and insight throughout each application cycle.  

 

Thanks to all who have followed The Rose Report during the past few years.  I’ve enjoyed sharing my perspective and hope it was a helpful resource for you.  I wish you all the best in your personal and professional journey and look forward to continuing my relationship with Booth as a supportive member of the alumni community.  Warm regards, Rose

 

PS – I’ll post briefly towards the end of the week to introduce you to our new blog. 

For those of you that received our July Admissions Insider or follow us on Twitter at Booth_Insider, you know that today we posted our 2011 application essay questions.  Our essays continue to be a wonderful way for us to learn about what makes our applicants unique and determine if they are the right fit for Chicago Booth.  Here is some insight as to what we’re looking for in each essay.

1.    The Admissions Committee is interested in learning more about you on both a personal and professional level.   Please answer the following (maximum of 300 words for each section):

a. Why are you pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life?

b. Define your short and long term career goals post MBA.

c.  What is it about Chicago Booth that is going to help you reach your goals?

d.  REAPPLICANTS 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?

These short essays will require you to know yourself.  You will need to understand where you have been and where you are going.  Before you begin drafting the responses to these essays, take some time for self-reflection.  Why do you want to return to school?  Why is the MBA the right degree for you? 

We know that many of you will use your MBA experience to help you figure out what kind of job to pursue next.  Even though your future career plans may not be clear at this time, you should still be able to discuss your goals and how they relate to obtaining an MBA.

For our reapplicants, question 1d is where you can tell us what, if anything, has changed since the time of your last application.  What has occurred in your life or career that has either reinforced or changed your goals?  What lessons have you learned or how have you grown since you last applied to Chicago Booth? 

2.    Chicago Booth is a place that challenges its students to stretch and take risks that they might not take elsewhere. Tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you learned from that experience (maximum of 750 words).

You’re probably wondering, “What kind of risk do you want me to discuss?”  To be honest, we’re not looking for one kind of risk in particular.  It can be a risk related to your professional, academic or personal life.  It can be a risk that resulted in either a positive or negative outcome.  We want to hear about a time when you challenged yourself and what you learned from that experience.  How has that experience influenced your future actions?

3.    At Chicago Booth, we teach you HOW to think rather than what to think. With this in mind, we have provided you with “blank pages” in our application. Knowing that there is not a right or even a preferred answer allows you to demonstrate to the committee your ability to navigate ambiguity and provide information that you believe will support your candidacy for Chicago Booth. 

Earlier this year, there was some discussion as to whether we would continue using the presentation as part of our evaluation process.  With the presentation proving to be such an important tool in helping us determine who is a good fit for Chicago Booth, we decided it was necessary to include in our 2011 application.  However, this year, we are giving applicants even greater freedom to decide what information they want to convey in the presentation.

Since we’re providing you with “blank pages,” what you decide to address in your presentation is up to you.  Look at the other aspects of your application.  Are there messages or activities that you have not yet been able to communicate to the committee?  If so, then the presentation will be an opportunity for you to provide us with this type of information.  After reviewing your presentation, we want to have a better understanding of who you are and how you think. 

Also, please remember that it is the content – not the design – that should be the focus of the presentation.  We understand that not everyone is a design guru.  So, whether it’s through photos, images, graphs, or just words, the goal is to communicate your messages as effectively as possible.

I know that I have given you a lot to consider.  Don’t worry!  You’ll have plenty of time to prepare because our Round 1 application deadline is not until October 13.  I just wanted to share some initial thoughts to help you begin thinking about the essays.  I’m sure that we’ll discuss the essays in further detail during future blog posts. 

I hope you’re having a wonderful summer.  Warm regards, Rose.