Tips on Chicago Booth Admissions

(page 4 of 4)

Rosemaria Martinelli
University of Chicago

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je220: Do you have any specific advice or additional information to offer applicants to the joint MBA-MA in International Relations program?

RosemariaM: Because the MA part of the degree is an academic degree (and a thesis will be required), applicants should approach the additional essay with a more academic focus. Since you get to choose the area of focus, you should make it clear in the additional essay why in particular that makes sense for you.

FrancescaBW: Rosemaria and Rachel, please tell us how things might be changing in light of the school's new name.

RosemariaM: We are very excited about the new gift to Chicago Booth. This gift allows us to continue to do what we've always done well — have the best faculty, great programs, expand our global footprint and attract the best students in the world. There is enormous momentum at Chicago, and I am proud to be a part of this great community (both as an administrator and a student in the executive MBA program).

Rachel: I think the new name will help to further solidify our business school's brand. I think that when people hear, "Chicago Booth," [people should] associate the name with the best business schools in the world.

je220: A follow-up to the question about the MBA/MA; Can the writing sample be from any academic discipline? Will a research-style paper from a literature course be acceptable, or should the focus be on something more relevant to international relations?

RosemariaM: It should be relevant to the program.

FrancescaBW: Do you have any suggestions about how to choose the right people to write your reference letters? If so, what are they?

Rachel: Make sure they actually know you. It's much more important to identify a person who can write a really rich recommendation letter than it is to target, say, the CEO of the company who's only met you once. You also want someone who can help fill in the picture of who you are. Your recommendation letters can help to show the complete picture of you, perhaps filling in the blanks that you weren't able to address in your essays.

FrancescaBW: Do you have any parting advice for our audience of applicants? If so, what?

RosemariaM: As we wind down our chat, I want to encourage you to come check out our resources — from our online chats and discussion forums to visit programs. Chicago is committed to providing the best support to applicants.

Rachel: Know yourself, and know why you're applying to Booth. It's very important to figure out how you fit with Booth (or any school, really) when you're putting together your applications. If you're passionate about Booth, it will come through in your essays, and that passion is important.