Getting In October 16, 2007, 9:10PM EST

Finding a 'Fit' at Chicago

(page 3 of 3)

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Rose Martinelli
University of Chicago

Chicago is consistently rated as one of the top business schools in the world. Should a potential applicant opt for a reach school where he or she might be one of the lesser students in a stellar class or go for a less selective school where the student has a better chance of being in the top of the class?
Well, there are a couple of things in that question. First of all, my bottom line is dream big and go for the most difficult school that you can because it will draw out of you more than you think is possible at the time of your enrollment or at the time of your application.

Going with a school that's overly comfortable will probably do just that, will make you overly comfortable and perhaps not draw you through experiences that will be tough and that will cause you to grow and expand, and also discover new things about yourself or new industries that might be useful.

So that's one side. I really do believe that one should stretch oneself through the MBA and not necessarily go for a comfort school.

On the other side is the whole atmosphere of the recruiting process, and I think you need to be aware that when you're coming into a top-tier school, the recruiting process will be very competitive, but you'll also have access to a broader set of industries than perhaps you would have at a school that's perhaps a little bit lower, a little bit more of a safety school, but the breadth and reach of a top-tier program will probably give you access to people that you wouldn't have otherwise.

But bottom line, fit and match is much more important than anything else. If you're thinking about business school, being comfortable and yet in an atmosphere where you can be stretched and take some risks is important. Ultimately it's two years and a lifetime experience and you want to make sure that you're having a good time and also thriving in an atmosphere where you can contribute as well as learn.

In your years in admissions, have you see any major changes in what students are looking for in terms of the right fit for them in a business school program? What are some of the top concerns of applicants nowadays?
There are a few things that come to mind. One of the first things is concerns of money, concerns about, "I want to do good while doing well, is that possible? Can I really impact society as well as have access to wonderful careers in the future?" I think those are kind of the first things that I've been seeing out of this younger generation is quality of life, quality of experience, and a desire to have impact at broader levels than just business.

I think most schools have tried to address this through the marketing programs and through our discussion forums and webinars and online chats, to help people understand that business school is not just about an academic education to prepare you to be an industry leader or an industry manager, but really is a life-skill set to prepare you for a lifelong career in a meaningful way, and that can be in government, it can be in nonprofit, but that a B-school education truly is a broad-based education for any type of pursuit where you want to be a leader and you want to have an impact.

As it pertains to younger students, we're seeing a real desire for millennial students to kind of know what their path and plan is going look like in the next 5 to 10 years. "So I graduate from college. I work for two years. I go to school for two years. And I start my family at six and seven years out of undergrad." They want to map things out, and I think most top-tier MBA programs and Chicago GSB in particular, likes to see students who want to map things out, and we're very interested in taking students earlier in their career when the cost of doing an MBA is perhaps a little less onerous.

At Chicago, is there such a thing as a typical applicant? Is there a profile that you look at and say this applicant is right for us? What's the right time to apply?
I think at Chicago there isn't [a typical applicant], and that's the most wonderful part of my job. A couple of characteristics come to mind, right off the bat, because of our flexibility and our academic history at the University of Chicago. First, intellectual curiosity: somebody who has interest in the world beyond them and loves to be challenged and to challenge themselves. Second, I think is a self-awareness and an engagement in the process. Because of that flexibility, you're going to want to be able to take control of your career and of your education and to be in the driver's seat, and so we want to see that type of engagement and that kind of drive. I think third for me would be a real commitment to the world around them and the community.

So leadership development that is just beyond individual promotion, thinking about their community around them, and their engagement with their classmates and colleagues. Those are really three principal areas that I think are very important in the types of candidates that we select at Chicago GSB, and when it comes to industry function, citizenship, gender—all of those things are so important in terms of crafting a class—we really want the most diverse people enrolled in the class who have those similar attributes so that we have an energized, academically interesting, and highly accomplished student body as part of the class of Chicago GSB.

In terms of timing for applications, you can apply when you're ready at the time or the round that is suitable for you. I think folks should focus on putting together the best application and worry about timing as a second condition.

At Chicago, we have openings in Round Three. Other schools don't, but we do. And we welcome applicants when they're ready. A terrific applicant will be admitted either in Round One or Round Three. I think there are considerations for applying earlier as we have more scholarship dollars available on a merit basis earlier in the rounds rather than later.

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