In a recent post to her blog, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Admissions Director Rose Martinelli answered some questions and offered some tips to prospective round-two applicants.
For starters, she cleared up one question she hears often, namely, whether applicants in the second round are at a disadvantage versus those in the first. “The answer is no,” she writes. “While your fellow Round One applicants have set the bar, so to speak, we get the majority of applications in Round Two. So overall the level of competition between the rounds is not that significant.”
Having said that, the same is not true if you’re deciding between rounds two and three, she continued. By round three, there are fewer slots left in the incoming class and most scholarships and fellowships will already have been awarded. She also pointed out that international students who apply in the third round still have ample time to apply for visas, but the timing may be more stressful for those who are placed on the waitlist.
In the end, Martinelli advises applying when your application is at its best. “Timing is all about tradeoffs and so we do our best to be clear about what those might be. Now the decision is yours,” she writes.
Beyond timing, preparation is critical to a strong application, Martinelli continues. Make sure you’ve done a thorough self-assessment and also do your research on schools. “While there is only one MBA degree, no two MBA programs are exactly the same,” she writes. You must understand why a particular program fits your specific needs and goals and then demonstrate that fit in your application, she advises.
Martinelli also urged careful attention to detail in answering essay questions. “Many schools have quite similar essays this year, so if you want to stand out from the pack, it is absolutely important that you answer the questions each school is asking,” she writes. Despite their similarities, the questions are not all the same, she warns.
Finally, she encourages applicants to pay a visit to campus, attend one of the more than 70 student-hosted events in cities around the world or participate in a live chat with the admissions staff as part of your research process. And for answers to last-minute questions, she invites applicants to email the admissions office directly at admissions@chicagobooth.edu.
Best of luck to all round-two applicants to Chicago Booth! If you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out Clear Admit’s Chicago Booth School and Interview Guides, which can help you in your research and preparation.
