Interview Reports
U. Chicago Booth
Below are MBA admissions interview questions and experiences submitted by Booth MBA applicants. If you interviewed at U. Chicago Booth, we encourage you to submit a report detailing your experience!Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 3 / Second year student / On campus
I had an great experience. Students were every open about their Booth experience. Walking into the Harper Center, you immediately go to the Admissions office and are welcomed by several 1st yrs who are there solely to calm you down and have a conversation with about their time at Chicago.
Before arriving, I contacted several students from clubs I was interested in and was able to have lunch with them to understand their experience. This also acted as a informal interview so I could beter hone in on what questions I would be asked. Be prepared to answer the “Why Booth” question and have several reasons why because fit is VERY important at Chicago. Since I’m from NYC, they want to know why I was interested in coming to the mid-west. If you are a R3 candidate (which I am), they will want to know what schools you have applied and been accepted to. I have already been accepted at several top schools and decided to apply to Booth R3 so I was able to speak intelligently about this. Be prepared. Furthermore, students will challenge you on your choices/ideas, which makes sense because students do the same in class. Its a very engaging environment but not for the faint of heart.
My actual interview was very conversational and friendly. The 2nd yr started with asking me to walk through my resume. Then he asked me about my leadership experience and how I deal with conflict, disappointment, failure, convincing others of my ideas and motivational tactics. Make sure you can tell a story about each experience and have concrete points to make. In this case I utilized the Clear Admit interview packet and it was a HUGE asset. I didn’t purchase the packet for a a different school and I was WL’ed and I definitely think it was because of my interview.
The only thing that surprised was how easy the conversation went. Overall I loved my Booth interview experience and hopefully I will attend Chicago in the fall.
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Second-year student / On campus
I’m a round two applicant. I attended the Booth Live event on Friday. The event was awesome! I recommend that every applicant attend this event–before completing the app if possible. It gives you much better insight into the Booth culture, admissions process and committee members, and student personalities. Try your best to engage with as many of the Booth students and admission members as possible–they may remember you and fight for you during their review process.
I had my interview the following day at 1pm. There was a first-year student or two hanging around the lobby talking to interviewees and trying to keep the atmosphere light. My interview was with a second-year admissions fellow (student). He had my résumé and what appeared to be question review document that listed specific questions and ratings. The interview was casual; however it was clear that he had to ask specific questions and was on a timeline. Below are the questions that I remember, in the order that they were asked.
-Give me your story; overview of your résumé.
-What are your short- and long-term goals?
-Why do you want an MBA?
-Why do you want to go into that type of industry?
-Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation during which you were unsuccessful. What did you learn from it?
-Tell me about a time where you had to influence those above you.
-What are you going to do if you don’t get the job you want after graduating from Booth?
-Why Booth?
-Tell me about a time where you had to resolve conflict between two different people.
-How will you contribute to the Booth community?
-What do you do or plan to do outside of work/academics?
-Do you have any questions for me?
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Alumnus / On campus
I interviewed on 03/09 on campus. It was a Saturday, so the admissions office was closed. There was a seperate room set up for interviews. When I arrived, I checked in and recieved a name tag that also had the name of my interviewer (of course, I googled him right away just so I could see if we had any common interests – which we didn’t!)
There were several first year students in the ‘waiting room’ that were available to answer questions and calm our nerves! When it was my time to interview, my interviewer came out, called my name, and took me into a smaller office. He told me that he read through my resume and was excited to get to know me more. The atmoshphere was incredibly casual and very conversational. He didn’t ask many structured questions – as I walked through my resume, he asked questions genuinely wanting to learn about what I did and what companies I worked for, etc. He did as me about my goals and why Booth.
Then we talked about the culture a bit. Asked me one behavioral question about a challenge that I faced and how I handled it (I chose a different scenario than the one I wrote about in my challenge short answer essay for the application).
Overall, it was a super casual and conversational interivew. I had a great experience – and just found out this week that I have been admitted! Good luck!
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2/ Second-year student/ On campus
The interview was very conversational. I completed it a couple of weeks ago. First year students were in the lounge to answer any queries. The interview lasted for 45 minutes. Interview atmosphere was really congenial. It was a blind interview. The most surprising part was the structure of the interview.
I was told that the interview will be divided into four parts:-
a) Professional stuff
b) Behavioral questions
c) Personal questions from resume
d) Questions
Traditional Section a) Walk me through your resume? What are your goals? Why MBA? What will you bring to Booth? Why Booth? {Lasted for 10-15 minutes}
Section b) Tell me about a time when you failed? Tell me about a time when you thought that you should have made a decision X but didn’t. Why do you think about such a decision? In a team-based environment, what are your priorities? What are 2-3 qualities of a leader? What qualities do you think your friends would describe about you? Why do you think so about friends’ opinion?
Section C) detailed questions from resume (mainly on hobbies.) I think that the goal was to make sure that I have done them. For a moment, I felt as if the interviewer shared one of my hobbies. The interviewer knew a lot about it. I was really surprised.
Section D) Questions?
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Second-year student / On-Campus
Arrived to a very friendly atmosphere in the business school. Being one of their ‘Super Saturday’ interview rounds, the main office was closed. On venturing upstairs, I was welcomed to a clearly gregarious crowd. Having arrived an hour early, I checked in and received the name tag. Several first and second year students were stationed in the lobby to chat with crowds of interviewees. My name was called, and onward to the interview.
After some small talk, we were seated in a small interview room at a desk with two chairs. The topics were light, including “Walk me through your resume” and “What do you see as your long term goals.” Very casual interview, no unexpected questions.
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Alumnus / Off-campus
The interview took place in a coffee shop. The interviewer was an alum who apart from asking me questions, gave me some advice on how to sort the usual obstacles of the MBA experience.
He asked me:
- Walk me through your resume
- Why an MBA? Why now? Why Booth?
- Tell me about about your leadership skills.
- What will you contribute to Booth?
- Where do you see yourself 10 years into the future?
I was told I should be very clear as to why I thought that Booth was a good place for me.
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Second Year Student / On-campus
I had my Chicago interview on Friday. As expected, only traditional questions were asked: “walk me through your resume, why MBA, why Booth, what can you offer to Booth, tell me about a time you went through a challenging team experience, do you have any questions for me”?
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Alumnus / Off-campus
My interview was conducted by an alum at his office. It was quite a formal conversation. He introduced himself and told me a little bit about his background (post-MBA experience and what he’s doing right now). He said the interview would last not more than 30 minutes and then dived straight into the questions (not necessarily in the same sequence):
1. Walk me through your resume
2. Why MBA? Why Booth?
3. What would you like to do at Booth outside of the classroom?
4. Don’t you think some post-MBA experience in operations would help before you go for a startup?
5. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career? Tell me a little about about the experience
6. How would the economics work out in your startup idea?
7. In your experience with startups, what advice would you give to entrepreneurs?
8. As a re-applicant, what’s changed since the last time you applied?
9. Time for questions – you have 2 minutes
Took exactly 30 mins as he’d mentioned in the beginning!
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1/ Alumnus/ Off Campus
I had a very standard 45 min interview.
- Why MBA
- Most notable accomplishment on resume
- What groups I would want to be a part of
- What i would miss most about NYC
- Failure
- Team example
- leadership style
It was mostly conversational and ide say we had a pretty organic conversation. she spent a lot of time talking about her experience, why she went to booth, and what she was involved in. Through some googling, i found some interests we had in common and made sure to bring them up
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1 / Alumnus / Off-campus
I was invited for an interview with an alumnus in my local city in India. The alumnus invited me to her office for the interview. She started by introducing herself and walking me through her career. Then she asked me about myself. I was expecting 4-5 questions in total from her, but she ended up asking a lot of questions from me. She had a sample questionnaire with her (probably sent to her by Booth) and she kept on asking questions, and taking notes. Majority of questions were behavioral in nature. Though I do not remember all the questions that she asked, following are some of the questions:
- Walk me through your life since school highlighting the key instances when you took significant decisions that have shaped you today
- Tell me about a time when you had to resolve a conflict
- Tell me about a time when you had to prioritize things at work
- What its your leadership style
- Give me three words that your superior will use to describe you
- Give me three words that your subordinates will use to describe you
- Give me three words how you will describe yourself
- Tell me a time when you had to motivate a team
- Goals
- What is the most important thing that you have present in your career so far?
- What go you think are your key strengths?
- What go you think are your key weaknesses
- How has your thinking changed during you’re work experience. Give an example to elaborate.
- Tell me about a time when you failed and were not able to make up again
- Is there anything else that were have not covered and you want to highlight
- You have mentioned in your resume that traveling and reading are your hobby. Where all have you traveled and what books do you like to read
- Why Booth
- How will you contribute to the Booth community
Then she gave me sometime to ask her questions. In total the interview lasted for one hour.
Hope this helps!
Chicago Booth MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 2 / Alum / Off Campus
I had my interview off campus with a first year out Booth Alum. We met at a local Starbucks which I think made me more comfortable for the interview than if I had done it in the formal on campus admissions office setting. Her questions were similar to the others posted here, outline as follows:
- Please give me your elevator pitch (I felt this was a slightly tough starter, as it was not clear whether she was talking about my resume, me, my desire to go to Booth or all of the above!).
- Why an MBA now
- Where do I want to be in 5 to 10 years – follow up was why do I need an MBA for it
- Why Booth? (This question I think is what warmed the interview into more of a conversational dialogue – I think being able to talk to specifics about the school that my interviewer could shed more light on for me was helpful)
- What other schools did I apply to
- If I did not get accepted to Booth, what would I do.
I did do some research on the interview questions before the interview (spent a few hours). It helps to know some specifics about the school and practice some general answers to the common interview questions (Ie – why booth, why mba now). Interestingly my interviewer did not seek specific examples from my work background in order to demonstrate leadership, team work or other qualities as I had anticipated. It was focussed on why booth, why now and my future plans.
I felt very nervous post interview, but I am now a happy 2014 Booth admit. So you never know! Best of luck, hope this helps.
U. Chicago Booth
| MEAN GMAT | 715 |
| GPA | 3.52* |
| Class Size | 575 |
| % Female | 35% |
Round 3 applicants received interview invitations by April 2...
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