Spotlight on Chicago Booth School of Business

Ready to learn everything you need to know about business masters degrees at Chicago Booth School of Business? You're in the right place!

Helping MBAs find their perfect post-grad career is something Chicago Booth takes very seriously. They have full-service career development and research departments and ensure that each candidate gets the assistance they want and need.

In fact, nearly 85% of recent Booth grads accepted their post-MBA jobs through school-facilitated activities, including:

• School-arranged internships
• On-campus interviewing
• Career treks
• Student organisation contacts
• Booth job postings

Salaries are typically high, and almost 90% of Booth MBAs accept their first post-grad job offer in the US. However, only a third remain in the Midwest area, showing the scope of recruiters wanting to hire Booth MBAs. 

HEC alumni by numbers:

While the majority of Booth MBAs live off-campus in rented apartments, about 20% live in university-provided residence halls or apartments located in the Hyde Park area (very close to campus). Because of high demand and low supply for these units, you’ll need to get your application in quickly if you want a chance at one of them.

There is an international house affiliated with the school which also offers a variety of living options, though mostly dorm-styled (with shared bathrooms). If your school-offered accommodation closes over the summer and you need to remain in Chicago for your internship, this might be your best option during this time.

If you’re looking for the most affordable off-campus housing options, you’ll want to check out Millennium Park Plaza in the downtown area. Though the apartments here aren’t considered as posh as those in suburbs like South Loop, The Loop, Near Northside and others, the rents are often significantly cheaper.

The University of Chicago has one of the best housing information resources available, with information about each area of town - including the best way to get to campus via public transport. Check it out early in your MBA budgeting process as it covers everything from timing to finding roommates.

There are plenty of on-campus dining options, including a gourmet cafe at Harper Center (where Booth students spend plenty of time - both in and out of class). Selecting a basic meal plan is often an excellent idea for saving money while enjoying lunch with your classmates on-campus. But, you’ll find a diverse range of grocery stores throughout the city if you prefer to prepare your own meals at home.

But, of course, the real drawcard of life in Chicago are all the theatres, museums, clubs, restaurants, parks and Lake Michigan. Whether you get out in the city or get out of it altogether (with easy flights from both O’Hare and Midway airports), there’s truly no shortage of diversions at your doorstep.

The Chicago Booth School of business makes it clear what they’re looking for in an ideal candidate - and how you can demonstrate the skills and qualities they desire in your MBA application. Once you’ve established that Booth is a good fit for you, check out their evaluation criteria to make sure your application reflects their priorities.

As a top-ranked MBA (no matter which resource you consult), you can bet Booth is exceptionally selective, with an acceptance rate at 22%. In 2019, the admissions teams received 4289 applications for the full-time MBA programme and accepted 983.

When you’re preparing your essays (known as application questions at Booth), keep these numbers in mind:

• Average undergrad GPA: 3.6
• Average GMAT scores: 731
• Average years of work experience: 5

If you fall below average in these areas, especially if your GMAT score is lower than you’d like, your essay responses can make the difference between moving to the interview stage and an MBA ding (in other words, that dreaded rejection letter).

Yes. While most Booth MBAs use loans to fund their degrees, you’ll find there are merit-based scholarships available - though they are competitive. This is just as true for international students as for their American classmates.

In addition to industry and leadership awards, you’ll also find regional scholarships for international MBAs at Booth. 

Prodigy Finance offers loans for international masters students at the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

Students from supported countries pursuing masters programmes that can be completed in less than 2 years are eligible to apply.

• Maximum loan amount for full-time students: up to 90% of the school-provided cost of attendance (tuition plus living expenses), less scholarship and sponsorship
• Maximum loan amount for part-time students: up to 80% of the school-provided cost of attendance (tuition plus living expenses), less scholarship and sponsorship
• Minimum loan amount: $15,000
• All loans disbursed directly to the university according to due dates

Prodigy Finance also supports loans for University of Chicago students pursuing masters degrees in these schools:

• Department of Computer Science
• Division of Physical Sciences
• Division of the Social Sciences
• Harris School of Public Policy
• Law School