The Chicago Booth MBA Waitlist Video
If you’ve been waitlisted at your target b-school, there are a few things you can do to convert the waitlist decision to an admit.
We wrote a whole blog about it here. To summarize, you should:
Accept the offer.
Write a letter of continued interest addressing any weak spots in your application and how you improved these. Include any resume updates like promotions, increased responsibilities, improved test scores, new courses and certifications, leadership positions in extracurriculars, or personal updates.
Ask any friends or colleagues who are current students/alumni at your target school to write a letter of support (many schools do not accept letters of support, so check if your target school does!)
In addition to these, there’s one school that requires an additional update from waitlisted applicants: Chicago Booth. Booth asks waitlisted candidates to submit an optional 60-second video that addresses one of the following questions:
1) In your interactions with the Booth community, what is one of the core values of the community that resonates with you the most, and why?
2) Based on your knowledge of Booth, how do you envision yourself getting involved in the community?
3) If there are any areas of your application that you would like to address as potential weaknesses or points that warrant clarification, please discuss them.
In this blog, we’ll explain how to answer each of these questions and give you tips on how to create an admit-worthy Booth waitlist video.
Option 1
In your interactions with the Booth community, what is one of the core values of the community that resonates with you the most, and why?
This prompt clearly gives you an opportunity to discuss your interactions with the Booth community. For applicants, that means reaching out to current students/alumni/staff at Booth to understand their MBA experience, and what core value they represent that you resonate with the most. You can also register for information sessions, 1:1 virtual chats, school visits, student tours and cold reach-outs on sites like LinkedIn.
Through your conversations with them, you’ll get insider information on what makes Booth different. For example, Booth is known for pioneering the “Chicago Approach” - an educational philosophy led by an analytical approach, critical leadership competencies like EQ and people management, and self-assessment.
Given its heavily data-driven academic methodology and critical thought frameworks, Booth looks for pragmatists, not idealists – no matter which industry you come from. So, it’s not just Finance or Tech candidates who thrive at Booth! The school promotes diverse perspectives (and even states that students learning from each other is one of the main pillars of the Chicago Approach). Students come from all backgrounds, as long as they are committed to making decisions analytically and espousing self-leadership.
With this in mind, some of the core values you can discuss in this video essay are an analytical mindset, collaboration and helping others grow, a commitment to diversity, and thought leadership.
So when you speak with your contacts at Booth, look out for values they represent that align with your experiences and what you want from your MBA. This is essentially a “Why Booth” question, so show that you understand Booth’s DNA and draw parallels between your own experiences and specific examples and opportunities at Booth.
Option 2
Based on your knowledge of Booth, how do you envision yourself getting involved in the community?
In this “How will you contribute” question, the AdCom is assessing how well you know the Booth community and the opportunities available on and outside of campus. With 2 of 3 of the video essay prompts being directly related to the school, it’s clear that Booth cares deeply about school fit and community engagement.
More implicitly, this question asks how you can differentiate yourself with your unique background, past experiences, and core values. A good place to start is by choosing 2-3 impactful examples of professional/personal achievements, international experiences, diverse experiences, creative or entrepreneurial ventures, targeted skills, interests, community work, or from your network.
Now that you’ve chosen the achievements, experiences, and skills that differentiate you from other applicants, research the school. Again, don’t limit your research to what’s online; speak to actual Boothies! Like we discussed in Option 1, register for virtual/in-person information sessions and networking events, campus visits, student tours, 1:1 virtual chats, and cold LinkedIn/ email reach-outs.
Connect your experiences to opportunities available at Booth; for example, if you have previously held a leadership position at an organization which helps undergraduate students connect with mentors in their target industries and offers other career services, you can offer to work as a Booth mentor in your second year to help incoming MBA students with coffee chats, recruitment advice, mock interviews, and peer-to-peer mentorship.
Option 3
If there are any areas of your application that you would like to address as potential weaknesses or points that warrant clarification, please discuss them.
This is a more traditional waitlist update question. If your original application had any weak areas that you feel could have impacted the school’s decision, address them here. These could be a low GMAT/GRE score, GPA, or a lack of leadership experience.
In your waitlist video, you should also address how you have worked to improve these weaknesses. Like:
GMAT/GRE: If your GMAT/GRE score is a weak point in your application, it’s best to retake the test and update Booth about your score (if improved) here. An improved score (even if it’s by 10 points!) could be what pushes you over the line compared to other waitlisted applicants.
Work experience: This is a good time to update the school on any promotions or increased managerial responsibilities at work and give details about your new role.
Courses and certifications: If quant is your weakness, completing a quant-focused course or completing a certification. You could also update the school about a relevant course you may have started but didn't finish due to your MBA application commitments, like a Coursera course.
Extracurriculars: Did you take on a new leadership role in an extracurricular activity, or start something new of your own? Many professionals with demanding work hours don’t have time for extracurriculars, so addressing this weakness in their profile (with data points and quantified achievements, if possible) may make a significant difference.
Applying to Chicago Booth? Let's talk. Book a free chat with one of our expert consultants.
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