Chicago Booth MBA Programs and Admissions

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is one of the most prestigious business schools in the United States. MBA programs at Booth are consistently ranked in the top 10 business schools by organizations like Financial Times and Bloomberg Businessweek. These programs are known for providing excellent preparation in general business, global business, finance, and data analysis.

The school was founded in 1898, making it one of the oldest business schools in the world. Booth is part of the University of Chicago, a top-ranked private research university in the Hyde Park and Woodlawn neighborhoods of Chicago, Illinois. It is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Booth MBA Program Options

Students who apply to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business can choose from four different MBA programs:

• Full-Time MBA
• Evening MBA
• Weekend MBA
• Executive MBA

Full-Time MBA Program

The full-time MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business is a 21-month program for students who want to study full-time. It consists of 20 classes in addition to leadership training. Students take 3-4 classes per semester on the University of Chicago's main campus in Hyde Park.

Evening MBA Program

The evening MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business is a part-time MBA program that takes approximately 2.5-3 years to complete. This program, which is designed for working professionals, holds classes on weeknight evenings on the downtown Chicago campus. The evening MBA program consists of 20 classes in addition to leadership training.

Weekend MBA Program

The weekend MBA program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business is a part-time MBA program for working professionals. It takes approximately 2.5-3 years to complete. Classes are held on the downtown Chicago campus on Friday nights and Saturdays. Most weekend MBA students commute from outside of Illinois and take two classes on Saturday. The weekend MBA program consists of 20 classes in addition to leadership training.

Executive MBA Program

The executive MBA (EMBA) program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business is a 21-month, part-time MBA program that consists of eighteen core courses, four electives and leadership training. Classes meet every other Friday and Saturday on one of three Booth campuses in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong. You can apply to take classes at any one of these three locations. Your chosen campus will be considered your primary campus, but you will also study at least one week at each of the other two campuses during required international session weeks.

Comparing the Chicago Booth MBA Programs

Comparing the amount of time it takes to complete each MBA program as well as the average age and work experience of enrolled students can help you determine which Chicago Booth MBA program is right for you.

As you can see from the following table, the evening and weekend MBA programs are very similar. When comparing these two programs, you should consider the class schedule and determine if you would rather attend class on weeknights or weekends. The full-time MBA program is best suited for young professionals who will be studying full-time and not working at all, while the executive MBA program is best suited for individuals with a significant amount of work experience.

Source: University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Areas of Concentration at Booth

Although concentrations are not required, full-time, evening and weekend MBA students at Booth can choose to concentrate in one of fourteen areas of study:

• Accounting: Learn to interpret financial information and gauge financial performance.
• Analytic Finance: Study financial theories and learn how to apply them to a range of business problems.
• Analytic Management: Learn to apply quantitative tools and analytical methods to business processes and decisions.
• Econometrics and Statistics: Learn to analyze economic and business models with econometric and statistical tools.
• Economics: Study microeconomic concepts, macroeconomic concepts, and fundamental business governance. 
• Entrepreneurship: Study a wide range of business areas and gain entrepreneurial skills.
• Finance: Study corporate finance, the financial market, and investments.
• General Management: Gain leadership and strategic management skills through courses in finance, economics, HR management, and operations management.
• International Business: Learn to lead in a global economic and business environment.
• Managerial and Organizational Behavior: Study psychology, sociology, and human behavior to learn how to develop and manage human capital.
• Marketing Analytics: Study marketing and learn how to use data to drive marketing decisions.
• Marketing Management: Learn about marketing and marketplace value in psychology, economics and statistics courses.
• Operations Management: Learn how to make key decisions that influence day-to-day business operations.
• Strategic Management: Study management and strategy through an interdisciplinary approach to learn how to handle key management issues.

The Chicago Approach

One of the things that differentiate Booth from other business institutions is the school's approach to MBA education. Known as the "Chicago Approach," it focuses on incorporating diverse perspectives, allowing flexibility in curriculum choices and imparting core principles of business and data analytics through multidisciplinary education. This approach is designed to teach students the skills they need to solve any type of problem in any type of environment.

Booth MBA Curriculum

Every MBA student at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business takes three foundational classes in financial accounting, microeconomics. and statistics. They are also required to take at least six classes in the business environment, business functions, and management. Full-time, evening, and weekend MBA students choose eleven electives from the Booth course catalog or other University of Chicago departments. Executive MBA students choose four electives from a selection that varies from year to year and also participate in a team-based experiential class during their final quarter of the program.

All Booth MBA students, regardless of program type, are required to take part in an experiential leadership training experience known as Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD). The LEAD program is designed to develop key leadership skills, including negotiation, conflict management, interpersonal communication, team-building, and presentation skills.

Getting Accepted

Admissions at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business are very competitive. Booth is a top school, and there are a limited number of seats in each MBA program. To be considered, you will need to fill out an online application and submit supporting materials, including recommendation letters; GMAT, GRE, or Executive Assessment scores; an essay; and a resume. You can increase your chances of acceptance by applying early in the process.