Booth Pre-Interview Essays for Class of 2022 R1

For my overall suggestions on Chicago Booth MBA  interviews, please see here.  However Booth started asking for essays for those who receive interviews.In addition to the essays required for applying to Booth, my R1 clients received the following:

There’s still more we want to learn about you! Please respond to one question from Group A and one question from Group B (two responses in total), each in 250 words or less. 

Group A

• What or who in your life has been your biggest motivator?
• What has been your most surprising accomplishment and why?

Group B

• What are you most excited to share with your classmates?
• What is present you most curious to learn about future you?

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Overall suggestions:

Given that Booth has already asked a lot about you in the main essays, you should certainly give answers that are consistent with what is found there.  However this is an opportunity to give them new perspectives and/or elaborate on themes found only briefly in your essays. If you choose to write about something that has already been covered, really consider whether what you are adding is really strong enough to make a difference. In general, I recommend writing on something new that  not at all or is only minimally discussed in your application.

Given the length of  250  words each, obviously you cannot write in huge detail, rather think of these as one-point or two-point answers. That is to say try to make one or two clear points when providing the answer.

While these questions are not directly connected to the interview as the interviewer will not have access to them, do keep in mind that they will be analyzed in relationship to your application and the interview report.

Regarding the questions themselves, see below.

Group A

• What or who in your life has been your biggest motivator?

Whether it is a What or Who Keep the Focus on YOU. Keep in that the what here is not a mere abstraction but like a person something that has really motivated you.  While this question certainly requires writing about someone or something else, whoever or whatever you discuss and why you discuss them is a reflection on you.  Bad answers to this question take the form of mini-biographies  (who) or analysis of the situation/subject (what)  but don’t focus even on why this was a sources of motivation.   Keep the focus of the essay on why this was your biggest motivator, not on the what/who. The why aspect of this question is particularly important as answering that will immediately put the focus on you and not the person or thing that is your motivator.

• What has been your most surprising accomplishment and why?

Surprising would mean just that. Not something expected. So an accomplishment that an obvious one from what you were doing would not be acceptable. Instead you need an unexpected positive result. Keep in mind that accomplishments can be highly personal. It might not even be perceived as an accomplishment by anyone else, the point is that you can explain why it was an accomplishment for you and one that you could not have easily anticipated.

Group B

• What are you most excited to share with your classmates?

An effective answer here would highlight some aspect(s) of yourself that would help you befriend and/or support your classmates.  Why would someone want to be friends with you?  Why would they want to work with you in and out of class?  How will add value to them?

• What is present you most curious to learn about future you?

While I suppose one could use this for a different purpose (such as single person asking will I be married in the future or have children), I view this essay as  a chance to say how you hope to achieve or improve or change your self. The future you is not specified in terms of timing.  I assume you will factor in Booth and your career/personal goals into the answer.
So I suggest you do the following:

1. Decide 1-3 topics to cover. The topics could be distinct or connected.
2. For each topic explain what you are interested in learning about your future self and why

Since you cannot know the future, the focus is here on what you would be curious to learn about rather than creating a picture of the future you. You may consider such questions as:
-What kind of leader will I have become?
-Where will my career have taken me?
-What aspect of my personality has changed?
-How was impacted by my Booth experience?
-Did I overcome a particular weakness?
-How did I handle future challenges?


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Finally, don't treat these questions casually but given the deadline, think quickly and deeply. Then, write fast.
Best of luck!

-Adam Markus

I am a graduate admissions consultant who works with clients worldwide. If you would like to arrange an initial consultation, please complete my intake form. Please don't email me any essays, other admissions consultant's intake forms, your life story, or any long email asking for a written profile assessment. The only profiles I assess are those with people who I offer initial consultations to. Please note that initial consultations are not offered when I have reached full capacity or when I determine that I am not a good fit with an applicant.