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Quick Answer
The Chicago Booth MBA essays ask applicants to outline their short- and long-term career goals and to respond to 1 of 2 prompts that explore motivations, values, or leadership experiences. Successful essays are clear, authentic, and show how your goals and strengths align with Booth’s unique culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, and flexibility. Keep reading to see the Booth essay questions, learn what the admissions committee is looking for, and get tips for crafting standout responses.
Here are the topics we’ll cover:
- What are the Booth MBA Essay Questions?
- How Do You Write the Booth Career Goals Essay?
- How Do You Answer the Booth Choice-Based Essay Prompt?
- What Does the Booth Admissions Committee Look For?
- How Long Should Booth MBA Essays Be?
- When Should You Use the Booth Optional Essay?
- Tips for Writing Strong Booth MBA Essays
- Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s Next?
What are the Booth MBA Essay Questions?
For the 2025-2026 application season, the Booth MBA application essays include:
Essay 1
How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum)
Essay 2
Chicago Booth appreciates the individual experiences and perspectives that all of our students bring to our community. This respect for different viewpoints creates an open-minded environment that supports curiosity, inspires us to think more broadly, and take risks. At Booth, community is about collaborative thinking and learning from one another to better ourselves, our ideas, and the world around us.
The photos below represent some of the values described above that we uphold at Chicago Booth. Select one and share how the photo resonates with one of your own values. (250-word minimum)
Essay 3
Additional Information: Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation or additional details you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? If so, please use this section to clarify. (Optional)
KEY FACT:
Booth’s MBA application has 2 required essays and 1 optional essay.
How Do You Write the Booth Career Goals Essay?
How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum)
The career goals essay is fundamental to communicating why you’re seeking an MBA at Booth. Essentially, the question asks what your short- and long-term post-MBA goals are and how Booth’s MBA program will help you achieve them.
The best response will address the following questions:
- What are your career goals?
- Why do you need an MBA?
- Why do you need an MBA from Booth?
While this question is not directly asked, you must define your short-term and long-term career goals before showing how a Booth MBA will help you achieve them.
Specifically, we recommend that you provide specifics (such as industry, function, and target companies) for each of these goals. Ideally, your short-term goals connect to your long-term goal.
Then, you should address how the Booth MBA will help you achieve your future career goals. Specifically, you should identify the skills, competencies, and experiences you need and how Booth’s MBA program will help you get or develop them.
Avoid the temptation to simply list a set of courses, which is essentially telling the admissions committee what they already know about the program.
Instead, learn about the program and its offerings beyond what you read on the website by attending admissions events, talking to students and alums, and visiting campus, among other activities.
TTP PRO TIP:
When researching Booth, don’t just review the website. Instead, attend info sessions and talk with current students to understand how the program will further your goals.
How Do You Answer the Booth Choice-Based Essay Prompt?
Chicago Booth appreciates the individual experiences and perspectives that all of our students bring to our community. This respect for different viewpoints creates an open-minded environment that supports curiosity, inspires us to think more broadly, and take risks. At Booth, community is about collaborative thinking and learning from one another to better ourselves, our ideas, and the world around us.
The photos below represent some of the values described above that we uphold at Chicago Booth. Select one and share how the photo resonates with one of your own values. (250-word minimum)
Booth’s second essay question enables the admissions committee to learn more about you and your values. Specifically, the prompt asks you to make a direct connection to its community of collaborative thinkers.
First, you must select 1 of 4 images. Then, you must share how the photo resonates with one of your own values.
To start, review the 4 photos in the application that depict students and community members in different settings. Then, determine which of these photos appealed to you and illustrate your values.
Next, link the photo to your values through storytelling and specific examples. Additionally, reflect on what this value means to you.
Take note that Booth’s prompt asks you to select 1 photo and share how it resonates with “one of your own values.” Therefore, you need not select more than 1 photo or more than 1 value to build your response.
TTP PRO TIP:
Before selecting a photo, evaluate each of them carefully and determine what’s really happening in each scene and who is there.
What Does the Booth Admissions Committee Look For?
Booth’s admissions committee takes a holistic approach and evaluates your application in 3 broad areas:
- Curriculum — Do you have the ability and desire to thrive in a challenging academic environment? Specifically, your application must demonstrate academic preparedness, intellectual curiosity, and communication skills.
- Community — Will your personal and professional experiences help support and contribute to the Booth community? Specifically, your application must reveal your leadership, collaboration and teamwork, interpersonal skills, and fit for Booth, among other qualities.
- Career — Does your application reveal qualities that will contribute to your future success? Specifically, your application must share a track record of success, resourcefulness, realistic expectations for an MBA, and more.
Check out Booth’s MBA admissions page to review these criteria in depth.
TTP PRO TIP:
Booth evaluates candidates holistically across 3 areas: Curriculum, Community, and Career.
How Long Should Booth MBA Essays Be?
Booth’s required essays have a minimum of 250 words and no maximum. However, we recommend limiting your responses to about 750–800 words, max.
When Should You Use the Booth Optional Essay?
Booth’s optional essay is truly optional. It is not required and should not be used to squeeze in another essay.
However, if there is any unclear information in your application, use this space to explain:
- gaps in your employment history
- low grades in your undergraduate coursework
- a low GPA or test score that does not represent your capabilities
- your choice of recommender (if it is not your current supervisor)
- extenuating life circumstances
KEY FACT:
Booth’s optional essay should be used to explain elements of your application that require additional context.
Tips for Writing Strong Booth MBA Essays
Take the following steps to write strong Booth MBA essays:
- Start with research. Learn about Booth’s flexible curriculum and culture. Additionally, engage with the MBA admissions committee, current students, and alums to understand Booth’s unique value proposition.
- Show, don’t just tell. Use stories and examples in Booth’s required essays. Generally, the most successful Booth essays take a narrative, rather than formal approach.
- Balance personal and professional examples. Consider your learning, career, and personal development goals holistically. Then, ensure that you make a well-rounded case for how Booth will help you reach your goals.
- Stay focused and don’t overdo it. Booth’s essays don’t have specific word limits. However, successful Booth essays are around 750–800 words or less.
TTP PRO TIP:
Use stories and examples and take a narrative, rather than a formal, approach in your Booth essays.
Key Takeaways
Chicago Booth is one of the most competitive MBA programs in the world. However, the Booth MBA program provides exceptional training for essential post-MBA business careers.
Ensure that you research the program thoroughly so you can align your essays with Booth’s curriculum, programs, and community and put your best foot forward in the application process. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the Booth MBA essay prompts?
The Booth MBA essay questions are:
1) How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum)
2) Chicago Booth appreciates the individual experiences and perspectives that all of our students bring to our community. This respect for different viewpoints creates an open-minded environment that supports curiosity, inspires us to think more broadly, and take risks. At Booth, community is about collaborative thinking and learning from one another to better ourselves, our ideas, and the world around us.
The photos below represent some of the values described above that we uphold at Chicago Booth. Select one and share how the photo resonates with one of your own values. (250-word minimum)
3) Additional Information: Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation or additional details you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? If so, please use this section to clarify. (Optional)
How long should the Booth MBA essays be?
There is no word count limit for Booth MBA essays. However, successful Chicago Booth MBA essays are about 750-800 words.
What does Booth look for in MBA essays?
Review our MBA essay tips in this article. Booth’s MBA admissions committee evaluates your application materials holistically. However, effective essays touch on career, community, and the curriculum.
Should I write the optional essay?
Booth’s optional essay is truly optional. So, if you do not have additional information to provide, you can skip it.
What’s Next?
The Chicago Booth MBA essays are a critical component of your application. Therefore, it could help to work with a pro. If you’d like help creating a standout Booth MBA application, book a free consultation with one of our expert admissions consultants today.
