Accepted

Chicago GSB has posted its 2007 MBA Application questions. As usual I am posting the deadlines, questions and my thoughts (in red) on the latter.

Chicago GSB 2007 MBA Application Deadlines and Decision Dates:

Round One: October 18, 2006
Decisions released by January 4, 2007
Round Two: January 10, 2007
Decisions released by March 28, 2007
Round Three: March 14, 2007
Decisions released by May 16, 2007

Chicago GSB 2007 MBA Essay Questions 

Chicago introduces its questions with the following statement:

"The essays are a way for us to get to know you better and a way for you to differentiate yourself from a large applicant pool. Responses to all essay questions are required of each applicant.

"Please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at admissions@chicagogsb.edu or at 773.702.7369 should you have any questions.

"Consider how you can tell us your 'story' through the following essay questions."

First Time Applicants:  

Essay 1: Complete all parts below. (1500 word maximum)

Explain the path that has led you to pursue an MBA as the next step in your professional and personal development. Describe your short and long term post-MBA career goals. What or who influenced your choice of schools, and how specifically will Chicago GSB help you succeed?

This is identical to Chicago's first question last year.  It is a classic goals question: "Tell us what happened -- or better what you experienced -- in the past that contributed to the development of your goals for the future and then tell us how our program will bridge the gap between where you are today and where you want to go tomorrow." The schools want you to connect the dots. And the more you can do so using specifics, examples, and anecdotes balanced with thoughtful, revealing analysis the stronger your essay will be.

Last year when Chicago first posted its questions, it posted a much more directed and lengthy version of this question. It may give you more insight into what the school would like to see.

Essay 2: Choose one of the following questions. (500 word maximum)  

1. If the admissions committee were to interview one of your closest colleagues, what aspect of your personal development would this person say is especially important for the admissions committee to know? 
   
2. You have been asked to write an editorial about the most pressing issue facing humanity.  Please identify the issue and justify why you have selected it.

These question are slightly different than last year's questions.  Last year's version of these question gave you less leeway and more guidance.  Here are last year's versions with my comments:

1. Describe the most challenging team environment in which you have been involved. What role did you play? What impact did you have? What did you learn? (for 2006)
   
2. Describe a time when you exhibited leadership skills even though you were not the designated leader. What was the situation? What skills did you utilize? (for 2006)
   

"Both these questions ask for a time when you were not the designated leader and "had impact" or led. A good (but not the only) approach to either of these questions would start with an anecdote about the situation, bringing the reader into the situation so they could see the challenges and how you resolved them. Then go into the analysis and make sure you answer all elements in these questions. "

I suspect that last year's question give you insight into what the adcom would like to see but adcom members are open to other formats and approaches to answering this year's question too.  At the same time, if you are not sure how to approach Essay #2, last year's version gives you direction that this year's questions lack.

Essay 3: Complete each of the following questions. (100 word maximum for each question below)

1. What is the one thing that most people do not know about you? 
   
2. What book, play, or movie would you recommend to the admissions committee?  Why?
   
3. It is your first day of business school and people are selecting study groups. How would you describe the value you will bring to a study group?

Entirely new this year. Question 1 & 2 are clearly an invitation to discuss the non-professional side of you.  If Essays 1 & 2 have been professionally focused than #3 should introduce you from a different perspective. On the other hand, if #2 (most likely) referred to a non-professional experience than perhaps #3 above is the way to go.

Keep in mind that as you analyze the questions and decide how to proceed, you want all the essays to present additional information, another perspective, a different slice of your life.  This topic is something I touched on in the last MBA BlastOff teleseminar and which we will go into in much greater depth at the live MBA BlastOff seminar September 3-4. 

Also note the very tight word limit on these questions. Chicago is basically asking for short, succinct one paragraph responses to #3's questions.