Booth MBA Essay Questions & Analysis 2025-2026

The following essay topic analysis examines the Chicago Booth MBA essay questions for the 2025-2026 admissions season. You can also review essay topic analyses for other leading MBA programs as well as general Essay Tips to further aid you in developing your admissions essays.

Chicago Booth MBA Essay Questions & Analysis 2025-2026

Booth MBA Essay 1

How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum)
This Booth MBA essay is a fairly straightforward career goals essay. To address this question fully and in detail, candidates will want to identify the position that they hope to hold immediately after graduating from Booth, naming both a job title and 1-2 organizations for which they would most like to work. They will then want to discuss their longer-range 5-10 year plan, explaining not just what role they hope to occupy, but also commenting on the broader impact they hope to have in this position. It would then make sense to touch on the ways an MBA would facilitate progress toward these goals, and describe the factors that make Booth an especially good next step. To underscore this fit, name some curricular or programmatic offerings that are relevant to these objectives. Conducting thorough research on the program—whether by attending an info session, or speaking with students and alumni—will help you achieve maximum impact.

Given the open-ended length of this Booth MBA essay, it may be tempting to introduce accomplishments or details outside of the scope of the question, or include unnecessary details about your plans, but stay focused on the prompt! While the application says to “use your judgment,” you can take a hint on preferred length from the 300-word limit of the optional essay. Of course, you are welcome to exceed 300 words—just make sure they count. 400 words would be concise and pack a punch. If you must exceed 500 words, which is fairly standard, make sure every word is necessary to address the prompt. Finally, considering how many applications the adcom must go through, you’ll want to avoid bogging them down with a 1,000-word essay.

Booth MBA 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 it resonates with one of your own values. (250-word minimum)

This is an opportunity to not only shed some light on your relevant personal or professional history, but to also paint a picture of how you would fit at the Booth MBA program. There are several values that Booth highlights, including curiosity, teamwork, and more, but take the time to reflect on what resonates with you.

The STAR method may help you convey your story:

• Situation – Identify the photo you selected (the number, and what stands out to you about it) and then set the stage by accounting for key players and context about your related experience. (We hesitate to explain what each photo could mean, as what you take from them should be personal.)
• Action – Describe the actions you took, particularly in resolving the situational challenge with your leadership or insights, which can stem from analysis, research, or teamwork and more. How were you curious? How were you open-minded? Given the focus on collaboration as well, it would make sense to highlight communication, motivational or leadership skills that enabled effective teamwork. Working with others can take on many forms—coordinating with teams overseas, collaborating directly with a colleague for a challenging consulting project, or directing teammates to develop solutions. What’s important is how you worked together and the challenges you overcame to achieve success. Accounting for your actions here can show the adcom how you embody the values they are seeking.
• Outcome – Summarize the positive result. Reflect on the values that arose in the situation, and ultimately how you expect to bring those values to the Booth MBA. Creating a link between your past and your potential future at the program will enable you to present a consistent and clear picture of your candidacy, as well as your professional and personal interests. The more information you can provide about how exactly you would contribute (playing a certain role in organizing a particular annual event, how you expect to contribute in the classroom or in competitions, etc.), the more reason you’ll give the adcom to admit you.

Additional Information

Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? If so, please use this section to clarify. (300 words)
The response to this Booth MBA essay will be an appropriate place to address any elements of your application that need further explanation (e.g. recommender choice, low GMAT score, questionable undergraduate performance, expected promotions, etc.). The wording of this Booth MBA essay is fairly open and inviting, and so it might also be an appropriate place to share an additional anecdote or highlight an impressive accomplishment. You should aim to demonstrate good judgment in deciding whether to respond to this prompt, and should take care not to introduce information that appears elsewhere in your materials or that could have been covered in response to one of the above essays or in the data form.

Reapplicant Essay

Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (Maximum 300 words)
In this short answer required for re-applicants, Chicago Booth is looking to see how your goals, understanding of Chicago Booth and/or need for an MBA have evolved. Be sure to review your past application for what may have been missing regarding these topics. Given the narrow word limit for this response, you will want to offer a straightforward account of the specific steps you’ve taken to clarify or enhance these areas since last applying to Booth. You should aim to be as exhaustive as possible as you cover efforts to become more familiar with the Booth MBA program, any significant modifications to your goals or need for an MBA, and the related actions.

Clear Admit Resources

Thanks for reading our analysis of this year’s Booth MBA essay topics! As you work on your University of Chicago Booth MBA essays and application, we encourage you to consider all of Clear Admit’s offerings:

• Chicago / Booth School of Business Profile on the Clear Admit website: up-to-date advice and admissions information
• Clear Admit LiveWire: admissions updates submitted in real time by applicants to Booth
• Clear Admit DecisionWire: school selections in real-time by admits to Booth