Essay Questions
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. Consider how you can tell us your “story” through the following essay questions.
The full application will be available in August. The following essay questions will be required of each applicant. Please contact the admissions office at admissions@chicagogsb.edu or at 773-702-7369 should you have any questions.
Essay 1: To complete, we require that you answer all parts of A, B, and C below. (1500 words maximum total):
- Explain the path that has led you to pursue an MBA as the next step in your professional/ personal development. What steps did you take and how did you reach your decision?
- What or who has influenced your choice of schools? What criteria will you use to decide where you will attend? What is it specifically about Chicago GSB that is going to help you succeed?
- Describe your short and long term post-MBA career goals. What steps will you be taking in order to achieve your goals?
Essay 2: Choose one of the following two questions to answer (500 word maximum for this essay)
- 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 from this challenge?
- 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?
Essays 3 & 4: Choose two of the following five questions to answer (500 word maximum for each).
- How have you used your personal characteristics and resources to improve the lives of others?
- Describe a time when you felt a strong sense of purpose in your life. What motivated you? What changes did you make personally and professionally to achieve that purpose?
- What would you consider the biggest failure or disappointment in your life? How did you adapt your plans or move past that failure or disappointment?
- If you can spend one day as someone else, who would it be? Why? What would your day look like?
- To be successful in life, you must be able to distinguish between a fleeting trend and a permanent development. Tell us of a time when you had to make such as a distinction. What, if anything, would you have done differently?
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