GMAT Challenge Question: Too Many Twos

Right at this second it's September 2nd, with 2 days until the college football season starts, once again with too many teams in the Big Ten. In honor of all of these twos and toos, we present you a GMAT problem that features too many twos:

What is the value of 2 + 2 + 2^2 + 2^3 + 2^4 + 2^5 + 2^6 + 2^7 + 2^8?

(A) 2^9
(B) 2^10
(C) 2^11
(D) 3(2^10)
(E) 3(2^11)

Please post your answers in the comments field and we'll post the solution later today!

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MBA Admissions Officers Coming to a City Near You!

Are you applying to business school this fall? The QS World MBA Tour gives MBA applicants the opportunity to meet admission officers from the world’s best business schools, attend GMAT seminars and participate in sample business school classes. This fall, the World MBA Tour will be visiting 72 cities on five continents including many North American cities.

In addition to meeting representatives from the MBA programs, all registrants are eligible for $1.6 million in exclusive scholarships from many of the schools in attendance. Veritas Prep is proud to partner with QS World MBA Tour and we look forward to seeing you at an event this fall. Make sure to reserve your spot and register here!

Take a look at the QS World MBA Tour schedule to see when it will come to a town near you:

• Los Angeles: September 11


• San Francisco: September 12


• Seattle: September 14


• Toronto: September 19


• Chicago: September 21


• Boston: September 23


• New York: September 25


• Philadelphia: September 26


• Washington, DC: September 28


• Dallas: September 30


• Houston: October 2

Plan on applying to business school this year? Call us at 800-925-7737 and speak to a Veritas Prep MBA admissions consultant. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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NYU Stern Admissions Essays for 2010-2011

Recently we wrote about NYU Stern's MBA application deadlines for 2010-2011. Today, we take a close look at Stern's admissions essays for the year.

You will see that Stern's essays are virtually unchanged since last year. Still, our advice has evolved slightly, so read closely. Stern looks extra hard for applicants who can prove that they really are passionate about the program.

Our comments follow each question in italics:

NYU Stern Application Essays

1. Think about the decisions you have made in your life. Describe the following (750 words):
   
   (a) What choices have you made that led you to your current position?
   (b) Why pursue an MBA at this point in your life?
   (c) What is your career goal upon graduation from the NYU Stern? What is your long-term career goal?
   
   This question carries over unchanged from last year. What we think makes this question unique vs. other school's "Why an MBA?" questions is Stern's emphasis on the choices you've made up until now. Be sure to answer that part of the question -- don't simply write about what you've done up until now, but also explain why you did those things and made those choices. Stern provides some useful admissions tips on its essay page, including podcasts to help you clarify your story. These are great resources for any Stern applicant.


2. We take great care to shape the Stern community with individuals who possess both intellectual and interpersonal strengths. We seek individuals who are highly intelligent, collaborative, and committed to flourishing as Stern leaders. Please answer the following questions (500 words):
   
   (a) What is your personal experience with the Stern community? Tell us what actions you have taken to learn about us.
   (b) Describe what most excites you about Stern from both an academic and extracurricular perspective.
   (c) How do you anticipate making your mark on the Stern community? Be specific about the roles you will take on and the impact you hope to achieve.
   
   This question is also unchanged. Stern has removed the part of last year's question that asked about the toughest piece of feedback you've ever received, and as a result this question has evolved to hit the question of "Convince us that you're passionate about Stern" more directly. Note the emphasis on specifics -- don't speak in generalities or just copy language from the school's web site. What do you know about NYU Stern that convinces you that it's right right school for you, and that you're the ideal Stern student? And how will you convince the admissions committee? Looking at this kind of essay question early in the process will hopefully provide the impetus you need to really do your homework.


3. Please describe yourself to your MBA classmates. You may use almost any method to convey your message (e.g. words, illustrations). Feel free to be creative.
   
   This question is also unchanged. Like Booth and Anderson, Stern seeks new ways to learn about what makes you unique. The admissions office really does want to get to know the real you. Stern's admissions officers are almost begging you to stand out here, which is a reminder about how you can make their job easier by helping them remember the real you. One other note: Just because this question allows you to use any medium, that doesn't mean that you need to submit something other than the written word. If that's your best medium, use it. "Being memorable" means more than just sending them something outrageous; the most effective submissions really are the ones that leave admissions officers feeling like they know you better.

Applying to NYU Stern this year? Download our NYU Stern Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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MBA Admissions 101: How to Make the Most of MBA Fairs

MBA fair season is upon us, with multiple tours passing through the world's major cities, along with local information sessions hosted by schools themselves. For many applicants, this will be the first time they ever come face-to-face with official representatives from their dream schools.

Wow, high stakes, right? One well-timed question could turn you into a superstar in an admissions representative's eyes, while one boneheaded remark could forever ruin your chances of getting into HBS. Right? Isn't that how these things work? Don't admissions officers stand behind their little tables with one finger permanently on the "trap door" button?

Of course not. The reality is that truly the best way you can help yourself at these events is by asking thoughtful questions to learn things that you really want to know. It's always nice to strike up a deep conversation with a a school representative, but remember that they're going to meet possibly hundreds of applicants at the event, then probably have to grab their bags and jet off to the next city to do it all over again. And again and again. So, instead of trying to hit a home run with a question, go with some legitimate questions in mind, ask the right questions of the right people (e.g., a recent alum or current student may be better equipped to talk about what the school experience is like for students' spouses), and be respectful of admissions representatives' time.

To this last point, the foot traffic at these events always has interesting ebbs and flows. One minute a table may be swarmed with applicants, while the next minute it could be empty. If you're really interested in drilling down deep on a topic with a representative, be smart about doing it while the table isn't overly crowded. Early in an event is often a good time to do it, before the place gets too crowded. You can also wait until the end of the event, although sometimes admissions representatives are trying to hurry up and pack and head off to the airport. Admissions officers always appreciate when an applicant is sensitive to the challenges of manning these fair booths.

In terms of what NOT to do, the folks at QS wrote a nice list of rules & etiquette for MBA fairs earlier this year (it was actually written for EMBA fairs, but the advice still applies for full-time MBA program fairs). And, an unfortunate applicant who bombarded some Fuqua representatives last year provided a template for what not to do at these events.

There's already plenty of good advice out there, and with some modest research and a healthy helping of common sense, you will do just fine.

By the way, we've partnered with the QS World MBA Tour, and will be at some of their events in North America this year. If you haven't already, register for an event near you. Hopefully we'll see you there!

If you plan on applying to business school, call us at 800-925-7737 and speak to a Veritas Prep admissions consultant. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Photo courtesy of SeedRocket, under a Creative Commons license.

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GMAT Tip of the Week: Some Means Anything-But-None

You can't talk about probability without mentioning Las Vegas, and with the football gambling season looming it seems time for a probability-themed post with a gambling lead. As the football season approaches, you may well be placing your futures bets, noting that Alabama is a 9:2 favorite to win the collegiate national championship and that Indianapolis is a 13:2 favorite to win the Super Bowl.

The interesting thing about those futures bets is that when you select, say, Alabama, the sports book gets "everyone else". Will Alabama defend its title? Possibly, but the football season has so many hurdles (LSU, Auburn, the SEC championship game, the BCS championship game, injuries, Nick Saban leaving mid-season for another job...) that "everyone else" is a pretty good bet. Most seasons, a team that loses one game is eliminated from contention for the national championship, so a team would have to go undefeated in order to win. In a 12-game season, even if a team is 90% likely to win each game, that corresponds to:

9/10 * 9/10 * 9/10.... probability of going undefeated. For 12 games, the calculation would be (9/10)^12 = <30% chance of going undefeated.

And that's with a 90% chance of winning each game. Sure, Alabama will be favored against LSU, Auburn, and some of its other SEC opponents, but maybe it only has a 60% chance of winning those big games. That puts the undefeated odds down considerably (even with a returning Heisman winner).

How can this help you on the GMAT? As we've talked about, the opposite of "Alabama wins the national championship" is "anyone else wins the national championship", and that setup of complementary events (one and only one of those options will occur) allows you to tackle difficult problems with some insightful ease.

Here's an example of a GMAT problem that might test this subject:

Alabama is undefeated with four games remaining, with two at home and two away. If it has a 75% chance of winning its home games and a 50% chance of winning its away games, what is the probability that Alabama loses at least one of its last four games?

This question could get quite involved, as "at least one" loss has many permutations:

Loses the first and wins the next three (which would correspond to 1/4 * 3/4 * 1/2 * 1/2)
Loses the first and the last and wins the middle two (1/4 * 3/4 * 1/2 * 1/2)
Wins the first three and loses the last (3/4 * 3/4 * 1/2 * 1/2)
Loses all four (1/4 * 1/4 * 1/2 * 1/2)
Etc.

Each of the above corresponds to one sequence via which Alabama would lose at least one game, and you could drive yourself crazy (particularly if you bleed Crimson) thinking of all the possible ways to lose at least one game.

However, you can also look at it this way (through Crimson colored glasses):

If Alabama does NOT lose "at least one game" that means that it wins them all. And it's easier (and more fun for Bama fans) to calculate the odds of winning them all:

There is only one sequence that works - Win-Win-Win-Win:
3/4 * 3/4 * 1/2 * 1/2 = 9/64 chance that Alabama wins the rest.

Because there's a 100% chance that "something" happens, and we can divide that 100% into two comprehensive categories: "Alabama goes undefeated" or "Alabama loses at least one game", then we can take 100% and subtract "undefeated" to get "loses at least one":

1 - 9/64 = 55/64 probability that Alabama loses at least one of its last four games.

When you see questions that ask for the probability of "at least one" occurrence, the easiest way to calculate them is to calculate the probability of "no" occurrences and then subtract that from 100%. There are several sequences that could give you "at least one" (just the first, just the last, all of them, etc.) but only one that gives you "none" (all nones), so use that strategy to make quick, efficient work of probability questions on the GMAT.

What is your probability of missing at least one question on the math section of the GMAT? Well, it's 1 - getting-them-all-right, and the odds of your getting them all right just went up after reading this post!

Are you studying for the GMAT? Be sure to compare us to other GMAT courses and see why more people choose Veritas Prep every year. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Law School, Hunger Strikes, and Transparency

The blogging world has been abuzz over the "Unemployed JD" scandal that broke out this week. In case you missed it, a blogger named Ethan Haines who runs a blog dedicated to crusading for better transparency on the part of law school when it comes to employment data, actually turned out to be Denver-based Zenovia Evans, an employed 28-year-old graduate of Cooley Law School in Michigan.

While everyone is more hung up on on the fact that Evans tried to rally people around a cause in a disingenuous way, we think that the assumptions behind her demands are somewhat misguided. When Evans (posing as Ethan Haines, an unemployed JD) contacted 10 law schools and told them about "his" crusade, he asked them to commit to new standards of transparency on their job placement statistics and to agree to letting Haines audit their career counseling programs.

Those standards came from another group, calling itself Law School Transparency, which maintains that by misrepresenting or under-reporting their job placement stats, law school essentially dupe students into enrolling under the false impression they will inevitably land lucrative jobs.

Even if Haines/Evans/whatever-we're-calling-her-now got her way, we're not sure that it would make much of a difference. We don't want to give it all away yet, but in a recent survey of law school applicants that Veritas Prep conducted in partnership with Law School Podcaster and PreLaw Magazine, an overwhelming percentage (81%) of respondents said that they would still apply to law school now even if a significant number of law school graduates were unable to find jobs in their desired fields! Further, only 4% said they would not apply to law school at all if they knew job prospects that bad. (We will share the full results of the survey shortly!)

While we certainly will join the crusade against any school that deliberately misleads people and tricks them into applying (*cough*... for-profit online schools, we're looking your way...), even if schools replaced their glossy web sites with black & white photos of somber, jobless grads, we actually think that many would-be applicants would still apply to law school.

Why? We answer that question with another one: Why not? The reality is that, for many young people, law school (and business school, to some extent) has become an inevitable weight station on the road to real life. Is the economy in shambles? Great! Even more reason to hide out in grad school for two or three years. While the obvious downside is that many of those students will graduate with a nearly insurmountable amount of debt, most of them don't see it that way. Either Mom and Dad will pick up the tab, or the applicant assumes that the economy will inevitably be better in a couple of years, or they would just not rather think about it today. (Or, even better, maybe Uncle Sam will bail us all out one day! That would be a hoot.)

Don't get us wrong... Transparency is always a good thing. We're glad that publications such as U.S. News have recently taken a stand against law schools gaming the rankings by deliberately withholding their employment data. But, for better or worse, we predict young people will keep applying to law school in droves.

For more information on law school admissions, visit our law school admissions site or call us at (800) 925-7737 to speak with an admissions expert. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Photo courtesy of LollyKnit, under a Creative Commons license. And no, that's not a picture of Zenovia Evans.

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GMAT Challenge Question: The Red Stapler

Studying for the GMAT does not have to be a chore -- it can certainly be made enjoyable through fun challenge problems! That's why we try to keep things lighthearted (yet effective) when it comes to your GMAT preparation.

With that in mind, try today's Cheerful Challenge Problem, channeling your inner Peter Gibbons in your pursuit of an MBA to become the next Bill Lumbergh. Do it right, and you just may have The Bobs eating out of the palm of your hand. Check back later today for the answer to this problem!

GMAT Critical Reasoning Question

Milton: I believe that you have my red stapler.

Boss: Yeah…we switched from the Swingline to the Boston staplers some time ago. So I am just going to have to go ahead and confiscate this…

Milton: But I was told that I could keep this stapler, it is a better stapler and it does not jam.

Boss: Sorry, Milton. Oh and I’m going to have to ask you to go ahead and move your desk to the basement…

Milton and the Boss are committed to disagreeing about whether_______________

A) Milton should move his desk to the basement.

B) The red Swingline stapler jams less.

C) Milton should be allowed to keep his red stapler.

D) The company previously switched to Boston staplers.

E) Milton needs to go ahead and come in on Saturday.


What do you think? Post your response (along with an explanation!) in the comments field below, and we'll add the solution later today!


UPDATE: SOLUTION

This is a unique variation of an Inference question, as the question asks for the subject on which the two parties must be in disagreement. They may well disagree on each of the answer choices, but only one of them is definite based on the passage.

The correct answer is C, as both parties mention the stapler, and each has a different opinion. Milton provides reasons that he should be allowed to keep it, and his boss denies him that opportunity and takes it. Because both parties explicitly express an opposite opinion about Milton's ability to keep his stapler, they must be in disagreement about it.

As in any Inference problem, the other answers could be true, but are not necessarily true. It's very likely that Milton does not want to come in on Saturday (who would?) and that he wouldn't want to move his desk to the basement, but because there is no explicit evidence of either, neither is correct. Correct Inference answers on the GMAT must be true, so use that burden of proof to your advantage as you approach these questions on the exam.

Follow these and other steps to GMAT success, and you may one day be in a position to have as many as...four people working directly under you (or get a high-paying consulting job at McKinsey or Bain & Company as one of the Bobs).

Plan on taking the GMAT soon? Take a a look at our new, lower prices on Veritas Prep online GMAT courses. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and to follow us on Twitter!

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Cornell (Johnson) Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011

Today we take a look at the MBA admissions deadlines for the The Johnson School at Cornell University.

You will notice that Johnson's deadlines have only changed slightly vs. last year. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics:

Cornell (Johnson) Application Deadlines
Round 1: October 5, 2010
Round 2: November 9, 2010
Round 3: January 4, 2011
Round 4: March 22, 2011

Note that, like Haas, Johnson actually has four main admissions rounds for its full-time MBA program. With the typical three-round program, conventional wisdom dictates that you should only apply in Round 1 or Round 2. (While our advice re: Round 3 is a little more nuanced than that, it's a good rule of thumb to follow.) If you're not ready to apply in Round 1, then push back to Round 2, but the decision to push back to Round 3 is always a tougher one.

In the case of a school like Johnson, Round 4 is the new Round 3... If you're not ready to apply by the Round 2 deadline, there's absolutely no problem with applying in Round 3. Beyond that, however, Johnson's class starts to fill up, and your odds of admissions success could be significantly lower in Round 4.

Also, note that Johnson's Round 2 deadline in November falls between most other schools' Round 1 and Round 2 deadlines. Many of our clients therefore get their October applications done, take a breath, and them come right back and complete their Cornell applications in time for the Round 2 deadline.

Applying to The Johnson School? Last year we helped many applicants with their Cornell applications, and even got one client a full ride to the school! Call us at (800) 925-7737 to speak with an MBA admissions expert and learn about how we can help you. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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UC Berkeley (Haas) Application Essays for 2010-2011

Recently we wrote about the Haas application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Today we'll dig into the school's admissions essays for 2010-2011.

You may notice that Haas has barely changed its essays since last year. When we school make few or no changes, that tells us that its current essay prompts are doing the job. By "doing the job," we mean that they help the admissions committee get to know each applicant better, and they help the committee separate the great applicants from the rest of the pool. As long as the school gets what it needs, there's no need to tinker with the formula too much.

Here are Haas's MBA admissions essays for the coming yera, followed by our comments in italics:

Berkeley (Haas) Admissions Essays

Short Answers:

1. What are you most passionate about? Why? (250 words)
   
   Whoa! Did Stanford's Derrick Bolton slip into the Haas admissions office? Actually, this question carries over from last year. The key here is to write about something that you really, really care about. A good litmus test is this: How knowledgeable are you about the subject? Many applicants will be tempted to go bold and say something like "Fighting income inequality is what I'm most passionate about," because they feel like that's just what one is supposed to say here, but then can't back it up with facts... and passion. Admissions officers will see right through this, so try any stunts here!


2. Tell us about your most significant accomplishment. (250 words)
   
   This question also carries over from last year. Ideally the story you choose will demonstrate at least one or two of the key themes in your application. All things being equal, a story from your professional life will serve you best, but don't feel that your significant accomplishment MUST be from the workplace.


3. At Haas, our distinctive culture is defined by four key principles -— question the status quo; confidence without attitude; students always; and beyond yourself. Give an example of when you have demonstrated one of these principles. (250 words, Review Berkeley-Haas' Defining Principles)
   
   This question is new this year, replacing a question that put emphasis on innovation and creativity. The fact that the admissions office directs you to the school's defining principles sends a very clear message that those ideas/traits matter to Haas A LOT, and that the admissions office will be looking closely for evidence of those throughout your application, not just in this essay. Any of the four should make for a good starting point for a compelling essay, although we have noticed the admissions office frequently bring up the the "confidence without attitude" one in our discussions with them. If you're unsure of which one to choose, we'd say go with that one.


4. There are many ways to learn about our program, what steps have you taken to learn about the Berkeley MBA? (250 words)
   
   Haas slightly reworded this essay since last year, although it essentially remains the same. One subtle but importance difference: The addition of "There are many ways to learn about our program," almost says to us, "Please skip past the obvious ones like our web site and brochures... Show us some real effort, please." Our stance on essays like this is always the same: You'd better have better reasons for applying than "Because it's a top-ten program!" The Haas admissions team seeks evidence that you've really done your homework on the school.

Required Essays:

1. Give us an example of a situation in which you displayed leadership. (500 words)
   
   This question has remained the same for the past several years. Haas hits on it directly: The admissions office wants you to show how you are a leader. This should give you a clear idea of how important this trait is to the Haas admissions office when evaluating applicants. You don't need to have a big job title or have a team of ten people reporting to you. Think about any time when you showed leadership -- maybe by overcoming an obstacle, or by helping a colleague or was struggling -- regardless of your role or the circumstances.


2. What are your post-MBA short-term and long-term career goals? How do your professional experiences relate to these goals? How will an MBA from Berkeley help you achieve these specific career goals? (1000 words)
   
   This question also carries over from last year. Note that last year Haas added the "post-MBA" part to the question, suggesting that some applicant had perhaps been speaking in terms that were too "big picture." Pretty standard question here: Where do you see yourself in a few years (and beyond that), and why do you need an MBA to get there? Specifically, why do you need a Haas MBA to get there? Even though you will answer another "Why Haas"-type question, clearly it's very important to the school that you answer this question.

Plan on applying to Haas or another top MBA program this year? Veritas Prep now offers the ability to start working with an admissions consultant today and pay over time. And, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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GMAT Tip of the Week: Get Flexible

At Veritas Prep we're big believers in the idea of flexibility. As we discussed in our take on the new version of the GMAT that's coming in 2012, business schools want to see how well you can think, not how well you can memorize idioms. That's why our 42-hour GMAT course trains you in the higher-order thinking skills and "mental agility" you need to do well no matter what type of question you face on the real exam.

Flexibility also matters in how you prepare for the exam. Deciding on Day One that you're just going to keep taking practice tests until you "get it," or that you're going to mow down practice GMAT problems until your eyes hurt, will only set you up for failure. That's why Veritas Prep gives you the most flexible options for GMAT prep in the industry.

What do we mean? Let us count the ways!

One year of membership for all GMAT students.
When you enroll for a Veritas Prep class (in-person or online), you're a member for 12 months from the start of your course. Did you sign up in July for a class starting on September 7? Then you have access to EVERYTHING for 12 months from September 8, so you in fact have more than one full year of membership!

You can attend two full-length, live courses during your membership period.
When you enroll in an in-person GMAT course, included in your membership is the ability to take two in-person courses in a 12-month period. Did you take the course but don't still don't feel ready to take the GMAT? Did your job get in the way, and you weren't able to complete the course? No problem... Just call us and we'll gladly put you in another course of that same type, no questions asked.

Unlimited access to our GMAT preparation resources for one year.
No one offers a longer membership, no one else offers all of the following resources: 15 practice tests, seven diagnostic midterms, Veritas Prep On Demand™ pre-recorded lessons, instructor-manned phone support, and MBA admissions workshops, all included in your membership.

Prepare for the GMAT any way you choose.
Not sure whether you want to do an in-person or online course. No problem. Enroll in any in-person Veritas Prep GMAT course, and you already have access to our online Veritas Prep on Demand™ course. Decide that you'd rather do Live Online? Great... Just call us and we'll put you in any upcoming Live Online GMAT course! Or, start with an online course, and if you decide you really need in-person prep, let us know and you can upgrade to any in-person class!

Flexibility matters. That's why we give you the most flexible GMAT preparation in the industry, period.

Plan on taking the GMAT soon? Take a look at our new, lower prices on Veritas Prep online GMAT courses. And, as always, be sure to subscribe to this blog and to follow us on Twitter!

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INSEAD Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011

While we most often write about U.S.-based business schools in this space, INSEAD is one of the more popular programs among our clients. That's why it's one of the MBA programs we cover in our Annual Reports, our free guides to 15 of the world's top MBA programs.

Today we take a look at INSEAD's admissions deadlines for the coming year. You'll note that INSEAD is one of the few major program that has two distinct start dates (or "intakes") for its incoming students: one in January and one in September. Here are the deadlines for both intakes, followed by our comments in italics:

INSEAD Application Deadlines
September 2011 Intake
Round 1: September 29, 2010
Round 2: December 1, 2010
Round 3: March 9, 2011

January 2012 Intake
Round 1: March 30, 2011
Round 2: June 15, 2011
Round 3: August 3, 2011

For the September intake, the big change is in Round 3, where INSEAD pushed back its deadline by a month. Like other top MBA programs, INSEAD seems to want to keep the window open a bit longer to attract a few more great applicants, suggesting that Round 3 is not the dead zone that some applicants think it is. For the January intake, INSEAD's Round 1 deadline is about three weeks earlier than it was last year, although its Round 2 and Round 3 deadlines have barely changed.

Applying to INSEAD this year? Download our INSEAD Annual Report, one of 15 completely free guides to the world's top business schools. And, as always, be sure to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

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Chicago Booth Application Essays 2010-2011

Recently we wrote about Chicago Booth's admissions deadlines for the coming year. Today we dig into the school's admissions essays, which have changed quite a bit since last year.

It's interesting to note that, after there was some chatter a few months ago that Booth would drop its "PowerPoint question" this year, it lives on. We firmly believe that schools like Booth are still looking for new ways to learn more about you, and while that question hasn't been perfect, they don't want to give up on it since it's still Booth's best bet to get to know the real you before interviewing you.

Here are Chicago Booth's essays for the Class of 2013, followed by our comments in italics:

Chicago Booth Admissions Essays

1. The Admissions Committee is interested in learning more about you on both a personal and professional level. Please answer the following (maximum of 300 words for each section):
   
   a. Why are you pursuing a full-time MBA at this point in your life?
   
   b. Define your short and long term career goals post MBA.
   
   c. What is it about Chicago Booth that is going to help you reach your goals?
   
   d. RE-APPLICANTS ONLY: Upon reflection, how has your thinking regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application?
   
   This question is new this year, although in many ways it's a direct descendant of last year's first essay question. This is the fairly standard "Why an MBA? Why this school?" question that most schools ask. Note that, as important is it is to make a convincing case about your career goals and your reasons for wanting an MBA, you also really need to take part (c) seriously... What about Booth attracts you to the school? This is where you need to show that you've done your homework, and convince the school that you're not only applying because Booth is highly ranked.


2. Chicago Booth is a place that challenges its students to stretch and take risks that they might not take elsewhere. Tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you learned from that experience .(750 words)
   
   This question is also new this year. The best response here will come directly from your work experience, provide enough drama to pull the reader in, and give you an opportunity to really answer the second part of the essay prompt: What did you learn from the experience? Last year "reflection" was a big theme in Booth's essay questions, and while this question doesn't specifically ask for reflection, this is your chance to show the kind of self-awareness and introspection that Booth admissions officers really want to see.


3. At Chicago Booth, we teach you HOW to think rather than what to think. With this in mind, we have provided you with "blank pages" in our application. Knowing that there is not a right or even a preferred answer allows you to demonstrate to the committee your ability to navigate ambiguity and provide information that you believe will support your candidacy for Chicago Booth.
   
   We have set forth the following guidelines:
   
   
   • The content is completely up to you. Acceptable file formats are PowerPoint or PDF.
   
   
   • There is a strict maximum of four pages, though you can provide fewer if you choose.
   
   
   • The document will be printed in color and added to your file for review; therefore, flash, hyperlinks, embedded videos, music, etc. will not be viewed by the committee. You are limited to text and static images to convey your points.
   
   
   • The file will be evaluated on the quality of content and ability to convey your ideas, not on technical expertise or presentation.
   
   
   • Files need to be less than 9 megabytes in order to upload. If your file is too large you may save your file as a PDF and upload your essay.
   
   This is the famous "PowerPoint question," although Booth sets it up differently this year, putting much more emphasis on the "Hey, you have a blank slate here!" message than before. Here the school asks you to present yourself creatively and succinctly. Almost nothing is out of bounds, but you really must ensure that these pages add something new to your application -- don't use it to just show off professional achievements that you already cover elsewhere in your application. Be creative! The reason Booth kept this question is because, while it hasn't worked perfectly for the school so far, it really is the admissions committee's best chance to tease some personality out of your application. So, give them some!

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