Chicago Booth Scholars Program has opened the 2025-2026 application.

There is only one application deadline, on April 2, 2026, and the decision is due to be released on June 25, 2026. If you think that the Chicago Booth Scholars Program is for you, keep reading for Personal MBA Coach’s application essay tips.

Personal MBA Coach’s Chicago Booth Scholars MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Short-Answer Question: What are your professional plans for your time in deferment prior to starting your MBA? (up to 250 words)

For this short-answer question, outline your pre-MBA plans for Booth. If you already have a job lined up, great! If not, write about the role you are hoping to have after finishing your current studies. Be as specific as possible in detailing both the title and company (or target company) and be sure to add a bit of detail about what you plan to accomplish and how this experience will help you succeed with your ultimate goal.

Chicago Booth Scholars MBA Essay 1:

How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals? (250-word minimum)

This first essay is a straightforward one and should include a few key things.

First, give Booth a bit of context as to where you are today. Though you likely have limited professional experience, applicants who successfully apply to the Chicago Booth Scholars Program generally have some leadership experience or an experience that has shaped their career plans.

Next, outline your specific short-term and long-term goals for Booth. Check out this blog for more details on how to think about post-MBA goals!

Finally, detail where Booth fits into the equation. Think about your experience and skill gaps and how a Booth MBA will help you to close them. Specificity is key here, so allow adequate time to research the Booth MBA program and be prepared to outline how you will use your time on campus to set you up for success.

Two people with tea use an iPad to evaluate different MBA Programs

Chicago Booth Scholars 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 words minimum)

This second Chicago Booth Scholars essay is new this year and is identical to the essay required for full-time MBA applicants. As a result, our guidance for Chicago Booth Scholars applicants mirrors our advice for full-time Chicago Booth applicants.

We encourage you to start by reviewing that post in full, as it walks through how to approach this essay strategically. The expectations are no different for Scholars applicants, and Booth will be looking for the same level of reflection, clarity, and authenticity.

When you write about how you integrate your chosen value into your life, be sure to include specific examples from your educational experience. As a current student, Booth will expect clear and concrete evidence of how you live your values on campus. This might include leadership roles, ways you have supported classmates, or contributions you have made within the broader campus or local community.

The goal is not to just restate the value itself, but to show how it consistently shapes your behavior and engagement. Specific, well-developed examples will allow the admissions committee to clearly envision how you will continue to contribute to the Booth community.

Optional Chicago Booth Essay

Is there any unclear information in your application that needs further explanation? If so, please use this section to clarify. (300 words maximum)

The Chicago Booth Scholars application also includes an optional essay question. For tips on handling this third (optional) Booth MBA essay, visit Personal MBA Coach’s blog on optional essays.