The six writers here at The Booth Experience have had a blast this year providing all of you with relevant, interesting content, that’s hopefully made your decision to apply to and eventually attend Booth a little easier. The moment we were all dreading finally arrived last Saturday, as we walked across the stage at our graduation. So consider this final post our way of reflecting a bit on our time at Booth, what it’s meant to be a student here and what it’ll mean to be part of an incredible alumni network. Click through for responses from each of us, and best of luck with your business school journey!
Coming from a non-traditional background of majoring in biomedical engineering and working as a software developer, I have to admit that I was nervous about coming to business school. Not only did I have a lot to learn in the classroom (since I had only taken one business course during my entire undergraduate experience), but I also had a lot to learn outside the classroom when it came to management and leadership styles. The flexible curriculum at Booth really helped me brush up on my business skills for the former, but Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) was what really helped me excel at the latter.
One of the aspects of Booth that I absolutely love is the fun rivalry we have with that other MBA program to the North, Kellogg. It was something I did not expect coming into Booth at all (I assumed rivalries ended with college football!) but also something that I find myself getting super excited and competitive about every time. Almost twice a quarter there is some Booth v. Kellogg event, from case competitions to conferences, to soccer, rugby, and flag football, all the way to my personal favorite, BATTLE OF THE BANDS!
Every spring, our AudioBooth club organizes an epic battle between the incredibly talented musicians of both MBA programs. I love the event because the music and energy is incredible, but also because I get to see my student peers show how talented they are beyond the classroom. This year was unbelievable- the bands left it all out on the stage and I was blown away by the talent of the musicians.
We’re down to our final week of life at Booth, which means days are spent hastily trying to sell old furniture, cobble together final papers, and say yes to every event invitation that comes our way. While two years is really the perfect amount of time to be in business school, it doesn’t take away from the sadness we collectively feel about having to leave this community and most importantly this lifestyle.
I probably speak for most of my class in saying that it’s been a transformational period of time. We learned a great deal, engaged in new experiences, and made memories that’ll last a lifetime. But aside from all the facets of school you’ve read about all year, let’s talk about the social aspect at Booth, and what makes it so much fun to be a part of when classes and recruiting take a back seat on occasion (or potentially more often than that).
A great thing about going to school in Chicago is the chance to dine in some of the most incredible restaurants in the world… and with some of the most notable minds as well. Every spring quarter, Booth’s Epicurean Club hosts its major event – Dean’s Dinner, the most coveted outing of the year. With 44 Epicurean Boothies and one Dean all dressed to impress, we gathered at the famed French restaurant, Tru.
The event was fabulous yet bittersweet, because we were honoring two touching goodbyes. The first farewell is to the Class of 2017, full of friends that us first years got to know well through the flexible curriculum—allowing us to take classes whenever and with whomever we chose—and through the many social activities at Booth (current dinner included!). Second, we bid adieu to Dean Doug Skinner who will be handing over the reins to Madhav Rajan this summer. Dean Skinner is highly regarded by the student body, thanks to his dedication to Chicago Booth and sharp sense of humor, so it was certain that this would be a night to remember.
The first farewell is to the Class of 2017, full of friends that us first years got to know well through the flexible curriculum—allowing us to take classes whenever and with whomever we chose—and through the many social activities at Booth (current dinner included!). Second, we bid adieu to Dean Doug Skinner who will be handing over the reins to Madhav Rajan this summer. Dean Skinner is highly regarded by the student body, thanks to his dedication to Chicago Booth and sharp sense of humor, so it was certain that this would be a night to remember.