With only one required course at Booth, each student is able to curate their own experience. This flexibility also comes with a huge responsibility, so how does one make informed decisions in order to make the most of the two years? In this series, we will learn from current second years at Booth how they have leveraged the flexible curriculum to transition into roles of interest. In the opening post, we will focus on Investment Banking and Consulting.
In the past year, more than 30% of the Class of 2022 recruited for Consulting and Investment Banking roles. Of the students recruiting for these roles, the majority were career switchers. As a career switcher recruiting for Investment Banking, I focused my course selection on building a solid understanding of Accounting and Finance while also broadening my General Management skills. Over the past four quarters, courses in Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis, and Cases in Financial Management have helped me develop the skill set to analyze financial documents. Along with these, I have enjoyed the lectures on Competitive Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Managing in Organizations, and Commercializing Innovation. The courses mentioned above and many others in Behavioral Sciences and Entrepreneurship have helped hone my analytical and critical thinking skills while also educating me on the various methodologies that guide different aspects of the business. During my time at Booth, I have been able to and hope to continue exploring courses that broaden my experience beyond the field of Finance and Strategy.
Similarly, for Consulting, Manya Mullick, a current second-year student, and an incoming McKinsey Associate found Competitive Strategy as an excellent primer to learn how firms approach strategy, understand the nuts and bolts of why specific strategies succeed. During her time at Booth, she has curated a holistic experience by taking courses such as Managing the Firm in the Global Economy, Managing in Organizations, and Negotiations. And each of these courses has enabled her to build on a plethora of skills ranging from developing an international perspective on import and export to dissecting the psychology behind the behavior. Booth curriculum has a remarkable diversity for electives and provides solid foundational courses in Accounting, Microeconomics, Operations (to name a few). These foundational courses have helped Manya develop a better understanding of how firms make decisions. The flexible curriculum allows Boothies to take up to six courses across the broader university, and with this flexibility, your experience is driven by personal interest. Consistent with that, Manya has taken courses offered by other schools to cultivate her interest in Business and Art.
The flexible curriculum is a huge focal point, given the flexibility to choose courses within Booth and across the broader University of Chicago. There is no right or wrong selection of classes; this article shares two of thousands of combinations possible with Booth’s flexible curriculum. Lastly, alongside Booth’s academic coaching, an even more significant component of the Booth experience is the support we receive from the school and the broader community. In the upcoming posts, we will learn how students interested in venture capital, private equity and product management have leveraged flexible curriculum.
