Congratulations on earning your Chicago Booth interview. Let's make sure you're ready for it.

Chicago Booth full-time MBA · 2026-27 full-time MBA applicants (Class of 2029)

Your Chicago Booth interview

If Booth invites you, you get one interview of about 45 minutes, held virtually with a current student or another member of the Booth community who has seen only your resume. Booth calls it conversational, and applicants describe it as relaxed but packed with questions, often running close to an hour.

Sources (5)

Chicago Booth: Full-time MBA Application Process · Chicago Booth: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Advice · YouTube: Donna Swinford, Booth's Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, on how the MBA intervie · Reddit: Booth Interview Debrief (2026) · Reddit: Booth R1 interview, anyone done theirs yet? What did they ask? : r/MBA (2026)

100%of admitted students interviewed. Booth makes the interview a requirement for admission. Chicago Booth

Congratulations again: an invitation means several committee members have read your full file and recommended you, and no one gets in without this step. Booth says every interview carries equal weight whoever conducts it, and that no single part of the application outweighs the rest. The honest caveat: an interview does not guarantee admission, and Booth publishes no figure for how many interviewees are admitted.

Sources (2)

Chicago Booth: Full-time MBA Application Process · Chicago Booth: What Happens After You Submit Your Full-Time MBA Application?

WhoA current student or another member of the Booth community, often an alum; applicants mostly report second-year students Chicago Booth · Chicago Booth · Reddit · Reddit · Clear Admit

How longAbout 45 minutes per Booth; applicants report anywhere from 30 minutes to a full hour Chicago Booth · Chicago Booth · Reddit · Reddit · Reddit

WhereVirtual, per Booth's application and interview pages. Dress business professional anyway Chicago Booth · Chicago Booth

What they knowOnly your resume. The interview is blind to the rest of your application YouTube · Clear Admit · Clear Admit

4 more: also required, when, does it count, after

Also requiredA separate video simulation: two questions answered on camera in real time Chicago Booth · Reddit

WhenBy invitation after full review. Decisions: Dec 3, 2026 (Round 1), Mar 25, 2027 (Round 2), May 20, 2027 (Round 3) Chicago Booth · Chicago Booth

Does it countYes. No one is admitted without one, every interview gets equal weight, and it guarantees nothing Chicago Booth

AfterMore committee members reread your full file alongside the interview report and video Chicago Booth

How you get an interview

Booth starts reading applications only after the round deadline passes. Several members of the Admissions Committee read each complete file, then the admissions directors pool their recommendations and decide whom to invite. Donna Swinford, Booth's Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, says up to three directors may review a file before an invitation.

Timing. Applicants report invitation updates going out roughly a month after the round deadline (2026). Booth's alumni interviewer form lists interview windows of November 5-30 for Round 1, February 18 to March 9 for Round 2 and April 29 to May 3 for Round 3.
Act fast. Once invited, you have 48 hours to choose how you'll interview, and then a few weeks to complete it.
No invitation. Booth can deny applicants without an interview, and denials are final.
Only one. There is exactly one interview in Booth's process.

Sources: Chicago Booth: What Happens After You Submit Your Full-Time MBA Application? · YouTube: Donna Swinford, Booth's Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, on how the MBA intervie · Clear Admit: University of Chicago Booth MBA (2026) · Chicago Booth: Full-Time Admissions Alumni Interview Registration Form · Chicago Booth: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Advice · Chicago Booth: Full-time MBA Application Process

The video simulation

Separate from the live interview, Booth requires a short video simulation on a third-party platform. You record answers to two questions in real time. Booth says no preparation is needed because it wants candid answers, and that the video is a chance to show your personality to the admissions directors.

Applicants report (2026):

About 90 seconds per answer. One applicant described a 60-second prompt instead.
Two tries each. After your first take, a 10-second countdown runs; if you don't click re-record, the first take is submitted.
Questions are not the usual ones. Reported prompts include trends reshaping your industry, something you recently did and are glad you did, an opportunity you resisted but are now grateful for, and how you keep bias out of your decisions.
Tech basics. Good natural light, clear audio, and don't sound like you're reading a script. If the platform freezes, use its live support chat right away.

One applicant felt a fumbled answer matters far less than the live interview. Booth itself says the committee reads your video alongside your interview report, so treat both seriously.

Sources: Chicago Booth: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Advice · Chicago Booth: What Happens After You Submit Your Full-Time MBA Application? · Reddit: Finished all my interviews (CBS, Booth, LBS, UCLA). Anything else I can do to mo (2026) · Reddit: Booth R2 Interview - Video Prompt Strategy and Debrief Resources ... (2026) · Reddit: Fumbled first question Booth Video Simulation. How impactful? : r/MBA (2026) · Reddit: Booth video simulation : r/MBA (2026)

The interview itself

Booth describes the interview as a conversation: the admissions team gets to know you, and you learn about Booth. Booth's application and interview advice pages say all interviews are virtual. Some applicants report meeting an alum in person, at a coffee shop or office (2025), and another Booth page still mentions in-person and off-campus options, so follow whatever your invitation offers.

Topics Booth names. Your work experience, projects, teamwork, and how your short- and long-term goals fit a Booth MBA.
What the dean says comes up. Your post-MBA goals and how Booth helps, plus questions that test resilience.
What applicants report being asked. Walk me through your resume; why MBA, why now, why Booth; short- and long-term goals; how you'd contribute to the community; which clubs you'd join; a time you failed, succeeded or handled a conflict; dealing with diverse perspectives; feedback that surprised you; a tough decision; what legacy you want to leave at Booth.
Pace. Applicants describe it as conversational, but one 2026 interviewer worked through a long list and rushed the last questions as time ran out.
Your questions. Applicants report 10 to 15 minutes at the end for your own questions.
Dress. Booth expects business professional attire, even on video.

Sources: Chicago Booth: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Advice · Chicago Booth: Full-time MBA Application Process · Chicago Booth: What Happens After You Submit Your Full-Time MBA Application? · Reddit: Off-campus interview with alumni - what to expect? (Booth) (2025) · Reddit: Calling all Booth Interview Insights : r/MBA - Reddit (2022) · YouTube: Donna Swinford, Booth's Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, on how the MBA intervie · Clear Admit: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Questions & Reports (2026) · Reddit: Booth Interview Debrief (2026) · Poets&Quants: 2025 MBA Interview Questions: A School-By-School List (2025) · Reddit: Booth R1 interview, anyone done theirs yet? What did they ask? : r/MBA (2026)

What they're looking for

Booth reviews every application holistically and says no single part of it is weighted above the others. The interview adds a conversation with someone who has read only your resume.

Resilience. Donna Swinford names it directly as something the interview assesses.
How you'll show up as a student. She also says interviewers look at how engaged you'll be at Booth. Applicants are asked about the impact or legacy they want to leave on the community.
Goals that fit Booth. Booth lists goal alignment among interview topics, and applicants report follow-up questions that dig into career goals.
Teamwork. Booth names teamwork as an interview topic.
Real interest in the school. Current students advise showing you've pictured yourself at Booth, how you'll use the community and how you'll give back.

Swinford's advice is to treat the interview as a chance to add to your candidacy.

Sources: Chicago Booth: What Happens After You Submit Your Full-Time MBA Application? · YouTube: Donna Swinford, Booth's Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, on how the MBA intervie · Chicago Booth: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Advice · Clear Admit: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Questions & Reports (2026) · Reddit: Booth Interview Debrief (2026) · Reddit: Calling all Booth Interview Insights : r/MBA - Reddit (2022) · YouTube: Current Chicago Booth students share their advice for the admissions interview

How to prepare

Nail the core story. Have a clear, honest answer to why an MBA, why now and why Booth, tied to your goals. Applicants and students both put this first.
Practice your resume walk-through. Most reported interviews open with it.
Build a set of stories. Failure, success, conflict, diverse perspectives, surprising feedback, a tough decision, leadership. Use specific examples of what you did and what you learned.
Know Booth in detail. Applicants suggest naming actual classes, clubs and what you'll do outside class.
Talk to students and alumni. Booth students and applicants both recommend it before the interview.
Bring real questions. Swinford encourages candid questions to test whether Booth fits you.
Watch the clock. Long answers can leave later questions rushed.
Don't script it. Work from bullet points so you sound like yourself.

Sources: Reddit: Off-campus interview with alumni - what to expect? (Booth) (2025) · Reddit: Booth R2 Interview - Video Prompt Strategy and Debrief Resources ... (2026) · YouTube: Current Chicago Booth students share their advice for the admissions interview · Clear Admit: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Questions & Reports (2026) · Reddit: Booth R1 interview, anyone done theirs yet? What did they ask? : r/MBA (2026) · Reddit: Booth Interview Debrief (2026) · Poets&Quants: 2025 MBA Interview Questions: A School-By-School List (2025) · Reddit: Finished all my interviews (CBS, Booth, LBS, UCLA). Anything else I can do to mo (2026) · Clear Admit: Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth School of Business (2020) · Clear Admit: Admissions Director Q&A: Donna Swinford of Chicago Booth (2024) · YouTube: Susan Berishaj of SIA Admissions, a coaching firm, on preparing for the Booth interview

After the interview

Your interviewer files a report (alumni interviewers must submit theirs within 48 hours). Additional committee members then read your full application again, using the interview report and your video response for context. The Associate Dean of Admissions and the committee review all recommendations before decisions go out.

Decision day. You get an email telling you to log into your application portal to see your decision.
Waitlist. Waitlisted candidates stay on the list at least until the next round's decisions. Booth doesn't rank the waitlist or give individual feedback.
No feedback. Booth doesn't offer post-application feedback.

Sources: Chicago Booth: Full-Time Admissions Alumni Interview Registration Form · Chicago Booth: What Happens After You Submit Your Full-Time MBA Application? · Chicago Booth: Full-time MBA Application Process · Chicago Booth: Full-Time MBA Program FAQ

Your interviewer

Ingrid Halvorsen Fictional interviewer

Get a briefing on your own interviewer

Know who's interviewing you? Their LinkedIn profile is the best source.

Use a computer if you can. Open their LinkedIn profile in a web browser, click More (or ⋯) under their name, then Save to PDF.
On a phone: the LinkedIn app can't save a profile. Open linkedin.com in your phone's browser instead, switch to the desktop site, and use More → Save to PDF.
Upload the PDF here, or paste what you know about them (a bio, a profile page).

See the sample briefing

Second-year Booth MBA (Class of '27) and Admissions Fellow; former freight/port logistics operator heading into infrastructure investing

Ingrid is a current second-year who interviews applicants as a part-time Admissions Fellow (since Aug 2026), so this is likely a structured, evaluative conversation from someone trained by admissions, not a casual alum chat. She spent about eight years before Booth in operations: two years in operations consulting, then six years at a freight-software company, where she rose from analyst to leading a 12-person customer onboarding team. She is now pivoting into infrastructure investing (a summer internship turned into a full-time offer starting July 2027). Her own profile tells you what she values: 'I care more about how you think through a decision than whether it worked out.' Expect her to probe your reasoning and trade-offs, not just outcomes. As a career switcher herself, she will likely test whether your goals are concrete and whether you've thought about how Booth gets you there.

Their path

BA Economics, University of Washington (2013-2017), minor in Scandinavian Studies
Analyst, Cobalt Mill Advisors, operations consulting, Portland (Jul 2017-May 2019): warehouse and fleet cost models
Operations Analyst, Nordlys Freight Analytics, Seattle (Jun 2019-Feb 2022): built first container dwell-time dashboards
Senior Manager, Customer Operations, Nordlys (Mar 2022-Jul 2025): led 12 people, cut customer implementation time from 14 to 8 weeks
Booth Full-Time MBA, 2025-2027: Finance, Operations Management, Economics concentrations
Co-Chair, Booth Energy Club (Apr 2026-present); Summer Associate, Larkspur Ridge Infrastructure Partners (Jun-Aug 2026), returning full-time July 2027
Admissions Fellow, Booth (Aug 2026-present): evaluative interviews and prospective-student coffee chats

What it means for your conversation

She has been through Booth's interviewer training and interviews many applicants, so expect a well-run, possibly question-dense session. Keep answers to roughly 2 minutes so you don't run out of time.
She says she cares about how you think through decisions. For every story, explain the options you saw, what you weighed, and why you chose as you did, including what you'd change.
She made a real career switch (operations to investing) using Booth. She will likely notice vague goals quickly; be specific about the role, the type of firm, and the skills gap the MBA closes.
Her pre-MBA background is operational and hands-on, not finance or consulting prestige. Concrete, measurable results from your work will likely land better than polished buzzwords.
She is active in clubs (Energy Club co-chair, hockey, Random Walk trip), so 'how will you contribute to the community' is likely to get real follow-up.
She sees only your resume. Every line on it is fair game; be ready to explain any number you cite.

Questions they may lean toward

Walk me through a decision on your resume: what were the alternatives and how did you choose? Her About section says she cares about how you think through a decision more than the result.
Tell me about a time something didn't work out. Booth tests resilience, and her stated focus on process over outcome suggests she'll value an honest failure story with clear reasoning.
Why an MBA now, and why Booth specifically for your goal? Standard Booth question; as a successful switcher she can judge whether your plan is realistic.
How did you lead or influence a team? She managed a 12-person team and likely knows what real people-management looks like versus title inflation.
What would you actually do at Booth outside class? She leads a club and organizes treks, so she'll likely probe whether your club plans are real.
Questions digging into a metric or process improvement on your resume. Her own headline result is an operational improvement (14 to 8 weeks); she may ask what you did versus what the team did.

Honest common ground

Booth's flexible curriculum: she combined finance, operations and economics concentrations, so you can ask how she built her schedule if it relates to your plans.
Career switching through Booth, if you are also changing industry or function.
If you work in operations, supply chain, logistics, energy or infrastructure, that overlap is genuine, but don't invent it.
Managerial Decision Making: she recommends it publicly. Only mention it if you've actually looked into it.
Random Walk trips and Hyde Park life: she invites questions about these, so they are fair, low-key topics for your questions at the end.

Questions to ask them

How did you decide between continuing in operations and moving into investing, and what at Booth made that switch possible? Genuinely useful if you're switching, and lets her talk about decision-making, which she values.
You recommend Managerial Decision Making to everyone. What changed in how you make decisions after taking it? She invites this question; ask only if you're curious, and it ties to how you'll learn at Booth.
What does a club leader at Booth actually spend time on, and how do first-years get involved early? Shows you're thinking about contributing, from someone who runs a club.
Looking back on your first year, what would you have done differently with Booth's flexible curriculum? Practical, honest question that a second-year can answer well.
What was the Random Walk trip like as a way to meet classmates before school started? She lists it as a topic; good if you are curious about building community early.

Avoid

Reciting her resume or opening with 'I saw you worked in freight logistics.' A brief, natural reference is fine; a recitation is not.
Claiming interest in infrastructure, energy or private equity just because she works in it.
Telling success stories that skip your reasoning. 'It worked out' is not what she says she grades.
Long answers. Admissions Fellows often have a list of questions; running long can rush the end.
Bringing up her hobbies (skiing, baking, rowing, mystery novels) as small talk unless you truly share them; it can feel like you studied her profile.
Generic Booth praise ('great network, flexible curriculum') without saying what you'd do with it.

A sample, to show what the briefing looks like: Ingrid Halvorsen and their employers are invented.

Based on: The sample interviewer's profile (fictional) · Chicago Booth: Full-time MBA Application Process · Chicago Booth: Chicago Booth MBA Interview Advice · YouTube: Donna Swinford, Booth's Associate Dean of Student Recruitment and Admissions, on how the MBA intervie · Reddit: Booth Interview Debrief (2026) · Reddit: Booth R1 interview, anyone done theirs yet? What did they ask? : r/MBA (2026)

All sources · 29 plus 7 applicant threads

Applicant threads are linked under each question.