Samantha Malone, Chicago Booth’s MBA Class of 2022
Age: 24
Hometown: Fremont, CA
Undergraduate Institution and Major: Santa Clara University, Business Management
Pre-MBA Work Experience (years, industry): 3 years, Tech
Why business school? Why now?
I always knew that I wanted to go back to school; an MBA has been in the back of my mind since before I left undergrad. When my mentor at work retired and the world shut down, it felt like a good time to revisit this dream. Another mentor encouraged me to try for the COVID-extended deadlines, so I made the leap and started my applications. In four weeks, I applied to five schools, and two weeks after submitting applications I took the GMAT for the first and only time. I was not sure if I would get in anywhere, let alone Booth, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by.
Why Chicago Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
My initial list of schools was limited to which ones were still accepting applications (I decided to apply at the beginning of May). Up until the end of July, I was debating between which school to attend, but what sealed my decision for Booth was when I sat down and considered which school really wanted me. I reflected on how responsive students and alumni were. How willing admissions officers were to negotiate financial aid with me. Booth was the school that made me feel the most valued as a future student and member of its community. Here, I was more than just a GMAT score and a resume, but a full human being they wanted to know.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2022?
Other than my absolutely fantastic sense of humor (or so my family tells me), my differentiating contribution is my optimism and desire to build others up. If you’ve taken the StrengthsFinder evaluation before, you might have heard of the Woo theme. It is one of my strongest themes but is also one of the less common themes to have. I think this is important to bring my Woo to business school because this is an experience that, by design, is collaborative. I want to see my peers succeed just as much as I want to succeed, and I hope that by supporting one another we all make it farther together.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application?
I managed to fit this into a sentence of one essay, but my absolute favorite hobby is social Latin dancing, mainly salsa and bachata. In our pre-COVID lives, my friends and I were regulars at the dancing clubs and it’s what I miss most about normal life.
Post-MBA career interests?
I’m recruiting for consulting right now and very excited for the next few months!
Advice to current prospective applicants:
One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
Join the Forté MBALaunch program. Forté is a nonprofit focused on helping professional women succeed and their MBALaunch program is a 10-month course that helps prepare women for MBA applications. It was incredibly helpful, and I am so thankful for the community it helped me build with my peer group.
–One thing you would change or do differently?
Apply within such a short amount of time. It was incredibly stressful to do five applications and the GMAT in under six weeks. I had never been so stressed before and, though it makes for a great story of grit now, it was not healthy, and I would not advise anyone to do what I did.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The GMAT. It’s awful. No one likes it. Well, maybe some people do and good for them. But for everyone else it’s a chore that has to be done (unless you’re applying to a school who is waiving it now) and something that helped me was doing targeted practice and sprint sets. I didn’t have time to sit for full-length practice exams every weekend, but I could find where I was weak and practice those types of problems. I would drill myself with 5 questions in 10 minutes, over and over again. I highly recommend the GMAT Club’s error log feature for finding where you need the most practice.
What is your initial impression of Chicago Booth’s students/culture/community?
They were incredibly competent but also very kind. Students made time for me, even when they were finishing classes and coming to terms with the long-term implications of the pandemic on their job offers and academic experience. They embodied midwestern hospitality no matter where they were from and made me feel welcome when I was questioning if I was even good enough to apply to Booth at all.
One thing you have learned about Chicago Booth that has surprised you?
I’ve been surprised by how flexible the professors are. Their entire teaching method was turned upside down and they are taking it in stride while maintaining a sense of humor. I am impressed with how patient they have been with tech issues and how hard they are working to make everyone—whether or not they are in the classroom—feel included.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
Finding balance. I am the type of student and employee who tends to throw herself into work. This time around, I want to come up for air between classes/recruiting, make friends, and relish this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year?
It is so difficult to only pick one thing! Like most Boothies, I live in downtown Chicago, so I’ll say exploring the city and city life in general. This is my first time ever living away from the Bay, in a city, or in an apartment. It’s been a lot of new in such a short amount of time and I am very excited to continue breathing it all in.
