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Despite high skills proficiency in <keyword id="294572" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="machine-learning">Machine Learning</keyword> (ML) and Maths, <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> trailed in data skills as it ranked 67th overall globally, a report said on Wednesday.<br /><br /><keyword id="1017386" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coursera">Coursera</keyword>'s latest Global Skills report reveals that, overall, India ranks 67th globally, with 38 per cent proficiency, with mid-rankings in each domain, 55th in business and 66th in both technology and data science.<br /><br />In Asia, India ranks low, placed at 16th, ahead of countries such as the Philippines and Thailand, but below others like Singapore and Japan.<br /><br />"The pace of skills transformation is slower than the pace of digital transformation in India, as is the case in several countries across the world," Coursera's Managing Director, India and <keyword id="156416" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="APAC">APAC</keyword>, <keyword id="3472273" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Raghav-Gupta">Raghav Gupta</keyword>, said in a statement.<br /><br />"Learners must invest in both soft and technical skills to prepare for jobs of the future," he added.<br /><br />According to the report, Indians have 52 per cent proficiency in ML and 54 per cent in mathematical skills.<br /><br />However, there is significant room for improvement in two key skills for digital transformation -- <keyword id="429467" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="data-analysis">Data Analysis</keyword> and Statistical Programming, ranked only at 25 per cent and 15 per cent skills proficiency, respectively.<br /><br />The report said that, as the demand for data scientists outstrips supply worldwide, India is also grappling with a shortage of data science professionals.<br /><br />India also shows evidence of evolving gender dynamics as women adopt online learning at one of the fastest pace globally, the report said.<br /><br />The share of overall Coursera course enrollments as well as in STEM courses from women learners in India saw an unprecedented increase, it added.<br /><br />The study draws on performance data since the onset of the pandemic from more than 77 million learners on the platform to benchmark skills proficiency across the business, technology, and data science for over 100 countries.<br /><strong><br />SEE ALSO<br /><b><a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/india-covid-vaccine-policy-changes-june-21-yoga-day-pm-modi/articleshow/83308314.cms">These are the changes in India’s vaccine policy that will kick in from June 21</a></b><br /><b><a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/pnb-housing-finance-shares-hit-upper-circuit-six-days-in-a-row-but-the-potential-upside-could-be-limited-now/articleshow/83305929.cms">PNB Housing Finance shares hit upper circuit six days in a row, but the potential upside could be limited now</a></b><br /><b><a target="_blank" class="c-link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/heres-why-fuel-prices-in-india-may-not-come-down-in-a-big-way/slidelist/83299743.cms">Here’s why fuel prices in India may not come down in a big way ⁠— at least not this year</a></b><br /><br /></strong>

India ranks 67th globally in data skills; lags behind Singapore and Japan, says report

We are witnessing what Professor Klaus Schwab calls the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where the physical, digital and biological worlds fuse, and advanced technologies like robotics, autonomous transport, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are gaining traction and transforming the world in unprecedented ways. The impact has been felt closer home as well. Earlier this year, NASSCOM noted that 40 per cent of Indian IT workforce must be re-skilled in the coming five years to keep up with the changing face and automation of the industry. In the same communication, it stated that nearly half of the workforce in the IT services firms would need significant intervention to reskill the workforce. <br /><br /> There is urgent need to reskill employees in the right direction to survive in an economy where multiple forces are at work such as the secular growth of Indian GDP, the opportunities provided by increased globalization and digitization, and the near term threat to low skilled jobs being taken over by automation. <br /><br /> According to industry experts almost half of the sector's workforce needs to be trained to keep up with the technological advancements. The current breed of IT professionals will need to be trained in emerging technologies while the incoming generation of freshers will have to be imbibed with digital skills at a foundation level. Of the 800,000 engineers India produces every year, the tech sector absorbs only about a eighth. This absorption level may decline further if relevant skill upgradation does not happen. Thus, the 12 million graduates who pass out of Indian colleges every year need to be reskilled and made job-ready amidst this paradigm shift. This may help to match the demand of over 2,00,000 net IT employee additions projected – besides creating the 3,50,000 digitally skilled employees that the industry gurus expect because of digital transformation.<br /><br /> While the scale of this impact may have set off the alarm bells for some IT players, the realistic ones are taking swift action. One of the Top 5 IT Services companies saw this coming back in 2015, and had put through its software engineers for immersive programs in new digital technology platforms. Elsewhere, Nestlé has set up The Digital Accelerating Team (DAT), which works towards upskilling its employees in the digital space. Talent transformation is a core agenda for the Indian IT services firms, more than ever before. <br /><br /> Speaking of the reskilling, NASSCOM has identified three major areas where transformation will lead in the Indian IT industry. The first area of focus will be training people in technologies like machine learning, virtual reality and IoT (Internet of things). <br /><br /> Some other skills that organizations will need to focus on include –<br /><br /> <b>Artificial Intelligence (AI) -</b> Decisions will be made closer to where work is done and thus organizations will need candidates who can use AI to augment work and take on higher roles. In fact, there is growing demand for AI courses online that deliver learning through personalized modules. <br /><br /> <b>Robotics –</b> By 2025, robots will take over a third of jobs, according to Gartner. Robotics has evolved to become more than just traditional hardware robots supporting human functions; in the new era, robots have been designed to support end-to-end automation, which will have implications across all professions, from blue-collar factory workers and their white-collar equivalent in knowledge work. <br /><br /> <b><keyword id="883288" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="3D-printing">3D printing</keyword>: -</b> By 2021, 3D printing market is expected to cross $79 Million in India alone. In fact, according to a recent report by the Times of India, India has approximately 350 listed 3D printing services, Mumbai alone having over 100. This indicates the rapid growth of this market and thus an increasing demand of professionals skilled in the field. <br /><br /> <b><keyword id="774829" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Big-Data">Big Data</keyword> –</b> Data volumes will continue to grow. As the famous quote goes, “Data is the new oil”. While currently organizations are hiring analysts and scientists who can interpret and analyze data for business success, the field needs more architects and experts in data management according to IDC.<br /><br /> The second area will focus on helping employees understand how new technologies will reshape their existing work. <br /><br /> And the third identified area is soft skills. The industry body will be closely working with 20 companies with an aim to reskill a million people over the next two-three years. <br /><br /> This reskilling of the employees is a healthy trend. On one side, where certain capabilities are becoming redundant, introduction of new skill areas will lead to creation of new jobs. Indian IT needs to look at innovative models of reskilling to adapt to this environment. <br /><br /> The harsh reality of the industry is that there is a decisive movement to make a shift from the time and material model to transaction based, platform based models. This trend will continue. The rising protectionist policies of key Western markets will mandate more onshore work and onshore software factories. There has been a continuing pressure on margins over the last five years. Automated software tools are disrupting the software industry itself. In India, IT Services being a high visibility industry, each incident of layoffs is likely to receive disproportionate media and public attention. <br /><br /> The following challenges are going to be key <br /><ul><li>How can medium and large IT Service organizations continue to increase productivity but still allot resources for reskilling and upskilling</li> <li>Will large IT services firms continue to hire plain vanilla engineers in large quantities and will it be affordable to run long induction programs for them </li> <li>How can organizations be more innovative with training delivery models other than campus hires and learning self-owned campuses for their own employees</li> <li>How can organizations set up models to tackle continuous knowledge change rather than treating the current crisis as an one time disruption </li></ul> These are indeed interesting times for employers, employees, training firms and indeed all stakeholders. While the disruption will be seen through at an industry level, new winners may be thrown up and the key reason may well be the ones who innovated on their talent transformation approaches.<br /><br /> (The article is authored by Arjun Shankar, Chief-Corporate Management Services, NIIT Limited)<br /><br />

Here’s why IT companies should re-skill their employees; these are the areas they must focus on

<ul class="summary-list"><li>If money were no object for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship founder David Feldman, he would sign the UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal to compete in his BKFC ring.</li><li>Feldman told Business Insider that Masvidal, with his street-fighting background and developing pedigree in UFC, would be able "to take some of these guys apart."</li><li>Feldman was speaking ahead of the 10th Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event, one which brings former Bellator MMA champions, ex-UFC fighters, and an experienced old boxer to the sport of bare knuckle.</li><li>Feldman says he wants to advance the sport, develop its technical qualities, and bring it into the mainstream. He says he will do that by signing top tier fighters and putting them in big, all-action fights.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>Jorge Masvidal would be the ultimate Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship competitor, BKFC boss David Feldman told Business Insider.</p><p>Feldman founded the BKFC in 2018 and in a near two year existence, he has overseen arguably the fastest-growing combat sport in the business.</p><p>From Jason Knight and Artem Lobov's violent brawl in 2019, to the surprise signing of the former world boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi for a rivalry-ending fight with Lobov later in the year, BKFC has captivated the attention of the fight game.</p><p>With the addition of former Bellator MMA champions, UFC fighters, and experienced boxers, the sport of bare knuckle continues to advance, an evolution overseen by Feldman himself.</p><p>The promoter said a competitor like Masvidal would shine in his BKFC ring. "I'd love to have Jorge Masvidal in there," Feldman told us.</p><p>The UFC welterweight was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-fighters-of-2019-ranked-2019-12?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of Business Insider's top three fighters of 2019</a> after he manhandled Darren Till in London, knocked out Ben Askren with a flying knee in the summer, then out-struck Nate Diaz for the "BMF" belt later in the year.</p><p>Masvidal is now in line for a shot at Kamaru Usman's UFC championship belt, potentially at UFC International Fight Week in Las Vegas in July, which is a far cry from his street-fighting roots when he hung out with infamous wrecking ball Kimbo Slice and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gamebredfighter/videos/1235222383290087" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fought in Florida backyards</a>, bare knuckle.</p><p>"I've always liked him even before he became really popular in the UFC," Feldman said.</p><p>"I think he's got a tremendous style, and I would love to see him in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. If I had one guy to pick right now, that would be the guy."</p><p>Why?</p><p>"I think he's good! He's explosive, technical, he does it all - <em>everything</em>. He knows his way around the [UFC] Octagon but he grew up in this thing. He did bareknuckle fighting before he became an MMA fighter so he knows what it's all about.</p><p>"I think because of how well rounded he is now, he'd be very relaxed in there and take some of these guys apart."</p><h2>Feldman is putting on a show this weekend, promising new things</h2><p>Before Feldman can try to sign a fighter of Masvidal's stature, he has to put building blocks in place.</p><p>Even he is surprised by how far his baby, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, has come in such a short space of time, and now he wants to alter the mindset that it is wild and unskilled, telling us instead that as more people see what it's about, as fighters become more skilled in the BKFC, new things are learned and the sport develops.</p><p><strong>This is who is fighting at BKFC 10: Lombard vs. Mundell, an event in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.</strong></p><ul><li>Reggie Barnett Jr. vs. Matt Murphy</li><li>Dat Nguyen vs. Abdiel Valazquez</li><li>Jim Alers vs. Kaleb Harris</li><li>Luis Palomino vs. Elvin Brito</li><li>Hector Lombard vs. David Mundell</li></ul><p>Feldman told us each of the five bouts has the potential to be fight of the night, but when it comes to advancing the sport, it is the inclusion of athletes like Dat Nguyen who really stand out.</p><p>Nguyen is a 37-year-old Vietnamese athlete with a record of 20 wins (7 KOs, 13 decisions) against 3 losses (3 decisions) in boxing.</p><p>He fought across the United States for a three year period and ended his pro career with a three-fight winning run in 2017, beating Miguel Flores, who recently challenged for the super featherweight IBF world title in a high-profile bout against popular Mexican fighter Leo Santa Cruz.</p><p>Nguyen now fights bare knuckle. "Dat Nguyem has done things in our sport we'd not seen before - hands down, slipping punches, and countering. Doing really nice technical boxing and made himself look great, so we have more of that [on Saturday]."</p><p>Then there's the main event, which Feldman says will be what fans are more accustomed to and expect when it comes to the sport of bare knuckle. "We have guys who are doing technical stuff, but we also have explosive fighters like Hector Lombard and Dave Mundell, and Jim Alerts [against] Kaleb Harris. These will be explosive wars."</p><h2>Feldman hopes to deliver a knockout blow for his business</h2><p>Feldman fought five times as a professional boxer, in the mid-1990s and in 2003, winning four times (all by knockout) and losing once, also by knockout. He also had a few bare knuckle fights in warehouse environments.</p><p>Feldman tells us he's a businessman and a fan. As a promoter he has a duty to hype his events, to build and develop his roster of talent, but he also wants to grow the sport as a whole - something, he says, should be an easy sell.</p><p>"It's non-stop, fast-paced, action. You rarely get a bad fight in our sport," he said. "And as it's growing, people learn how to adapt to this style. People are now learning how to put greater bare knuckle game plans together which help them last longer not just in a fight, but in the sport."</p><p>Feldman has challenges to overcome. He says his shows are heavily pirated, meaning his company misses out on vital cash. But the positive is that he says BKFC grew, "more rapidly, popularity-wise, than we ever thought we were going to." Because of piracy issues and growth, he is working on network deals. Feldman hopes to announce a new broadcasting relationship in the coming months.</p><p>He also said he is working on surprise signings that would continue to add intrigue, attracting more eyeballs to his business. "The people reaching out to us, the names, it's unbelievable. We're in negotiations with top people in mixed martial arts and boxing, which we're hoping to wrap up in the next 30 to 45 days.</p><p>"Before it was us searching out for who was a free agent but now the free agents are searching for us, and seeing what we can offer.</p><p>"We're working on a few super fights, fights that will take us to the next level. We'll be signing fighters people won't expect us to sign, big things for the future of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship."</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-valentina-shevchenko-kick-like-a-video-game-cheat-code-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dominant women's champion Valentina Shevchenko kicks so awesomely she looks like a video game cheat code has come to life</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dominic-reyes-should-have-beaten-jon-jones-dana-white-says-2020-2?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Long-reigning champion Jon Jones narrowly won a fight which the UFC president Dana White said he should have lost</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teofimo-lopez-want-vasyl-lomachenko-fight-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teofimo Lopez, a 22-year-old American, says he's doing all he can to fight one of the world's best boxers because he 'ain't no b----'</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-is-ufc-london-leon-edwards-tyron-woodley-fight-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">One of Britain's top fighters vows to punch Jorge Masvidal next time he sees him - in the streets, or in the UFC</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/balance-of-power-boxing-to-ufc-conor-mcgregor-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2 of the world's best boxers are desperate to fight Conor McGregor, proving the balance of power has swung wildly towards UFC and Dana White</a></p>

Jorge Masvidal would be the ultimate bare-knuckle brawler and 'would take some guys apart,' BKFC boss David Feldman says

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJhMG_Cgtrs">Walmart/YouTube</a></span></p><p class="caption">The Walmart trucker earns $86,000 on average in his or her first year.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/walmart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walmart</a> used to screen out the majority of its trucking applicants with a "one and done" test, Yahoo Finance <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-successfully-recruited-truck-drivers-122937062.html">reported today</a>.</li><li>Now, around 80% of truckers get through Walmart's revamped application process.</li><li>The overhaul follows America's truck driver shortage.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Becoming a Walmart trucker isn't easy - but the rewards are serious. The <a href="https://careers.walmart.com/us/jobs/1212581BR-truck-driver-palestine-tx">average Walmart trucker</a> earns $86,000 in his or her first year, compared to the median nationwide earnings for a truck driver <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm#st">of $44,500</a>. </p><p>They also are eligible for three weeks paid days off in their first year and quarterly bonuses for safe driving. Walmart truckers spend two days a week at home - a rarity in an industry where many say <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-driver-trucking-family-2018-6">they've gone weeks</a> without seeing their families.  </p><p>It makes sense, then, that the application process is rigorous. As Julie La Roche reported in a Yahoo Finance article <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-successfully-recruited-truck-drivers-122937062.html">today</a>, wannabe-drivers once had to go through a "one and done" test after they applied and met the basic requirements. </p><p>That test comprised of a pre-trip, backing exercise, and road test. A driver who failed any portion of the test would be booted from the process and would have to wait a year before applying again. As a result, <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-successfully-recruited-truck-drivers-122937062.html">Yahoo Finance reported</a> that only about 5%-10% of drivers made it through the trial portion - a similar acceptance rate as Harvard University. </p><p>Now, Walmart said truckers go through a trial process of a little more than three days where Walmart observes the driver, teaches them new skills, and then sees how the potential employees improve.</p><p>Walmart told Business Insider that pass rates are now up to 80%.</p><h2>Industry pressures have loosened Walmart's 'one and done'</h2><p>A lack of trucking labor this year has upped prices of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-driver-shortage-price-increase-amazon-prime-hersheys-2018-11">everything from toothpaste to Amazon Prime</a> and egged on one of the most significant trucker pay raises industrywide <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trucking-shortage-eld-mandate-cdl-truck-driver-salary-2018-6">seen in decades</a>. </p><p>Plenty of trucking companies have been flailing in their attempts to staff up. One executive said he's started <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-driver-pay-shortage-five-digit-bonus-jobs-2018-11">offering $20,000 bonuses</a>, but that still hasn't attracted good candidates.  </p><p>The reasons for the shortage are complex. The economy flourished this year, so there were simply more goods to tote around to meet increased consumer demand.</p><p>The low rate of unemployment meant other industries, particularly construction and energy, have attracted the sort of blue-collar workers who would normally go into truck driving, according to Mark Montague, senior industry pricing analyst at DAT Solutions. Those jobs have better pay without the<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trucking-obesity-high-risk-2018-5">challenges</a><span> </span>of trucking, and employees can<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-driver-trucking-family-2018-6">be home</a> every night. </p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/truck-driver-salary-decrease-pay-cut-2018-9">Truck driver salaries have fallen by as much as 50% since the 1970s - and experts say a little-known law explains why</a></em></p><p>Even Walmart, the c<span>rème de la crème of the trucking world, had issues finding truckers this year. In the fall, the company ran its first national television ad campaign to recruit more drivers, shortened the length of its onboarding process, and began offering referral bonuses of up to $1,500. All told, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-10/walmart-expects-to-double-its-truck-driver-recruitment-spending">Bloomberg reported</a> that Walmart doubled its spending to recruit drivers. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/walmartcorporate/5261061467/in/photolist-91XnQA-91Ujhk-91XqtE-91XrvC-c3pyjC-91Xt5q-91XoNQ-91XmwS-91XpA7-fMwni7-RDeuo-92RjF7-RDerq-8ZuPFX-RDeuW-dner6t-dner7K-9b4dj4-RDezE-bLz3vP-91XnNq-m9Bp4T-92Nc8x-92RjTu-ikiGaD-92NbXt-dner9k-m268SF-bsE1LX-dCaPus-e6NaGX-jRmFBH-drfamE-drfaqo-dw8Qrn-dAkRNS-fj8ey6-dNQBe1-bSFwUp-fo5AtQ-c4S8mL-CLtYB-gPHwZM-9bjy4Y-9bjwuN-9bg4iV-91UgED-4NbH7-9dyhnV-91Xo9j">Walmart</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>And it paid off. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-successfully-recruited-truck-drivers-122937062.html">Yahoo Finance reported</a> that Walmart </span><span>hired around 1,400 new drivers this year, compared to 922 in 2017. </span></p><p>That's largely thanks to dropping the punishing "one and done" test. Folks like Eric Ramsdell, an Arizona-based Walmart driver who has been with the company for 14 years, spent more than three years trying to get the Walmart trucking gig.</p><p>He told Yahoo Finance that the new hiring process isn't a training school, but potential Walmart truckers learn a lot during it.</p><p data-reactid="109">"That same driver driving for 37 years told me he learned more in three days than he had in 37 years," Ramsdell told Yahoo Finance. "I gave him a few pointers. It's amazing how a different point-of-view and giving constructive feedback goes a long way."</p><p><em>Are you a truck driver for Walmart? Have you hauled freight for Walmart while working for a third-party trucking firm? Contact the reporter at <a href="mailto:rpremack@businessinsider.com">rpremack@businessinsider.com</a>.</em></p><h2>Read the full report <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-successfully-recruited-truck-drivers-122937062.html">on Yahoo Finance</a>. </h2>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/youtube-master-milo-transform-ford-ka-stunt-machine-2018-11">Watch YouTuber Master Milo transform a small Ford into the ultimate stunt machine</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Walmart's trucking fleet used to be as selective as Harvard, but a truck driver shortage has changed how Walmart hires

A 3-year-old shape-shifting startup founded by a Vice alum is betting on viral Asian hip-hop stars to be the future of the entertainment industry

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/download/success?src=EONy5To72qAT7B4bG2FyVw-1-1">Shutterstock</a></span></p><p class="caption">Chicago skyline.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Nearly 4,600 students apply for admission to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business each year, according to its deputy dean for MBA programs Stacey Kole - but the acceptance rate is only just above 20%.</li><li>And it's getting more competitive. While other full-time MBA programs saw declines in the number of applications received for the 2018-2019 school year, Booth's applications increased 3.4% from the previous admissions cycle.</li><li>Business Insider spoke with five current students and former graduates as well as deputy dean Kole to get some insight into how to get into this prestigious program.</li><li>One trick of the process the experts said is being able to clearly answer, "Why Booth?" They also recommended testing the Booth MBA waters in the Graham School's GSAL program first for a competitive edge.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories.</a></li></ul><p>In recent years, the <a href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu/">University of Chicago Booth School of Business</a> has received between 4,100 and 4,600 applications for its MBA program each year, with an acceptance rate that hovers just above 20%. But it's only getting more competitive: According to Booth's deputy dean for MBA programs Stacey Kole, who arrived at Booth in the spring of 2004, applications for the 2018-2019 school year increased 3.4% from the previous admissions cycle, while she said other full-time MBA programs saw declines in the number of applications received.</p><p>It makes sense. After all, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/business-schools/">Bloomberg Businessweek</a> just put Booth at No. 4 in their 2019-2020 business school ranking. And while it's also the second oldest business school in the world (the University of Pennsylvania's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-into-whartons-mba-program-2019-8">Wharton School</a> is the oldest), Booth continues to innovate, offering new initiatives that can't help but attract applicants with varying post-MBA career aspirations.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Chicago Booth</span></p><p class="caption">Stacey Kole.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>"We have options for STEM-designated concentrations, an accelerated three-year JD/MBA joint degree program, and our Civic Scholars Program for students coming from, and returning to, the social sector," said Kole. "We've also rolled out several new leadership courses that allow for one-on-one coaching and opportunities to develop into the leader you wish to be."</p><p>Sound compelling? Kole, plus five current students and grads, shared with Business Insider exactly what it takes to gain a coveted Booth acceptance letter.</p><h1>Take the time to understand every component of the application and application process</h1><p>Booth admits new students in the autumn quarter only and categorizes its application into three thematic focus areas: curriculum, community, and career.</p><p>"At Booth, we take a holistic approach to candidate evaluation," said Kole. "We don't pre-assign weights to application components and no single component dominates others. We seek to see the whole person, instead of just an academic record or resume bullets. We consider what you say about yourself and we listen to the insights of those you believe know you well. It is our assumption that you curated a portfolio of information to capture who you are as a person and, in keeping with that assumption, our admissions team considers everything a candidate submits (inclusive of recommendation letters) to build a full understanding of you as a candidate and assess your potential for impact with a Booth MBA."</p><p>At the time of submission, Booth asks for a GMAT or GRE score (the school does not have a preference as to which one you submit), two letters of recommendation, your academic transcripts, a professional resume, responses to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mba-admissions-expert-how-to-nail-personal-essay-business-school">essay questions</a>, and an English language proficiency test score, if applicable. A full overview of the admissions process is available <a href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu/programs/full-time/admissions/apply">here</a>.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Morgan Franklin</span></p><p class="caption">Morgan Franklin.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Think strategically about your application. Morgan Franklin, who applied in the fall of 2019 and will graduate in June of 2021, chose the GRE over the GMAT, for example, because she believed she'd perform better on a test less driven by math.</p><p>As a second phase of the process, if a candidate is invited to interview with Booth, they incorporate the <a href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu/blog/ewadmissions/2018/interview-tips">interview report</a> into the entire evaluation when making a final decision on a candidate.</p><h1>Have a stellar answer to the question, "Why Booth?"</h1><p>This year's application includes two essay prompts:</p><ul><li><em>How will the Booth MBA help you achieve your immediate and long-term post-MBA career goals?</em></li><li><em>Chicago Booth immerses you in a choice-rich environment. How have your interests, leadership experiences, and other passions influenced the choices in your life?</em></li></ul><p>"Compelling candidates draw natural connections between their individual ambitions and how they plan to engage within the Booth community," said Kole. "The stellar applications reveal an understanding of who the candidate is, what they hope to accomplish with their talent, and why Booth is the place to make that happen."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Scott McIntosh</span></p><p class="caption">Scott McIntosh.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Scott McIntosh, who applied in 2010 and graduated in 2013, spoke with current and former students to get their insights into the program, looked at the course offerings and identified classes that looked interesting to him, and reviewed the many clubs and activities available through the program. All of this information, he said, helped him make a strong case when asked, "Why Booth?"</p><h1>Make your long-term career goals clear</h1><p>Use the application as an opportunity to let Booth know what you hope to accomplish with your MBA.</p><p>"I come from a background in finance and want to use my time at Booth to pivot into tech and entrepreneurship," said Emily Creedon, who applied in the fall of 2018 and will graduate in June 2021. "Though this is not a totally unheard of path and objective, it's one that falls in the minority when it feels like every other person at business school is targeting consulting and banking. Booth's <a href="https://polsky.uchicago.edu/">Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship</a> was a big reason I wanted to attend Booth. Having done my research on Polsky and the strong entrepreneurship course offerings, I was able to clearly explain what my path has been, why I'm interested in this as a new challenge, and how Booth's offerings will help me get there."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Emily Creedon</span></p><p class="caption">Emily Creedon.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>But don't worry if you don't have a specific goal in mind. "Your motivation could just be to learn more to apply to your job," added Valentina Freeman, a June 2015 Booth graduate. "You don't need an over-the-top revelation for why you need to go to business school."</p><h1>Talk to current students and alum to express ongoing interest</h1><p>Getting to know the Booth program and the school's culture will, if nothing else, help you connect the dots for your own MBA ambitions, but it will also demonstrate ongoing interest.</p><p>"I did not know until I was beginning my interview process how critical it is to talk to students and alum," said Franklin. "When you interview, your interviewer is going to be analyzing you to see if you've taken the time to see if Booth is the right place for you. Reading articles online about programs and experiences is great, but nothing can beat someone that has been there or is currently going through the process. Talk to admissions officers so they've seen your face or name prior to seeing your application. Schools like to see lots of touch points to gauge your interest."</p><p>Booth offers many opportunities to demonstrate interest. "We host information sessions, fairs, and other student- and alumni-hosted events in locations around the world," said Kole. "There are also virtual touchpoints, such as online live chats, webinars, and our '<a href="https://apply.chicagobooth.edu/portal/studentvolunteer">Connect with a Student</a>' tool, which is available on our website and allows applicants to connect directly with current students who represent diverse backgrounds and interests."</p><h1>Test the waters and boost your resume by enrolling in Booth's certificate program</h1><p>Booth offers a certificate program through the <a href="https://grahamschool.uchicago.edu/academic-programs/graduate-student/graduate-student-at-large-business">University of Chicago's Graham School, GSAL</a> (graduate student-at-large) that helps you take Booth courses before being accepted at Booth, something both McIntosh and Freeman took advantage of.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of Valentina Freeman</span></p><p class="caption">Valentina Freeman.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>"This was a great way to get your feet wet, explore the coursework, and get a sense of the workload before embarking on the tremendous commitment of pursuing an MBA while continuing to work full time," said Freeman, who applied for the part-time/evening MBA program around 2012. "These classes count as credits toward your degree once you are accepted into the MBA program. Including your performance in these courses can also help your application, as it's a great way to demonstrate that you're capable of thriving in the program."</p><p>McIntosh agreed that enrolling in this certification program was a great primer for his MBA. "This allowed me to get an idea of what being a Booth student would be like, and it indicated to admissions that I was serious about the program," he said. "It also helped me get a head start on my courses prior to being accepted."</p><h1>Embrace and explain your application "weaknesses" when necessary</h1><p>The Booth admissions process is competitive, and most, if not all, applicants have exemplary backgrounds. So, if you have a weak spot on your application, make sure you explain why.</p><p>"I came from a non-traditional background in sports media, which is quite different than many of my peers that come from traditional consulting or banking backgrounds," said Franklin. "And I thought I was going to be a dentist while in college, but my science grades determined otherwise. If you feel that it's necessary to write an addendum to your application, do it. I used that space to explain why they would see quite a few poor grades and what I learned from that experience."</p><p>Here's a full transcript of what Franklin wrote in her application addendum:</p><p><em>I was an English and History major, however you will see the complete pre-med course load on my transcript. I had a life-long dream of becoming an orthodontist, and was committed to seeing my pre-requisite courses through in hopes of attending dental school. Although I did competitively well on the DAT and applied, my science grades were clearly not stellar and affected my overall GPA negatively. Without my science courses, my academic performance was high, my major cumulative GPA was a 3.67. I am confident in my ability to perform at the highest academic levels. Unfortunately, it took me until graduation to realize and accept that science was not where my strengths lay, and not a career path that was right for me. So, I had to dream a new dream. Completing an MBA program is the next step to fulfilling that dream.</em></p><p>Age was a factor Freeman had to consider when trying to prove her value to admissions.</p><p>"I was fairly young when I applied at 24, so I knew I needed to leverage the unique experiences I was able to achieve early in my career," she explained. "I was the youngest consultant at my firm to be entrusted as a case manager and very quickly began to manage millions of dollars' worth of business. I knew I'd reached a point where I needed graduate-level training but, more importantly, I was in a position where I could connect what I learned in business school directly to my client engagements."</p><h1>Don't be afraid to get personal in your essays</h1><p>Kole said that it would be a missed opportunity if applicants did not use the essay to express what drives them.</p><p>"We're curious what motivates a candidate and how that influences their MBA path," she explained. "Our students have the freedom to pursue learning opportunities that will further their unique goals and, at Booth, there are endless ways they can choose to arrive at that end goal. So, it's important for candidates to help us understand how they plan to maximize their time at Booth."</p><p>Creedon wrote in her essay about a time she faced a crossroads in her life.</p><p>"I wrote about when I quit a coveted job at Goldman Sachs and how the decision has shaped me and helped me grow into the person and professional I want to become," she said. "I was deeply honest and didn't try to sugarcoat the emotions and experience. I think this helped my application stand out."</p><p>Franklin made the essay into what she describes as a personal manifesto (you can read her full personal statement <a href="https://mbatheblog.home.blog/2019/09/23/my-personal-statement/">here</a>).</p><p>"It took me months to get it to its end product," she said. "I even joked with my friends and family that, if I were to die tomorrow, they could read my personal statement as my eulogy. I can look back at it and use it as a guide for what I've done and what I hope to accomplish at Booth and beyond."</p><h1>Seek out "Shape the Class" recommendations from former students</h1><p>Booth offers alumni, current students, and faculty the opportunity to share insights about candidates applying to Booth through their <a href="https://www.chicagobooth.edu/shapetheclass">"Shape the Class" program</a>, which is a supplementary recommendation letter that's ultimately attached to your application file but considered less formal than what's required in the full application.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of James Wang</span></p><p class="caption">James Wang.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>James Wang, who applied at the start of 2018 and will graduate in June of 2020, explained that "Generally speaking, applicants will have their current and former managers fill out the traditional letters and will likely use current students or alumni they know to fill out one of these supplemental 'Shape the Class' recommendations."  </p><p>He had at least two alum whom he'd formerly worked with in a professional setting write these additional recommendations on his behalf, and gave them a few ideas of what to include based on projects they'd worked on and skills he'd shown in the past.</p><p>"I had a good working relationship with these alumni, and I would obviously advise applicants not to ask anyone for a recommendation who does not know much about you or that you have a negative working relationship with," Wang said.  </p><p>Freeman recommended specifically sourcing recommendations from graduates. "Strong recommendation letters help, especially if they are from someone who has finished the program, as they know what it takes to succeed," she said.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-melons-cost-price-so-expensive-japan-2019-6">These melons can sell for as much as $22,500 each in Japan</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

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