The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business emphasizes innovation, intellectual curiosity, and flexibility. Students aren’t expected to absorb information, but to dissect, challenge, and argue it. This approach is popular with independent thinkers who like to blaze their own trail through the school’s diverse curriculum, but less so with those who prefer teamwork. With an emphasis on the conceptual and theoretical, Chicago Booth expects its graduates to be better-equipped than most to navigate the changing world of business, solving unprecedented problems and moving freely between careers.

Chicago GSB’s flexible, multi-disciplinary training is its distinguishing trait. Touts one recent graduate, a former pharmaceutical researcher who enjoyed GSB’s ambitious and free-wheeling program: “If I can come in as a scientist and leave working in finance for a tech company, that’s a statement in itself.”

GSB prefers to expand the boundaries of typical business school curriculum. Unlike most schools, there is no strict core class requirement. Instead, students work closely with guidance counselors and career coaches to select the classes that best complement their interests.

One of GSB’s great interests is diversity, and ideally students will graduate having learned much about foreign business and social cultures. Chicago is an active and engaged community; this is reflected in its alumni network of 40,000 graduates, spread out over 90 international countries.