Chicago Booth Scholar, Deya Chatterjee, provides context around what makes Chicago Booth鈥檚 deferred MBA Program a viable option for seniors in undergrad.
- By
- April 17, 2025
- Chicago Booth Scholars
Deya Chatterjee
In this blog, second-year Full-Time MBA student, Deya Chatterjee shares insights on (1) why the Chicago Booth Scholars Program is advantageous for undergraduate seniors looking to further their education in business; (2) working during the deferral period; and (3) exploring consulting and healthcare pathways at Booth.
What is the Chicago Booth Scholars (CBS) Program?
The Chicago Booth Scholars (CBS) Program is our deferred MBA program at Chicago Booth open for undergraduate students to apply during senior year. This program is great for college students who have interest in pursuing a business degree in the future. Going through the MBA admissions process during undergrad can alleviate the stressors associated with applying to our Full-Time or Part-Time MBA Programs while working and balancing your professional life. Through the Chicago Booth Scholars Program, you secure your seat early, with the added flexibility to defer your admission for 2-5 years as you go out and explore your career interest.
Read on to learn more about the CBS Program with Deya Chatterjee:
More about Deya and Her Journey to Chicago Booth…
Deya grew up in Calcutta, India, in a public service oriented family with limited exposure to the corporate world. She studied computer science in undergrad and first started to consider pursuing an MBA during a healthcare consulting internship her senior year. The internship showed Deya how business strategy is critical to improving processes for the public good, which resonated deeply with her roots. As she worked with an increasingly complex range of healthcare clients over the following years, she felt the need to strengthen her business skills to complement her technical background. Chicago Booth’s analytical rigor and flexibility presented the perfect platform for Deya to build a solid foundation at the intersection of business and social impact.
Fun Facts about Deya: In her spare time, Deya enjoys long city walks and exploring the storefront theatre scene in Chicago. She also serves on the board of , a healing arts nonprofit, along with two other Boothies.
What attracted you specifically to the Chicago Booth Scholars Program?
Looking back, the flexibility of Booth’s curriculum has allowed me the freedom to shape my MBA experience on my own terms. As an international student, I was also drawn to UChicago-wide resources like which provided an interdisciplinary lens on US healthcare. The Chicago Booth Scholars Program, specifically, was a low-risk high-reward way to have control over my career timeline (I could choose to start the MBA in any year between 2022-2025). It was empowering to have that option available at all times, knowing that I could take the next step to start my MBA whenever the timing felt right.
What type of work did you do during your deferral period?
I worked in consulting for three years before I decided to start at Booth. I also saved up (another advantage of the deferred program!), which gave me the peace of mind to finally take the leap to move to a new country 8,000 miles away. Knowing that I already had a secured spot at Booth made me more confident and focused at work, without having to juggle test prep and applications. Before starting the program, I took a two-month break to travel and spend time with family—something I highly recommend if you can make it work.
What career path are you pursuing and which courses have been most beneficial in helping you reach your career goals?
I’ll return to consulting after graduation, with a long term goal of pivoting to healthcare & social impact, and Booth has offered incredible resources in that space. As a Golub Capital Board Fellow, I had the opportunity to advise a Chicagoland nonprofit on their year-long expansion strategy; furthermore, as part of the Healthcare Analytics Laboratory class, I got to work on a very tangible patient access problem for UChicago Medicine. Additionally, being an Admissions Fellow and a family lead for both the and has helped refine my ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, while paying-it-forward to the incoming classes.
We encourage you to learn more about the Chicago Booth Scholars Program and apply before the upcoming deadline on April 29, 2025. If you'd like to receive more information about the Chicago Booth Scholars Program before the upcoming deadline, we encourage you to sign up below.
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