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Columbia 2008 MBA Essays, Deadlines, & Tips

July 25, 2007 By



UPDATE- THE TIPS FOR COLUMBIA’S GSB 2009 MBA APPLICATION ARE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE. PLEASE POST QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO THE NEW POST.



Columbia has made changes to it application for the class entering in September 2008. Specifically #2 is an entirely new question. In addition, #4 last year allowed you to choose one of two questions to answer. This year they just ask you to answer one question, what was last year’s 4a.


First the 2008 Columbia MBA Calendar is short and sweet, because Columbia uses rolling admissions. No rounds. Applicants receive an answer within ten (for ED) or twelve weeks (for RD) after submission or after the beginning of the application review period, whichever is later


Review Period Begins Deadline


Early Decision          August 15, 2007  October 10, 2007


Regular Decision      January 9, 2008  March 3, 2008 (international applicants)


                                    January 9, 2008       April 16, 2008 (domestic applicants)


Columbia’s September 2008 MBA Essay Questions


My comments are in red.


1. What are your short-term and long-term post-MBA goals? How will Columbia Business School help you achieve these goals (Recommended 750 word limit)?


This is a forward-looking goals question. While you shouldn’t ignore the factors that contributed to the development of your goals, the bulk of the essay should be about the future. What do you want to do immediately after completing your MBA? 5 years later? How will Columbia’s program help you achieve your goals? And be specific!

2. In a recent speech delivered to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Dean Glenn Hubbard discussed the new, essential elements of the 21st century MBA: http://www.gsb.columbia.edu/admissions/21st_century_MBA.pdf. How will your MBA prepare you for a rapidly changing business environment (Recommended 500 word limit)?


Dr. Hubbard’s article is a survey of business education today, its successes and failures. In this article he discusses the global, entrepreneurial, and social nature of the business world today. He emphasizes how business schools teach people through experiential learning “to recognize opportunity — and capture it.” He also points out that today “business is social development.” and that the ethos of business as a means of poverty reduction permeates top MBA programs.


In terms of your response to the question, don’t rely on my short and superficial synopsis. Dr Hubbard’s article is a stimulating, insider’s view of management education, and that’s what you are pursuing. Read it. Choose no more than 3 elements that Dr. Hubbard believes are critical to success in today’s fluid business world and analyze how your MBA at Columbia will help you achieve your goals in this dynamic environment. Include an example from your activities that shows you have experienced this phenomenon or  have already in a some way taken advantage of it.


Your challenge in responding to his question will be ensuring that the response on one hand doesn’t become too theoretical and on the other complements your answer to #1 and #3.

3. The entrepreneurial mindset is an integral component of the Columbia Business School MBA. Please discuss a time in your own life when you have identified and captured an opportunity (Recommended 500 word limit).
When have you taken a risk, assumed responsibility, and initiated a project in order to seize the moment and an opportunity? Again, this essay could reflect professional, college, or extra-curricular activities because you want each essay to reveal a different facet of your experience. Make sure you application has non-professional as well as professional aspects to it. I recommend as a guideline 2:1 professional to non-professional, but that ratio is not set in concrete. It varies based on individuals.

4. Please tell us about what you feel most passionate in life (Recommended 250 word limit).
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for whatever you choose and include the reasons why you are so passionate about your topic. Finally, if you are “passionate” about Subject X, make sure Subject X is an active and significant part of your life, something you devote time to. Writing checks or having strong feelings won’t cut it.

5. (Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to provide to the Admissions Committee? Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history.


Obviously you could use this optional essay question to address a weakness in your application, but in my mind, it is also open-ended enough to allow you to discuss a diversity element in your personal background or simply some unique area of interest. Also, tucking a weakness explanation somewhere else would allow you to end the application with a strength and not a flaw.


If you would like help with your Columbia MBA application, please consider Accepted.com’s MBA essay editing and admissions consulting or a Columbia Comprehensive Package, which offers essay editing, interview coaching, consultation, and a resume edit for the Columbia MBA application. All these services are 10% off through July 31.


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  • StressTensor

    Do you have any comments to share regarding the reapplicant essay? Thanks in advance!

  • ChristopherW

    Good Morning Linda,

    I enjoyed the MBA telethon. Many of my questions were answered, so I thank you for offering that service.

    I submitted my Columbia ED application last night.

    I have the two required recommenders, one is my direct supervisor from my full-time position, and one is my direct supervisor from my part-time position.

    However, my full-time company offers a mentoring program pairing young people like myself with senior management in order to learn more about the business.

    My mentor also wanted to write a recommendation for me, and so I would have to submit this through the mail.

    I still haven’t gotten the letter from him, but I know it will probably come soon.

    The problem is that submitting this supplemental letter will delay the review of my essay for at least 3 weeks.

    While I think it will be a nice addition to my application, I don’t know if it merits putting off the review of my application for nearly a month, especially since it is a rolling admissions process.

    Any thoughts on how I should proceed?

    Thank you. This is a fantastic site.

  • Linda Abraham

    Your reapplicant essay should focus on achievement and growth since you last applied and any changes or increased clarity in your goals and reason for attending CBS.

    You may also be interested in my ebook, Create A Better Sequel: How to Reapply Right to Business School at http://www.accepted.com/Ecommerce/BetterSequel/MBAreapplicant.aspx or our article for MBA reapplicants at http://www.accepted.com/mba/reapplicants.aspx .

    Good luck!

  • Linda Abraham

    Christopher,

    Thanks for the positive feedback!

    Can your mentor submit his letter as a "Letter of Support" and just submit it when it’s ready? In other words, don’t ask CBS to delay reviewing your application, since you don’t feel it will add much value, but if it goes in and they haven’t yet evaluated your application, it can still help.

  • ChristopherW

    Thanks for your advice, I contacted Columbia and they said it is fine to just submit the letter when I get it, and it won’t delay my application’s review.

    Another unrelated question;

    What happened to the NYU Stern page? Every time I click it, it says, "page not found"

    I’m going to be starting my Stern application soon, and I was hoping to see your comments on their essays.

    Thanks again!

  • Linda Abraham

    Thanks for the feedback. I’ll check the NYU Stern page.

  • Maina

    The Columbia application’s General Information II section has a Question "Please provide the full names, home addresses, telephone numbers, colleges attended and degrees, positions and current employers of your mother, father, and spouse or partner in this space. Are they still living? Also, if applicable, please provide the names and ages of your children" It allows you to write close to two pages. Are we expected to paint a picture of their entire career growth?

  • Linda Abraham

    No. Barring extenuating circumstances, I would supply just the info they request, which is current job info.

  • kondum

    Hello Linda/All,

    Has anyone heard from Columbia regarding interviews for the 2008 ED applications? It has been 5 weeks since I submitted my application (and the Application under Review status showed up on the website) and I have not heard anything from them.

    Any patterns for interviews from previous years?

    thanks

  • ChristopherW

    Kondum,

    I submitted on the first day (8/15), and I have not heard anything regarding an interview yet either.

    Do they do the "super saturday" interviews for ED candidates or is that just for Regular Decision?

  • kondum

    ChristopherW,

    I submitted mine on August 17. I wish there was Columbia message board (a la Wharton’s s2s) where people could post about their application updates.

    "Super Saturday"?

  • Linda Abraham

    Columbia has a thread on the Businessweek Forum. You can ask a CBS adcom rep your question there: http://forums.businessweek.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=3273&nav=messages&webtag=bw-bschools&tid=57996 .

    Good luck!

  • ChristopherW

    Hi Kondum,

    Just so you don’t get discouraged, I got my interview invitation today (5+ weeks after submission), so just stay positive. I hope you get yours soon too.

  • Linda Abraham

    congrats Christopher W. I hope Kondum hears positive news soon too.

    You can prepare by using the MBA Interview Feedback Database at http://www.accepted.com/mba/interviews/advancedsearch.aspx .
    Please also share your experience after you interview.

    Good luck!

  • ChristopherW

    Hi Linda, thank you for directing me to the BW Forum. I read through the official columbia thread, but gravitated toward the CBS ED thread, and have been actively involved ever since. Its been a great resource for venting frustration and supporting each other through the process. I never would have known about it, so thanks again.

  • Linda Abraham

    You’re most welcome. I am glad it has proven so helpful to you.

  • PV

    After interviewing, how long should it take to get an answer, considering it is ED?

  • Linda Abraham

    I think they say 8-12 weeks from the time you submit your application. I don’t know what you can expect from the time you interview. CBS has a thread on the BW Forum. They could probably give you a better answer.

    Good luck! (Congrats on the interview).

  • Shelly

    Hello Linda, I am starting work on my Columbia application. What does the date "Review Period Begins" mean exactly? Also since the ED deadline finished, is there any point in submitting the application before the Review Period Begins date?

    Thanks.

  • James

    Hi Linda,
    I took the GMAT and got a 530 and really felt that I had a bad day because my practice scores were much higher. I took them this weekend and got a 680 (Q42, V40). I am an Asian male with 5 years of publishing/marketing, and had a liberal arts education with no econ at a top liberal arts school, with an A- average. What do you think my chances are for the January deadline?
    Thanks.

  • Linda Abraham

    January 9 is not a deadline. It is the beginning of CBS’ review period.

    CBS will take your 680 which is in range for CBS, but if you don’t have any quant classes with A’s as an undergrad you may want to take accounting or stats or calculus. If that’s difficult for you, check out mbamath.com.

    I don’t have enough info to really asses your chances. No GPA, no real info about what you do in publishing/marketing. Nothing about community service.

    Sorry I can’t be of more help.

  • ChristopherW

    Hi Linda,

    I interviewed this year in CBS’ ED round, but unfortunately I was not admitted. I am now on the first leg of preparing to reapply this fall.

    Does having that previous invitation to interview have any positive impact on my reapplication? Obviously they liked something about me, but how much does this matter? Thanks very much.

  • Linda Abraham

    Christopher,

    It means they liked something about your application. It also means that you will not have to resubmit a full app, unless CBS changes its policy next year. Finally, it means that they will see you as being really interested in CBS.

    All good things, but it doesn’t change the fact that you will be compared to next year’s applicants and have to compete with next year’s applicant pool.

    so yes there is a silver lining and it’s good, but it’s not a major advantage.

    You may be interested in Create a Better Sequel, an ebook I wrote about reapplying. It’ at http://www.accepted.com/Ecommerce/BetterSequel/MBAreapplicant.aspx . Or our article for reapplicants at http://www.accepted.com/mba/reapplicants.aspx .

    Good luck!
    Good luck.

  • Mishari

    Hi Linda,
    I’d like you please to briefly evaluate my chances for January 2009 intake for the one-year program at Columbia.

    I’m from Kuwait, graduated with an engineering degree from the US (GPA 3.7) with a minor in business. As of now, I have one year investment banking experience and planning to go for MBA then PhD in business. I will be sponsored by Kuwait University throughout MBA and PhD and an MBA is a must for the sponsorship before getting the PhD. I was fairly active in extracurricular during college. I have done some light community service after graduation. GMAT is 670.

    Also, how would the ad. committee look at my long-term career goal (PhD in business) ?

    Thank you

  • James

    Hi Linda,
    It’s me James from 1/10.
    Along with the 680, I took math (Got a B-) and computer science (B), along with physics classes (A’s) in undergrad for an overall 3.7 GPA. I was a book editorial assistant and then assistant editor, and now work in marketing. I wrote a play that was read off broadway, and over the last year have been volunteer for one of NY’s programs.

  • ChristopherW

    Hi Linda, thank you for your response. One element in particular that I would like to strengthen is my poor GPA. I will be taking two classes this summer (most likely Calculus and intro Accounting), but I was also considering MBAMath.com.

    What is your opinion of this course? Will this be a good addition to my profile?

  • Linda Abraham

    Mishari,

    The January term is geared for people who do not need an internship. In that regard and in terms of your overall qualifications, you would qualify. I don’t know how CBS would like on your PhD ambitions, but encourage you to contact CBS directly and ask.
    Linda

  • Linda Abraham

    Christopher,

    If you have a low GPA, you want to show that you can perform and excel in a classroom setting. Therefore I would recommend taking graded classes. I have recommended MBAMath and heard good things about it. If you merely wanted to strengthen your quant skills, then I would say go the MBAMath route, but you want to strengthen those skills and show you can perform in a traditional classroom environrment. Therefore only take MBAMath in addition to the graded classes.

    Good luck!
    Linda

  • Linda Abraham

    James,

    Were the B- in math and the b in computer science classes recent or were they part of your undergrad records? If the former, that’s a problem. If the latter, then MBA Math should really help you prepare for b-school and improve your chances at CBS.

    Good luck!

  • Ana

    Hi Linda,
    I’m trying to research strategies to try to gain acceptance off of Columbia’s waitlist and have only found what seems to be outdated information, as Columbia’s notification for this year indicates that they do not accept supplemental information unless requested and I have found blogs from years past indicating that waitlisters submitted one page updates to their waitlist managers.

    Do you have any advice for those of us on this waitlist? I’ve heard that impromptu visits can help. But would one help even though I have already visited the campus twice from California, once for a two-day invite only event?

    Any insight you can provide would be much appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Ana

  • Linda Abraham

    They have changed their policy. I advise you to make the most of your initial response to your waitlist manager (when you indicate if you want to stay on the WL or not). Inform him or her of any significant promotions or changes in responsibility as well as any clarification of your reasons for wanting to attend CBS. Obviously, if you have improved your academic stats, you want to make sure they know about the change.

    Then, unless your manager requests additional information or reaches out to you, there is little more you can do.

    I am not a fan of impromptu visits, especially if you are in Calif. and have already visited CBS twice. If you "visit" and offer ahead of time to meet with the manager, that might be a little better. But I’m not sure the mgr would meet with you.

    Good luck!
    Linda

  • William

    Linda,

    I’m wondering if you can clarify some things for me!

    I am a reapplicant to CBS and I recently received an invitation to interview. I am nervous because a member of the CBS admissions committee told me that it was unlikely that I would be invited to interview for a second time after last year’s interview for the J-Term program (which rejected me).

    I am wondering if you have any thoughts for reapplicants who are invited to re-interview. Should I be happy that they like me? Or should I be concerned that they are still uncertain about me?

    After learning of my rejection for the J-Term program, I got some feedback from an adcomm who suggested that the biggest problem with my application was that since I was changing careers, I would require an internship which is not offered in the J-Term. They also suggested strengthening some of my essays, and so forth, and invited me to reapply for the "regular" MBA program, which I have done. They said that my background, scores, experience, and extracurriculars were all fine.

    I am an older applicant with a 690 GMAT, and a low GPA (which was a long time ago), but a high GPA from some post-grad executive b-school courses, very strong work experience, extracurriculars, and recommendations. I’m currently working for myself/consulting and think that they may want to "check up" on me before making any decisions. I’m also applying to a bunch of schools, and thought maybe I should let CBS know that it’s my first choice.

    Any thoughts? Should I be happy, or nervous?

    Thanks so much,
    William

  • Linda Abraham

    Happy. I take this as a sign of interest. Besides being nervous won’t help you at all. :-)

    Go over the CBS interview feedback in Accepted’s Interview Feedback Database, review your app. Make sure you know very clearly how you want to achieve your career goals, which should be very concrete and realistic given your status as an older applicant and career changer to boot. If you can let CBS know it’s your first choice, do so, but more important is knowing how CBS fits in with the achievement of your career goals.

    Good luck!

  • Rachel

    For the regular intake of Columbia there is a different deadline for international and domestic applicants, however, the Jan intake doesn’t have a specific international deadline. Can I assume that the stated deadline is valid for both international and domestic applicants? Any disadvantages in applying late (e.g. towards end-date) for international applicants?