Columbia MBA Essays for January and August 2013 Admission
Jul, 12, 2012
Categories: Admissions Consulting | Columbia Business School | Essays | MBA | MBA留学
Columbia Business School has again changed their MBA application essay set for January and August 2013 entry. As has been the trend at other top US programs, applicants for the Class of 2015 to CBS will have to write less than those who applied last year.
You can find testimonials from my clients admitted for CBS here. In the last application cycle, I had a total six clients admitted to CBS for January (J-Term), Early Decision (ED), Regular Decision (RD) 2012 entry. Before discussing the essays, I will discuss who J-Term is for and differences between ED and RD.
JANUARY 2012 ADMISSIONS
The Accelerated MBA, J-Term, can be great program for those who don’t need an internship. All my admitted J-term clients have one thing in common: Real clarity about their goals and strong track records in their professions. J-term is not for career changers, it is those looking to enhance their position within their present career trajectory and/or entrepreneurs. It is critical that you explain why the January Term program is right for you. According to the Columbia website:
The Accelerated MBA is ideal for you if
- you are an entrepreneur;
- you want to join your family business;
- you plan to return to your current employer;
- you are sponsored by your company;
- you want to remain in the same industry;
- you have built a strong professional network in the industry of your choice.
The program is designed for those students who do not want or need an internship. The principal advantage of the 16-month program is its accelerated format, which allows members of the smaller January class to network quickly and effectively and return to the workplace sooner.
Obviously you need to make the case in Essay 1A (Goals essay) that you meet the special criteria for this program and that an internship is not something critical for you. For those who don’t need an internship, this is really a great program.
Here are some common issues that arise when considering J-term:
Is J-term easier to get into than? There is much speculation on this issue, but no admissions data. All I know for sure is that relatively late application to J-term has not prevented my clients from being admitted, whereas late application to RD can be be a real problem simply from a seat availability perspective. In one way, J-term is clearly easier: Unlike an August entry RD and (and to a lesser extent ED) applicant, someone applying to Columbia J-term can really be assumed to prefer Columbia over all alternatives. This can make interviews a bit easier in the sense that August entry Columbia alumni interviewers are notorious for being particularly agressive at determining whether the interviewee’s first choice is really Columbia. Since J-term has no US rival, this topic can be easily dispensed with.
Alternatives to J-term: There are no US alternatives to J-term worth mentioning if someone wants a January start. Kellogg and Cornell offer one year MBAs, but I don’t think anyone at Columbia really sees these as clear alternatives yet and I have not had any clients who applied to J-term and US one-year programs. I have had clients who apply to J-term and IMD and/or INSEAD. Both IMD and INSEAD have January entry. Still J-term is an incredibly different program in terms of length and content from either of these top European programs. LBS, which does not have a January start, would also be another alternative to CBS in the sense that it can be completed on an accelerated basis. Still I don’t have many clients who apply to both CBS J-term and LBS and as is generally the case with US schools, I don’t think they pay much attention to non-US programs as competitors.
Can an August entry applicant reapply to J-term? Yes! You could be rejected from ED or RD for August 2012 entry and reapply for January 2013 entry. If you entered in January 2013, you would graduate in the Class of 2014 with those who entered in August 2012. I have worked with a couple of reapplicants who were admitted to J-term after being dinged from the August entry for that same graduating class. The key issue is explaining why J-term is now a better choice.
AUGUST ENTRY: ED VERSUS RD
Applying for Early Decision (ED) is ideal for anyone who considers Columbia to be their first choice and is ready by the application deadline. Columbia takes ED very seriously, so I suggest you do as well. CBS ED really is unique among top MBA programs and the decision to commit to it should not be taken lightly. Every year many applicants to Columbia Business School have to deeply consider whether to apply to the Early Decision or the regular application round. Among top MBA programs Columbia’s Early Decision (ED) is unique. While Tuck has Early Action,I have not seen applicants face the same issues of school selection and application with Tuck that I will discuss below in regards to Columbia. First keep the official statement from Columbia regarding ED in mind:
- Candidates have decided that Columbia is their first choice and must sign the following statement of commitment within their applications: I am committed to attending Columbia Business School and will withdraw all applications and decline all offers from other schools upon admission to Columbia Business School
- Applicants must submit a nonrefundable $6,000 tuition deposit within two weeks of admission
In my experience, there are two types of applicants to ED. The first type are those people who really consider Columbia as their first choice and sometimes make no other applications. For this type of applicant, choosing ED is easy. The second type of applicant likes Columbia, but it is not necessarily their first choice. This type of applicant applies to ED because it is perceived as easier to get admitted to than Regular Decision (RD). This type of applicant treats the $6000 deposit as an insurance policy in the event that they are not admitted to HBS, Stanford, and/or Wharton (I don’t know of any cases of applicants losing $6000 to go to other top programs). If they do get into HBS, Stanford, or Wharton and break their commitment to Columbia, they lose $6000 and make Columbia admissions mad. Can Columbia do anything aside from keeping the money? No. For those who have no problem breaking oaths and losing $6000, treating ED as possible insurance is a rational decision through clearly not an ethical one.
I do recommend the January 9th merit fellowship deadline or earlier as optimal for applying to RD. If you decide to apply for RD, apply as soon as you are ready to do so. I would especially encourage those coming from groups with large numbers of applicants (American males from Wall Street and Indian males in particular), to make their applications to RD ASAP. That said, RD takes applications until April 10, 2013, so applications are still viable for some applicants until quite late in the admissions cycle. In general, applying late in RD is best for those with highly unusual backgrounds, steller backgrounds, and those who enjoy gambling.
THE ESSAY QUESTIONS
Given significant changes to the questions, I have again had to rethink some of the strategies I used successfully with clients in the past. You find testimonials from some of them here. All questions are taken from the online application.
SHORT, BUT CRITICAL QUESTION ON GOALS:
What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? Required by all applicants. (200 characters including spaces!)
Take this very short statement seriously. While some schools have included such statements as a part of the application, it is not usually the case that such a short statement would be included among the essays. Remember this is 200 Characters, not words. This would be about 40-50 words.
CBS actually provides examples of possible responses on the website:
Example 1: “After my MBA I want to build my expertise in the energy sector and learn more about strategy and decision making by joining a consulting firm specializing in renewable energy and power companies.”
Example 2: “After my MBA I hope to work in business development for a media company that is expanding its market share in Asia.”
Example 3: “My short term goal is to work with an investment firm that utilizes public private partnerships to invest in community development projects.”
As you can see from the above examples, CBS is looking for a short, but a very clear statement of what you intend to do after your MBA. If you have difficulty explaining your immediate post-MBA plans in the space given, I think that is likely an indication that your plans are too complex. Think of this has the briefest possible elevator pitch (see below for more about elevator pitches) you will make for yourself. Obviously what you state here should be backed up by what you discuss in Essay 1 (or the reapplicant essay for reapplicants).
Essay 1:
Required by all first-time applicants and reapplicants who last applied before 2012.
A. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals? (Maximum 500 words)
B. Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community. Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)
This year Columbia has again altered their goals/why CBS/why why question by dividing it into two pieces. The first part of the question is focused on your immediate and long term goals after an MBA and why you need an MBA now. The second part specifically focuses on why you want to join the CBS community. I will treat each of these as separate parts. I suggest you write A. before writing B. as you need to align what you want from the Columbia community with your goals. As the online application only provides one space to upload your answer, you can certainly treat these as a seamless essay if you choose, but be sure to label each part separately as Columbia provides separate word counts for each part. The resources available at CBS and Columbia University are vast, so figure out specifically what you want from the school as you will need to discuss that in different ways in both parts of this essay. The program is flexible, so identify your needs from Columbia as specifically as possible. After all, you want to show them you love and need them For learning about what is hot at Columbia, I suggest taking a look at their blog: Public Offering. Also look at Hermes which provides news on the Columbia community. You will likely want to write about taking a Master Class. Japanese applicants should most certainly visit http://columbiamba.jimdo.com/index.php. Also see here for why Columbia students love Columbia.
A. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals? (Maximum 500 words)
Columbia is specifically asking why now in reference to your present career. As result, you will need to explain “Why an MBA now?” in relationship to the work you have done so far. The balance of this question is focused on the future so don’t let your explanation of your past experience crowd out answering the primary parts of this question: Your goals and need for an MBA. Do not over-focus on your past experience here, I am suggesting
you discuss your past professional experience only in the context of an
argument about why you need an MBA now.
While you should be explaining why you need an MBA in general, you need to make sure that your reasons for wanting an MBA align well with Columbia. I suggest reviewing some of the full course descriptions that you can find on their website. You need not mention the names of particular courses as long as it would be clear to your reader that your learning needs align well with Columbia’s offerings. For example, it is really a waste of word count to mention the names of particular finance courses if the main point you are simply trying to make is that you want to enhance your finance skills. Every admissions officer at Columbia is well aware of the programs major offerings. If you have a particular interest in a more specialized course or studying with a particular professor, it might be worth mentioning it as long as it is an explanation of why you want to study the subject and not based on circular reasoning.
An example of circular (tautological) reasoning: “I want to take Capital Markets & Investments because I am interested in learning about capital market investing.”
This kind of circular reasoning is so common. Usually it takes place within a paragraph consisting of many such sentences. They actually convey nothing about the applicant. They are just abstract needs and will have limited impact on your reader. The admissions reader wants to learn about you, not about their own program.
An example of an explanation for why: “While I have been exposed to finance through my work at MegaBank of Joy, I presently lack the kind of comprehensive understanding of capital market investing that I will need to succeed as an investment analyst and I know I can gain at Columbia.”
A more complete explanation would include additional details about the kind of issues that the applicant is interested in learning about and/or specific ways the applicant intended to apply what he or she would learn at Columbia. By focusing on very specific learning needs and explaining those needs in relationship to one’s goals and/or past experience, the admissions reader will be learning about you.
Keep in mind that you do have Part B. for explaining why you love Columbia. Here you are just trying to explain why you need a (Columbia) MBA.
An example of circular (tautological) reasoning: “I want to take Capital Markets & Investments because I am interested in learning about capital market investing.”
This kind of circular reasoning is so common. Usually it takes place within a paragraph consisting of many such sentences. They actually convey nothing about the applicant. They are just abstract needs and will have limited impact on your reader. The admissions reader wants to learn about you, not about their own program.
An example of an explanation for why: “While I have been exposed to finance through my work at MegaBank of Joy, I presently lack the kind of comprehensive understanding of capital market investing that I will need to succeed as an investment analyst and I know I can gain at Columbia.”
A more complete explanation would include additional details about the kind of issues that the applicant is interested in learning about and/or specific ways the applicant intended to apply what he or she would learn at Columbia. By focusing on very specific learning needs and explaining those needs in relationship to one’s goals and/or past experience, the admissions reader will be learning about you.
Keep in mind that you do have Part B. for explaining why you love Columbia. Here you are just trying to explain why you need a (Columbia) MBA.
| YOUR… | Present Career | Post-MBA | GAP BETWEEN PRESENT & FUTURE |
DEGREE ROI: What skills and other aspects of the MBA will help you achieve your post-MBA objectives? |
| ORGANIZATIONAL ROLE | Industry:Function:
Responsibilities: |
Industry:Function:
Responsibilities: |
Industry:Function:
Responsibilities: |
Industry:Function:
Responsibilities: |
| STRENGTHS | 1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
| WEAKNESSES | 1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
| OPPORTUNITIES | 1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
| THREATS | 1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
1. 2. 3. |
(To use the above table for yourself, simply copy and paste it. I checked it on both Google Docs and MS Word and it works.)
How to use this matrix:
Step 1. Begin by analyzing your “Present Career.” What roles and responsibilities have you had in clubs, part-time jobs, internships, volunteer activities, etc.? What was/is your functional role(s)? What was/are your responsibilities?
Next, analyze your present strengths and weaknesses for succeeding in your present career. In particular, some of your greatest strengths may have been demonstrated outside of work, so make sure you are accounting for them.
Strengths: What are you good at? Where do you add value? What are you praised for? What are you proud of?
Weakness: What are you bad at? What are you criticized for? What do you try to avoid due to your own limitations? What do you fear?
Next, analyze your situation in right now. What opportunities exist for your growth and success? What threats could limit your career growth?
Step 2. Now, do the same thing in Step 1 for your “Post-MBA” future after you have earned your graduate degree. If you cannot complete this step you need to do more research and need to think more about it. I frequently help clients with this sort of thing through a process of brainstorming.
Step 3. If you could complete step 2, than you should see the “Gap” between your present and your future. What skills, knowledge, and other resources do you need to close the gap between your present and future responsibilities, strengths, and opportunities?
Step 4. After completing Step 3, you now need to determine how an MBA will add value to you. It is possible that an increased salary as a result of job change will be sufficient “ROI” for the degree to justify itself, but you should show how a degree will allow you to reach your career goals. How will the degree enhance your skills and opportunities and help you overcome your weaknesses and external threats? If you can complete Step 4, then you should be ready to explain what your goals are, why you want a degree, and the relationship between your past and future career, as well as your strengths and weaknesses.
The above table will also help you answer such common interview questions as: Where do you want to work after you finish your degree? Why do you want an MBA? What are you strengths? What are your weaknesses? What are your goals?
Making career goals exciting requires thinking about whether your goals are compelling. Admissions committees ask applicants to write about their goals after graduate school, but can applicants actually know what will be on the cutting-edge in two or three years? While many applicants will be able to successfully apply with relatively standard goals (“I want to be a consultant because…”), communicating aspirations requires going beyond the typical.
Be informed about your goals. Columbia Admissions needs to believe you know what you are talking about. If you are changing careers, no one expects you to be an expert, but you should come across as having a clear plan based on real research into your future. If you are planning on staying in your present industry, you should be well informed not only about the companies you have worked for, but about the industry as a whole. If you are not already doing so, read industry related publications and network.
Those August ED and RD applicants who are changing fields should most certainly read industry related publications in their intended field. Additionally I suggest conducting informational interviews with at least one peer level and one senior level person in that field. Conduct a peer level interview to get a good idea of what it would be like to actually work in that industry. Conduct a senior level interview to get the perspective of someone who can see the big picture and all the little details as well.
Don’t know anyone in your intended field? Network! One great way to start is through LinkedIn. Another is by making use of your undergraduate alumni network and/or career center.
LEARN WHAT IS HOT. No matter whether you are changing fields or not, learn what is hot now and try to figure out what will be hot by the time you graduate. Now, of course, this is just a plan and chances are that what is hot in your industry or field now may very well be cold in the future. The point is to come across to Columbia Adcom as someone who is not only well informed, but has CUTTING-EDGE knowledge. In addition to Columbia’s Public Offering blog, also look at ideas@work, and The Chazen Web Journal of International Business. Some other great general sources for learning what is hot: Harvard Working Knowledge, Harvard Business Review, University of Chicago GSB’s Working Papers, The University of Chicago’s Capital Ideas, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Knowledge @ Wharton, and MIT Sloan Management Review.
You may also want to do a search on itunes for podcasts: My favorites are Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (from the Stanford School of Engineering, but totally relevant) Net Impact, Chicago GSB Podcast Series, and Harvard Business IdeaCast. INSEAD, IMD, LBS, and Wharton also have podcasts.
LinkedIn Answers: Also consider joining LinkedIn and make use of LinkedIn Answers. LinkedIn Answers is a great way to tap into cutting edge expertise (including my admissions advice!). Follow LinkedIn’s rules and you will often be able to obtain excellent information.
Hoovers: For information about specific companies, Hoovers is just a great way to learn about key facts including competitors (a very useful way of knowing who else you might want to work for and to learn about an industry). While primarily focused on the US, Hoovers does have listings for companies worldwide.
Vault: For scope of coverage, this site is a must. Vault includes both career and admissions information. It includes both company specific and industry-wide information.
Other sources: Read magazines, websites, and books that relate to your intended field.
Be informed about your goals. Columbia Admissions needs to believe you know what you are talking about. If you are changing careers, no one expects you to be an expert, but you should come across as having a clear plan based on real research into your future. If you are planning on staying in your present industry, you should be well informed not only about the companies you have worked for, but about the industry as a whole. If you are not already doing so, read industry related publications and network.
Those August ED and RD applicants who are changing fields should most certainly read industry related publications in their intended field. Additionally I suggest conducting informational interviews with at least one peer level and one senior level person in that field. Conduct a peer level interview to get a good idea of what it would be like to actually work in that industry. Conduct a senior level interview to get the perspective of someone who can see the big picture and all the little details as well.
Don’t know anyone in your intended field? Network! One great way to start is through LinkedIn. Another is by making use of your undergraduate alumni network and/or career center.
LEARN WHAT IS HOT. No matter whether you are changing fields or not, learn what is hot now and try to figure out what will be hot by the time you graduate. Now, of course, this is just a plan and chances are that what is hot in your industry or field now may very well be cold in the future. The point is to come across to Columbia Adcom as someone who is not only well informed, but has CUTTING-EDGE knowledge. In addition to Columbia’s Public Offering blog, also look at ideas@work, and The Chazen Web Journal of International Business. Some other great general sources for learning what is hot: Harvard Working Knowledge, Harvard Business Review, University of Chicago GSB’s Working Papers, The University of Chicago’s Capital Ideas, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Knowledge @ Wharton, and MIT Sloan Management Review.
You may also want to do a search on itunes for podcasts: My favorites are Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (from the Stanford School of Engineering, but totally relevant) Net Impact, Chicago GSB Podcast Series, and Harvard Business IdeaCast. INSEAD, IMD, LBS, and Wharton also have podcasts.
LinkedIn Answers: Also consider joining LinkedIn and make use of LinkedIn Answers. LinkedIn Answers is a great way to tap into cutting edge expertise (including my admissions advice!). Follow LinkedIn’s rules and you will often be able to obtain excellent information.
Hoovers: For information about specific companies, Hoovers is just a great way to learn about key facts including competitors (a very useful way of knowing who else you might want to work for and to learn about an industry). While primarily focused on the US, Hoovers does have listings for companies worldwide.
Vault: For scope of coverage, this site is a must. Vault includes both career and admissions information. It includes both company specific and industry-wide information.
Other sources: Read magazines, websites, and books that relate to your intended field.
B. Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community.
Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)
Adam’s Suggestions for reading this question:
1. Initially Ignore the first part of the question.
2. Read the second part: “Describe…” It is the actual question.
3. Watch the video. If all you do to learn about the Columbia community is watching this video, you are total idiot. Maybe you will learn something (For example, Columbia really needs a better video.) you did not know before watching it. If you so, you don’t know anything about the Columbia community.
4. Read the first part of the question. It is the Columbia Admissions office’s understanding of what the Columbia community is. Best accept that understanding if you know what is good for you. Drink the Kool-Aid, it will not kill you.
5. Continue reading my analysis.
Restatement of question: In 250 words or less, please identify specifically why you want to join the Columbia community.
Given the length of the essay, I don’t suggest mentioning more than about 2-3 topics. You should align your reasons for joining the community to your goals, but that does not mean you can’t discuss some aspect of the community that really appeals to you for other reasons.
2. Read the second part: “Describe…” It is the actual question.
3. Watch the video. If all you do to learn about the Columbia community is watching this video, you are total idiot. Maybe you will learn something (For example, Columbia really needs a better video.) you did not know before watching it. If you so, you don’t know anything about the Columbia community.
4. Read the first part of the question. It is the Columbia Admissions office’s understanding of what the Columbia community is. Best accept that understanding if you know what is good for you. Drink the Kool-Aid, it will not kill you.
5. Continue reading my analysis.
Restatement of question: In 250 words or less, please identify specifically why you want to join the Columbia community.
Given the length of the essay, I don’t suggest mentioning more than about 2-3 topics. You should align your reasons for joining the community to your goals, but that does not mean you can’t discuss some aspect of the community that really appeals to you for other reasons.
Introducing the “Let me count the ways I love the Columbia Business School Community” brainstorming table:
| Ways you want to become part of the Columbia Community | Why? (Relate to goals, personal interests, background, values) | How will you contribute? (You need not always mention your contribution) | Why does Columbia need to know this? |
| Way 1: | |||
| Way 2: | |||
| Way 3: |
(You can just cut and paste this. It works)
The above table will help you outline your answer. I suggest following some variation of these 11 steps:
1. Identify a specific way you want to become a part of the Columbia community.
2. Explain why based on something such as goals, personal interests, background, and/or values.
3. When feasible explain how you will contribute to the way you identified. It might be the case that you don’t focus on your contribution for all the ways you will become part of the Columbia MBA community.
4. For each way, explain to yourself why Columbia admissions needs to know this. If they don’t need to know, we assume that means discussing the way will not help you get admitted. Find something else to write about.
5. Go through the above steps until such time as you have a sufficient number of ways to discuss.
6. Write it up.
7. Edit it.
8. Don’t look at it for a while (minutes, hours, days, weeks, all depending on your deadline situation) and read it again.
9. Edit it some more.
10. Upload it.
11. Get on with your life.
BIG FINAL HINT: The best answers are based on actually learning in detail about the community. Go visit if you can, try to interact with alumni and/or current students, attend info sessions (If Mary is at one, talk to her. She is really nice and extremely helpful to applicants. If you don’t know who Mary is, figure it out.), and in general make an effort to learn why you want to be part of the community. Columbia cares about this more than some other schools like, for example, HBS, which just assumes that everyone wants to be part of it.
Essay 2
Required by all first-time applicants and reapplicants who last applied before 2012. Describe a personal experience and how it has influenced who you are today. This essay should have a personal rather than a professional focus. (Maximum 500 words)
This question is not new. I am happy about that. My advice last year was good, so here it is in somewhat updated formulation.Bad answers to this question will likely to do the following:
–Focus too much on action and context and not enough on providing an interpretation of who you are.
–Focus on a professional accomplishment, which you are clearly being told not to do.
-Focus on an important life experience that does not really have any clear selling points about who you are.
I mention the above because I view these as typical problems I see with ineffective answers to this question.
An Experience which has shaped you: UCLA has actually been asking about such topics for many years. What is nice about the CBS version is that it is rather open ended. Some possibilities that I can suggest:
-A critical academic experience that determined your career direction.
-Overcoming an obstacle that improved your leadership, teamwork, communication, or other MBA-program and/or career goal relevant skill(s).
-An experience that taught you very important life lessons that you have applied.
-An experience that has played a critical role in the decisions you have made in your life.
My suggestion that you try to come up with at least a few options before focusing on one personal story. Some questions to ask yourself:
-Is the story one that is so obvious from other aspects of my application that much of it is redundant? If so, you need another topic.
-Is the story one that might actually say something negative about me? If so, you need to either modify the story or find a different one.
-Is the story one that helps CBS see why I have the characteristics of someone who can succeed academically and/or professionally? If not, you really need to think whether the story is worth telling CBS.
Based on what I saw last year, the best answers were soulful, highly personal, and showed the applicant at both their personal best and most human. Stories involved accomplishment, failure, personal crisis, pain, love, friendship, and engaged the reader. In other words, there are many possible excellent ways to answer this question.
Optional Essay:
Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. (Maximum 500 words)
As with other school’s optional questions, do not put an obvious essay for another school here. If you read the above, it should be clear enough that this is the place to explain anything negative or potentially negative in your background. If you have no explanation for something negative, don’t bother writing about it. For example if your GPA is 2.9 and you have no good explanation for why it is 2.9, don’t bother writing something that looks like a lame excuse. This is more likely to hurt than help you. In the same vein, don’t waste the committee’s time telling them that your GMAT is a much better indicator than your GPA (the opposite is also true). They have heard it before and they will look at both scores and can draw their own conclusions without you stating the obvious. That said, if you have a good explanation for a bad GPA, you should most certainly write about it.
In addition to GMAT/GRE, TOEFL, and GPA problems, other possible topics include issues related to recommendations, serious gaps in your resume, concerns related to a near total lack of extracurricular activities, and major issues in your personal/professional life that you really think the admissions office needs to know about.You can certainly write on something positive here if you think its omission will be negative for you, but before you do, ask yourself these questions:
1. If they did not ask it, do they really need to know it?
2. Will the topic I want to discuss significantly improve my overall essay set?
3. Is the topic one that would not be covered from looking at other parts of my application?
4. Is the essay likely to be read as being a specific answer for Columbia and not an obvious essay for another school?
If you can answer “Yes!” to all four questions, it might be a good topic to write about.
FOR REAPPLICANTS:
Required by all reapplicants who last applied in 2012.
A. How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (Maximum 500 words).
B. Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community.Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)
Columbia’s Reapplication Checklist can be found here. You will not be able to submit new answers to essays 1A or 2, but will have to use only the reapplicant essay. Please see my comments regarding part B. of this question above. My extensive comments on goals above, also apply here.
When judging reapplicants, Columbia makes it perfectly clear what they are expecting. See here for their criteria. Clearly this essay gives you the opportunity to:
1. Showcase what has changed since your last application that now makes you a better candidate.
2. Refine your goals. I think it is reasonable that they may have altered since your last application, but if the change is extreme, you had better explain why.
3. Make a better case for why Columbia is right for you.
For more about my many posts on reapplication, please see here. I have helped a number of reapplicants gain admission to Columbia.
CONCLUSION: Columbia Loves to Be Loved
One thing that is consistent about Columbia Business School is that they want to know that their school is your first choice. If you have an alumni interview you can be expected to be asked about that very directly. See here for my advice on Columbia interviews.
Required by all first-time applicants and reapplicants who last applied before 2012. Describe a personal experience and how it has influenced who you are today. This essay should have a personal rather than a professional focus. (Maximum 500 words)
This question is not new. I am happy about that. My advice last year was good, so here it is in somewhat updated formulation.Bad answers to this question will likely to do the following:
–Focus too much on action and context and not enough on providing an interpretation of who you are.
–Focus on a professional accomplishment, which you are clearly being told not to do.
-Focus on an important life experience that does not really have any clear selling points about who you are.
I mention the above because I view these as typical problems I see with ineffective answers to this question.
An Experience which has shaped you: UCLA has actually been asking about such topics for many years. What is nice about the CBS version is that it is rather open ended. Some possibilities that I can suggest:
-A critical academic experience that determined your career direction.
-Overcoming an obstacle that improved your leadership, teamwork, communication, or other MBA-program and/or career goal relevant skill(s).
-An experience that taught you very important life lessons that you have applied.
-An experience that has played a critical role in the decisions you have made in your life.
My suggestion that you try to come up with at least a few options before focusing on one personal story. Some questions to ask yourself:
-Is the story one that is so obvious from other aspects of my application that much of it is redundant? If so, you need another topic.
-Is the story one that might actually say something negative about me? If so, you need to either modify the story or find a different one.
-Is the story one that helps CBS see why I have the characteristics of someone who can succeed academically and/or professionally? If not, you really need to think whether the story is worth telling CBS.
Based on what I saw last year, the best answers were soulful, highly personal, and showed the applicant at both their personal best and most human. Stories involved accomplishment, failure, personal crisis, pain, love, friendship, and engaged the reader. In other words, there are many possible excellent ways to answer this question.
Optional Essay:
Is there any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions Committee? Please use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or your personal history. (Maximum 500 words)
As with other school’s optional questions, do not put an obvious essay for another school here. If you read the above, it should be clear enough that this is the place to explain anything negative or potentially negative in your background. If you have no explanation for something negative, don’t bother writing about it. For example if your GPA is 2.9 and you have no good explanation for why it is 2.9, don’t bother writing something that looks like a lame excuse. This is more likely to hurt than help you. In the same vein, don’t waste the committee’s time telling them that your GMAT is a much better indicator than your GPA (the opposite is also true). They have heard it before and they will look at both scores and can draw their own conclusions without you stating the obvious. That said, if you have a good explanation for a bad GPA, you should most certainly write about it.
In addition to GMAT/GRE, TOEFL, and GPA problems, other possible topics include issues related to recommendations, serious gaps in your resume, concerns related to a near total lack of extracurricular activities, and major issues in your personal/professional life that you really think the admissions office needs to know about.You can certainly write on something positive here if you think its omission will be negative for you, but before you do, ask yourself these questions:
1. If they did not ask it, do they really need to know it?
2. Will the topic I want to discuss significantly improve my overall essay set?
3. Is the topic one that would not be covered from looking at other parts of my application?
4. Is the essay likely to be read as being a specific answer for Columbia and not an obvious essay for another school?
If you can answer “Yes!” to all four questions, it might be a good topic to write about.
FOR REAPPLICANTS:
Required by all reapplicants who last applied in 2012.
A. How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (Maximum 500 words).
B. Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community.Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)
Columbia’s Reapplication Checklist can be found here. You will not be able to submit new answers to essays 1A or 2, but will have to use only the reapplicant essay. Please see my comments regarding part B. of this question above. My extensive comments on goals above, also apply here.
When judging reapplicants, Columbia makes it perfectly clear what they are expecting. See here for their criteria. Clearly this essay gives you the opportunity to:
1. Showcase what has changed since your last application that now makes you a better candidate.
2. Refine your goals. I think it is reasonable that they may have altered since your last application, but if the change is extreme, you had better explain why.
3. Make a better case for why Columbia is right for you.
For more about my many posts on reapplication, please see here. I have helped a number of reapplicants gain admission to Columbia.
CONCLUSION: Columbia Loves to Be Loved
One thing that is consistent about Columbia Business School is that they want to know that their school is your first choice. If you have an alumni interview you can be expected to be asked about that very directly. See here for my advice on Columbia interviews.
-Adam Markus
I am a graduate admissions consultant who works with clients worldwide. If you would like to arrange an initial consultation, please complete my intake form. Please don’t email me any essays, other admissions consultant’s intake forms, your life story, or any long email asking for a written profile assessment. The only profiles I assess are those with people who I offer initial consultations to. Please note that initial consultations are not offered when I have reached full capacity or when I determine that I am not a good fit with an applicant.