Calling all Columbia MBA Applicants: 2020 Intake (Class of 2022)! : Columbia

Welcome all CBS class of 2022 hopefuls. Let's use this platform to know each-other, exchange ideas, discuss app strategies, and some profile discussions may be? Give a shout out!

MBA Student Profile — Class Entering 2019 (January and August)

Applications Received: 5876
Admitted: 1122
Enrolled: 754, divided into 11 clusters
January Entry Class Size: 203, divided into 3 clusters
August Entry Class Size: 551, divided into 8 clusters
GMAT Scores (average): 727
GMAT Scores (range): 560–790
GMAT Scores (middle 80%): 690–760
Undergraduate GPA (average): 3.6
Undergraduate GPA (middle 80%): 3.2–3.9
Work Experience (average): 5 years
Work Experience (middle 80%): 3–8 years
At Least One Year of Work Experience: 99%
Average Age: 28
Age Range: 22-51
Age Range (middle 80%): 25–31
Women: 38%
Minority of US Origin: 33%
International Citizens: 47%


Application Deadlines, Essay Questions and Analysis

CBS 2020 App Status Tracker | Add your name to the tracker

• Analysis of CBS Essays By: Personal MBA Coach | Accepted | mbaMission
• Need a CBS profile Evaluation? Post it here >
• CBS Adcoms explain admission decision process
• Insights from Columbia Admission Event
• Actual cost of a Columbia MBA
• Admission Trends at CBS: Analysis of GMATClub Applicant Data
• CBS Success Stories: NoggieViking - Class of 2014 | Mappleby - Class of 2015

Creating Standout CBS Application Essays

2017natconic so great you have done your campus visit, that is fantastic. I really encourage people to do those campus visits now while school is in session.

Now is a great time for you to be doing the introspection that will really help you create great content. I work with my clients on examining their values, what their stories say about them, teasing out their brand promise, and doing some work on understanding how others perceive them (in actuality, several assessments that b-schools do in zero week). Understanding their interests and passions and how those show up in their lives; getting a handle on their leadership style. Working with a coach or even a therapist can yield great results.

The overriding principle of good applications is that they allow the reader to get to know you, but many applicants really don't know themselves. And it is not optimal to be unearthing big insights the day before a deadline. Would be very advantageous for you to focus on getting to know yourself so you can communicate that in the applications. All the GMAT scores and work accomplishments in the world will not make up for this very process of clearly, authentically communicating who you are: it is what makes you likeable and your applications memorable.

2017natconic wrote:Since the application for CBS for 2020 intake should be opening in roughly 3 months, I figured I would go ahead and ask if anyone else is planning on applying early decision this summer. I have been lurking around the forum and haven't seen any posts about next year's intake yet.

I visited campus recently for an information session and really liked the atmosphere (the location in NYC is a huge plus). For anyone else applying for next year's intake, have you started preparing in any way yet? Or are you still in the information-gathering phase?

2017natconic wrote:Since the application for CBS for 2020 intake should be opening in roughly 3 months, I figured I would go ahead and ask if anyone else is planning on applying early decision this summer. I have been lurking around the forum and haven't seen any posts about next year's intake yet.

I visited campus recently for an information session and really liked the atmosphere (the location in NYC is a huge plus). For anyone else applying for next year's intake, have you started preparing in any way yet? Or are you still in the information-gathering phase?

I will apply ED in late August this year. Wish I could visit campus but based on the extensive research on the school and the programs it offers, I am very comfortable to apply for MBA at CBS.

If I had gone to a postgraduate school and had done well, can my postgraduate GPA compensate for my low undergrad GPA?

Will Columbia B-school take both GPAs into consideration? Or just the undergrad GPA?

Hi Kravmaga,

Thank you for your question. Columbia, like other top MBA programs, reviews applications holistically. This means that all components of your profile weighed when granting admission. If you had a low GPA during undergraduate, but continued with a grad degree (and did well in the program) and also have a strong GMAT score, Columbia will see your growth as an individual and professional from your undergraduate days. I recommend speaking to your undergraduate record in the optional essay, and focus on what you can control - submitting a stellar application, studying for the GMAT, asking recommenders you know will support your decision to pursue an MBA and will write a strong LOR, etc.

I am happy to discuss your profile and how we can help you strategically approach the Columbia application, so your undergraduate performance does not overpower the rest of your accomplishments. When ready, please reach out.

Best,

Susan

Kravmaga wrote:If I had gone to a postgraduate school and had done well, can postgraduate GPA compensate for my low undergrad GPA?

Will Columbia B-school take both GPAs into consideration? Or just the undergrad GPA?

_________________

Hi Kravmaga yes the postgrad GPA will count.

International GPAs are not factored in rankings but still count in that they are looking to see if you have evidence of quantitative ability. Need a good GMAT and TOEFL.

From an integrity standpoint, in the optional essay, outline how the factors preventing you from being a good student before are no longer, and why you are resolved to be a focused student now. That is, if the explanation is more illustrious than whoops I went through a drunk and delinquent phase in college.

Most of all, don't get super caught up in all this that you forget to focus on what the "sizzle" is about you as a candidate. This is really what matters - what is the upside?

I wrote an article to help explain strategizing when you have low grades; https://mbaessaycoaching.com/2019/06/22/submitting-mba-applications-with-low-grades/

Kravmaga wrote:If I had gone to a postgraduate school and had done well, can my postgraduate GPA compensate for my low undergrad GPA?

Will Columbia B-school take both GPAs into consideration? Or just the undergrad GPA?

Anyone heard back from admission? I completed my application more than 4weeks ago, but I still haven't received any updates.

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Wow you applied super early....

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GMAT: 780, Q50, V48; GPA: 3.66; WE: 43 months; United States; via Phone
Submitted application on 6/11/2019; invited to interview on 7/3/2019; interviewed on 7/7/2019; received final decision on 7/16/2019. Very grateful for this opportunity!

GMAT: 780, Q50, V48; GPA: 3.66; WE: 43 months; United States; via Phone
Submitted August 2020 Early Decision application on 6/11/2019; received interview invite on 7/3/2019; interviewed on 7/7/2019; Columbia received interview feedback on 7/8/2019; received final decision on 7/16/2019. Very grateful for this opportunity!

Learned this morning that I have been admitted! I submitted my August 2020 Early Decision application on 6/11/2019; received interview invite on 7/3/2019; interviewed on 7/7/2019 (Columbia received the interviewer's feedback on 7/8/2019); and received my final decision on 7/16/2019. Very grateful for this opportunity! And my apologies for the duplicate posts above; I didn't realize that my comments on my application status would be posted here as well.

ERJ146 wrote:Learned this morning that I have been admitted! I submitted my August 2020 Early Decision application on 6/11/2019; received interview invite on 7/3/2019; interviewed on 7/7/2019 (Columbia received the interviewer's feedback on 7/8/2019); and received my final decision on 7/16/2019. Very grateful for this opportunity! And my apologies for the duplicate posts above; I didn't realize that my comments on my application status would be posted here as well.

Could you please share with us your interview experience?

Posted from my mobile device

ERJ146 wrote:Learned this morning that I have been admitted! I submitted my August 2020 Early Decision application on 6/11/2019; received interview invite on 7/3/2019; interviewed on 7/7/2019 (Columbia received the interviewer's feedback on 7/8/2019); and received my final decision on 7/16/2019. Very grateful for this opportunity! And my apologies for the duplicate posts above; I didn't realize that my comments on my application status would be posted here as well.

ERJ146

I request you to add your interview experience in the following link. It will be helpful to a lot of current and future applicants.

https://gmatclub.com/forum/columbia-190 ... brief.html

Any other ED applicants out there? Submitted 7/2 and waiting for a response

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HI, I wanted to know how does Columbia J term admission compare to regular 2 year one?

Thanks