Columbia 2013 (CBS) - Calling All Applicants

Ah, super stressed! I applied right at the merit deadline (my recs were in well in advance, it was totally me that delayed the submission)! Keeping fingers crossed with respect to hearing back this week. Will certainly let you know if something happens!

Actually it wasn't two months -- I caught that right after I posted and it's been edited above. Sorry about that!! Timeline was:

Interviewed: 1/11
Interview report submitted: 1/15
Decision: 1/22

The first 50 minutes of the interview went fine. While the questions were tough ("give me a ballpark estimate of how many brand managers get hired every year" "Besides the six companies and three industries you mentioned that use brand management, what other companies recruit at Columbia for your desired field?").

I was answering them pretty well, I thought. But near the end the interviewer asked me how I chose him as my interview contact. I replied that I followed the instructions on Columbia's letter, which was to contact the first person on the list of three. He became visibly upset at this and told me that I had done it wrong: rather, I should have done research on all three Ambassadors and chose my contact that way, as in business you're supposed to vie for every advantage. I replied that while I agree in theory with that, I wasn't about to try and cross the admissions committee on this. He noted that someone he interviewed just the week prior had done this very thing, and had chosen him because they had a lot in common.
Then he started lecturing me about the importance of seizing the advantage in networking, noted that I'm competing against my fellow students "including the guy with two years' of experience at McKinsey who is just interviewing for fun, but who looks better on paper."

He then asked me why I was applying so late and to so few schools. I replied that I had applied to five schools and submitted my application to Columbia on November 20. He said that was too late and to too few schools, and didn't seem optimistic about my chances of getting in.

Honestly, none of his advice was bad or unwelcome (though I still disagree about not following Columbia's instructions), but the tone of the conversation took a very negative turn near the end. I'm not sure if I was unlucky, if I said the wrong thing, if he was trying to push my buttons or that's just his manner.

Got in!!! ED-waitlisted-reapplicant-longtime lurker. The wait was excruciating but worth it.

Applied: Oct 1
Invited to interview: Oct. 16
Interview: Oct. 30
Interview feedback: Oct. 31
Waitlisted: Nov. 7
Almost went crazy: Nov. 7 - Jan. 29
Accepted: Jan. 30

International/ 740/ Low GPA/ Banking/ Asia

It hasn't quite sunk in yet. Good luck to those still waiting - keep the faith!

anyone who got an interview set up one yet? I've emailed 3 so far without responses...wth

In some cases, the frustrations of setting up interviews with alums really makes one doubt the vibe of the CBS community--and how supportive they will be as a part of the MBA experience. The admissions should really take this matter seriously. It will hurt the yield of the school.

How long did you wait? I emailed one ambassador, she immediately got back to me, apologized, and said she wasn't doing the program this year. I emailed the second and we set it up the next day. 48-hour turnover--I'm actually quite impressed by their responsiveness.

In some cases, the frustrations of setting up interviews with alums really makes one doubt the vibe of the CBS community--and how supportive they will be as a part of the MBA experience. The admissions should really take this matter seriously. It will hurt the yield of the school.

It really is very strange - not to mention how unhelpful/disorganized they are with visiting/prospective students. It was a stark contrast to every other school I visited (Stern, Kellogg, Booth), and leaves serious questions in my mind about fit. I don't really understand why a top school seems to not care about interacting with prospective students and applicants, but whatever works, I guess.

I had trouble contacting alumni and ended up interviewing with the ad com, which was very different because they have access to your essays and all, but not bad at all.

I disageee about their receptiveness to prospective students! I visited the schools 3 times and was very well received by all. NYU for example didnt want to receive me and said that contact is made only through interviews.
Its relative to each students perception.

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