Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!!

What is the new strategy?

I guess CBS just wants to be more personal in its admission process by getting rid of the previous two essays and putting a very broad and personal essay topic.

Christina Shelby has indicated on BW forums that they will start reviewing applications as soon as they are complete. It is confirmed on CBS website. CBS is now playing a Super Early Decision Round strategy. You apply by mid May and get admitted by early August. They pushed the ED strategy to its limit to gain advantage over their peers schools.

And "It seems" (essay not published on the website at this date) that they throw in a couple of freebies with over simplified essays. 2 essays, limited thinking and pain required.

The message is clear : "Come on, It s so easy to apply and you get the reply by august, come on.. Booth,Kellogg,Sloan,Tuck,CBS... we re all peer schools... dont worry too much... 2 essays and you re in at CBS by august ... take the blue pill "

Why not simply add this (interesting btw) new question to the ones of last year ? It would have make a well balanced set of essays dont you think ?

2 essays about professional achievements have been cut off, just like that. CBS wants to lure in younger applicants with less professional/leadership achievement ?

What about Master Class, the epitome at Columbia ? I love this program, and I think it was a terrific signature essay for CBS. A strong school deserves a strong signature essay. So yes I am a bit disappointed.

Wharton has published the last essays as last year. Solid, well balanced, self reflective.

Well, I had prepared for three essays before the application came online. I was surprised to see that there are only 2 essays required. However, I modified my first essay to incorporate Master Class just to make sure that I cover the base. The second essay actually is much harder than the failure essay, since you really have to dig deeper and be specific without the guideline provided in the previous failure essay. Well, I think columbia's elimination of non-consignor loans for international students is making it move more aggressively towards accepting people early and for a long period of time. Last year's international student percentage is only 38%, down from 43% the year before, and I believe the class of 2012 has an even lower percentage.

Very deceptive indeed.


Interesting Theory.

I'm surprised by the overall length of what they are asking for in the essays. Two essays with a maximum of only 1250 words is not a lot of space to get a lot of detail about who we are, etc. Could this mean they are placing more emphasis on other parts of the application, say the interview, to gauge an applicant's desirability?

Hey - how is everyone getting their information? I'm trying to look through on their website and in my login, but can't seem to find the new essay questions, new deadline, etc. Can anyone post the essay prompts?

you have to log into the application page for the essay prompts.

Thanks. I figured it out.

Are they trying to enlarge the applicant pool, only to shred it?

Can someone post the essay questions? I have a profile with CBS but I haven't "begun" the application.

Looked at the essays and other materials.

There doesn't seem to be any particular flavor to their application, as a whole ie) there is no overarching theme, unlike certain other schools.

This actually pisses me off, because the answer to the theory-practice-Master Class just fell into place during the last few hours. If they're opening up the pool to younger applicants, they really should keep this question in.

Another ED applicant here.

Essay #1 is straight-forward why MBA/why Columbia question, but essay #2 is very difficult, I think. First, it is 500 words and second, I gotta tell a good story that covers not only "me" but also "my personal interests" since the topic specifically has "AND" between those two.

What hazay said makes sense. It I can send it in by July, the decision, good or bad, will come before other school's deadline - I can either save money or pressure myself with more motivation Kinda waiting for admission consultant websites to kinda "analyze" the topic and give guidances on how to attack.

However, I'm not sure eliminating the official review starting date will increase applicant pool for ED though.

Good to see this thread. I will be in this thread A LOT since CBS is my 1st choice

The second essay definitely is more open-ended.

FYI

If you are going to start 2011 threads, can you make the roll call page (1st post in each thread) look like the ones from the previous years? Thanks.

calling-all-2010-cbs-applicants-merged-78610.html?view-post=586314#p586314

Have they posted an official deadline for the applications for the early decision? Someone mentioned May, but I don't see that anywhere. Another said July, but I'm also missing this date. Does anyone know if these are just speculations or official deadlines?