Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018

It's just my opinion... remember that a lot of ppl who believe they have put the best possible work and effort into application still get rejected... so I would recommend putting your best possible work and thus best quality.... but if the $ is the most important (in a case if you cannot attend MBA without scholarship), then sure aim for the Jan deadline... otherwise, make the most beautiful application...

Any thoughts on this?

I have included glimpse (one liner) of my backup plan post mba in Optional essay that I have submitted in RD. Does it impact in any negative way? What is the view of you guys on this aspect - in general as well as specific to CBS.

CBS' website mentions the following about the optional essay :

Optional Essay:
An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

Your glimpse of your backup plan should have been included in your essay 1 or even essay 3 (center of business, wherein you can talk about how your plan B might also work owing to CBS' center of business location in NYC), the one that talks about Why MBA, Why CBS etc. I do not think you should mention such in your optional essay. Optional essays in general are for specific purposes only. Most candidates talk about some extenuating circumstances/experiences that they could not talk about in any of their other essays (example Wharton only gave 1 essay for why MBA and why Wharton. Nothing was asked about the personal side of things. So I used the optional essay to talk about my international expriences that were not covered in my resume and/or 1st essay).

Some candidates also talk about their low GMAT scores (imbalanced score or low AWA score etc) or even their low GPAs to be frank to the adcoms that low GPA will in no way be representative how that candidate will perform academically.

Hope this helps. All the best for your application.

Yes, exactly. The intention of optional essay that you have mentioned makes sense. I have talked about 2 of these 3 key points in optional essay : personal exp, low gmat. However, for some reason I included that glimpse ( 1 line out of ~500 in optional essay). Perhaps I could have avoided that one line as well!! Now what was to be done is done. Lets see!!

On other point, if I read your points correctly. You are saying that it is OK to include backup plan in main essays (assuming it fits there)?

Good question. Talking about a plan B (if it is specifically asked in the question, Stern used to have a plan B essay prompt) makes sense but otherwise it is a double edged sword.

You dont want to come off as a person who doesnt have clear post MBA ST/LT goals. Everyone undertsands that some people change their goals when they start MBAs but for getting in and for getting your admit, talking about a plan B in your essays is not a good strategy, especially when it is not asked.

Any RD applicants who have received interview calls?

Are they calls or are they emails?

Haven't received anything.

Last year the first RD invitations went out on Dec. 4 (Thursday after thanksgiving)... and since timelines have been similar to last year... I imagine we can expect some tomorrow or Thursday!

Interview invite!


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Nice! Were you ED?

RD applicant. Submitted sometime around 9/18 and received the "we are about to begin reviewing applications" email 2 weeks ago.


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And so it begins.

Good luck!

There you go!! Congratulations on the invite. All the best for your interview.

CONGRATS!!!!

If those of you getting invites wouldn't mind posting the date you submitted your app, that would be most appreciated to those of us waiting and gauging expectations

Thanks!!

9/24 I think.

How are people receiving the invites?

Is anything changing on the online application portal?

I got an email. I'm at work so I haven't logged into the application portal yet.


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