{"id":20437,"date":"2013-08-25T08:39:31","date_gmt":"2013-08-25T15:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=20437"},"modified":"2013-08-25T01:47:07","modified_gmt":"2013-08-25T08:47:07","slug":"columbia-executive-mba-2014-essay-tips-deadlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/columbia-executive-mba-2014-essay-tips-deadlines\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia Executive MBA 2014 Essay Tips & Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Columbia\"<\/a>These essay questions focus mostly on the present and future. There\u2019s a little<\/em> room to discuss relevant past experiences, but not much, so don\u2019t expect to richly portray your personal and\/or professional development. Moreover, if the Columbia EMBA adcom wanted this information, they would ask for it. Rather, go with the flow, and give them what they do<\/strong> ask for, in aggregate: a vivid sense of engagement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 with your career<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 with the resources of Manhattan<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 with the program itself.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Answer Question: <\/strong><\/p>\n

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (100 characters maximum)<\/p>\n

Give the basic facts \u2013 position, company, or a specific industry, and a word about responsibilities and desired impacts. Don\u2019t repeat the question (it wastes space). <\/span><\/p>\n

Essays<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1:<\/strong> Given your individual background, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time? (Maximum 500 words)<\/p>\n

The initial phrase invites you to present your goals<\/a> and your MBA plans in the context of<\/em> <\/span>your past experience. Yet, with only 500 words overall, you can\u2019t give a comprehensive, <\/span>detailed delineation of your life or career to date. I suggest a simple basic structure, <\/span>which you can adapt:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Start with the key point or two from your past that really animates your goals. <\/span>Make it straightforward and vivid; ideally including an anecdote.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Your career vision fleshed out \u2013 some practical discussion of how you\u2019ll achieve it <\/span>and what \u201csuccess\u201d will look like in terms of desired impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Why these factors make now the right time to pursue the EMBA. Also include the <\/span>main reasons Columbia is the right program for you. <\/span><\/p>\n

2:<\/strong> Columbia Business School is located in the heart of the world's business capital- Manhattan. How do you anticipate that New York City will impact your experience at Columbia? (Maximum 500 words)<\/p>\n

Please view the videos below:<\/p>\n

New York City - limitless possibilities<\/a><\/p>\n

New York City - fast paced and adaptable<\/a><\/p>\n

Your experience at Columbia will have numerous dimensions: academic, professional, <\/span>social, cultural. Try to address each of these dimensions in the proportion relevant to <\/span>you. Do not<\/strong> just do a travelogue of Manhattan (I\u2019ve already seen this in a draft or two). <\/span>Rather discuss how the resources of Manhattan relevant to you will inform<\/strong> your time <\/span>at Columbia \u2013 say you have a passion<\/a> for jazz. Of course you can hear great jazz all over <\/span>town, but will you also look to share this passion with classmates? Start an informal jazz <\/span>appreciation group? Audit music courses at Columbia or nearby Manhattan School of <\/span>Music?<\/span><\/p>\n

3: What will the people in your cluster be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (Maximum 250 words)<\/p>\n

The key to answering this short essay effectively is to understand the phrase \u201cpleasantly <\/span>surprised.\u201d Let\u2019s break it down:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 First, don\u2019t repeat a resume point \u2013 \u201csurprised\u201d means something not obvious <\/span>from the available information.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cPleasantly\u201d means something that will generate positive interest. It doesn\u2019t have <\/span>to be directly applicable or \u201cuseful\u201d to your cluster mates.<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be something from work or outside work. If it\u2019s far in the past, it should be <\/span>something of continuing relevance. DON\u2019T present a boring explanation. DO root your <\/span>response in actual experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most important: DO select a topic that will add something to your profile, something <\/span>that lets the adcom know you better as a person.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your answer puts a smile on the reader\u2019s face, or even better elicits a happy, surprised <\/span>laugh, high five!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Optional Essay<\/strong><\/p>\n

An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.<\/p>\n

This question invites you to present new material that will enhance your application, <\/span>as well as to explain anything that needs explaining (e.g., gap in employment, choice of <\/span>recommender if not using a direct supervisor, etc.). As far as non-necessary points, since <\/span>you are making the adcom read more than is required, there should be a clear value to <\/span>the information you\u2019re sharing. Finally, keep it short.<\/span><\/p>\n

Columbia EMBA 2014 Application Deadlines<\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

EMBA-Americas: January 2014 entry<\/span><\/p>\n

Early Decision: September 4, 2013<\/p>\n

Regular Decision: October 30, 2013<\/p>\n

EMBA-NY Saturday:May 2014 entry<\/span><\/p>\n

Early Decision: January 15, 2014<\/p>\n

Regular Decision: February 26, 2014<\/p>\n

EMBA-NY Friday\/Saturday: August 2014 entry<\/span><\/p>\n

Early Decision: March 19, 2014<\/p>\n

Regular Decision: June 4, 2014
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