{"id":24030,"date":"2014-05-23T13:28:28","date_gmt":"2014-05-23T20:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/columbia-mba-essay-analysis-your-2015-application\/"},"modified":"2014-05-23T13:28:28","modified_gmt":"2014-05-23T20:28:28","slug":"columbia-mba-essay-analysis-your-2015-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/columbia-mba-essay-analysis-your-2015-application\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia MBA Essay Analysis, Your 2015 Application"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you ready to dig into your essays? Application essays are specifically and cleverly designed to get into your head. We like to turn the tables on the admissions committees and get inside their<\/i> heads. Why are they asking these questions? What are they looking for? Read on as our experts break down application essay questions to help YOU plan the attack.<\/h3>\n
Short Answer<\/a>
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\nEssay Two<\/a><\/div>\n
Essay Three<\/a>
\nOptional<\/a><\/div>\n
\nAight, I’m pumped! Where to next?<\/strong><\/p>\n
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CHECK OUT OUR MBA ESSAY WRITING GUIDE \u279d <\/div>\n

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Columbia MBA Essay Analysis - Short Answer<\/h5>\n

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (75 characters maximum)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the last three years, the character allowance for this question has dropped from 200 to 100 to a mere 75. CBS is not fooling around - they want you to get to the point. And fast. 75 characters isn\u2019t dinner, a stroll around the park, a lovely nightcap against a backdrop of smooth jazz, into \u201cwho knows.\u201d It\u2019s more\u2026 the 1-hour motel model. Lay it on em.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most liberating way to approach this is to see this NOT as an opportunity to impress, but rather to inform. All they want is a RUDDER. To help frame the rest of your essays. That\u2019s all. It\u2019s the equivalent of \u201cstate your name and occupation\u201d \u2013 a measure taken just so everyone has their bearings.<\/p>\n

Ergo, don\u2019t overthink it. The prize here is clarity, not intrigue. Don\u2019t feel the pressure to wow. And don\u2019t waste precious air-time writing stuff like \u201cMy immediate post-MBA professional goal is to\u2026\u201d because that would have been half your response. 1-hour motel, folks. Getterdone. Resume-like brevity, but\u2026 good-resume-like CLARITY.<\/p>\n

One last thing\u2014there\u2019s a difference between \u201cpost\/position\u201d and \u201cgoal.\u201d The best answer here nails both. Too often, we see candidates simply list the name of a position at a company, which is mostly meaningless. We need a touch of context to understand what the \u201caim\u201d is, \u201cwhy position X\u201d within your 100-character response. So, roughly speaking, it may take on this structure: \u201cposition x in order to y.\u201d Or, \u201cachieve x at y (type) company.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Columbia MBA Essay Analysis - Essay One<\/h5>\n
Given your individual background and goals, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time? (Maximum 500 words)<\/strong><\/p>\n
Columbia is framing an argument here for you. A very simple one actually. They want you to make a crystal clear connection between your thirst for an MBA and your (career) trajectory thus far. The key idea here is that these aren\u2019t two unconnected concepts\u2014that you want\/need an MBA, and that you have a career or background in X. According to CBS<\/a> (and by the way, all other top MBA programs), these two things must be joined at the hip. Think of this as a DARE. Imagine sitting across from a CBS admissions dean, while he reviews your resume and your stated reasons for pursuing an MBA at Columbia. Now, imagine that he places the resume on the table, folds his arms, looks down the bridge of his nose at you and says, \u201cI don\u2019t believe that your background has anything to do with your desire to get an MBA. Prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what this is. A mathematical proof. Your job is to CONVINCE A SKEPTIC that your trajectory thus far has you on a collision course with an MBA. Show us what it is you\u2019ve done, what it is you \u201cdo,\u201d and give us a taste for what it is you WANT to do, and therefore\u2026 why a COLUMBIA MBA is a necessary means to that end. It must be the case that Columbia is a necessary ingredient here\u2014convince us why. Convince us that your vision must include certain things only (or BEST) attainable at CBS, in order for you to CONTINUE along the trajectory that\u2019s already in motion. Forget everything else you\u2019ve done with another school\u2019s prompt, right now you only have eyes for Columbia.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s another way to think about it:<\/p>\n