{"id":28379,"date":"2015-05-04T08:46:12","date_gmt":"2015-05-04T15:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=28379"},"modified":"2015-05-13T07:19:14","modified_gmt":"2015-05-13T14:19:14","slug":"columbia-business-school-2016-mba-essay-tips-deadlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/columbia-business-school-2016-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia Business School 2016 MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Click<\/a>Columbia tweaked last year's questions for this year. Relatively minor changes. Specifically:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022 Its short-answer question about your immediate post-MBA goal has gone from 75\u00a0to 50\u00a0characters<\/em>. Yes, that was \u00a0characters, not words. Two years ago it was a generous 100 characters. And those applicants\u00a0thought they had it tough.\u00a0<\/span>
\n \u2022 There are wording changes to all the questions. The central focus is the same as in previous years; but nuances have changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other than cutting 25 characters from the goals question, CBS has not cut essays or essay length. Still, you will need to\u00a0make every word, indeed every character, count\u00a0to really allow your essays to effectively and compellingly present your qualifications.<\/span><\/p>\n

My tips are in blue below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays.<\/p>\n

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

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal?\u00a0(50\u00a0characters\u00a0maximum<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n

Note the\u00a0character\u00a0<\/strong>limit. Your response must be less than a tweet. Actually it must be just about one third of a tweet. What do you want to do professionally and in which industry immediately after earning your MBA? \u00a0Here are CBS'\u00a0examples of possible responses:<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWork in business development for a media company.\u201d<\/span>
\n \u201cJoin a strategy consulting firm.\u201d<\/span>
\n \u201cLaunch a data-management start-up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Warning: This question is not asking about intended area of study while in business school or a non-professional goal or even a long-term goal. And the subject is assumed to be you. No need to waste characters by including \"I.\"<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Essay 1.<\/strong> Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals going forward, and how will the Columbia MBA help you achieve them? (Maximum 500 words<\/em>)<\/p>\n

They already know what's in your resume<\/a>. Don't repeat \"your career path to date\" here. That's a waste of essay real estate and means you're not telling them anything new or answering their question.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do tell them what you want to do after your MBA and what aspects of the Columbia MBA experience will prepare you to do it.\u00a0Keep in mind that the MBA is a bridge between your past and desired future. Show Columbia why its program is the right bridge for you and now is the right time for you to be traverse this bridge.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

To answer this question well,\u00a0\u00a0you will need to really know the Columbia program thoroughly\u00a0along with\u00a0why you want a CBS MBA at this point in your career.\u00a0The essay that shines will do a great job of showing both fit and self-awareness.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Essay 2. <\/strong>Columbia Business School\u2019s location enables us to bridge theory and practice in multiple ways: through Master Classes, internships, the New York Immersion Seminars, and, most importantly, through a combination of distinguished research faculty and accomplished practitioners. How will you take advantage of being \u201cat the very center of business\u201d? (Maximum 250 words<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Please watch this video before attempting to answer the question and then keep it in mind as you write.<\/span><\/p>\n