{"id":34367,"date":"2016-09-01T14:22:43","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T21:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=34367"},"modified":"2016-09-01T14:22:43","modified_gmt":"2016-09-01T21:22:43","slug":"columbia-2016-17-executive-mba-essay-tips-deadlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/columbia-2016-17-executive-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia 2016-17 Executive MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Check<\/a><\/p>\n

These essay questions focus mostly on the present and future, so don\u2019t expect to elaborately portray your professional development as a prelude to your goals. Be guided by Columbia adcom\u2019s focus and give them what they ask for, in aggregate: a vivid sense of engagement; focused career plans; and knowledge of the program and why you need it. Considering the lack of opportunity to discuss past professional achievements and experience, your resume<\/a> carries all the more weight in the Columbia EMBA application \u2013 attend to it accordingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (51 characters maximum)<\/em><\/p>\n

A factual phrase or bullet will suffice; don\u2019t worry about responding with a whole sentence. Do include function and industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

1.<\/strong> Through your resume and recommendations<\/a>, 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? (100 \u2013 750 words)<\/em><\/p>\n

You may want to start by discussing your current career situation to set the context, and clarify how the MBA education will enable you to achieve your immediate goals. You can then naturally move on to your future goals<\/a> sequentially. Give more detail in the roles you plan immediately post-MBA and the several years following; this time frame should comprise the bulk of your goals discussion. Longer-term goals need less detail, but they still should present a clear direction. In describing your goals at any given point, indicate why you are taking that step.<\/span><\/p>\n

In discussing how the program will benefit you, be specific: identify what skills and knowledge you need, and how the program meets those needs. Refer to specific aspects of the curriculum, structure and\/or special features of the program, detailing how they will support you and your goals.<\/span><\/p>\n

As far as that length guideline, bear in mind that Columbia has always looked for practical discussion about how you\u2019ll realize your goals, not just what they are. It\u2019s unlikely fewer than 400 words or so would give you sufficient space to deliver the substantiating detail. I\u2019d suggest an essay in the 500-750 word range.<\/span><\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Columbia Business School\u2019s<\/a> Executive MBA will challenge you by offering a rigorous academic experience, global exposure through the international seminar, and the opportunity to immediately apply what you learn to your career. How will you approach balancing the demands of the program with your professional and personal life while you are in school? (100 \u2013 500 words)<\/em><\/p>\n

Discuss the accommodations you will make at work, such as delegating more, adjusting travel schedules, etc. You don\u2019t have to tell them every single thing you can think of \u2013 focus on the most significant two or three adjustments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also address your personal responsibilities and how you will meet them with this additional demand on your time and energy; even acknowledging that you\u2019ll have less time at the playground with your toddler or mentioning the support of your significant other will show that you\u2019re facing this issue squarely.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve already successfully balanced school and working full time, by all means mention it.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may well not need 500 words for this essay, but don\u2019t skimp at 100 either (you don\u2019t want to look like you\u2019re blowing it off). A range of 350-450 should be right for most people.<\/span><\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> CBS Matters<\/a>, a key element of the School\u2019s culture, allows the people in your Cluster to learn more about you on a personal level. What will your Clustermates be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (100 \u2013 500 words)<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s tricky, in that your audience for this essay is twofold: the adcom and your future Clustermates. Ideally you\u2019ll want to pleasantly surprise both\u2026 Hence, let\u2019s break down the phrase \u201cpleasantly surprised.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

It can be something from work or outside work \u2013 but if from work, do not make it a \u201cgreat achievement\u201d or \u201cstellar leadership\u201d type of essay \u2013 the tone of the question suggests something more revealing and touching about you as a person. If it\u2019s far in the past, it should be something of continuing relevance. DON\u2019T present a boring explanation. DO root your response in actual experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most important: DO select a topic that will add something to your profile, something 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 laugh, high five!<\/span><\/p>\n

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

***Disclaimer<\/span>: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***<\/i><\/p>\n

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

\"Check<\/a> \"Check<\/a> \"Check<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Navigate_the_MBA_Maze\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Cindy<\/a> By Cindy Tokumitsu<\/a>,\u00a0co-author of <\/em><\/em>The EMBA Edge<\/a>, and author of the free \u00a0guide, <\/em><\/em>Ace the EMBA<\/a>. Cindy has helped MBA applicants get accepted to top EMBA programs around the world. She is delighted to help you too - click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a05 Key Qualifying Factors the EMBA Adcoms Look For<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a03 Key Ways to Stand Out Through Your EMBA Essays<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

This article<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>originally appeared on\u00a0<\/span><\/i>blog.accepted.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/i><\/span>get accepted<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These essay questions focus mostly on the present and future, so don\u2019t expect to elaborately portray your professional development as a prelude to your goals. Be guided by Columbia adcom\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,243],"tags":[267,811],"class_list":["post-34367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","tag-deadlines","tag-essay-tips","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34367"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34368,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34367\/revisions\/34368"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}