{"id":49167,"date":"2020-06-28T18:07:06","date_gmt":"2020-06-29T01:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=49167"},"modified":"2020-09-29T12:21:51","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T19:21:51","slug":"columbia-business-school-mba-essay-tips-deadlines-2020-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/columbia-business-school-mba-essay-tips-deadlines-2020-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbia Business School MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines: 2020- 21"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Columbia business school, at the very center of business<\/em>, has retained the short answer question, Essay #1 (career goals), and Essay and #2 (fit) for the application cycle 2020-21. CBS has changed Essay #3. Instead of your 'favorite leader,' CBS now desires to know about your favorite book, movie, or song.  Like previous years, CBS allows applicants to submit an optional essay to explain any areas of concern in their application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Deadlines<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022     Early\nDecision\/January Deadline:              October\n2, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022     Merit Based\nFellowship Deadline:                 January\n6, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022     Final Regular\nDecision Deadline:                 April\n9, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022     Deferred\nEnrollment Deadline:                    April 15, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Here is MER's analysis of CBS's\nessays:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

 What is your immediate post-MBA professional\ngoal? (50 characters maximum)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nis a straightforward question about the candidates' career goal immediately\nafter graduating from Columbia Business School. In a mere 50 characters,\nincluding space (approximately eight words), you have to mention the job you\nwish to have after completing MBA. Please make sure that your post-MBA goal\naligns with your long-term goal that you will discuss in essay #1. Since the\ncharacter limit is so stringent, you may not stress yourself writing complete\nsentences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please\nreveal your true goals, and not what CBS wants to hear I would encourage you to\nlook at CBS' examples of possible responses<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of possible responses:
\n\"Work in business development for a media company.\"
\n\"Join a strategy consulting firm.\"
\n\"Launch a data-management start-up.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let's\ntake a closer look at other essays now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay\n#1: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your\nprofessional path to date. What are your career goals over the next 3-5 years,\nand what, in your imagination, would be your long-term dream job? (500 words)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBS\nis going with this prompt again this year and begins this essay prompt by\nclearly stating not to repeat the information already given in resume and\nrecommendations. In other words, the Admission Committee is shoving you away\nfrom wasting their time in repeating your r\u00e9sum\u00e9! Though the question asks only\nabout short term and long-term goals, a bit of context about professional\nhistory is required to explain what has led you to your career goals. Now, if\nyou must mention some of your achievements, it should be done only to carry\nyour career path forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\nmay build your essay from the immediate post-MBA goal already stated in the\nshort answer question. Talk about your career goals over the next 3-5 years,\nsharing how you intend to progress from your short-term goals to the long-term\ndream job. Also, make sure to keep the short and long-term goals aligned. Notice\nthe phrases in the essay question \"dream job\" and \"in your\nimagination\"; CBS is urging you to be creative, imaginative, and think\nbig, and is interested to know your dream job - your long-term goals. You may\nnot need to conform to prescribed norms; you could be the one who may pave the\nway for others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\nmay tend to get a bit too carried away with \"dream job.\" But you\nshould resist the temptation and be as realistic and grounded as possible while\ndetailing out your goals. Try to highlight how things may change for the\ncommunity or people around you when you succeed in getting your dream job. Your\nplans could be ambitious, but they should be viable and realistic. So, you\nshould also stress your ability to fulfill your dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although\nCBS does not ask how MBA from CBS will help you reach your goals, we believe\nthat you can wrap up the essay with a comment on (only one sentence) how CBS\nwill open the doors to your dream career path. You don't want to go into\ndetails since you will talk about CBS in detail in the second question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay #2: Why do you feel Columbia\nBusiness School is a good fit for you? (250 words)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay #2 picks up from where Essay # 1 left off. After detailing out your career aspirations, you will now explain how CBS is aligned with your goals. The best way to write an effective response is to do a thorough research of  Columbia's intellectually driven alumni from varied backgrounds, curriculum, experienced faculty, clubs, extracurricular activities, strategic location, and recruiting strengths. And then, discuss how you intend to use the resources and offerings of the CBS MBA program to reach your short term and long-term goals already mentioned in the short answer question and essay 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\nis a good idea to highlight strengths listed on the CBS website<\/a>, \"Only\nColumbia Business School gives you the opportunity to shape your career in the\nvery center of business. There's something about being positioned in New York\nCity, where access to leaders across the industry is truly advantageous. Here\nyou will learn to take on challenges and respond dynamically. You'll gain\nskills to succeed in fast-moving, competitive environments anywhere. Hone your\nstrengths. Find your best career path. Realize success.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBS\ntakes great pride in its strategic location, i.e., New York. So  you should put across your plan to make the\nbest use of CBS being at \"the very center of business.\" Having access\nto the leaders across the world is emphasized by CBS as it is one of the key\nbenefits of the program. You may indicate how you can make use of CBS's close\nties to the business, non-profit, and government communities to succeed in the\nfast-moving competitive environment. Make a list of the opportunities you hope\nto get at CBS and in New York City, and then link each of these to your goals.\nReviewing CBS's website, conversing with the alumni, attending CBS events for\nprospective students, and visiting campus could all work to your advantage by\nsetting your case apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing\nan impactful essay, highlighting how the strategic location and resources at\nCBS can be an excellent choice for accomplishing your short-term and long-term\ngoals in only 250 words is not an easy task. To meet the stringent word limits,\nyou need to be extremely precise in presenting your case and make every word count.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay #3: Tell us about your\nfavorite book, movie or song and why it resonates with you. (250 words)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nquestion is brand new for 2020-21, replacing last year's question about a\nleader you admire. This essay prompt is an opportunity to offer the admission\ncommittee a peek into your personal side- your values, beliefs, interests, and\nexperiences. The main focus of this 250 -words essay should not be on the book,\nmovie, or song but on your reasons for loving that. It does not matter whether\nyou choose a movie, a song, or book or which movie, song, or book you choose. The\nkey here is why that piece resonates with you. Here, the \"why\"\nbecomes more important than the 'what'. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\nmay begin by providing some background information about the theme of the book,\nmovie, or song you have chosen (approximately 60-70 words)  and then go on to explain why that piece is so\nmeaningful to you that it became your favorite.\nBy describing why the piece resonates with you, you are sharing your emotions,\nfeelings, values, fears, and dreams, which in turn reveal the personality\ntraits that make you who you are. And please do not quote from other people's\ncritiques or views. Be original and authentic. Do not write anything that you\nthink the admission committee will 'like' to hear; instead, be candid in\nsharing your thoughts and views. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Is\nthere any further information that you wish to provide the Admissions\nCommittee? If so, use this space to provide an explanation of any areas of\nconcern in your academic record or your personal history. This does not need to\nbe a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (Maximum 500 Words)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An optional\nessay<\/a> is an opportunity for you to share relevant information with\nthe Ad Com that you could not provide in other parts of your application,\nessays, and resume. The optional Essay is meant to address any weakness in your\nprofile. For example, if you have a lower than average GMAT score, any grades\nbelow a C on your transcript, academic probation, or a significant employment\/education\ngap, you can explain that in this essay. Also, if you cannot get your\nrecommendation letter from your current supervisor, you should explain that in\nthe optional essay. Your response should be positive, straightforward, and\nfact-focused and should not sound like you are making excuses for a weakness in\nyour profile. To provide a context for a weakness in your profile, make sure\nyour reason is genuine to convince the Ad Com that your low grades or\nemployment gap occurred due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control. First,\nexplain the facts, then show how you have addressed the issue, and finally, conclude\nby explaining why this will not impact your ability to handle the academic rigor\nof the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This question is entirely optional. If you don't have any area of concern, you may not write this essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

10 Key Essay Tips with Examples<\/a>
\nEssay Analysis of Other\nTop Programs-2020-21<\/a>
\nMER Students Share their\nsuccess Stories<\/a>
\nCase Studies <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since\n2011, MER (myEssayReview<\/em><\/a>) has helped many applicants get accepted into the top\n20 MBA programs, including CBS. (Poonam is one of the top 5 most reviewed consultants on the GMAT Club<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do\nyou have questions about your application? E-mail Poonam at poonam@myessayreview.com<\/a>\nor sign up here<\/a>\nfor a free consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article<\/a> first appeared in myEssayReview<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Columbia business school, at the very center of business, has retained the short answer question, Essay #1 (career goals), and Essay and #2 (fit) for the application cycle 2020-21. CBS…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[943,113,243],"tags":[2246,918,267,863,2213,2243],"class_list":["post-49167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-myessayreview","category-applications","category-blog","tag-cbs-mba-essay-tips","tag-columbia-business-school","tag-deadlines","tag-mba-admissions-consulting","tag-myessayreview","tag-poonam","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49167","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\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49167"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49786,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49167\/revisions\/49786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}