Columbia 2012 Applicants' Discussion Thread New! Columbia GSB Admissions Team Answers Questions on GMAT Club https://images.forbes.com/media/lists/95/2009/columbia-business-school.jpg Also, please see: Columbia GSB MBA Guide Columbia Applicant Summary (Real Time) Quick Glance: GMAT Club vs. Latest Intake (Class of 2013) Application Tracker Feed Detailed Applicant List: Add Yourself to This List (add Columbia GSB to your profile) GMAT Club's Real-time Admissions Statistics Add Your Profile to This List 2012 Roll Call (J-Term) Until the main roll call window hasn't added J Termers, I will manually update this. Please ping me to update your name and status here Even9net Tiggy - Accepted - 28th July, 2011 Submitted: 6/19, Review: , Invited to Interview: 7/12 Nimabi - Submitted: , Review: 6/1, Invited to Interview: 7/7 Miambaprosp - Accepted - 28th July, 2011 Submitted: 5/21, Review: 6/2 , Invited to Interview: 7/7 and Interviewed: 7/17 Mmbma - Submitted: 6/15, Review: , Invited to Interview: 7/20 Wishnuv - Submitted: 6/28, Review: , Invited to Interview: 7/19 NYYankees (R) - Submitted: 7/15, Review: 7/18, Invited to Interview: 7/28 (R) - Reapplicant Application Deadlines August 2012 Entry Early Decision: October 5, 2011 Merit Fellowship Consideration: January 4, 2012 Regular Decision: April 11, 2012 January 2012 Entry October 5, 2011 Essay Questions Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays. Short Answer Question What is your post-MBA professional goal? (200 characters maximum) Essay 1 Considering your post-MBA and long term professional goals, why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career? Additionally, why is Columbia Business School a good fit for you? (750 words maximum) Essay 2 Describe a life experience that has shaped you. The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (500 words maximum) Essay 3 For the third essay, please choose one of the following three options: Option A The annual A. Lorne Weil Outrageous Business Plan Competition is a student initiative managed and run by the Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO). The competition encourages Columbia MBA students to explore creative, entrepreneurial ideas that are sufficiently ambitious in scope and scale to be considered “outrageous.” Students explore these ideas while learning firsthand what goes into the development and presentation of a solid business proposal. Develop your own outrageous business idea. In essay form, compose your elevator pitch. (250 words maximum) Option B Columbia deeply values its vibrant student community, the building of which begins at orientation when admitted students are assigned to clusters of 65 to 70 fellow students who take most of the first-year core classes together. During the first weeks of school, each cluster selects a cluster chair. Further strengthening the student community are the more than 100 active student organizations at Columbia Business School, ranging from cultural to professional to community service–oriented. Leadership positions within clusters and clubs offer hands-on management and networking opportunities for students as they interact with fellow students, administrators, faculty members, alumni, and practitioners. You are running for either cluster chair or a club leadership position of your choosing. Compose your campaign speech. (250 words maximum) Option C Founded nearly three decades ago, the Executives in Residence Program at Columbia Business School integrates senior executives into the life of the School. Current executives in residence include more than a dozen experts in areas ranging from media and investment banking to private equity and management. A hallmark of the program is one-on-one counseling sessions in which executives advise students about their prospective career choices. Select one of the current executives in residence with whom you would like to meet during your time at Columbia. Explain your selection and tell us how you would best utilize your half hour one-on-one session. (250 words maximum) CLASS PROFILE (Official Figures) MBA Student Profile — Class Entering 2011 (January and August) Applications Received 6692 Applicants Accepted 1062 Acceptance Rate 16% Class Size 751, divided into 11 clusters GMAT Scores (middle 80%) 680–760 Undergraduate GPA (middle 80%) 3.1–3.8 Work Experience (middle 80%) 3–7 years At Least One Year of Work Experience 100% Average age 28 Women 35% International Citizens 38% - 48% of the incoming class came with a background in Financial Services (28%) and Consulting (20%); Lowest percentages from Non Profit (4%), Manufacturing (3%) and Energy (2%) - Highest percentage of incoming students, by undergrad major, is from Social Sciences (35%) followed by Business (26%) External review of the Columbia Business School https://poetsandquants.com/2010/12/09/columbia-business-school/ Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQzdr1MFVFw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cD2mv8-_xA Admitted Students can join the facebook page set-up. https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/gr ... 096381155/

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Columbia 2012 - Calling All Applicants

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MCE7

Joined: 03 Sep 2011

Last visit: 05 Jul 2013

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Location: United States (NY)

Concentration: Real Estate, Entrepreneurship

Schools: CBS '14 (D) Stern '14 (I) Tuck '14

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Schools: CBS '14 (D) Stern '14 (I) Tuck '14

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03 Nov 2011, 10:00

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redevil

There isnt a concrete 30 day period. The website says it takes them three to four weeks to process an application. So as we havent got an interview invite after 30 days, it could mean bad news. But as mentioned by a few, it doesnt always mean a ding.

Today, CBS and and I celebrate our 30-day anniversary (since app was submitted).

redevil

Joined: 17 May 2010

Last visit: 25 Nov 2014

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GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31 Verified score

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03 Nov 2011, 10:06

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MCE7

redevil

Today, CBS and and I celebrate our 30-day anniversary (since app was submitted).

Hey its our anniversary too... Submitted on 10/03

diggles14

Joined: 11 Oct 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 11:36

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After trolling through last year's forum (why was I doing this???) I am predicting a large group of admits today/tomorrow. I hope I'm right!
calling-all-cbs-2011-applicants-94306-1800.html

mbagirl23

Joined: 08 Sep 2011

Last visit: 21 Jun 2012

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Concentration: Finance, International Business

Schools: CBS '14 (D) Booth '14 (A) Kellogg '14 (D) Stern '14 (M)

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03 Nov 2011, 11:51

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Just received an interview invite! I had lost hope and was preparing for a ding!
Submitted 10/02
Invited 11/03

bjq05

Joined: 31 Oct 2011

Last visit: 03 Jun 2014

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Location: United States

Schools: Tuck '15 (D) Wharton '15 (D) Booth '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (D) HKU '15 (A$) Ross '16 (A) Stern '16 (A)

GPA: 3.94

Schools: Tuck '15 (D) Wharton '15 (D) Booth '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (D) HKU '15 (A$) Ross '16 (A) Stern '16 (A)

Posts: 30

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03 Nov 2011, 12:11

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mbagirl23

Just received an interview invite! I had lost hope and was preparing for a ding!
Submitted 10/02
Invited 11/03

Cong! Hope I will get mine today! Waiting everyday since last week, and it's too painful!

mbagirl23

Joined: 08 Sep 2011

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Schools: CBS '14 (D) Booth '14 (A) Kellogg '14 (D) Stern '14 (M)

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03 Nov 2011, 12:14

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bjq05

mbagirl23

Just received an interview invite! I had lost hope and was preparing for a ding!
Submitted 10/02
Invited 11/03

Cong! Hope I will get mine today! Waiting everyday since last week, and it's too painful!

I hear you! My level of self confidence /esteem was going down a little more everyday.

keep faith!

cbs2012chi

Joined: 29 Oct 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 12:45

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mbagirl,,

when did your application go under review?

NYYankees

Joined: 04 Mar 2011

Last visit: 16 Nov 2012

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Location: United States (AL)

Concentration: Finance

Schools: CBS '14 (A) Tuck '14 (I) Booth '14 (II)

GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47 Verified score

GPA: 3.4

WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Other)

Schools: CBS '14 (A) Tuck '14 (I) Booth '14 (II)

GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47 Verified score

Posts: 44

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03 Nov 2011, 13:46

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It's nice to see some J-Term talk on here. I've been on the J-Term waitlist since August and I can't help but be encouraged by the size of the J-term FB group at this point. Does anyone have any indication as to how many spots are left open for the class?

I'm located in NYC which would make it easier for me to enroll on short notice. For foreign students I would think the time must be getting very tight if they need to get visa approval and everything else with class starting in about 2 months.

jaxny

Joined: 04 Feb 2011

Last visit: 22 Dec 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 13:56

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NYYankees

I wasn't even aware that there was a wait list for J-termers. Could you provide your time line? For all of us who have been complete and waiting, its definitely feels like you're on a wait list anyway.

Btw, Go Mets!

mbagirl23

Joined: 08 Sep 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 15:03

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cbs2012chi

mbagirl,,

when did your application go under review?

got under review on 10/04

alma2404

Joined: 05 Oct 2011

Last visit: 14 Nov 2011

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Location: United States

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GMAT 1: 780 Q49 V50 Verified score

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03 Nov 2011, 15:20

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Does adcom typically leave a message when they call? Might be making something of nothing, but just got a call from an unknown number for the first time in a while - and no message. Keeping my phone handy from now on!

NYYankees

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Location: United States (AL)

Concentration: Finance

Schools: CBS '14 (A) Tuck '14 (I) Booth '14 (II)

GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47 Verified score

GPA: 3.4

WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Other)

Schools: CBS '14 (A) Tuck '14 (I) Booth '14 (II)

GMAT 1: 760 Q48 V47 Verified score

Posts: 44

Kudos: 8

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03 Nov 2011, 15:34

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jaxny

NYYankees

My timeline J-Term:
Applied 7/15
Under Review 7/19
Invited to Interview 7/28
Interviewed 8/2
Complete 8/8
Waitlist 8/11

I must admit I was surprised to be waitlisted so early in the process and especially so soon after going complete. I guess I was an obvious waitlister.

americanInAsia

Joined: 16 Jun 2011

Last visit: 07 Aug 2017

Posts: 78

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Location: United States (IL)

Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools: Booth PT '20 (M)

GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V35 Verified score

GPA: 3.1

WE:Asset Management (Finance: Investment Banking)

Products:

Schools: Booth PT '20 (M)

GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V35 Verified score

Posts: 78

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03 Nov 2011, 17:04

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alma2404

Same thing happened to me last friday morning EST...sadly, I have not gotten a call this week (yet).

Some people have gotten a VM to call back, while others just had missed calls then received a call from admissions nearly 24 hours later to let them know they were in. I guess it all depends. Here's to us getting calls Friday!!!

mengchacha

Joined: 02 Nov 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 17:34

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I missed a call from Adcom last night and later received an email saying that they want to do some follow up (I have been interviewed about two weeks ago) and will call later...Any one had idea about such situation? What's the implication?

americanInAsia

Joined: 16 Jun 2011

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Location: United States (IL)

Concentration: Finance, Entrepreneurship

Schools: Booth PT '20 (M)

GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V35 Verified score

GPA: 3.1

WE:Asset Management (Finance: Investment Banking)

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Schools: Booth PT '20 (M)

GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V35 Verified score

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03 Nov 2011, 17:45

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mengchacha

Some people on this board (don't know if they still visit) had a similar call, if you search through past pages. For those individuals, it was to clarify some things in the app...goals, etc. From what other people have said - it's a positive sign that they are interested in you (enough to call - instead of just emailing a rejection).

Good luck!

mengchacha

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03 Nov 2011, 17:49

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americanInAsia

mengchacha

Thank you for offering the ray of hope!

alma2404

Joined: 05 Oct 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 17:59

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mengchacha

Are you a J-Term candidate? Have they called?

MarriedButAvailable

Joined: 03 Nov 2011

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03 Nov 2011, 18:01

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This is my very first post... and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed by the level of activity on this thread! Congratulations to all those who have been admitted, best of luck to those who received interview calls/are waiting for a decision and my heartfelt support to those celebrating "month-versaries" (I sincerely hope you guys get an interview call (and more!) as I know how it feels... I was in the same boat as you all last year!)

Moving on to the point, I just wish to add my two cents (only for ED applicants) ... Basing it loosely on the stats compiled in the excel sheet available on this thread and "details" of CBS' admission process as described by the AdCom in an interview-based article, I draw the following conclusions:

Process as described: Each application is reviewed by atleast 2 separate people and ANY one reviewer can call the applicant for the interview; After the interview, the application undergoes another review -- I assume that this post-interview review is done either by the Reviewer 2 (if interview is issued by Reviewer 1) or by Reviewer 1 or 3 (if interview is issued buy Reviewer 2) {this part is not entirely clear} -- and then a consensus is required before any decision is rendered. (Of course, senior AdCom members would be reviewing all potential admits).

Assumption: As we are already in November, I assume that AdCom is flooded with apps and is working at max. capacity. Let's say there are 2 - 3 reviewers for each application (plus senior AdCom Members).

Inferences: Based on trends, I think CBS AdCom targets max 2-weeks** for each review. Hence many that have received interview invites from Reviewer 1 have done so within 2 weeks - ultimately, it depends upon how quickly the app is reviewed by Reviewer 1. If one has not received an interview invite within around 2 weeks, then maybe Reviewer 1 has not issued an interview and that the application is queued with Reviewer 2. Now, its up to Reviewer 2 to issue the interview or stamp the app with the dreaded ding.

**I say 2-weeks as I think this is the internal upper limit (broadly) for all process steps -- a) We are encouraged to complete our interview in 2-weeks b) Interviewer is required to submit an evaluation in 2-weeks c) most decisions are announced within 2 weeks after completion ... notice a trend here?

Speculation: All those waiting for an interview for around a month may safely assume that their app is with Reviewer 2 and maybe he is backlogged with work... thus the decision is may not yet have been made. However, I do agree that it's logical for dings to be given out in batches as I am sure they need to be "signed-off" by a senior member before being e-mailed and I don't really see this senior person reviewing them one at a time (but then again this is mere speculation!).

Potential Impact on Application Chances: Perhaps, those who are invited by Reviewer 1 stand a higher chance than those rejected by Reviewer 1 and instead invited by Reviewer 2. To improve their chances, I would imagine that such candidates invited by Reviewer 2 need to perform better in the interview to "change" Reviewer 1's mind (or) convince Reviewer 3 (if any) (referring to the article - a consensus is required before any decision is rendered). This just seems logical, however, it completely goes against what CBS states i.e. "interview timing has no bearing on the application decision".

Again, all this is just mere speculation and I take no responsibility for how anyone uses this information. :-D