Columbia Business School - Class of 2013 Application Year https://www.totalgadha.com/gmat/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/columbia-business-school.png For Roll Call, see the following spreadsheet. Please use the following form to add your stats to the spreadsheet. Add your name to the list here Spreadsheet 0Ak2vFwPQcf2zdHhjcXN2bjk2MUZ4ZW1pYVJCTFU5NEE Add your name to the list here Prior Years Application Thread CBS F'10 thread: calling-all-2010-cbs-applicants-merged-78610.html CBS F'09 thread: calling-all-columbia-applicants-for-63151.html#p460533

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Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!!

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mv2010

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15 Jan 2011, 12:18

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adalfu

mv2010

traveler

you're 25 and have six years of experience? how does that wokr?

i started working immediately after college!! i am one year ahead of my peers, as in i was the youngest in my class at school and college. (guess enrolled early)...

still doesn't add up. you also have a law degree?

age 28 = 6 years of work exp (usually) right after college. normal-track folks finish college at 21-22. if you're a year (or two ahead), that still doesn't add up to 6 years of exp at age 25.

Is that even the point? I am wondering why i got rejected.

Shawshank

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15 Jan 2011, 13:31

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cmv

mv2010

mbagirly

I think Columbia gives feedback to rejected applicants once the admissions season comes to a close?

For now, if you share your profile summary I am sure some of us will be happy to share ideas/thoughts.

Profile: Indian female applicant, 25 years old. GMAT - 720 (Even split between both sections). 6 years workex with Big4 firms in audit and advisory teams. Chartered Accountant. Have a degree in law. Graduation from one of the top colleges in India, with first class honours.
What more do they need?

I remember the first info session I attended at Columbia, they tell this (using fingers to demonstrate): out of each 10 candidates, 7 are completely qualified. We interview 3, and accept 1. That means there are 4 completely qualified people that get left out without even an interview.

The good news is that at 25, you have time to try again next year. If Columbia is your dream school, go for early decision, they really like knowing that they're your top choice. Make sure you coach your recommenders to be specific. Add extracurriculars. If at all possible, try to visit or stay in contact with current students.

Good luck. I can imagine how disconcerting this is...

Columbia only accepts 10% of applicants? I thought it was 15%.

cmv

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15 Jan 2011, 14:09

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Quote:

Columbia only accepts 10% of applicants? I thought it was 15%.

some years is has been ~13%. I guess they were rounding down.

traveler

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15 Jan 2011, 23:11

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mv2010

Is that even the point? I am wondering why i got rejected.

well, i dont see why they rejected you, but i also dont see why in particular they should have accepted you either. it does make a difference though, because its very unusual for anybody to be 25 and have more than 3 years of experience. im sure it immedietly raised a flag to adcom too, though i dont know if it would be in a good or bad way, just becuase it doesn't make logical sense.

people usually graduate college at the age of 22...

i'm sure with cbs and other top schools, having top grades and gmat, and great work experience are sort of expected... its those things that set you apart that people dont necessarily articulate on gmatclub when posting their profiles... nor their ability to express their interests and expereinces and potential that are very important too.

mv2010

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16 Jan 2011, 04:33

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traveler

mv2010

Is that even the point? I am wondering why i got rejected.

As i said before, 22 is the graduating age in US. Not in India. In India, people generally graduate by 20. Max 21. And thank you, what you said made sense. Let me see how else i can make my profile a bit stronger.

ke18sb

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Schools:Wharton R2 (Int), Columbia (Ding), Kellogg R2, Duke R2 (Int)

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16 Jan 2011, 07:52

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mv2010

Here is something that comes to mind. You say you have good grades, good gmat and good work experience. But you mention nothing about community involvement or outside activities. Maybe you have them maybe you don't, I have no idea. Regardless, you profile is nothing special. That is not meant to be a slight. There are just tons of people that are qualified and its the outside things that separate those that get in from those that don't. The tech guy that also started an NGO or that ibanker that has been participating in Big Brother Big Sister for the past 3 years in his "spare" time.

Something else could be the fact that you are applying from India, which from my understanding is a super competitive pool of applicants. Or the fact that you have a law degree, I've heard schools generally shy away from JDs, granted yours is from India so I'm not sure if that matters. Your essays could have played a factor too. The tone of your posts has a sense of entitlement, did that come off in your essays? I obviously haven't read them so I have no idea how amazing or cookie cutter they were. Basically there are tons of reasons that you could not have been admitted and its hard to really get into why with the limited amount of information you gave. I realize that it must suck to not get in and I'm probably destined for a similar fate but bschool really is just a crap shoot.

smidgett16

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16 Jan 2011, 10:30

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Did anyone get an invite to the Columbia Woman in Business event? Any idea how useful and informative this event will be?

I got an invite, but I'm all the way in CA. I have done a visit with a student and attended both on-campus and off-campus events, so I think I have shown my interest in the school. I'm trying to decide if one more event will be any more informative.

lawgonebusiness

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16 Jan 2011, 11:43

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ke18sb

mv2010

I dont know where people get the idea that schools shy away from JD's... I think, from my own experience, a JD from T10 law school totally enhanced my chances. It's after all a harder degree to get.

progressiongirl

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16 Jan 2011, 16:58

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ke18sb

mv2010

I definitely agree that business school acceptance CAN be a "crap shoot" sometimes. If you get rejected and another gets accepted, it doesn't mean at all that that person is better than you. Maybe they just could afford to spend $5000 for an admissions consultant to go through 14 revisions of all their essays, and you couldn't.

The only thing fair I guess is the GMAT. But even that isn't fair, for those who aren't good at test-taking, can't afford a course, etc.

loloswims

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16 Jan 2011, 23:33

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ke18sb

mv2010

Or accept the fact that your steller attributes resemble the other 5000 people that apply for the 500 spots. Not everyone will get in and people need to realize that they can only accept so many. MBA admissions is a highly SUBJECTIVE process.

cidneymba2011

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17 Jan 2011, 10:09

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GOT THE CALL ON FRIDAY!

ED applicant, deferred on 12/15

Haven't gotten the official email yet because she called me after 5 on Friday, but looking forward to getting the email tomorrow. YAAAAAAAAAY!

varunmishra86

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17 Jan 2011, 12:40

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cidneymba2011

Congratulations!

california1

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17 Jan 2011, 13:04

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Didn't you mentioned that you received the call two Fridays ago?

Posted from my mobile device

Wallace15

Joined: 17 Jan 2011

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17 Jan 2011, 13:35

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cidneymba2011

Congrats on the acceptance! I too was deferred at Columbia and am waiting on a final decision. Just curious if you communicated with the adcom at all while you were waiting? Any information that you can share will be greatly appreciated.

cidneymba2011

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17 Jan 2011, 14:09

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Wallace15

cidneymba2011

So first off, I hope you have written them another essay, that goes over all your updates to your application that you may not have gotten the chance to tell them before. I would highlight any professional updates especially (if say you got a promotion, more responsibility, ANYTHING that will show your leadership abilities and good track record). Also, if you haven't already done so, I would try to go visit the campus. I was able to do so in Nov, so that was another point I touched on in my update letter. Really this is your best chance to grab their attention again, so sell yourself!

I did wind up getting a follow up interview with an AdCom member, which I'm sure was vital to my getting accepted. I had a great conversation with her, we spoke about my work, why I wanted to go to CBS, New York, really just a nice chat and she got to know me better than just on paper.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions!

josiebella

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17 Jan 2011, 15:13

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Congrats Cidney!

NZOMNIAC

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Status:day of reckoning

Affiliations: CFA Level 3 Candidate

Location: NJ,USA

Concentration: Analytical Consulting

Schools:Harvard(R2 - ding), Wharton(R2 -ding), Booth(ding), Kellogg(waitlisted then dinged)

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WE 1: IIT, 6 yrs healthcare consulting

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17 Jan 2011, 18:58

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I have applied to Harvard, Wharton , Booth and Kellogg in Round 2 and was planning to CBS as safe option? Do you guys think its too late or I have a decent chance?

My profile is - 27/M/710/Indian / Working in US (Management consulting) for 5 yrs /Undergrad at IIT 8.38/10
Decent extracurriculars

uprightcitizen

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17 Jan 2011, 19:04

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NZOMNIAC

To be frank, I don't think CBS is a "safe option" for anyone (and has a lower acceptance rate than some of the schools you listed). However, this question has been raised and it seems there is no definitive reason to think it is too late to apply, aside from no opportunities for merit scholarships. If you can put together a strong enough application, then CBS still accepts people at this point, for sure.

smileyface

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17 Jan 2011, 19:09

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uprightcitizen

NZOMNIAC

applying after Jan 5 to CBS is akin to applying 3rd round to schools with decision rounds. they read in order it comes in.

applying 3rd round anywhere is hardly a safe bet; definitely not at CBS.

Shawshank

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17 Jan 2011, 20:04

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NZOMNIAC

Columbia is not a safe option for anyone unless you're an absolute rock star. Their acceptance rate is lower than every school on your list except Harvard. For regular decision, the acceptance is closer to 10%. VERY tough to get into. A lot of people i know at booth and kellogg were actually dinged at columbia.