Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! : The B-School Applications

osbornecox

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

20 May 2010, 00:16

3underscore wrote:

Columbia are doing 500 word essays now? Way to pick a trick from Downtown. Guess they are reacting to the rankings saying the other school is doing something good...

While 1250 words isn't exactly a lot, it certainly ought to be enough. The worst thing to adapt to in business school is to have four people write a paper that is double line spaced, 12 point typeface on one sheet of A4. That is the reasoning behind short essays (that and thousands of applicants with AdCom not wanting to read war and peace.

They're really starting to get neck and neck, aren't they?
How different do you think the "character" is at both schools? I remember in the past you felt that you were a MUCH better fit for NYU.
To be honest, I don't have much of a reading on Essay 2. It's certainly passing the ENTIRE burden of creativity onto the applicant: "just tell us whatever. if we don't like it, we'll can you." It's actually a fairly direct challenge.
On the other hand, why haven't they opened the format up to alternative media?

redevil

Intern

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Location: India

GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V31

GMAT 2: 720 Q50 V38

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

20 May 2010, 02:34

So your saying they are looking for the most interesting sounding people with the wacky out of the box interests and hobbies? going with a normal hobby or passion isnt good enough?
Or is it the way you write the essay. Might be writing the essay in a passionate way even if its about an interest that isnt that out of the box should do.

lawgonebusiness

Current Student

Joined: 08 May 2010

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Posts: 291

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

20 May 2010, 07:03

2

Kudos

I really don't think they care so much about what your interests are. What they care is what your interests entail in terms of the qualities they are looking for.

Moss

Senior Manager

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Location: United States (NY)

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

20 May 2010, 07:08

lawgonebusiness wrote:

I really don't think they care so much about what your interests are. What they care is what your interests entail in terms of the qualities they are looking for.

+1

redevil

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

20 May 2010, 10:35

lawgonebusiness wrote:

I really don't think they care so much about what your interests are. What they care is what your interests entail in terms of the qualities they are looking for.

Thanks a lot for putting that across. I completely forgot about looking at it that way. Qualities they are looking for in whatever it is you do

chostein

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

21 May 2010, 08:50

Can't believe I'm asking this Q this early but,

lawgonebusiness, any words yet?

I really wonder what the turnaround time would be for early ED submission.

redevil, Oh yes. Sounds so simple, but only if I can narrow down from the 1,000+ qualitifies that I think Columbia is looking for.

I'm already getting consumed, and it's only May

markbrown525

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

21 May 2010, 16:33

I'm thinking I might toss my hat in for ED round as well. I am applying to columbia no doubt. Can anyone chime in on their receptiveness to entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurship program they have? They seem to be pretty jacked about it from the GSB website.

lagomez

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

21 May 2010, 17:47

markbrown525 wrote:

I'm thinking I might toss my hat in for ED round as well. I am applying to columbia no doubt. Can anyone chime in on their receptiveness to entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurship program they have? They seem to be pretty jacked about it from the GSB website.

Same boat here, entrepreneur applying to Columbia. Yes, I agree. They seem pretty excited about it, but I have not been able to talk to anyone who can give me more detail. Please post something if you come across some information. I am hoping this might set me apart from the finance crowd, however, it is not the reason I am applying to Columbia.

lawgonebusiness

Current Student

Joined: 08 May 2010

Affiliations: CBS '13

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

21 May 2010, 20:41

chostein wrote:

Can't believe I'm asking this Q this early but,

lawgonebusiness, any words yet?

I really wonder what the turnaround time would be for early ED submission.

redevil, Oh yes. Sounds so simple, but only if I can narrow down from the 1,000+ qualitifies that I think Columbia is looking for.

I'm already getting consumed, and it's only May

Still "being printed and prepared for review"

osbornecox

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

22 May 2010, 01:46

1

Kudos

lawgonebusiness wrote:

chostein wrote:

Can't believe I'm asking this Q this early but,

lawgonebusiness, any words yet?

I really wonder what the turnaround time would be for early ED submission.

redevil, Oh yes. Sounds so simple, but only if I can narrow down from the 1,000+ qualitifies that I think Columbia is looking for.

I'm already getting consumed, and it's only May

Still "being printed and prepared for review"

Is that a 1980's printer they're using? Your app can't be THAT long

msbroker

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Joined: 16 Feb 2010

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Schools: Yale - Class of 2014

GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

24 May 2010, 10:08

just began braindumping for essay 2. at 800 words and haven't even covered my interests yet. haha.

Moss

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Location: United States (NY)

Schools: Columbia - Class of 2013

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

24 May 2010, 11:04

Yeah essay 2 is killing me. Any tips?

chostein

Manager

Joined: 01 Mar 2010

Posts: 175

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

24 May 2010, 14:11

Same here, msbroker :-D

Finished my "me" part at 750 words. I feel like me vs. interest should be 3:2 split, meaning 300 words vs. 200 words - I don't care who you are. That is not possible.

Making a smooth transition between the two is another challenge. The transition should take another 40 words.

Topic wise, not that difficult. But the challenge is to tell that story in 500 words. Essay #2 will separate a lotta applicants, I believe. The topic is sooo broad that you may end up babbling, rather than answering the damn question.

Hats off to Columbia adcom. A great knuckleball, indeed.

eminent

Current Student

Joined: 16 Aug 2009

Posts: 343

Schools:Columbia Business School - Class of 2012

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

25 May 2010, 19:44

1

Kudos

Good luck to everyone applying to CBS this season! I was in your shoes a year ago and know how it feels. I initially applied in the Spring of 2009 during Regular Decision, was dinged after interview, and then I reapplied in Fall 2009 ED and was admitted. If anyone here is re-applying, please feel free to PM me and I'd be glad to offer my advice/guidance.

Everyone else: make sure you know the school's resources and what makes it unique, reach out to current students/club officers/Hermes society members, and submit early in whichever round you decide on!

Best,
E

eminent

Current Student

Joined: 16 Aug 2009

Posts: 343

Schools:Columbia Business School - Class of 2012

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

25 May 2010, 19:46

markbrown525 wrote:

I'm thinking I might toss my hat in for ED round as well. I am applying to columbia no doubt. Can anyone chime in on their receptiveness to entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurship program they have? They seem to be pretty jacked about it from the GSB website.

The Entrepreneurship program is gaining a lot of momentum and there are significant resources for those pursuing their own ventures at CBS. We had 3 recent grads present at admit weekend that each started their own ventures after graduation.

eminent

Current Student

Joined: 16 Aug 2009

Posts: 343

Schools:Columbia Business School - Class of 2012

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

25 May 2010, 19:47

shadowsjc wrote:

some general thoughts / things i wish i would have known from my own app process:

- do it early. maybe not early decision if you don't want that level of commitment, but definitely early in the admissions cycle
- go to all their events, or as many as you possibly can. they regularly hold info sessions and targeted events later in the year. check their website and sign up for as many as you can, especially if you live nearby
- reach out to their current students. several of them are part of the hermes society (volunteer group for the adcom), and you can find and contact one that has similar interests as you: https://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/learnmore/chat.

Great advice!

Marescotti

Intern

Joined: 02 Feb 2010

Posts: 44

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

26 May 2010, 06:10

Hi all,

I am re-applying for j-term after I got dinged for RD; anyone in my same position?

chostein

Manager

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Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

26 May 2010, 17:15

Maybe eminent or shadowsjc can help out.

1. When do the "Columbia on the road" events begin for city other than NYC?

2. The app has a section about whether I attended an event or not and WHO I talked to :shock:

Maybe I'm getting too paranoid, but did 2010 applicants fill those out?

eminent

Current Student

Joined: 16 Aug 2009

Posts: 343

Schools:Columbia Business School - Class of 2012

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

26 May 2010, 20:01

chostein wrote:

Maybe eminent or shadowsjc can help out.

1. When do the "Columbia on the road" events begin for city other than NYC?

2. The app has a section about whether I attended an event or not and WHO I talked to :shock:

Maybe I'm getting too paranoid, but did 2010 applicants fill those out?

1. I'm not sure exactly but I think either August or September. The ones in California have mostly been in September the last couple of years if memory serves me correct.

2. I did fill these out and listed specific students and Adcom members I spoke to, as well as the info session I attended and my visit to campus.

eminent

Current Student

Joined: 16 Aug 2009

Posts: 343

Schools:Columbia Business School - Class of 2012

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

26 May 2010, 20:02

To mhweiler, your PMs are disabled and I'm unable to reply. Please enable and resend a PM and I'd be glad to talk.

gmatclubot

Re: Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!! [#permalink]

26 May 2010, 20:02

Calling All CBS 2011 Applicants!!

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