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barcelonafan
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 01 Dec 2015, 19:24
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Anyone (particularly those who have interviewed) have advice to offer on how to pick your interviewer from the list that CBS offers? Best to go with recent alum vs. more senior alum? Go with someone who will already understand my background/industry from my resume vs. someone who I will get the opportunity to explain it to?
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 01 Dec 2015, 19:25
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Hmm I was pretty confident on this app compared to others. No invite thus far though!
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 01 Dec 2015, 20:18
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Hi All!
First time on this thread, just wanted to add another data point and say that I got an email tonight inviting me to interview. Submitted RD application on 9/24 :)
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 01 Dec 2015, 20:35
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Got my RD invite. Boston candidate, submitted app around October 3.
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 02:37
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Hi,
I applied for ED round and was accepted last month. Now, I have a question regarding background check.
1) I reviewed my application again after submitting a background check and found that there were a little different in my starting salary I filled out last year and this year (I am a re-applicant candidate) because of currency exchange rate. Should I notify them or just leave it?
2) I was charged for just $45 by Re Vera, while I saw some people mentioned that the fee was $75 2 years ago. Do they reduce the fee or $45 is the price for international candidate?

Thank you
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SaoMarcos
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 03:23
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Received the invite as well. RD, applied on September 10, from South America.
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bSchool2018
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 06:23
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Received invite on Dec. 1st!!
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ENGRTOMBA2018
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 08:23
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andy3590
Anyone (particularly those who have interviewed) have advice to offer on how to pick your interviewer from the list that CBS offers? Best to go with recent alum vs. more senior alum? Go with someone who will already understand my background/industry from my resume vs. someone who I will get the opportunity to explain it to?
Show more

CBS asks you to not send out mass emails to all your matched alumni but to wait for a couple of business days to have your interview scheduled.

I went with an relatively older guy as my interviewer and he was not from either my current or post MBA industry as this would have landed me with some pointed questions and as a career changer , it would have been a bit difficult to answer with the specificity required. Going with the 2nd Alumnus was more of a necessity as my 1st interviewer did not reply back to my request email within 2 business days. The 3rd and last option for me was for an alumna who has been working in my post MBA industry for the past 5 years. I personally thought that it might get a bit tricky to choose her as my interviewer.

The primary consideration when selecting the interview is really your personal preference. Think about industry, age, gender, and the like. You know yourself and know your comfort level and how you usually perform with each type of person. If you feel like you usually relate better to people in your approximate peer group, that's a consideration. If you feel like you'd be able to have a lively discussion with someone from your own industry, consider that as well. Look them up and see who you think you'd be best suited to connect with. It's different for everyone, but we all kind of know it when we see it.

The only other way around having more options is to let the interview coordinator know that you would like to request a change of city (somewhere you either can travel to easily or you know you will be going to due to any reason!).

Hope this helps.
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MBApplicantfromNYC
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 09:24
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bSchool2018
Received invite on Dec. 1st!!
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First time poster here! Just out of interest, when did you apply? My last recommendation was submitted on October 19th (everything else submitted October 8th) and I haven't heard anything yet, so I am just interested in knowing when those who have received invitations applied. Sounds like the most recent application was October 3rd.

Thanks and best of luck to all!
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thor5517
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 09:48
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Hey Everybody,

For people that have interviewed, how did you handle the "why mba?" and "why columbia?" questions. How did you phrase your responses - did you combine them an say here is why i need a mba and here is why cbs is perfect or did you let them ask?

Thanks!!
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TVF
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 09:54
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thor5517
Hey Everybody,

For people that have interviewed, how did you handle the "why mba?" and "why columbia?" questions. How did you phrase your responses - did you combine them an say here is why i need a mba and here is why cbs is perfect or did you let them ask?

Thanks!!
Show more

For the why MBA? use your standard answer that you think works for you.

For Why Coulumbia? you must be very specific - During my answer..I used some points from the Why MBA and my interviewer did not seem interested there and even said "that stuff applies to more schools..why specifically Columbia!"

Hope that helps
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ENGRTOMBA2018
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 09:58
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thor5517
Hey Everybody,

For people that have interviewed, how did you handle the "why mba?" and "why columbia?" questions. How did you phrase your responses - did you combine them an say here is why i need a mba and here is why cbs is perfect or did you let them ask?

Thanks!!
Show more

That totally depends on whether your interviewer will ask these questions separately or as a 2 part question. WHY MBA should focus on your LT/ST goals and ending with 1-2 sentences about why/how Columbia is going to help you in achieving those.

For Why Columbia, you need to be very specific about your approach. I followed the routine of 1-2 sentences about my LT/ST goals. Followed up with 1-2 examples from in-class activities (courses/professors), in class experiential opportunities (seminars, executives in residence etc etc), out of class interactions (via clubs/groups) and finally personal development avenues by being in NYC.

Waiting for a particular question to be asked is a strategy that might backfire. But these 2 questions are the essence of any bschool interview. If you feel you have already spoken about certain things before and are afraid about sounding repetitive, try to come up with different examples but you can still keep the same themes (in class, exp. opps., clubs etc).

Also, make sure to not bore the interviewer with too many specifics. Keep your answers of medium time frame (1.5-3.5 minutes). I agree with the poster above as my interviewer cut me short once while I was talking about Why Columbia after just a minute or so by telling me that 'he knows I have done my homework'. So be prepared for such a scenario.

But if you still feel you missed out on a few important aspects from your application, you will still have 1 final chance to summarize everything for the interviewer (albeit succinctly) at the end when the interviewer asks you "is there anything you would want to mention (at the end)..."

Hope this helps.
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thor5517
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 10:09
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Engr2012
thor5517
Hey Everybody,

For people that have interviewed, how did you handle the "why mba?" and "why columbia?" questions. How did you phrase your responses - did you combine them an say here is why i need a mba and here is why cbs is perfect or did you let them ask?

Thanks!!

That totally depends on whether your interviewer will ask these questions separately or as a 2 part question. WHY MBA should focus on your LT/ST goals and ending with 1-2 sentences about why/how Columbia is going to help you in achieving those.

For Why Columbia, you need to be very specific about your approach. I followed the routine of 1-2 sentences about my LT/ST goals. Followed up with 1-2 examples from in-class activities (courses/professors), in class experiential opportunities (seminars, executives in residence etc etc), out of class interactions (via clubs/groups) and finally personal development avenues by being in NYC.

Waiting for a particular question to be asked is a strategy that might backfire. But these 2 questions are the essence of any bschool interview. If you feel you have already spoken about certain things before and are afraid about sounding repetitive, try to come up with different examples but you can still keep the same themes (in class, exp. opps., clubs etc).

Also, make sure to not bore the interviewer with too many specifics. Keep your answers of medium time frame (1.5-3.5 minutes). I agree with the poster above as my interviewer cut me short once while I was talking about Why Columbia after just a minute or so by telling me that 'he knows I have done my homework'. So be prepared for such a scenario.

But if you still feel you missed out on a few important aspects from your application, you will still have 1 final chance to summarize everything for the interviewer (albeit succinctly) at the end when the interviewer asks you "is there anything you would want to mention (at the end)..."

Hope this helps.
Show more


Thanks both of you for the above responses. Engr 2012 - did you combine all of yours into one answer, (St &lt, classes, seminars, clubs/groups) - seems like that weould be hard to keep under 3 minutes, or were you asked specifics? I want to avoid just rattling of classes for the sake of it.
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 10:10
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Also sorry but one quick follow up question. If I am meeting my interviewer at a cafe in a fancy hotel any advice on what to wear, is a suit too much?

Thanks!
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 10:23
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thor5517
Also sorry but one quick follow up question. If I am meeting my interviewer at a cafe in a fancy hotel any advice on what to wear, is a suit too much?

Thanks!
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It's a business school interview, you should absolutely wear a suit.
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TheLostOne
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 10:30
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Unless otherwise noted. Happened in one of my other interviews!
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 10:35
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thor5517


Thanks both of you for the above responses. Engr 2012 - did you combine all of yours into one answer, (St &lt, classes, seminars, clubs/groups) - seems like that weould be hard to keep under 3 minutes, or were you asked specifics? I want to avoid just rattling of classes for the sake of it.
Show more

Exactly. I made sure to quote 1 example each, not too detailed but enough to generate some curiosity (this will then perhaps lead to another question and then you can elaborate).

For WHY Columbia, the interviewer did not let me go further than group activities/experiential opportunities. So I improvised and added the personal growth and other networking aspects of Why Columbia into the question "WHY NYC" that he asked me after WHY MBA and WHY CBS.
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 11:27
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thor5517
Also sorry but one quick follow up question. If I am meeting my interviewer at a cafe in a fancy hotel any advice on what to wear, is a suit too much?

Thanks!
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You can never go wrong with a suit for an interview.
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barcelonafan
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 13:42
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deerhunter
thor5517
Also sorry but one quick follow up question. If I am meeting my interviewer at a cafe in a fancy hotel any advice on what to wear, is a suit too much?

Thanks!
It's a business school interview, you should absolutely wear a suit.
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I actually disagree here, I think it depends on the setting/interviewer. For one of my interviews where it was a recent alum meeting me in a coffee shop, I wore a sport coat and khakis, because I I would look way out of place in a suit. When interviewer showed up wearing very casual clothes, I knew I made the right call. Dressing well means dressing appropriately for a setting/occasion, and it is definitely possible to over dress and look silly. Same way I feel about people who wear a suit to a job where everyone else is business casual. You just stick out in a bad way....

That being said, if I was going to an Alum's office, or if it were an older alum, I would definitely wear a suit.
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Calling all CBS Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2018 02 Dec 2015, 14:13
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