CBS: too competitive / not collaborative?

Question

A stereotype I've heard about CBS many times is that the program is very independent and competitive, so much so that no one enjoys it. One of my friends told me not to even apply. How true is this? Anyone here been to CBS or know someone who has?

JimGMATAnswers · Answer

I live in New York and know several people who went to CBS. I think that being in the city leads it to not be quite as much a collaborative environment as if you went to say Dartmouth in Hanover, where there is little else happening. But in general, B schools are not competitive amongst students.

Nai222 · Answer

Hmm...I'm an MLT MBA Prep fellow and I have heard nothing but great things about Columbia. I have spoken with a number of recent grads. I think that the experience is what you make it. Yes, Columbia is in NYC and your classmates will live within different areas of the city but true relationships can be developed. If all you want to do is attend class and go home...then yes the Columbia experience may not be so great but if you desire to build a network of peers...that can be done.

AnthonyMason · Answer

This is basically what I've heard from the CBS grads I know.

KCheetah · Answer

Depending on your personal experience of getting to know the schools (people you met, and when you spoke to them), you might get different perspectives. I think at each school you would see both competitive and collaborative crowds and it ultimately comes to whom you decide to hang out and befriend with. I would focus on other more "tangible" factors such as faculty, curriculum, location, recruiting, etc.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

If CBS is high on your list of target programs, I would really reach out to a variety of students from CBS to get some more insight here. Also, consider making a visit and sitting in on some classes and hanging out in areas around campus and in Uris where students typically congregate. This will give you a better view on your concerns. This is semi-valid given NYC but has not been the experience of my friends and colleagues from CBS but the likelihood of this happening at a NYC based school is probably higher I would say.

sar9876 · Answer

I graduated from CBS recently, and people were laid back and collegial in any setting (social, classroom, extracurricular,etc.).

I never saw competitiveness or social isolation. Some groups, such as the value investing students, are working really hard and don't go out the parties as often as other people, but people are really close with others in clusters, people you meet in clubs,etc. I heard that in the first semester, during recruiting, some people were focused on getting internships and were less social, but not competitive. I worked in buyside finance in NYC before school, and I felt like I was in the top 10-20% of the class in terms of intensity and ambition. I had to learn to relax a bit and be more social in order to 'fit in'. But the intense people (value investing,etc. ) are incredibly nice people.

I made tons of friends from the broader class as well as jterm, and overall I was surprised by how social everyone one. Tons of people are involved on campus in clubs, projects, parties, etc. and there is definitely a coherent community. I heard that in the past, like a decade ago, it was more competitive because they did not have non grade disclosure at that time. I don't know where that idea would come from these days.

bb · Answer

CBS: too competitive / not collaborative?

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