Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 15:01 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 15:01
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Av
User avatar
Joined: 04 Oct 2008
Last visit: 19 Jun 2012
Posts: 885
Own Kudos:
303
 [7]
Given Kudos: 86
Status:Badgerine!
Location: United States (CA)
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
GPA: 3.3
WE:Project Management (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Michigan (Ross) - Class of 2013
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V44
Posts: 885
Kudos: 303
 [7]
Columbia MBA Guide Updated on: 13 Dec 2011, 09:28
Originally posted by Av on 26 Oct 2010, 12:58.
Last edited by rasta on 13 Dec 2011, 09:28, edited 14 times in total.
Updated
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Columbia Business School


Rankings (2010 GMAT Club Rankings Table)
Historical GMAT Club Applicant Threads
Popular Links

Current Applicant Thread: Fall 2012 - Calling All CBS Applicants

Fall 2011 Application Instructions
Quote:
Columbia Business School using a rolling admissions process. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received, and decisions can be rendered at any time. All decisions are final. It is always to your benefit to apply before the posted deadline (11:59pm of the posted date).
Show more
January 2012 Entry (J-Term) – No Summer Internship
Application Deadline: 10/5/2011

September 2012 Entry – Normal 2-year MBA
Early Decision Deadline: 10/5/2011
Merit Fellowship Consideration Deadline: 1/4/2012
Regular Decision Deadline: 4/11/2012
Click here for more information on the two different MBA paths, as well as the differences between decision deadlines.

Essays
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: 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)

Recommendation Questions (2 recommenders)
  • What is your relationship to, and how long have you known the applicant? Is this person still employed by your organization? If not, when did he/she depart?
  • Please provide a short list of adjectives describing the applicant’s strengths.
  • Please compare the applicant’s performance to that of his/her peers. Does the applicant have the potential to become a senior manager?
  • How effective are the applicant’s interpersonal skills in working with peers, supervisors and subordinates?
  • How does the applicant accept constructive criticism?
  • Comment on your observations of the applicant’s ethical behavior.
  • What do you think motivates the candidate’s application to Columbia Business School?
  • In what ways could the applicant improve professionally? If you could change one thing about the applicant, what would it be?
  • Are there any other matters which you feel we should know about the applicant?

Essay Analysis

GMAT Club Current Students & Alumni
Coming Soon!

Class Profile and Program Statistics
Full Time MBA Stats
Length of Program18-21 months (two programs)
Campus LocationNew York, NY
Average Class Size1,278
Average Work Experience5 Years
Average Age28
Average GMAT709 (Middle 80%: 680-760)
Average GPA3.4
Female35%
International40%
Endowment$356M (BusinessWeek)
GMAT/GREBoth Accepted
Annual Tuition$54,636

Employment Statistics
Median Base Salary: $107,000
Top Industries: Financial Services (41%), Consulting (28%), Consumer Products (8%)
Top Locations: Northeast (63%), International (21%), West (6%)
Number of students starting their own business: 21 (3.0%)
Top Employers of 2011
# of HiresCompany Name
39McKinsey & Co.
19Boston Consulting Group
16Bain & Co.
15Morgan Stanley
12Booz & Co.
11Credit Suisse Group
11Deutsche Bank
11Bank of America/Merrill Lynch
8JPMorgan Chase & Co.
7Accenture
7Citi
6A.T. Kearneyl
6Goldman Sachs
6L.E.K. Consulting
6Procter & Gamble
6Pacific Investment Management

Curriculum – Notable Features

The Cluster System
Quote:
Community building begins right at the start of the MBA Program as admitted students are assigned to clusters of 60 to 65 fellow students who take most of the first-year core classes together. As diverse as the class itself, each cluster consists of people from all over the world, with a wealth of different skills, ideas, and backgrounds.

The clusters create a strong sense of community and foster lasting professional and personal relationships. It is such an integral part of a student’s experience that long after graduation many alumni continue to organize cluster-specific gatherings, pen cluster e-newsletters, and identify themselves by their cluster.
Show more
The Individual, Business and Society: Tradeoffs, Choices and Accountability
Quote:
The new IBS curriculum helps Columbia Business School students develop frameworks and tools to think critically about the conflicts and tradeoffs inherent in balancing business conduct with the concerns of individuals and society. Every MBA core course includes cases and discussions regarding these issues. Panels featuring faculty members and business leaders, many of them alumni, complement the classroom experience.
Show more
Program on Social Intelligence
Quote:
The School has launched a program of courses and extracurricular activities to enhance students’ abilities as leaders throughout their careers. The Program on Social Intelligence (PSI) imparts techniques and frameworks for managing individuals, teams, organizations and networks adaptively in dynamic, global business contexts.

This program draws on the School’s growing expertise in psychology and related social sciences. PSI activities are grounded in proven combinations of empirical assessment, experiential learning and executive coaching to help students sharpen their self-awareness, judgment and decision making and expand their practical capabilities in solving problems. These activities have been integrated around research-based frameworks that underlie the management core courses Creating Effective Organizations and Leadership.
Show more
Master Classes
Quote:
Master Classes are hands-on, project-based electives designed to challenge students to creatively integrate concepts learned across the core curriculum and apply them to contemporary business problems. Master Classes are integrally tied to external organizations that evaluate and consider students’ recommendations.

Each Master Class focuses on a specific industry context (e.g. media, real estate, consulting) and draws significant input from the professional community via group projects and alumni involvement, both as guest speakers and adjunct faculty. With substantial projects and practitioner involvement, Master Classes provide students with a unique exposure to the current realities of the business world.
Show more
Areas of Study

Joint and Dual Degree Programs
  • MBA/MD
  • MBA/JD
  • MBA/DDS
  • MBA/MS in Urban Planning
  • MBA/MS with Engineering and Applied Science School (4 options)
  • MBA/MIA with International and Public Affairs
  • MBA/MS in Journalism
  • MBA/MS in Nursing
  • MBA/MPH (Public Health)
  • MBA/MS in Social Work

School & Interview Guides

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_BD296tNys[/youtube]


[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQzdr1MFVFw[/youtube]


[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cD2mv8-_xA[/youtube]

Archived CBS Discussion
Hi there,
You've stumbled upon an old discussion from our CBS Forum that's now outdated and has been archived. No more replies are possible here.
Interested in current discussions? Feel free to dive into our dedicated CBS Forum for all fresh things related to the CBS MBA program.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
malbec
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 31 May 2010
Last visit: 28 Sep 2013
Posts: 136
Own Kudos:
23
Given Kudos: 19
Schools: Columbia - Class of 2013
Schools: Columbia - Class of 2013
Posts: 136
Kudos: 23
Columbia MBA Guide 30 Oct 2010, 07:12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Facebook Group:
Columbia Business School Class of 2013
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1 ... 431&ref=ts
avatar
MyBestApplication
avatar
Joined: 09 Nov 2010
Last visit: 13 May 2013
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
2
Status:MBA Admissions Consultant
Location: Europe
Concentration: MBA Admissions Consultant
Posts: 5
Kudos: 2
Columbia MBA Guide 09 Nov 2010, 07:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
My Best Application has recently posted its Application Tips for Columbia Business School for this year. Check out the MBA Center for Resources. We have worked with many applicants interested in Columbia and are happy to answer questions and provide assistance.
avatar
bd103dall
avatar
Joined: 16 Mar 2011
Last visit: 16 Mar 2011
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Columbia MBA Guide 16 Mar 2011, 19:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Am I competitive to get into the Columbia EMBA program? I realize I may be a little young, but I have a lot of industry experience for my age.

My profile:
- 25 years old
- 740 GMAT / 3.72 GPA in Mechanical Engineering at Washington State University
- 3 years of software programming experience
- 2 years as a Sales Engineer at Rockwell Automation (received 'Best in Class' and 'Balanced Selling' awards)
- Co-founded 501 (c) 3 non-profit that brings technology to developing countries (e.g. we have 10 human powered irrigation pumps being used in Malawi, Africa)
- Multiple leadership positions in college
- Internship at an Aeronautical design firm
- Internship at a Power Plant
- Won awards at multiple business plan competitions in college (for the NPO mentioned above)
- National Collegiate Association of Innovators and Inventor (NCAII) Grant award winner for human powered irrigation pump

Interest in an MBA:
- Gain knowledge, tools and a network to further the success of the NPO mentioned above
- Open career opportunities at current employer (move from sales into a business development or market manager role)
- Always had a passion in business (corny, but true)

Do you think I'd be competitive, or do I need more work experience?

Thanks for your insights!
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 42,382
Own Kudos:
82,109
Given Kudos: 24,103
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 42,382
Kudos: 82,109
Columbia MBA Guide 10 Oct 2011, 12:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

New! Ask Columbia GSB Admission Team on GMAT Club Forum


ask-columbia-gsb-admissions-121805.html
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 42,382
Own Kudos:
82,109
Given Kudos: 24,103
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 42,382
Kudos: 82,109
Columbia MBA Guide 10 Jul 2023, 09:36
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archived CBS Discussion
Hi there,
You've stumbled upon an old discussion from our CBS Forum that's now outdated and has been archived. No more replies are possible here.
Interested in current discussions? Feel free to dive into our dedicated CBS Forum for all fresh things related to the CBS MBA program.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts