Columbia

Question

Columbia University Columbia is located in the New York City Econonic Area- the largest economic area in the US in terms of personal income. FT 2005 ranks Columbia #3 in the world and in the US. EIU 2004 places Columbia #7 worldwide and #6 in the US - just above Penn and just below Chicago GSB. Columbia's best showing in BW has been #6 (twice), its worst showing was #14. https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/academics https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/admissions/apply

Hjort · Answer

Between Harvard and Columbia, Harvard is the clear winner. It has more recruiters, students tend to have more offers, and students tend to be hired sooner.

lastochka · Answer

Are there any rock-stocks among the faculty members at Columbia?

MBAhopeful06 · Answer

Joseph Stiglitz. He won the Nobel prize in Economics in 2001. He also probably wrote your Freshmen year Economics textbook.

Hjort · Answer

Alumni Mass Index 

Northeast: V. Large 
West: Moderate 
Midwest: Moderate

divnamite · Answer

Hjort, I see Columbia deadlines are in October and March, why such huge gap in between? Does it have rolling admissions?

venky1979 · Answer

I saw your post on columbia.

I just need some info. You say that a lot of companies leave out columbia in their list. 

Do you mean that Industry does not consiider this to be Ultra elite?

My profile is 
GMAT 730 (97 %)
6 years in IT services Industry with 3 years in middle management
Interested in General management specialising in strategy.

I am applying to Harvard,stanford,mit,wharton,queens,Insead,chicago,columbia,carneige mellon, tuck school

In order to ensure chances of admission i was thinking of applying to Early decision in columbia though there is no reason why i would prefer it over other schools.

Please advise iF columbia MBA equivalent if not better than harvard, stanford and other ultra elites.

Regards,
venkat

FN · Answer

HI venky...as a student in the exec-mba program at columbia i can tell you one thing..columbia isnt the school for general management..i would say a majority of my classmates hail from finance and intend on going back into that field...

having said that..i am myself am i techy with corp strategy background...and only picked columbia cuz it was in NYC where i live and just didnt want to move out..

ur profile is good for any school..but my advice to you is to focus on harvard..its a clear winner for general mgmt...i have only 2 people in my cluster who are from consulting..so that should tell you a lil about the school..

as for columbia i think its a great program overall...negatives are if u are like me a type A alpha male..u will fit right at home..there is no real leadership development at columbia..and u can tell that most of the alum are not CEOs of fortune 10 companies..

Hjort · Answer

Not to contradict freshina, but the exec MBA and FT MBA at Columbia draw from somewhat different populations. Columbia's FT program is pretty successful at producing consultants. In 2006, for example, there were 31 McKinsey placements, 22 Booz Allen, and 10 BCG. This is not on the same level as say Kellogg, but still quite strong (Kellogg had 56, 12, 29 respectively). Likewise, Columbia is one of the five largest producers of major CEOs. Again, this is not on the same level as say Wharton but still quite strong.

FN · Answer

Hjort: true...FT program in my opinon is much much more competitive and draws on a different calibre of students...to the point where I am thinking of droping out of the exec-mba program and going full time..

but if i am going to apply full time anywhere..HBS and wharton and stanford are going to be my top3 picks..

Hjort · Answer

I agree- when it comes to GM HBS, Penn, and Stanford are tough to beat.

nupurgupt · Answer

For the Jan admit for Columbia, is it a big drawback that you can not do a summer internship?

I am really interested in going for the Jan session of Columbia but that is the only thing that I am concerned about.

jackstone · Answer

I'm considering applying in the next couple of years to Columbia ED. I have only taken the GMAT once, with just a bit of prep, got a 660, 42/39 split.

Brief background: Currently Military Officer, 

3.7 Undergrad GPA double major Econ/Supply Chain from Big Ten School; ROTC program - Full Scholarship recipient, Fraternity, multiple part time jobs, club lacrosse. Also currently working towards an MS in Finance and will take the CFA level one before applying to MBA school.

I know I should take the GMAT again, and I plan on it. But given my current profile, could you tell me where I stand? I'll answer any other questions about my profile.

shmegs · Answer

I'm looking to apply to Columbia and have heard it is best to apply for early acceptance. When I went to their website early decision opens on August 15 and closes on October 10. I know it's rolling, and that a higher % of students are accepted during the process but is it still worth while to apply in mid September?

perfectexamscore · Answer

One distinct advantage of Columbia is that it is located in NYC which arguably is the financial capital of the world.

bipolarbear · Answer

Arguably the financial capital of the world? :-D

CBS obviously has a very well-known dean, Hubbard, who wanted to become Fed Chairman but was disappointed when snubbed for Bernanke. CBS students then made this awesome parody featuring a Hubbard look-alike. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u2qRXb4xCU Makes me want to attend CBS for the student body!

mreevit · Answer

When I saw that it put columbia at the top of my list. Another good video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JluzYxAexvg

sfeiner · Answer

does having a mother who is an alum do ANYTHING for me with regards to admission advantage?

yangsta8 · Answer

I am currently selecting which schools to apply for and I am trying to determine whether Columbia ‘fits’. All the information on this thread points to the fact that CBS churns out great finance/IB professionals and Hjort has provided some information in support of CBS producing successful consultants. However, these people may have been sponsored, or from management consulting prior to their MBA.

Does anyone have any info on how good their program is in terms of strategy/consulting? 
Also what specifically makes CBS good in terms of international business?
How has the financial crisis affected CBS? I read a b-week article that said that CBS has actually had a decline in applicant, both domestic and international. Thanks in advance.

GmatNY86 · Answer

I'm reading Snowball, Warren Buffett's biography. Isn't he also a CBS grad?

Bergeron · Answer

Columbia is my favorite school. Favorite location. Great faculty. Wish I had applied!!!

Columbia

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