Columbia Business School - Class of 2015 (Matriculating 2013) Official Columbia GSB Admissions Team on GMAT Club to Answer All Your Questions https://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1112_best_business_schools/image/8-columbia.jpg Also, please see: Columbia GSB MBA Guide Columbia Applicant Summary (Real Time) Quick Glance: GMAT Club vs. Latest Intake (Class of 2014) Application Tracker Feed Detailed Applicant List: Add Yourself to This List (add Columbia GSB to your profile) GMAT Club's Real-time Admissions Statistics Add Your Profile to This List Questions about this Roll Call ? Application Dates for 2013 January 2013 October 3, 2012 August 2013 Early Decision October 3, 2012 August 2013 Merit Fellowship Consideration January 9, 2013 August 2013 Regular Decision April 10, 2013 Rankings (2012 GMAT Club Rankings Table) US News 2011 #8 Executive MBA #5 Finance #4 International #5 Management #10 Marketing #9 Nonprofit #8 Production/Operations #8 Bloomberg Businessweek #1 Financial Times #12 The Economist #2 Historical GMAT Club Applicant Threads Fall 2012 - Calling All CBS Applicants Fall 2011 - Calling All CBS Applicants Fall 2010 - Calling All CBS Applicants Fall 2009 - Calling All CBS Applicants Fall 2008 - Calling All CBS Applicants Fall 2007 - Calling All CBS Applicants Popular Links Programs Offered at CBS CBS Employment Reports Notable Alumni Essay Questions Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (200 characters maximum) Essay 1: A. Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals? (Maximum 500 words) B. Please view this video , entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community . Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words) Essay 2: Describe a personal experience and how it has influenced who you are today. This essay should have a personal rather than a professional focus. (Maximum 500 words) Optional Essay An optional fourth essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. Recommendations All applications require two recommendations. If you have been working full-time for at least six months, one recommendation should be from your current supervisor. The second recommendation should be from either a former direct supervisor or from another professional associate, senior to you, who can add personal insight into your candidacy. Recommendation questions include: What is your relationship to and how long have you known the applicant? Is he or she still employed by your organization? Please list three to five adjectives describing the applicant’s strengths. Please compare the applicant’s performance to that of his or her peers. What does the applicant do best? If you were giving feedback to the applicant regarding his or her professional performance and personal effectiveness, in what areas would you suggest he or she work to improve? How does the applicant accept constructive criticism or handle conflicts? How effective are the applicant’s interpersonal skills in the workplace? Please rate the applicant’s individual vs. team orientation (1 = most effective as an individual contributor; 5 = focused exclusively on the team) Please elaborate on your rating: Please give an example of how the applicant has demonstrated leadership. Is there anything else you feel we should know? Class Profile - Class entering 2011 (January and August) Applications Received -6669 Applicants Accepted -1062 Acceptance Rate - 16% Class Size - 751, divided into 11 clusters January Entry Class Size - 203, divided into 3 clusters August Entry Class Size - 548, divided into 8 clusters GMAT Scores (average) - 716 GMAT Scores (middle 80%) - 680–760 Undergraduate GPA (average) -3.5 Undergraduate GPA (middle 80%) - 3.1–3.8 Work Experience (average) - 5 years At Least One Year of Work Experience - 100% 28% Financial Services, 20% Consulting, 8% Marketing/Media, 8% Tech, 5% Military/Gov, 4% Healthcare, 4% Real Estate, 3% Non-Profit, 2% Energy, 1% Manufacturing, 11% Other 35% Social Sciences, 29% Business, 12% Engineering, 5% Sciences, 3% Technology, 1% Arts, 15% Other Re-Applicant Checklist (if applied last academic year) Submit a new application fee (US$250). Update the “Personal,” “Family,” “Employment,” “Education,” and “Extracurricular Activities” sections of the online application. Update the “How Will You Finance Your MBA?” section of the online application. Submit transcripts of any additional courses taken since your previous application. Submit one new, two-part essay: A. How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied, and address how you plan to achieve your post-MBA and long-term professional goals. (Maximum of 500 words) B. Please view this video , entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community . Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words) Submit one new recommendation letter, preferably from your current employer, but if not, another colleague in a supervisory role or a client will suffice. UPDATE: We have created a Facebook group for admitted students as well as a LinkedIn group. Join your fellow (soon-to-be) classmates online: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cbs15/ https://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4686288

Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 06:45

It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 06:45

Toolkit

Business School and MBA

MBA Archive

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

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

Back to Forum

Create Topic

Columbia 2013 (CBS) - Calling All Applicants

1 ... 17 18 19 20 21 ... 83

bschoolapps2012

Joined: 08 Jun 2012

Last visit: 04 Apr 2013

Posts: 20

Given Kudos: 7

Posts: 20

Kudos: 0

02 Oct 2012, 06:58

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hey guys,

I have one final question and would love to get your views on this. Did any of you utilize your optional essay to tell a story that the other essays didn't give you a chance to talk about? I'm leaning towards doing this because I have a really interesting story that showcases different important skills / attributes, but the wording of the optional essay topic seems to suggest that it's only meant to be used for extenuating circumstances. Please let me know! Thank you!!!

mappleby

Joined: 04 Oct 2011

Last visit: 08 Nov 2018

Posts: 432

Own Kudos:

134

Given Kudos: 150

Concentration: Finance

Schools: Booth '15 (II) CBS '15 (M$)

GMAT 1: 700 Q44 V41 Verified score

GMAT 2: 750 Q48 V46 Verified score

GPA: 3.03

WE:Project Management (Military & Defense)

Products:

Schools: Booth '15 (II) CBS '15 (M$)

GMAT 2: 750 Q48 V46 Verified score

Posts: 432

Kudos: 134

02 Oct 2012, 07:12

Kudos

Bookmarks

bschoolapps2012

Don't do that. The directions clearly state the essay is for discussing extenuating circumstances in your profile. It is not an area to simply write more good things about yourself. When I went to the on-campus information session they explicitly mentioned this as well.

polyaris

Joined: 31 Aug 2010

Last visit: 29 Dec 2014

Posts: 33

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Schools: CBS '15 (M)

Posts: 33

Kudos: 11

02 Oct 2012, 07:17

Kudos

Bookmarks

bschoolapps2012

...because I have a really interesting story that showcases different important skills / attributes ...

Don't even try. You can share you amazing story with us we would appreciate this! :-D

or save it for other schools.

icaniwill

Joined: 05 Oct 2011

Last visit: 29 Nov 2016

Posts: 123

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 62

Products:

Posts: 123

Kudos: 93

02 Oct 2012, 07:53

Kudos

Bookmarks

bschoolapps2012

Big mistake ...if you do this.

qtrip

Joined: 25 Feb 2012

Last visit: 03 May 2013

Posts: 57

Own Kudos:

115

Given Kudos: 8

Posts: 57

Kudos: 115

02 Oct 2012, 08:51

Kudos

Bookmarks

Guys, I see only three lines in the job/duties section in the PDF proof. For the awards, I see only one line with everything else gone. Is that how it should be? Or am I doing something wrong !?

ANZ73

Joined: 26 May 2012

Last visit: 26 Oct 2012

Posts: 11

Own Kudos:

[1]

GMAT Date: 06-30-2012

GPA: 3.1

Posts: 11

Kudos: 9

[1]

02 Oct 2012, 08:56

Kudos

Bookmarks

icaniwill

bschoolapps2012

Big mistake ...if you do this.

I agree. The optional essay (which I used to address my academic record) is meant to address lingering questions that come up for the adcom, but have not been adequately answered in the application. However, you can use part of the essay to highlight things about you the adcom would want to know but doesn't already have the info in the app.

For example, I basically said "Given my circumstances, a b and c, my acadamic record does not reflect my future potential or my intellectual capabilities. Given these facts, It is my hope that while evaluating my candidicacy the adcom pay greater attention to x, y and z. (This is where I fit in some new good stuff about me i.e. business accomplishments, overcoming personal challenges, community service) that I wasn't able to fit in anywhere else." I basically used the optional essay to put my academic record in context and explain how I hope to be evaluated by the adcom.

BlueRobin

Joined: 12 Apr 2010

Last visit: 01 May 2015

Posts: 394

Own Kudos:

207

Given Kudos: 157

Posts: 394

Kudos: 207

02 Oct 2012, 10:42

Kudos

Bookmarks

In the education page of the application, we have to enter a GPA. I completed my Undergraduation in India, and my transcript mentions total marks I secured.

The GPA box only accepts x.x format.

Any advice?

xinga

Joined: 23 Apr 2012

Last visit: 11 Jun 2014

Posts: 108

Own Kudos:

[1]

Location: India

Concentration: Leadership, Strategy

Schools: Ross '16 (II)

Posts: 108

Kudos: 10

[1]

02 Oct 2012, 11:22

Kudos

Bookmarks

BlueRobin

0.0

BlueRobin

Joined: 12 Apr 2010

Last visit: 01 May 2015

Posts: 394

Own Kudos:

207

Given Kudos: 157

Posts: 394

Kudos: 207

02 Oct 2012, 12:11

Kudos

Bookmarks

Thank you

dougdoug

Joined: 05 Dec 2011

Last visit: 05 Apr 2015

Posts: 58

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 7

Schools: Tuck '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42 Verified score

GPA: 3.83

Schools: Tuck '15 (M)

GMAT 1: 750 Q50 V42 Verified score

Posts: 58

Kudos: 9

02 Oct 2012, 18:23

Kudos

Bookmarks

Where is the "Job Duties" section referenced in the Columbia application employment section (referenced below)? I don't see it anywhere?

"You may include these as a separate notation in the "Job Duties" section. If you are an entrepreneur, please explain your salary in the Optional Essay. Please convert to U.S. Dollars."

ravash5000

Joined: 26 Nov 2011

Last visit: 27 Jun 2013

Posts: 1

Own Kudos:

[1]

Schools: HBS '15 (S)

GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V40 Verified score

GPA: 3.63

Schools: HBS '15 (S)

GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V40 Verified score

Posts: 1

Kudos: 1

[1]

02 Oct 2012, 18:41

Kudos

Bookmarks

bschoolapps2012

Yes. You can. I emailed the admission office about using the optional essay to discuss an experience that had to do with my goals:

"I have a question about the optional essay of the MBA application. Can I use this essay to describe an experience that has played an important role in shaping my goals? I feel that this information is relevant to my candidacy."

Here is what they said:

"Thank you for your email. The optional fourth essay is available for you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays. Using this to describe an experience that has played an important role in shaping your goals would be appropriate. This essay should be a maximum of 500 words.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,

Rachael Lubetkin"

BTW, if you have questions about a school's application, contact the admission office.

dreamchase

Joined: 26 Jun 2011

Last visit: 27 Nov 2015

Posts: 217

Own Kudos:

116

Given Kudos: 26

Location: India

Schools: CBS '15 (D) Darden '15 (A) Ross '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (I) Johnson '15 (WL) Sloan '15 (WL) ISB '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41 Verified score

Schools: CBS '15 (D) Darden '15 (A) Ross '15 (WL) Anderson '15 (D) Kellogg '15 (I) Johnson '15 (WL) Sloan '15 (WL) ISB '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V41 Verified score

Posts: 217

Kudos: 116

03 Oct 2012, 03:41

Kudos

Bookmarks

Submitted 02 Oct. Fingers crossed now.

whitetiger001

Joined: 12 Sep 2012

Last visit: 14 Oct 2012

Posts: 3

Own Kudos:

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V37 Verified score

GPA: 4

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V37 Verified score

Posts: 3

Kudos: 5

03 Oct 2012, 06:56

Kudos

Bookmarks

Got a call from CBS. Admitted for J-Term!!!
Stats:
International applicant
3.5yr WE - top tier management consulting
700 GMAT - 49Q/37V

Good luck for those who are still waiting!

polyaris

Joined: 31 Aug 2010

Last visit: 29 Dec 2014

Posts: 33

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Schools: CBS '15 (M)

Posts: 33

Kudos: 11

03 Oct 2012, 07:02

Kudos

Bookmarks

Congrats!
So, after talking to guys I can make a conclusion that if you see a status change e-mail after an interview it means you are rejected but if you get a call from unknown number ...
Was interviewed exactly 2 weeks ago, yesterday got the message that an interview report was delivered, still waiting...

KAS1

Joined: 22 Mar 2012

Last visit: 02 Jan 2016

Posts: 83

Own Kudos:

256

Given Kudos: 27

Location: United States (NY)

Concentration: General Management, Marketing

Schools: CBS '15 (D) Rutgers '15 (M) Stern PT '16 (D)

GPA: 3.1

WE:Accounting (Other)

Schools: CBS '15 (D) Rutgers '15 (M) Stern PT '16 (D)

Posts: 83

Kudos: 256

03 Oct 2012, 07:11

Kudos

Bookmarks

polyaris

I wouldn't start thinking negatively just yet. Anything is possible! Good luck.

polyaris

Joined: 31 Aug 2010

Last visit: 29 Dec 2014

Posts: 33

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Schools: CBS '15 (M)

Posts: 33

Kudos: 11

03 Oct 2012, 07:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

KAS1

I wouldn't start thinking negatively just yet. Anything is possible! Good luck.

Not at all. I mean it seems that we will learn about our admittance via the call not e-mail which is used for negative news only.

Trivi888

Joined: 24 Apr 2012

Last visit: 05 Nov 2012

Posts: 15

Own Kudos:

GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44 Verified score

GPA: 3.55

GMAT 1: 730 Q46 V44 Verified score

Posts: 15

Kudos: 5

03 Oct 2012, 07:22

Kudos

Bookmarks

whitetiger001

Got a call from CBS. Admitted for J-Term!!!
Stats:
International applicant
3.5yr WE - top tier management consulting
700 GMAT - 49Q/37V

Good luck for those who are still waiting!

Great job! When did you submit and interview?

whitetiger001

Joined: 12 Sep 2012

Last visit: 14 Oct 2012

Posts: 3

Own Kudos:

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V37 Verified score

GPA: 4

GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V37 Verified score

Posts: 3

Kudos: 5

03 Oct 2012, 07:34

Kudos

Bookmarks

Thanks,

Submitted on 21/7

Interviewed 2 weeks ago

ash007

Joined: 26 Mar 2012

Last visit: 27 Jan 2013

Posts: 11

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 7

GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V36 Verified score

Posts: 11

Kudos: 5

03 Oct 2012, 07:51

Kudos

Bookmarks

Any light on whether Columbia might check on the 'University being Co-signor?'. I had applied for Wharton last year R2 and got dinged. Initially even Wharton had no such loan programs for students. But I got an update, while I was waiting for a response, that Wharton was pleased to annouce loan program for international student.

I really want something similar to happen here. With a difference of getting an admit :-D

Chupacabra

Joined: 12 Mar 2011

Last visit: 01 Jul 2013

Posts: 62

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 7

Status:Applying to enroll in 2013

Location: United States

Concentration: General Management, Finance

Schools: Tuck '15 (A) Yale '15 (A) Kellogg '15 (A) CBS '15 (A) HBS '15 (D)

Posts: 62

Kudos: 14

03 Oct 2012, 07:51

Kudos

Bookmarks

whitetiger001

Thanks,

Submitted on 21/7

Interviewed 2 weeks ago

Definitely seems like they have slowed their pace of acceptances. A colleague of mine Submitted --> Interview (2weeks)--> Accepted (2 weeks). Was less than a month from submitt to accept and that was only 2 years ago.

Looks like if you submitted in July-August they have emailed for interviews, but not much outside of that.