Columbia 2013 (CBS) - Calling All Applicants

Jerembo, I applied to CBS early January for Fall 2012 intake and was waitlisted and eventually denied. A couple takeaways:

1) If CBS is your first choice you should ABSOLUTELY apply ED. Unfortunately, it took me a whole application season to figure out that CBS was the best place for me and I believe I would've had a better shot had I gone the ED route. Admissions officers have also told me to apply as early as possible due to the nature of rolling admissions.

2) Visit campus and research as much as possible about the specific programs/classes you are interested in. There are a ton of CBS students who are happy to answer questions and give you insight into life at CBS.

3) When answering the part about why CBS, picture yourself as a student and elaborate to the highest level of detail possible as to what kind of clubs you'd be involved in and what Profs/classes fascinate you. Also, just as important, explain how you'd take advantage of the NYC setting to further your career goals/interests because the city is definitely not for everyone.


Hope this helps.

Thanks for sharing this! Definitely helps as I was struggling a little bit while working on this essay.

Thank you gumbymc - helpful indeed.

Looking for advice. I applied to j-term a few weeks ago, but I had yet to attend an info session. However, I've talked to current students, chatted with an adjunct professor and visited campus, so I was able to let them know in my application that I've done my homework.

Tonight I am attending a proper info session just to introduce myself and let them know I've applied, as well as express my excitement.

Should I send an email update into their generic applicant email address updating them that I've attended an info session?

To follow up, what is the best way to get in contact with current students and recent alumni (prior to campus visit)?

Reach out to club officers. Emails are public via CBS website.

anyone having any info on interview invites / app status change..??

No changes for me yet. Still at "Submitted"

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Is it saying "submitted" ? Because mine saying "received" and there are couple of green checks for GMAT, Recos etc..

i guess it should be Received for all.. last 2 years the interviews had started by this time... i wonder whats the plan this year...

I think they are working through bugs with the new application system. I'm sure that is delaying things a bit. The rolling process is funny - it can go under review and then two days later you're invited to interview. Within 2 weeks you could have a decision!

Hang in there folks! Anything good is worth waiting for!

Agreed. My understanding is that schools won't fault people who do not visit....unless you live in that area to begin with! I have a buddy who went to Columbia undergrad, lived in NYC, and applied for the MBA at CBS. Didn't bother visiting and didn't even get an interview despite solid stats.

Submitted on 07/13 for ED... fingers crossed!!! good luck to everybody

Good luck HeFe! Hey BranStark, just for my edification, what kind of stats would you deem solid?

Just received an email from Columbia about a J-Term Info Session. See below. Let me know if anyone is planning on attending. I just submitted my RSVP.

Please join us on campus to learn more about Columbia Business School's 16-month January-entry MBA program. The Spotlight On: January panel will consist of current January students and Admissions Committee members speaking about this accelerated option and the Columbia Business School student experience.

Thursday, August 2nd — 6:00 p.m.

Uris Hall, Room 142
3022 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

They again made available "application proof" and they fixed most of the bugs.. But still my explanation on the extracurricular events and job descripton is not fully seen in the form... anybody has the same problem?