If you have any Columbia-related questions, please feel free to post them here. Thanks!

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 Business School

1 2 3 4 5 6

jwizard

Joined: 14 Jan 2009

Last visit: 03 Mar 2009

Posts: 6

Own Kudos:

[1]

Posts: 6

Kudos: 1

[1]

20 Jan 2009, 03:17

Kudos

Bookmarks

.... Since it's tough to land buy-side jobs without finance experience, do the majority of students opt for the sell-side route? I've read that BB S&T programs are more structured, and more willing to take on students who lack experience but have demonstrated a clear interest in finance. From what you can gather, would you say that this is accurate, that BBs are less fixated on experience?

Also, which desks tend to the most popular? (and any insight into why is Fixed income so popular?)

Thanks again dude!

djhouse81

Keep the questions coming, I'm happy to help where I can. It is tough to get either interview without finance experience. Is it absolutely impossible? No. But it's a long shot. To put it in perspective, at top schools there are dozens of students with IM/HF/IB/PE backgrounds and other excellent stats on their resumes. IM and HF firms are going to want those people first, and there are not than many spots to begin with.

Your best bet if you have no finance experience is to shoot for a non-paying summer internship with a HF. There are plenty of those out there, especially in this economy. In the end, you get the experience, and that is validation enoguh for recruiters to want you for a full-time position come graduation. If unpaid does not work for you, but you still want to go after IM and HF then you need to start preparing immediately. You want to start reaching out to firms, maybe do a summer internship before you start school, read up on stock pitches, start prepping for the CFA, etc. I believe that if you want something bad enough then the effort you put forth will shine through to recruiters. They want someone on board who has unbridled enthusiasm because that translates into solid work.

To sum up, it is not impossible to get a HF/IM internship without finance, but it is rarely seen.

djhouse81

Current Student

Joined: 30 May 2007

Last visit: 13 Aug 2009

Posts: 485

Own Kudos:

Posts: 485

Kudos: 72

20 Jan 2009, 22:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

jwizard

S&T jobs at IB's are more likely to accept candidates with little or no S&T experience. As long as you know why you want to do S&T and you have a solid pitch then that should validate you for the field. Also, being able to discuss your own investments is key.

S&T is also one of the worst areas for recruiting. S&T jobs have been dessmimated by the financial crisis, and they are scarce at IB's. Very few people are getting interviews, let alone offers, for S&T at IB's. Of course that all might change by next year's recruiting season when they need to ramp up. Those who get offers are not necessarily for S&T people. If you really want S&T and you have no finance experience, you will have to approach it just as seriously as IM; the one difference is sell-side is much more structured and the off-campus recruiting leg work is not nearly as intense as IM. S&T would be a better start for those without finance experience, but hopefully that space will turn around soon because it is very tough for S&T recruits right now.

HarvardorBust

Joined: 10 Jan 2007

Last visit: 13 May 2009

Posts: 5

Location: California

Concentration: Investment Management

Schools:Columbia, NYU

Posts: 5

Kudos: 0

29 Jan 2009, 14:51

Kudos

Bookmarks

I'll be attending this, and I'd love to hear your opinion on types of classes, clubs, other extracurriculars exist for someone interested in IM. Also if you have any info on the Value Investing program, how popular it is, difficulty etc.. I'm currently an ibanker looking to transition.

I plan to sit for the June CFA Level 1. But any other advice on how to prep prior to coming to campus. We can take this conversation off line since it's pretty specific. Send me a PM with you Columbia email.

Thanks in advance.

IHateTheGMAT

Current Student

Joined: 10 Jun 2006

Last visit: 25 Jul 2011

Posts: 623

Own Kudos:

Concentration: Investment Banking or Investment Management

Posts: 623

Kudos: 61

30 Jan 2009, 13:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

HarvardorBust

HarvardorBust you're not applying to Harvard? :-D

HarvardorBust

Joined: 10 Jan 2007

Last visit: 13 May 2009

Posts: 5

Location: California

Concentration: Investment Management

Schools:Columbia, NYU

Posts: 5

Kudos: 0

30 Jan 2009, 15:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

Yeah, I was expecting a comment on that. Created my username long before I visited schools and narrowed down choices. Came to the conclusion that I wanted to be in NYC (professional and personal reasons).

Not to knock Harvard, but I actually didn't like it when I visited. Beautiful campus, smart/ driven students, but I just didn't feel the fit. Too many Type-A personalities, entitled I go to the best school type of vibe. I went to a Harvard-like undergrad and really didn't have that good of a time for the reasons listed above.

aboodoing

Joined: 11 Nov 2008

Last visit: 11 May 2010

Posts: 14

Kudos: 0

04 Feb 2009, 08:21

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi,

I'm planning a visit to Columbia this June. Does the school prefer students to visit the admissions office? I know that some schools don't track visits, but some do and weigh them in your application. Would appreciate any insights, thanks.

Regards,
Aboo

djhouse81

Current Student

Joined: 30 May 2007

Last visit: 13 Aug 2009

Posts: 485

Own Kudos:

[1]

Posts: 485

Kudos: 72

[1]

04 Feb 2009, 21:34

Kudos

Bookmarks

aboodoing

You should go on the website and look up Hermes. They offer many different ways to visit the school, such as class vists, student hosts, etc.

foodstamp

Current Student

Joined: 20 Apr 2008

Last visit: 06 Apr 2010

Posts: 313

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 3

Concentration: Entrepreneurship

Schools:HBS Class of 2011

Posts: 313

Kudos: 74

06 Feb 2009, 01:19

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi djhouse. Thanks for providing a ton of great information throughout this thread!

Do you know how willing Columbia is to extend the deposit deadline? I have until March 2nd, but I'd like to extend until beginning of April. Apparently, students who get admitted after Feb 20th will be able to make a deposit until sometime in April. So I am thinking it would be reasonable for me to ask Adcom even though I was admitted before Feb 20th. What do you think?

Thanks!

djhouse81

Current Student

Joined: 30 May 2007

Last visit: 13 Aug 2009

Posts: 485

Own Kudos:

[1]

Posts: 485

Kudos: 72

[1]

08 Feb 2009, 17:55

Kudos

Bookmarks

foodstamp

I have no clue. You probably need a good reason, and I could not say what constitutues one. I don't know how they'd feel if you extend the deadline just to hear back from other schools, but I'm not in admissions so I could not speak on their behalf. Call them, and explain why you need it extended, and I'm sure they will help out as they can.

investasi

Joined: 02 Jan 2009

Last visit: 16 Dec 2020

Posts: 11

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 3

Schools: Stanford Sloan Fellows'18 MIT Sloan Fellows "21

GMAT 1: 200 Q60 V60 Verified score

Posts: 11

Kudos: 5

Updated on: 08 Jun 2009, 00:06

Originally posted by investasi on 03 Mar 2009, 20:48.
Last edited by investasi on 08 Jun 2009, 00:06, edited 1 time in total.

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi djhouse. Thanks for the ton of info so far. Any idea of how difficult it is to get an Investment Management internship or full-time offer from CBS?

Thanks!

redbeanaddict

Joined: 31 Jul 2006

Last visit: 09 Aug 2009

Posts: 135

Own Kudos:

426

Posts: 135

Kudos: 426

07 Mar 2009, 01:10

Kudos

Bookmarks

Dj House:
How's columbia on entrepreneurship?Aside from its master classes and PSI, which other programs would benefit entreps?
Thanks in advance

hkmba

Joined: 23 Jun 2009

Last visit: 16 Jun 2010

Posts: 7

Kudos: 0

23 Jun 2009, 16:50

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello guys,

I am new to this forum, I read the rules and found this to be the best place to ask this question. Feel free to move it to another place if this isn't the right place.

iam currently looking to apply for B-schools for the Fall 2010 semester.

Due to partying a lot, I ended up with undergrad GPA of 2.67, however due to good performance in my majors ( i was a dual major), I graduated with Honors in both of my majors ( Accounting and Economics).

Currently I am a Graduate student doing MS in Enterprise Risk Management from Queens College, NY ( part of city university of NY). My expected gpa at the end of this program is 3.8-3.9. I have passed all sections of the CPA exam. I am also hoping to clear level 1 of the CFA exam before applying for a B-School.

Work Experience:

I worked for 4 years in retail banking part-time, while going to school. I worked as Teller and Personal Banker.

I am currently working in a Insurance company since past 1.5 yrs, we do For-Profit and Not-For-Profit work for the unions. I started as a Auditor, and was promoted to Quality Assurance Analyst. I was promoted again to the title of Collections supervisor.

I want to join NYU part time/full time or Columbia full time. What should be the GMAT score I should be targeting considering my low undergrad GPA ?

What role does Graduated GPA plays in offsetting low undergrad GPA ?

All advice and insights are appreciated. Thanks.

woncosmo

Joined: 16 Jan 2009

Last visit: 02 Sep 2013

Posts: 88

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 88

Kudos: 1

01 Aug 2009, 09:47

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello,

The Healthcare management program matches my interests. Does the adcom give importance to prior experience and post MBA career plans of applicants for the Healthcare management program?

Here is my profile -
India, Male, Healthcare Information Technology
7 Years work exp (5 years in a US based Healthcare Information Tech major)
Youngest team leader. Developing research oriented project. Built the team from scratch. 3 clients signed up to buy the product after looking at the prototype.

Good recommendation letters.

Extra-curricular - Designed part of project proposal for a World Bank funded project in Healthcare Systems.
Initiated and led various social collaboration activities at work.

Bachelor of Engineering - Biomedical Engineering (Low scores in first 2 years. Scores improved in last 2 years. I had terrible asthma attacks)
Masters of Science, Major in Medical Software (Very good scores)

qlemon

Joined: 04 Aug 2009

Last visit: 09 Jul 2010

Posts: 13

Kudos: 0

04 Aug 2009, 01:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello to everyone!

I am new to this forum, and I have a question about application form.
Recommendation letters in particular. One of my LOR will be originally not in english, and so as I understood I have to translate it into English and then sumbit by mail, not electronically. The form should be in "Downloadable forms" section. But there is only form of transcript there. Where should I take the form from? Or it will come to the email address of a LOR provider?

Perhaps someone had the same problem.

cricketbeatsrugby

Joined: 26 Jan 2010

Last visit: 27 Mar 2012

Posts: 45

Own Kudos:

Status:Awesome

Location: United States (CA)

Concentration: Real Estate, International Business

Schools: CBS '14 (M) Wharton '14 (D) LBS '14 (WL)

Posts: 45

Kudos: 9

07 Feb 2010, 00:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

Anyone have any info on the real estate program?
Does the program have courses in international real estate?
Is it recommended that you have prior RE work ex?
How is RE recruiting out of CBS, especially with regard to Development?

noboru

Joined: 16 Jul 2009

Last visit: 15 Jan 2020

Posts: 538

Own Kudos:

9,612

Given Kudos: 2

Schools:CBS

WE 1: 4 years (Consulting)

Posts: 538

Kudos: 9,612

20 Apr 2010, 11:13

Kudos

Bookmarks

When is the deadline for the early decision of Columbia?

Thanks.

praz

Joined: 24 Nov 2008

Last visit: 16 Jan 2015

Posts: 228

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 6

Concentration: Finance

Schools:Columbia Business School Class of 2012

Posts: 228

Kudos: 28

22 Apr 2010, 13:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

ED application will be up in mid august,
check out www.gsb.columbia.edu/

hcb

Joined: 19 May 2010

Last visit: 01 Sep 2010

Posts: 53

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 1

Posts: 53

Kudos: 2

27 May 2010, 11:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

Applications are available for Fall 2011 entry.

Columbia focuses more on finance, right? Harvard is more consulting, and Stanford is more management-focused?

scbguy

Joined: 03 Jun 2010

Last visit: 10 Jun 2012

Posts: 109

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 4

Location: Dubai, UAE

Schools:IE Business School, Manchester Business School, HEC Paris, Rotterdam School of Management, Babson College

GPA: 2.5

Posts: 109

Kudos: 5

04 Jun 2010, 06:49

Kudos

Bookmarks

Went to a small liberal arts school in iowa, graduated with a cgpa 2.7/2.8 double major business and political scieneces. Relatively active in extra curriculars, RA, political science club, international club, fraternity, tutor for political science and micro/macro 1. 80 % scholarship and worked three jobs on campus. Pretty much everywhere from the cafteria, alumni office, janitorial staff, library
Have approx four and a half years of cross border banking experience, 2 and a half in retail banking ( consumer risk, product management ( asset product- secured and unsecured ), sales in Pakistan and then moved to Dubai for Corporate Banking- trade finance covering the regional markets of Middle East and North Africa.
Contributed over the years for humanity i.e citizens foundation
Just gave my gmat, got a 580.
First Choice and primary choice is Columbia
Any advice, recommendations, suggestions ?
Thanks :-D

osbornecox

Joined: 04 Dec 2009

Last visit: 26 Jan 2016

Posts: 373

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 4

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

WE:Consulting (Consulting)

Schools: Johnson '14 (A) INSEAD '14 (A) Booth '14 (M) Oxford '14 (A) Kellogg 1YR '13 (D)

Posts: 373

Kudos: 80

12 Jun 2010, 12:54

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi djhouse81,

Did S&T start to look better at CBS?

Do you know if there's any chance of getting the T part in S&T, or are all the positions generally S-only?

Hope you and the rest of the CBS class are doing well.