Calling Columbia applicants for 2008

Hey, What to write in the self reported transcripts in the cell for Class Rank? My institution doesnt provide any ranks.

I can't imagine how you all got your apps done so early!

I am waiting until 6th. Columbia is coming down to LA and I want to meet some of the ad-com pple and students, get some ideas and then write about that experience in my goals essay. So that weekend is my Columbia application submission, and I have to pester my recommender to hand in over her recommendation.

Things went really slow this weekend. I was dreaming that I would have cranked out a few essays.
Nada.

tell me about it... didn't get even one outline out... all the time spent on recommendations

Congrats to both you guys!

My recos are done, I am just caught up in a never ending cycle of edits. I have been wanting to turn this forever now.

I am fairly confident that my current version is the last one. So, will submit it in the next day or two.

BTW, I read somewhere that most ED interview calls come out around mid Sept. I am sure I wont fall in the bucket, but it would be great if I hear back so soon!

Thanks man... most ED calls come out mid september? oh this is going to be such an exciting month.... in the very least, i hope to get an interview call...

Now that everyone's submitting apps, I am freaking out. I donno how I am going to watch everyone get admits while I am still slogging on my essays.

Arrrgh! Daily rant no.100 done. Now, time to go back to the essays

Congrats and best of luck to all you who submitted your applications.

I'm about 1/4 way through. A question on Transcript: do we need to submit the official transcript? Because I just see the self-reporting transcript on the website so far.

you've got two options with your application. you can either submit the original transcripts or you can use the self-reporting transcript. if you're accepted you'll have to submit the originals.

i just sent in the originals, because i didn't want to have to convert scores and all that funny stuff. figured there would be less room for error if i sent in my originals.

Hats off to you guys. I am still in the self-pessimism phase where I am scrutinizing my essays and cursing at myself.

Did you submit the recommendations online (as in asked the recommenders to submit it online) or simply turned them via regular mail?

I've asked them to do this online.

I am also scrutinizing the essays a little too much. And I am spending too much time on trying to perfect the Columbia essays when I should start focusing on the next schools' essays right away. So maybe it's time to let-go of these essays. I am submitting application tomorrow or day after (After getting the last round of review comments and after any last minute changes based on tomorrow's info session).

did you stick with the word limits for the essays or have a 10-15% deviation?

I managed to be on the dot with the word limits but I am thinking if it is an added benefit to add in a few words more to convey better ideas?

The whole "recommended XXX word limit" makes no sense when the ad-com officer told me it is just a guideline and not supposed to be taken literally.

Also did your essay 1. and 2. come very close to each other? Mine sound very similar and I am quite concerned about them although in essence they are very different!!

aviroop, mNeo: All the best. You guys will do great.

Thanks for the wishes, ncprasad!

aviroop, yeah I'm staying withing the word limits. 745 words for a 750 words essay; 498 words for a 500 words essay .. etc. I plan to stay within the word limits for each school. So far I've found that I can stay within word limits without losing anything.

Essay 1 and 2 do have the problem of stepping over each other. After writing essay 2, I realized that some of the points written there actually fitted essay 1 more. So then I redid both the essays. Now my goals essay talks about my goals. And the 21st century essay talks about the business in the new century and how I think an MBA can help me with it. Instead of stepping on each other, these essays are complementing each other (Or that's what I think - The adcom might think otherwise).

Congrats guys for being the first ones out of the door! Hope you all hear the good news in a month!

ncprasad - thank you for the words of encouragement. Means a lot to me. I too hope the same for you.

Mneo - I am in the same boat as you. I am having the same thoughts about ad-com. My #2 essay talks about the 21st century business and how my MBA will help me in it.
I hope the ad-com gets the message.

Whoa, it is interesting to see so many people almost done with their CBS Apps.
I am still waiting on my recos !

A query - are you guys asking the recommendeers to fill out each question or for a generic letter ?

I hope I get to submit mine atleast within the next 2 weeks !