Calling All 2010 CBS Applicants (MERGED)

Count me in for RD.

Do you think that the applicant may answer this question using a non-professional example (personal). For instance, failing to help someone in need, etc.?

I think you can pretty much tell it anyway you like..professsional or non-professional. As long as it is a good story...

I applied for 2009 entry and got dinged in ED without interview. Is CBS known to be favorable (or not) to re-applicants? I'm thinking about applying RD this time around.

I think re-applicants are in a better situation. It shows to Columbia that you really want to go there. As long as your application has improved from the last time around, I say you have a pretty good chance.

ROLL CALL PAGE UPDATED

It's pretty quiet over the summer, so you should try to visit in the fall. You can even visit after you apply, which is what I did. I knew enough about the school to do the app sufficiently, and I wrote in the optional essay that I would be visiting campus in two weeks. I met with a couple admissions folks when I was there, and I think it was helpful to put a face with the name. Basically, don't just visit to check a box and have ammunition for your essays. Make the visit worthwhile. They'd rather you visit after you submit your app if you are going to really immerse yourself at CBS for a few hours/day/however long, than to visit before and really get nothing out of it.

On a side note, I am a soon-to-be second-year, and I have not had time to visit the forum--mainly because the summer has been keeping me extraordinarily busy. So, if you message me and it takes me awhile to respond, I apologize in advance.

Good to hear from you djhouse. I have a question if you don't mind answering. Besides attending an information session and visiting through the host program, what other events might there be that would be of interest to us?

Thanks.

The website. Tear it apart. Not to comb for details that can fill in the blanks in your essays, but to really get a feel for the school. CBS' website is massive. Start at www4.gsb.columbia.edu (the www4 is not a typo), and just go where your interests take you. I think the website is less of a marketing tool or a hub for a target audience, and more of a way for the school to express to the world what the community is doing these days. If you get a sense of that, it will come out in your application naturally, and the admissions folks reading your app will definitely pick up on it. They'll be impressed that you know about certain people and topics who are famous within the confines of the school, but less known to those outside.

To conclude with an example, the homepage has an article written by an incoming first-year. This student hasn't even started school yet, and he is basically blogging about about his experiences with other incoming first-years traveling the world. It's just one member of the community sharing his experiences with others. So, delve into the webiste. It is a great way to get to know the school and to enjoy some interesting articles and facets about CBS while you're at it. Hope this helps.

Cool thanks man. I already have CBS' website saved as a favorite. Been on the site daily for any updates. And I agree. It does help with the essays.

where is this student article? I can't seem to find it.

Right up at the top on the main page. Titled "Tour Report: Hope and Challenge in Africa." Can't miss it.

I must sound like an idiot, but I still can't find it. At the homepage of the CBS website? Can you post the link? Many thanks

Here is the link:
https://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/publicoffe ... in+Africa#

and here is the main page:
https://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/

Awesome thanks man!

As a general rule of thumb, most of the top b-schools are re-applicant friendly. Favorable - no. Schools encourage dinged candidates to re-apply and if they have shown significant improvements over the previous application - why would the schools not shortlist them ?

In for ED.