Columbia 2012 Applicants' Discussion Thread New! Columbia GSB Admissions Team Answers Questions on GMAT Club https://images.forbes.com/media/lists/95/2009/columbia-business-school.jpg Also, please see: Columbia GSB MBA Guide Columbia Applicant Summary (Real Time) Quick Glance: GMAT Club vs. Latest Intake (Class of 2013) 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 2012 Roll Call (J-Term) Until the main roll call window hasn't added J Termers, I will manually update this. Please ping me to update your name and status here Even9net Tiggy - Accepted - 28th July, 2011 Submitted: 6/19, Review: , Invited to Interview: 7/12 Nimabi - Submitted: , Review: 6/1, Invited to Interview: 7/7 Miambaprosp - Accepted - 28th July, 2011 Submitted: 5/21, Review: 6/2 , Invited to Interview: 7/7 and Interviewed: 7/17 Mmbma - Submitted: 6/15, Review: , Invited to Interview: 7/20 Wishnuv - Submitted: 6/28, Review: , Invited to Interview: 7/19 NYYankees (R) - Submitted: 7/15, Review: 7/18, Invited to Interview: 7/28 (R) - Reapplicant Application Deadlines August 2012 Entry Early Decision: October 5, 2011 Merit Fellowship Consideration: January 4, 2012 Regular Decision: April 11, 2012 January 2012 Entry October 5, 2011 Essay Questions Applicants must complete one short answer question and three essays. Short Answer Question What is your post-MBA professional goal? (200 characters maximum) Essay 1 Considering your post-MBA and long term professional goals, why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career? Additionally, why is Columbia Business School a good fit for you? (750 words maximum) Essay 2 Describe a life experience that has shaped you. The goal of this essay is to get a sense of who you are, rather than what you have achieved professionally. (500 words maximum) Essay 3 For the third essay, please choose one of the following three options: Option A The annual A. Lorne Weil Outrageous Business Plan Competition is a student initiative managed and run by the Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO). The competition encourages Columbia MBA students to explore creative, entrepreneurial ideas that are sufficiently ambitious in scope and scale to be considered “outrageous.” Students explore these ideas while learning firsthand what goes into the development and presentation of a solid business proposal. Develop your own outrageous business idea. In essay form, compose your elevator pitch. (250 words maximum) Option B Columbia deeply values its vibrant student community, the building of which begins at orientation when admitted students are assigned to clusters of 65 to 70 fellow students who take most of the first-year core classes together. During the first weeks of school, each cluster selects a cluster chair. Further strengthening the student community are the more than 100 active student organizations at Columbia Business School, ranging from cultural to professional to community service–oriented. Leadership positions within clusters and clubs offer hands-on management and networking opportunities for students as they interact with fellow students, administrators, faculty members, alumni, and practitioners. You are running for either cluster chair or a club leadership position of your choosing. Compose your campaign speech. (250 words maximum) Option C Founded nearly three decades ago, the Executives in Residence Program at Columbia Business School integrates senior executives into the life of the School. Current executives in residence include more than a dozen experts in areas ranging from media and investment banking to private equity and management. A hallmark of the program is one-on-one counseling sessions in which executives advise students about their prospective career choices. Select one of the current executives in residence with whom you would like to meet during your time at Columbia. Explain your selection and tell us how you would best utilize your half hour one-on-one session. (250 words maximum) CLASS PROFILE (Official Figures) MBA Student Profile — Class Entering 2011 (January and August) Applications Received 6692 Applicants Accepted 1062 Acceptance Rate 16% Class Size 751, divided into 11 clusters GMAT Scores (middle 80%) 680–760 Undergraduate GPA (middle 80%) 3.1–3.8 Work Experience (middle 80%) 3–7 years At Least One Year of Work Experience 100% Average age 28 Women 35% International Citizens 38% - 48% of the incoming class came with a background in Financial Services (28%) and Consulting (20%); Lowest percentages from Non Profit (4%), Manufacturing (3%) and Energy (2%) - Highest percentage of incoming students, by undergrad major, is from Social Sciences (35%) followed by Business (26%) External review of the Columbia Business School https://poetsandquants.com/2010/12/09/columbia-business-school/ Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQzdr1MFVFw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cD2mv8-_xA Admitted Students can join the facebook page set-up. https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/gr ... 096381155/

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Columbia 2012 - Calling All Applicants

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mbaer2012

Joined: 27 Jul 2011

Last visit: 03 Nov 2016

Posts: 182

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[1]

Given Kudos: 28

Location: United States (NY)

Concentration: Finance, Economics

Schools: CBS '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 720 Q46 V44 Verified score

GPA: 3.74

WE:Accounting (Finance: Investment Banking)

Schools: CBS '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 720 Q46 V44 Verified score

Posts: 182

Kudos: 19

[1]

22 Sep 2011, 11:17

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Just finished my interview, I thought it went well my interviewer was pretty friendly and laid back. Less questions then MDF got but I think he might just forgotten to ask some of them. The ones that were asked were all on his list. Now the wait for a decision!!!

trikstr

Joined: 08 May 2010

Last visit: 13 Mar 2012

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22 Sep 2011, 11:46

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cunit2k5

Tomorrow will mark a full calender month after going interview complete... I'm seriously in love with CBS, but i'm not feeling it back.

word. been 'under review' for about a month. seeing that they review apps as they come in, I'm freaking out a bit.

rahul1089

Joined: 31 Dec 1969

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Updated on: 26 Sep 2011, 09:57

Originally posted by rahul1089 on 22 Sep 2011, 12:11.
Last edited by rahul1089 on 26 Sep 2011, 09:57, edited 1 time in total.

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Hey All,

I'm new to this section of the forum.

It seems like some members have gone from app submission to acceptance in less than a month (and some have gone from app submission to interview in 2-5 days). Given that we're coming to the end of Sep and the close of the ED window, do you expect this pace to continue? Wondering what fellow GC members thought?

I submitted my app yesterday (9/20). It went into "being prepared for review" status early this morning. Now my heart starts racing everytime I receive a new email!

Timeline thoughts for end-september ED applicants?

cunit2k5

Joined: 18 Oct 2010

Last visit: 08 Dec 2013

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GPA: 2.86

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22 Sep 2011, 13:22

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rahul1089

https://www4.gsb.columbia.edu/mba/admiss ... aontheroad

Adcom will not be holding away sessions from 9/28 - 10/13. So for sure they will be busy cranking away at them. Though surely application volume is also spiking at that time.

Fortius

Joined: 13 Aug 2011

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22 Sep 2011, 15:28

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Need your advice
I am ready to submit the application, but my recommeder will submit a recommendation only in a week. Is it possible to submit an application early without recommedations?
Thanks

rahul1089

Joined: 31 Dec 1969

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22 Sep 2011, 15:33

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Fortius

Need your advice
I am ready to submit the application, but my recommeder will submit a recommendation only in a week. Is it possible to submit an application early without recommedations?
Thanks

You can submit your app but it will not be reviewed until it is in "complete" status ie. all supporting material needs to be in the system before they switch the status to "under review"

I went through the same problem. I was done with my app 1 month ago. Then one recommender had a death in the family and the other had to get urgent surgery (just my luck huh?). Anyway, it took a month for things to get back to normal and for them to post the recommendations.

Just make sure they get their recommendations in before the ED deadline.

Good luck!!

Fortius

Joined: 13 Aug 2011

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22 Sep 2011, 15:37

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rahul1089

You can submit your app but it will not be reviewed until it is in "complete" status ie. all supporting material needs to be in the system before they switch the status to "under review"

Thank you for your prompt advice!

mbaer2012

Joined: 27 Jul 2011

Last visit: 03 Nov 2016

Posts: 182

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Given Kudos: 28

Location: United States (NY)

Concentration: Finance, Economics

Schools: CBS '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 720 Q46 V44 Verified score

GPA: 3.74

WE:Accounting (Finance: Investment Banking)

Schools: CBS '14 (A)

GMAT 1: 720 Q46 V44 Verified score

Posts: 182

Kudos: 19

22 Sep 2011, 18:12

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NoggieViking

mbaer2012

NoggieViking

YES! INTERVIEW!

Congrats!

Got the interview invite last week, it wont happen till later this week though... Can't wait to finally get it over with at this point, i feel prepared!!

And to relate to above, I actually just came back from an MIT visit and they said the same thing about the iPads. The atmosphere was definitely different there then at the other schools, I'll definitelly have to take a couple of more looks at the school before I'm comfortable applying. I'm still hoping Columbia comes through!!! fingers crossed!

I don't know, I liked MIT from what I heard there. A buddy of mine graduated in '06 and he is not a nerd in any way. I also saw a lot of people there that did not give off a nerdy vibe. Even if they did, it wouldn't be an issue with me as long as the group is diverse. What I lack in areas, I look to get from my bschool experience (have I written too many essays now??).

I'm scheduled for an interview this weekend. So far my interviewer has been very accomodating, and we have a friendly tone among us. I will keep you posted.

On a side note, Tuck for instance, has a scholarship deadline. Is there such a thing at Columbia? Or are you automatically evaluated for this?

I wouldn't even put it as a nerdy vibe, I don't even know how to describe it, I just didn't feel like I fit there. Not everyone can fit everywhere I guess. On paper I thought it was an awesome school. I guess this is why they say everyone should visit before applying to a school. There are somethings that you just can't see on the website.

shorttheworld

Joined: 10 Aug 2011

Last visit: 24 Jan 2014

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Location: United States

Concentration: Finance, Economics

GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38 Verified score

GPA: 3.4

WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38 Verified score

Posts: 187

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22 Sep 2011, 19:20

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Well str1der and golfer, we are both from around the same time submits so maybe we are in the pool they are waiting to interview after both reviewers are done or maybe we are in the pool that is on the fence and or getting rejected

i have a friend who said he sent stuff in mid september and wasnt admitted ED til early november so all is not lost

fudgebrownie

Joined: 16 Aug 2011

Last visit: 14 May 2012

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Status:CBS Class of 2014

Concentration: General Management

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Investment Banking)

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

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22 Sep 2011, 19:51

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shorttheworld

i have a friend who said he sent stuff in mid september and wasnt admitted ED til early november so all is not lost

Hey guys, best of luck and hang in there. I gotta say you guys are taking it really well.. LT, MDF and I were climbing up the walls 2 weeks after we went complete! We were all self-admittedly a bit OCD about it

Looks like they're looking at both ED and RD apps now, so that could be why the ED decision pace has slowed down. That being said, you're still safely within the 8-12 weeks guideline (I assume) so there's no reason to fret. Try and relax, maybe go check out MIT and their fancy Ipads

shorttheworld

Joined: 10 Aug 2011

Last visit: 24 Jan 2014

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Location: United States

Concentration: Finance, Economics

GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38 Verified score

GPA: 3.4

WE:Securities Sales and Trading (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)

GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V38 Verified score

Posts: 187

Kudos: 21

22 Sep 2011, 19:59

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Haha no we are two weeks in and going crazy ;[ I think the overall ED pace has picked up a lot -- at the info session Charley said they do not look at RD until December or so... i think there is just a lot more ED people to look at now...

melanie0512

Joined: 01 Aug 2011

Last visit: 30 Sep 2011

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23 Sep 2011, 03:48

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I submitted mine on Sept 5th but without recommendations. Recommendations submitted and went complete on Sep 17th.. still waiting to hear back...

fudgebrownie

Joined: 16 Aug 2011

Last visit: 14 May 2012

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Status:CBS Class of 2014

Concentration: General Management

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Investment Banking)

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

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Kudos: 17

23 Sep 2011, 05:23

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melanie0512

I submitted mine on Sept 5th but without recommendations. Recommendations submitted and went complete on Sep 17th.. still waiting to hear back...

On this forum we tend to refer to being "complete" as the point at which your interview report is submitted and acknowledged by the adcom.

Nonetheless, welcome to the club, and all the best for your application!! :-D

melanie0512

Joined: 01 Aug 2011

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23 Sep 2011, 05:58

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Thanks fudgebrownie! Well in that case, mine went "under review" on the 17th... having my fingers crossed and getting more anxious by the minute!!

Congrats to those of you who have been admitted so far and all the best to the rest of you!

NoggieViking

Joined: 24 Aug 2011

Last visit: 12 Oct 2012

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Concentration: International Business, Other

Schools: Columbia - Class of 2014

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23 Sep 2011, 06:16

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fudgebrownie

melanie0512

I submitted mine on Sept 5th but without recommendations. Recommendations submitted and went complete on Sep 17th.. still waiting to hear back...

Mine will be complete by this weekend then! I really like CBS so here's to me getting in...

rahul1089

Joined: 31 Dec 1969

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23 Sep 2011, 06:28

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My application went from "submitted" to "under review" in a little over a day. Isn't that kind of quick?

Also, what do you guys think is the expected timeline for an updated status after "under review"? I've seen as early as 5 days on this forum, and as late as 6 weeks.

losttraveler

Joined: 07 May 2011

Last visit: 16 Oct 2014

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Concentration: Finance

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

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23 Sep 2011, 06:36

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Stir crazy = good mba candidate! I feel for all you guys, I literally couldn't stand getting an email after my "complete" status until after I got admitted (note you get an email about ding but you get a call first for admit). I would try and offer some kind of "words of wisdom" but... honestly.. I'd be lying, ha! If you put your best foot forward, nothing you can do but hope the adcom realizes that you might be a good candidate and admits you... was a hard pill to swallow but I expect if you're on this site, have done your research, and leveraged all of our posts... you should be pretty solid.

Fudge, you never answered my question!

fudgebrownie

Joined: 16 Aug 2011

Last visit: 14 May 2012

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Status:CBS Class of 2014

Concentration: General Management

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

WE:Investment Banking (Finance: Investment Banking)

Schools: CBS '14 (M)

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23 Sep 2011, 06:55

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losttraveler

By Thanksgiving all the attractive ones were taken? Wow... I better start early... fudge you single? ha

On a side note, all the other admits get contacted by someone from the Hermes society? Seems awesome to have a connection already made to answer all my questions (and I've had quite a few already)... primarily... where the heck should I get a place lol

How on earth did I see the Hermes question but miss the other?

Yep, I'm single! But if that guy is right, that may not be true for long

.. God I love New York lol...

MDF

Joined: 20 Jun 2010

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Concentration: Strategy, Economics

Schools: Chicago (Booth) - Class of 2014

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23 Sep 2011, 07:29

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losttraveler

+1

The time between when your app goes complete and the day you get your decision is by far the worst part of the entire process. That waiting is much worse than studying for the GMAT or spending hours and hours writing essays.