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bluejeanbaby
Current Student
Joined: 04 Apr 2020
Last visit: 13 Aug 2021
Posts: 28
Given Kudos: 46
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Schools: CBS Deferred "24 (A)
GMAT 1: 770 Q49 V46 (Online)
GPA: 3.65
Updated on: 28 Aug 2020, 09:34
Originally posted by bluejeanbaby on 27 Aug 2020, 12:55.
Last edited by bluejeanbaby on 28 Aug 2020, 09:34, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by bluejeanbaby on 28 Aug 2020, 09:34, edited 1 time in total.
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CBS Deferred Enrollment Process
Hey everyone! I was admitted to Columbia Business School's deferred enrollment MBA program in the 2020 season (will be class of 2024). I've received a lot of DMs about how the process works and what to expect, so here's a breakdown of what you'll need to get in order.
Note that this is targeted specifically at current seniors in college or 1-year Master's students, so you will not need significant work experience at any point.
Application Components
This is what CBS asked of me in 2020, found on the CBS website:
- Online application
- Academic transcript
- Standardized test scores (GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE)
- Current resume (feel free to include a note on any post undergraduate job offers)
- One letter of recommendation from a professor, mentor, internship supervisor or employer. We ask recommenders to consider the following when writing their recommendation (recommended limit - 1000 words): Please share how you feel the applicant will contribute to the Columbia Business School classroom and community.
I also answered these three short answer questions (instead of the long-form MBA essay that working professionals have to answer):
- How is a Columbia MBA going to help you? (maximum 250 words)
- What has been your favorite class, and why? (maximum 250 words)
- Who is a leader you admire, and why? (maximum 250 words)
Timeline
First, get your recommenders in order. Columbia only requires one, but many other deferred enrollment programs require two so I strongly recommend that you ask two people and apply to multiple programs. Your recommender who you ask to write the Columbia recommendation should be the person who has worked most closely with you (of the two people you ask overall).
Ask these people by broaching that you'll be applying for business school and are super excited. Then, you can mention that you'd love it if they'd write you a recommendation. Gauge their reaction -- tepid in person will sound tepid to Columbia. You want to do this 6 months before you intend to submit the application. When you create your application, immediately send the recommender request, and give your recommender a "due date" ("I'd really like to have this in by...") of 2-3 months before the round when you actually want to submit, if possible. That way if they fall through, you have a buffer. You cannot ask them to mention specific events, or list specific qualities of yours, but feel free to provide a resume so that they have more context for what you do outside of just their direct experience with you. It may also jog their memory as to things you've done while working with them that were impressive. You can also ask them for feedback, so that you'll know what the recommendation sounds like -- I didn't, but that would be fine.
Next, start prepping for the GMAT. Certain schools pushed back or removed GMAT requirements for the 2020 cycle due to COVID, but that's not guaranteed next year. The Online GMAT now allows that you use a physical whiteboard, so applicants probably won't receive as much leniency next year. Start your GMAT prep (what is data sufficiency? what is an assumption question?) about 12 weeks out from your test date if you have a quantitative undergrad major and 16 weeks out if not. If you don't want to be as intense, start 5-6 months out for this as well. Your test date should be 2 weeks before the application due date, so leave 14-18 weeks total for the GMAT. If you think you'll need to retest, build in an extra month. Note: I started studying in March for a June test, taking advantage of CBS's lenient GMAT policy this year. I did not retest. I now tutor GMAT test-takers.
After that, you'll also need to write your essays. I'd recommend leaving about 8 weeks before submitting for these. Have multiple smart people read these multiple times. Make sure they're cohesive and snappy -- you can't mince words with super-short essays like these -- and that they contribute to the Committee's overall impression of your character and passions. The essays should work together, so they can't contradict anything else in the application (obviously). Be precise with word choice, and read them out loud a lot.
Finally, the MBA resume! No one emphasizes this piece enough: in business, your resume is who you are. While business school is the theoretical side of business, the resume piece holds true. You want your contact info, education, work experience, extracurriculars, and interests to fit neatly on one page (size 10 font at minimum). Every bullet that says "responsible for" or "was in charge of" needs to GO, as you want metrics and impact ONLY. Better to have one bullet describing an interesting project that takes up two lines than to make space for a separate bullet about the role's duties (yuck). Focus on leadership, communication, analysis, etc.
Every good undergraduate program in the US has a career center with a whole page on resumes -- here's the page from Yale -- and you should read a bunch. They often have templates also.
You'll be able to list your upcoming full-time job on either the resumes or essays page, so don't clog up the resume with something that hasn't happened yet.
Lastly, submit your application. You'll need to print your essays into PDF form, and should also upload a professional headshot. Not all schools have the option, definitely take advantage. In the Additional Information box, keep it short and use bullets. If you got a C in Calculus, or didn't intern somewhere due to COVID, or have additional certifications you couldn't list elsewhere, now's the time.
Non-Required Components
Talk to current students and alumni. As mentioned above, do this a couple months before submitting. If you cold-message a member of a group you think you'd join on LinkedIn and say something nice, they'll almost always answer. Ask them about CBS, and be super detailed. Have an informational interview on Zoom (so they remember your face and make that connection). Email them saying thanks, ask if they can connect you to anyone else to answer questions. Follow up with your application status, e.g. "Hey, just submitted, thanks again!" and "Wow, I got an interview! Grateful for your help." That way you can ask for interview prep help and advice on different programs down the road.
In terms of interview prep, you'll likely be interviewed by someone in Admissions since alumni aren't as aware of deferred enrollment. Prep your story and answers to common behavioral questions, and have a shortlist of CBS resources that you're most interested in.
Attend the online webinars. Mostly they'll let you turn video on (for Q&As especially), so the moderator will see you and also you'll see your future classmates. You'll learn a lot about the culture, and there's a box on the application for events you've attended. Touring in person is even better, but not possible for most applicants.
Take a professional headshot. They give you the opportunity to submit it, which means they want to see you at your best while reading the essays.
Being Admitted
You'll get an interview invite about 14 days after sending in your score and application. You'll get admitted about 7 days after that. Then, you have 14 days to respond by sending in your deposit or rejecting the offer of admission. CBS does not offer scholarships until the year you matriculate, so if you're trying to get that money now, apply to the schools that offer scholarship money a bit earlier -- they may need an extra couple of weeks to send your scholarship offer.
If you commit, you'll receive more info on networks for admitted students and resources. Welcome to Columbia!
Please reply to this post with any questions or comments so that I can answer you where everyone can see and benefit!
Message me if you're looking for a GMAT tutor -- I have a 5-star rating on Varsity Tutors and tutor privately as well.
Archived CBS Discussion
Hi there,
You've stumbled upon an old discussion from our CBS Forum
that's now outdated and has been archived. No more replies are possible here.
Interested in current discussions? Feel free to dive into our dedicated CBS Forum
for all fresh things related to the CBS MBA program.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
bluejeanbaby
Current Student
Joined: 04 Apr 2020
Last visit: 13 Aug 2021
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 46
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
Schools: CBS Deferred "24 (A)
GMAT 1: 770 Q49 V46 (Online)
GPA: 3.65
27 Aug 2020, 16:04
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Gowtham25 No problem at all! I recommend that you wait. When you're in an MBA program, having a valid GMAT score is necessary to be considered for scholarships, and also some employers will want to know your score. That's under the assumption that it's still valid. Therefore if your score lapses, you'd want another one anyway. Start studying as early as you want, but take the test later so the score carries you through school.
Therefore taking the test in your first couple of years of undergrad is not ideal.
Therefore taking the test in your first couple of years of undergrad is not ideal.
27 Aug 2020, 16:31
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Thanks for your reply,
I will continue to study for the next couple years consistently so when I actually take the test, I can do really well. Thanks for your time!
I will continue to study for the next couple years consistently so when I actually take the test, I can do really well. Thanks for your time!
