7. Can you give a brief description of the life cycle of an application? What's the timeline applicants should expect?
Each application is examined thoroughly and independently by multiple members of the Admissions Committee. Interviews are by invitation only. Applicants may be invited to interview with an alumnus/a in the applicant's local area. Once the interview is complete, the application then goes for a final review by the Admissions Committee.
Columbia Business School reviews applications on a rolling admissions basis so that the exact timeline of the review of the application depends on when the application is submitted and is considered complete. If the candidate is invited to interview, the application is not considered complete until the interview report is submitted to Admissions.
Final decisions can be communicated at any time after the application is complete. The goal is to communicate a decision within 12 weeks from the date the application is considered complete. For additional information, please check our website.
8. Which firms recruit heavily from your school? Which firms hire the highest percentage of your graduates?
Myriad firms representing a variety of industries and interests come to Columbia Business School to recruit our M.B.A. students for both internships and full-time positions. The top five employers of our 2009 graduates for full-time positions were McKinsey & Company, Inc., The Boston Consulting Group, Inc., Booz & Company, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Deloitte Consulting LLP.
9. What are some of the most common mistakes that applicants make that hurt their chances of being accepted?
The most common mistake that applicants can make is not answering the questions that we ask in the essay portion of the application. The Admissions Committee asks specific questions in order to get to know and take into consideration the applicant's point of view on the topic. For example, within our first essay, we look for an understanding of the applicant's future career path. Therefore, it is important that the short term and long term goals are addressed within that essay. Applicants should make sure to address the essay questions as best they can in a clear and concise manner. Proofreading the essays is also very important.
10. Can you describe the archetypal student for your school?
Our student body is filled with a diversity of industry experience, geographic backgrounds and extra-curricular interests. Our students relish in the diversity the school offers as they are able to learn from each other in addition to learning from the faculty and alumni. The most prominent similarity among our students, though, is that they not only enjoy, but are active participants in the fast-paced environment of the school. Our students initiate and take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to them due to our New York location, extensive alumni network, and recognizable brand.
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