Columbia Business School MBA Application Deadlines and Essays: 2012-13

Columbia University,
Graduate School of Business

In today’s post, we will look at Columbia GSB’s MBA Essays & Deadlines for 2012-13 i.e. for the class entering in 2013.

Columbia GSB MBA Application Deadlines

Columbia GSB uses a rolling admissions process. Therefore, applications are reviewed in the order in which they are received. It is to your advantage to apply early.

An important thing to note if applying as an Early Decision candidate is that early decision applications are reviewed and decisions rendered before regular decision applications. Candidates are required to sign and provide a statement of commitment with their application stating their commitment to attending Columbia Business School and their intent to withdraw all applications and decline all other offers from other schools if granted admission to Columbia Business School. Furthermore, applicants are required to submit a $6,000 tuition deposit fee within 2 weeks of being granted admission.

	Aug 2013 Entry Deadline	Jan 2013 Entry Deadline
Early Decision	Oct 3, 2012	Oct 3, 2012*
Merit Fellowship Consideration	Jan 9, 2013
Regular Decision	Apr 10, 2013

* Jan-intake applicants do not have the option of early decision or merit fellowship consideration

Columbia GSB 2012-13 MBA Essays (Class of 2015)

New Applicants (Required: 3 Essay Questions + 1 Short Essay Question)

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (200 characters maximum)
Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your career, and how do you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals? (Maximum 500 words)
Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community. Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)
Describe a personal experience and how it has influenced who you are today. This essay should have a personal rather than a professional focus. (Maximum 500 words)

Knight-Bagehot Fellows (Required: 3 Essay Questions + 1 Short Essay Question)

(Instead of Q2. for new applicants mentioned above, answer the following question)

What are your career goals? How has the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship affected these goals? How will an MBA help you achieve these goals? (750 words maximum)

Re-applicants (2 Essay Questions)

How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied, and address how you plan to achieve your post-MBA and long-term professional goals. (Maximum of 500 words)
Please view this video, entitled Community at Columbia. Diverse, tight-knit clusters and carefully selected learning teams are defining features of the first year at Columbia Business School. Along with more than 100 student organizations and countless events each semester, the cluster system helps to create a supportive and devoted lifelong community. Describe why you are interested in becoming a part of the Columbia community. (Maximum 250 words)

Optional Essay Question