Columbia Admissions Tips

A transcript of BusinessWeek.com's recent online chat with representatives of Columbia Business School's admissions and financial aid offices

Linda Meehan
Columbia Business School

Lauren Franks

Story Tools

• post a comment
• e-mail this story
• print this story
• order a reprint
• digg this
• save to del.icio.us

Columbia Business School tries to take advantage of its location in one of the most prosperous and exciting cities in the world. That's part of the reason why it's a popular choice with B-school aspirants. But not everyone snags a seat. In 2006, Columbia accepted only 17% of the 5,372 applicants.

Recently, BusinessWeek reporter Francesca Di Meglio (FrancescaBW) and the next batch of would-be applicants posed questions about admissions to Linda Meehan (LindaCBS), assistant dean and executive director for MBA admissions and financial aid at Columbia Business School, and Lauren Franks (LaurenCBS), a 2007 CBS graduate, during a live chat event.

Here are edited excerpts of their conversation:

FrancescaBW: Brief us on what you look for in a candidate.

LindaCBS: Columbia Business School is obviously looking for the best and brightest of future business leaders of the world. When we review an application, we take a holistic approach. We assess a number of points within your application, including but not limited to academic prowess, personal characteristics, and future business potential.

asupls: I am very interested in CBS and it is definitely among my top three dream schools. To increase my chances of getting into CBS, shall I apply for the early decision (ED) round? Will the admit ratio be higher in the ED round?

LindaCBS: Early decision is geared toward those applicants who know that Columbia Business School is the right fit for them. They have researched many programs and have determined that the offerings, opportunities, and education available at Columbia will best fit their needs. We ask our ED applicants to know that they will attend Columbia should they be admitted and withdraw applications from any other schools to which they have applied and turn down offers they may have received.

saukumar: My wife and I are applying to Columbia ED. How does Columbia view couples who apply and what can we do to demonstrate our interest? Also, how do we get in touch with couples presently studying at Columbia?

LindaCBS: By applying ED, you have demonstrated sincere interest in Columbia and commitment to the program. It is important that you notify the admissions committee in essay No. 5 that you are both applying.

Anne_Huang: What makes CBS unique compared with other B-schools?

LaurenCBS: Columbia is able to draw on its reputation and location to pull in amazing and unparalleled academics and practitioners. For example, I took two classes from practitioners in the top of their respective fields: private equity and venture capital. These practitioners worked and taught, which enabled us to learn from their real-time experience. They brought in speakers from around the world.

miguel08_2: I was born in January, 1976, and I'm planning to apply in the second round in January, 2008. That will make me a 32-year-old fellow when joining the program. How is Columbia admissions for those over 30 years old?

LindaCBS: We do not have rounds. We offer rolling admission for both the January and September intakes. Advice is always to apply before the stated deadline—as soon as or as early as your application is the very best that you can present. It is not about age; it is instead about your experience and how your experience lends itself to your goals.

specialsuss: If you cannot ask your direct supervisor to write you a recommendation, who should you ask? An old boss, current co-worker, or someone else?

LindaCBS: You should ask the person you feel knows you best and can provide the most insight to the admissions committee about your potential as a future business leader. A client or former supervisor would be perfectly acceptable options if each knows you well. Please ensure that you utilize optional essay No. 5 to express that you are unable to obtain a recommendation from your current supervisor and why.