Update: This article was originally posted on June 22, 2022. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
Columbia Business School is known for its excellence in finance, diversity, and access to unparalleled experiential and networking opportunities in the heart of one of the world’s biggest business hubs – New York City. Considering that CBS offers one of the best-ranked MBAs out there, earning a spot at this school requires you to really stand out among the competition.
In this guide, we will go through how to get into Columbia Business School. While many applicants think that simply marketing themselves well is enough to gain admission, successful applicants are the ones who understand a) who Columbia is looking for, b) how CBS’s MBA program, community, and opportunities fit their profile and goals, and c) how to prepare a CBS-specific essay and interview. Read on for our expert advice on how to master these three things.
1. Understand Who Columbia is Looking For
Source: @columbia_biz on Instagram
“Only Columbia Business School gives you the opportunity to shape your career in the very center of business. There’s something about being positioned in New York City, where access to leaders across industry is truly advantageous. Here you will learn to take on challenges and respond dynamically. You’ll gain skills to succeed in fast-moving, competitive environments anywhere. Hone your strengths. Find your best career path. Realize success.” Columbia Business School Admissions
Every year, Columbia’s admissions team enrolls around 900 students for their prestigious MBA program out of around 7,500 applications. Though CBS does work hard to admit a diverse class (44% of the Class of 2026 were women, 46% were international citizens, and 44% were of US minority origins), they do tend to admit applicants with 5 years of work experience. Applicants also tend to have average GMATs of 732 and average GREs of Q162 V162.
Nonetheless, that does not mean that Columbia looks simply for good test-takers. Instead, they want a talented, principled, well-networked group of business leaders.
According to Columba’s Admissions team, “Columbia Business School looks for intellectually driven people from diverse educational, economic, social, cultural, and geographic backgrounds. Our students share a record of achievement, strong leadership, and the ability to work in teams.”
In addition. Columbia tends to respond favorably to applicants who can demonstrate that studying in New York City is a differential for them, so make sure to reflect on how you will use the city of New York to complement your learning and accelerate your career.
So, if this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll have to think of the ways in which you align with the main characteristics of Columbia’s students. This means forming your business school brand and then focusing on the aspects of that brand that align with strong achievements, leadership, and a value for diversity and collaboration.
2. Know CBS’s Program and How You Can Use It
The second thing you must do to get into CBS is to know the MBA program and how it applies to your career goals. If you want to get into Columbia, you really need to show the admissions committee why it’s a good fit for you (and why you’re a good fit for the community too)!
While you will have to do your own research to find the specifics of what aligns specifically with your goals and profile, below we are highlighting some of the main aspects of Columbia’s MBA program so you can be informed about what makes it unique in comparison to other business schools.
CBS’s flexible and varied curriculum
While Columbia’s MBA curriculum is focused on business fundamentals as well as leadership, communication, and analytical skills, starting in the second year, students have more than 300 elective courses to choose from, there is a lot of room for specialization.
For students interested in studying at the intersection of business and other fields, there are eleven dual-degree options available. These ten dual-degree tracks are as follows: an MBA/MS in Urban Planning; a DDS/MBA in Dental and Oral Surgery; an MBA/MS in Engineering and Applied Science; an MBA/MIA in International and Public Affairs; an MBA/MS in Journalism; a JD/MBA in Law; an MBA/MS in Nursing; an MD/MBA in Physicians and Surgeons; an MBA/MPH in Public Health; an MBA/MS in Social Work; and an MBA/MA in Private School Leadership.
New York-focused faculty and opportunities
Columbia GSB’s faculty members are excellent business experts and educators who often partner with some of the biggest names in business to identify the most important ideas for the classroom. For example, Modupe Akinola is an associate professor of management at Columbia Business School. Her career experience includes roles at Bain & Company and Merrill Lynch. She focuses on workplace performance and psychology, as well as workforce diversity and retention of minority talent.
Given Columbia faculty’s extensive involvement in key industries, real-world examples are often used as cases in the classroom, allowing students to learn from the best. Through the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise, students work with faculty on experiential social enterprise projects such as the Nonprofit Board Leadership Program. And because of the school’s unparalleled location in New York City, students have access to experiential opportunities no matter what their industry is, whether inside or outside the classroom.
International opportunities
Columbia’s global philosophy is evident in its many opportunities inside and outside the classroom to build international perspectives and experience.
Many of these opportunities are provided by the Jerome A. Chazen Institute for Global Business. Notably, the Global Immersion Program classes prepare students for a half term in the classroom for a one-week practical experience in the country of focus, where they meet with business leaders and authorities to complete projects. Countries that students have recently visited include the Philippines, Ghana, and Japan.
Students can also partake in the Chazen MBA Exchange program, which provides second-year students the opportunity to study abroad at one of over 20 partner universities for one semester.
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3. Prepare a Winning CBS Application
Last but certainly not least is knowing how to write an outstanding essay and prepare for a successful interview. Below are our top tips on succeeding at both of these key aspects of your CBS application!
Write an outstanding essay
Your admissions essays are one of the most critical components of your Columbia application. They’re your chance to share your unique perspective, demonstrate your values, and show how you align with the school’s mission to educate leaders for business and society. These essays aren’t just about recounting experiences. They’re about weaving a narrative that highlights who you are at your core and the impact you aim to create.
That’s why we’ve crafted a comprehensive guide to navigating Columbia Business School’s MBA essay questions, complete with actionable advice and examples.
Remember that authenticity, reflection, and clarity are your most powerful tools as you approach this section of your application.
Prepare a winning interview
After you’ve submitted your application and essays, you must wait to see if you get an invitation to interview. If you do get to the interview phase of the CBS application process, congratulations! This is an exceptional achievement.
Columbia interviews are usually conducted by alumni (although in some cases, you may be interviewed by admissions staff), and you are interviewed blind (meaning that the interviewers do not have access to your application, only your CV). They typically last 45-60 minutes. Columbia interviews tend to be very friendly. Nonetheless, the interviewer is still trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the Columbia program, and if you truly plan to use the city of New York to your advantage.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with Columbia in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. Though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything.
To see a list of potential interview questions you can prepare for, click here.
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