Columbia Business School has a rolling admissions process. Apply as soon as possible BEFORE each deadline.
Short Answer Question: What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 characters maximum)
Examples of possible responses:
“Work in business development for a media company.”
“Join a strategy consulting firm.”
“Launch a data-management start-up.”
Prompt: Through your resume and recommendations, we have a clear sense of your professional path to date. What are your career goals over the next three to five years and what is your long-term dream job? (500 words maximum)
You have just stated what your short-term goal is. You now have 500 words to describe the why and how.
Basic Dos and Don'ts
Regarding Your Dream Job
Why would this appeal to you? Why would this be the dream job?
Important: As part of your goals, tell them what sort of impact that you want to make, and where: community, company, region of the world? This is particularly important for your "dream job."
Note: At the end, mention briefly but specifically how CBS would be essential to meet those goals. This is mainly so you don't have a generic essay.
Prompt: Columbia Business School’s Executive MBA will challenge you by offering a rigorous academic experience, global exposure through the international seminar, and the opportunity to immediately apply what you learn to your career. How will you approach balancing the demands of the program with your professional and personal life while you are in school? (250 words)
In this essay, CBS wants you to persuade them that you will be able to handle the rigors of an EMBA. As a general rule, EMBA programs want you to indicate that you have the full support of both your employer and your family.
CBS is looking for reassurance that you have practical plans to complete your EMBA and participate fully in EMBA activities.
Tell us about your favorite book, movie, or song and why it resonates with you. (250 words)
Always think to yourself, "Why is the school asking me this question?" Look for the question behind the question. In this case, the school asks you "Tell us about one book / movie / song that resonates with you," and the question behind the question is, "What is very important to you? Tell us why."
The question is meant to find out about your personality and what matters to you. So, the selection that you make should be one that you can write a sincere essay about why it is meaningful to you and why it inspires you. In writing the essay, you should reveal something new about yourself.
Note: Do not try to wrap in a business school theme into the essay, unless it works organically.
If you wish to provide further information or additional context around your application to the Admissions Committee, please upload a brief explanation of any areas of concern in your academic record or personal history. This does not need to be a formal essay. You may submit bullet points. (500 words max)
Use to address:
Use this essay to turn a potential weakness into a strength. Tell the Admissions Committee what happened and why it happened. Be honest in your self-evaluation. Most importantly, tell them what you have learned from the negative experience, and how this learning has influenced future actions.