Columbia Business School Sells NYC Location

Columbia Business School is now asking applicants for the Class of 2016 to view and comment on a pair of videos that leverage the school’s location in New York City which it describes as “the world’s business capital.” One clip shows Columbia MBA students from Franklin, Kentucky, and Nairobi, Kenya, extolling the virtues of studying business and living in Manhattan.

As the school notes, “Columbia Business School isn’t just located in New York — it’s enmeshed in it. From practitioners who double as professors to events with industry-leading CEOs and field trips to blue-chip companies and start-ups alike, Columbia leverages its relationship with the city to give students unparalleled access to one of the world’s business capitals.”

For prospective candidates wishing to get into the Class of 2016, Columbia has cut its already-short requirements even shorter. Applicants will be required to describe their “immediate post-MBA professional goal” in a maximum of 100 characters–even more sparse than a tweet, which is capped at 140 characters. Last year, the school allowed 200 characters. It also trimmed the word limits on some other questions.

This year’s essay questions are:

Short Answer Question

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (100 characters maximum)

Essay 1

Given your individual background, why are you pursuing a Columbia MBA at this time? (Maximum 500 words)

Essay 2

Columbia Business School is located in the heart of the world’s business capital – Manhattan. How do you anticipate that New York City will impact your experience at Columbia? (Maximum 250 words)

Please view the videos below:

 New York City – limitless possibilities

 New York City – fast paced and adaptable

Essay 3

What will the people in your Cluster be pleasantly surprised to learn about you? (Maximum 250 words)

Optional Essay

An optional third essay will allow you to discuss any issues that do not fall within the purview of the required essays.

DON’T MISS: AN INTERVIEW WITH COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL DEAN GLENN HUBBARD or WHARTON ALUM GIVES COLUMBIA $100 MILLION